Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Info & Discussion Forum

Something new.
Gas or Diesel. Rear wheel Drive.
I guess a contender for the Sprinter?

A Kiwanis club member I know who drives a parts delivery vehicle for our local Johnson Automotive parts warehouse many miles each week. He used to drive a Dodge Sprinter delivery van and the company is starting to replace them with the Ford Transit van. He has now driven his new Ford Transit delivery van for several weeks. He told me that he much prefers the smoother ride and easier handling of the Ford over the Dodge Sprinter. Just his opinion.

I'm confused. I don't believe Dodge makes a sprinter anymore. They do make a sprinter-like van called a Ram Promaster. Mercedes Benz makes a Sprinter, as does Freightliner (which I believe is also made by Mercedes Benz with Freightliner badging). And now Ford has the Ford Transit.

Which is the one BF is experimenting with?

I like the idea of using the Ford product (American) if it works as well as the others.

FYI, the American Pickers are driving a Ford Transit (vice Sprinter) in their show now.

Thanks, Bill

Bill,

I am not totally sure of my facts but when Chrysler Corp was owned by Mercedes Benz that diesel powered van was sold both as a Mercedes Sprinter and also as Dodge RAM (or Sprinter?) chassis. The Dodge version I am sure was actually built by Mercedes Benz. When Fiat bought Chrysler Corp then of course the Dodge version of the chassis was dropped.

Thanks Bill. Not like in the 1950s anymore when I could recognize the make of every car on the highway a 1/4 mile away, going or coming. Ahhh, the good old days, lol.

Bill

Prototype BF on Ford Transit chassis? ha ha ha!

Bill

Some nice looking coaches on the Ford Transit chassis (European, I think).

Bill

One more....

Bill

I've really never looked at the Transits at all. I've had several E-chassis vans over the years though. I just looked up the cargo and tow capacity specs of the Transit, and I was surprised. The tow rating varies widely from model to model, from 3300 lbs on the low end to 7500 lbs on the high end... and the highest tow rating comes on one of the Transit 250 variants rather than the 350; and surprisingly the lowest tow rating comes on one of the 350 variants. Very interesting.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitvanwa ... ns/towing/

Wow... I'd sure like to see a Born Free on the F650 chassis!

http://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/f650-f750/

Another Ford Transit MH by Thor for 2016.
The rear slide is interesting.

bcope01 wrote:Prototype BF on Ford Transit chassis? ha ha ha!

Bill

I do believe that is what "Bert" is using in the current season of Doc Martin, with some yellow paint. For fan's of the series, I read that there will be another season next year.

ewagman wrote:

bcope01 wrote:Prototype BF on Ford Transit chassis? ha ha ha!

Bill

I do believe that is what "Bert" is using in the current season of Doc Martin, with some yellow paint. For fan's of the series, I read that there will be another season next year.

That's because, if I remember correctly, Transits are often being used to build ambulances in the UK. They're usually painted lime green (aka lime yellow).