SEMA Show
Sema Show, the best & craziest place to see what is new the auto world

This isn’t some magical logo that results in parts and free labor flying in to save your project. Usually, this is what gets burned into your wallet as all the little things you forgot to add up along with all the time and labor to blow your budget out of the water.

Oh and that assumes you even started with a budget and not something along the lines of “hey it would be cool to build XXX for SEMA”.

This will be a living document that I try to update as I go along so check back often. I will do my best to include real invoices, real quotes and as much as possible all the little things that usually escape these types of articles but really add up.

Here are the dirty details in case you don’t want to read about each item, remember there is an additional cost to a project like fuel, meals, hotels, rental cars, and such….but I will keep those off the Van list. I will list what I actually paid and if there was any discount:

  • $34k Van : 2019 Ford Transit 130 RB LR 3.5 ecoboost
  • $14k Sportsmobile colar matched poptop & more
  • $???k Quadvan 4wd conversion getting everything they have 🙂
  • $3k Alumiess front bumper
  • $600 Extreme Outback Endura compressor (x2), tank and all the bits
  • $270 ARB X-Jack
  • $560 MaxxTrax (4 red board & mounting pins) 20% disc
  • $2550 Van Compass tuned rear Fox resi shocks, storage box, bump stops, grab handles, ditch light brackets, front Bilstein struts
  • $ Vehicle Graphics
  • $788 Method 701 (x5) & lug nuts w/ shipping (50% disc)
  • $ Rock Solid Products custom roof rack and panel inserts and more
  • $ Tires, mount & balance
  • $ TBD Lightforce LED lights (price depends on how much I help them)
  • $ TBD Mile Marker winch (price depends on how much I help them)
  • $110 Winch cradle for rec’r hitch, out of stock at Mile Marker
  • $800 Northern Arizona Wind & Sun solar panel and misc bits
  • $1034 Heatshield Products (if I get the right media coverage 100% refund possible)
  • $ Misc circuit breakers, wire, zip ties, loom and more
  • $ Plus nuts for interior mounting options
  • $ L-track
  • $ TBD Rollercam straps of all kinds (price depends on how much I help)
  • $ TBD SafeJack Rennstands, Bottle Jack, Jack plate (price depends on how much I help them)
  • $ 7P International Recovery Ring/Soft Shackle (10% disc)
  • $ Paint for fab work
  • $ Glue, panel & vinyl for interior
  • $1500 Scheel-man driver/pass seats (demo units at disc)
  • $ 700 Fridge (NIB off craigslist, but I would still like a partner on that)
  • $ Owl Vans Rear tire carrier and Sherpa panel
  • $ TBD 23Zero Peregrine 270deg awning & walls (price depends on help)
  • $ TBD Racechip Tuning setup (price depends on how much I help)
  • $59,912 total so far

The Van itself……On the Ford Transit Forum I came across Ed Bowers (CrewVanMan) who works sales for Matt Ford and is an amazing resource. Ed helped me spec out just what I wanted (not white), and get through the crazy options and configurations (no slider door).

Transit Order Summary
Everything I wanted from the Factory

So this is the Order Summary that outlines just want I wanted. From this Ed was able to find all the rebates and get my price down to $33, 954. That was great! I added GAP insurance in case anything happens before I get the van paid off and an extended warranty since I put on a ton of miles.

At the same time there were companies that have treated me really well in the past that I wanted to pay full retail in order to show my thank. Sportsmobile was one of them so between the color matched poptop, a drivers side CR Laurence window, solar wiring I am looking at about $14k.