My Biggest REGRET: Installing Flarespace
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- This project was a mammoth logistical puzzle, and the most expensive one to date that I’ve completed on Betty, my 2020 Ford Transit self-converted campervan. Starting with multiple order shipment issues from Flarespace, and then repeated hurdles of finding someone who could paint them to color match my van, and arranging to have a temperature controlled space for my van during the adhesive cure time all made for quite a project, and one I’m extremely glad to be finished with. Though, would I do it again if I could start over?
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:58 - Color Matched Painting
04:06 - Vehicle Prep and Tools Needed
05:17 - Cutting Out The Window Panels
09:22 - Installing the Flares
11:16 - Adhesive Cure Time
12:30 - Unboxing the Windows
15:27 - Installing the Windows
19:28 - Comparing vs CR Lawrence
20:31 - Conclusion
22:09 - Project Cost Summary
23:43 - Was It Worth It?
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Tools Needed 🛠: kit.co/ErikDPhoto/flarespace-...
My Camera Gear 🎥: kit.co/ErikDPhoto/my-video-ge...
Music Sourced from 🎧: artlist.io/ - Jak na to + styl
INSTALLING FLARES:
5:28 Drill holes for jig saw blade.
5:20 Tape plastic film to areas around and below where you cut out so metal chips won’t be trapped inside walls and cause rust.
6:23. Use a jig saw to cut the panel with tape on the jig saws table.
6:28 Tape off each section you cut on outside so panel doesn’t flop around while cutting and won’t fall off and damage van body when you’re done cutting.
7:00 Pull off panel with suction cups.
7:13 File or sand raw cut edge of metal.
9:30 Paint raw edge with Rustoleum.
9:39 Scuff surface of flares and van that flares will be glued to with 220 and wipe down with alcohol.
9:53 Use Sikaflex 510 along flare and closer to the inside edge so if it bleeds it won’t bleed to the exterior.
10:16 Put 2” tape on inside and outside to hold flare in place while glue cures.
10:47 Now put a bead of Sikaflex on the inside.
22:45 Total for two flares, two windows, paint job, saw blades was $2826.00. (plus Sikaflex)
25:34 The $2826 cost represents 8% of his build. He said that at 5’-10” tall that he probably wouldn’t do it if he had to do it all over again. He also said he would have bought the CR Lawrence windows instead of the crappy Flarespace windows.
*CR Lawrence makes quality windows.
This was one of the most honest videos for an RV build I've seen to date. Too many van builds are being sponsored, so you can't trust them. You saved me 3k. Me being only 5'7 would be a complete waste.
That's $3k you can put towards your electrical system. 😉
@@ErikJohnson2020 or towards a nice 12V AC Unit. I don't think I can handle the van being above 80 degrees.
Just starting my van build. I'm 6' 4" tall and I'm going to have my bed go lengthwise in my Transit van. The flares seem like a very expensive option for minimum benefit. My bed will be 80 inches long with storage under it. I have two videos up on my channel so far. Winter is not cooperating with van building.
Great video Erik! Very informative. It’s awesome to learn from the good as well as the bad.
Thanks for leaving a comment!! 🥰
Just picked up a 2020 Mid height AWD. This will be my 12th (13th?) van since 1973. I plan on putting my bed on a DIAGONAL to gain length. I will have a triangular "mud room" behind the rear passenger side door that I can get into or out of my van. I will probably do an expandable base on the bed frame for wider width. The front cabin section will be kinda trapezoidal shape. A monitor will probably fit in either corner for when I'm lying in bed. ALL of this will be MODULAR, just in case I need to carry a fridge, or a motorcycle home!
Loved Mom's first cameo! Haha. So cute. Yeah, this project seemed pretty intense, but it really looks like everything is coming together! I'm excited to watch as you start adding the more visible/style-based elements to the van, especially seeing how much you prioritize aesthetics even on these more structural elements.
I’ve been watching Van builds on the CZcamss for 7 years now… you are an excellent example of how a DIY should be!!! Thank you for all the details.
BTW I ordered my 2022 transit cargo to build out a week ago! YaY!
Thank you!!! 🥰🥰🥰 How long is the ETA for when you'll take delivery of your van?
Good job on the diy install.
This is what happens to businesses that have zero competition and offer a desirable niche product. No reason to put in any effort when your customers are flocking to you.
I am sure the owner looks at his ever increasing sales and thinks his company is doing an awesome job, lol.
Thanks for leaving a comment! I'm sure Flarespace has likely just grown faster than their systems have been able to keep up with, and hopefully my experience was just one of the ones that fell through the cracks. Aside from the window quality, the flares themselves are nice, though I seriously question why they only extend 2.5 to 3.5 inches beyond the regular width. 🤔
your honesty was refreshing
Thanks for the detailed and honest install/review. At 5'8" I don't need the these but still wish there was some competition in the space.
Hi Effie! Glad to see you came back to watch another video of mine!
Yeah, I've no idea what these panels cost to produce and ship, but for the Extended length Transits in particular, they seem really expensive especially considering the end results. 🤔
Appreciate it Erik, with my wife and me both being short this video def makes it where we would not do it at all. Just know that your videos are definitely helping. And btw I watched multiple videos and nice CFB hat. Take care friend
Thanks Gary!! You're the first to notice/comment on my CFB swag. 😉And I'm glad you found my videos helpful! 🥰 Hope to see you in the comment section again!
@@ErikJohnson2020 will do, i currently have a NV200 build but soon to upgrade to the transit
kudos this is a huge project!!
Thank you!!
Love the vid. Especially the sweet part with you and your Mom. I love when a grown strong fella clearly loves his Momma!! So nice.
You think I'm strong?? 🥰
I think CR Laurance should sponsor your video. Your videos are great and I like the reality of your installs and opinions. Next time, have mom come on the video and not just bring you a coffee and a Kleenex. Your mom is amazing.
LOL, my mom's not wild about being on camera, but I'll most certainly pass along the kind words! ❤️
The trick to making cheap pot-metal window gears last is to turn the gears with one hand while using the other hand to gently lift the window up. That unloads the gears so that they don't wear out. Good video, thanks.
Great video! 🤘💀🤘❗
Thank you!! 🥰
You guys were having way too much fun there.
It was pretty awesome having my brother there helping. Legit, this was one of those projects where I don't think I could have done it without his help.
@@ErikJohnson2020 Agreed, fun to have a brother for help.
thanks dude. I'm 6'5" so I've been debating just going length vs expanding width for bed.
Hi Scott! Yeah at 6'5" you're probably going to have a tough time sleeping comfortably any direction other than length-wise in your van, though if you're willing to sleep diagonally on your mattress, then you could probably make a width bed orientation work fine for you. At least that's my best guess! Good luck in your search!!
thanks for doing this. i was just about to buy some flares from Flarespace, but not now. btw, for those that have a Sprinter van, a company called Vanspeed offers an alternative that is apparently a much much better product than what Flarespace offers.
I'm interested in seeing your install of the trim rings. Is that your plan ? Im at that stage now and let me say there is some swearing.....and fitment issues I haven't solved.
Thanks for saving me the time and the money. So not worth it in terms of cost/time to benefit ratio. And will definitely seek better windows . You pain my gain. Thanks for your efforts
Glad you were able to make a better decision after watching my video!
Is using adhesive onto the paint the advised procedure? I would think you would want to glue directly to the metal, otherwise the weakest bond is the paint-to-metal bond underneath.
Just to throw my $.02 into the mix; I'm 5'11" and have a 130MR with an RVfull-size mattress in the East/West configuration and have no problem with sleep accommodations. Mattress, on 1" polyiso and a layer of EZ-Cool, tilts up on 200lb struts within the push-outs and stops just shy of the upper (concave) portion permitting access to storage below within the 2x4 bed framing support while utilizing the full 77" width less 2 x 1/2" for polyiso on either side/end wall. (yes, the mattress is cut, or 'notched' on each corner to permit the necessary clearance for the van internal 'posts')
Test your needs: sleep on the floor some night between a wall and a coffee table on its side limited to the amount of actual space (76"?) forcing you to sleep in this restricted area and does it hinder your sleep?
I have a 2007 Transit (L1 H2) and thinking of buying a Transit 2013+ (Mk8?) AWD Transit later this year. Probably a L2 H3. Don't plan on living in it. I will mostly use it for hiking and snowboarding. So I will spend some nights in it. I have learned a lot from building my current van but doing research now to see what I want from my next build. Finland being very strict with what is allowed in traffic makes it a bit harder. Not sure if I am allowed to make flares but would help with the build.
I watched until the end now. I am 5' 11" (181cm) so maybe I don't need to do flares at all. I know in my current van the width of the van is too small for me to sleep comfortably.
I had many or the same issues you had in addition to the flanges on the flares being cut too short for the flare space windows. Pretty disappointed with the whole experience and I don't think I would do it again. We're now stuck with unfinished flares because we refused to give flare space any more money after our initial experience. Their response was basically that we were on our own.
so are the flares worth it? any calk or seal in between window and flare? It feels like the only reason to get them would be for a bed where you sleep van width ways.
Correct, flares are only useful if you plan to orient your bed sideways within your bed. As to how useful they are or aren't, that kind of depends on how tall you are. I give a pretty detailed summary of my thoughts on this question at the end of the video.
Wow! Puttig so much force against sealent still curing? I guess it was curing well?
Thanks for talking me out of flares.
2k for two bits of fibreglass, wtf 🤯 nice vid anyhoo 👍
Why did you do this? Just for window addition? Because it didn't add any usable extra space at all and it was costly in terms of time and energy and money.
we share the same disappointment with especially awning bunk driver side window that has been leaking at the top hinge - flare space send us replacement and the replacement window has same issue ….. does anyone has also these issues. Our driver side slider bundle window seems to be fine.😢😢😢
We have CRL window in the kitchen and I agree so much better quality 👍
I got flares a Littlebit cheaper 300€ each plus wider bracket for side door 120€. Painted and assembled myself. Parts from germany. 3000$ is quite steep
I really appreciate you sharing the "was it worth it?" part with us! That said, in a year, you might feel differently, right?
Probably not about the windows, though...
Exactly! It's hard to know if those few extra inches will feel worthwhile until I spend a few nights sleeping in the final bed, but 2.5" seems legitimately questionable.
All the literature I could find seemed to suggest it added 3", and I thought that was per-panel, not from two panels combined. 😅
@@ErikJohnson2020 I'm doing my van build this summer, and it's channels like yours that are helping me look at things differently now in the planning stages. Keep it up, sir!
You checked the panel fit after paint? Why not before?
I actually checked it before and after paint, but didn't film each time. The reason I checked after paint as well is just to ensure the paint didn't cause a buildup of material that might then cause a clearance issue.
Has Flare space reached out??
No, but I also don't expect that they would.
Wow, that is a lot of money for two holes. Two pieces of fiberglass for 2 Gs!
maybe some pre boring and some washers could have helped !
I'm guessing you're referring to the window clamp rings? That probably would have helped, though from my prior experience with the CR Lawrence T-Vent window I installed on my sliding door, their window clamp ring needed absolutely nothing to install perfectly, and I falsely assumed it'd be the same experience with Flarespace's windows.
So do u regret getting Flares or getting them from This company?
I don't think I would get any kind of flare if I was going to do it over again and instead put all that money into other systems.
i want to buy an electric ford transit to build out anyone have any opinions or experience about these
Well currently the estimated range of the e-Transit is between 126 and 196 miles (202-315km), and that's with a 67,000 watthour battery, which is a HUGE battery, and isn't something current solar tech can realistically recharge. In comparison, Betty (which has the extended size gas tank) has a range of 480 miles between fill-ups. 👌
3.5 inches for that expense. Thank for stopping me from the work and expense.
I'm glad it was helpful for your decision making!
those flares are very expensive
Doesn't seem worth it to me for 3 1/2 inches 😕
That's what she...
Damn.
Really unimpressive quality control by flarespace
Wow, have to get it painted to color match ! Why does no one mention that.
you dont have to do it we painted it with truck bed-liner and it looks and functions well….
The flares barely seems to offer you any extra depth and the window look like it comes back past the flare recess on the inside further eating into the "extra space" especially that chunky handle. I have looked at flares but cant justify the cost (an eye watering $2800) and the compromise on loosing stealthiness on mine. Also there are so many other long bed options including building a bed that folds or an interlocking slat bed that can go at the front of the van or even the back to get a full size bed option. For $2800 I would rather just shop around and put it to a square box van rather than go to all this bother in a panel van.
They do add substantially more because you dont have as much insulation in them. in a normal van build you would have probably 1-2 inches of "wall" on both sides where the flares would go. So without that and with the tiny bit of extra width, it adds up to giving you an extra 7-8 inches.
All of the windows that install like this suck and are a pain in the ass to install. Cheapest possible design. Also since most people need the additional space in order to sleep sideways they don't tend to insulate them. This will leave your head and feet very cold in the winter.
Exactly, and for me sleeping with cold feet sounds like hell, and not something I'd likely be able to tolerate long term.
in my 30 plus years of body work knowledge I have very faith in that system, I see it failing and leaking within 12 to 18 months.
Don’t be a douche and at least say what brought you to that conclusion!
Why are you letting your brother do any cutting when he knows nothing about what he’s doing?
Because everyone's gotta start somewhere, and I was right there watching, able to step in if things got out of hand. He did great with the Jig saw, and it was a lesson for us both on why the Jig saw really is king for vehicle skin cuts. Hope this helps!
@@ErikJohnson2020 the jigsaw is awesome I agree. And I agree we all have to start somewhere, but let him practice on something not as critically important as your van wall. Just sayin.
Anyway it looks and turned out great despite your bro…lol
You should have watched a few videos first......
Actually, I watched a few videos on them before buying them, and then again before installing them.