New Ford Transit Van

Ford announced that starting in 2013, it will start building the Ford Transit van here in the US in Kansas City.  It is meant to replace the regular E-series panel and passenger vans, but press releases inform us the initial plan is to continue selling both side by side for 2 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit

Press releases also state the current E-series cutaway chassis will continue to be built.

Motors to be made available for the US have not been disclosed, but as offered throughout the rest of the world, there would likely be diesel options.

Perhaps in time, this might provide us with a Sprinter chassis competitor that may be less expensive with greater availability of servicing dealers?

This has been a topic on other RV forums.

I understand the E350/E450 cut-away and stripped chassis will NOT be discontinued, only the E150/E250/E350 van.  Ford will continue to build the E-series for ambulances, box trucks, and other retro-fit applications including motor homes.  My concern is that cost will quickly increase as quantities of common parts to the basic van decreases.

I believe the T-Series van is a heavy duty work truck that is not very different from a Dodge Caravan.  It has a very small engine and front wheel drive.  I understood it has a heavy duty unibody which means there are no frame rails to build an RV house onto in a cut-away application.  If that is true, I don't envision Ford offering a specially designed duel rear wheel, rear wheel drive cut-away T-Series for larger class B+/C motor homes.

I think a T-Series (Transit Van) for motor home applications might be compared to the front wheel drive VW van that was used from 1996 to 2005 for the Winnebago Rialta and Vista motor home series.  VW delivered half chassis to Winnebago.  They actually came as twins, bolted together back-to-back.  I wish I had a picture to show that.  Everything from behind the VW van doors was 100% supplied by someone other than VW.  The frame, suspension, brakes, etc, it was all a kit car back there.  VW dealers wanted nothing to do with these, making service and warranty work very difficult for owners.  The Rialta and Vista single rear wheels and are quite a lot smaller than your typical motor home, much smaller than a PC-2350.  I considered many of their features more novity-like than practical.

I think any T-Series used for a motor home would resemble one of these.  If you love your PC slide outs, shower, fridge, stove, and all the rest, you wouldn't be very happy with one of these.  The expanding Rialta bathroom was really something.  Imagine yourself showering in an airplane bathroom, no....worse than that.

Rialta 1996-2005


Vista 2002-2005 (I think)

Service seemed to be a problem as well --- the VW dealers won't touch them because it is an RV, and vice-versa.

Hey Ron -

It's a different van.  The one you recall is a small FWD van made in Turkey called the Transit CONNECT.  Confusing, of course.  This a fullsize van, and is the main competitor with Mercedes worldwide.

Press releases state Ford intends offering models from T-150 through T-550.  If you look at the Wiki link and scroll to the bottom, you'll see the current model.

Also in the link, you'll see an earlier model dually cutaway as a motorhome.

Here's the vehicle I think Ron's mentioning.  And yes, not at all what it is we need or are looking for.

This van is currently being sold as both commercial and passenger models in North America.

The Rialta only made sense previous to regular B-minor models being sold here.  Agreed!

Here is the actual Ford Transit - obviously a Mercedes competitor.  Particularly as it's weight is supposedly less than 300# on average over a comparable E-chassis - so must have full frame rails, etc.

Here's a file photo of a Transit cutaway motorhome.  Could be as old as of the year 2000.

Ford is now all about "FORD ONE" - meaning Ford HERE is also Ford THERE, is Ford EVERYWHERE.

Take it from someone all-too intimately familiar with Ford manufacturing.  As regards the manufacture of passenger vehicles, I think it's a worthy goal.  Whether Ford or GM, and speaking generally: the passenger vehicles built for Continental and world tastes are all too often far superior to the usual domestic crap we've been offered for decades now.  If only because "elsewhere's" drivers' license requirements are far more stringent that in the US.  In the US?  You breathe, thus you get a drivers' license.  In Europe?  Breathing is only the bare minimum requirement.  The Euro market's offerings are FAR MORE entertaining and engaging for actual DRIVERS vs the US standard of being merely a sentient and metabolizing "life-form".

Truck chassis product?  Of that I'm not so sure.....

American needs in this regard are entirely different from those of Europe and the rest of the world.

My predictions?

Ford is committed to building the "T" here.  If for no other reason that increasingly demanding CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Requirements in the future will require it to be so.  The "T" will be here to stay.  If only because the E-150 & E-250 will be subject to CAFE.

I'd be willing to bet that either due to various "economies of scale", or depending on the future political outlook, CAFE will creep upward.  Regardless - in either case, betcha the E-350 will eventually disappear in favor of a T-350.  So that's where on smaller Phoenix models, you'll have a direct competitor with the Sprinter.

As for E-450 and above?  As Ford assures us, it will continue to be built.  Even perhaps down into the E-150, E-250 and E-350 - because either way, the "euro" "T" may still end up being an embarassing "flop".  That's why they'll be offered side-by-side for at least a couple of years.  Ford will allow the market to decide, along with allowing CAFE and the US's political and regulatory future to resolve itself.

Either way, for the next 4-5 years, we'll still be able to get the chassis we have now.  At least at bare minimum, the E-450.  Ford OWNS this market with a superior product.

I understand Ron's cost concerns, but for the market that Ford has now for E-350 & E450 chassis, and even considering only replacement parts for these chassis into the future when so many are on the road and in service, parts concern and their pricing is likely nowhere near troubling anytime soon.

DBTR,
I stand corrected.  Bring on the Transit......PC-Transit that is!

And look at that cavernous rear storage hold.

The Euro coaches all seem to have adopted a power rear bed that rises and lowers depending on how much you're willing to utilize the rear storage hold.

Other than that nifty feature, I don't see any other feature on the Euro coaches that piques my interest.

While I don't see any currently available or contemplated T-motors or GVWR available elsewhere being in any way able to replicate American performance beyond the replacement or duplication of the E-350 chassis, on must also consider a potential replacement for our V-10

There are currently being offerred a number of Ford "Eco-Boost" V6's whose output and gas mileage mimick many of Ford's V-8's currently, as are offered in the F-series pickups.

Me?  I'd prefer a big, fat and lazy V-10 over any of these "Eco-Boost" V-6's.

Another prediction - look for either greater availablity or no-choice in Diesel motors in the continued availability of the current E-350 or E-450 For chassis.  If only because in the continued bus and truck market for this chassis, regardless of "gasser" motorhomes.

We require big fat and lazy torque.  While the Eco-Boosts might provide something close to our requirements technically, a turbo V6's output certainly ain't in any way relaxed and lazy.

Look for diesel.  For ambulances and mini-buses, most aren't relying on the V-10.  So look for thousand$+ on diesel E-350 and E450 chassis, along with diesel Onan generators.  At least eventually.

In the meantime, keep a close eye on Ford's press releases regarding the production of the V-10.

Holy Crap!  I better ante up to a Phoenix Cruiser soon!

Just a couple of remarks about the future of support and use of the E350 and E450 chassis and the Ford V-10.  Yes, ambulances and other service vehicles that are apt to put in 200,000+ miles will rely on diesel engines.  Class B+ and C motorhomes which seldom see 70,000 miles will go with gasoline for cost, availability, and quieter operation.  For those who haven't noticed, the need for low sulfur diesel has made it always more expensive than mogas, rather than seasonally switching summer to winter as in the past.  Also, I just bought a 1995 Mustang GT convertible in primo shape as a fun car. The reason I felt comfortable doing that is that Mustangs and the 5.0L HO motor are common as dirt and cheap parts are readily available.  The same will hold true on the Ford V-10.  It has proven itself to be a reliable workhorse.  I'm on my second RV with the V-10 and have nothing but good to say for it.  Likewise on the E350/450 chassis.  There are tons of them out there and they will need parts for a long time.  The question is which of the new engines or chassis that come along will catch on and not be merely short term experiments.

Jerry

Hey JC -

On the V10 vs various diesels as an ongoing offering, we'll see.  I too, would choose a V10 over a diesel at this time.

However, Ford has been curtailing the V10 option otherwise over the last few years.  As near as I can tell, the V10 is no longer available for either the Expedition or the F-series pickups.

Whether that's a manufacturing capacity supply consideration, I dunno.

I fear that Ford, as any other manufacturer would, will consider economies of scale, particularly in view of Ford's new Ford One "gospel".  The V10 would now appear to be a "niche" motor, and bean-counters avoid niche products.  Watch for ongoing 6.8 V10 production news from Ford to anticipate where this is headed.

We still have a number of years yet on the V10 - at least 2 years.