Test drove a Transit today
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From: Isanti, MN
Low-roof options are the only one we could consider, anything higher and it wouldn't fit under a 7' clearance parking garage which would make hospital appointments impossible. That van we test drove was 6,225 lbs as per the payload sticker. 9,000 lbs GVWR - 2,750 payload. Substantially beefier than the F150.
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From: Lewisberry, Penn
Koons in Maryland has two '15 diesel model T350s as leftovers showing. I bet they'd be willing to cut a deal. I didn't see any listed in MN, though there may be some in between. Do keep in mind they are one of the states with not advertising the destination cost ($1195) and higher doc fees than others, but still, they give good pricing, just perhaps better on paper than reality.
Vans deprecate, and wagons even more so. Still, I've tried buying used E wagons for customers at auction and the practical retail price always comes in to the $22-24k range for a 20-30k used rental van gas motor. That's got the deprecation of being both a van, and an obsolete model. The two I found are diesel models and would probably sell for around $40-41k. That's a bit more than $15k but includes the $5k diesel motors. Also keep in mind ford offers $1000 towards mobility upfits, which you don't get on used, so that's another piece to consider.
Vans deprecate, and wagons even more so. Still, I've tried buying used E wagons for customers at auction and the practical retail price always comes in to the $22-24k range for a 20-30k used rental van gas motor. That's got the deprecation of being both a van, and an obsolete model. The two I found are diesel models and would probably sell for around $40-41k. That's a bit more than $15k but includes the $5k diesel motors. Also keep in mind ford offers $1000 towards mobility upfits, which you don't get on used, so that's another piece to consider.
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From: Isanti, MN
Koons in Maryland has two '15 diesel model T350s as leftovers showing. I bet they'd be willing to cut a deal. I didn't see any listed in MN, though there may be some in between. Do keep in mind they are one of the states with not advertising the destination cost ($1195) and higher doc fees than others, but still, they give good pricing, just perhaps better on paper than reality.
Vans deprecate, and wagons even more so. Still, I've tried buying used E wagons for customers at auction and the practical retail price always comes in to the $22-24k range for a 20-30k used rental van gas motor. That's got the deprecation of being both a van, and an obsolete model. The two I found are diesel models and would probably sell for around $40-41k. That's a bit more than $15k but includes the $5k diesel motors. Also keep in mind ford offers $1000 towards mobility upfits, which you don't get on used, so that's another piece to consider.
Vans deprecate, and wagons even more so. Still, I've tried buying used E wagons for customers at auction and the practical retail price always comes in to the $22-24k range for a 20-30k used rental van gas motor. That's got the deprecation of being both a van, and an obsolete model. The two I found are diesel models and would probably sell for around $40-41k. That's a bit more than $15k but includes the $5k diesel motors. Also keep in mind ford offers $1000 towards mobility upfits, which you don't get on used, so that's another piece to consider.
My big interest for the diesel engine is the retained resale value as well as fuel economy, but I don't think that could overcome that kind of price disparity. I'd love a new van, but they appear to depreciate WAY too fast to justify that. The $1,000 mobility credit is great, but the van would still lose $10K in the first year of ownership. If used vans held their values like trucks it would be a completely different situation.
Glad to hear someone stocks diesel passenger variants, were those two low roof models?
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From: Lewisberry, Penn
Yep they were low roofs. I just looked specifically for low roof 350s, there may be some others out there as well, but it sounded like you wanted the payload. Those conversions aren't cheap. I'm doing one out in Pittsburgh next week where they are cutting a floor in the body and its a $25k conversion! I'd want every extra year of use that I could muster for that.
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From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by Frantz
Yep they were low roofs. I just looked specifically for low roof 350s, there may be some others out there as well, but it sounded like you wanted the payload. Those conversions aren't cheap. I'm doing one out in Pittsburgh next week where they are cutting a floor in the body and its a $25k conversion! I'd want every extra year of use that I could muster for that.
Long wheelbase is needed, but not necessarily a 350 if they come any other way.
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Watch the Gross combined weight ratings on these as well. Any cargo weight and passengers take away from the max trailer capacity. They also have a chart somewhere about the frontal area too.
My cargo is the 9000gvw with max combined of 11,200. My max tow rating was around 5500 lbs. My max payload is about 3350, and I weigh about 5650 empty with just myself and fuel.
11,200 less 5500 trailer is 5700 or about the weight of the van.
11,200 less max cargo 3350, less 5650 van, equal what I can tow. 2200 lbs.
I think the unibody construction really hurts max weightsm however I have towed about 13,00 miles so far within 200 lbs of max and it tows like a dream.
Dean
2016 T250, 9K, med roof, long WB, 3.5 eco with 3.31LS.
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From: Isanti, MN
Thanks Dean, what I can't figure out is how the GCWR is different between van and wagon. We're looking at a low-roof long-wheelbase wagon with the EcoBoost engine and 3.73s.
Waaaaait a minute. Just went to look at the chart, and it appears you can't get 3.73 gears in an EcoBoost wagon. Interesting.
For what it's worth, the empty weight of the van we drove was 6,200 lbs as per the door sticker.
Waaaaait a minute. Just went to look at the chart, and it appears you can't get 3.73 gears in an EcoBoost wagon. Interesting.
For what it's worth, the empty weight of the van we drove was 6,200 lbs as per the door sticker.
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If it weights 6200 then that is a 5000 lb left over from GCWR. Again that means you can tow that much if you are empty.
However there a some on the Ford Transit Forum that are towing heavier with 3.31 and are happy with performance. I don't want to risk going over for several reasons, but I figure the Ford engineers would love to rate it higher if they felt comfortable doing so.
check out this thread;
Heavy towing with E.B. and 3.31? - Ford Transit USA Forum
However there a some on the Ford Transit Forum that are towing heavier with 3.31 and are happy with performance. I don't want to risk going over for several reasons, but I figure the Ford engineers would love to rate it higher if they felt comfortable doing so.
check out this thread;
Heavy towing with E.B. and 3.31? - Ford Transit USA Forum
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From: Isanti, MN
Thanks, very interesting thread!
I've towed a lot of things with a lot of different vehicles, in a past life I was a professional truck driver. What I know about the Transit suggests it would be a great tow platform, of course the big limitation would be finding a heavy duty hitch. The chassis offers a LOT of headroom for tongue weight, and the relatively long wheelbase would be great for towing stability. The EcoBoost engine, 6R80 transmission, and 9.75" axle all have a fantastic track record in the F150s, my only concern would be transmission cooling, and that can be monitored and altered if necessary.
We'll see, at the moment we are really leaning towards an EcoBoost Transit. Closest one I can find is about 1,000 miles away so it may be time for a little road trip. We won't be doing anything until next month at the earliest, so our opinion could change.
I've towed a lot of things with a lot of different vehicles, in a past life I was a professional truck driver. What I know about the Transit suggests it would be a great tow platform, of course the big limitation would be finding a heavy duty hitch. The chassis offers a LOT of headroom for tongue weight, and the relatively long wheelbase would be great for towing stability. The EcoBoost engine, 6R80 transmission, and 9.75" axle all have a fantastic track record in the F150s, my only concern would be transmission cooling, and that can be monitored and altered if necessary.
We'll see, at the moment we are really leaning towards an EcoBoost Transit. Closest one I can find is about 1,000 miles away so it may be time for a little road trip. We won't be doing anything until next month at the earliest, so our opinion could change.
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I did order mine with the HD tow package and trailer brake. Brake works very well with just plug and play. I never have had to use the tow mode with my small trailer. Does not hunt at all but I don't use cruise control when towing.
This tows better than my previous F250 7.3 PSD as far as handling and power when needed. Of course the F250 had way more than enough tow capacity but the engine always seemed a bit sluggish, at least compared to the EB now.
I would suggest to order exactly what you want, it is worth the wait.
Good luck.
Dean
This tows better than my previous F250 7.3 PSD as far as handling and power when needed. Of course the F250 had way more than enough tow capacity but the engine always seemed a bit sluggish, at least compared to the EB now.
I would suggest to order exactly what you want, it is worth the wait.
Good luck.
Dean
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