2019 Ford Transit Van 4×4 Overlander

While pickup trucks are extremely popular as overlanding vehicles, I’ve always been a big fan of camper vans. Especially vans like the Sportsmobile.

Before Ford came out with the 2023 Ford Transit Trail, Lance Blair converted this 2019 Ford Transit Van in to an amazing overlanding rig. Lance’s Quadvan-converted 2019 Ford Transit 4×4 sports dozens of upgrades and modifications, including a Ford F-150/Raptor front differential and axle assembly, transfer case, and vacuum-actuated hubs, that make it a capable four-wheel-drive overlander.

Fully equipped to support comfortable living aboard during cross-country travel, the customized van also handled the diverse and challenging driving conditions exceedingly well during the multi-day Utah-based Overland Adventure.

Let’s take a closer look:

Blocking the view of the rear axle is a custom in-floor storage box filled with winch and rescue gear. The box is made from 1/8-inch steel and can double as a skidplate. An Eaton Truetrac with 4.10 ring-and-pinion gears fills the centersection of a Sterling 9.25 rear axle. 4-inch blocks provide lift, and the shock relocation brackets raise the lower shock mount and offer protection from trail hazards.

Lance knew his travels would eventually take the van onto dirt roads and into unknown territory. Protection for the powertrain’s vital organs was a priority. A set of Quadvan skidplates span the intercooler, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine, 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission, F-150/Raptor front differential, and the BorgWarner two-speed transfer case.

All the power in the world won’t help if your tires can’t handle some rugged terrain or sloppy trail conditions. To make sure Lance got to his destination and back home again, he chose a set of LT255/80R17 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires wrapped around Method 701 aluminum wheels in bronze tone. Lance told us the 33-inch tires did require some minor suspension adjustments and body panel manipulation to clear at full turn and compression.

The Transit came from the factory with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged and intercooled V-6 engine. Featuring an aluminum block, aluminum heads, dual overhead cams, and coil-on-plug ignition, the direct-injected powerplant is rated at 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. A 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission with a first-gear ratio of 4.17:1 backs up the engine.

One of the reasons Lance decided to go with a Transit for the base of his ultimate off-grid backcountry camper was the van’s spacious and ergonomically simple interior. It has gained a set of Scheel-Mann Vario swivel seats, and the van’s dashboard is filled with nav and comms equipment. A Yaesu 80-watt two-meter ham radio, 110-watt Motorola race radio, and 50-watt Midland GMRS radio sit between the seats. A Samsung tablet with onX Off-Road mapping software is front and center, with a ScanGauge engine/transmission monitor on the left and a Garmin inReach satellite messenger on the right.

The heart of the Quadvan conversion is the BorgWarner two-speed transfer case from an F-150 pickup. Quadvan’s proprietary transfer case adapter plate allowed for drivetrain modifications rearward from that point. The factory three-piece rear driveline was replaced with a serviceable-joint, two-piece driveline to accommodate the length of the transplanted transfer case.

The frontend of the Transit has been converted using a Ford F-150/Raptor front differential (with a 4.10 Eaton Truetrac) and axle assembly, rack-and-pinion steering system, and vacuum-actuated hubs. The Quadvan-exclusive ductile iron replacement front spindles provide two inches of lift and a higher mount for the Bilstein shock absorbers.

All set up for camp and ready for living, Lance’s van features a Sportsmobile Penthouse Pop-Top roof tent and sleeping platform. The roof of the Transit had to be cut to adapt the roof tent to the van. For more downstairs living space, Lance also incorporated a 23zero Peregrine 270-degree awning with sidewalls that spans nearly the entire length of the 60/40-door side of the Transit.

Lance has built custom storage and cabinets inside the Transit’s body to keep equipment organized and easy to access. Every inch of available room, including inside the rear doors, has been customized to offer a place for gear. A fold-down work table drops down from one of the rear doors. Lance also used Heatshield sound deadening and heat barrier materials throughout the van.

The van’s back end offers even more storage space. Swinging door racks provide mounting room for the spare tire on one side and Maxtrax recovery boards on the other side. A Rock Slide Engineering custom “roof fence” around the top of the van provides a place for things like lights (10-inch Lightforce LED bar in rear and 50-inch Lightforce LED bar in front), antenna for comms, and awnings for shade.

A massive bull bar from Aluminess Products gives the front end of Lance’s van some protection and aggressive looks. The lightweight all-aluminum bull bar offers a 2-inch receiver mount for a winch (a 9,500-pound-rated Mile Marker with synthetic line in this case) and carries two Lightforce hybrid round driving lights, two Lightforce 6-inch “side lights,” and two Lightforce LED 6-inch round amber foglights.