Transit 4x4

[Barney]

The company i work for is apparently getting a 4x4 4.2t crew cab transit, anyone got any info at all on one of these? Didn't think they existed and can't find anything on google. Thanks.

[Tom D]

They do exist but they are £4k on top of the base price.

http://www.tnn.co.uk/Manufacturers/plonearticle.2006-09-21.6215421630

[PeteB]

I ran one with live axles front and back. It was a county conversion which I was told cost upto 10k more than the standard truck. Later versions had IFS with reduced ground clearance due to the crash cage and mounting around the front diff. All IFS versions I saw were a single wheel axle and most were with the likes of East Midlands Electricity, STWA, EA etc. Mine was useful off road to a degree but on-road was a trifle noisy, thirsty and it ate front tyres. Iveco do a 4x4 version as do Merc and I beleive VW.

[log supplier]

i havnt seen a new 4x4 transit yet, but on my rounds iv seen a brand new single wheel transit tipper, looked funny as it was short and stumpy with pram wheels all round....

[Barney]

Thanks guys

[Tree cutter Stu]

i have a 4x4 transit tipper double wheel tipper on a m reg i will post a few pics tomorrow

[County4x4]

There have been a LOT of problems with the new all wheel drive system on the Mk7 Transit by all accounts. It's one of these "clever" systems that senses what's happening at each wheel and adjusts itself automatically without the driver having any input. To be honest - I'd prefer to be in charge of it myself! The set up on this model is not really aimed at serious off roading as ground clearance is just the same as a standard van.

 

I run a Mk5 County with IFS, and have no complaints at all really. It's low geared so will never be a flying machine, and fuel consumption with the naturally aspirated 2.5 is a bit higher than for a "normal" van - but not excessive - only a matter of a few mpg difference. I get just under 400 miles to a tankful using 25ml of acetone per tank. Consumption would be better with a turbo and it would help performance too - the N/A 2.5 is only 76PS after all, so not a lot of grunt there. I have a 100PS turbo van which I may take the engine out of for the County.

 

No problems at all with tyre wear or noise - and that's on fairly cheap AT tyres. Obviously with a very aggressive tyre noise and wear could be greater. Approach and departure angles are very good - especially without the dirty great Ramsey winch living under the back end! It's nice to drive on the road too - I was expecting a lot more roll in bends but it feels very stable and rolls very little to be honest.

 

I've also had a Mk3 County which was a lot more agricultural feeling than the Mk5 - that was on beam axles front and rear, and no power steering either - but it did have an overdrive gearbox so was a bit better on the motorway! Again - once you got used to the steering it was quite nice to drive.

 

The County conversions were an expensive do - the Mk5 basic conversion was around £12.5k on top of the cost of the van - the winch added another 2.5k. County converted Mks 2, 3, 4 and 5, but never the Mk6.

 

As for other versions - Iveco tends to be very pricey when anything goes wrong, and the Merc Sprinter is fairly well known for falling over in standard form - never mind with raised ground clearance!

 

Andy

[Mr Ed]

I had a mk5 county transit, SWB van with the turbo engine and IFS. Was superb offroad, easy onroad, slightly thirsty and generaly brilliant compared to a Landrover. Wish I'd never sold it.

Only problem was after 2 long runs up to Scotland, it cracked the bellhousing on the gearbox. Had to have a new gearbox casing, which was a labour intensive job for my fitter. few months later, after a trip to cornwall and back, it cracked in exactly the same place. I think that they are quite prone to vibration from the transfer box. SHame really as apart from that, they are superb.

[Mike Hill]

What manufacture Diffs and transfer box did they have in them?I'm just curious as I have only seen one Transit 4X4.

[Mr Ed]

Mine had a Dana.