Ford transit wrecked in crash - buying new van - need help!

[cross.damien]

Hey guys,
I had a Ford Transit 2001 High roof, lwb T300 fwd transit. I had the entire van converted to a camper van. Unfortunately on the 8th Jan last an articulated truck crashed into me and wrote off my van. I escaped with a few broken bones and some nasty memories but im alive...you guys were really helpful with any problems i had with the last van so i decided to ask your advice before buying another van to start again.

I am thinking of getting a 04 90/350 Rwd Ford Transit Jumbo. It has 84k mls on the clock. Hasnt had any mechanical problems yet. Does the rwd have a problem with traction on icy roads?

Are these vans good? Or should i revert to the fwd long wheel base van that i had before??

D.C

[trigger]

FWD gives you a lower floor better suited for a camper

[chopper123]

i have a rwd 125ps 350 jumbo 04 plate runs like a dream loads of power on the hills around wales
no probs at all mine is also a self build camper
and the space in them is great go for it i havnt had no traction problems yet

[sc_BK]

Comparing an empty FWD with an empty RWD - the FWD will have much better traction. But by the time you add the weight of your conversion it might be more even?
It will definatly be easier to find a 2nd hand RWD for sale, infact not sure if they make a FWD jumbo?

[cross.damien]

Hey thanks for the replies,

Ya you cant get a FWD Jumbo, so the toss up is between a FWD lwb high roof versus RWD jumbo high roof.
You have the extra length in the jumbo which is good for the camper, but the height is 100mm lower. However i can still stand up in the RWD that i have seen.

The traction is a problem when it is unladen im guessing, but as you say when the camper gear is in it, it should have enough weight over the back axle to give better traction.

Its certainly a tough call....am i missing anything?

Do the 04 RWD Jumbo transits have the same trouble with the fuel injection pump as i had with my 01 FWD? I had trouble with the Bosch pump as did everyone else i am sure, have these issues being sorted out on the 2004 model??

Any help is appreciated....
Damien

[sc_BK]

The FWD use 2.0l engines, RWD are 2.4l
The most "common" fault with the 2.4 is probably the dual mass flywheel (DMF) which a lot of them were fitted with

I think the RWDs tend to use slightly more fuel

You can get jumbos with single or twin rear wheels, single would probably be better for a camper

[madmark]

the jumbo is the one to have ,you can make a great camper out of it!

[belly]

The rwd feel more planted compared to the fwd! but then the fwd feel more nimble if im making any sense diffs also vary with rwd so check which one it has im guessing you wouldn't want a towing screamer for a camper!

[Britishbulldog]

the jumbo is the one to have ,you can make a great camper out of it!

Agree'd & Chopper123's MK6 model is proof of the pudding, after seeing at Transitmania last year he's done a nice job

[chopper123]

cheers mate

[cross.damien]

How do i check for the diff you are talking about??? What is the one i should look for?

I think the jumbo could be the right one to go for....

[cross.damien]

my brother is a mechanic, and he had a look at that van. Says he looked at the diff and it was bone dry so no problems....

[little mick]

hi mate i have a jumbo as well and i race quads i am in the middle of convertin mine into part camper its gona have 2 beds microwave sink hob bench seat for gettin changed tv dvd player and still get 2 quads all spare wheels toolboxes spares and 2 kit bags thats how much stuff u can get in a jumbo and mine is rear wheel drive sweet