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Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

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Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby GuyT » Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:23 am

Can anyone let me know the benefits of RWD vs FWD on a long wheelbase transit. I appreciate this may also be personal preference but are there any generally.accepted benefits of RWD or FWD?

I'm aware that a RWD has less 'head room' as the floor sits about 10cm higher. I guess the RWD may be better for towing but that isn't a primary concern.

Any thoughts appreciated.

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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby loot » Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:45 am

This debate has been done a few times and I think generally it is a draw but it's based on each individuals needs.

Maybe you can tell us specifically what purposes you need it for and if you are tall. Then we can discuss it.

I own a fwd but prefer rwd.
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:58 am

Dirty building and allotment types = rwd

Country squire and refined and powerful gentleman = fwd

Hope this helps
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby dumper » Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:19 pm

bigjohnthomas wrote:Dirty building and allotment types = rwd

Country squire and refined and powerful gentleman = fwd

Hope this helps

Can’t be true they let you have a fwd van big john :D
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:27 pm

Indeed
Both my vans are fwd :D
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby GuyT » Wed Sep 19, 2018 4:13 pm

loot wrote:This debate has been done a few times and I think generally it is a draw but it's based on each individuals needs.

Maybe you can tell us specifically what purposes you need it for and if you are tall. Then we can discuss it.

I own a fwd but prefer rwd.



The idea is to make a combination vehicle for work and then weekends away/holidays. I’m just over 5,10. 180cm (could I get away with a mid roof??). My intentions are to have tool storage/workshop in the back where I can leave my tools (not particularly heavy) and not have to constantly load and unload..... and then we drive away for the day/weekend etc.

I do have a kit car that I could possibly tow around on a trailer but that is quite unlikely to be honest, the kitcar weighs 600kg so not a lot

Thanks for your input
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby loot » Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:10 pm

Right how's this sound, get a high roof fwd and make a false floor so it is similar to a medium rwd and in the false floor you put sponge and noggins of various sizes that support the false floor and hold your various tools and things in an orderly fashion.
Might even have enough room to fit bedding etc. You can utilise some roof space for other storage and so on but basically the van will look relatively empty.

You can even fit sliding draws about 3ft deep so when you open the side door you can pull the drawer out which is above the side step.

You could get a medium high van fwd and it may be adequate to raise the floor to the same height as the rwd medium high van, or a high roof of you don't anticipate any height restrictions although i found my van being medium high allowed me into Most barriers like mcdonalds and some sea side ones but not all, so personally I'd go that high.

For what you want I doubt fwd or rwd will be much better than each other tbh.

It isn't 4x4 so you'll still need to be thoughtful in the wet and snowy conditions etc.

Just a few of my thoughts. :D
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:18 pm

8) instant dispatch or would it twitch about for a bit ?
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:23 pm

How did that get there :oops:
Wrong thread
It must be because of this leotard :o
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby Altransit » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:33 pm

Having owned and driven RWD vans through the 70's, 80's and nineties, I've been impressed with the superior handling and cornering, of the two FWD Transits that I've owned for the last 6 years.
Apart from their reduced towing capacity, and apparently, they're not suitable for "drifting" I can't think of a single reason why I would go back to a RWD :P :D :mrgreen:
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:35 pm

you'll be lucky to find a fwd high roof long wheel base anyway I have to travel all the way to London Village to get mine it was a four day walk from the turnip fields of Lincolnshire
It's the extra step up into a rwd that makes them sh*t for me
And being an important business man i need the right van

Anyways up a bloody lot of 350 hr lwbs rwds have the sh*t 5,11 diff in
And won't go faster than 24 nautical miles an hour @5000 rpm
Foot to the rusty floor
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby GuyT » Fri Sep 21, 2018 5:04 pm

“so personally I'd go that high.”

Loot - you are saying you would go for a high roof then? I’m not sure if that is what you’re saying?. My thoughts, as I think you confirm, are that a medium doesn’t get into many car parks so I might as well go high ...... which is what I’m thinking.

Cheers
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby hectors-tranny » Fri Sep 21, 2018 5:09 pm

Yes medium roof is a bit pointless as it's still too high for car park height restrictions.

If you can get a FWD I'd go for that unless you need to tow something heavy, or otherwise need to carry a very heavy load.

Also be aware of GVM ratings. It's surprising just how much weight a conversions adds, and when you're all loaded up, passengers and all, you don't want to be over your legal weight.
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby GuyT » Fri Sep 21, 2018 5:53 pm

Thanks for that Hectors-tranny

Ill also bear in mind the GVM as I hadn’t thought about that, especially as I’m looking for a crew cab to take all 5 of us now and again.

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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Fri Sep 21, 2018 7:10 pm

A fwd can carry more weight than a rwd as its lighter
It's around 170kg more on a 350
Av it :P
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