What would you do?
Discussion
A week or so back I took delivery of a new Transit Custom and all has been well. It's very nice to drive and has all modcons. I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed it until today, when I put 5 8'x 4' sheets of ply in the back. THEY DON'T FIT, they protrude best part of 100mm beyond the door seal. Shifting the whole lot diagonally was all I could do, but ordinarily the floor space would be covered in toolboxes etc. My last Transit and all other vans I've owned took the boards stood on their side straight along one side of the back. This is a quote from their website:
Outstanding load space and access
The Transit Custom’s loadspace is impressive in all three dimensions: load length, width (from wheel arch to wheel arch) and usable interior height. As a result, it can easily carry standard 8’ x 4’ boards placed on their side or flat on the floor, three euro pallets and, thanks to its unique load-through storage area, items up to 3m long. Overall, the van provides a cavernous six cubic metres of loadspace with a bulkhead fitted – and that’s just the short wheelbase (L1) version.
Ambiguous? They didn't say 'how' the boards fitted in. For all I know they were turned into sawdust first and bagged up!
So what would you do? I have emailed the guy who sold it to me and said I might return the vehicle. Can I do that?
Outstanding load space and access
The Transit Custom’s loadspace is impressive in all three dimensions: load length, width (from wheel arch to wheel arch) and usable interior height. As a result, it can easily carry standard 8’ x 4’ boards placed on their side or flat on the floor, three euro pallets and, thanks to its unique load-through storage area, items up to 3m long. Overall, the van provides a cavernous six cubic metres of loadspace with a bulkhead fitted – and that’s just the short wheelbase (L1) version.
Ambiguous? They didn't say 'how' the boards fitted in. For all I know they were turned into sawdust first and bagged up!
So what would you do? I have emailed the guy who sold it to me and said I might return the vehicle. Can I do that?
I may be being daft here but it says 'flat on the floor or on it's side' for fitting 8x4 sheet in, so if it doesn't fit then it's false advertising.
It seems a pretty major error or risk for a company like Ford... before you go in all guns blazing are you absolutely sure you've done it right OP? I.e. Is it actually 8x4 you've got or have you accidentally ended up with something bigger? Also hasn't it got some sort of loading system that goes under the seats to extend the load bay?
It seems a pretty major error or risk for a company like Ford... before you go in all guns blazing are you absolutely sure you've done it right OP? I.e. Is it actually 8x4 you've got or have you accidentally ended up with something bigger? Also hasn't it got some sort of loading system that goes under the seats to extend the load bay?
It's a good point, these boards come in metric sizes, 2440 x 1220mm. But that converts to 1/16in more than 8ft'. As they are only 9mm thick I've managed to bend them a bit, but they're nowhere near to being flat and upright to fit in. I'd be interested to hear from any others who might run a late Transit.
Seriously, in my book the Transit is THE benchmark for vans and I can't believe Ford have produced one that doesn't hold a standard sheet material size.
Seriously, in my book the Transit is THE benchmark for vans and I can't believe Ford have produced one that doesn't hold a standard sheet material size.
I think I'd be getting in touch with Ford UK or the supplier/dealership right away. It's advertised as being able to do a job it can't, surely you have ammunition to reject the vehicle in that regard. Seems like a rather large and potentially very embarrassing oversight on the part of Ford.
A quick check shows that it has been discussed already on the transit forums
http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&am...
consensus seem to be that 8x4 will fit flat on the floor, but wont on side due to bulkhead shape.
http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&am...
consensus seem to be that 8x4 will fit flat on the floor, but wont on side due to bulkhead shape.
Bet they fit without the Bulkhead. The wording is ambiguous as the claim about the 8x4 is made before mention of the bulkhead, after the bulkhead is mentioned they claim square metre-age not length.
However i do agree its a bit s*** bearing in mind who the vans are aimed at, ive always thought the business of laying sheet materials on the floor is unrealistic as every trade has other tool boxes etc as well as materials. My lads T5 with a bulkhead will only take sheets at an angle, his mates without takes them straight. Was the same in my Vivaro IIRC.
However i do agree its a bit s*** bearing in mind who the vans are aimed at, ive always thought the business of laying sheet materials on the floor is unrealistic as every trade has other tool boxes etc as well as materials. My lads T5 with a bulkhead will only take sheets at an angle, his mates without takes them straight. Was the same in my Vivaro IIRC.
You may find that like the Trafic, the upper part of the bulkhead protrudes into the load space so therefore you can only fit 8'x4' board is either flat or angled, TBH I would say that your are stuffed; it is clear that the boards do fit, they just don't fit how you want them to, you should have measured up properly and perhaps gone for the LWB.
Had a guy in a few weeks ago measuring up the new Trafic, he said that whilst the Trafic will take an 8'x4' board flat on the floor, the Transit will take more stacked up on top of each other as the bulkhead protrusion into the load area is higher than in the Trafic; he was taking measurements to reflect how he would be carrying the boards.
Had a guy in a few weeks ago measuring up the new Trafic, he said that whilst the Trafic will take an 8'x4' board flat on the floor, the Transit will take more stacked up on top of each other as the bulkhead protrusion into the load area is higher than in the Trafic; he was taking measurements to reflect how he would be carrying the boards.
Though this is no excuse for my assumptions, 8x4's did fit, on their side, straight along one side in the previous Transit that I bought in 2010. The only reason to lay boards flat on the floor is if you are a delivery vehicle driver and I can't imagine a company that supplies building materials are going to buy a swb Transit. This is just a major step backward for Ford in my opinion. What on earth were they thinking?
There are no fancy modcons that I have that would make a difference to the bulkhead position either. I've emailed the salesman and will see what comes back.
There are no fancy modcons that I have that would make a difference to the bulkhead position either. I've emailed the salesman and will see what comes back.
HTP99 said:
You may find that like the Trafic, the upper part of the bulkhead protrudes into the load space so therefore you can only fit 8'x4' board is either flat or angled, TBH I would say that your are stuffed; it is clear that the boards do fit, they just don't fit how you want them to, you should have measured up properly and perhaps gone for the LWB.
Had a guy in a few weeks ago measuring up the new Trafic, he said that whilst the Trafic will take an 8'x4' board flat on the floor, the Transit will take more stacked up on top of each other as the bulkhead protrusion into the load area is higher than in the Trafic; he was taking measurements to reflect how he would be carrying the boards.
This is all well and good, and I've been there before when buying vans. However, why would I for one minute think that going from a 2010 Transit to a 2014, Ford would have made the length shorter? Especially as the description I posted from their website states 8x4's fit on their side. We are talking about the single most important part of a tradesman's vehicle and I think Ford have been deceitful in their description.Had a guy in a few weeks ago measuring up the new Trafic, he said that whilst the Trafic will take an 8'x4' board flat on the floor, the Transit will take more stacked up on top of each other as the bulkhead protrusion into the load area is higher than in the Trafic; he was taking measurements to reflect how he would be carrying the boards.
Alucidnation said:
ArsE92 said:
Alucidnation said:
Did you not measure the van before you bought it to make sure, rather than rely on sales blurb?
This.I don't buy a car without measuring the cylindrical capacity myself first.
How many sheets of 8x4 can you fit in yours?
Might help the OP.
Edited by bernhund on Tuesday 9th December 08:08
bernhund said:
Alucidnation said:
ArsE92 said:
Alucidnation said:
Did you not measure the van before you bought it to make sure, rather than rely on sales blurb?
This.I don't buy a car without measuring the cylindrical capacity myself first.
How many sheets of 8x4 can you fit in yours?
Might help the OP.
Anyhoo, have you managed to get a response yet?
Might be worth trying to call or visiting the dealer rather then email.
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