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rv:cargo_van:comparo

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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
NV2) 75“ High
—-
55.8” Low
120“ 70.2” 54“ 323.1'3) High
—-
234' Low
Promaster 76” High
—-
65.4“ Low4)
123”5), 144“6), 160”7) 74“ 56” 406'8), 459'9), 529.7'10) High
—-
304'11), 353 159WB Low
Sprinter 77.8“12) 128.5”13), 169.314), 185.3“15) 70.1”16) 53.1“ 371'17), 494'18), 547'19)
Transit 81.5” High
—-
72“ Mid
—-
56.9” Low20)
125“21) 141”22), 171“23) 70.224) 54.8”25) 411.4'26), 496.0'27) High
—-
317.3'28), 363.9'29) Medium
—-
247' 30), 278“31) Low
Express 52.9”32), 53.4“33) 124.6”34), 146.2“35) 72”36) 52.7“37) 239.7'38), 284.4'39)
E250 52.5“ 122”40), 142“41) 72.4”42) 52.5“43) 237.8' 44), 278.3”45)
NV20046) 82.8”47) 54.8“48) 48”49) 127.7 cu ft50)
Transit Connect 49.7“51) 71.5”52), 87.3“53) 48”54) 103.9 cu ft55), 128.6 cu ft56)
Promaster City 50“57) 60.4”58) 48.4“59) 131.7 cu ft60)

During some model years fleet Sprinters have been available with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic 84” Mega / Super High roof.61)62) 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.63) 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“64) 17.8°65) 16.7°66) 45.2'67)
Express 2500 7.1”68), 7.7“69) ° ° 49.2'70), 54.5'71)
E250 7.0” 30°72) 16°73) 48.6'74)
Promaster 6.9“ at rear axle 18.6° 20° 36'75), 46.8'76)
Sprinter 6.9”77) 19°78) 13°79) 42'80), 47'81)
Transit 6.0“82), 6.1”83)84) at rear shock mounts. ? ~18°85) 39.2'86), 56.4'87)
NV200 6.5“88)
Transit Connect 6”89), 6.3“90)
Promaster CIty 5.1”91)

capacity comparison

Model fuel tank
E-250 33 gal92). Optional aux tap.
Express 31 gal 93)
NV 28 gal94)
Promaster 24.0 gal.95). Tapped for aux fuel use.
Sprinter 26.4 gal.96)
Transit 25.0 gal flex-fuel.97) Tapped for aux fuel use.
NV200 14.5 gal98)

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/100,000mi99)5yr/100,000mi100) on gas powertrain5yr/unlimited body rust101)yes102)3yr/36,000mi103)yes104)
Promaster3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.n/aYes105)5yr/100,000miyes106)
Sprinter3yr/36,000mi5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.107)5yr/100,000mi on body rustyes108)3yr/36,000miyes109)
Transit3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.110)n/aYes111)5yr/100,000miup to 35mi112)
Express3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain.3yr/36,000mi corrosion
5yr/100,000mi rust-through
Yes113)5yr/60,000miyes
Ford E-series114)3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain115)5yr/unlimited rust-through

further reading

1)
at ribs
2)
full size
5)
136WB
6)
159WB
7)
159WB Extended
8)
136WB high roof
9)
159WB high roof
10)
159WB Extended high roof
11)
136WB low
12)
high roof
13)
144WB
14)
170WB, longest non-extended body
15)
170WB Extended
17)
144WB high roof
18)
171WB high roof, largest volume non-extended body
19)
171WB Extended high roof
21)
130WB
22)
148WB
23)
148WB Extended
26)
148WB high roof
27)
148WB Extended high roof
28)
130WB medium roof
29)
148WB medium roof
30)
130WB Low
31)
148WB low roof
82)
RWB
83)
LWB
114)
up to 2014
115)
. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.
rv/cargo_van/comparo.1562730826.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)