[dustboy]

Just curious, why did Ford decide to build the Transit with RWD?

FWD is superior in slippery conditions, can be built with a lower floor, and I understand they are cheaper to manufacture.

My best guess is that Ford didn't have a good powertrain with a FWD configuration, most of what is going into the Transit is available in the F150. I'm sure the Euro parts bins have everything it would need, but maybe those powertrains don't have the ooomph that we North Americans expect.

 

[EddieZ]

...
FWD is superior in slippery conditions, can be built with a lower floor...

Speaking for myself, the FWD of the Promaster was one thing that made it a no-go, for my needs. I'm sliding cargo (kayak, lumber, etc.) beyond the cargo floor, and under the passenger seat (I made a custom passenger seat mount, to allow this). The bi-level floor of the Promaster would not work, short of building up an elevated floor in back.

I know some might prefer the lower cargo deck, but, others may like the unified feel of a single floor level all around.

 

[brittles]

I doubt many ex E-series van owners would opt for the Transit if it was FWD and Ford knows that.

You can't get the towing capacities from FWD like you can on RWD. That's why I never even considered the Promaster.

I could see them offering FWD in the future as ( if I'm not mistaken) both versions are available in Europe.

 

[Clam]

FWD is superior in slippery conditions when the majority of the weight (the engine) in over them, but when the majority of the weight is the cargo in the back of the vehicle I believe RWD will get you up and over that snowy hill much better.

 

[JohnMW]

It is all about weight. People who only carry light loads, FWD would be fine. For me, with front axle at 3500 lbs and rear at 6000, FWD would be a joke.

 

[Chance]

Just curious, why did Ford decide to build the Transit with RWD?

FWD is superior in slippery conditions, can be built with a lower floor, and I understand they are cheaper to manufacture.

My best guess is that Ford didn't have a good powertrain with a FWD configuration, most of what is going into the Transit is available in the F150. I'm sure the Euro parts bins have everything it would need, but maybe those powertrains don't have the ooomph that we North Americans expect.

My 2 cents...

Ford decided on RWD for US market, but has FWD, RWD, and AWD in Europe using essentially the same body and design.

Ford must feel that Americans want a different kind of van, with much more power and towing capacity.

In Europe it's not that unusual to have vans with tiny <100 HP engines, while in US we argue whether 250 HP can be enough. We have a much different mind set of what is acceptable.

For smaller RV conversions I think FWD is better as long as you don't plan to tow. And if manufacturers developed much heavier-duty driven front axles, then FWD could be used on much larger vans too.

Think about it, if Ford designed a driven 6,000-pound independent front suspension with high torque capacity, why wouldn't it be able to tow what most owners need? It's not rocket science -- just not enough of a market. The old GMC Motorhomes were FWD and were a lot larger than Ford vans.

The biggest problem I see is lack of a modern FWD transmission with enough capacity. RWD transmissions are now used on pickups and trucks, so finding one to work in a 300 HP RWD Transit is easy. FWD transmissions are for lighter cars and wouldn't hold up under 300 HP combined with vehicle weighing 15,000 pounds.

It would be interesting to look up what the largest engine is on a Euro FWD Transit. Maybe they do offer 3.5L EB with 300+ HP.

 

[dustboy]

The bi-level floor of the Promaster would not work, short of building up an elevated floor in back.

Didn't know it was built that way, that's a non-starter for me too.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies, I never thought about the towing issue. I can see those front tires smoking at every stop light trying to pull a 5,000 lb trailer.

 

[Spudz]

I definitely wanted RWD (Or AWD) for my van due to my towing needs. No other van really fit my needs for towing a loaded U-haul trailer all the way across the country from Florida to Alaska. With the ecoboost, she was the perfect fit for what I wanted.