Have you ever dreamt of having your own van, but aren’t quite ready to take the leap? We now offer the ability to rent our 2021 Ford 148 extended wheelbase Transit van: Spaceball One. You can now take Spaceball One on your next road trip! This is a great way to try-before-you-buy or experience van life without having to purchase your own van.

We added our bunk bed eco system using our Strap-up and Fu-Kit beds: the perfect van bed duos — which means up to four people can sleep comfortably, with approximately one queen-size and one full-size bed. The Strap-Up bed can go nearly up to the ceiling or as low as the where the Fu-Kit bed sits. The Fu-Kit bed is not only a bed but also a deep sofa where you can sit facing forward: enjoying the inside of the van – or backward: enjoying the outdoor scenery from the back of the van. This can all be done depending on which panel you flip-up.

Here at Roost Vans we like to keep the toilets simple – that’s why we have an easy chamber pot in our Loo Bench. There’s no need for flushing or electronics. Simply go and empty outside… or take it out in the woods and have some quiet alone time while you let off a load.

Lastly, this van has a 20-gallon over-the-rear well water tank. This water tank has a freshwater fill, a spray port, a water heater for hot showers, and a drain for winterizing.

Your adventure in Spaceball One will be out of this world!

Smooth Rails Vs. L Track

L Track Mounting System

L Track (also known as Logistic or Airline Track) is a tie-down system.  Its primary purpose is to secure cargo.  At some point L Track (and sometimes E Track) was adopted by the #vanlife and builder community as an interior mounting solution.  Until recently it was seen as the “go to” approach for an interior mounting system, and has been used for many years by DIY van builders and even some professionals.

Our clients regularly ask why we prefer the Smooth Rail Mounting System, and about the differences and advantages over these ”X” Track systems.  To be clear, a properly mounted L track or E track system, with correct support bracketing, sufficient metal to metal contact and ample attachment points can be a functional, strong, and safe mounting solution.  If you are a DIY van builder this is still an acceptable solution.

However, when Dennis (our founder) built his first van as a family project, his frustrations with the limitations of these types of tie-down tracks led him to develop a much better solution.  His close attention to detail, and eye for aesthetics inspired him to develop the Smooth Rail Mounting System, and ultimately the origins of Roost Vans itself.  Since that time, many van builders have adopted our approach as an innovation.  Below are some of the key advantages, and the reasoning behind this trend in the van building community.

PRECISE POSITIONING

One of the biggest drawbacks to an “X” track system is that it is only incrementally adjustable, typically in 1” intervals.  This is fine for a tie down system, but when trying to position interior components in a van build, it is often very important to position a component exactly where we want/need it to be, rather than “give or take an inch”.

The Smooth Rail Mounting System is infinitely adjustable, allowing each component to be dynamically placed in a precise location.  This allows cabinetry to be flush mounted, and/or positioned for a specific, consistent gap.  When dealing with a mechanical component, precise positioning is sometimes critical to proper operation (such as a bed with a flip up kit, or an adjustable strap).  We find it extremely valuable to place components exactly where we want them, or to be able to reposition in one direction or the other without fully removing the component.  This is very helpful when trying to maximize design efficiency.  Without the smooth rail system, many of our innovative product designs would be less effective, or in some cases impossible.

FASTENER OPTIONS:

Mounting components to one of the track systems, typically involves a protruding bolt from the mounting system.  Our system reverses this by placing a threaded nut into the mounting system allowing the use of any bolt we desire, including a wide variety of decorative bolthead options.  Most of our products use a black zinc coated, button head bolt that looks beautiful and offers no protrusion; just a smooth and finished looking surface.  This is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also helps with rust prevention by minimizing the exposure of hardware surfaces to humidity.

AESTHETICS

Our mounting system consists of continuous powder coated rails.  When installed properly they are largely recessed into the paneling allowing only enough surface area to fully engage with the attached components.  This provides a much more finished look.  Further, proper positioning of components, and consistent sight lines also enhance the visual presentation considerably.  The recent addition of plastic end caps further enhances the look of our system by closing off the very ends of the rails.  This type of attention to detail is the difference between a “pretty nice-looking van” and a visually stunning result.

SAFETY

In terms of strength and weight capacity, either mounting system will perform comparably.  When properly mounted both tracks and rails generally exceed the capacity of the fasteners and/or the van’s structure itself.  However, there are a couple additional and unique safety concerns to consider:

• Track systems have relatively abrupt corners and can sometimes have sharp interior edges, where the smooth rail system provides a continuous smooth and rounded rail edge the full length of the rail section.
• Smooth, rounded boltheads rather than protruding bolt ends help minimize surfaces for clothing or small fingers to catch on.

FLEXIBILITY

Our entire ecosystem of products is designed with the DIY customer in mind.  Though some may want to use our plug and play solutions, others want a simple platform upon which they can build and create their own solutions, specific to their individual needs and circumstances.  This is where our  system really shines.  Not only do we offer plug & play solutions, but any bracket or material that sits flush on the rail surface can be attached to the mounting system using a threaded insert nut with any bolt of the desired length, head, and finish. The only “specialty” supply you need is the 5/16-18 Universal Insert Nut itself, which can be purchased directly from us, or a variety of online vendors.

CONSLUSION

L Track and E Track are great cargo tie down systems, but less than desirable as a van’s interior mounting system.  For a more robust and versatile interior mounting solution for Sprinter or Transit van conversions, our staff, affiliates, and DIY customers strongly prefer the Smooth Rail Mounting System.  It is the future of the van building community.

Rails Vs. Tracks

Note:  Since this post was published we have received a lot of great feedback, questions, and requests for clarifications.  We have re-written this article, expanded on some details, and re-posted It HERE.

L Track Mounting System

L or E Track is commonly used by DIY van builders and some professionals, as an interior mounting system.  Customers regularly ask about the differences and advantages of our smooth rail system over these ”X Track” systems.

First, to be clear:  A properly mounted L track or E track system with the correct support bracketing, sufficient metal to metal contact and ample attachment points, can be a functional, strong, and safe mounting solution.  If you are a DIY van builder this is a perfectly acceptable solution.

However, when Dennis (our founder and CEO) built his first van as a family project, his frustrations with the limitations of these track systems led him to develop a better approach.  His close attention to detail, and eye for aesthetics inspired him to develop our Smooth Rail Mounting System and ultimately the origins of Roost Vans itself.  Below are some of the key reasons for this decision.

Precise Positioning

L Track and E Track systems are basically cargo tie down systems that have been adapted for mounting interior van components.  One of the biggest draw backs is that they are only incrementally adjustable, typically in 1” intervals.  This is fine for a tie down system, but when trying to position interior components in a van build, we find more precise positioning necessary.  Our mounting system is infinitely adjustable, allowing each component to be dynamically placed in a precise position.  This is particularly important when trying to flush mount multiple cabinets, or trying to maintain a specific gap between components.

Overall Aesthetics

Our mounting system is a continuous powder coated rail, and largely recessed into the paneling in our typical shop builds.  For a finished interior build, our customers find it far more visually appealing.  Further, the insides of the tracks systems have relatively abrupt corners and can have jagged surfaces that are less than ideal when traveling with small children.

Flexibility & Versatility

Our entire ecosystem of products is designed with the DIY customer in mind.  Though some may want plug and play solutions, others want a simple platform upon which they can build and create their own solutions, specific to their individual needs and circumstances.  This is where our mounting system really shines.  Not only do we offer plug & play solutions, but any bracket or material that sits flush on the rail surface can be attached to the mounting system with a simple 5/16-18 insert nut and bolt.  When building custom brackets and accessories, the savings really start to add up when shopping at the local hardware stores, rather than having to purchase specialty supplies specific to the chosen track system.

Overall L Track and E Track are excellent tie down systems, and can be an acceptable interior mounting solution.  However, for a robust and versatile interior mounting system for a Sprinter van conversion project, we prefer the Smooth Rail Mounting System for our builds.