Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: Clemdog on December 01, 2018, 08:36:01 PM

Title: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Clemdog on December 01, 2018, 08:36:01 PM
I'm considering looking for one of these small vans as a surf/light camper vehicle.

Would love to see some pics for ideas.

Clem
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: exiled on December 01, 2018, 09:44:24 PM
How long are your boards? Anything long than about 8 feet would need to be run up the center between the front seats.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Dwight (DW) on December 02, 2018, 03:07:35 AM
FYI, the regular promaster LOW roof is 5’6” inside height. That is the same inside height as a tall basic Sprinter. It’s the best kept secret on the road.

It is the FWD allowing all that hidden walking around head room.  It gets 19-20 mpg too.

Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Badger on December 02, 2018, 04:50:37 AM
How long are your boards? Anything long than about 8 feet would need to be run up the center between the front seats.

Not necessarily between the seats. You should be able to lean the back of the passenger seat all the way forward and have the boards sit flat on top of it.

That's how I do it with my Saab 93 sedan. I've carried boards up to 9'4" that way, so a van with an 8 foot bed should have no problem carrying an 11 footer.

.


Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: jrandy on December 02, 2018, 05:28:20 AM
I would look into Paul Jensen's work in converting vans and Jeeps, he also makes boards too:

http://pauljensencustom.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-ride.html (http://pauljensencustom.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-ride.html)
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: surfcowboy on December 02, 2018, 08:31:52 AM
I think Daily (from Maui) on here has one too.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Wetstuff on December 02, 2018, 09:10:32 AM
CD,  Having monitored a couple of RV forums for the last 8mos, I noted much schadenfreude directed towards people who were dazzled by 'The Star'.  The others are considered to have facha bruta, but more useable cube and even room beneath to carry stuff because of FWD.   One local here gets Oooos-and-Ahhhhhs for his 4WD Nissan NV.   It will be a fun quest.  Good luck.


Jim
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: TallDude on December 02, 2018, 11:31:05 AM
I know a plumber who drives one. He hates the seats and steering wheel angle. Said his back gets sore after about 15 minutes. It's a company van so he's stuck with it.

https://www.truecar.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/reviews/

Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Dwight (DW) on December 02, 2018, 12:31:33 PM
I know a plumber who drives one. He hates the seats and steering wheel angle. Said his back gets sore after about 15 minutes. It's a company van so he's stuck with it.

https://www.truecar.com/ram/promaster-cargo-van/reviews/

Many company vans come with the bulkhead behind the seat. Those are horrible. Seat can’t be slid back all the way or reclined any. A bit like being stuck in an airline seat. Without the bulkhead, they are nice and roomy.

Among the kitesurf, windsurf, and surf crew in this area, the count is
3 Sprinters
6 Promasters
1 Transit
3 Econolines
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: daswusup on December 02, 2018, 02:22:47 PM
I am building one of these pictured below. Its a Mercedes Metris "midi" van with a pop top penthouse. I am putting a Westfalia style, plug n play camping package in it which will be removable for easy conversion back to passenger or cargo. This vehicle is a garage-able camper which can be used as a daily driver(22-26mpg). I believe that these have a lot more real world appeal, to most people, than a full size van. It drives like a Mercedes.
Happy van hunting!!
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: juandoe on December 02, 2018, 02:57:31 PM
FYI, the regular promaster LOW roof is 5’6” inside height. That is the same inside height as a tall basic Sprinter. It’s the best kept secret on the road.

It is the FWD allowing all that hidden walking around head room.  It gets 19-20 mpg too.

Basic Tall Sprinter is actually 6' 4".  Low roof is 5'5". 
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: TallDude on December 02, 2018, 04:04:59 PM
It drives like a Mercedes.
I've never driven a Mercedes. I wonder if they drive as nice as my F250 crew cab with a V10. I can hear my watch tick when I doing 80mph. At 80 mph it's running about 1600 rpm. 13 MPG too. As long as there is some weight in the back, it drives like a Rolls Royce ;D Actually, I've never driven a Rolls Royce either.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Dwight (DW) on December 02, 2018, 05:30:53 PM
FYI, the regular promaster LOW roof is 5’6” inside height. That is the same inside height as a tall basic Sprinter. It’s the best kept secret on the road.

It is the FWD allowing all that hidden walking around head room.  It gets 19-20 mpg too.

Basic Tall Sprinter is actually 6' 4".  Low roof is 5'5".

Yeah, I’m calling the basic sprinter tall. It is very tall compared to the low roof promaster. Not comparing high roof to high roof versions.

It’s sad to see the low roof transits with 4’ something inside, just like the econlines, being used by every tourist shuttle service (running to the cruise ships here). Tourists packed in like sardines. When the same van in the Promaster, has walking around height at 5’6. Same exterior heights, econlines, transit low, Promaster low. Sprinters are too high for the parking garages.

It’s just a function of Ford doing a better job grabbing the fleet sales.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: eastbound on December 03, 2018, 03:02:39 AM
daswu--if possible pls link source of westy plug and play camper setup

thx
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: supthecreek on December 06, 2018, 05:11:15 AM
I would look into Paul Jensen's work in converting vans and Jeeps, he also makes boards too:

http://pauljensencustom.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-ride.html (http://pauljensencustom.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-ride.html)

Jensen does nice work... but I hope no one ever follows his plans for board storage....

I rarely post anything negative, but the plan he chose to share is just plain deadly

His plan has 3 boards, stored behind the drivers seat.... at head level.
Tied down with 2 bungee cords  :o
NO cargo wall to stop the boards in even a minor fender bender.
I am sure they would bounce and take out the passenger as well.

Pic of Jensen's board storage plan (#1)

My van rack (#2 & 3)
Planned understanding the consequences of even a minor accident.
Boards nested into the back of a bolted steel cargo wall..... padded on the back, with boards snug to it, so they won't hit the wall with speed.

My van is so long, that a rear end accident will have little chance to reach my boards and push them into me.
I put my longest board in the top position, so a rear ender will probably not reach that high.

Good design is no accident.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: surfercook on December 06, 2018, 06:53:53 AM
I've been eyeing up the Transit as a replacement for my beloved Honda Element. She's 10 yrs old now and is starting to rust a bit, mainly in the exhaust system. She blew out the exhaust manifold a coupla weeks ago and man was she LOUD. $450 later and she's gtg. But I ain't complaining since she's been reliable and has really only needed minor work over the yrs (mainly brakes). VERY strong girl!
  If I do score a Transit I'll probably go w/a passenger model but since I've yet to actually test drive one it's hard to make that call at present. But your review of Jensen's board layout has my attention, Creek. I will miss the ease of stacking boards out the back of the Ellie's hatch though. And the fun times tail gaitin' it.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: novaboy on December 06, 2018, 07:33:26 AM
The Honda Element was the best vehicle I owned. Regret selling it everytime I see one.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: TallDude on December 06, 2018, 08:09:10 AM
Are you guys derailing this thread? Just in case.... 122K 2010 runs like new.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Wetstuff on December 06, 2018, 09:01:47 AM
Rick hit it... C'hit happens.   If you can imagine taking a hit in shorebreak (not usually by the pointy end, but we all have) then consider plowing into a sold mass at 30-60mph; his boards look like a pointy guillotine  ...making a lot of little glass fibers to spice it up for the folks in ER.  Maybe he wears a Gath helmet all the time... 

Jim
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Bean on December 06, 2018, 09:08:19 AM
Had another surf buddy with an Element, pretty useful vehicle for sure.  We were heading out to Island Beach State Park one day and in an attempt to justify my Land Rover (to myself) I said, "if this thing had 4WD it would be perfect for snowboarding too".  (It had 4WD)

Why mess with perfection...
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: TallDude on December 06, 2018, 09:40:20 AM
Had another surf buddy with an Element, pretty useful vehicle for sure.  We were heading out to Island Beach State Park one day and in an attempt to justify my Land Rover (to myself) I said, "if this thing had 4WD it would be perfect for snowboarding too".  (It had 4WD)

Why mess with perfection...
4WD for sure. Skiing in Utah and Off-roading in the mountains. Does great in the snow and I've actually climbed some steep dirt hills with it ;D Can't do that in a big box van.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: Bean on December 06, 2018, 10:19:10 AM
Great shots TD
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: pdxmike on December 06, 2018, 04:20:44 PM
I started reading this discussion to see if any of these vehicles might work as a replacement for my own Element.  They've got some nice features, and may work better for other people, but they're just not the same.   I can fit bikes upright in mine, access everything easily with the suicide doors, fit 10' pipes in with the windows closed.  I've had almost nothing repaired after 140k miles.  Back seats flip up in 10 seconds, come out completely in 30.  And the styling...


Also like the stick.  So easy even a German Shepherd can drive it, although ours still has trouble parallel parking.



Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: TallDude on December 06, 2018, 05:58:57 PM
I started reading this discussion to see if any of these vehicles might work as a replacement for my own Element.  They've got some nice features, and may work better for other people, but they're just not the same.   I can fit bikes upright in mine, access everything easily with the suicide doors, fit 10' pipes in with the windows closed.  I've had almost nothing repaired after 140k miles.  Back seats flip up in 10 seconds, come out completely in 30.  And the styling...


Also like the stick.  So easy even a German Shepherd can drive it, although ours still has trouble parallel parking.
I showed my son this. He has his learners permit and I'm trying to remind him to look over his shoulder before merging. "see, the German Shepherd gets it.."
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: mr_proper on December 09, 2018, 01:26:00 PM
I have no transit connect, but a transit/Tourneo Custom. I have built a few furniture modules and so the car is ready to camp in 10 minutes. I also have a diesel air heating, 100ah AGM battery installed.
Some pictures. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0n5n8hH418njH

Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: spirit4earth on December 10, 2018, 10:05:39 AM
Be sure and run your VIN on the Element.  I just had my passenger-side airbag inflator replaced on my Fit.

Had the driver’s side replaced a few years ago.
Title: Re: Anyone driving a Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City?
Post by: APPST_Paddle on December 11, 2018, 03:14:47 PM
Clemdog - I'm guessing you live in SC. If you head to Folly anytime, there's 2 brothers that each have the Ram cargo van, I'm not sure the exact model. They are setup like you are describing. It seems to work pretty well, they have multiple foils, SUP, kite gear, etc.
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