Diary of an Ordinary Van

[Vee4]

Further to Apple Tree's query, here is a link to a recent topic about the auxiliary or secondary battery on the Mk7:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=76967

Of course, it is possible that the camper conversion company made changes from the standard configuration. There are various ways of doing it:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52287

Ordinary Van running down its battery:

[Vee4]

Ordinary Van avoids the snow



Basking in the warm orange glow of the sodium lights, the OV has been in west London where the snow is light, as of this writing. Last year, the OV was one of the first to experience the icy blast:

viewtopic.php?p=497712#p497712

This winter's thoughts on snow are from Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening which came to mind when running through snowy countryside at the weekend. The last verse, although it's not meant so literally, reminds of those struggling to reach their destinations:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Here is a link to the full text: http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/856.html

Note the rhyme scheme. Frost once said, "Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down."

[Vee4]

I hear you're mad about Brubeck ...

I've added Brubeck's Blue Rondo a la Turk to the Ordinary Van's Top Twenty after listening to Paul Gambaccini's interview with Dave Brubeck, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. It's on BBC Radio 4 - unmissable!



If you have a Transit with the 3.2 Duratorq TDCi 200PS, you could use the Dave Brubeck Quartet's best-known composition Take Five as your theme tune!

[Vee4]

A few lines ...

The Ordinary Van has been busy again, too busy to write up the Diary.

I can understand the first: they're icicles and they are more or less parallel, allowing that they will tend to converge at the Earth's centre of gravity.



I've always been puzzled by the second: why is the top of the window not parallel with the top of the door on the MK6 and Mk7? Is it a styling thing or is there a good practical reason? For example, the upward curve on the bottom edge of the Anglia 307E van's door is supposed to stop it crashing into a high curb when the back is loaded down!



Image from MellY's excellent http://www.anglia-models.co.uk site, a cornucopia for the classic or vintage Ford owner (the Ford that is, not necessarily the owner).

[AndyG]

I have to admit, that was one of the things that stood out to me (and didn't like) when the MK6 first came out It doesn't bother me any more
All I can think of, is that it needed to clear the lock assy and had to be incorporated into the design

[redcube]

I never notice that before now every time i see a mk6 or mk7 i will see that

[Vee4]

All I can think of, is that it needed to clear the lock assy and had to be incorporated into the design

That would explain the fact that the side of the glass is not vertical, but then the top of the glass could have been cut horizontally. However, if you look at the sweep of the glass around the front of the vehicle, including the infinity edge vent glass*, the sloping top of the window does preserve the line.

*It's not a quarter light!

I never noticed that before, now every time I see a mk6 or mk7 I will see that

You'll get used to it, as Andyg did and I did. I wasn't sure either, when I first saw it, about the square lines of the Mk7 front, but I now I quite like it.

[Vee4]

Blue van attracts the 'boys in blue'

Still not Ordinary enough, obviously. I was beginning to feel neglected, having not been stopped for a few months. Guilty of no offence other than driving a dark-coloured, unmarked van through a posh area of London at night, I was annoyed because I missed a crucial moment in BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime. "Is this your van, sir ...?"


1:43 scale diecast model of the Ford Transit Mk1, in the livery of the Lancashire Police.
Image from http://www.diecast-cars.co.uk

[Vee4]

The party invitations are going out!

'Tis the season to be ... going to the office party, so Transit Towers is being done up ready for this year's extravaganza. I'm planning something a bit more 'edgy' this time, but don't worry - there will be alternative entertainment for the youngsters while they play with their model Transits:


Thanks to LEDLON 89 for the model pictures. Check the link for more ...

Invitations are not really necessary, because everyone with a Transit (or Transit-powered LDV) is invited anyway. For the same reason, there's no need to 'RSVP' - there's plenty of parking in the virtual front yard.

The Tourneo courtesy bus has already set off to pick up the guest artists - it's a long round trip through the miles and years ...

There will be no problem finding your way, unless the Information Superhighway succumbs to the ice and snow. It is sagging a little bit:

[Vee4]

Excellent traction in the snow

Yes, the Nike Air Equalon 3. Very comfy and surprisingly good on ice and snow.



Aware that the tread depth was approaching the 1.6mm legal minimum, I went to the running shop for some new shoes, hoping to buy exactly the same again. Of course, they don't make that model any longer. It's like deciding that the Mk5 is the best Transit ever and then finding out that you can't buy another ...

Anyway, I settled for the new version of the Triax+, a shoe I have used before. I settled for a Mk7 Transit too. I'm sure they'll be fine.

The Ordinary Van has performed well in the current icy conditions. It's still quite new, so starting has been easy, no more difficult than a sunny day. The screen wash jets are still a bit of a problem, and heated jets are the one option that should be available from Ford - the Quickclear screen and heated mirrors are proving their worth every day. However, I have managed to keep the washers working by using Wynn's Super Concentrated Screen-Wash:



The other tip is to make sure the jets are free of accumulated ice and snow before setting off.

I have had problems with the driver's door window freezing up after a long journey, but I haven't figured out a solution to that one - it's due to ice in the window tracks.

As for handling, the Ordinary Van has behaved well on the icy roads, and to be fair, it's better than the Mk5 in that respect. I'm not aware of any intervention by the BTCS, so it's mostly down to the front wheel drive.

[rcgods]

Silicon / teflon spray in the window channel helps to stop the windows freezing in the channels. Vaseline works well on the rubber door seals to stop them freezing to the doors.

[Vee4]

Silicon / teflon spray in the window channel helps to stop the windows freezing in the channels.

That's a good suggestion - I'll wind down the window and look into it.

[Altransit]

Silicon / teflon spray in the window channel helps to stop the windows freezing in the channels.

That's a good suggestion - I'll wind down the window and look into it.

That can of spray I gave you at the Ace is Teflon spray It works well in the lock barrels as well

[Vee4]

It's that time of year again!

Time to think back over the year just ending, and look forward to the year to come. The Ordinary Van is still going, and so is the Diary, and thankfully so is the author! It just goes to show that a Transit is never ordinary, and there's always plenty to write about.

When there is no alternative delivery date ...

... there is no alternative to a Transit!

Thanks again to Diary readers and contributors for their help and encouragement during 2010. Special thanks to the Administrators, Moderators and Sponsors for making the Forum possible and giving the members access to such a great resource.

Best wishes to all for a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Vee4.

PS: The party will be next week. Just when you thought it was safe ...

[Altransit]

Merry Christmas