User Tools

Site Tools


rv:cargo_van:comparo

This is an old revision of the document!


Cargo van comparo

Cargo vans come in various sizes, shapes, and capacities. Narrowing it down to one or two models can help you avoid analysis paralysis. These page attempts to collect specifications which you can consider (or not) based on your own needs.

Footnotes are in place so you can check sources for yourself. [frater says: don't trust anyone else's judgement on what van you need. It's your life, and it's your house!]

There are basic sections on American cargo vans, eurovans, and minicargo vans on other wiki pages.

Living area comparison

Model Cargo height1) Cargo length Cargo width at belt line Width between wheelwells Cargo volume Overall length
NV 75“ High
—-
55.8” Low
120“ 70.2” 54“ 323.1'2) High
—-
234' Low
Promaster 76” High
—-
65.4“ Low3)
123”4), 144“5), 160”6) 74“ 56” 406'7), 459'8), 529.7'9) High
—-
304'10), 353 159WB Low
Sprinter 77.8“11) 128.5”12), 169.313), 185.3“14) 70.1”15) 53.1“ 371'16), 494'17), 547'18)
Transit 81.5” High
—-
72“ Mid
—-
56.9” Low19)
125“20) 141”21), 171“22) 70.223) 54.8”24) 411.4'25), 496.0'26) High
—-
317.3'27), 363.9'28) Medium
—-
247' 29), 278“30) Low
Express 52.9”31), 53.4“32) 124.6”33), 146.2“34) 72”35) 52.7“36) 239.7'37), 284.4'38)
E250 52.5“ 122”39), 142“40) 72.4”41) 52.5“42) 237.8' 43), 278.3”44)
NV200 53“45) 82.8”46) 54.8“47) 48”48) 127.7 cu ft49)
Transit Connect 49.7“50) 71.5”51), 87.3“52) 48”53) 103.9 cu ft54), 128.6 cu ft55)
Promaster City 50“56) 60.4”57) 48.4“58) 131.7 cu ft59)

During some model years fleet Sprinters have been available with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic 84” Mega / Super High roof.60)61) There is some concern that the Mega roof may be unsuitable for camping due to an inability to support roof vents, A/C, solar mounts, etc.62) A composite roof would also be susceptible to overhead limb damage in forested areas.

off pavement comparison

The approach and departure angles tells you how steep a grade you can drive onto or off without dragging the front or rear end, usually the bumper. Receiver hitches will usually reduce departure angle.

Model Ground clearance approach angle departure angle turning circle
NV 8.1“63) 17.8°64) 16.7°65) 45.2'66)
Express 2500 7.1”67), 7.7“68) ° ° 49.2'69), 54.5'70)
E250 7.0” 30°71) 16°72) 48.6'73)
Promaster 6.9“ at rear axle 18.6° 20° 36'74), 46.8'75)
Sprinter 6.9”76) 19°77) 13°78) 42'79), 47'80)
Transit 6.0“81), 6.1”82)83) at rear shock mounts. ? ~18°84) 39.2'85), 56.4'86)
NV200 6.5“87)
Transit Connect 6”88), 6.3“89)
Promaster CIty 5.1”90)

capacity comparison

Model fuel tank
E-250 33 gal91). Optional aux tap.
Express 31 gal 92)
NV 28 gal93)
Promaster 24.0 gal.94). Tapped for aux fuel use.
Sprinter 26.4 gal.95)
Transit 25.0 gal flex-fuel.96) Tapped for aux fuel use.
NV200 14.5 gal97)

total Cost of Ownership comparison

Some calculations of gas Eurovans based on NADA information, originally from this blog post. Sprinter left out but Express included; it was not a Eurovan-specific post.

warranty comparison

ModelBasicPowertrainMiscTransferableRoadside AssistanceTowing to nearest service
NV5yr/100,000mi98)5yr/100,000mi99) on gas powertrain5yr/unlimited body rust100)yes101)3yr/36,000mi102)yes103)
Promaster3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.n/aYes104)5yr/100,000miyes105)
Sprinter3yr/36,000mi5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.106)5yr/100,000mi on body rustyes107)3yr/36,000miyes108)
Transit3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.109)n/aYes110)5yr/100,000miup to 35mi111)
Express3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain.3yr/36,000mi corrosion
5yr/100,000mi rust-through
Yes112)5yr/60,000miyes
Ford E-series113)3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain114)5yr/unlimited rust-through
1)
at ribs
4)
136WB
5)
159WB
6)
159WB Extended
7)
136WB high roof
8)
159WB high roof
9)
159WB Extended high roof
10)
136WB low
11)
high roof
12)
144WB
13)
170WB, longest non-extended body
14)
170WB Extended
16)
144WB high roof
17)
171WB high roof, largest volume non-extended body
18)
171WB Extended high roof
20)
130WB
21)
148WB
22)
148WB Extended
25)
148WB high roof
26)
148WB Extended high roof
27)
130WB medium roof
28)
148WB medium roof
29)
130WB Low
30)
148WB low roof
81)
RWB
82)
LWB
113)
up to 2014
114)
. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.
rv/cargo_van/comparo.1549476107.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)