The van is the marque’s heaviest-ever model, according to Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe.
“We listened to our converter partners and their customers who need this extra capability for their businesses, whether it’s a tipper, an ambulance or larger minicoach. The 5.0-tonne Transit’s durable design and flexibility make it an ideal choice whatever their speciality.”
The 5.0-tonne option is available across a range of Transit chassis cab variants, in three wheelbases, four frame lengths, and single- or double-cabs with seating for up to seven occupants (including driver). Maximum chassis cab load capacity is 2,886kg (assuming 75kg driver) for body conversion and payload, which equates to up to 2,558kg net payload when equipped with a factory-fitted flatbed body.
The higher GVM rating and optional 10-speed automatic gearbox provide potential for the 5.0-tonne Transit single chassis cab to be used in emergency response applications such as box body ambulances and police riot or command/control vehicles, according to the carmaker. The chassis cab range is also said to suit conversion to minicoaches and high-capacity wheelchair accessible transport, where the increased payload and newly-uprated axle weights reduce the risk of overloaded vehicles in service.
The 5.0-tonne Transit is also available as Ford’s L4 high roof “Jumbo” van, with up to 2,383kg net payload, 15.1m3 load volume and enough floor space to carry five Euro pallets of cargo. New reinforced bodysides support durability when carrying heavier cargo; the existing flat load floor, tiedown points, integrated rear bumper step and 4,217mm load length are carried over to facilitate loading and carrying standard-length items such as pipe or board. Transit panel van is also suitable for heavier conversions including police vans, welfare vans and construction vehicles.
All 5.0-tonne Transit variants are rear-wheel drive for optimum traction when fully laden, and fitted with Ford’s HDT powertrain for optimum durability, performance and fuel efficiency. Ford’s 167bhp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine produces up to 390Nm of torque to help moving heavy loads, and is coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox or Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission.
The greater number of gear ratios in the 10-speed automatic means the Transit’s EcoBlue engine can consistently operate more closely to its peak efficiency and deliver a more responsive driving experience. Real-time adaptive shift scheduling allows the transmission to adapt to changing conditions, enabling the optimum gear selection for performance, fuel efficiency or refinement in any driving scenario.
The increased payload of the 5.0-tonne Transit demands uprated mechanicals to deliver extra capability while maintaining ease of maintenance and operation. The chassis features upgraded hub assemblies, wheels and wider 205mm rear tyres, as well as new uprated brakes on the rear axle. Panel vans also benefit from reinforced upper body structures and ancillaries to support greater cargo weights.
In addition, 5.0-tonne Transit introduces to Europe for the first time an uprated 3,500kg rear axle that has already proven its robustness and durability in North American Transit models. If specified with the 10-speed automatic gearbox, a new 2,100kg front axle is also fitted, which offers an additional 225kg load capacity over the standard version.