Ford recently announced a new Ford Transit model, the Transit Trail. I would be lying if I said I wasn't instantly excited about the prospect of a large automobile manufacturer, offering a van ready for conversion straight off the assembly line. After reading several initial reviews of the prototype model, there are some things that are fantastic, and a few glaring issues.
I especially like the pivoting seats in the Ford Transit Trail. It has always been such a waste to me, to have the driver and passenger seats only face one direction, when they could be put to great use if they only swiveled. So I was thrilled to see this feature installed by default.
The Transit Trail also comes with a second 12 volt battery installed by default, with 110 volt AC power available from underneath the passenger seat. This was another excellent addition, as running power is something many people struggle with when outfitting their campervan. Additionally, the roof has a vent where a fan or AC unit can be dropped in with little difficulty; gone are the days of figuring out how to cut a hole in your roof!
However, the vehicle is not without flaws. The most baffling was hearing that the Transit Trail will come with a 4G LTE cellular data connection. Living in a world where all major cell providers have just shut off 3G cellular transmissions, why not opt for the newer 5G cellular data connection? By outfitting the van with 4G LTE technology, you are only ensuring the feature will be dead within 10 years.
The biggest sin committed by Ford is the price of this van. Starting at just shy of $66,000 easily sets the Transit Trail out of range of most people interested in van life. By comparison, the base model 2023 Transit cargo van tops out at about $46,000. While swivel seats, AC power, and a pre-cut roof vent are nice, they are not $20,000 nice. Perhaps this will be something worth picking up for half the price in six or seven years, but for the price you pay, the amenities seem minimal. My opinion is to pass on this, and pick up something cheaper.
Until next time!
-Jason
All photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company.