Looking at a 2015 Ford Transit 350 XL 148WB-feedback please

bents
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bents
Edited Date/Time 1/21/2021 8:03pm
So this 2015 has 85,000 miles on it. I have read both great and terrible reviews. It is a 15 passenger but it will become a mountain bike/motocross bike/2 dog travel van. It has the 3.7 eco boost. I could some real world experience and advice with these vans. Thanks a bunch.
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wfopete
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wfopete 1/20/2021 5:52pm
1/20/2021 5:52pm
Personally I wouldn't touch a Transit that is out of warranty unless it has lots of documentation on maintenance and had a killer low price. Eco Boost motors are awesome but they have flaws that can be very expensive to repair. I have a new 2020 and it's nice but if it was out of warranty I would look for something w/o the boost motor, a conventional van or pick up..
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Pirate421
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Pirate421 1/20/2021 6:38pm
1/20/2021 6:38pm
I have a 2018 with the 3.7 which is a non eco boost. Make sure if it’s the eco boost it’s a 3.5 and has both turbos lol. I love my van and also have a 12 passenger model, one less row of seats that yours. I wanted it to be my mtb and moto rig but my friends and family end up wanting to take the thing everywhere we go they love it more than I do I think.

I ended up going with a Bolt it On system and that thing works great. Fits three bikes with one row of seats still installed and I can get dressed, hangout or sleep in the back. Put some bigger tires on it and painted the rims black and I think it looks like a proper moto van.
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bents
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bents 1/20/2021 7:32pm
1/20/2021 7:32pm
Pirate421 wrote:
I have a 2018 with the 3.7 which is a non eco boost. Make sure if it’s the eco boost it’s a 3.5 and has both...
I have a 2018 with the 3.7 which is a non eco boost. Make sure if it’s the eco boost it’s a 3.5 and has both turbos lol. I love my van and also have a 12 passenger model, one less row of seats that yours. I wanted it to be my mtb and moto rig but my friends and family end up wanting to take the thing everywhere we go they love it more than I do I think.

I ended up going with a Bolt it On system and that thing works great. Fits three bikes with one row of seats still installed and I can get dressed, hangout or sleep in the back. Put some bigger tires on it and painted the rims black and I think it looks like a proper moto van.
Hi thanks for that and it is in fact the 3.7 which I am more comfortable with-going to look at it tomorrow. The biggest concern I have is the transmission from what I read. I'm going to insure that the factory recall has been done.
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Kevin852
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Kevin852 1/20/2021 10:07pm
1/20/2021 10:07pm Edited Date/Time 1/21/2021 1:04pm
I have a 2017. So far so good. My understanding is the transmission issue is with the new 10 speed not the 6 speed? But what else am I going to get? The choices are Ford/Dodge /MB. I am thinking the Ford is best for reliability by far.

The Shop

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jpatz319
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jpatz319 1/21/2021 6:00am
1/21/2021 6:00am
I bought a '15 cargo van with the 3.7 in with similar miles. I would look into the driveshaft coupler recall and get it done if it hasn't already been done.
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wfopete
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wfopete 1/21/2021 6:30am
1/21/2021 6:30am
earlier Eco Boost suffer from timing chain issues; a $5K repair. Also warped exhaust manifolds are not uncommon, another high dollar trip.
Oleary465
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Oleary465 1/21/2021 7:00am
1/21/2021 7:00am
I have a 2016 Transit 250 the biggest one height and length, We absolutely love it. Only complaint is the 3.7 Engine a sprinter definitely gets better MPG and is a bit more peppier. We have had no issues, knock on wood so far. Just the driveshaft recall. We also had changed the rear brakes at 47k and are now at 55k.
Brent
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Brent 1/21/2021 8:48am
1/21/2021 8:48am
I own the 2018 3.7 non turbo, 31k miles with only 1 issue, the rear brake calipers keep needing to be replaced. Other than that the van is great.
bents
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bents 1/21/2021 10:35am
1/21/2021 10:35am
All good info thanks. I have what may be a stupid question, but I'm too old to give a shit. I read often about a "guido" causing problems-what the hell is this? I probably spelled this wrong.
Spat24
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Spat24 1/21/2021 10:48am
1/21/2021 10:48am
Pirate421 wrote:
I have a 2018 with the 3.7 which is a non eco boost. Make sure if it’s the eco boost it’s a 3.5 and has both...
I have a 2018 with the 3.7 which is a non eco boost. Make sure if it’s the eco boost it’s a 3.5 and has both turbos lol. I love my van and also have a 12 passenger model, one less row of seats that yours. I wanted it to be my mtb and moto rig but my friends and family end up wanting to take the thing everywhere we go they love it more than I do I think.

I ended up going with a Bolt it On system and that thing works great. Fits three bikes with one row of seats still installed and I can get dressed, hangout or sleep in the back. Put some bigger tires on it and painted the rims black and I think it looks like a proper moto van.
can you post up some pics of the bolt it on system?
jpatz319
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jpatz319 1/21/2021 11:05am
1/21/2021 11:05am
bents wrote:
All good info thanks. I have what may be a stupid question, but I'm too old to give a shit. I read often about a "guido"...
All good info thanks. I have what may be a stupid question, but I'm too old to give a shit. I read often about a "guido" causing problems-what the hell is this? I probably spelled this wrong.
It was the system that Ford used to connect the transmission to the driveshaft. The final recall replaced it with a traditional u-joint.
ctbale
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ctbale 1/21/2021 11:34am
1/21/2021 11:34am
I was looking at new ones, the ford guy said to get the 148" wheelbase. But holy crap there is plenty of choices!
Pirate421
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Pirate421 1/21/2021 12:11pm
1/21/2021 12:11pm
Spat24 wrote:
can you post up some pics of the bolt it on system?
Sorry these aren’t great pics but you can see how the bicycles fit when I had it mocked up in the garage. I got two 60° angled chocks and one center chock to maximize space between the bars. The dirtbike fits exactly the same as the bicycles do. Nice part is the system is super light and literally no drilling or mods required to install it. I take it out and install it every weekend almost.

basslips
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basslips 1/21/2021 6:08pm
1/21/2021 6:08pm
I have two transits for my business used as installation rigs. One T250 eco and one T150 3.7. I believe there was a recall for an electrical issue on the "15 T250 and the driveshaft. It also has just developed an issue where the power windows would intermittently quite working, and they have since quite working altogether. The slider door on the '15 also doesn't slide very well anymore. Bought them both new and the '15 has about 50,000 miles and hte '18 has 36,000.

In may I purchased a 2019 MB Sprinter for my personal mtb/moto van.
Timo
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Timo 1/21/2021 6:17pm
1/21/2021 6:17pm
We have a van fleet for work, started on the Transits in 2017. All are 3.5 ecoboost, no engine issues on any of them so far, higher milage ones are at our 100,000 mile trade in point. I got mine in November of 19 and have 40,000 trouble free miles on it. Oil changes at 10,000 miles, I like these much better than the old econoline vans. They drive nice, and have more power than you're going to need in a van. I had the 4.6L in my last econoline, I'm assuming the 3.7L will be similar. It'll go the speed limit as long as you have a tailwind and the road is flat, I'd keep an eye out for the boosted ones.
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SLAPAHO 1/21/2021 7:12pm
1/21/2021 7:12pm Edited Date/Time 1/21/2021 7:22pm

2016 3.7 mid roof 130wb. No problems at 80k miles. The ac could use a recharge, but thats about it. I would definitely get the 148 wheel base if I could change anything. I also have the Bolt-it-on tie down system. Scott at Bolt it on is one of the coolest guys to deal with , super helpful and will make sure that you’re happy with your setup.
I would never bag on the Sprinter, they’re obviously an awesome van. But if you don’t want a diesel and you want a super nice van that you can buy for considerably less, the Transit is worth checking out.

I can get a sweet burnout with it if I spray the tires down with SC1 👍



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bents
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bents 1/21/2021 7:27pm
1/21/2021 7:27pm
Thanks guys all good info. SLAPHO sure love the black paint and wheels. The van I'm looking at is the standard white unfortunately. The recall was done on the coupler and a few others but there was no recall on the transmission.

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Pirate421
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Pirate421 1/21/2021 8:03pm
1/21/2021 8:03pm
I’ll add that also if you have friends family etc especially kids the passenger wagon is the way to go. You can add a seat like a lot of people do but it’s not really legal and/or safe. Also the empty cargo vans tend to get loud on the road and rattle a bunch. The rear air/ac of the wagon as well as the windows are a nice touch for me. I spent $40 on a roll of reflectix to make some window covers and it works out and helps with insulating in the summer.
MXer391
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MXer391 1/22/2021 9:11am
1/22/2021 9:11am
I have 10 Transits for my home medical company. They are pretty reliable for the most part. Range in years from 2015-2019. I believe one or two of them are approaching 150k miles by now. The biggest issues are they have lousy brakes. We are always replacing calipers and rotors, especially on the rear. I had one that the torque converter went out around 90k. They are all non turbo engines except one is an Ecoboost. The Ecoboost had a turbo issue that was covered under warranty but I did have to spend some $$ to get the exhaust manifolds studs replaced around 100k miles (the turbo started to squeal loud). One other annoying thing is that the black plastic slider rods in the drivers side doors ALL break eventually and the tires are sometimes pricey because its an oddball size. Overall they are roomy and comfortable to drive and on par reliability wise with the Econolines and Expresses (we have owned probably 50 of those over the years). My vehicles are run hard 5 days a week and most get 20-30k miles a year put on them just for reference.

***make sure you get the coupler recall done like stated above. They will get noisy as the miles go up.

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