Front Seat Pass Thru

11403 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by accrete, Jul 28, 2014

carnut

Discussion Starter · Jul 26, 2014

6

My local dealer finally got a Transit so I checked it out. Took a few pics with my mediocre cell phone camera. I included some measurements for reference. The seat was adjusted to a comfortable driving position for me (5'-7"). The overall space is much less than my E series. I have 6" more width between the armrests and at least a foot more width at the floor. Adjusted the same, I have 2 more inches between the engine cover and the seats than the Transit has between the seats and the center console. The only thing saving it for the Transit is you can slip your toes under the console. Offsetting that is the flatter E series floor. I would have to rate the Transit lower for rear access.
Second issue is the clearance between the e-brake handle and passenger seat base - barely 9". I have no problem hauling large piles of 12' lumber inside the E series with the rear doors shut. That's because there is over 23" at the floor and 16" between the armrests. I'm not sure you could even get a 2x10 flat between the seats in the transit. Hauling 16' lumber with rear doors open is no problem in E series as the load is still centered in front of the rear axle. The same load would be sticking out another 2' with Transit. The e-brake does not look to be easily moved. Definitely disappointed.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Guards Red Car

· #2 · Jul 26, 2014

I agree

Driver/Passenger Seats Too Tight!

Front (cab area) Tight! Very limited space between front seats

Very Troublesome floorpan – anything but flat or expansive!

Intrusive Floor Hump in center (between seats) for Transmission

Footwell space downright cramped, limited, claustrophobic!

Not one but Two “Deadpedals” for driver’s Left Foot

It is very difficult to “swing” driver’s legs/feet from footwell to area between seats in order to stand and access rear cargo area – I had narrow sneakers on and tried to do this several times – The central lower console and transmission hump are downright intrusive – I imagine this maneuver would be almost impossible while wearing workboots -- If you look carefully at any photos of this console (or see a Transit in person) I guarantee that you will see lots of shoe scuff marks on the lower console

When considering this “Tight” Cab design, I am very surprised (and disappointed) that Ford did not pay more attention to driver comfort!

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carnut

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 26, 2014

6

Try again on attachments.

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FXDX1450

· #4 · Jul 26, 2014

Just came back from the Expedite Expo, where I was able to see the Transit MR 148" , ProMaster and Sprinter 170" side by side. I came away with a very different opinion. The Transit cab is the best over all- dash layout, storage, seat comfort. Ford has a hit here, a great evolution/revolution from the E Series!
I found the transition in the Transit to be no problem from drivers seat to cargo area as did another gentleman who was far bigger than me . The Econoline transition was always awkward with that very protruding engine cover, and I am not big. Yes the Transit does have a small (tiny)transmission hump The Transit gets a big thumbs up from me. The ProMaster was a bit strange, the seating position and the relationship to steering wheel are not great. I will say the transition area to the cargo area is larger, however the floor seems to give way(soft) it has a lot of flex. I question how well this material will hold up in daily commercial use. There is a small step down to the cargo bed, a little strange. The Sprinter is quite a bit blah compared to the Transit and ProMaster. Between the Transit and Sprinter it is the Transit hands down. The ProMaster is interesting as in strange. but not the equal of the Transit I can see where the lower load floor will have some appeal for some. I will want to hear how is performs through a tough winter- traction , handling when fully loaded and what the reliability factor turns out to be. Fiat used to acronym as Fix It Again Tony.
End Statement on the Transit- Ford enters Ford Wins!

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accrete

· #5 · Jul 26, 2014

I look forward to seeing the Transit in person in Seattle at the Transit Tour.

Time will tell weather the Transit will be on the top of the list for Van Version 2.0

Chance

· #6 · Jul 26, 2014

Haven't seen the Transit in person yet but based solely on pictures, access from cab to cargo area seemed more limited than that of Econoline from the onset. And that's disappointing considering the Transit is wider.

Perhaps if, or when, Ford brings the front-wheel-drive Transit to US the engine cover and transmission hump will go away. If so rear access should improve although it'd have a step down from cab to cargo area just like the ProMaster's.

For Class B camper a FWD van may actually work better anyway. While watching Tour de France on TV over last 3 weeks I've noticed more than half of all campers lining the side of the roads are based on Fiat Ducato. And surprising to me many of those are B+, with a few Class Cs. I previously thought pure van campers dominated that segment.

Brad

· #7 · Jul 26, 2014

I had no problem with the Transit moving from front to back.

carnut

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 27, 2014

Chance said:
...Perhaps if, or when, Ford brings the front-wheel-drive Transit to US the engine cover and transmission hump will go away...

I think the hump is there because the engine is mounted quite high in the chassis. Unlike most old-school designs where the oil pan steps up to clear a front crossmember, with the 3.7 I saw the deepest part of the oil pan is about 1.5" above the front crossmember. Unless the diesel is much taller, or an AWD is in the works, I don't see why they lifted the engine so much. I did notice the front struts look like they are from a fwd with the through hole just blocked off. It also looked like there might be enough room in the front subframe/suspension design for front axles.

Chance

· #9 · Jul 27, 2014

carnut said:
I think the hump is there because the engine is mounted quite high in the chassis. Unlike most old-school designs where the oil pan steps up to clear a front crossmember, with the 3.7 I saw the deepest part of the oil pan is about 1.5" above the front crossmember. Unless the diesel is much taller, or an AWD is in the works, I don't see why they lifted the engine so much. I did notice the front struts look like they are from a fwd with the through hole just blocked off. It also looked like there might be enough room in the front subframe/suspension design for front axles.

Your point about possible AWD making it necessary to raise the engine makes sense. The front axle would most likely need to cross under engine's oil pan.

If Ford manufactures a FWD Transit with transverse engine design like the FWD European Transits, the transmission will not be between seats so hump won't be needed at all.

carnut

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 27, 2014

FXDX1450 said:
... a great evolution/revolution from the E Series!...

I've was eagerly hoping that for 2 years. Now that I've seen Transit up close, I've pretty much decided to fix up my 18 year old E Series. Hard to call that a "win" for Ford.

accrete

· #11 · Jul 27, 2014

When i first began the research for a possible Van-version 2.0 the PM was actually in the number 1 spot as one could order it with factory front seat swivels. IF there is actually a clearance issue with the FT i'm wondering if 3rd party vendors will offer front seat swivel as an option. From what i recall reading there is a bit of electronics and other items under the stock transit seats that might make swivels a no-go?? The current mindset on floor plans for my wife's/my use does not need the front swivels, in fact we are thinking of having the adrian-steel partition with slider.

The front seat swivel option is on my list to ask at the tour just cuz anyway for those who may come this way.

Cheers,
Thom

KilWerBzz

· #12 · Jul 27, 2014

accrete said:
The front seat swivel option is on my list to ask at the tour just cuz anyway for those who may come this way.

Cheers,
Thom

Ask how many degrees of swivel, Promaster swivel are only 90 degree towards the doors for entry and exit.

accrete

· #13 · Jul 27, 2014 (Edited)

KilWerBzz said:
Ask how many degrees of swivel, Promaster swivel are only 90 degree towards the doors for entry and exit.

a PS before the comment below... WHAT? the PM seats swivel out toward the doors only? Why not swivel into the cab for easy access to rear? strange if true. end PS afterthought.

THX i sure will. I guess i thought the PM seats would swivel ~130 degrees or so?? That's what one sees when viewing the many Fiat Ducato class B conversion videos. But even 90 degrees in the PM (with better clearance than transit?) would allow for a nice front facing mini-dinette in a floor plan, which was our original top floor plan. ]

Thom

KilWerBzz

· #14 · Jul 27, 2014

accrete said:
That's what one sees when viewing the many Fiat Ducato class B conversion videos.
Thom

Fiat does not make the conversion so after market swivels are used about $250 per swivel plus added seat height

tblake

· #15 · Jul 28, 2014

accrete said:
a PS before the comment below... WHAT? the PM seats swivel out toward the doors only? Why not swivel into the cab for easy access to rear? strange if true. end PS afterthought.

THX i sure will. I guess i thought the PM seats would swivel ~130 degrees or so?? That's what one sees when viewing the many Fiat Ducato class B conversion videos. But even 90 degrees in the PM (with better clearance than transit?) would allow for a nice front facing mini-dinette in a floor plan, which was our original top floor plan. ]

Thom

The PM factory swivels are not currently available for order on the cargo van. Maybe around December? I have seen what the factory swivels would be like in the Winnebago Trend. They swivel towards the door and a full 180 degrees to the rear. The Trend swivels match the photos and knobs/handles shown in the PM Owner's Manual, so they are not a Winnebago conversion item. They are the factory PM swivels.

accrete

· #16 · Jul 28, 2014

tblake said:
...They swivel towards the door and a full 180 degrees to the rear. The Trend swivels match the photos and knobs/handles shown in the PM Owner's Manual, so they are not a Winnebago conversion item. They are the factory PM swivels.

THX. That was my original understanding of what was taking place with the factory PM seat options.

Thom

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