Meet Loraine, Queen of the Mountains

[Les Izmore]

Our new tow vehicle, a 2015 Ford Transit Connect XLT with long wheelbase and turbocharged engine. The low RPM torque on the tiny 1.6l engine in phenomenal! Cruise control worked flawlessly through the Blue Mountains - something that wouldn't work with our Miatas, our Nissan Frontier (with supercharged v6) or our CX-5.

Posing for our pre-adventure photo. The whole team: Loraine (the van), Steve, Lana, #531 (our camper) and Alea.

 

[PlasticsMan]

So what's the TC's rated towing capacity?

I first saw the TC in 2009 while in England and thought they were a great looking little van. Over there they had diesel engines which is usually better for towing (low end torque). I don't think Ford offers it here in the states with a diesel. It sounds like the turbocharged 1.6L handles a TD just fine...

 

[rgupnorth]

Quite the rig -

 

[Les Izmore]

The TC has a total rated payload capacity of 3,700 lbs, both with the 2.5l standard and the 1.6l ecoboost engines. That is split between 2,000 lbs towing and 1,700 lbs cargo payload. We figure we're at about 60% of both figures.

We have a drawer pedestal mounted in front of the curbside door that takes up the entire door width (long wheelbase model). With that in place, we still have room to store our camp chairs and table, Yamaha generator, 3 gallon Igloo water cooler, REI Alcove, bug shelter, dog shelter, tire pump, dog bed, luggable loo, an organizer for 6 pairs of shoes, THREE bicycles (without having to take off the front wheels), and there's still room for more. It's pretty awesome for full timing in a teardrop.

http://tagteambike.blogspot.com/2015/08/day-6-our-first-impressions-of-loraine.html