[Chance]

With time and practice does it get much easier to move from seats to cargo area of van and back?

My wife and I were at Auto Show yesterday to compare Transit against other offerings and her biggest gripe was the same as mine when I first saw the Transit. We'll use it as an RV van and do move from seats to rear and back to seats quite often. We are both small and agile individuals yet find this simple task much harder than with our Econoline. Clearance between seats is narrower, parking brake is in the way, and transmission has a hump over it.

Like everything else I'm sure it gets a little easier with practice, but does it ever get as easy as with older generation vans? So much so that you don't think about it?

I'm also curious if some just find it easier to get out and walk around to side or rear doors? I recall this was discussed at first but it is that important to us and the way we use vans, so I'm wondering if perceptions have changed with actual use.

 

[Longboard]

If you're both small and agile you'll be able to do it and of course it will get easier with repetition but it will always be easier to get out and walk around. If it's pouring rain or you are trying to be stealthy or you want to switch drivers during a stand still on a freeway you'll be able to do it, but you'll still think about how you're doing it.

 

[Desi]

I plan on removing the drivers seat completely, having read some other posts about how tight the space is there, that can be my only conclusion.
Maybe a couple of milk crates will work, or ill just sit on the owners manual as that should be high enough.
I to also plan on falling to the cargo area as mine is a electrical work truck, maybe my construction boots will have to be replaced with some nice slippers....we will see..... either way I can see a chiropractor in my future. Lol!

 

[Chance]

Desi, care to rephrase in "Internet" English.

Humor and or sarcasm often don't come across in writing, particularly when many of us don't know you personally to know how you express yourself on a regular basis.

Based on your van's build date it doesn't appear you've used yours yet. So what's your point? As a work truck I can't imagine you'll need to move from seats to rear on a regular basis anyway. Maybe Ford designed this van with guys exactly like you in mind.

 

[Desi]

Desi, care to rephrase in "Internet" English.

Humor and or sarcasm often don't come across in writing, particularly when many of us don't know you personally to know how you express yourself on a regular basis.

Based on your van's build date it doesn't appear you've used yours yet. So what's your point? As a work truck I can't imagine you'll need to move from seats to rear on a regular basis anyway. Maybe Ford designed this van with guys exactly like you in mind.

Well I guess it was an attempt at humour, point taken and no offense was implied.
Although you have your van it would seem, I have yet to ever be in one, I have been concerned regarding the front seat access since reading some posts on this site.
Though you may think I would rarely access the back you may be surprised to know it snows up here in Canada, ( more bad humor). As I spend upwards of 6 hours a day in my work truck and probably get in and out 30 times per day I would hazard to guess I will be using that aspect much more than the wagon version drivers.
Just trying to keep things lite, and also learn at the same moment.
Good day Sir.

 

[bobojay]

This was the biggest gripe so to speak I had over the differences in the cab between the Sprinter and the Transit. It will work out but it'll just take some practice to figure out your individual way of doing it.
Hadn't thought much about the park brake handle being in the way, but you're right. Ford needs to come up with the same mechanism as the Sprinter with theirs. You pull the brake up, then if need be the handle will go back down with a slight push without releasing the E-Brake. Gets it right out of the way.
Ford has some further owner friendly stuff to still come up with

 

[vnehess]

My individual way to enter, exit.

from cargo, enter driver seat, standing behind driver seat

place right foot between seats, centered there
place both hands on wheel
lean straight forward, way forward, my head almost above radio
swing left foot all the way from cargo area to land centered in front of driver seat
fall backwards into seat

practice the above , because the egress is exactly the same in reverse.

start by moving right foot into gap, toe forward
I do start with a push up from left hand on arm rest
right hand on wheel, lean forward till head is under mirror
swing left foot all the way back to cargo area
shift weight back to left foot.


right out of the ministry of silly walks basic training.

 

[alarmist]

I'll let you know after the solid bulkhead goes in.

 

[PeterR]

. . .

right out of the ministry of silly walks basic training.

Entering the SWBT boot camp cautiously . . .

I have a plan for moving from the driver's seat to the back, but would appreciate feedback on whether the inverter further clutters up the floor next to the parking brake. Does anyone have an inverter, who could post a photo looking down (with maybe an empty shoe sitting on the floor for scale)?

I had pictured making a plywood platform which would cover the parking brake, to create a larger flat area between the seats, thus permitting the right foot to "plant and swivel" before turning into the back. The top of the platform would have a hinged portion on the left to permit operating the brake -- the correct piano hinge placement would permit the open part to sit flat on the rest of the platform to the right.

Any feedback would be appreciated.


PS -- the previous humor was understood and appreciated . . .

 

[PeterR]

If you're both small and agile you'll be able to do it and of course it will get easier with repetition but it will always be easier to get out and walk around. If it's pouring rain or you are trying to be stealthy or you want to switch drivers during a stand still on a freeway you'll be able to do it, but you'll still think about how you're doing it.

I forget, did you get the inverter option? Could you post a photo per my last post? Could my plywood platform option be made to work by a skilled carpenter?

Thanks

 

[Longboard]

I forget, did you get the inverter option? Could you post a photo per my last post? Could my plywood platform option be made to work by a skilled carpenter?

Thanks

I did get the inverter/invertor option, and posted a picture of it in the thread where someone thought it had to be 400 watts like in their Ford Truck. (It's not, it's a wimpy 150 watts. I have a cheap Harbor Freight 200 watt invert*r that can be powered simply by inserting it's cigar plug into the 12 volt power point so in my opinion a 150 watt built-in is a waste of an effort. Certainly the engineers are worried about people using it with the engine off and want to limit it, but 150 watts?)
Yesterday I tried to post a photo in Random and found that I had exceeded my limit, so I had to delete stuff. I clearly remember deleting the photo of the [email protected] In today's sleet and freezing rain I'm driving the beater and will be gone all day so no new photo, but trust me, the invert&r is not a problem regarding inboard entry/exit to the cargo area.
BTW, spell check does not recognize any spellings of inverter/invertor. Wiki says inverter, Webster and Wiktionary say invertor. Medical use related to muscles is invertor.
Maybe from now on I'll just call it the "A.C.power thingy".
I listed every option or package that included other options in my sig. Probably meaningless, but you never know when someone will wonder about a certain one.

 

[Longboard]

I forget, did you get the inverter option? Could you post a photo per my last post? Could my plywood platform option be made to work by a skilled carpenter?

Thanks

Ok just saw the post about your platform. Tomorrow I will get another pic. Maybe it's still even in my phone.

 

[VanMan]

Not a real good pic, but you can see (or the lack of) a console in the euro version

#1 console hatter: me

 

[VanMan]

 

[Whitedog]

Maybe Ford designed this van with guys exactly like you in mind.

This is my guess. They probably figured the the vast majority of people will be using this van for work and won't be going from the front to the rear without getting out.

 

[Airedrifter]

That's not a good thing.

This was the biggest gripe so to speak I had over the differences in the cab between the Sprinter and the Transit. It will work out but it'll just take some practice to figure out your individual way of doing it.
Hadn't thought much about the park brake handle being in the way, but you're right. Ford needs to come up with the same mechanism as the Sprinter with theirs. You pull the brake up, then if need be the handle will go back down with a slight push without releasing the E-Brake. Gets it right out of the way.
Ford has some further owner friendly stuff to still come up with

I have an old inherited sportscar that has a parking brake like that. It's been driven too many times without releasing the brake. As a result, I'm having to search high and low to get the parts to repair it so as to pass inspection. (yes it has a small warning light to show you it's on but...)

 

[PeterR]

Ok just saw the post about your platform. Tomorrow I will get another pic. Maybe it's still even in my phone.

Thanks. Missed the "Inverter" in your signature (which is the correct spelling I believe).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inverter

 

[Chance]

....cut.....

I had pictured making a plywood platform which would cover the parking brake, to create a larger flat area between the seats, thus permitting the right foot to "plant and swivel" before turning into the back. The top of the platform would have a hinged portion on the left to permit operating the brake -- the correct piano hinge placement would permit the open part to sit flat on the rest of the platform to the right.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

.....cut.....

If I understand your idea correctly, I doubt it will work as you expect; certainly wouldn't work for me. Any platform over the brake will add too much height in my opinion. It might be OK to get into seat because you could almost drop into place from a higher elevation, but getting up from seat would require incredible leg strength because right foot would start at almost seat level. You would certainly gain additional width but added elevation will make it too difficult to stand and move to rear. Just my feedback.

It's easy enough to make a temporary platform (without hinge or moving parts) out of scrap wood to test it first.


P.S. -- In addition to brake lever, transmission tunnel, and reduced width between seats, I think the Transit seats may be slightly lower to floor compared to Econoline. That may explain in part why it feels tougher to get in and out of seats towards van middle. The first foot planted over hump appears much higher compared to seat cushion elevation.

 

[orton]

Who will be the first person to cut off the bottom 5" or so of the center dashboard removing the shelf? Gain 3" inches of shoe room and maybe more depending on what is behind the cover.

 

[Chance]

Not a real good pic, but you can see (or the lack of) a console in the euro version

#1 console hatter: me

Is that FWD or RWD? Can't tell from picture. I'm guessing FWD vans don't have a hump (transmission tunnel) between seats.