I tried to hire a SWB in the summer last year, to be told there weren't any available, so had to make to with a 3.5T LWB. I'm not the best parker in the world, but even I managed to reverse it up my very tight drive. You'll be fine although it's easy to mount the pavement on sharp corners (in a LWB at least).
Renting a van, short wheelbase Transit, anyone drive one?
- Thread starter d_brennen
- Start date
A while ago now, I loaded up a van full of old CRT monitors, I wasn't driving but every time the guy came to a stop something crashed in the back, it was hilarious.
Pretty much as already said, allow for it's extra size compared to a car, when reversing, if in doubt, get out & look first, secure the load properly.
Be aware of its height too, I've seen many vans hit height barriers over the years, invariably hire ones....
Cover the dashboard with used newspaper, general rubbish & lots of dust to blend in completely!
Given you've not driven one before, your standard of driving will well exceed the average white van man as I'd guess you'll be taking care......
Be aware of its height too, I've seen many vans hit height barriers over the years, invariably hire ones....
Cover the dashboard with used newspaper, general rubbish & lots of dust to blend in completely!
Given you've not driven one before, your standard of driving will well exceed the average white van man as I'd guess you'll be taking care......
Caporegime
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I would get a LWB. When we bought our house I rented a LWB transit and we were only moving from a flat and were leaving big furniture behind yet was a tight squeeze getting everything in one go.
Felt a bit intimidating on the first drive but loved the driving position and the way everyone stays out the way of a rental van
.
Felt a bit intimidating on the first drive but loved the driving position and the way everyone stays out the way of a rental van
.They are surprisingly easy to drive, you get much better forwards visibility than you do in a car (which is why White Van Man thinks it's ok to sit 2mm from someones bumper) and you quickly get used to the width. Reversing is usually OK, as long as it has functional mirrors though it helps to have someone watch out for you until you get a feel for the length.
Soldato
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Transits - or the RWD ones anyway - have a very short first gear. If it's empty it's easy to light up the rear wheels. It can be better to move off in second.
Soldato
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Even transits have traction control these days. The only time I've spun up the wheels on a transit was unladen on a steep gravel drive.
Soldato
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Came in to say just this. 1st runs out very quickly when you're unladen.
Is it comfy on long runs? I might have to borrow one for 500 miles in a couple of months.
I rented one 6 months ago, I stopped using 1st when unladen for this very reason.
Although it shouldn't be an issue with SWB (I hired a LWB) don't accidentally cut corners/clip kerbs. It can be quite easy at first to turn in too much/early due to you being so far forward from the rear wheels and then being rewarded with the tell tale bump of the rear wheel climbing onto the kerb.
And the crack of the impatient pedestrians ankle.
Very...oddly. The seat doesn't hurt my back (which many tend to), and the van feels quite planted, so if the tracking is alright, you don't have to put much effort into steering the thing. Cupholders galore, easy gearchange, it drives better than a lot of cars!
For some reason, nothing has come close to a transit on long trips for me, says a lot about the cars I've driven
It depends on what you're used to and your body shape. The lack of backwards movement isn't great for tall people as even with short legs I have the seat back as far as it'll go. However I've been in far worse cars.
I drive a 3 series saloon and Clio hatchback daily and had to complete a 400 mile round trip in an awful Fiat Ducato (I don't remember the exact size, but I believe it was the largest one), the biggest thing I'd driven at that point was a 110 Defender, and the Ducato didn't particularly phase me once I'd become accustomed to the extra length.
It ain't a tank!
It ain't a tank!
Soldato
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I did well over 1000 miles over 2 days in a Ford Transit SWB a few months ago (house move) and it was surprisingly fun. Had no issues at all, just made sure I used mirrors correctly at all times.
A friend uses a 04 Transit as a service van for tarmac rallies, so we often have to do a couple of hundred miles in it and both of use are crippled by the time we get out. The seat backs are too upright with no real scope of adjustment and don't provide enough support. Later ones may well be better though.