Update on the 2023 Ford Transit Sanctuary 19PT camper van. 4200 mile road trip. MPG, what broke, some upgrades and overall impression. #campervan #thormotorcoach #vanlife #rvlife #rvlifestyle #rv #fordtransitcamper
I'm having the same problem with my heat. No matter what the temperature setting is, as long is it's not on "LOW" (below 60), it's blowing hot. And even turning the fan off doesn't stop the heat. So...we have to keep cycling between "LOW" (Might be "LO") and something else. Doesn't matter if it's 61 or 80. And...bad news, we've taken it in and they fixed the recall, and supposedly fixed the problem. Still have the problem.
That’s not good to hear. I wonder where the temperature sensor is located? I noticed it consistently did it when outside was maybe 40-50ish and the sun was shining through windshield, heating up the cab. If I felt the lower dash or under the center console near the floor in the shade, it was cool to the touch. I miss the “vent” setting that just allowed outside air in. It’s a little noisy to crack the windows on the interstate.
I've tried to link a discussion about this in the Ford Transit USA forum but it keeps getting rejected. Search on Factory Climate Control Not Regulating Temperature Correctly (Always Hot)
It will work. I’m 6’4” and can lay flat on passenger side. Passenger side is maybe 3-4 inch longer than driver side. It’s basically a king sized bed width when down and using the cushion to fill in the gap. I used two twin sized memory foam toppers and didn’t have to trim any width or length to fit. I only cut out that center piece since we are leaving the back as a bed but don’t want to lose that walkway space.
Not an easy answer, lots of variables. Watching my system when not plugged in to power the a/c was drawing somewhere around 60-80 ah when running. The system is 400 ah total so if it was continuous it would only be roughly 5 hours. But it doesn’t run continuous, mine is more like run for 2 min and off for 8-10 min. I’m in a cool state and we haven’t even hit the 80’s yet but if you are in a warm state it will run more often. Hope that kinda helps. Thanks for watching!
How’s the pulling power in Colorado mountains? I’m considering this and I have 3000lb boat I want to tow, I am in Florida so no hill. Have you towed with your rig?
I haven’t towed. It’s has more than enough power and torque for itself in the mountains, but I don’t know about boat. Might be good to look in Ford Transit forums for answers or join and ask the question.
Hard question to answer because of variables but my system on battery draws 60-80 ah when it’s running. So continuous use would only be 4-5 hours since the system is on 400ah. I don’t know for sure if hot climates would draw more energy. When it runs for me, it cools for about 2 mins and then shuts off for like 8-10min. So it would last much longer in that case. We’ve been in the mid 70’s here and I’m only cooling to 68 for some perspective. It seems over powered for such a small space so it does cool it off quick.
Ford is trying to rip off customer.. they raised the price 17% MSRP!!!! and throwing large screen but cutting down on knobs and buttons to cut the cost.. They already know these touch screen function is hassel to work around for basic needs. Ford, Jeep raised MSRP 20%-25% which is not a dealer mark up. So when you go to dealer these days and the dealer claims there's no mark up but rather $500 discount, you still probably pay way much more than what it is worth. I saw a couple of American automaker bankruptcy due to bad business practice and the government used our tax dollars to save them. Disgusting and they did it again, Ford and Jeep(chrysler group) is for the fall again now.
I don’t have it around anymore. Has your Sync updated recently? I only ask because my local dealerships won’t touch my van since it’s built out. I haven’t had a problem though since the big automatic update. If you have the big sync screen the most obvious recent change is the fan blades on the screen spin when you change the fan speed or turn it off.
Yeah. I was getting frustrated as it got worse, so I pulled it off. Then put it back and it’s like nothing was wrong. At least for now it’s working, but I push it real lightly.
You can unscrew the small bottom screws from the glass over the cook top and turn it 180 degrees so it won’t stick out into the aisle. #themoreyouknow 🙂
We did a lot of testing prior to the purchase of this one. The smaller class C’s just weren’t for us. The extra space was nice, driving was easy, but they can have a bit of side to side rock to them. When you are out shopping for yours, try and rock them a bit when you get in them and you will see what I mean. All will move but some will be a bit more dramatic. It may be worth a search, but some places will rent. It’s a big decision and could be worth it.
Yeah. That could be an easy patch until I take it in for service. I still will probably look at it first and see if a little compressed air to blow dust out is all it needs
Bouncy wouldn’t be the word I would describe the ride in the back. It’s not a very good ride though. Side to side sway is the real problem. Sway gets worse the further from the front tires you get and the back seat is the farthest point. I would recommend a build with passenger seats behind the front seats for ride comfort. I tried going back there and I could tolerate it for a small road trip but nothing long distance.
There are a lot of variables. First I wonder if it’s not charging or didn’t start fully charged. Second I would ask how you are using your battery. The battery is 400ah or roughly 5500 watts. If you are running a small space heater, it might draw 900watts and drink your battery in 5 hours or so. If it’s really cold where you are, your batteries might not be charging. Lithium batteries won’t charge if they are below 0 degrees C or 32F. Try connecting to shore power. Remember to set your input amps on your control panel to match your source. If using a household plug, change to 15 amps otherwise the safety switch gets tripped. I will make a video of this because the forums are always full of questions about the lithium batteries.
If you are in heavy traffic with frequent stops it can probably help. This trip was 97% interstate. It was just bad headwinds. Especially for the east to west part of the drive.
Thanks for the update, can you cover parking while camping and on regular parkings, like Walmart. Also driving on dirt road or mud. Can you make a meal sometime to see how it's goes. Thanks maybe im asking too much. Thanks
On this trip we mainly stayed at Loves or Pilot truck stops while driving. Very convenient and open 24 hours. Always asked to make sure it was ok prior to parking. We also stayed on some BLM land which was $15 dollars, no hookups, but did have toilets. Driving on dirt/mud roads didn’t feel any different than driving a SUV. Dirt/gravel roads that aren’t maintained would get sketchy due to ground clearance and vehicle length. A lift kit and larger tires would be an excellent upgrade to increase versatility. Cooking is limited to the 2 burner stovetop and microwave. I still haven’t used the microwave but did use stove top for easy stuff like oatmeal, soup, etc.
They made an excellent stencil though, lol. I have a feeling Thor gave the dimensions of the back window glass to someone and that’s what they got, perfectly cut fabric that only covers the glass. Then you end up with magnets that can’t reach. Another benefit of adding the extra 3 inches all around is you can add an insulated layer in between. Thanks for watching!
Only 200 watts of solar on the Sanctuary roof ?...No wonder...Usually most builds you have 400 - 600 watts of solar..Think they have a single 460 ah lithium in the Sanctuary, not sure..Good thing about say 5 x 100ah or 4 x 120ah on a build, is when they are at the end of their cycle life you can swap them out easy....Like yourself if you are touring charge mainly comes from the alternator, but if you are semi cruising and hanging out for a week in one spot off grid, you hit a snag....No offence but to anyone really wanting a camper, all the headaches of building one are worth it..Better insulation, better solar, better fittings inside even though new stuff looks good and polished it ain't that good....Good vid though, keep on keeping on..
The idea of building a van seems overwhelming when you get started. After having this van it seems much more manageable. This van really helps with the what you need vs don’t need debate. And you’re right, this van has a single 400ah battery. I did get an additional 1kw power center and 200 watts of more solar back in December for a little more capability.
Mybtake, u will not like it: 13mpg is a fatal flaw...so it is a no go, until: Why the rest of the world has the much better Ford Transit? The rest of the world has: 1-hybrid Transit 405nm torque, beat that ecoboost 3.5L gasguzzeler. The rest of the world has even access to the new "ecoblue" Mild Hybrid, kick axx. Why does Ford do that to us, well 'cause we r blindly power hungry and no contious about the economy. It was so crazy that there was a waiting list to buy a gasguzzler 3.5L Transit in 2020 n 2021. What r we doing fellow anglers, RVers? Next we know we r going to bailout banks, rather than bailing out the 500k employees getting fired,
I do agree. 13 mpg is nothing to brag about and it would be nice to have some of the other powertrains as options. Unfortunately most carmakers do this to some extent on their vehicles. I have a sedan that has better tech in Canada and better power in Australia. US gets the best warranty though. I think the transit can do better. Through some of UT and CO the average was 18-21mpg, but through MO, OK, TX, NM, and AZ the mpg was closer to 10 due to a winter storm and severe headwinds. There will always be external variables that affect the numbers. Even with the mpg, this van was still more economical as far as total cost since money was saved on hotel and food.
@@jtbrv23 , how money on fuel for 4200 miles, i am guesstimating $1615. While a hybrid diesel or a mild hybrid in Europe would be $601. No but we want power in the States over economy, we r so spoiled...
Australia a Ford Transit LWB 10 speed high roof diesel is ....32.669 Miles per gallon....And more than enough power, seems everyone wants a drag racer in the USA bless em..lol
I'm having the same problem with my heat. No matter what the temperature setting is, as long is it's not on "LOW" (below 60), it's blowing hot. And even turning the fan off doesn't stop the heat. So...we have to keep cycling between "LOW" (Might be "LO") and something else. Doesn't matter if it's 61 or 80. And...bad news, we've taken it in and they fixed the recall, and supposedly fixed the problem. Still have the problem.
That’s not good to hear. I wonder where the temperature sensor is located? I noticed it consistently did it when outside was maybe 40-50ish and the sun was shining through windshield, heating up the cab. If I felt the lower dash or under the center console near the floor in the shade, it was cool to the touch. I miss the “vent” setting that just allowed outside air in. It’s a little noisy to crack the windows on the interstate.
I've tried to link a discussion about this in the Ford Transit USA forum but it keeps getting rejected. Search on
Factory Climate Control Not Regulating Temperature Correctly (Always Hot)
@@hoffmaniaks I will check that out.
Are you talking the RV heat (engine off) or the engines heat (while driving)?
@@Erin-Thor heat while driving from the usual car heater.
Outstanding. How long is the bed? If you are 6ft and sleep on your back would that work for 2 people. Thanks again for posting the video
It will work. I’m 6’4” and can lay flat on passenger side. Passenger side is maybe 3-4 inch longer than driver side. It’s basically a king sized bed width when down and using the cushion to fill in the gap. I used two twin sized memory foam toppers and didn’t have to trim any width or length to fit. I only cut out that center piece since we are leaving the back as a bed but don’t want to lose that walkway space.
@@jtbrv23 Thanks for the information, you rock, safe travels
How long does the battery last with the ac
Not an easy answer, lots of variables. Watching my system when not plugged in to power the a/c was drawing somewhere around 60-80 ah when running. The system is 400 ah total so if it was continuous it would only be roughly 5 hours. But it doesn’t run continuous, mine is more like run for 2 min and off for 8-10 min. I’m in a cool state and we haven’t even hit the 80’s yet but if you are in a warm state it will run more often. Hope that kinda helps. Thanks for watching!
How’s the pulling power in Colorado mountains? I’m considering this and I have 3000lb boat I want to tow, I am in Florida so no hill. Have you towed with your rig?
I haven’t towed. It’s has more than enough power and torque for itself in the mountains, but I don’t know about boat. Might be good to look in Ford Transit forums for answers or join and ask the question.
@@jtbrv23 thank you for the info!
Hi how many hrs you can run the 13,500 btu roof ac with the lithium batteries full charged 3 hrs...4..5....6...?
Hard question to answer because of variables but my system on battery draws 60-80 ah when it’s running. So continuous use would only be 4-5 hours since the system is on 400ah. I don’t know for sure if hot climates would draw more energy. When it runs for me, it cools for about 2 mins and then shuts off for like 8-10min. So it would last much longer in that case. We’ve been in the mid 70’s here and I’m only cooling to 68 for some perspective. It seems over powered for such a small space so it does cool it off quick.
@@jtbrv23 Thanks 🙏
Ford is trying to rip off customer.. they raised the price 17% MSRP!!!! and throwing large screen but cutting down on
knobs and buttons to cut the cost.. They already know these touch screen function is hassel to work around for basic needs.
Ford, Jeep raised MSRP 20%-25% which is not a dealer mark up. So when you go to dealer these days and the dealer claims
there's no mark up but rather $500 discount, you still probably pay way much more than what it is worth.
I saw a couple of American automaker bankruptcy due to bad business practice and the government used our tax dollars to
save them. Disgusting and they did it again, Ford and Jeep(chrysler group) is for the fall again now.
It’s unfortunate because they will continue to do it as long as people are paying it.
I have a 2022 Transit and the same problem with the a/c temperature control. Do you know the recall number?
I don’t have it around anymore. Has your Sync updated recently? I only ask because my local dealerships won’t touch my van since it’s built out. I haven’t had a problem though since the big automatic update. If you have the big sync screen the most obvious recent change is the fan blades on the screen spin when you change the fan speed or turn it off.
thanks for sharing, I just picked up a Thor Tranquility 2023 awd! Similar layout as yours. Hope you enjoy and seeing ya on the road!
Congratulations! Safe travels
Thanks for sharing 👍, I believed this is the passenger van, what did you do to the back air vents?
It was already built out when we got it so I’m not too sure how the addressed the vents if there were any.
Awesome! Road trip #Rt66 😊 Thanks for the helpful tips. #firstlike👍Safe travels 🙏
Thanks
My truma button does the same. Works but is annoying!
Yeah. I was getting frustrated as it got worse, so I pulled it off. Then put it back and it’s like nothing was wrong. At least for now it’s working, but I push it real lightly.
You can unscrew the small bottom screws from the glass over the cook top and turn it 180 degrees so it won’t stick out into the aisle. #themoreyouknow 🙂
Whoa, really?? I have to mess with this. Since I’m tall I brush my upper arm on that glass all the time. Thanks for the tip!
Nice rig, thanks for sharing!
Sure thing. Thanks for watching!
Dude your van come with the propane stove top cover?
No. It’s a generic serving tray that just happens to fit the stove.
Would have been nice though if they had included it.
Thank you for making this video. I’m thinking of buying one and need the the real “low down “ on them. Are you thinking of test driving a class c ?
We did a lot of testing prior to the purchase of this one. The smaller class C’s just weren’t for us. The extra space was nice, driving was easy, but they can have a bit of side to side rock to them. When you are out shopping for yours, try and rock them a bit when you get in them and you will see what I mean. All will move but some will be a bit more dramatic. It may be worth a search, but some places will rent. It’s a big decision and could be worth it.
I'm looking also if I had somewhere to park it I would buy the class c you can get one in great shape for half the cost of the fords
@@stahpit1971 that’s the exact reason we couldn’t get a larger class c. No where to park it. Someday though.
On the shade, wouldn’t a small piece of Velcro on the bottom also resolve the problem? Might not apply as that should be a warranty repair.
Yeah. That could be an easy patch until I take it in for service. I still will probably look at it first and see if a little compressed air to blow dust out is all it needs
Are the backseat bouncy?
I have 2 kids wondering if it will be comfortable for them. Or any suspension upgrade that needs to be done?
Bouncy wouldn’t be the word I would describe the ride in the back. It’s not a very good ride though. Side to side sway is the real problem. Sway gets worse the further from the front tires you get and the back seat is the farthest point. I would recommend a build with passenger seats behind the front seats for ride comfort. I tried going back there and I could tolerate it for a small road trip but nothing long distance.
HI I just picked up a Ford Transit 19PT. The battery seemed to drain down in about a day? What am I missing?
There are a lot of variables. First I wonder if it’s not charging or didn’t start fully charged. Second I would ask how you are using your battery. The battery is 400ah or roughly 5500 watts. If you are running a small space heater, it might draw 900watts and drink your battery in 5 hours or so. If it’s really cold where you are, your batteries might not be charging. Lithium batteries won’t charge if they are below 0 degrees C or 32F. Try connecting to shore power. Remember to set your input amps on your control panel to match your source. If using a household plug, change to 15 amps otherwise the safety switch gets tripped. I will make a video of this because the forums are always full of questions about the lithium batteries.
If you're driving n the city, start stop would help that crappy MPG average you mentioned.
If you are in heavy traffic with frequent stops it can probably help. This trip was 97% interstate. It was just bad headwinds. Especially for the east to west part of the drive.
Thanks for the update, can you cover parking while camping and on regular parkings, like Walmart.
Also driving on dirt road or mud.
Can you make a meal sometime to see how it's goes. Thanks maybe im asking too much. Thanks
On this trip we mainly stayed at Loves or Pilot truck stops while driving. Very convenient and open 24 hours. Always asked to make sure it was ok prior to parking. We also stayed on some BLM land which was $15 dollars, no hookups, but did have toilets. Driving on dirt/mud roads didn’t feel any different than driving a SUV. Dirt/gravel roads that aren’t maintained would get sketchy due to ground clearance and vehicle length. A lift kit and larger tires would be an excellent upgrade to increase versatility. Cooking is limited to the 2 burner stovetop and microwave. I still haven’t used the microwave but did use stove top for easy stuff like oatmeal, soup, etc.
Nice video, keeps us updated on how you like it and any future upgrades
Will do. Thanks for watching
Precise fit that doesn’t fit…….🤪…..Okay
They made an excellent stencil though, lol. I have a feeling Thor gave the dimensions of the back window glass to someone and that’s what they got, perfectly cut fabric that only covers the glass. Then you end up with magnets that can’t reach. Another benefit of adding the extra 3 inches all around is you can add an insulated layer in between. Thanks for watching!
Only 200 watts of solar on the Sanctuary roof ?...No wonder...Usually most builds you have 400 - 600 watts of solar..Think they have a single 460 ah lithium in the Sanctuary, not sure..Good thing about say 5 x 100ah or 4 x 120ah on a build, is when they are at the end of their cycle life you can swap them out easy....Like yourself if you are touring charge mainly comes from the alternator, but if you are semi cruising and hanging out for a week in one spot off grid, you hit a snag....No offence but to anyone really wanting a camper, all the headaches of building one are worth it..Better insulation, better solar, better fittings inside even though new stuff looks good and polished it ain't that good....Good vid though, keep on keeping on..
The idea of building a van seems overwhelming when you get started. After having this van it seems much more manageable. This van really helps with the what you need vs don’t need debate. And you’re right, this van has a single 400ah battery. I did get an additional 1kw power center and 200 watts of more solar back in December for a little more capability.
Mybtake, u will not like it:
13mpg is a fatal flaw...so it is a no go, until:
Why the rest of the world has the much better Ford Transit?
The rest of the world has:
1-hybrid Transit 405nm torque, beat that ecoboost 3.5L gasguzzeler. The rest of the world has even access to the new "ecoblue" Mild Hybrid, kick axx.
Why does Ford do that to us, well 'cause we r blindly power hungry and no contious about the economy. It was so crazy that there was a waiting list to buy a gasguzzler 3.5L Transit in 2020 n 2021. What r we doing fellow anglers, RVers? Next we know we r going to bailout banks, rather than bailing out the 500k employees getting fired,
I do agree. 13 mpg is nothing to brag about and it would be nice to have some of the other powertrains as options. Unfortunately most carmakers do this to some extent on their vehicles. I have a sedan that has better tech in Canada and better power in Australia. US gets the best warranty though.
I think the transit can do better. Through some of UT and CO the average was 18-21mpg, but through MO, OK, TX, NM, and AZ the mpg was closer to 10 due to a winter storm and severe headwinds. There will always be external variables that affect the numbers. Even with the mpg, this van was still more economical as far as total cost since money was saved on hotel and food.
@@jtbrv23 , how money on fuel for 4200 miles, i am guesstimating $1615. While a hybrid diesel or a mild hybrid in Europe would be $601. No but we want power in the States over economy, we r so spoiled...
@@rightright6582 decent guess. Average price per gallon in my tracking app is around $3.83 per gallon, so around $1240 all together.
Australia a Ford Transit LWB 10 speed high roof diesel is ....32.669 Miles per gallon....And more than enough power, seems everyone wants a drag racer in the USA bless em..lol