This page combines the official Rixen MCS7, floor heat, engine heat, ComfortHot, and CNC heated floor instructions with the current design decisions for this van. It is not a replacement for the official manuals. Use it as the van-specific install sequence and checklist.
Reference pages:
/van/artifacts/manuals/rixen.| Area | Current Decision |
|---|---|
| Hydronic service bay | Passenger-side interior plumbing bay. |
| Furnace | Preferred passenger-side underbody, near the hydronic service bay. |
| Fuel pump | Driver-side, near the 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line, to keep suction side short. |
| Fuel line | Protected pressure-side line routed from driver-side pump to passenger-side furnace. |
| Air handler | Passenger-side preferred, near hydronic service bay, ducting forward/mid/rear as layout allows. |
| Air distribution | Provide warm air toward the cab, middle seating area, and bedroom. |
| Floor loop | Separate radiant branch with its own pump and mixing valve, supplied from and returned to the expansion tank plumbing. |
| Floor exit | Aft passenger-side corner, into the plumbing area. |
| Engine heat exchanger | Near Ford coolant tap points; Ford coolant side stays short and protected. |
| Ford engine loop | Install during initial build. |
| Engine preheat | Not in current scope; leave future space only if convenient. |
| Electric element | Shore-power/pass-through load; configure electrical system for 1500 W, 120 VAC element. |
This plan separates actual body/floor penetrations from exterior-only routes. Exact hole locations remain physical layout work and must be marked from both sides before drilling.
| Path / Pass-Through | Current Plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PT-G1 glycol supply from service bay to underbody furnace |
One protected passenger-side service-bay penetration for 3/4 in Rixen glycol hose from ComfortHot / supply tee / main pump down to the passenger-side underbody furnace. | Use a bulkhead fitting where packaging allows, or a correctly sized grommet/edge-protected hole for protected hose. Keep the main pump gravity-fed from the tank before the hose drops underbody. |
PT-G2 glycol return from underbody / engine-heat run back to service bay |
Second protected passenger-side service-bay penetration for the 3/4 in Rixen glycol return from the underbody engine-heat/exchanger side back into the air-handler / domestic-hot-water / return-tee area. | PT-G1 and PT-G2 can be grouped in the same pass-through zone, but should remain separate hose penetrations or a true two-hose bulkhead so each hose has bend radius, strain relief, sealing, and abrasion protection. |
| Floor PEX exit | Aft passenger-side floor exit directly into the plumbing area. | This is a floor-system exit, not an underbody furnace pass-through. Bring the two 3/8 in PEX tails into the service bay with the Columbia/JRD-required 2 ft excess, then transition to the Rixen floor branch using the selected PEX adapter stack. |
| Electrical/control pass-through | Deferred from the current pass-through plan. | Do not buy or drill electrical pass-through hardware in this Rixen plumbing pass. When electrical layout resumes, route it separately from hot glycol hoses and protect it with its own grommet/cable gland. |
| Fuel line | No cabin pass-through planned. | Route from the driver-side 31 gal aux fuel extension line and driver-side fuel pump to the passenger-side furnace entirely underbody, independently secured and protected. |
| Ford coolant side | No cabin pass-through planned. | Ford coolant stays in the engine bay / Ford heater-hose area and only passes through the Ford side of the plate exchanger. Keep this side short. |
| Rixen engine-heat glycol side | Underbody route from passenger-side furnace area forward to the engine heat exchanger, then back through PT-G2 to the service bay. |
This is the long house-glycol side. Protect from road spray, heat, abrasion, wheel debris, and sharp edges. |
| Air ducts | No body/floor pass-through planned. | Air handler and three duct runs stay inside the van, routed toward cab, middle seating area, and bedroom. |
| Furnace intake/exhaust | No cabin pass-through planned. | Furnace is underbody, so combustion intake/exhaust remain exterior and dedicated to the furnace. Do not connect to the vehicle engine exhaust. |
| Domestic water | No Rixen-specific underbody pass-through planned. | Cold water, domestic exchanger, thermostatic mixing valve, and tempered hot-water distribution stay inside the plumbing area/interior water system. |
Preferred physical grouping: one passenger-side hydronic pass-through zone in or near the plumbing bay for PT-G1 and PT-G2. Electrical is intentionally deferred. Do not final-drill until the underside has been checked against frame structure, fuel tank/fuel lines, brake lines, electrical harnesses, exhaust, gray-water hardware, wheel-spray zones, and the floor PEX map.
| Topic | Requirement / Instruction |
|---|---|
| Coolant | Use automotive premixed 50/50 coolant. Do not use boiler antifreeze unless automotive grade and compatible. |
| Expansion tank | Keep reservoir close to full, but leave about 1 in air space for expansion. |
| Main glycol pump | Place near/below ComfortHot tank so it is gravity-fed; Rixen states the pump can push but cannot pull. |
| Pump commissioning | Use high speed for initial coolant purge, then low speed for normal operation. |
| Furnace orientation | Vertical mounting is strongly recommended for clean burn and service interval. |
| Fuel pump | Outside vehicle, inlet/big nut downward, outlet upward, preferred 15-35 degrees; 0-15 degrees not allowed. |
| Fuel line length | Rixen diagram shows 6 ft max suction side and 21 ft max pressure side. |
| Fuel priming | Prime into a container with furnace-side hose disconnected, then connect hose to furnace. |
| Floor heat | Floor branch uses pump, mixing valve, and PEX/floor fabrication; Rixen labels it From Exp. Tank and Return to Exp. Tank. |
| Engine heat | Engine heat plate exchanger transfers engine waste heat to MCS7 coolant; Ford coolant and MCS7 glycol remain separate. |
| Domestic hot water | Use thermostatic mixing valve; Rixen recommends 110-120 F outlet range. |
| 12 V wiring | Rixen component layout calls for 10 AWG power/ground/engine battery wiring and 20 A from house fuse panel. |
| 120 V element | ComfortHot electric element is 1500 W; Rixen calls for a 15 A AC fuse/breaker and 14 AWG on the AC side. |
| Air sensor | Mount mid-height on an interior wall, not in a cabinet and not near heat sources or outlet vents. |
| Air purge / bleeding | Manufacturer docs require the coolant circuit to be bled/vented completely; Rixen says use high pump speed during initial commissioning/purging. |
| Area | Buy / Verify | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel line | Add 12 ft of Rixen P15-100 1/8 in fuel hose so total available is about 20 ft |
MCS7 kit list includes 8 ft. The driver-side pump to passenger-side furnace pressure run is estimated at 8-14 ft, with Rixen/Eberspaecher limit at 21 ft / 6 m. |
| Fuel line protection | 20 rubber-lined clamps sized for protected fuel conduit, 20-25 ft split loom or small fuel-line conduit, 6-10 ft heat sleeve, rubber grommets, standoffs, edge protection | Eberspaecher recommends fuel-line fixing points about every 50 cm; Ford requires independent routing secured to body/brackets and away from hot/moving components. |
| Ford auxiliary fuel connector | Primary: 1 required plus 1 spare Dynapex / Fittings Space qpd2b_05m_03, 5/16 in male quick-connect tube to 3/16 in hose barb. Backup/high-spec path: Protec 14743, SAE J2044 male 7.89 mm to ID4 barb with Viton seal. |
Ford BEMM calls for one male 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect into the 31 gal extension's female connector. The Dynapex path matches Rixen's included 3/16 in hose and 3/16-to-1/8 reducer; the second purchased fitting is only a spare. |
| Fuel shutoff and reducer | Gasoline-rated shutoff valve in the short suction-side run; spring/360 degree fuel clamps; reducer from 3/16 in or 4 mm adapter outlet to Rixen 1/8 in hose | Ford BEMM says any unique system needs a suitable shutoff. Keep threaded joints minimal; use gasoline-rated sealant if using an NPT adapter path. |
| Glycol hose | 50-60 ft of 3/4 in automotive heater/coolant hose if installing engine heat now; closer to 30-35 ft if engine heat is deferred. Include 20 extra 3/4 in constant-tension spring clamps, 30-40 rubber-lined hose clamps/P-clamps, abrasion sleeve, and underbody heat sleeve as needed by final route. | Rixen kits include many fittings/clamps/elbows/splices, but not vehicle-length bulk hose. 60 ft is a no-stop margin, not a hard requirement. 50 ft is the more practical first-pass buy with engine heat; without engine heat, the long forward/back run can be bought later after route measurement. |
| Engine heat glycol run | Use 30-40 ft of 3/4 in coolant hose plus abrasion/heat protection for the long Rixen-side forward/back run; add two full-flow 3/4 in isolation valves on the Rixen side of the exchanger | Engine heat exchanger stays near Ford tap points, so Rixen glycol run back to service bay may be long. Transit forum examples make 40 ft for the two long Rixen-side runs a reasonable upper planning allowance, but exact length should be measured before cutting. |
| Ford coolant side | 8 ft of 5/8 in ID automotive heater hose as the practical buy, or 10 ft with margin; 12 ft only if exchanger bracket location is still unresolved. Also buy 8-12 constant-tension 22 mm spring clamps, 2 x 1/2 in MPT-to-5/8 in hose barb fittings for the Ford side of the plate exchanger, 5/8 in inline bleeder or bleeder tee, Ford-approved matching coolant, heat sleeve near exhaust, and exchanger mounting hardware | Use the standard Ford heater-hose tap method because this van does not list 62A. Rixen supplies 1/2 in MPT-to-3/4 in barbs for 3/4 in hose; replace the Ford-side pair with 5/8 in barbs instead of adding reducers unless packaging favors reducers. |
| Ford coolant side alternate fittings | 2 x 3/4 in to 5/8 in coolant reducers plus 27 mm clamps | Only needed if using the Rixen-supplied 1/2 in MPT-to-3/4 in barbs on the Ford side rather than replacing them with 5/8 in barbs. |
| Isolation valves | 4 x full-flow 3/4 in coolant-rated hose-barb ball valves: 2 for the floor branch and 2 for the Rixen side of the engine heat exchanger | Not clearly included; useful for service and failure isolation. Use full-flow valves and do not restrict the Ford engine coolant side. |
| Purge/bleed hardware | 2-4 x 3/4 in hose-barb purge/fill tees or drain valves for the Rixen side, 1 x 5/8 in bleeder for the Ford side, caps/plugs, short fill/drain hose, and a small transfer/fill pump | Manufacturer docs require complete coolant bleeding but do not prescribe Rixen-specific purge-port layout. Size purchases to the 3/4 in Rixen glycol side and the 5/8 in Ford side. |
| Coolant | 6 gal automotive premixed 50/50 coolant for a complete Rixen glycol fill, plus 1 gal Motorcraft Yellow 50/50 VC-13DL-G / WSS-M97B57-A2 for Ford-side top-off if touching Ford coolant |
Calculated planning capacity for the complete system: about 2 gal tank + about 1.2 gal in 50 ft of 3/4 in hose or 1.4 gal in 60 ft + about 0.5 gal in 100 ft of 3/8 in PEX + components/purge margin. Ford coolant remains a separate fluid circuit. |
| Exhaust/intake | Extra exhaust flex only if the safe outlet location cannot be reached with included 3 ft; heat shielding and stand-offs | Keep furnace exhaust dedicated, short, and safely terminated; do not tie into vehicle engine exhaust. |
| Mounting/protection | Underbody furnace protection, brackets, fasteners, nutserts/rivnuts, hose clamps | Furnace bracket is included, but van-specific mounting/protection is not. |
| Transit furnace mount | Eberspaecher/Rixen S3 bracket from kit, plus 12 x 12 in or 12 x 18 in adapter plate stock, M6 rivnuts/nutserts, M6 stainless/coated bolts, washers, locknuts, anti-corrosion primer/paint | Transit owner installs commonly use an intermediate bracket/adapter rather than relying on the Rixen bracket alone; official Eberspaecher guidance says adjacent components must not load the heater after mounting. |
| Hose pass-throughs | 2 protected 3/4 in glycol hose penetrations at the passenger-side service bay, using heater-hose bulkhead fittings or high-quality grommets sized for protected hose, plus sealant, edge primer/paint, and edge trim. | Current layout needs PT-G1 supply from service bay to furnace and PT-G2 return from underbody/engine-heat side back to service bay. Fuel, Ford coolant, air ducts, furnace exhaust/intake, domestic water, and deferred electrical do not need cabin pass-throughs in this plumbing pass. |
| Underbody shielding | Aluminum shield/guard material, standoffs, protected fasteners, and shield clearance for furnace, intake, exhaust, exposed glycol hose, and fuel line | Community reports call out rock/salt/sand exposure, especially near wheel areas and intake/exhaust. |
| Hose clamps | Extra constant-tension spring clamps in required hose sizes | Rixen-supplied clamps are constant-tension style; community installs recommend staying with that style where possible. |
| Air-handler ducting | Add only 10 ft extra Rixen A12-210 3 in plastic vent hose |
Rixen A11-100 air handler is 206 CFM. Order E-3613 confirms 3 x closable vents, 1 x 3 in triple faceplate kit, and 20 ft total included 3 in vent hose. The physical kit-audit layer on Rixen Hydronic Heat and Floor carries the current observation that the included hose is likely two 10 ft sections and that the included three-way outlet already provides three 3 in hose takeoffs. No splitter, plenum, or duct-clamp purchase is currently planned; add replacement retention hardware only if a physical kit audit shows missing or damaged pieces. |
| Electrical | 10 AWG DC power/ground, 20 A house DC fuse/breaker, 15 A engine-battery DC fuse if engine-battery feed is used, 16 AWG component wiring, 18 AWG touchscreen wiring, 14 AWG AC element wiring, 15 A AC breaker/fuse, terminals, loom, strain reliefs | Rixen specifies the gauges/fuses; bulk install wire and protection are not part of the kit list. ComfortHot 1500 W element remains a shore-power/pass-through AC design load. |
| Floor PEX fittings | Buy the Columbia-specific Rixen transition parts: 2 x P16-104 3/8 in SharkBite x 1/2 in MPT lead-free, and 2 x P23-112 3/4 in hose barb x 1/2 in FPT |
Rixen's Columbia floor heat kit page lists these parts for connecting the 3/8 in PEX floor loop to the 3/4 in floor heat kit plumbing. The current physical kit-audit finding recorded on Rixen Hydronic Heat and Floor is that the generic G56a floor-heat kit hardware appears to include the tees, threaded barbs, clamps, and reducers, but not the 3/8 in PEX transition fittings, so buy the push-fit stack. The floor tube item number is confirmed as Bluefin TU038-300-R, which is 3/8 in red PEX-b; the on-hand Milwaukee 2532-20 is a ProPEX/F1960 expansion tool, so do not use it for this tubing unless the actual tube printing explicitly lists ASTM F1960. |
| Domestic hot-water potable side | Potable-rated adapters from the Rixen double-wall plate exchanger and P12-101 thermostatic mixing valve to ProPEX/F1960-compatible PEX, plus hot/cold isolation valves, tubing to fixtures, labels, and a thermometer for outlet-temperature adjustment |
Rixen specifies potable water only, no hot-water storage tank, a thermostatic mixing valve, 110-120 F mixed outlet target, and about 0.8 gpm desired flow for peak continuous hot-water performance. The van domestic-water standard is now PEX compatible with the on-hand Milwaukee 2532-20 ProPEX/F1960 expansion tool. This is separate from the Columbia heated-floor PEX-b, which still uses the Rixen push-fit transition stack. |
| Controller and air-temperature sensor mounting | Optional controller mounting plate only if no hard wall mount exists; low-voltage wire/loom as needed for final route | Rixen says the controller is permanently installed on an easy-access wall and communicates by local Wi-Fi in the 10-30 m range. Mount the air-temperature sensor around mid-height on an interior wall, not inside a cabinet or next to a heat source, outlet vent, microwave, coffee pot, or similar local heat influence. |
These are the remaining gaps before the missing-materials BOM can be treated as final.
| Gap | What Must Be Checked | BOM Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Rixen kit audit | Expected kit contents are researched from Rixen pages and order records; physical count still matters only to catch packing differences and confirm exact on-hand pieces. | No research blocker remains. Purchase missing items only if the physical kit audit on Rixen Hydronic Heat and Floor shows a mismatch against the kit-content tables. |
| Ford aux fuel adapter stack | Primary adapter path selected: buy 1 required plus 1 spare Dynapex / Fittings Space qpd2b_05m_03; keep Protec 14743 as backup if a SAE J2044/Viton ID4 outlet is preferred. |
Only one adapter is installed between the Ford aux fuel extension and the short Rixen suction-side hose stack. Final physical check is latch engagement after the part arrives, not a pre-purchase blocker. |
| Fuel-line route and protection | Eberspaecher support spacing and Ford routing constraints are resolved: secure about every 50 cm, route independently, and avoid hot/moving/sharp/fuel/brake/electrical components. | Buy 20 fuel-line support clamps, 20-25 ft protective loom/conduit, 6-10 ft heat sleeve, grommets, and edge protection. Final clamp locations follow the underbody route. |
| Passenger-side furnace mount | Research supports a Rixen/Eberspaecher bracket plus Transit-specific intermediate adapter plate with rivnuts/nutserts. | Buy adapter plate stock, M6 rivnuts/hardware, anti-corrosion coating, and shield material now. Exact hole pattern and bracket shape remain physical layout work. |
| Glycol bulk hose length | Purchase basis is scoped by phase: with engine heat installed now, 50 ft is practical and 60 ft is a no-stop margin; with engine heat deferred, buy closer to 30-35 ft for local furnace/service-bay/floor work and buy the long engine-heat run later after measurement. | Final cut lengths remain physical. Do not treat 60 ft as mandatory if the engine heat exchanger route is not being installed in the same work phase. |
| Ford engine coolant tie-in | Use Rixen's engine-heat instruction and Ford's BEMM constraint together: interrupt the heater-hose path between the front cab heater outlet / dash exchanger outlet and the water-pump return inlet, then run that Ford coolant through the Ford side of the Rixen plate exchanger in series. The Ford Build & Price options list does not show 62A / Auxiliary Heater Prep Package, and owner expectation is that the coolant prep stubs are not present. |
Purchase Ford-side hose/fittings now from the 5/8 in planning BOM. Final install still needs the physical exchanger mount point, straight-vs-90 fitting orientation, clamp count, and exact hose cut lengths. |
| Floor PEX transition | Columbia-specific Rixen parts are identified and selected: 2 x P16-104 and 2 x P23-112. |
Buy those parts for the 3/8 in floor PEX transition. Exact mounting location remains physical. |
| Purge, bleed, and isolation layout | Manufacturer requirement is resolved: bleed/vent completely; use high pump speed during purging; do not run pump dry. | Buy 3/4 in purge/fill tees or drain valves, 3/4 in full-flow isolation valves, caps/plugs, short fill/drain hose, and a fill pump. Exact purge-port placement remains physical. |
| Air-handler duct layout | Rixen A11-100 air handler capacity and duct size are resolved, and the physical kit-audit layer already records that the included three-way outlet provides three 3 in hose takeoffs. |
Buy an extra 10 ft of 3 in duct only. No splitter/plenum material is needed. Do not add duct-clamp purchases unless the physical kit audit shows missing or damaged retention hardware. Exact outlet routing and return-air grille location remain physical. |
| Electrical routing | Rixen wire gauges and protection are resolved: 10 AWG power/ground, 20 A house DC, 14 AWG AC element, 15 A AC element protection, 16 AWG component wiring, and 18 AWG touchscreen wiring. | Buy wire/protection to these specs with conservative length margin. Exact wire lengths and service-disconnect locations remain physical/electrical layout work. |
| Domestic hot-water connections | Rixen-specific requirements are resolved: potable water only, on-demand heating through a double-wall plate exchanger, thermostatic mixing valve, 110-120 F mixed outlet target, and about 0.8 gpm desired hot-water flow. Van-wide potable tubing is ProPEX/F1960-compatible PEX. | Buy potable adapters from the exchanger/mixing valve to PEX-A/F1960 tubing, plus isolation valves and fixture tubing. Remaining physical variables are exact adapter gender/thread form at each Rixen potable connection, fixture routing, and cut lengths. |
| Coolant quantity | Planning capacity is calculated from known tank/floor/hose data. | Buy 6 gal automotive 50/50 premix for the Rixen side and 1 gal Motorcraft Yellow 50/50 for Ford-side top-off. Recheck level after heat cycles. |
| Consumables/tools | Confirm install methods for drilling, pass-throughs, sealing, priming, fuel testing, and coolant fill/purge. | Finalizes sealant, edge primer/paint, grommets, drill bits, rivnut tooling, fuel-line disconnect tool, catch pans, fill pump, labels, and inspection mirror/light needs. |
Low-risk materials that can be bought before final mockup: 50 ft of 3/4 in automotive heater hose if installing engine heat now, or 30-35 ft if deferring engine heat; 60 ft is only a no-stop margin for the all-in engine-heat install. Also buy 20 extra 3/4 in spring clamps, 30-40 larger rubber-lined hose clamps/P-clamps, the 5/8 in Ford coolant-side BOM listed above if engine heat is in scope, 1 required plus 1 spare Dynapex/Fittings Space qpd2b_05m_03 fuel adapter, extra Rixen 1/8 in fuel hose to reach 20 ft total available, gasoline-rated fuel shutoff, fuel-line spring clamps, 20 fuel-line support clamps, split loom/conduit, heat sleeve, edge grommets, anti-corrosion primer/paint, the Rixen Columbia floor transition fittings if not already present, extra 10 ft of 3 in duct, purge/fill hardware, isolation valves, ProPEX/F1960 domestic hot-water adapters after exact thread gender is confirmed from the Rixen components, 6 gal Rixen-side 50/50 premix if doing the complete fill, 1 gal Ford-side Motorcraft Yellow 50/50 if touching Ford coolant, and label stock.
Items that still depend on physical layout rather than missing research: straight-vs-90 orientation for the Ford-side plate-exchanger barbs, exact Ford-side hose cut length, exact plate-exchanger bracket location, furnace adapter-plate hole pattern, exact fuel-line clamp locations, exact hose pass-through positions, final duct outlet routing and return-air grille location, exact domestic-water adapter gender/thread form and fixture route, whether the shipped G56a box already contains the Columbia transition fittings, and exact purge/bleed valve placement.
| Question | Resolved Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| How much fuel hose is included? | Rixen MCS7 gasoline kit includes 8 ft of P15-100 1/8 in fuel hose, 1/8 in spring clamps, 2 ft of 3/16 in fuel hose, and a 3/16 to 1/8 barb reducer. More 1/8 in hose is sold by Rixen as P15-100 per foot. |
Rixen MCS7 gasoline kit page; Rixen P15-100 product page. |
| Are bulk 3/4 in glycol hose lengths included? | Rixen lists many 3/4 in elbows, barbs, splices, and clamps, but does not list bulk 3/4 in heater hose for all vehicle-specific runs. Buy by final measured route length. | Rixen MCS7, floor heat, and engine heat kit contents. |
| Are floor PEX and floor fittings included? | The Columbia/JRD floor install sheet says the floor includes adhesive, heat-transfer plates, and 100 ft of 3/8 in PEX, with 2 ft of excess PEX left at the exit. The Rixen MCS7 floor heat kit page says PEX pipe connections are sold separately. Verify/buy the PEX transition fittings before install. | Columbia/JRD floor install sheet; Rixen MCS7 floor heat kit page. |
| What adhesive is used for the floor? | Artek's current Columbia Hydronic Flooring System collection exposes the matching adhesive as Loctite Teroson MS 5510 Adhesive/Sealant - 300ml Cartridge. Artek's adhesive product page lists black as SKU ART-1560557-LOC / Henkel MPN 1560557 and white as SKU ART-1562042-LOC. |
Artek Columbia Hydronic Flooring System collection; Artek adhesive product page; Henkel Teroson MS 5510 product pages. |
| Are other adhesives reasonable? | Yes, but match the adhesive class rather than buying generic construction adhesive. The floor needs an elastic, gap-filling, moisture-cure vehicle/RV assembly adhesive that bonds painted steel to the fiberglass-reinforced floor/subfloor materials and tolerates vibration. Sikaflex-552 AT is the closest reviewed alternative because it is a silane-terminated polymer vehicle-assembly adhesive for coated metal, GRP, plastics, ceramic materials, and dynamic stresses. Sikaflex-252 is also a plausible vehicle-assembly polyurethane adhesive for large components, coated metal, GRP, timber, plastics, and dynamic stresses. Do not substitute silicone caulk, spray adhesive, hard-setting panel adhesive, or solvent-heavy foamboard/construction adhesive unless Artek/Rixen approves it. |
Henkel Teroson MS 5510 product page; Sika Sikaflex-552 AT product page/data sheet; Sika Sikaflex-252 product page/data sheet. |
| How much floor adhesive is required? | Not source-confirmed. The Rixen order email, Rixen heated-floor product page, Artek product page, Campervan HQ product page, Columbia/JRD install sheet, and one Sprinter-Source Columbia-floor discussion identify or corroborate the adhesive family, but none specifies the cartridge count for SKU J10-148L. Estimate from the official install pattern and 300 ml bead-yield math: if no adhesive shipped, 8 cartridges is the practical starting quantity and 10 cartridges is the no-stop install quantity. 12 cartridges is only an unusually conservative margin for heavy low-point/seam filling. Buy only enough extra cartridges to reach the selected total after auditing the physical kit. |
Rixen order E-3134; Rixen heated-floor product page; Artek adhesive product page; Campervan HQ Ford Transit 148 EL Columbia product page; Columbia/JRD install sheet; Sprinter-Source community thread; generic 300 ml sealant bead-yield references. |
| Which floor PEX transition fittings should be used? | Rixen's Columbia floor heat kit lists the exact transition parts for a 3/8 in PEX floor loop: 2 x P16-104 3/8 in SharkBite x 1/2 in MPT lead-free, and 2 x P23-112 3/4 in hose barb x 1/2 in FPT. Because this order shows G56a, buy/verify these parts. |
Rixen MCS Floor Heat Kit - Columbia page. |
| What is the selected floor PEX adapter stack? | Buy two identical assemblies: Bluefin TU038-300-R 3/8 in PEX-b floor tail into P16-104 3/8 in push-fit x 1/2 in MPT, thread-sealed into P23-112 3/4 in hose barb x 1/2 in FPT, then into the 3/4 in Rixen glycol hose with a 3/4 in clamp. |
Rixen MCS Floor Heat Kit - Columbia page; Bluefin TU038-300-R product page. |
Can the on-hand Milwaukee 2532-20 tool make the floor PEX transition? |
No for the confirmed tubing unless the printed markings contradict the product listing. The floor tube item number is Bluefin TU038-300-R, a 3/8 in red PEX-b tube listed for clamp, PEX compression, crimp, push fit, and PEX press, but not expansion. Milwaukee lists 2532-20 as a ProPEX expander for 3/8-1 in expansion connections. Use the Rixen SharkBite-style transition stack or a crimp/clamp/press/compression system that matches Bluefin PEX-b. |
Milwaukee 2532-20 product page; Bluefin TU038-300-R product page. |
| Does engine heat kit include Transit-specific Ford tap hardware? | No. It includes heat exchanger, bracket, 1/2 MPT to 3/4 barb fittings, 3/4 elbows/splice, and 3/4 clamps. Ford-specific tap hardware remains vehicle-dependent. | Rixen engine heat kit page. |
| Does engine heat kit need separate tees from the ComfortHot tank? | Rixen engine heat figure shows the engine heat exchanger in the MCS7 coolant circuit while Ford coolant remains separate; kit contents do not list tees. Do not allocate floor-kit tees to engine heat unless Rixen confirms a different layout. | Rixen MCS7 manual and engine heat kit contents. |
| What exactly is the Ford coolant tap plan? | Use the Ford heater-hose path, not the factory prep-port procedure. Rixen says engine heat is a series loop from the dash exchanger coolant outlet to a plate exchanger; Ford says third-party coolant connections go in the heater hose between the front cab heater and water-pump return inlet. For this van, treat that as a short Ford-side series loop through the Rixen plate exchanger. | Rixen MCS7 manual; Ford Transit 2023 BEMM. |
| What does Ford say about gasoline auxiliary fuel supply? | Do not cut original fuel supply lines. The van uses the 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line; Ford describes a lower female 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect for upfitters, requiring a mating male 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect fitting. Fuel tube/line must be routed independently and secured to body/brackets. | Ford Transit 2023 BEMM. |
| What does Ford say about engine coolant tie-in? | Connections should be into heater hose between front cab heater and water pump return inlet; cab heater flow must have priority; added coolant volume should not exceed original volume by more than 10%; hoses near exhaust within 100 mm need heat sleeve; routing must avoid wires, hot/moving parts, brake/fuel systems. 2023 BEMM repeats the same constraints as the 2020 BEMM. | Ford Transit 2020 and 2023 BEMM. |
| What Ford-side hose size should be purchased? | Purchase around 5/8 in ID Ford heater hose. A Transit Webasto heater installation parts table uses 5/8 in heater hose, 22 mm spring clamps, 19-to-16 mm coolant tees, and 3/4-to-5/8 reducers when using factory upfitter ports. This is not the Rixen plumbing method, but it corroborates the Transit heater-hose size family for purchasing the Ford-side hose, clamps, bleeder, and reducers if needed. | Webasto Ford Transit manual, pages 33, 37, and 38. |
| How much Ford-side coolant volume is acceptable? | Ford's 2023 BEMM limits added coolant volume to 10% over the original vehicle volume when not using the prep-pack. Ford's 2025 Transit owner manual lists the 3.5L EcoBoost cooling system at 13.31 qt / 12.6 L without auxiliary heater and 14.27 qt / 13.5 L with auxiliary heater. Treat roughly 0.9-1.3 L added Ford-side coolant volume as the practical upper planning envelope and keep the Ford side short. | Ford Transit 2023 BEMM; 2025 Transit Owner's Manual. |
Does this van have Ford Auxiliary Heater Prep Package 62A? |
No for planning purposes. The Ford Build & Price selected-equipment PDF lists the Auxiliary Fuel Port Extension Line, Modified Vehicle Wiring System, Dual AGM Batteries, Engine Block Heater, and Auxiliary Fuse Panel with High Spec Interface Connector, but it does not list 62A / Auxiliary Heater Prep Package. Owner expectation is that the coolant prep stubs are not present. Plan the Rixen engine heat tie-in as a standard Ford heater-hose tap. |
Ford Build & Price PDF saved at /van/artifacts/vehicle/2025-ford-transit-build-price-options-2025-02-08.pdf; owner planning note on 2026-05-19. |
| How should the long fuel line be supported? | Eberspaecher says to fix fuel lines securely to avoid vibration damage/noise and recommends fixing points about every 50 cm. Ford says additional fuel lines must route independently and be secured to body structure or suitable brackets, with clearance from hot/moving components and no fastening to existing wiring/fuel lines. | Eberspaecher Hydronic S3 technical manual; Ford Transit 2023 BEMM. |
| How much coolant should be bought? | Buy 6 gal automotive premixed 50/50 coolant for a complete Rixen-side fill and 1 gal Motorcraft Yellow 50/50 for Ford-side top-off if touching Ford coolant. The Rixen estimate is based on the 2 gal ComfortHot tank, about 1.2 gal in 50 ft of 3/4 in hose or 1.4 gal in 60 ft, about 0.5 gal in 100 ft of 3/8 in PEX, plus heat exchangers, furnace, valves, purge loss, and top-off margin. If engine heat is deferred and the system is filled without the long forward/back run, less coolant may be enough but 6 gal remains a reasonable full-system purchase. | Rixen MCS7 manual; Columbia/JRD floor install sheet; Ford 2025 owner manual. |
| What domestic hot-water details can be resolved from Rixen docs? | Rixen uses an on-demand double-wall plate exchanger with no domestic hot-water storage tank, requires potable water only, sends heated water through a thermostatic mixing valve, recommends 110-120 F mixed outlet temperature, and lists about 0.8 gpm as the desired continuous-hot-water flow rate. The P12-101 valve is a 1/2 in threaded valve with no flex connector included. |
Rixen MCS7 manual and operations manual; Rixen P12-101 mixing valve product page. |
| What domestic-water tube standard is selected? | Use ProPEX/F1960-compatible potable PEX for the domestic water system because the on-hand Milwaukee 2532-20 is a ProPEX expansion tool. This selection does not apply to the Columbia floor tube: the confirmed Bluefin TU038-300-R floor PEX is treated separately and still uses the Rixen push-fit transition stack. |
User decision on 2026-05-19; Milwaukee 2532-20 product page; Bluefin TU038-300-R product page. |
| Where should the air-temperature sensor and controller go? | Controller: easy-access interior wall mount; optional mounting plate only if no hard mount exists. Sensor: mid-height interior wall, fully connected to the control board, not in a cabinet and not near a vent, microwave, coffee pot, or other heat source. | Rixen MCS7 manual. |
| What air ducting can be resolved now? | The canonical inventory row for the vents remains received: 3 in closable vents. Order E-3613 and the associated Rixen fulfillment email trail confirm the 3 in triple faceplate kit and 20 ft total of included 3 in plastic vent hose, not three separate hose sections. The current physical kit-audit note on Rixen Hydronic Heat and Floor is that the included hose is likely two 10 ft sections, which matches the order, and that the included three-way outlet already provides three 3 in hose takeoffs. Rixen sells A12-210 3 in plastic vent hose by the foot up to 20 ft, and the A11-100 air handler is a 206 CFM, 1.2 A, 14,000 BTU unit. Buy an extra 10 ft of 3 in duct for routing slack. The canonical inventory row for the included vent hose remains received / measure. |
Rixen order E-3613; Rixen fulfillment emails; physical kit observation; Rixen 3 in closable vent page; Rixen 3 in vent hose page; Rixen A11-100 air handler page; Rixen MCS7 manual. |
| What electrical specs can be closed from the docs? | Rixen specifies 10 AWG for power/ground/engine-battery wiring, 20 A 12 V from the house fuse panel, 15 A from engine battery if used, 16 AWG component wiring, 18 AWG touchscreen wiring, 14 AWG for 120 V AC ComfortHot element wiring, and a 15 A inline AC fuse/breaker to the RV panel. | Rixen MCS7 manual. |
Ford findings above were checked against both the 2020 Transit Body and Equipment Mounting Manual and the 2023 Transit & E-Transit Body and Equipment Mounting Manual. The van is now documented as a 2025 Transit Cargo Van XL EL 350 HD High Roof with 3.5L EcoBoost, AWD, the 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line, and no listed 62A Auxiliary Heater Prep Package.
Use this as the working Ford-side engine-heat plan:
front cab heater / dash exchanger coolant outlet
-> short 5/8 in Ford heater hose
-> Rixen engine heat plate exchanger, Ford coolant side
-> short 5/8 in Ford heater hose
-> water-pump return inlet / heater return path
This keeps the vehicle coolant side short, preserves cab heater priority, and follows Rixen's separated-loop design. The MCS7 glycol side remains separate and uses the included 3/4 in Rixen engine-heat-kit fittings and the bulk 3/4 in glycol hose back to the house hydronic system.
Purchase now for the Ford side:
VC-13DL-G, specification WSS-M97B57-A2, or Ford-approved equivalent.Alternate if the Ford-side plate-exchanger ports use the Rixen-supplied 1/2 in MPT-to-3/4 in barbs:
Do not buy or plan around these as primary parts:
62A / prep-pack U-bend or restriction-removal parts. This van does not list the prep package.Corroborating research for the Ford-side barbs and hose:
HOSE HEATER 5/8 INCH ID, CLAMP SPRING BAND 22mm, BLEEDER VALVE OD 16mm, TEE COOLANT 19-16mm, and COUPLER REDUCER 3/4 X 5/8 PLASTIC. The same manual uses 3/4-to-5/8 reducers when factory upfitter ports are used.Decision: buy 1/2 in MPT-to-5/8 in Ford-side plate-exchanger barbs as the primary path. Keep 3/4-to-5/8 reducers only as an alternate if the Rixen-supplied 1/2 in MPT-to-3/4 in barbs must be used on the Ford side for packaging or availability reasons.
Research date: 2026-05-20. Location basis: Moody, Alabama.
Use these as call-list candidates, not endorsements. The Ford coolant cut-in and the underbody/upfit work should be screened separately because they require different competence.
The Ford side should be handled by a mechanic or mobile mechanic who is comfortable with heater-hose work, coolant bleeding, and pressure testing.
| Candidate | Why Consider | Screen For |
|---|---|---|
| Vulcan Tire & Automotive, Moody / Pell City | Has a Moody location at 2353 Moody Pkwy and a Pell City location, and lists cooling-system repair / radiator-hose failure context. |
Ask whether they will install a customer-supplied heat exchanger into a Ford heater-hose circuit, pressure test, bleed, and use constant-tension clamps. |
| Ron's Automotive, Leeds | Publishes radiator service, coolant refill, hose/clamp replacement, and pressure testing. Close to Moody. | Ask whether they will do custom heater-hose work rather than only stock radiator service. |
| Cams Auto Service, Leeds mobile mechanic | Mobile mechanic serving Leeds / Jefferson / St. Clair with radiator repair listed and 20 years of experience claimed. | Ask directly about coolant pressure testing, bleeding, and custom heater-hose work at the house. |
| GO AUTO, Birmingham mobile mechanic | Mobile service that comes to home/work and lists diagnostics/repair and HVAC work. | Ask whether they do coolant/heater-hose modifications, not just normal maintenance. |
| Argo Truck & Trailer Repair, Pell City / Birmingham mobile | Heavy-duty mobile repair service for trucks, RVs, and buses; likely more comfortable with underbody work and on-site hose routing. | Ask whether they work on light vans and gasoline coolant systems, and whether they can pressure-test/bleed Ford coolant. |
These are better candidates for mounting, shielding, pass-throughs, hose support, grommets, and general underbody packaging. Do not assume they should cut into the Ford coolant circuit unless they also have automotive cooling-system capability.
| Candidate | Why Consider | Screen For |
|---|---|---|
| Moody Moose Mobile RV Service and Repair | Lists mobile RV service, plumbing, 12 V / 120 V electrical, welding, diesel heater installs, cargo trailer buildouts, and suspension work. | Strong candidate for underbody support/shielding and auxiliary-heater-style routing; ask whether they have worked on camper vans and underbody hydronic hose protection. |
| ALM RV | Mobile RV service with RVDA/RVIA certified professionals and a mobile service model. | Ask whether they handle custom van hydronic routing or only conventional RV appliance/service calls. |
| LINE-X of Trussville / Birmingham | Lists van upfit services and commercial-van accessory installation. | Better for mounting/protection/brackets than engine coolant; ask whether they will do custom underbody work on owner-supplied hydronic parts. |
| Shafers RV, Cropwell / Pell City | Pell City Chamber listing categorizes it as camper/RV suppliers and repair. | Ask whether they do mobile work or custom install work; likely a general RV repair contact rather than coolant specialist. |
| M & C Mobile RV Service, Pell City | RVPoints listing identifies a Pell City mobile RV service with phone number. | Verify current operation, services, insurance, and whether they handle custom van underbody installs. |
Facebook groups are reasonable for finding paid help, but the post should filter for cooling-system or auxiliary-heater experience. Good wording:
Looking for paid help in Moody with a Ford Transit camper build. Project is a Rixen hydronic system with underbody hose routing and an engine heat exchanger. Need someone experienced with coolant/heater-hose work, auxiliary heaters, or van/RV underbody installs. Ford coolant tie-in requires pressure test and bleed capability; underbody portion needs safe brackets, clamps, grommets, abrasion/heat protection, and serviceable routing.
Do not hand the Ford coolant cut-in to a casual helper unless they can explain how they will pressure-test, bleed, support the heat exchanger so hoses are not load-bearing, keep Ford-side coolant volume short, and avoid exhaust/fuel/brake/electrical conflicts.
Current recommended fuel-source stack:
Ford 31 gal aux fuel extension line
-> Dynapex / Fittings Space qpd2b_05m_03 male 5/16 in quick-connect to 3/16 in barb
-> Rixen included 3/16 in hose section
-> gasoline-rated shutoff valve
-> Rixen included 3/16 in to 1/8 in barb reducer
-> short suction line to Rixen fuel pump inlet / big nut
-> protected pressure-side line to passenger-side furnace
| Candidate / Item | Why It Matters | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ford 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line | Ford says this lower extension line ends in a female 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect and requires the mating male 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect. | Confirmed baseline for this van. |
Fittings Space / Dynapex qpd2b_05m_03, 5/16 in male quick-connect tube to 3/16 in hose barb |
This exactly matches the community-described adapter family: a 5/16 in male Bundy/quick-connect tube that plugs into Ford's female quick-connect, with a 3/16 in barb outlet. Rixen's gasoline kit already includes 2 ft of 3/16 in fuel hose plus a 3/16-to-1/8 barb reducer. | Primary purchase. Only one is installed; buy two only so there is a spare. |
Protec 14743, SAE J2044 male 7.89 mm to ID4 barb |
Manufactured from PA12 with Viton O-ring seals to SAE J2044, listed safe for any fuel type and -40 C to +115 C. | Backup/high-spec adapter path if the 4 mm outlet is acceptable or can be adapted cleanly to Rixen's 1/8 in fuel hose. |
| Male 5/16 in SAE J2044 quick-connect to 1/8 NPT adapter | Clean generic route because 1/8 NPT can adapt to a small hose barb. Candidate examples found: NOS 17016NOS and Proflow PFE813-02BK. |
Fallback only. It adds threaded joints and needs gasoline-compatible thread sealant. |
| Packaged Transit heater fuel connector kits | Vanlife Outfitters, Timber Van Kits, Curious Campervans, and Butler Technik sell Transit heater fuel-connector kits for Webasto/Espar/Planar-style installs. | Useful fallback only if seller confirms fit to the 31 gal auxiliary extension line and outlet compatibility with Rixen's 1/8 in fuel hose. Many kits target the sender/top aux port or Webasto line size. |
| Female SAE J2044 quick-connect-to-barb fittings | These connect onto a male quick-connect nipple. The Ford extension line already has the female end, so these are the wrong direction for the first fitting. | Do not buy for the Ford extension connection. |
| Inline gauge/tap adapters with male/female quick-connect and 1/8 NPT side port | They can provide a 1/8 NPT port, but leave an unnecessary pass-through quick-connect that must be safely capped or blocked. | Avoid unless no cleaner male quick-connect-to-NPT/barb fitting is available. |
Ford CK41-9B210-A* 90 degree connector |
Ford BEMM lists this for 25 gal top-of-sender auxiliary port use. | Not the baseline for this van because the van uses the 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line. |
Install notes from the fitting research:
5/16 in, 7.89 mm, SAE J2044, and Ford's Gen 3 quick-connect language as the search family, but the primary purchase path is now qpd2b_05m_03.Community reports are not a substitute for Ford/Rixen instructions, but they help with the practical connector and layout details.
| Community Finding | Practical Meaning For This Build | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Ford Transit USA Forum members identify the needed connector as a 5/16 in male Bundy/quick-connect tube with either a 3/16 in or 5 mm barb outlet. One 2022 hydronic-system thread reports using that adapter into the Ford red aux-fuel connector and then hose-clamping the heater fuel line side. | A 5/16 male quick-connect-to-3/16 barb adapter is the most community-corroborated first purchase, especially because the Rixen kit includes a 3/16 in hose section and 3/16-to-1/8 reducer. | How to connect to Aux Fuel Port on 2022?, Fittings Space qpd2b_05m_03 |
| Owners describe the 31 gal aux extension connector as accessible from the driver side / left side, roughly midship along the fuel tank, often with a colored cap/plug and red retaining clip. Several note the plug is awkward to release and a fuel-line disconnect tool may help. | During mockup, locate the actual connector before ordering final fittings. Expect the cap removal to be fiddly; do not plan on cutting Ford retainers unless there is no better option. Be ready for a few drops of fuel. | 2022 auxiliary fuel port, page 3, How to connect to Aux Fuel Port on 2022? |
| Community experience is split on using the Ford aux pickup directly. Several Webasto/Velit/Rixen owners report successful operation, including at altitude. Other builders and FarOutRide caution that the Ford aux pickup is larger than heater fuel-line specifications and can contribute to priming/cavitation issues, especially at altitude or low fuel level. | Use the Ford aux extension because this van has it, but keep the fuel pump low and close to the extension line, keep suction length very short, minimize vertical lift before the pump, and treat altitude/low-tank testing as a commissioning requirement. If the Rixen shows priming/cavitation faults, fallback is a dedicated heater standpipe or catheter-style small tube inside the extension line. | Aux Fuel Port Extension Line 63F?, Velit Heater + Auxillary Fuel Port Extension, factory auxiliary gasoline pick up, FarOutRide Espar install |
| Rixen-specific forum reports are favorable but still anecdotal: one Transit owner says they connected a Rixen heater to the factory port after a phone call with Rixen; another reports Rixen connected to factory port/pickup and used over 10,000 ft without issues. | This supports the current plan, but does not remove the need for careful pump placement and commissioning. Rixen-specific success may be helped by keeping the pump near tank height and not asking it to lift much on the suction side. | Aux Fuel Port Extension Line 63F?, factory auxiliary gasoline pick up |
| Several reports mention the heater may stop drawing fuel around low tank levels, with estimates varying from around 1/4 tank to 1/2 tank depending on install and conditions. | Operational assumption: keep at least 1/3 tank when relying on cabin heat until this van is tested. Add low-fuel heater cutoff behavior to commissioning notes. | Aux Fuel Port Extension Line 63F?, Reddit Transit aux fuel reports |
Community-derived design rule: the factory aux extension is acceptable to try on this build, but only with the Rixen pump mounted driver-side, low, close to the extension line, and with the long run kept on the pump pressure side. Do not let the convenience of the factory extension justify a high or distant fuel pump.
Research sources:
These are planning estimates for a Ford Transit 148 in wheelbase extended SRW van. Ford lists the Long-EL Transit cargo body at about 263.9 in overall length, 147.6-148 in wheelbase, 76 in rear overhang, 172.2 in cargo floor length behind the front row, 81.3 in body width excluding mirrors, and 54.8 in cargo width between SRW wheelhouses. These are not final cut lengths; add service loops, bend radius, clamp routing, pass-throughs, and protection.
| Run | Estimated Installed Length | Planning Buy Length | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 gal aux fuel extension line to fuel pump suction side | 1-3 ft | included 3/16 in hose and reducer should cover the short suction adapter stack | Mount pump driver-side near the extension-line quick-connect. Rixen max suction side is 6 ft; target well under that. |
| Fuel pump pressure side to passenger-side furnace | 8-14 ft typical; 16 ft conservative | buy 12 ft extra P15-100 so about 20 ft total 1/8 in hose is available, while keeping installed run under Rixen's 21 ft limit |
Crosses from driver-side tank/pump area to passenger-side furnace. Eberspaecher recommends support about every 50 cm, so buy 20 fuel-line support clamps. |
| ComfortHot/main pump to passenger-side furnace | 4-8 ft of 3/4 in hose | 8-10 ft | Furnace is planned close to the passenger-side hydronic bay, but the hose still needs underbody pass-through, support, and bend radius. |
| Furnace/house loop to engine heat exchanger and back | 24-36 ft total 3/4 in hose | 30-40 ft if engine heat is installed now | Engine heat exchanger should stay near Ford coolant tap points, so the Rixen glycol side takes the long run: roughly two 12-18 ft protected runs depending on exact service-bay/furnace/engine-bay routing. Defer this hose purchase if engine heat is not part of the current install phase. |
| Ford coolant tap to engine heat exchanger and back | 2-6 ft total Ford-side coolant hose | buy 8 ft of 5/8 in heater hose, or 10 ft with margin; buy 12 ft only if bracket location is unresolved. Also buy 8-12 x 22 mm spring clamps, 2 x 1/2 in MPT-to-5/8 in barb fittings, a 5/8 in bleeder, heat sleeve, and mounting hardware | Exchanger should mount near the heater outlet / water-pump return path. Keep Ford-side added volume under Ford's 10% guidance and preferably under the roughly 0.9 L difference between Ford's with-aux-heater and without-aux-heater 2025 service capacities. |
| Interior hydronic service bay hose | 8-15 ft total 3/4 in hose | 15 ft, or 20 ft with comfort margin | ComfortHot, supply/return tees, pumps, floor mixing valve, DHW exchanger, and air handler are clustered but need serviceable bends and valve access. |
| Floor exit to floor pump/mixing valve | 4-8 ft total | 10 ft local allowance plus Rixen Columbia transition fittings P16-104 x2 and P23-112 x2 |
Aft passenger-side floor exit is selected; Columbia/JRD says to leave 2 ft of excess 3/8 in PEX at the exit. |
| Air-handler ducting to three vents | 16-24 ft expected total 3 in duct, with 30 ft total available after the extra purchase | buy 10 ft extra A12-210 only |
Cab run is likely longest, middle run shortest, bed run moderate. The physical kit-audit layer already records that the included Rixen three-way outlet provides three 3 in hose takeoffs, so no splitter/plenum material is needed. The extra duct avoids stopping the install if the forward cab outlet takes most of the included hose. |
| Furnace exhaust flex | 3 ft likely enough if outlet is well placed; 5-6 ft practical upper planning range | buy extra only if the safe outlet location cannot be reached within included 3 ft | Rixen kit includes 3 ft exhaust flex. Eberspaecher Hydronic S3 documentation keeps the exhaust system short and shows a maximum allowable line length around 2 m. Do not plan a long exhaust run. |
First-pass purchase assumption: have at least 20 ft total 1/8 in fuel hose available. For Rixen 3/4 in glycol hose, buy by phase: 50 ft is a practical all-in first-pass buy if engine heat is installed now, 60 ft is only a no-stop margin, and 30-35 ft is more appropriate if engine heat is deferred. Buy the Ford coolant-side 5/8 in heater-hose BOM only if the engine heat exchanger is in the same phase. Buy the Columbia floor transition fittings if not already in the kit, and buy 10 ft extra 3 in ducting for the three-outlet air-handler plan. The remaining variables are layout/cut/orientation details, not missing research.
| Estimate | Corroboration | Planning Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel suction and pressure-side limits | Rixen manual shows 6 ft suction max and 21 ft pressure max. Eberspaecher Hydronic S3 documentation shows 2 m intake side and 6 m pressure side, which is effectively the same envelope. | High. Keep pump near driver-side pickup and keep passenger-side furnace pressure run under the limit. |
| Fuel pump angle/location | Rixen requires exterior mounting, inlet/big nut down, outlet up, preferred 15-35 degrees. Pro-West repeats the Eberspaecher 15-35 degree pump-angle requirement. OurKaravan says to mount the pump close to the fuel source. FarOutRide's Transit Espar writeup notes Transit-specific pump brackets/orientation and fuel-line spec sensitivity. | High. Use a real bracket near the fuel tank/sender/aux extension area, not a casual frame attachment. |
| Ford auxiliary fuel fitting | 2023 Ford BEMM confirms the 31 gal auxiliary fuel extension line uses a lower female 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect and requires a mating male 5/16 in Gen 3 quick-connect fitting. Fittings Space / Dynapex qpd2b_05m_03 provides 5/16 in male quick-connect to 3/16 in barb, matching Rixen's included 3/16 in hose and 3/16-to-1/8 reducer. |
High. One qpd2b_05m_03 is installed; buy a second only as a spare. Protec 14743 is only a backup/high-spec alternate. |
| 3/4 in Rixen glycol hose estimates | Rixen kit contents list 3/4 in fittings, elbows, splices, and clamps, but not vehicle-length bulk hose. A Ford Transit Rixen thread includes a retrofit example using 50 ft of 3/4 coolant line with roughly 16 ft each way, and another Rixen thread states the single Rixen pump is sufficient for the extra engine-area run. | Medium-high for 50 ft if installing engine heat now; 60 ft is only a no-stop margin. If engine heat is deferred, buy 30-35 ft for local furnace/service-bay/floor work and measure the engine-heat run later. |
| Engine heat exchanger near Ford tap points | Rixen engine heat kit is a plate-exchanger kit and Rixen specifies a series loop from the dash exchanger coolant outlet. Ford BEMM restricts third-party heater connections to the front cab heater-to-water-pump return area, limits added coolant volume, and requires secure routing. This van's selected-options PDF does not list 62A, so do not plan around factory prep stubs. Webasto Transit instructions corroborate 5/8 in heater hose, 22 mm clamps, bleeder use, 19-to-16 mm tee sizing, and 3/4-to-5/8 reducers where 3/4 in upfitter plumbing is used. Transit community examples for Isotemp/Kuuma/Rixen installs also point to the heater circuit and 5/8 in hose, while warning that long Ford-coolant loops may need an added pump. |
High for buying 1/2 in MPT-to-5/8 in Ford-side barbs, 5/8 in hose, 22 mm clamps, bleeder, heat sleeve, and keeping Ford-side modifications short. Final straight-vs-90 barb orientation and cut length remain layout variables, not research blockers. |
| Air-handler ducting | Rixen manual recommends return-air routing and notes better circulation when return is farther from air-handler output. Rixen sells 3 in plastic vent hose by the foot up to 20 ft variants. Rixen's A11-100 air handler is 206 CFM, the current plan uses three 3 in closable vents, and the physical kit-audit layer already records that the included three-way outlet provides three 3 in hose takeoffs. |
High for buying extra 10 ft of 3 in duct only; exact outlet routing remains physical. |
| Furnace exhaust length | Rixen kit includes 3 ft of 24 mm exhaust flex. Eberspaecher Hydronic S3 documentation describes the exhaust kit as short sections and shows allowable line length around 2 m. | High. Short is correct; extra exhaust is only for safe termination, not routing convenience. |
| Floor exit to floor pump/mixing valve | Rixen floor kit provides pump, mixing valve, tees, fittings, and clamps. The Columbia/JRD install sheet confirms 100 ft of 3/8 in PEX and says to leave 2 ft of excess PEX at the exit. Rixen's Columbia floor heat kit lists P16-104 x2 and P23-112 x2 for the 3/8 in PEX-to-3/4 in hose transition. |
High. Buy/verify the Columbia transition fittings; exact local routing remains physical. |
Corroboration sources:
P11-400C pumps are present: one main glycol pump and one floor loop pump.P23-103 3/4 in tees.P16-104 x2 and P23-112 x2.IN port, unlabeled open port, and plugged port. Current assumption is unlabeled = supply, IN = return, plugged = do not use until confirmed.TRN-Special-Notes.pdf loose-piece map.Place these in one serviceable area if packaging allows:
IN port.Service access rules:
qpd2b_05m_03 to Rixen's included 3/16 in hose and 3/16-to-1/8 reducer.Main MCS7 loop:
ComfortHot unlabeled supply port
-> supply tee block
-> main glycol pump
-> passenger-side furnace
-> engine heat plate exchanger, MCS7 side
-> air handler
-> domestic hot water plate exchanger
-> return tee block
-> ComfortHot IN port
Floor branch:
supply tee block
-> floor mixing valve
-> floor pump
-> PEX floor loop
-> floor return
-> mixing valve return/blend leg
-> return tee block
Ford engine coolant side:
front cab heater / dash exchanger coolant outlet
-> 5/8 in Ford heater hose
-> engine heat plate exchanger, Ford side
-> 5/8 in Ford heater hose
-> water-pump return inlet / heater return path
Pass-through rules:
cold potable water
-> domestic hot water plate exchanger
-> thermostatic mixing valve
-> tempered hot water fixtures
Manufacturer requirements and instructions:
Implementation choices for this van:
| Source | What It Says |
|---|---|
| Rixen MCS7 installation manual | Fill with automotive premixed 50/50 coolant; use high pump speed during initial commissioning/purging; use low speed for normal heat output; keep reservoir close to full with about 1 in air space. |
| Rixen MCS7 installation manual | Main glycol pump should be mounted hanging under/near the ComfortHot tank so gravity feeds fluid with no air bubbles; pump can push but cannot pull. |
| BWO 355 pump manual | Dry-run protection is deactivated; the pump will not stop if running in air; the pipe system should be bled completely to prevent pump damage. |
| Eberspaecher Hydronic S3 technical/repair documentation | After installation or repair, vent the coolant/water circuit and fuel supply system carefully; open heating circuits before trial run; overheating can be caused by lack of water or poorly ventilated coolant circuit. |
The manufacturer documents do not provide a detailed Rixen-specific purge-port layout, bleeder placement plan, or floor-loop purge procedure. Any added purge fittings, isolation valves, or fill-cart procedure are van-specific implementation choices.
These are community-derived notes from Ford Transit Rixen installations, not official Rixen requirements. Use them as design prompts and verify against the official Rixen instructions and the actual van underside.
62A and owner expectation is that prep stubs are absent. Use the standard Ford heater-hose tap method.Keep the live blocker rows on Gaps and Questions. This procedural page should retain only the Rixen-specific install context that still matters during mockup and final layout:
3/4 in glycol hose cut lengths for the passenger service bay, furnace, engine heat exchanger, and floor branch during layout.90 degree Ford-side plate-exchanger barb orientation once the exchanger bracket location is fixed.Resolved source-backed inputs that no longer belong in a live open-items checklist:
TRN-Special-Notes.pdf.8 ft was not enough margin for the passenger-side furnace plan, so buy 12 ft extra P15-100 for about 20 ft total available.3/4 in glycol-hose purchase basis is resolved by phase: use 50 ft as the practical first-pass length if engine heat is installed now, 60 ft only as a no-stop margin, or 30-35 ft if engine heat is deferred.5/8 in heater hose, 22 mm spring clamps, and the documented plate-exchanger barb/reducer path.62A, so plan the standard Ford heater-hose tap method rather than factory prep stubs.10 ft extra Rixen A12-210 only; no splitter, plenum, or duct-clamp purchase is currently planned because the confirmed kit content and physical kit-audit layer already cover the three-way outlet / triple-faceplate setup.2026-05-19 with Ford coolant tap research, remaining BOM-gap research, Rixen DHW constraints, controller/sensor mounting constraints, 5/8 in Ford-side purchase BOM, and the no-62A standard heater-hose series-loop plan.2026-05-22 with Rixen combined-install page ownership rules that separate procedure checklists from Rixen source facts, active purchases, inventory, and project-wide gaps.