Body Flares for E350

[maxswasser]

Living in Tahoe, I've been seeing all of the sprinters and transits driving around with the body flares. They give you ~6 extra inches on either side to move your bed sideways. Has anyone built these for an econoline? I'm 6'2", so I definitely would need the extra space to sleep sideways.

https://www.flarespace.com/

Thoughts? Concerns? If I go through this process of making molds to fit in the window bays, would anyone want to buy one?

Thanks!

Max

[Steve C]

Very recent thread on what you're looking for. However, it's unclear weather the units would be reproduced for sale...

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...tml#post289626

[nyyankees588]

I've always thought that this would be a low hanging fruit - shouldn't be terribly hard to make a mould and once you have the mould it should be smooth sailing.

I forget - how wide is the interior of the Econoline? My question would be how deep would the flairs need to be to achieve 6'+ of sleeping width.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by nyyankees588

I've always thought that this would be a low hanging fruit - shouldn't be terribly hard to make a mould and once you have the mould it should be smooth sailing.

These would be thermoformed.....so they would require a male plug tool or female tool depending on the process and which side of the part needs to be more cosmetic. The tool could likely be made of wood depending on the process since thermoforming is a low pressure process.


That's the good news.


Since they are mirrored..left/right..you'd need two tools.....


The required thermoforming equipment would be rather large, so that could be a challenge....and shipping these would be $$....and econolines haven't been produced for 7 seven model years now.....so maybe not "smooth sailing"

[boywonder]

I asked the folks at Flarespace about Econoline Flares.



I just got a response.....they will be making an announcement very soon.


..so it sounds like they are in the works....

[BenJJ]

Originally Posted by boywonder

These would be thermoformed.....so they would require a male plug tool or female tool depending on the process and which side of the part needs to be more cosmetic. The tool could likely be made of wood depending on the process since thermoforming is a low pressure process.


That's the good news.


Since they are mirrored..left/right..you'd need two tools.....


The required thermoforming equipment would be rather large, so that could be a challenge....and shipping these would be $$....and econolines haven't been produced for 7 seven model years now.....so maybe not "smooth sailing"

If you design the flare right you could make the same part work on both sides. May have to compromise on what would be an ideal shape though.

[TomsBeast]

Originally Posted by boywonder

These would be thermoformed.....so they would require a male plug tool or female tool depending on the process and which side of the part needs to be more cosmetic. The tool could likely be made of wood depending on the process since thermoforming is a low pressure process.


That's the good news.


Since they are mirrored..left/right..you'd need two tools.....

I have 20yrs experience having custom vacu-form tools made for custom PETG protective shipping covers for high power laser optics.



What you say above is spot on boywonder



I'd spend about $5k-$10k, sometime more for a new large format tool, and about $900 + per run set up fee, for a matched top and bottom if I bought 10 or more at a time.



I'd think fiberglass over gelcoat would be a less expensive option, but you'd still need to finance and amortize the molds

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

I'd think fiberglass over gelcoat would be a less expensive option, but you'd still need to finance and amortize the molds

Yes good point.....lots of hand labor for laying up the 'glass.......and you'd need a plywood male plug.......



Now I'm curious how the Flarespace flares are made.....

[b. rock]

Mine are getting delivered in about 1.5 hrs....pics will be up soon.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by b. rock

Mine are getting delivered in about 1.5 hrs....pics will be up soon.

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