avanti
2022 Ford Transit 3500
My wife and I have just finalized an order for a GWV Legend SE to be built to our specifications on a 2014 Sprinter chassis. We are excited and would like to thank everyone on this list for sharing the information that helped make this decision possible. I especially appreciate the advice to call GWV directly. This was key to achieving one of our primary objectives, which was to upgrade our 2005 Airstream Interstate with a vehicle that addresses all of the annoyances that all B-van owners accumulate over the years of ownership. As others have said, Great West is very willing to work with a prospective owner to take their standard design and evolve it to address specific needs and preferences. For us, this is the perfect path toward our goal.
Our soon-to-be new rig will be built on a non-extended 170 in gray-white. The chassis was from GWV's stock, so the build can start right away. It is scheduled for delivery on or before May 1. We could have chosen a 2013 model for significantly less money, but the new packages available for 2014 are just too good to give up. It is equipped with the MB Driver Efficiency Package (factory navigation, rear camera, fog lights, etc) and Active Safety Plus (multifunction steering wheel, blind spot monitoring, collision prevention, lane keeping, auto high-beam, light and rain sensor, etc). They will add after-market backup sensors. With the Espar diesel furnace/water-heater and the rocker-panel fairings, they have eliminated most of the RV penetrations. I replaced the default 3-way Dometic refrigerator with a Nova Kool RFU 6800 12V compressor unit. This eliminates two more external vents. This, combined with no awning and GWV having eliminated most external striping and graphics should yield a very clean and stealthy exterior.
Here are some of the other customizations:
--I am 6'3". The EX would have given a plenty-long-enough bed, but we didn't want the extra vehicle length, which leaves us with a 75" bed. Not good enough. So, the kitchen cabinets will be customized to to give an extra 3" of bed length on the passenger side. This will be at the expense of a slight amount of drawer space, but no loss of counter space.
--Instead of the standard converter/inverter setup, I specified an upgrade to an Outback VFX2812M 2800 watt inverter/charger and added a second battery (upgraded to AGM) for a total of 420Ah.
--We wanted to maximize hanging closet space but did not want to lose the window behind the driver's seat, so they are going to convert the low chest of drawers to a closet and increase both its height and depth.
--Added a macerator system.
--They are building custom recessed niches above the wheel-wells in order to have a place for glasses, remote controls and iPhones.
--added a soap dispenser near the kitchen sink.
--added a heat vent to the bathroom
--using HEPVO waterless traps (no more winterizing the p-traps!)
--added an electric shut-off valve for the propane, so it shuts off automatically when vehicle is powered down.
--Solar panel upgraded to 130watt.
--various tweaks of outlet and switch locations (e.g., light switch near bed)
There is a bunch more, but you get the idea. These are the kinds of details that tend to be hit-or-miss in off-the-shelf units. With GWV, I will have no one to blame but myself!
Obviously, this is just the beginning of the process. But so far, I couldn't be happier.
Our soon-to-be new rig will be built on a non-extended 170 in gray-white. The chassis was from GWV's stock, so the build can start right away. It is scheduled for delivery on or before May 1. We could have chosen a 2013 model for significantly less money, but the new packages available for 2014 are just too good to give up. It is equipped with the MB Driver Efficiency Package (factory navigation, rear camera, fog lights, etc) and Active Safety Plus (multifunction steering wheel, blind spot monitoring, collision prevention, lane keeping, auto high-beam, light and rain sensor, etc). They will add after-market backup sensors. With the Espar diesel furnace/water-heater and the rocker-panel fairings, they have eliminated most of the RV penetrations. I replaced the default 3-way Dometic refrigerator with a Nova Kool RFU 6800 12V compressor unit. This eliminates two more external vents. This, combined with no awning and GWV having eliminated most external striping and graphics should yield a very clean and stealthy exterior.
Here are some of the other customizations:
--I am 6'3". The EX would have given a plenty-long-enough bed, but we didn't want the extra vehicle length, which leaves us with a 75" bed. Not good enough. So, the kitchen cabinets will be customized to to give an extra 3" of bed length on the passenger side. This will be at the expense of a slight amount of drawer space, but no loss of counter space.
--Instead of the standard converter/inverter setup, I specified an upgrade to an Outback VFX2812M 2800 watt inverter/charger and added a second battery (upgraded to AGM) for a total of 420Ah.
--We wanted to maximize hanging closet space but did not want to lose the window behind the driver's seat, so they are going to convert the low chest of drawers to a closet and increase both its height and depth.
--Added a macerator system.
--They are building custom recessed niches above the wheel-wells in order to have a place for glasses, remote controls and iPhones.
--added a soap dispenser near the kitchen sink.
--added a heat vent to the bathroom
--using HEPVO waterless traps (no more winterizing the p-traps!)
--added an electric shut-off valve for the propane, so it shuts off automatically when vehicle is powered down.
--Solar panel upgraded to 130watt.
--various tweaks of outlet and switch locations (e.g., light switch near bed)
There is a bunch more, but you get the idea. These are the kinds of details that tend to be hit-or-miss in off-the-shelf units. With GWV, I will have no one to blame but myself!
Obviously, this is just the beginning of the process. But so far, I couldn't be happier.
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