What you need to know about Ram Promasters
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- Buying a van can be overwhelming. Promaster, Transit or a Sprinter. Which should you pick? We’ll give you an honest opinion of the Ram Promaster after completing many conversions on the platform. #vanlife #promasterconversion #campervan
I appreciate your honesty about the Ram problems.
Might have to get the Ford lol
I have a 2017 3500 ext 3.6L with 45000 miles it's used for business mostly around town. Its well loaded with parts and tools. I've had zero problems.
Sad here!
Bought my Promaster 2500 in 2016 with 43 miles. It has 620,000 miles now. Never had a problem but this weekend iam changing the oil housing and coolant and doing the injectors too. Literally it runs like new.
wow
🤣
You've got to be pulling my leg, this is unheard of..... Guess you got lucky
I drive a Promaster 3500 for Amazon and I have to say, these vans are a lot more practical than the Ford Transit.
Better turning radius, seat is higher to be able to stand up easier, they handle in the wind better, and the sliding doors are easy to open/close and actually shut properly. My only complaint is there is no "real" handle to close the sliding door.
Thank you, brother! I am contemplating right now :)
Mount a handle
Same, the Promaster is totally favorable to the Transit for delivery work. The Transit and Sprinter both have objects that are super easy to bash your knee/shin on when getting out of the seat to get into the back.
If only the Promaster could have the steering wheel and seat of a Sprinter.... then it would be perfect!
I just drove 13,000 + miles and had no problems with my 2015 Promaster. It now has 88,000 today. I love it.
Isn't the pro master front wheel drive? If so, what's your opinion ? Seems like with the load you have with a camper van, rear wheel drive would be better.
@@michaels.8663 it’s easier to pull a load than to push a load.
@@michaels.8663 front wheel drive is way better offroad, as well as in ice and snow
How’s your pro master holding up now Joseph?
I’m looking to purchase a 2015 Promaster 1500 136 WB with 100k miles and wanted some advice. I’ve never owned a ram .
@@michaels.8663FWD only struggles going uphill on loose terrain, places where you probably shouldn't go in a van in the first place. You can use the backup technique but not everyone is comfortable backing uphill.
Sir I'm here because of Antoinette Yvonne's van conversions, love it! Thank you for your honesty and each vans' specifics.
I guess we are just lucky. Have been in a Promaster for 3 years. My 6’3” boyfriend has no issue with the seat height, and we have the swivel seats upgrade. We find the seats comfortable for long rides, and have had zero issues with headlights. We are on a forum for Roadtrek vans built on the Promaster and haven’t seen these issues posted by owners.
Same for me. I’ve had no issues with any of these things that were mentioned.
Just wait I've got 245000 on mine it's on its 3rd transmission I believe. Hard to remember because the transmission bracket engine mounts are a terrible design and they end up shearing the bolts and then your in for a ride. Transmission dragging the ground everything is torn to hell underneath it when this happens very costly and very dangerous so be careful with this van.
I drive a 2018 Promaster 2500 for work. Day one, transmission module went. Happened again around 9000 miles. So far, both headlight bulbs have blown about 6 times each. $ 50 a pop. The headlight housings are both so melted and burnt that it reminds me of a Salvador Dali painting. The dealer said they looked and could not find any problem. Driving around town, you see most other Promasters winking at you with a headlight out. Two of our other Promasters have similar issues. The e brake had to be rebuilt 6 months after picking up the van. The biggest issue has been an oil leak that the dealer couldn't repair for over 2 months. 2 to 3 quarts a week. A known issue with the plastic oil filter housing cracking. The dealer told us that " we don't know when we can get the part, there are over 7000 complaints on this ". Imagine trying to run a business or live out of a van leaking that much oil everywhere and no resolution. I would go with the Ford, folks.
Thank you !!! Almost made a mistake
I own a 2018 Ram ProMaster that I bought new and I use it for work as well as for personal use. Other than a loose trim piece that the dealer replaced, I've had absolutely no problems. It's been so reliable, it's boring.
@@patdthomas you should buy a lottery ticket.
@@ridethepace6005 You should avoid beating the shit out of your work truck.
@@patdthomas Nice try, tell me how someone damages a headlight bulb, causing it to blow multiple times and ultimately melt the housing on both sides? Our other vans never did this, so I'm wondering why suddenly it begins? Also, the transmission issues started immediately, curious how you see that as abuse, unless of course you are just a punk who likes to talk nonsense because he knows he's safe.
I agree to driving all 4 types of vans. I was smart about it. I joined Amazon and got to drive all 4 vans and actually got to work in all four of them. The Ford was the most uncomfortable as far as the seat goes. It fits like a cockpit and is difficult to get in and out of. The Ram was the most comfortable van to get in and out of and has the best head room. The doors on the Mercedes always mess your arm up. The Nissan was difficult getting from front to rear like the Ford. The two complaints about the Ram are the left headlight-moisture and the engine RPMs. It revs up where the other vans don't. It feels like I am pushing the engine when I have to step on the gas. It revs much higher than the other vans. This also goes against Amazon delivery drivers on the driving app as the app doesn't differentiate the different engine types. So I actually got a lot of experience with different modeled vans before making my decision. I went with the Ram Promaster 2500, 136" wheel base hightop van. I have enjoyed it very much. Again, that seat is by far the most comfortable and the widest. So, if you are a fat bottom person (which isn't me), you will definitely enjoy Ram over the other 3 brands.
oh boy, time to go down a deep rabbit hole of transits now. glad I watched this!
I have a 2018 Pro-Master 3500 that Winnebago use's for their Travato RV. The RV weigh's about 9,200 lbs, fuel mileage is ok, 17 to 18 mpg. I added the Sumo springs to the front and rear, that made a huge difference in the ride....................for the better. We have not had any issues with the van, quality seems to be very good.
I honestly love the Promasters. I've rode in a 2009 and 2013 Chevy Express Cargo, 2021 Ford Transit Passenger and a 2019 RAM Promaster 1500 Low Roof 136". Granted, the Promasters are FWD, but I would take a Promaster over any van, any day. They are tremendously comfortable, very practical, a lot of room, and just overall a very good van.
...and the low step in hieght.
@@1voiceofstl Yeah that too is really nice.
DO MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!!!!!! Your experience is very valuable to us and you should point out all common problems you see and which ones are most reliable etc! Love it!!!!
Thank you!
I had issues with moisture in my headlight and did a couple things to fix it. Part of the upper area of the assembly was snapped, I fixed it with a ton of JB weld and looked for any other holes and sealed those too. I replaced the bulbs with LEDs because they would constantly burn out, had to get additional resistor kits with the LEDs but they work amazing now. I also replaced the running lights. The main thing however was the tiny drain tube in the gutter area below the dash, on both sides I cleared that out with a hose, and silicone sealed the tubes down to the plastic. They get blocked easily and then water pools and drains around the tube, which is a problem. It should drain through the tubes and out via the wheel wells. It's a shitty design, but since sticking them down I have had no problems. I'm also careful to clear debris out from below the windshield regularly.
It's nice to see a no bs opinion.thank you..think I'll check the Ford.
We just got in our 2021 AWD... OMG, so nice!
2014 Ram Promaster 2500 self build 2nd owner…no headlight problem…no transmission problem so far….I’ve put 50k miles in 2 yrs …. I also tow a trailer for my business for 3/4 of the miles i put on it…love my promaster. Male friend (not tall but a big guy) is a delivery driver for fedex they just changed him from promaster to sprinter ….he misses the promaster.
Thanks for the great and honest information you put in this video. I’ve been doing a ton of research on these vans and still haven’t decided. Thanks again
I love my promaster. It can turn on a dime none of the other vans do that.
What year?
FYI every Ram Dealer should be willing to work on Promaster's however, only Ram Commercial Dealer's are allowed to perform warranty work and recalls on them. That's maybe 1 out of 10 Ram Dealer's. Also parts come from Italy and if Mopar is out of stock it can take months for parts to come from Italy.
I found this out the hard way. My local dealer was not permitted to work on mine and the next closest dealer that could was 75 miles away. Also since parts come from France if what you need is not available here it will take 2+ months do get it.
This is an incredibly important point that few people make. Thanks for pointing that out.
Good intel. I wish Toyota made a cargo van for the states. Or the Nissan van was larger. Thanks
The Nissan van didn’t sell because it was butt ugly. Yes van owners do care what their vans look like. Nissan didn’t think so.
Nissan has 5.6l engine 11 m/g in city, but they offer 5/100000 warranty and after that lifetime for power train.
But in Europe full size Nissan400 totally different vehicles design similar to Sprinter. One in US designed by American and selling only in North America. But drivers seating position most comfortable from another brands. I sold my last year because gas mileage. But fleets liked them they run up to half million miles.
Get back in your crap echo and drive away
I have 2014 3500 ext one, doing lots of highway miles working in
expediting business. Got it in 2018 with 28k miles on it. From 30k miles
to 240k miles used it occasionally to tow 7*14 enclosed trailer (empty
2200lbs up to 5k-6k GTW) about 70k miles with that trailer and maybe 30k
with smaller ones like 5*8 or 6*12 Uhaul ones. First year fall - about
60k miles went through rocky mountains in CO with full trailer 5k lbs I
think and empty van - that was a mistake. Overheated trans and it
failed. Luckily still had factory warranty - was about to expire in a
few months)) New dealer trans (could cost me 7k if paying out of
pocket). since then replaced alternator, belt and bearings. Battery,
spark plugs and tires. Oil change every 8-10k with semi sintetic HM oil.
Almost 300k miles now. Changed trans fluid twice (160k and 290k), since
240k using occasionally to tow only small trailers. Lots of dash lights
on for a while (air bags sensor, oil pressure sensor and some minor
ones). Overall very pleased with grandpa PROMaster - few tips - dont go
over 3,5k rpms, don't tow anything really heavy over the Rockys or in
some tough parts at NE and other Appalachian mountains. GL and HF))
Also worth considering the promaster is the only option with front wheel drive. If you're not willing to shell out the bucks for an AWD platform and you're looking to drive in some snowy conditions then FWD is the way to go over RWD. That's what sold me on the Promaster.
I'm not sold on FWD being better than RWD. One of my favorite cars I've owned was a RWD 4Runner. It was by far the best 2WD car I've ever owned in the snow. Best traction control. We normally put a good deal of weight over the rear axel between water and batteries which I feel definitely helps and maybe cancels out the argument. We have multiple clients with Promaster who have been stuck in snow, mud and sand. If you take risks and go on questionable ground you might get stuck... even with AWD or 4WD.
@@ILoveProperty Totally fair. I think it's more a matter of being able to steer with the power rather than having the power steer you. Especially in a big van once that thing start moving sideways at speed it's going to be tough to get it under control. Just like to avoid that whole situation in something so heavy. Slow speeds no prob but it's at highway speeds the RWD really can catch you off guard. Usually not as big a deal in a smaller car. In terms of either though, get good tires :)
@@alexscott6104 FWD is why I go with the promaster.
Promasters are absolutely King in snowy and icy conditions. In fact it has done better than my SUV in some cases.
@@napalmstickylikeglue thanks, that's my experience too.
I like you. You’re a keeper. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and honesty.
I had the same problem with my headlights. Replaced them with aftermarket ones. Otherwise I love these vans. 115,000 miles
You are very objective! Thanks for sharing!
Great video! Thanks so much for the information. I put myself on your waiting list today!
Had a 2014 ram 3500....biggest pos i ever owned. Was considering a new promaster and so thankful I watched this and looked through the comments. Thank you
I have an RV built on a2015 ram pro master, 3500 series chassis. It is a Dynamax rev. I actually love the seats, I’m 6 foot two and don’t have the issue of feeling like I am too high, my headlights do not get moisture in them, and I have 20,000 miles with no transmission issues yet. I just wanted to put this info out there because I have a slightly different opinion, but I do appreciate videos like this to give everybody both sides of the story.
head light and transmission issues were not his opinion, he was giving facts.
And I gave my facts.
My right HEADLIGHT had moisture in when I picked it up at the dealer, brand new.
That is definitely not a good sign
Seriously awesome information. Thanks for your honesty. This is what the Internet is for.
Thank you. We try to give our perspective, good and bad. Ultimately, just our experience, but hope it helps others.
Thanks for the honesty, will definitely be coming your way for my build!
I have had my Promaster 2019 for over a year now. I have never noticed any moisture in my lights. I will keep an eye out but pretty sure for some reason its not an issue, at least not yet maybe. Maybe it won't be either. Mine bought at 15,000 miles now almost at 31,000. I have driven long hours and also have no issue with comfort. I also sleep in my seat for medical reasons right now. I have zero issues. I have plenty of room for my legs too but then again I'm petite. One thing I will say about it is going up hills suck. It gets stuck at like 60/65 mph at times and hitting the gas does nothing. Almost feels like it drives like a 4 cyl compared to the 6cyl that it is a d I know because I have driven many many different makes, models, years and engine sizes in my lifetime. Peppy it isn't most of the time. I love driving it despite. I havrle great vision fields in every mirror and the back up camera is a lifesaver to me. I went from driving a Camry before this van was bought and was pretty comfortable driving this van just a few short weeks in.
Bought a 2019 , 2500 series. Moisture in drivers front light has the turn singnal very dim but i don't worry abt it the drivers rear view blinker is still bright. Had a transmission parking engagement recall but they fixed that free
Rocker arm issues when u start hearing a tick get it done quickly or u will be replacing cam also. Headlights change them to led or u will be replacing headlights very frequently. Ive got 2 of these with over 400grand on both
REALLY GLAD I WATCHED THIS VIDEO AND GOT A HONEST OPINION!
Another big difference between the three is availability. I got a Ram for one major reason. It was the only one available when I was ready to buy.
Same for me right now.
Lol, right? Seems to be the bottom line these days
Would love to see a video like this on the new 2023 Promaster to see how significant the improvements are.
Love my 2014 Promaster. Second owner. 104,000 mi.
No transmission issues.
Have had the driver’s side moisture issue, no biggie.
Also had an alternator issue.
Do not spray up into the grill or wheel wells as it can easily short it out. Wish there had been a warning about that.
I find the seats very comfortable, the ride very smooth, and it drives like a dream ❣️
Chrysler/Fiat had a recall on the transmission module. Mine was replaced by the dealer last year. No headlight fogging after 30,000 miles, but I live in the desert.
Seems like some butyl would fix this up.
This was great. Thank you! I'm saving for a Sprinter.
Awesome! We are wrapping up our Sprinter build now... it’s going to be amazing!!
My Sprinter costs me thousands! I hated it. Constant breakdowns. There is no van, RV or car that’s perfect. It’s the luck of the draw in my opinion.
Nothing against Mercedes as I have a 3500 DODGE PM but “saving” for one won’t be enough… just having a MB means everyone will want to suck you dry for every cent (everything expensive) *And much longer waits for repairs cause not all mechanics can work on those!
@@ILoveProperty don’t bother saving. Get a loan or lease it. They are easy to service by any mechanic. Diagnostics are available to all mechanics with diagnostics computers and fixes are straight forward. Most owners don’t deal with anything till they reach about 150,000 km’s and then it’s usually minor items.
Great video ! Good info and succinctly and candidly said 👍
Great, really valuable info.
Thank you!
Microphones acoustics made it difficult, for me, to distinguish some of your words. Several times I needed to stop, skip back, and replay to get a clear understanding.
Agreed... we are not professional content makers just yet lol. We are working on it... but lots to learn.
Question answered Thanks I watched till the end
Great video ! I got myself a 170wb Mercedes 2500 love it
That will be our next Sprinter build ;)
Around the world they ship these vans Diesel with Manual Transmission. It actually sounds quite strange thinking about these vans running with gas + automatic. BTW, thanks for the vídeo. We need more vídeos like these in the community. Another van available everywhere (except US) are the IVECOS. They are belived to best stronger than anything else, including Sprinter.
What a great review...full of the perfect types of information! Especially the driver's seat comfort levels. Thumbs up on this, Vandemic!
We are building out our first van, a Promaster 3500 extended. Two of us and the dog, and so far, so good. Next step, Sumo Shocks. 36K so far...
You guys did an excellent job on Antoinette's van build. Her van is the only 1500 with the 136' WB that seems very spacious. Just amazing!
Thank you very much!
I guess I got lucky, my 2021 came with air ride suspension drivers seat. I love it!
How has the truck been driving?
Realize that your comments about the seat are very personal. We've had our PM for almost six years, I love the seat. I've done a 7 day drive cross-country, never uncomfortable with the seat. I find it great for 12 hour drives, no problem.
Also, while I have heard of the headlight condensation problem, I don't think it is as prevalent as what you have seen. I follow a few different PM groups, and while it does come up occasionally, its really not that much. The far more common headlight complaint is the lack of good light, which is resolved by changing to LED bulbs.
But, we are starting to look for our second van, and I will be considering the Transit. We looked at it a bit long ago, and I really liked that the PM was much easier to move from the driver seat to the back. The console on the Transit seemed to be more in the way.
The PM also has a good choice for roof height. Seems like the Transit you're either just barely too short with the mid-roof, or you're driving a skyscraper with the high roof.
But yeah, the PM has some weak spots. Ya gotta realize that its just a minivan drivetrain; same engine, same transmission. Would be great to see a change there, but I doubt that will happen for another 5-10 years.
Agreed! Thanks for the comment. Can’t wait to get our hands on our 2021 Transit we ordered. Should be here by April. We just started on the Sprinter build... it’s a great van too... just very pricey.
Love the name! Thanks for the tips.
Don't discount the 118" You may not be able to stand up straight but you only need to bend slightly and it's roomy for1 or 2 people. Install the 15x30" sunroof and you can remove the glass and stand up easily to prep food. I installed the Alurack and it increases the utility tremendously.
So glad I discovered your channel through Antoinette Yvonne. Love, love love her van! Small, but has everything I'm looking for. Subscribed!
Awesome. Welcome. Hope you enjoy what will be coming soon!
I LOVE my 2014 promaster3500 diesel.
Thanks for your observations. I guess these seats are like motorcycle seats, one person says they’re great, next says terrible. Great advice on driving all three regardless of budget.
promaster owner here: everything you mentioned here is pretty accurate. my passenger side headlight fogged up, easy enough to fix however. i do hope i get more life from my transmission.
My 2017 2500 has 101k on it with no signs of weakness. Drive don't accelerate hard and I think you'll get lots of life from it.
I went with a 2021 Ford E350 cutaway van $47k new.
It has a 14'5 box and 80" width.
I got the high roof option so I can stand, im 5'16".
12,500 towing capacity.
6'4"??
thank you very much! that was some insightful information about this van i am planning to get to build out. i saw her van on yt and was very, no extremely impressed with her build. you guys did a phenomenal design! now one of my very favorite builds out of the hundreds i've seen. Keep up the great work!
Awe, thank you!
I have a 2020 Promaster 3500 with a Rockport Workport body on it and it drives nice and the seat is comfortable. Granted I am 5'10" not 6'.
Great advice, THANK YOU!
I was driving my promaster and made a turn. My knee hit the keys and accidentally turned the car off. That was scary to say the least. There should be a recall on that. No safety key switch lock. Please be careful out there and don’t have too many keys dangling. I wasn’t going at full speed otherwise it could have done real damage to the tranny or cause a very bad accident.
That's on you. Adjust your seat and that will never happen.
@@williamryan9195 can't adjust the seat there is a wall right behind me. But thanks for the useless advice.
I swear this just happened to me this past week. I still don't know what happened. I was saying the very same thing to my Mom. Luckily going 80 on cruise control the van just glided along until I realized what happened and nobody was in my vacinity to pull off to the shoulder at my leisure. Now I'm thinking that's probably exactly what happened to me. The knee. All I know was one minute I was looking over talking to my pooch and trying to reach him and boom
@@living9377 I just went out to recreate what happened to you with your knee. My knee is about 8 inches away from the keyhole. I don't know how it is even possible. The seat adjusts up and forward or down and backward. Unless you are 7 ft tall with extra long legs it's near impossible. I would just go with the key fob and a short leather lanyard on it. When you say wall do you mean a bulkhead or a wall you constructed as part of your buildout?
Only problem with my promaster is every time i park to camp , bees try to make nests in all the cracks of the doors, and rear lights etc. had a crazy yellowjacket nest in my rear brake light.
Thank you so much for your opinion.
I must be weird. I’m 5’6”” and both front seats swivel and I have driven my 21foot Promaster 12 hours at a time with no discomfort. At a mere 17,000 miles my headlights work and I don’t grind the transmission like I’m racing. So far so good. And parking is simple with front wheel drive and plenty of overhangs I stick it anywhere. I am weird then.
Not at all. My 2018 ProMaster has been great as well. I also have the swivel seat option but the upgraded stationary seats adjust up and down as well as tilt. It's easy to find a good driving position. Just wish tilt steering was available. That's my biggest gripe.
I’m 5,3 I guess I am going to check if I can see over the dash 😅😅
Thank you Vandemic for your unbiased review 👍 I like the Promaster, think I'll get one.
I believe the trans problem stems from it being the Standard Chrysler minivan/smaller sedan unit, not necessarily a commercial vehicle quality unit
great content bud
I love my 136" ProMaster 1500. Had to replace the headlights. Transmission has been totally fine, but I go easy on it. I'm short (5'4"), no problem with driving but it's a slightly awkward position with the slant of the steering wheel. I'm a one-handed driver and it's a stretch to keep my hand on the top of the wheel, so I usually keep it on the bottom. I've driven both Mercedes and Transit vans before. We ultimately decided on the ProMaster over the Transit because of FWD vs. RWD (we couldn't afford AWD).
That knock you did at 4:54 drove my dogs crazy, please know you should noted that. Other that that, thanks for the insiders info and excellent advice!
This was super helpful!! Thank you!!
Very helpful video. Thanks.
Great video and honesty
the one thing I heard is the dodge has front-wheel drive... with a six
we used to drive dodge vans that were ambulances and hated them, love the truck not the vans
I have talked with many people that have the transit and love them, recommend them very much
as far as the Mercedes I have talked to those who have the conversions and 6 out of ten have said go gas when they break down there are not a lot of dealers and or garages that can work on them especially in smaller towns etc
again great video, wish more people were open like you
Can you offer Antoinette link? Also, I would like to ask this of all presenters, is to really enunciate when speaking models or products, as new people are learning. If I d you all in the field are very versed, but new folks are not…so we don’t now all the things you speak of, it’s the first time we hear these things! Vs feel you need to rush the info out, etc.! Appreciate the efforts for sure to make these videos!
Very informative thank you
So I bought a ram pro master 2500 van for my construction crew to use last year it was used and the used dealer told us it only had 38,000 miles and we were in a pinch we needed a newer van bad and we couldn’t find a good transit van so we settled and went for the pro master. Now I do own a 1500 ram it’s got 90,000 miles it’s a 2016 and it is a great truck and a good price but you definitely can’t say that about a ram van. Right out the gate about 3 weeks into owning the van the transmission went and it needed to be replaced. Next in august of 2021 the entire engine and transmission literally fell out of the truck while the guys were driving because the motor mounts went. And today January 25 2022 it happened again the mount completely snapped in half. It’s a complete headache the van has been nothing but a problem since we got it and we might just cut our losses and just get a transit van they might be a bit more expensive but we have a couple old ford vans that have well over 150,000 miles and we have not one problem with them. That’s my little story thanks for listening 😂
Damn, that's horrible. For a work van I love the Sprinter. You treat it right and it will go and go and go. 4x2 version is actually cheaper than a Transit right now with all this shortage BS
@@ILoveProperty nice my biggest concern is buying a sprinter but then having to pay stupid money when it brakes. No matter what brand you will have to pay to replace or fix something and I know Mercedes is definitely the most expensive. But I will have to look into it.
Didn’t know you all had a channel but definitely found out about the company from Antionette Yvonne lol. Promaster was my favorite until now.
Great thoughts on the different options. User need to weight out the features to budget and find what suits their needs.
I have a Thor Sequence 20k on a Promaster 3500 we bought new in February 2020.The brake booster went out in the first year under5k. Dodge replaced it and everything has been working has been working perfectly from Dodge. Thor, not so much. We had bad batteries made by Trojan, floor covering peeling up, loose screws, on bed frame brace, on many hinges and drawer guides. The Wineguard Connect 2.0 failed and had to be replaced. Our fan motor in the ceiling vent failed. Many other little problems. Make sure you get a good warranty.
Thanks for the info! I wish the Transit came in the same size as the Promaster.
I think the seat is super comfortable 🤷🏻♂️ Also, totally agree about feeling like a bus when you drive it
Great info and I appreciate your honest advice and knowledgeable input. Why no love or even mention of a Chevy Express? With all the emphasis on which platform a high dollar conversion could be potentially built on, I find the engine, maintenance costs, and longevity of that engine to be one of the most if not the most important consideration. I do realize they don't offer a high top roof express. Imo the obsession with high roof vans is strange. Having a low roof van that runs for well over 200k miles vs being able to stand in a van that has engine/transmission problems within the first 30k miles, to me, is a huge concern and consideration. Most of the time, while at home, we're sitting more than standing anyway. Also, if I'm doing outdoor traveling nomadic type of adventures in a conversion, I'd be spending most of my non driving/parked time outside rather than in the van. Not complaining about your review, just my 2 cents. Thanks for your experienced based advice.
The RAM 3.6 V6 is considered 1 of the best in the world.
my guess for the high top roof fascination would be specifically for van life dwellers...just more comfortability when cooking & maybe showering inside it
The last regular van on Earth. Chevrolet.
Thanks for the great information!
thank you for sharing this!
exactly what I needed to know, thx.
A 62TE and the 3.6 Pentastar right out of a Town and Country minivan! They’re good trucks just not very reliable, good video man
So the ford transit sounds like the way to go, if you can’t afford a sprinter. I am 5’4” tall so the height and width of the Ford is fine for me. I just want something reliable but easy and cheap to fix when needed. It sounds like the Dodge would be too much of a worry with the mechanical and design problems. Thank you so much...I am so glad I saw this video.
Great information to know! Thanks
I just traded my 2015 Promaster 2500 136” / High roof in for a 2024 Promaster 3500 159” Ext / Super high roof. (I need more space for my work). I test drove the Ford and Ram in 2016 before making my decision. I really think it’s a personal decision as I totally disagree with what he’s saying about comfort. I love how the Promaster drives (turning radius in tight delivery docks is amazing), how the seat sits and feels. I drive long distances (like 8-9 hrs at a time) and the van is more comfortable than my MDX. My last van had 60k miles on it and I never had an issue. Took it in for regular oil changes and didn’t have to make one repair. Even the tires lasted for 60k miles. I kept taking it in to my tire guy and he kept telling me they were fine. I love Promaster.
I disliked how the Transit drives. It feels heavy and clunky to me, whereas the Promaster feels light and nimble. I also prefer the higher seating position. I actually miss it when I get back into my everyday car.
Also, I would possibly make the decision on this alone, with most other things being equal - the fact that the back doors open all the way against the van is huge. Not having to work around doors sticking out is such a convenience. Carrying loads in and out of the van in tight areas, and not dodging the doors with my arms full, is great.
You can get lower seat bases for the driver and passenger seat. Brings the swivel down to standard height. I've driven over a thousand miles in a day in both the Sprinters and Promasters. Sprinter is more comfortable but Promaster is doable. I've driven over 300k miles between two Sprinters. About 30k in a Promaster. Each one has strengths and weaknesses.
Totally agree. Every person is comfortable in different ways. Our son can sleep on concrete while we need a nice plush bed lol. We just got in our 2021 Transit... super comfortable.
Coming from a fleet setting that works on Transits / Promaster's, the Promaster is hands down a much better vehicle than the Transit. Pains me to say it but Ford has a worse build quality and are way more complicated. The Promaster is simple and lasts a long time. They do have minor issues, but Ford's have more major issues such as driveshaft, Ecoboost turbo problems, cooling system problems. Etc
Watched my buddy's transit fail on him quite a few times. We both built camper vans right around the same time coincidently.
The promaster shell (and powertrain) is just better all around if you're going for a high roof van. The pentastars (post 2014) are much more reliable than what Ford offers. (They wouldn't have built over 10 million of those engines if they thought it wasn't worth it.)
With that being said, the suspension and front end components do need to be inspected frequently to avoid costly repairs...
Anyways, my buddy's transit has mechanically failed on him numerous times at this point. He ended up trying to rebuild everything but it still gave him issues that left him stranded...
Not knocking on Ford (since I also drive a Ranger), but the Transits are a risky platform to go with overall.
Vans have never been a strongsuit for Ford, ever since they stopped producing the Windstar.
I have an European version of this van. Around 400 000 miles on it. It is on its second engine at this point, but otherwise its going strong. Diesel + manual transmission though (automatics are far less common here).
Good information.
Watch the van life you tube videos and you see people with Transit and Ram problems all the time. Its why I have an E350. No, its not new and cool. Bonus. It has nothing that goes bong bong bong except if you leave the headlights on.
thanks for the helpful info!
I love my PM 2500 HR. No problems. I'm about to hit 70K miles.
Thank you for this worried about buying a used onev
Transit is rear wheel drive unless you want to pay more for the awd.
Correct. We have one being build for us know that is AWD. Looking forward to starting that build soon.
Great info… I am sticking with my Ford Transit 350 AWD
My Promaster burned up 3 transmissions before 100k. Traded it in at 105k for a new Sprinter because my warranty was up and also my head gaskets were leaking and the transmission was starting to go out again. These vans are disposable cheap trash.
Thanks for the intel. This problem seems too ubiquitous for me to even consider one.
Cool guy, thanks for the info
You should do a review of the Nissan van. I drove one as a Hvac service tech all over Virginia. My van had a ton of miles and I can't think of any break down it ever had.