Custom Ford builds are always a treat, and there were plenty on the floor at SEMA 2022 as aftermarket parts suppliers and tuners showed off what they could make. While The Blue Oval itself didn’t have a first hand presence at the show, it made a point to highlight several exemplary machines, including a custom 2022 Mustang Mach-E GT by Tucci Hot Rods and a few examples of the Ford F-150 Lightning. A custom Ford Transit van was also present at the show, dubbed the Digital Nomad and built by John Pangilinan.
The Ford Transit Digital Nomad has everything an off-road traveler could ever want in their van, including a built-in air compressor and an off-road assistance kit to help it even in the least ideal situations. It has a full sliding kitchen a refrigerator for the ultimate culinary experience while camping. A 270-degree awning grants shade outside the vehicle, and is very off-road capable to reach even the toughest camping spots. Under the hood, is Ford’s 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine mated to The Blue Oval’s all-wheel-drive system.
2023 Ford Transit Trail
The Transit lineup recently gained the all-new 2023 Ford Transit Trail, which would have been a great starting point for this build. Alas, that’s not the case here, but the Transit Trail is available in several configurations that are prime for upfitting, including medium- and high-roof models, along with a high-roof extended-length variant for maximum interior space. Compared to the regular Transit, the Transit Trail features a 3.5-inch ride height lift, making it off-road capable right from the factory. Its 3.5L V6 EcoBoost produces 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission for up to 6,500 pounds of max towing capacity.
2023 Ford Transit Trail
With all that in mind, the Transit Trail will make it much easier for buyers of a Ford Transit to customize their vehicle to suit any off-road need, showing that the Digital Nomad is ahead of its time.
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Comments
I need a new van to replace THE VAN I LIVE IN DOWN BY THE RIVER!
ModVans has been doing this for 5 years. We actually submitted a similar build to SEMA in 2019 but I guess camper vans built on the Transit were not so cool back then (2020, factory AWD, and Sprinter shortages changed that). The Ford Authority is always asking what we want you to write about; I’d like you to write about ModVans. We were the first to build Transit based Class B RVs, and the Transit is all we build on. 🙂