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Promaster vs Transit thoughts

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30K views 57 replies 17 participants last post by  StasStoLat  
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#1 ·
First two vans I had were built on Promasters. This is my first Transit. High roof 148. Not that anyone cares but I figured id post my thoughts thus far.

- Transit is so much better of a driving vehicle that its not that comparable. Not that the Promaster is horrible. But the Promaster drives more like an old truck. The Transit is much more of a minivan or SUV feel to me.

- The seats of the transit win hands down. The base Promaster seats are downright bad. The top trim seats of the Promaster are just passable. The seating position sucks in the PM and im only 5'8. Cant imagine how 6 footers do it. No tilt wheel? Wtf? Also the Transit has a normal recline whereas the PM uses that stupid knob.

- The Transit seems to be beefier along the drivetrain. Everything under the vehicle just seems more substantial. Base engine of both are fine. Promaster gets off the line faster but otherwise I dont think either is bad. Im sure the Ecoboost is the best option.

- Cargo area is where the Transit loses I think. Anyone know the steel thickness? It feels quite a bit more flimsy everywhere in the cargo area vs. the PM. The roof is ridiculous in how flimsy it is. All the side wall metal gives you a little more pause when considering the weight it will support. Seems like wasted space with how far they pushed out the wall from the van skin. The exposed wire hardness is silly cost cutting move for a vehicle of this price.

- All doors are better on the Transit. The handle of the sliding door is kind of odd but the door closes easier. I like the 90 degree lock of the back doors.

- I have the high roof Transit. But I find it weird that Ford wouldnt match the interior height of the Promaster on their Medium roof model. The medium roof is the same exterior height of the Promaster but is a unusable full standing height for many. Seems like a real odd thing to do unless they were just trying to steer people to the higher priced high roof. Medium roof looks much better than the high roof too.

- Paint quality seems pretty subpar on the Ford. There are already some tiny rust spots and bubbles on the interior. Its a 2019 vehicle.

- Are there any drains on the Transit? On the Promaster both walls have full length drains with weep holes for when condensation runs down the interior walls. I dont see any place for that do go in the transit.
 
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#2 ·
I agree with you on most of your points on the Transit vs PM. I owned a 2016 Promaster. I have a medium roof Transit now and like it a lot . The floor in the Transit is higher than the PM being that it is rear wheel drive and with the addition of the driveline that the PM does not have, Ford could not match the interior and exterior height of the PM because of the driveline. I am happy with my choice of the medium roof and can live with the minus's vs the high roof.
I do like driving and owning the transit a lot more than the PM but I don't like the front seats because the bottom cushions are too short for me, something I hope to somehow remedy in the future.
One biggest cons to the Transit are the water leaks under the side moldings and also the way they sealed the roof holes and the leaks under the hood. The engineers on those three items were not real engineers at all. Really disappointing that we should have to fix something like that on a new vehicle. I glad I have the Transit but I certainly will not be buying any other Fords.
 
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#3 ·
Intruder said:
I agree with you on most of your points on the Transit vs PM. I owned a 2016 Promaster. I have a medium roof Transit now and like it a lot . The floor in the Transit is higher than the PM being that it is rear wheel drive and with the addition of the driveline that the PM does not have, Ford could not match the interior and exterior height of the PM because of the driveline. I am happy with my choice of the medium roof and can live with the minus's vs the high roof.
I do like driving and owning the transit a lot more than the PM but I don't like the front seats because the bottom cushions are too short for me, something I hope to somehow remedy in the future.
One biggest cons to the Transit are the water leaks under the side moldings and also the way they sealed the roof holes and the leaks under the hood. The engineers on those three items were not real engineers at all. Really disappointing that we should have to fix something like that on a new vehicle. I glad I have the Transit but I certainly will not be buying any other Fords.
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Yea I know they had to account for the drivetrain but I guess I figured they could make the medium roof just a bit taller. The High Roof is kinda absurdly big really. Especially since the sliding door height doesnt change. Making for a weird entry and exit when using it as a camper.

Are there really not water drain inside the cargo area at the bottom of the side walls? That seems like a big oversight.

The side moulding leak through where they connect to the body?
 
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#9 ·
I'm 5 years into what I thought was a fabulous loaded transit wagon-turned into cargo van. I drive this van for work all over the country. Biggest dislike is the left foot space. Love the amazing power of the ecoboost.
But...., I just ran into the huge bummer bill associated with the now infamous ecoboost warped exhaust manifold. At 110,000 miles, $4600 to replace one exhaust manifold that got hot (probably while towing or climbing over the Rockies) and warped, breaking a stud. Heard the chirp sound described in many posts in this forum and after another 5,000 miles of additional driving, drove the Transit on ramps, climbed underneath and looked. Sure enough, the rear stud on drivers side exhaust manifold was broken. Of course almost all the others were ceased too. Mechanic spent a week messaging and welding nuts onto breaking studs. Out of precaution, I asked about replacing the other side while it's more accessible to which he replied that it wasn't leaking and he didn't want the job.
Picked up the van after paying $4600 and see that another Transit is on the rack for the same issue. They also had one that they had to remove a head and send to a machine shop for stud removal. Can't imagine what that bill is going to be.
As much as I've appreciated this ecoboost, especially in the mountains or while towing, I'm done with that engine. I've never had a repair bill like that on any of the 14 company vans we've driven to between 250,000-350,000 miles. That's a giant weakness in what I think is an otherwise excellent motor.
I guess the precaution is to be very careful to stay out of the gas if you're working he engine hard (climbing or towing).
 
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#12 ·
blakej59 said:
I'm 5 years into what I thought was a fabulous loaded transit wagon-turned into cargo van. I drive this van for work all over the country. Biggest dislike is the left foot space. Love the amazing power of the ecoboost.
But...., I just ran into the huge bummer bill associated with the now infamous ecoboost warped exhaust manifold. At 110,000 miles, $4600 to replace one exhaust manifold that got hot (probably while towing or climbing over the Rockies) and warped, breaking a stud. Heard the chirp sound described in many posts in this forum and after another 5,000 miles of additional driving, drove the Transit on ramps, climbed underneath and looked. Sure enough, the rear stud on drivers side exhaust manifold was broken. Of course almost all the others were ceased too. Mechanic spent a week messaging and welding nuts onto breaking studs. Out of precaution, I asked about replacing the other side while it's more accessible to which he replied that it wasn't leaking and he didn't want the job.
Picked up the van after paying $4600 and see that another Transit is on the rack for the same issue. They also had one that they had to remove a head and send to a machine shop for stud removal. Can't imagine what that bill is going to be.
As much as I've appreciated this ecoboost, especially in the mountains or while towing, I'm done with that engine. I've never had a repair bill like that on any of the 14 company vans we've driven to between 250,000-350,000 miles. That's a giant weakness in what I think is an otherwise excellent motor.
I guess the precaution is to be very careful to stay out of the gas if you're working he engine hard (climbing or towing).
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Ugh that sucks. Nobody wants a bill like that. I was looking for a Ecoboost but just couldnt find one so I went base engine. I didn't know this was a common issue. Especially troubling since it seems the main reason for wanting that engine is for the extra power when in the mountains. Warping under heat seems like not the best engineering for a engine component. Has Ford addressed this at all?
 
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#13 ·
Call me crazy and shallow! My first time sat in PM and realized that there is No Tilt Wheel. Come on FIAIT!!! At that moment, I knew this one is not for me.

OK, there are more reasons:
1. Front-wheel drive for such a big truck PM 2500/3500
2. No AWD

Transit is not perfect, but it is the lesser of the evils.
 
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#14 ·
rockDAWG said:
Call me crazy and shallow! My first time sat in PM and realized that there is No Tilt Wheel. Come on FIAIT!!! At that moment, I knew this one is not for me.

OK, there are more reasons:
1. Front-wheel drive for such a big truck PM 2500/3500
2. No AWD

Transit is not perfect, but it is the lesser of the evils.
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Yup the no tilt wheel is just silly. FWD can become a issue in sandy boondocking areas after a build out. Other than that wasnt a issue. I would imagine a loaded RWD van would do better in those conditions.

None of the vans are perfect. When they update the Promaster they need a new grill like the Euro version. Better seats and steering wheel. Power slider. Or better yet doors instead of a slider. Their cargo area is pretty much fine.

Fords AWD system is pretty good. Doesnt get the hype the garbage Sprinter AWD system does.

Cruise should be standard
 
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#16 · (Edited)
The guy who owns a fleet of Promaster's could care less about creature comforts for his drivers. That's the market Ram is targeting. The Ram dealer down the street won't even change the oil in one because he's not authorized to, how dumb is that.

I don't why anyone would spend money buying an RV based on the Promaster, just an opinion.
 
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#17 ·
Yea the Ram dealer closest to me wouldnt do warranty work on Promasters. Has to be a Ram commercial dealer apparently. They would do oil changes tho since its just the pentastar engine thats been on their minivans forever. I assume all Ford dealers can work on Transits since they sell so many.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I’m 6.5 years, 146,000 miles into happy ownership of a PM. It is very common on the PM forum for new owners, tall or short, to complain of the seating position. We long-timers educate them as to the versatile adjustments in the seat. Pretty soon they are saying the PM is the most comfortable vehicle they have ever driven. These vans were designed for long-haul comfort.

I’ve owned Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, and this is the first and only vehicle I can drive until my bladder screams, then simply get out and walk without hobbling. I have never driven a Transit, so I cannot compare.

Transit was not available yet when I bought my PM. I later examined and measured one and determined that I would not have been able to stand up in the mid roof, so would have had to get the high roof. I would not be able to have my transverse bed without flares.

Perhaps most important to me, I have a gut reaction to rust. It literally makes my stomach roil. I don’t know why—it's more than the galvanizing dip—but it is really hard to get rust on a PM. You practically have to dunk it in the ocean. As evidence, I have had the window cutouts leaning against the outside wall of my shop since early 2015. Cut ends are buried in dirt that is usually moist. I just turned one piece 180°, wiped the wet dirt off an area, and took this photo of the end that has been buried. Note that the bolt MrNomer left in is badly rusted but the PM metal is essentially pristine.
 
#29 ·
As pointer for those making choices: there are many of us who are too tall to sleep transverse in any of the available vans, including those using flares. Setting the bed longitudinally, especially for two people, changes the equation considerably.
It is good that we have the choices that we do for a relatively small market.

I had heard of MsNomer's van before and I just enjoyed looking at her website which is listed in her signature. BTW, a website is a far better place to share your build than 150 post threads in a forum like this. Just a thought.
 
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#30 ·
I own a 2018 HR Promaster and have loved it but the Transit AWD is a game changer for me. I have got the PM stuck in the snow several times and I've determined it's not effective for me to keep a vehicle I can't drive where/when I want to. I plan to sell the PM and buy a HR Transit AWD EcoBoost. Plus, from what I've seen, I'll make a decent profit on the PM. People are vanlife crazy.

-Too bad to hear about the thinner sheet metal and flimsy roof on the Transit.
-I don't care about tilt steering and actually found the PM seats comfortable so I'll be very happy with the Transit.
-I was very disappointed in the lack of modern technology and functionality of the PM cockpit, especially for a 2018! Radio, Nav, instrument cluster all suck.
-Most PMs have a mystery coolant smell that generally no one can fix.

Overall I'm looking forward to start another van build with better creature comforts the Transit seems to offer and I'm very excited for the AWD.
 
#32 ·
Factory radios are always at least 5 years behind the times. I think they spec and order them about that much ahead of production. Even just a few years ago, you could still order a factory CD player!
 
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#33 ·
My 2018 has a CD slot. At least it plays MP3s on the CD too, but plugging a USB flash drive in pretty much makes this redundant.

I thought maybe I could use it to shove the occasional paper note where I could see it, but it tried to suck the note inside...
 
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#36 ·
My 2017 Promaster has been reliable and enjoyable. While the dealer network is smaller, I have alway been able to find service wherever I needed it (oil changes), but the recall services have been a PITA.

The seats and positions have been OK, but I’m upgrading with the. New Transit to ease back pain.

Rust issues? None.

Power and transmission? Poor. Starting from stopped in the rain results in wheel spin and if turning, watch out for the torque steer! Going uphill on dirt roads requires maintaining momentum. In the snow it is safe, if it’s not stuck on my driveway slope. But...I do like the 18 MPG I get.

Dimensions and shape are just about perfect for a conversion. And the lack of drivetrain underneath meant it was easy to anchor through the floor where I wanted. But that rear axle! Seems worse than it is. On forest roads it never dragged (too bad).

It has been a workhorse, economical and reliable.

The new high roof Transit with Ecoboost and AWD will have 10 way heated seats, a new layout and electric system. And be an enjoyable challenging project to keep me from buying a new boat for a while. It was no contest when I looked for a new van. I wanted the power, the comfort and the height of the Transit. But will I be able to get the canoe on top?

If I think hard about it, there are things to complain about with either, but the enjoyment we get is much greater.
 
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#37 ·
I just gotta say again how awful the cargo area steel is on the Transit. Its embarrassingly thin and weak. There are toys with thicker steel.

Ive had two rivnuts just pull right through the steel when tightening a bolt. And Im talking not even able to get to the point where the bolt is tight yet. Same rivnut brand and same tool as used in the Promaster for a rock solid connection.

I guess thats why most seem to go the plusnut route in the Transit.
 
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#38 ·
Showtime3 said:
I just gotta say again how awful the cargo area steel is on the Transit. Its embarrassingly thin and weak. There are toys with thicker steel.

Ive had two rivnuts just pull right through the steel when tightening a bolt. And Im talking not even able to get to the point where the bolt is tight yet. Same rivnut brand and same tool as used in the Promaster for a rock solid connection.

I guess thats why most seem to go the plusnut route in the Transit.
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I agree with all of the above including going the plusnut route. That said, overall I like the Transit better but the PM layout is the better build platform in my opinion.
 
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#42 ·
For RV conversion width is a big plus for ProMaster, particularly up high where space between equal-size cabinets is much wider. The more vertical walls usually also results in a roomier bathroom/shower in factory conversions.

The floor step-down from cab to cargo area is a PM negative, and limits floor plans. A level floor is always better, everything else being equal; which in this case it is not due to FWD.

As most know, the high roof PM is middle roof Ducato. The true HR would provide more headroom and a lot more volume than largest Transit and in a shorter van. RAM should really consider adding that option in North America.

RWD favors Transit for towing, and AWD for traction. I don’t like that in order to tow significant weight/size Ford requires EcoBoost engine. On flip side, PM doesn’t offer optional engine, AWD or higher towing so in fairness no better anyway. I would not want to tow much at all or often with a PM.

For me the Transit parking brake between seats was a deal breaker because it made cab feel confined like a mini van instead of open like a motorhome. I haven’t seen new Transit yet, but expect it to be much better to move to cargo area. I can’t justify the HR Ext Transit for various reasons, and would only consider LWB MR; but it’s a lot smaller than the LWB Ext PM I prefer. I know this makes little sense, but Transit HR looks too tall and Ext has too long an overhang for me. The largest PM in the middle is a better size fit.
 
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#44 ·
New Transit is at least as bad with the middle aisle as the previous version. Cup holder might stick out a bit more. It's one of those annoying things. It's like Ford didnt have the upfitter market in mind at all in the design phase. Like having to drop the fuel tank to tap into it. At least the new dash looks a **** of a lot better than it did.

I saw on a review video of the Winnebago Ekko that the front seats have gone back to the dial recline. Like the Promaster has. WHY!?! Having a normal vehicle seat recline lever was a nice thing to me on to van.

It is good there are a couple options. If I was using the van for winter sports Id cross the Promaster off the list. One the build weight is in there you cant trust the traction of the FWD.

Its weird to me that Ford doesnt seem to market the AWD much. The Sprinter gets a ton of cult like marketing about their "4x4" system. But in America its actually just an archaic AWD system that can only send 35% of power to the front wheels. Fords can do 100%. But you never hear about it.
 
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#47 ·
The Fiat Professional site already shows a 4X4 option (maybe what we call AWD — not sure). It sounds mechanical, not electric-motor based.

The Ducato was already upgraded to 9-speed ZF transmission, which is what I’d want most in a ProMaster. That transmission is available for AWD or hybrid applications as far as I know, so engineering costs would be less. The 9-speed is already mated to Pentastar V6, so RAM could upgrade any time it makes financial sense. The more AWD Transits and Sprinters are sold, the more they will have no choice to compete.
Image
 
#55 ·
The market is tough right now. Perhaps something is better than nothing. I had a Promaster before I made the switch to Ford. It was a good platform and allowed us 20,000 miles of adventure and memories. I have no regrets.

Depending on your situation, build out the PM, enjoy it, sell it when the automotive market gets better and get a Ford.
 
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#56 ·
Thanks for responding. Can you share more about your confidence that the Transit is such a better product? I am asking honestly as I have owned neither. I am trying to shed my tendency toward brand allegiance as was raised in a Ford Family and a Ford community. I currently own a 2010 F150 and see the van as my next daily driver and basically a covered pickup truck with options for "old people camping". I have always camped in a tent, but since the truck I enjoy not sleeping on the ground. I also enjoy the potential project of building the van for multi-use.

In either van, my first effort will be to make is quieter for the driver/passenger, lizard skin, sound deadening and commercial flooring and paneling. I wish I was less than 6' tall as I see the Medium roof as small burden which I would avoid with the Promaster, and the drivers slider has great appeal to me for functional use (like a big minivan).

If you had a moment to reflect and share, I would appreciate benefiting from your experience.

/peace
 
#57 ·
I was origionally going to buy a Promaster, mainly because I have a great local dealer and I have known the sales manager for many years. I was all set to order a 2021 Promaster 159 high roof until I test drove one on the lot. I'm 6'0" tall, with a long torso, and the seating position was the deal breaker for me. The seat is so high that I couldn't even see most stoplights without bending way forword. I tried reclining the seat a bit, and that helped, but then the view out the side window was restricted and that position was not comfortable for driving, expecially since the stearing wheel does not tilt.
The next day I test drove a Transit and immediately fell in love with it. The seating position was great and the van rode much better, making the driving much more comfortable for me. I'm buying a van to convert and to drive long distances and the Promaster just didn't measure up for me.

I've also looked at quite a few Class B RVs and all the ones built on the Promaster have the same seating issues - I always want to lower that darn seat! Plus, none of the Promasters have enough headroom for me to stand up straight in - my head always hits the finished ceiling.

The only vans/RVs I've been comfortable in are the high roof Transits and Sprinters.
 
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#58 ·
Arwen said:
I was origionally going to buy a Promaster, mainly because I have a great local dealer and I have known the sales manager for many years. I was all set to order a 2021 Promaster 159 high roof until I test drove one on the lot. I'm 6'0" tall, with a long torso, and the seating position was the deal breaker for me. The seat is so high that I couldn't even see most stoplights without bending way forword. I tried reclining the seat a bit, and that helped, but then the view out the side window was restricted and that position was not comfortable for driving, expecially since the stearing wheel does not tilt.
The next day I test drove a Transit and immediately fell in love with it. The seating position was great and the van rode much better, making the driving much more comfortable for me. I'm buying a van to convert and to drive long distances and the Promaster just didn't measure up for me.

I've also looked at quite a few Class B RVs and all the ones built on the Promaster have the same seating issues - I always want to lower that darn seat! Plus, none of the Promasters have enough headroom for me to stand up straight in - my head always hits the finished ceiling.

The only vans/RVs I've been comfortable in are the high roof Transits and Sprinters.
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Thank you. It seems your experience is common and I am afraid it might be mine, also.
 
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