New pop-top van from Pleasure-Way

[VocalVirgo]

Originally Posted by BrianW

Not everyone wants/needs 4WD :-)



But regardless, the uber-low ground clearance has always turned me off to these. That solid rear axle is sooooo low to the ground!

It’s 8” from the ground, I just measured it. Ironically, the lowest point in the front is just the tiniest bit shy of 8”. That’s not bad.

[VocalVirgo]

Originally Posted by JWA

Looking inside the cargo only versions of Promaster's it would indeed be a very easy build out. The body is nearly cube-shaped but sadly its a unit body vehicle and even worse yet its from Chrysler/Fiat.

Could be the perfect chassis for a lighter duty camper/RV but 4x4 would be cost prohibitive not to mention probably an impossible engineering challenge too.

It is indeed perfect for lighter B-Class applications. And I think the 4WD version will make its way over here. It has to in order to compete with the Transit and Sprinter, which both offer 4WD.

“but sadly its a unit body vehicle and even worse yet its from Chrysler/Fiat.”...

You know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of these excellent ProMasters with 200,000, 300,000 and even a few with over 400,000 miles on them. This 3.6 Pentastar engine has been used/applied in over 5 million vehicles, as of October 2017. Chrysler puts them in (or makes them options) in 13 different vehicles in the US alone. It been proven to be very reliable, durable, and have a long life. It’s the van of choice for most expediters, some of which have over 400,000 miles on them and a lot of them have over 300,000 miles on them. And most of them idle for a/c or heat while they sleep in rest stops etc.

[wish41]

I haven’t heard that the Transit 4wd is coming to US.

[VocalVirgo]

Originally Posted by wish41

I haven’t heard that the Transit 4wd is coming to US.

I actually saw one on the road a few weeks ago in Nebraska. It did not look like a prototype, but it didn’t look like a “ready for sale” vehicle either. I was confused because it wasn’t wearing and drapes/blinders on it at all. It had some equipment hanging off the sides, the kind that are used for testing... And it clearly said “4x4” on the back. And it looked a little taller and beefier than the RWD models we are used to seeing.

[MSD]

Transit 4x4 is made by quigley motor Corp in Pennsylvania for Ford.

[JWA]

Originally Posted by VocalVirgo

It is indeed perfect for lighter B-Class applications. And I think the 4WD version will make its way over here. It has to in order to compete with the Transit and Sprinter, which both offer 4WD.

I don't think that's necessarily true---IF the ProMaster is successful it would be on its own terms---as I say I love its body configuration as currently available. Competing with Transit or Sprinter heads up with a large consideration of end use will make it or break it, IMHO anyway.

“but sadly its a unit body vehicle and even worse yet its from Chrysler/Fiat.”...

Originally Posted by VocalVirgo

You know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of these excellent ProMasters with 200,000, 300,000 and even a few with over 400,000 miles on them. This 3.6 Pentastar engine has been used/applied in over 5 million vehicles, as of October 2017.

Couldn't agree more----but I've had a bug up my crawl for a number of years towards Chrysler----probably began just after the infamous K cars, can't explain it, it just is what it is.

Being old skool and knowing the limitations that brings I prefer a robust suspension that allows cargo loading to its GVW limit and still drive & handle safely. Having once owned a body shop repairing Porsche, BMW, Mercedes et al I'm also aware unit bodies can be quite stout in performance-type cars but that old skool thinking kicks back in and I'm dubious at best that construction as available today is really really up to the task of being long-term useful for RV or SMB-type vehicles.

BTW VocalVirgo I look forward to your experience with your own ProMaster.

[VocalVirgo]

Originally Posted by JWA

I don't think that's necessarily true---IF the ProMaster is successful it would be on its own terms---as I say I love its body configuration as currently available. Competing with Transit or Sprinter heads up with a large consideration of end use will make it or break it, IMHO anyway.

“but sadly its a unit body vehicle and even worse yet its from Chrysler/Fiat.”...



Couldn't agree more----but I've had a bug up my crawl for a number of years towards Chrysler----probably began just after the infamous K cars, can't explain it, it just is what it is.

Being old skool and knowing the limitations that brings I prefer a robust suspension that allows cargo loading to its GVW limit and still drive & handle safely. Having once owned a body shop repairing Porsche, BMW, Mercedes et al I'm also aware unit bodies can be quite stout in performance-type cars but that old skool thinking kicks back in and I'm dubious at best that construction as available today is really really up to the task of being long-term useful for RV or SMB-type vehicles.

BTW VocalVirgo I look forward to your experience with your own ProMaster.

I am old school too and loathed American cars, but after tons of research, most American work trucks/vans last as long as their Japanese counterparts. I really think this Pentastar and tranny will prove us doubters wrong.

Weaker getting started on the buil in the next week or so, so I’ll keep you posted.

BTW, I had a K-Car. A 2 door Plymouth Reliant. What a POS that was.

[VocalVirgo]

Originally Posted by MSD

Transit 4x4 is made by quigley motor Corp in Pennsylvania for Ford.

Oh, I was talking about the ones in Europe. I have a hunch they will be over here in the next 2 years...

[rob_gendreau]

Originally Posted by gcvt

That photo of it "on the beach" is one of the worst Photoshop jobs I've ever seen.

Heh...I thought it was just a backdrop. But where is that beach in the background?