2023 Ford Transit Path: An Off-Roader for Vanlifers

• The 2023 Ford Transit Path begins at $65,975, plus $1,795 in supply charges.
• It provides off-road functionality to the usual Transit and simple customization due to pre-drillable areas for widespread upgrades.

Vanlife resides full- or part-time in a van, touring the nation, and having fun with the websites. It’s a alternative extra People are making, and it facilities round, effectively, vans. However the corporations that construct vans haven’t executed a lot to serve the vanlife crowd.

Ford is out to alter that. For the 2023 mannequin 12 months, the automaker will produce an off-road-oriented model of its Transit cargo van, with inside modifications to simplify customization. Meet the 2023 Ford Transit Path.

Vanlifers Are a Rising Market

In response to a U.S. Census Bureau report from 2019, about 140,000 People reside full-time in vans, leisure autos, or boats. The determine was up 38% in simply three years.

Vanlifers don’t are likely to drive inventory vans with typical seating. As an alternative, they purchase cargo vans, modify the autos themselves, or pay aftermarket outlets to do it for them. Frequent modifications to the inside embody beds, tiny kitchens, and storage cubbies in each nook and cranny. Frequent mechanical modifications embody raise kits and all-terrain tires to assist them get a van meant for cruising city supply routes to conquering rural roads and trails.

Off-Highway Prepared

Ford affords the 2023 Transit Path in three configurations — medium-roof, high-roof, and extended-length high-roof.

All use a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine placing out 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque mated to a 10-speed automated transmission, a powertrain already obtainable on the 2023 Transit.

What adjustments with the Transit Path? Normal all-wheel drive (AWD) with 5 selectable drive modes, together with Regular, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul, and Slippery. The Transit Path additionally rides on new rubber — 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires. It sits 3.5 inches greater than the usual Transit for considerably improved floor clearance.

These modifications ought to make the Transit Path a much more succesful off-roader than the unimproved Transit cargo van. A 25-gallon gasoline tank comes customary, however patrons can improve to a 31-gallon mannequin for longer journeys into the bush.

A black grille contains customary marker lamps and black plastic physique cladding across the wheel arches, which ought to disguise scratches from the comb. The Transit Path doesn’t have skid plates to guard the undercarriage — don’t take these trails too recklessly — however does have a “skid plate-style entrance bumper,” Ford says.

Able to Rework

Inside, Ford restricted the upgrades on the speculation that vanlifers need flexibility.

The Transit Path does include overhead storage and driver and passenger seats that may swivel to face the rear.

In any other case, customizing the cabin to really feel extra like house is as much as you. To make customization simpler, Ford has positioned drillable panels the place cupboards, shelving, beds, and different modifications are prone to go.

An non-compulsory Upfitter Bundle provides extra auxiliary energy retailers and an exterior gentle bar. It additionally contains high-capacity upfitter switches, a bigger heart console, an auxiliary fuse panel with a high-spec interface connector, twin AGM batteries, and a modified automobile wiring system.

An non-compulsory roof vent fan gives cooling within the… uh… front room?

Ford Begins a Community of Upfitters

If you happen to don’t plan to customise your van by yourself, Ford has assembled its personal Ford Professional community of upfitters and installers licensed to do the work. You will discover a store close to you at fordupfits.com.

The Transit Path is one thing we don’t usually encounter — a completely new sort of auto from a serious producer. We’d like to let you know what to check it to, however vans just like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Ram ProMaster don’t provide pre-fit vanlife packages. Vanlifers routinely make do with them, anyway. However Ford could also be onto one thing by providing them a platform for creativity.