Ex-Amazon Ford Transit Van Gets Exterior Makeover: Video

It’s always a risk picking up a used vehicle, and even more so if it was a delivery van in its past life. YouTuber Will’s Whereabouts took a chance on a pre-owned Ford Transit that was used as an Amazon workhorse, and as he found out as he dug into it, the previous owner lied about its history. After getting it running, Will has a lot of work to do to get it looking presentable for the campground.

Will plans to turn the vehicle into a camper van, but, as he puts it, “it’s the worst mistake I’ve ever made.” He’s basically built it from the ground up to keep it out of the scrapyard. Now, he’s turning his focus to the exterior, and simply put, it needs a lot of help. He’s going to paint the entire van to make it look completely different, removing all traces of its Amazon delivery van heritage. He’s already sanded it down, and now he has to degrease and prep the surface to be repainted.

Then, it’s time to mask off anything he doesn’t want painted, and then, it’s finally time to do the deed. He’s painting it beige, and plans to attend to the black trim later. It’s slow going and takes numerous passes with primer before the surface is ready to accept the real deal.

It goes smoothly, and now, all that’s left are the hood and doors, which still need sanding and prepping. He calls in some help from his brother, Ed, to help the process along. While the paint’s drying on those pieces, Will gives the plastic trim he’d already removed some TLC, cleaning them of years of dirt and grime before painting them black.

Finally, when it’s all put back together, Will shows off his handiwork. The van is finished and complete – well, to some extent – but at least the paint is done. It looks completely different, and there’s no trace of his former occupation. And even though beige might not have been everyone’s choice, he’s happy with it, producing the “military-esque” look he was after.