All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Have they fixed the differential problems with the Ford Transit?

My sister bought like three of them for her business and she said the rear differentials would explode on them if they experienced too much rear slip from very wet or icy roads.

 

We don't need 4x4 (could say the same thing about 99% of the Van life/Tacoma people but whatever). It's a 2013 Sprinter 2500 I'll be primarily using as a rental (and occasional use when not occupied)

Taking delivery this weekend and having a friend driving it from Memphis to Knoxville. I've been trying to catch a flight since last weekend but keep getting cancelled and he's driving over here anyways to go camping with us so I just bought him a rental car to drive back. Should be a fun little project

 

That things nicer than a few apartments I've had.

 

Damn that van is sick.

 

I have no idea, haven’t gone that deep down the rabbit hole yet. I have a friend that has one and loved it…but I believe the turbo blew up on him haha

 

That looks super nice

 

Deciding between a new diesel sprinter or an ecoboost transit is a tough decision. I think they both have their gremlins however one I can go to a parts store and easily get parts.

That is sweet! That's something I've never looked into with van rentals.

I've thought about skipping the shower and toilet if I get one and just invest in a planet fitness membership or something like that for showers.

 

seriously! let a little air pressure out of the shock and its no problem by yourself

 

Yep that's why I'm doing it, everybody is in real estate now and I'm looking to diversify a bit from the norm (especially with recent interest rates).

Agreed on the shower but my target demographic will love that feature (I think). The damn thing is 24 feet long, I don't know where I'm going to park that bitch

It's a pretty baller buildout but I think that was important to attract tenants - it's a big experiment to be honest, I don't think many people are doing this

 

Yes seriously, refer back to photos and tell me where the schrader valve is on my shock

Lol, put a sign out saying rent me and park it in front of the house!
I've saw it for people traveling to other countries and such, but for our area unless you got a kick ass A/C it will be highly seasonal.
Most of them I saw rentable though had the big business sticker on the side taking away from the stealth.

 

I like where your heads at.
Pretty rad idea.
Are you going to handle it like an Airbnb in terms of damages and cleaning fees and whatnot post rental?

 

"Many" is subjective, but there's quite a few folks renting out sprinters up to full size RVs around here in Utah for obvious touristy reasons. If you have half the success some of these people do, you'll be sitting pretty.

My parents, my sister and I rented a full size 35 footer Class A last year and the guy had 5 parked at his house. They're all booked out basically continuously.

 

Definitely a tough decision. My friend loves his. Said he preferred the ride of the transit over the pro master. Plus now the transit comes in AWD.

there are a decent number of vans around me on outdoorsy. I keep telling myself to rent one for a weekend to try it out

 

We rented a storyteller overland van a few weeks ago since my family is out growing our wedge camper. It was amazing! Every bit as comfortable to drive as the tacoma but with a better seating position, plenty capable for dirt roads, very very easy setup and breakdown at camp, plus it was a good place to hang-out when a storm rolled through, and tons of storage for gear.

I was a bit worried that it'd feel too much like "glamping" but we still spent most of our time outside. It really just made everything about the weekend easier, which is critical for us to get out as much as possible with two young kids.

We're now actively looking for vans to replace the truck and camper. I'd go for either a sprinter or transit. I've heard the sprinters are more reliable overall but cost a lot for basic maintenance, and it's hard to find a shop if they do break down. The transits are easily serviceable and cheaper to own but not quite as nice and won't run as long. Honestly, I'll take either if I can find it built out for a reasonable price.

 

I feel like what Honda50r is doing is the only way I could make it work and make sense financially, other wise it would get used as a campervan maybe once or twice a month and just a bike hauler the rest of the time.

I would love one of those, but $155,000 is steep. Given if you price the batteries, solar, and 2nd alternator it would cost someone that's not a dealer probably around 30k for that alone.
I'm not saying those vans aren't worth the money, it's just hard for me to pay that and it not be an investment.

 

Got first flat tonight, center of tire in tread and snake bite. Jumped a little man made rock garden and came down right on a point.

 

Took the day off and got a ride in. So far loving the boxxer

 

We have a Transit … only 24K miles but no issues yet. I hang out on the Transit forums and have never heard of this. The Transit uses the same 9.75” Ford diff as F150’s. The Transit DID have issues and recall for the flexible guibo’s used instead of u joints in the driveline but there is supposedly a permanent fix and 2020 and newer have the new design. Honestly, since we picked up the van in 2020 we use it for ALL our MTB and camping when it’s the two of us; I’ve only taken the Taco out on two longer trips without wife or bikes, and with more 4 wheeling. The Taco also gets 21 mpg getting to the trails whereas Transit is 15 mpg max. But that EcoBoost and ten speed combo, even in a built-out 8500# van, reminds me what a dog the 3rd gen V6 with AT is.

 

I drive a 2016 transit 250 everyday for work and love it. Have 170k on the dash. And other then having to swap brake pads often because i have alot of weight in the back and the annoying “door ajar” when it was closed which is a easy fix. I have had no issues

 

Oh I don't think we'll buy a storyteller. It's just what we rented.