Panel vans, best room for the driver?

[sjc]

Starting to do some homework for a mid size panel van ( transit/ vivaro/ vito etc) and as nowadays they all come with a bulkhead,I simply can't get comfortable in any I've tried. It's due to the bulkhead, and hence the seat and backrest not going far enough back, as I'm 6'3" and all in the legs ( no, that's not a lonely hearts advert). I'm also thinking of an auto to at least give my arthritic left ankle a rest.
So, any ideas, for the roomiest,( for the driver) quietest,automatic panel van please ?
Mods please leave it here for a little while as the commercial section is so quiet.

Edited by sjc on Friday 28th July 08:24

[ChocolateFrog]

Can only comment on Transporters which will likely be no good, I'm 6' 1" and had the seat up against the bulkhead before I removed it.

[sjc]

ChocolateFrog said:

Can only comment on Transporters which will likely be no good, I'm 6' 1" and had the seat up against the bulkhead before I removed it.

Cheers, agreed , sat in the new one yesterday and it was very cramped .

[530dTPhil]

We run a couple of hundred Movano vans and they seem to accommodate all size and shapes of driver with no complaints.

[Poisson96]

Go round and put bum on seats, start with one you fancy the most and work rojnd them all

[sjc]

Poisson96 said:

Go round and put bum on seats, start with one you fancy the most and work rojnd them all

That's what I've been doing, hence my post as I'm struggling.

[AdamIndy]

Have you tried the VW crafter? I've spent a lot time in one and it's quite roomy.

Bigger than a transporter or Vito I know but maybe worth a look.

[carpmaster]

I'm 6ft fairly stocky and have to put the seat forward a fair few notches in my Ford Transit Custom. I'd imagine you'd fit fine with the seat all the way back. Just check insurance quotes before buying one though. They are getting broken into at a ridiculous rate. I'm probably going to ditch the brand unless Ford can sort it out with the next facelift / revision.

[Spx]

VW Crafter has a large cab.

[kev b]

I borrowed a hightop Peugeot, the largest one, cant recall the name but, it had plenty of room for my scrawny 5'10" but when I set the seat height comfortably it was impossible to reach the handbrake situated to your right. This was tricky for hill starts so comfort had to be compromised, very odd.

I find the latest Transit seat has only just enough rearward movement for me and the pedals not as well positioned as Vivaro/Trafic, however I would never buy a Vivaro with my own money as they are way too unreliable.

A good long test drive is needed as what seems comfy at first can change after an hours journey.

[sjc]

Cheers for the replies so far.
Transit and transporter I simply couldn't get the backrest back far enough.
Vivaro seemed a tad better but not much.
Citroen thingy felt like it was made of tom foil and had the least room of all.

[alorotom]

What about removing the bulkhead panel, they only bolt in??

[alec.e]

Transit Custom, I am 6ft 5, seat all the way back though, but not uncomfortable

[Loyly]

I'm six foot and drive Vivaros at work. Even with the seat all the way back, I need to click the height adjuster down a few notches to sit comfortably, and even then the dash is still pretty close to my left leg. Overall, it's comfortable enough round the doors when you're changing gear a lot but if you're doing a long slog in sixth there is nowhere to put your left leg, if you like a footplate.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Don't bother with a vito, cramped as hell.

[VEX]

The vito is however lovely in crewvan spec!

i picked up the extra-long with the bulkhead fitted between the rear seats and rear storage,collected it in March, it makes it a great crewvan and family day van in one.

V.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Good shout, a 120 dualliner auto would do the trick if you can work with the tiny load area.
Mind you any dualliner should give more leg room at the expense of shortened load area, and the risk of getting done for an insecure load of you carry stuff on the back seats, but with the added benefit of car speed limits instead of van ones in an nsl.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Sunday 30th July 22:04

[VEX]

This generation isnt called Dualliner this time, just a crewcab.

Dualliner confused to many people from what I have been told.

Rear Seats can be completely removed as well but if you dont spec the bulkhead you get the full V-Class/Minibuss headlining throughout.

I needed security as well as no headliner in the van bit, hence the bulkhead