The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van available in the Cargo Van and the Passenger Wagon models. It’s a relatively low roof van, with its exterior height being 6 feet.
If you’ve been wondering whether you can stand in a Ford Transit Connect, here’s the answer.
Most people can’t stand in a Ford Transit Connect van because there’s only 43.3 inches (3 ft 6 inches) of interior height. The Transit Connect Cargo Vans have an interior height of 49.8 inches, and the Passenger Wagon internal height is 43.3 inches.
The Ford Transit Connect is your ideal van if you plan to buy a compact panel van.
But before buying, it’s essential to know whether it’s a good van, its advantages, and how you can improve your experience in it.
The Ford Transit Connect Is a Good Camper Van
The Ford Transit Connect is a popular camping van owing to its excellent maneuverability and ample cargo volume.
As much as you can’t stand inside it, the van has a cargo volume that ranges from 104.8 to 106 cubic feet.
If you fold the passenger seat, you’ll get extra cargo area, with the short wheelbase cargo van having 123.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The long-wheelbase cargo van has 145.8 cubic feet of cargo volume when you fold the front passenger seat.
Apart from the large cargo area, here are reasons why the Ford Transit Connect is a good camper van.
Comfortable and Compact
The Ford Transit Connect’s small size makes it suitable for stealth camping. You’ll quickly find good parking spaces within the narrow city parking spaces or in the wild without attracting too much attention.
While driving, the van has good visibility, big windows, and minimal blind spots to add to plenty of headroom in the driver and passenger cabins. You’ll easily enter and sit in the van without feeling cramped.
Good Fuel Economy
The Ford Transit Connect isn’t ideally a camper van, but many people prefer it due to its excellent fuel economy.
It’s very fuel-efficient, with the 2.0-liter GDI I-4 gas engine models having a 24 city/ 27 highway/ 25 combined miles per gallon rating (MPG).
The 2.5-liter IVCT I-4 gas engine models have a lower 20 city/ 26 highway/ 22 combined miles per gallon rating.
Cheap To Maintain and Modify
Like all Ford vehicles, the Ford Transit Connect is easier to rack, maintain, and modify than imported models such as Mercedes-Benz Metris.
Additionally, its parts are cheaper and easier to find when repairs are necessary as it’s a local brand.
You Will Need to Install Good Ventilation
All low roof vans have poor air circulation compared to the RVs or the high roof models. Vapor can quickly accumulate during hot nights, and you end up risking breeding molds in your bedding and wooden van racking or ceiling.
Additionally, it might be very tempting but unsafe to leave your windows open during the day or hot nights.
Therefore, install a good ventilation system to create a safe and habitable environment for yourself and those around you.
One DIY method of improving air circulation inside your van is venting. A dreaded part of the venting process is that you will have to cut off some part of your van’s roof or wall to install a fan or a vented window.
To do so requires a very high level of accuracy that ensures that the cut is perfect and leak-free, especially after you’ve installed the vent.
The types of ventilation that you can install are:
Roof Vent
A roof vent is simply an opening or channel for hot and humid air to escape and allow cooler air to flow into the van. It’s cheap, easy to install, and doesn’t require any power to run.
Its downside is that you’ll have to rely on nature to suck out hot air and push in cooler air. The hot air is lighter and will rise as the cooler dense air gets into your van.
I’d recommend against installing a roof vent unless you’re doing so to complement it with a fan.
Roof Fan
Depending on the configuration, a roof fan can either suck air into the van or push it out.
The one you’ll install on your van’s roof should be weatherproof and must not allow water and dust to get into the van.
Ensure that it’s designed to be functional in all weather conditions.
Skylight
A skylight is another good option for the van that you can install it yourself.
A good skylight should provide sufficient ventilation, allow light to come into the van, and be leakproof.
Skylights come in various sizes, and you can opt for one that suits you best. Calculate their sizes and location on your van’s roof so that you don’t have to compromise on the positioning of the roof rack, fans, or solar panel.
A well-positioned skylight will provide you with extra headroom when you feel like stretching or when putting on clothes.
Vented Windows
Vented windows improve your vehicle’s ventilation and lighting, especially when used together with the van’s air conditioning (AC) system.
They rely on the different air pressures between your van’s interior and exterior to allow air into and out of the van naturally.
And since the Ford Transit Connect has little head clearance, I’d recommend installing your vent windows closer to where you spend most of your time. Potential areas for installation are on the window sides closer to where you sleep or store your food.
Also, for the best ventilation experience, have vented windows on both sides of the van. Ensure to park your van across the direction of wind flow so that the hot and humid air is expelled effortlessly.
Here’s Why You Should Buy the Ford Transit Connect
If your ideal van has excellent driveability, ample cargo space, and good fuel economy, the Ford Transit Connect is good for you. The van is a smaller compact version of the much bigger Ford Transit.
Here are the reasons that sets it apart from its competitors.
Advanced Driver-Assist Technology
While other compact vans focus on cargo volume and aesthetics, the Ford Transit Connect comes with the Ford Co-Pilot360 technology.
The Ford Co-Pilot360 technology comes with features that help the driver safely navigate the highway and city roads with ease. It features intelligent adaptive cruise control, speed sign recognition, and lane centering to help the driver operate the vehicle hands-free.
It also has a blind spot information system that tells drivers of the objects, vehicles, or road users in their blind spot. A lane-keeping system scans the vehicle’s positioning in its lane and notifies you if the van starts wandering out of its lane.
The van also has an evasive steering assist that steers your vehicle out of the path of a potential collision with a stalled car or object on the road.
Additional features include a rearview camera, active park assist in making parking your van easier, and the auto-high beam headlamps that can sense the lighting conditions and adjust accordingly.
Excellent Drivability
The Ford Transit Connect provides a balance for individuals that enjoy the cargo carrying capacities of vans but prefer the drivability of a regular sedan or SUV.
The van is built on a similar platform as the Ford Focus MK3, meaning that it’s very smooth to handle. It has a well-balanced steering, accurate control, and supple but strong suspensions, making the compact van a joy to drive.
And with a base engine 8-Speed SelectShift Automatic Transmission, the van has outstanding fuel economy resulting in its higher MPGs.
The Transit Connect’s 144 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm is sufficient to carry its cargo without straining the drivetrain even when you’ve loaded it to capacity.
Excellent Towing Capacity
The Ford Transit Connect can tow an astounding 2,000 pounds while having a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of between 5,130 to 5,420 pounds.
It isn’t as strong as the bigger Transit vans, but the towing feature means that you can comfortably pull a lightweight trailer or a speed boat.
You can unlock the van’s total towing capacity by installing a trailer tow package.
You Can Opt for the XLT or the Passenger Wagon Titanium Trim
The Ford Transit Connect XLT trim is similar to the LX trim but has additional features. It has Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connections to help you communicate with your colleagues.
It also features a Ford Sync 3 6.5-inch infotainment system for better communication and navigation. Furthermore, the XLT trim has a rear cross-traffic alert, and you can opt to add parking sensors and lane-keeping assist.
The Titanium trim is the high-end trim level that has additional comfort features in addition to the LX trim’s features. The features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, xenon headlights, heated front seats, and remote start ignition.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on living in a van for an extended period, the bigger Ford Transit suits you. It has a more considerable cargo volume, accommodates standing inside, and has better ventilation.
But if stealth camping is your preferred choice, the Ford Transit Connect is your best option.
It has the right balance between comfort, maintenance, cargo volume, and drivability, perfect for minimalist camping.