FromRaleigh
Adventurer
I would like the Jucy vans a lot more if they weren't so damn ugly and didn't draw so much attention to themselves.
Is this a new trend? RTTs on rental mini vans...
- Thread starter Martinjmpr
- Start date
Well, take a look at the new Transit! Love the look of the Fusion front end, actually, it's an old Maserati style which I think Ford bought.
30 mpg is very tempting. FWD is almost as good as a 4x4. 2,000 towing capacity means you can pull toys. Room for storage tanks below and a good enough bath room wet toilet bathroom. Pop top bed area, screen extension off the rear or side, looks like more than a doable camper for twp. Lots of room for nav toys and radios over the driver's position being roof mounted in a console and a nice dash.
Down side I see from pics is the front end clearance being FWD, it's a bit low. I go over some rough rocky roads and it appears it would be fine, going slow you can take a caddy over most of them, but getting off road looks like it needs a bit of a lift. 17" wheels as an option might help. For more tire it looks like a lift is needed. FWD can be hard to lift without messing up the stock suspension and drive axels.
I'd say it's the ultimate stealth camper as no one will be looking at that thing as a camper! Seems it's a micro Sprinter of sorts.
This is the latest thread on the Transit, why I didn't start a new thread, if you can go small and fairly light the Transit seems to be a viable option. Opinions, secrets, unknown facts or other information as well as experience on this vehicle????? Can we give this little truck a lift?
30 mpg is very tempting. FWD is almost as good as a 4x4. 2,000 towing capacity means you can pull toys. Room for storage tanks below and a good enough bath room wet toilet bathroom. Pop top bed area, screen extension off the rear or side, looks like more than a doable camper for twp. Lots of room for nav toys and radios over the driver's position being roof mounted in a console and a nice dash.
Down side I see from pics is the front end clearance being FWD, it's a bit low. I go over some rough rocky roads and it appears it would be fine, going slow you can take a caddy over most of them, but getting off road looks like it needs a bit of a lift. 17" wheels as an option might help. For more tire it looks like a lift is needed. FWD can be hard to lift without messing up the stock suspension and drive axels.
I'd say it's the ultimate stealth camper as no one will be looking at that thing as a camper! Seems it's a micro Sprinter of sorts.
This is the latest thread on the Transit, why I didn't start a new thread, if you can go small and fairly light the Transit seems to be a viable option. Opinions, secrets, unknown facts or other information as well as experience on this vehicle????? Can we give this little truck a lift?
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
This is exactly the logiv that got me two swap from a lifted F-150 on M/T's to a 2WD Tundra. Not once have I regretted that decision.
My F-150 stays in 2wd about 363 days a year, I doubt it's in 4x4 for 48 hours and I'm at the top of a hill with curving steep grades in both directions that puts folks in the ditch every winter, but not me. I'll flip the switch sometimes in a wet grassy area just so that I don't tear up the grass, in a minute it goes back to 2wd. The 4x4 mode is often over used simply because it's available, easy to observe that in the winter. When the light turns green I have good control taking off in 4x4 then switch after I'm rolling as the road is usually packed or patchy in the winter but FWD is usually just as good from the lights and better than being pushed. While I don't use the 4x4 much I pay for it every time at the pump. It is nice to have the 4x4 but I'm sure I could survive without it, I did most of my off roading as a kid with rear wheel drive.
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
That's just for clean up, that playa dust gets into EVERYTHING.Jucy is charging an extra $700 if you want to take one of their vans to Burning Man.
LR Max
Local Oaf
As much as I hate to say it, minivans are extremely capable vehicles. You've got power, fuel economy, lots of interior space, and the overall vehicle is actually pretty nimble all things considering. Its actually a GREAT platform for anything involving paved/well maintained roads.
The only issue is the stigma of a minivan...it is a minivan.
On a recent trip to Colorado, we used a non-4WD to do our exploring. It hamstringed us a bit but nothing that isn't easily overcome. Having a vehicle with a RTT on it and fully loaded out with all the camping crap you need would've been awesome.
The only issue is the stigma of a minivan...it is a minivan.
On a recent trip to Colorado, we used a non-4WD to do our exploring. It hamstringed us a bit but nothing that isn't easily overcome. Having a vehicle with a RTT on it and fully loaded out with all the camping crap you need would've been awesome.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
I actually agree with this. It's too bad that we don't get more off-road capable minivans. Actually, we used to but nobody bought them so the manufacturers did what they do, which is they followed the money (you could get a Toyota 4x4 mini van in the mid 80's and all the way into the mid 90's Mazda made a version of the MPV with a solid rear axle and 4wd.)
I know I've posted this before but when I was in Kuwait one of the vehicles I drove was a Mitsubishi "Space Gear" van (yes, that's what it was called, I presume it was sold in an area where English was not the first language.) I believe they were originally sold in Asia (Taiwan or possibly Indonesia or Malaysia.) It was a very cool little van that sat on a ladder frame and had Mitsubishi 4x4 pickup running gear to include a 5 speed manual transmission and a 2 speed transfer case, with decent ground clearance. I used to love driving the little Space Gear around!
If you could figure out a way top economically ruggedize a minivan, that would be very compelling. Toyota Sienna and Chrysler minivans both come in all wheel drive. If you could install a limited slip differential and two inches more clearance, they would make viable fire-road expedition cruisers.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
True but the problem there is that given that minivans are designed to appeal to families and people of smaller stature (women and kids), a low load deck is considered a good thing on a minivan which pretty much contradicts what you would want in a rugged-road vehicle.
As I said above, Mazda used to sell a more off-roadable version of the MPV. I'm probably safe in presuming that they dropped that vehicle in favor of a more conventional FWD minivan for the same reason any company makes such a decision: Because the minivan sells better.
Now, having said all that, I am cautiously optimistic about the likes of the Transit Connect, which seems to offer some of the best of both the "crossover" and the minivan. A transit with a convertible seat and AWD would make a great all-arounder.
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Jucy is charging an extra $700 if you want to take one of their vans to Burning Man.
And here's why: BM closed on Day 1 (and probably 2) due to rain turning the whole thing into a muddy mess:
http://boingboing.net/2014/08/25/burning-man-rained-out-closes.html
T.Low
Expedition Leader
Well put. Seems many are actually confusing "overlanding" with "road tripping" these days.
T.Low
Expedition Leader
Herbie, 'Stroverlander, do you ever feel like you are standing in the room but totally invisible...
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
That's one of the main reasons I wouldn't consider swapping my 4runner for a crossover type vehicle. The only benefit offered by the crossover is MPG and by the time you lift the suspension and put aggressive tires on, you've built yourself into the same box you just got out of.
I would give up my ladder frame and 2 speed T-case for an honest 10 mpg as long as my towing capacity wasn't too badly degraded. But when I look at the likes of the Highlander and the Pilot, I would see maybe a 3 - 5 MPG gain, if that. Ditto for the minivans.