If you're looking to take your family van experience up a notch, we're pretty sure the new 2023 Ford Pro Transit Trail is up for the job. It's an up-fit ready adventure van that you can customize to fit your needs, straight from the factory. And we have to say pictures make van life out on the trail look pretty enticing.
Ford says its decades of experience in the motorhome industry along with insights from its van-life community helped it design the new Transit. It's available in three cargo van configurations - with both medium- and high-roof models along with a high-roof extended-length variant. High-roof models can accommodate those up to tall 6-feet, 5-inches tall. Here's some of its standard features and capabilities:
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that produces 310-horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission
- Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, with five selectable drive modes, including Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul and Slippery
- 3.5-inch increased ride height, a 2.75-inch wider track, 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires, and 16-inch black alloy wheels
Photo credit: Ford.
- Black grille with integrated marker lamps and black HID headlamps, unique skid plate-style front bumper, splash guards, wheel arch cladding, front wheel arch liners, and slider-style driver- and passenger-side steps
- Heavy-Duty Trailer Package with up to 6,500-lb. towing capacity for hauling a boat, four-wheelers, snowmobiles or other adventure toys
- Tech features that enable confidence while on and off the trail with Intelligent Access with push-button start, Blind Spot Assist 1.0, Reverse and Side Sensing systems, Adaptive Cruise Control
- SYNC4 with SiriusXM with 360L, HD Radio and Ford Power-Up software updates, a 12-inch touchscreen, a high-resolution digital camera, and 110-volt, 12-volt and USB outlets
Cargo and Comfort
You'll get the most cargo space for upfitting in the high-roof extended version which provides up to 487 cubic feet of cargo space. Both high-roof variants provide full standing room to people as tall 6-feet, 5-inches. The cargo area floor in the extended-length model stretches more than 14 feet.
Ford says drillable areas are positioned specifically for cabinetry, shelving, a bed and more. The van is designed to give do-it-yourselfers and upfitters plenty of ways to configure the interior to their liking. It also has privacy glass and an optional roof vent fan. Creature comforts include an overhead shelf, illuminated sun visors and driver and passenger swivel seats.
An available Upfitter Package helps travelers power auxiliary accessories such as an exterior light bar and includes high-capacity upfitter switches, a larger center console, an auxiliary fuse panel with a high-spec interface connector, dual AGM batteries and a modified vehicle wiring system.
Ford Pro
Ford says the Transit Trail's chassis is re-tuned and tested to meet the same durability standards as the rest of the Transit lineup. This means it also receives Ford’s 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Transit Trail owners have access to the Ford Pro network of upfitters and interior installers easily accessible on fordupfits.com. They can also access the Ford dealer network of more than 3,000 maintenance and service centers for vehicle upkeep. Plus access to a growing fleet of more than 800 mobile service vans that can come to the rescue in unexpected locations.
The Transit Trail is being assembled at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant. It starts from $65,975.
Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds reviewed the 2019 Ford Transit van with a full Explorer custom conversion package. Explorer is one of the largest van converters in America.
Photo Credit: Ford.