New work van. Ford Transit Custom

[Hobo128]

Good evening.
I'm after buying a Ford Transit Custom as my old but trusty Vauxhall combo is starting to feel it now and doesn't look the part anymore.
I'm trying to find out if anyone has bought them selves a transit custom and if so what payload they went for as there are 2 different payloads I'm considering, the 270 or 290. Also what do you think of the van reliability wise. it's a big expense and I want to get it right but don't want to over spend.

cheers

 

[ShaunCorbs]

With a work van I would always go for the biggest payload in the size you want

 

[Harvest Fields]

I have the 270 2.2 SWB and it is awesome. I absolutely love it. I would have had the 290 LWB but I do not have space on the drive.

 

[Welder]

But then again, sorry Shaun, do you carry too much 'stuff around' ?

Personally, with van theft on the rise and manufacturers doing nothing about it, especially Ford, I found rethinking what I carried led me to spend out on a 4x4 which took all I wanted, cos then I used free delivery from the merchants etc, and ended up costing me FAR less in fuel and insurances.

Without doubt it made me think a bit more and made me plan a little more but that was no real bother. When I changed over, I put away so much 'just in case' stuff that I've still never used!

Bit of good quality (subtle) sign writing and not one customer or even prospective customer ever even mentioned it. Easily got the occasional bath in the back too but because it had less space I just ended up carrying soo much less sh1te

So many good engineers now converting to anything but vans for security reasons.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Ford have done a software update for the central locking system apparently.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I carry a lot of stuff

 

[Harvest Fields]

I carry a lot of stuff

I know that feeling. Blooming wish I didn’t though.

 

[townfanjon]

Just as Dave says , with thieving scrotes robbing our vans all the time , it makes me carry less gear , which means a small van .

Sorry Hobo , not trying to change thread direction

 

[Harvest Fields]

Just as Dave says , with thieving scrotes robbing our vans all the time , it makes me carry less gear , which means a small van .

Sorry Hobo , not trying to change thread direction

I’m happy with the custom mate. Worth every penny.

 

[Welder]

We've just looked at buying some vans. TBH not a single one is addressing security. Its typical big business smoke and BS
They all suggest that having paid for each van, WE then spend a min of £2k (on each van) to get us back to the security we enjoyed 10 years ago! My names Hunt not...

Sorry, but when you then work out genuine MPG (oh don't forget to add the blue crap to your MPG too), servicing costs & environmental impact they simply do not make any form of economic sense. 20% lower MPG, more running costs, higher insurance as security is so poor & poorer reliability all for more money - buy hey it's an 18 plate! Sorry.

"Call me happy...."

 

[Welder]

It's being so 'cheerful' & positive that keeps me sane

 

[Jamie Liffen]

ive had a transit custom 67 plate from new with the company i work for. the basic one has no air con or digital radio, big no no when your doing 600 -700 miles per week.

its now done 28k and had a few problems :

- heaters in the van have packed in.

- adblue system failed

- a few of the joiners have had there tools stolen , so not sure about security . i bring my tools in the house .

all sorted under warranty .

 

[Hobo128]

Thanks

I have the 270 2.2 SWB and it is awesome. I absolutely love it. I would have had the 290 LWB but I do not have space on the drive.

Do you think 270 payload is enough for the sort of gear plumbers tend to cart about? Also what year. I take it it's pre 2016 being 2.2ltr

 

[Hobo128]

ive had a transit custom 67 plate from new with the company i work for. the basic one has no air con or digital radio, big no no when your doing 600 -700 miles per week.

its now done 28k and had a few problems :

- heaters in the van have packed in.

- adblue system failed

- a few of the joiners have had there tools stolen , so not sure about security . i bring my tools in the house .

all sorted under warranty .

I've heard problems regarding ad blue on the new 2litre euro 6 engines. I don't really fancy spreading 15k on something that might give me problems, I get enough of that from customers

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thanks

Do you think 270 payload is enough for the sort of gear plumbers tend to cart about? Also what year. I take it it's pre 2016 being 2.2ltr

It is a 2016 2.2 and without the add blue. I would have plenty of space if I wasn’t so busy.

 

[sammathias]

Adblue failures
Oil dipstick sensor recalls,
Goes into limp mode for no apparent reason,
bleeps within 1 second of not putting your seatbelt on,
parking sensors get damp and bleep like mad, random electrical failures,
can get broken into in 10 seconds,

Ford transit are shocking!! Have gone downhill over the years. Only thing good about them is they are nice to drive. We have a fleet of about 30 all with problem after problem within the first year. One van van had to have all glowplugs/starter plugs replaced within 2 months.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Adblue failures
Oil dipstick sensor recalls,
Goes into limp mode for no apparent reason,
bleeps within 1 second of not putting your seatbelt on,
parking sensors get damp and bleep like mad, random electrical failures,
can get broken into in 10 seconds,

Ford transit are shocking!! Have gone downhill over the years. Only thing good about them is they are nice to drive. We have a fleet of about 30 all with problem after problem within the first year. One van van had to have all glowplugs/starter plugs replaced within 2 months.

Not had any of these issues.

 

[sammathias]

You seem to be a lucky one mate. What year is your van?

 

[Harvest Fields]

2016 but it isn’t adblue

 

[gmartine]

I've always had a manual kill switch (fuel pump) under the dash for every van I've owned for the past twenty years despite the apparent advancements in security. I can't remember how many times I've found the van with the door window or lock popped and the van abandoned, force of habit flicking it on when I leave the van trouble is I don't always remember I have one when trying to start it on a foggy headed morning so the the AA love me. Only kidding...

 

[Last Plumber]

Ford have done a software update for the central locking system apparently.

I had that done!
All better now!

 

[boblydon]

I have a new vw transporter, auto with all the toys, cant fault it.

 

[sammathias]

I have a new vw transporter, auto with all the toys, cant fault it.

Uhhooohh not an auto

 

[Phil]

2005 Combo, shiny red in remarkably good condition. But soon reaching the end of its life and I'm dreading getting a new van, I've had it 11 years and it's part of me. Only do about 20-30 miles a week, drives like a milk float in limp mode towing a full builders skip but Its cheap to run!

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Had a few transit vans and they all rusted, but loved them. Get a semi high top mwb and you can carry copper, sheets of wood etc no problem inside. Also still falls into the car mot class if you get the front wheel drive 280 as its undet 3 ton. Down side is fuel. Got a combo van now and it does twice the miles to the gallon. Not ideal on bathroom installs etc when you realise you are down a sheel of something and a length of cls. Also it will not rust as the body is galvanised. Transit vans in my opinion are the best van for versatility in terms of load.