Wing Buffeting
 

Hello Everyone,

I just picked up a 2016 Transit 350 Wagon yesterday and on my way home (5-6 hour drive) I experienced a lot of wind buffeting while I was in the 70-75 mph range.

I spent some time searching this site and the internet and I'm not seeing any chatter that this is a known issue. Has anyone else experienced this?

Joe

Which roof do you have? Also, what sorta vans are you used to? I have always found the Transits to be fairly quite, but I'm not comparing them to traditional mini-vans.

Hello Frantz,

I have the low roof. And the buffeting is bad enough to where you can hear/feel the pressure in the vehicle.

I am not used to any vans, this is our first. The van is pretty quite, the only part that bothers me is when I get over 70mph and the buffeting kicks in. Its sound/feeling you get when only rolling one window down while going down the interstate, but only very subtle.

OHHHH... yeah if you put the window down you're gonna get that in most vehicles much newer than your beautiful '78. I thought you were hearing a noise like the body panels flexing too much or some piece of trim loose.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm hearing and feeling this buffeting with the windows up. I was just using the windows down description as an analogy. It really odd to hear and feel that with the windows up but my wife was noticing it too, so I know at least for this one scenario, I'm not crazy.

Thanks for the compliment on my '78. I really enjoy that truck.

I was fortunate enough to get a '79 with 76 front end from a fellow forum member, but it's relegated to farm duties at this point in her life. Probably the last of the traditionally styled trucks IMO.

I'll try to pay extra attention next time I take one out to see if it's "characteristic" or if maybe a piece of trim on yours is outta wack. Just like with the windows down, it doesn't take much to disrupt the air stream on the new vehicles and make all sorts of noises.

Very nice on your '79. I really like the dent-side styled trucks.

I found a thread on this buffeting topic on a more active Transit forum. You can see it here:
Air leak / bad seal somewhere? - Ford Transit USA Forum

Hi, I test drove 2 new transits with the low roofs. Both had the same buffeting issues with the windows up or opened a little, vent open and not recirc, etc.
Searched online and found that the low roof flexes while driving causing the pressure inside. Some guys switched to softer shocks and one guy drilled a bunch of holes behind his license plate to soften the air pressure. They're sealed up tight.
Andy

I have a 2016 T-150 XLT, LR for about a year. I've driven it at high speeds, into winds and cross-winds, and haven't experienced the buffeting issue.
I will say that my roof was dented before I got it (looks like a limb fell on it) and doesn't have the same flex profile of the stock roof. Maybe that's why?

I'm actually looking for softer shocks myself and have gotten nowhere. Do you know where I can get a performance shock for the rear?