VAN CAFE Rooftop Deck User manual

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Thank you for purchasing the Van Cafe Rooftop Deck for the Transit van. The key to a
good camper van is function and storage and the Rooftop Deck offers both. Bring your
kayak, mount your rocket box, attach your bike rack or ski rack – pretty much whatever
you can think of, the Rooftop Deck can handle it.
Created in Fort Collins, Colorado, the Van Cafe Rooftop Deck is the product of years of
manufacturing expertise. Here at Van Cafe, we are innovators, thinkers, creators, doers
and, most importantly, users! We love the outdoors and the idea of sharing experiences
and memories with our families, friends, and our customers.
As always, please reach out to us at suppor[email protected] with any questions.

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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CONTENTS
Unboxing & Required Tools ............................................................3-5
Transit Van Fitment ........................................................................... 6
Installation Step - 1.........................................................................7-8
Installation Step - 2............................................................................ 9
Installation Step - 3..........................................................................10
Installation Step - 4..........................................................................11
Installation Step - 5..........................................................................12
Installation Step - 6..........................................................................13
Installation Step - 7..........................................................................14
Installation Step - 8..........................................................................15
Installation Step - 9..........................................................................16
Installation Step - 10........................................................................17
Installation Step - 11........................................................................18
Finished ............................................................................................14
TRANSIT PRODUCT &
COMPONENT LINKS
Rooftop Deck: Base Perimeter Rack
Rooftop Deck: Plank Kit
Rooftop Deck: Deck Board Kit
Rooftop Deck: Filler Panel Kit
Rooftop Deck: Side Ladder (coming soon)

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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UNBOXING AND REQUIRED TOOLS
Hardware KIT contents
AB
HARDWARE BAG HARDWARE BAG
M8 X 30mm
socket Head Screw
*Quantities are per riser pair
*Number of Risers depends on length of van
*130 Wheelbase gets 3x sets
*148 Wheelbase gets 4x sets
M6 x 16mm
socket Head Screw
2x
5/16in washer w/ pad
2x
Foam pad
#003001
#003029
#003693
#002993
2x
8in T-Nut
#003686
2x 4x
1x
Loctite
#003003
M6 washer
#002993
4x

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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UNBOXING AND REQUIRED TOOLS
transit RISER KIT CONTENTS
2x
transit Riser
#003679
*Quantities are per riser pair
*Number of Risers depends on length of van
*130 Wheelbase gets 3x sets
*148 Wheelbase gets 4x sets

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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6MM ALLEN WRENCH
5MM ALLEN WRENCH
UNBOXING AND REQUIRED TOOLS
REQUIRED TOOLS
RUBBER MALLET
10MM WRENCH
TAPE MEASURE

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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TRANSIT VAN FITMENT
THIS ROOFTOP DECK IS DESIGNED FOR
2015-2022 FORD TRANSITS

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Remove the factory roof plugs covering the threaded inserts in your Transit roof
Follow the diagram to make sure you remove the correct plugs for your rack setup
Remove plugs circled in green
*Use a razorblade to carefully cut around the perimeter of the hole plug
*A little help from a heat gun makes it easier to peel them off
*Extended Transit will have a set of threaded inserts not used
1



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INSTALLATION STEP
*Some of the threaded inserts might be
off-center from the hole in the roof and may
need to be ground out with a die grinder
1









ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Apply roof pads on to bottom of Transit
risers
Screw washer with black pad on M8 screw
Place drop of Loctite on end of screw
2
A
+

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INSTALLATION STEP
Position Transit riser over the hole in your
roof
Using a 6mm allen wrench, screw M8 with
Loctite into the hole
*Leave loose until all extruded aluminum is
installed on side rails
*Because these vans aren’t perfect, the
holes probably won’t align perfectly
*The extruded aluminum perimeter track
will align the risers
3

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Put a drop of Loctite on the end of each
M6 socket head screw
Thread the M6 screw in one end of the
8in T-nut
Slide it in slotted side of the riser
Screw the other M6 in through bottom
of riser
*Leave loose until all extruded aluminum is
installed on side rails
4
B

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INSTALLATION STEP
Continue installing the risers down both
sides of the van
*Leave loose until all extruded aluminum is
installed on side rails
*Follow the diagram on page 7
5

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Following the diagram below, layout which
section of extruded aluminum goes where
Starting at the front, slide ‘C’ section
through front two riser assemblies
8in T-nuts should easily slide through the
bottom channel in extruded aluminum
*Extruded aluminum track seams should
land in the middle of riser assemblies
53-7/8"
53-7/8"
53-7/8"
40-1/8"
71-7/16"
40-1/8"
61-7/16"
39"
40-1/8"
F
front of van
front of van
front of van
F
F
F
F
F
C
53-7/8"
C
F F
K
K
C
C
C
C
B
B
H
H
Ford Transit
2015-2022
130in Wheelbase
220in Overall Length
148in Wheelbase
235in Overall Length
148in Wheelbase Ext
264in Overall Length
6

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Move onto the middle and rear (if equipped) sections
*Leave loose until all extruded aluminum is installed on side rails and the front overhang is
measured out
7

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Extend front edge of section C, 7” past edge of front riser
assembly
With front section positioned, tighten down the M6 screws
in the front riser with a 5mm allen wrench
*Leave risers loose until all extruded aluminum is installed on
side rails
*Risers will self align as you tighten the extruded aluminum
sections
8
7”

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INSTALLATION STEP
Continue sliding the sections together
and tightening them down
As you’re tightening the sections down,
alternate between the front and rear M6
in the riser / T-nut, this will help keep the
seams nice and tight
Seams between the sections should be
barely visible
Repeat on the other side of the van
*Still leave risers loose until both sides are
fully assembled and front and rear sections
are installed
*Gentle taps with rubber mallet can be used
to tighten up the seams and shift the parts
around if needed
9

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
Following the instructions for the corner
kit, assemble the corners and install on
front and rear sections of extruded
aluminum track.
*All Transit wheelbases use the ‘F’ (53-7/8”)
section of extruded aluminum at the front
and back of the Rooftop Deck
10

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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INSTALLATION STEP
With a 5mm allen wrench, tighten down
outside corner bracket screws onto sides
and front/rear sections
Next tighten down the inside corner
bracket, and last the two screws with nuts
holding the corner bracket together
With the corners and front and rear
sections installed, sight down the rails to
make sure it’s all straight
Move around the van and tighten all the
risers down
There’s enough adjustment in the system
to enable the rails to be square and in-line
with each other
*Throw a tape measure across the rails,
should be 59-7/8” - 60” outside-outside
*If you’re installing planks, install them be-
fore you tighten down the risers to the roof,
this will help set the width
11

ROOFTOP DECK - TRANSIT
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FINISHED!
That’s it, you’re all done!!
Now it’s time to ll your Rooftop Deck
up with all the cool stuff; Planks, Deck
Boards, Filler Panels...etc.