Ford Transit Rust?

[CJ]

Hi. We are in the market for a campervan, we might be looking at a converted Ford transit. A friend has told us to avoid a Ford due to rust issues. Is this really a problem and can it be treated? Apologies if there are already other threads on this I haven’t been able to find them. Many thanks Carolyn

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

We collected this yesterday and delivered to its owner, it was mint I did ask to take photos there's a little more to do but was looking very nice.

By the way it is automatic.

 

[Gromett]

Hi. We are in the market for a campervan, we might be looking at a converted Ford transit. A friend has told us to avoid a Ford due to rust issues. Is this really a problem and can it be treated? Apologies if there are already other threads on this I haven’t been able to find them. Many thanks Carolyn

I personally avoid Ford and Merc due to their eagerness to rust and speed at which they do it.

 

[CJ]

Thanks for the reply. We were worried so I think you have confirmed. Thanks

 

[grasscutter]

I had a Hobby coachbuilt 2010 on a transit and Had the wheel arches replaced in 2018 and then again in 2020 + inner wings. Cost 2k.
It had lived by the coast for a few years.

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[Garfields]

Really depends on the life they have led
Any make you need to give them a good look over and underneath.
If they have got to the stage of needing or had welding you will be chasing it for ever more.

 

[Mzracer]

Hi. We are in the market for a campervan, we might be looking at a converted Ford transit. A friend has told us to avoid a Ford due to rust issues. Is this really a problem and can it be treated? Apologies if there are already other threads on this I haven’t been able to find them. Many thanks Carolyn

Carolyn

To be honest it is more to do with how the vehicle is looked after, there is no magic any more on who makes vehicles that don't rust, all these commercial vehicles are built down to a price and IMO rust at about the same rate.

However if someone takes care of the vehicle and washes out wheel arches etc then this makes a huge difference to rusting.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

If you look at the builders and delivery vans, you'll see which ones tend to rust and which don't.

VW and Fiat/Citroen/Peugeot seem to fare better than most.

 

[Gromett]

Agree with Tigger-Tim

In the smaller vans, vivaro/trafic also seem to be fairly resilient.


If I was forced to get a Ford Transit. I would be looking to get one as close to new as possible. Then I would Fluid Film/Lanoguard it within an inch of it's life and top it up every year.
I would avoid driving around the times the roads are salted or if I did I would rinse out the wheel wells and underneath. The second I get a stone chip in the wings or bonnet I would be on it.

But. Thankfully no one will ever force me to have a Transit Phew

 

[CJ]

I had a Hobby coachbuilt 2010 on a transit and Had the wheel arches replaced in 2018 and then again in 2020 + inner wings. Cost 2k.
It had lived by the coast for a few years.

Thank you really helpful to know

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[CJ]

Agree with Tigger-Tim

In the smaller vans, vivaro/trafic also seem to be fairly resilient.


If I was forced to get a Ford Transit. I would be looking to get one as close to new as possible. Then I would Fluid Film/Lanoguard it within an inch of it's life and top it up every year.
I would avoid driving around the times the roads are salted or if I did I would rinse out the wheel wells and underneath. The second I get a stone chip in the wings or bonnet I would be on it.

But. Thankfully no one will ever force me to have a Transit Phew

Great thank you. The one we might look at is very new and your advice on protecting it is really useful. Thanks

 

[CJ]

Carolyn

To be honest it is more to do with how the vehicle is looked after, there is no magic any more on who makes vehicles that don't rust, all these commercial vehicles are built down to a price and IMO rust at about the same rate.

However if someone takes care of the vehicle and washes out wheel arches etc then this makes a huge difference to rusting.

Useful advice about making sure the vehicle is kept clean - although I might delegate this one!

 

[mitzimad]

Carolyn

To be honest it is more to do with how the vehicle is looked after, there is no magic any more on who makes vehicles that don't rust, all these commercial vehicles are built down to a price and IMO rust at about the same rate.

However if someone takes care of the vehicle and washes out wheel arches etc then this makes a huge difference to rusting.

that isnt correct some vehicles are better proofed against rust x250s are galvanised bodies and seldom rust

 

[Mzracer]

that isnt correct some vehicles are better proofed against rust x250s are galvanised bodies and seldom rust

All the bits of my X250 are cut away so difficult to see if it is galvanised.

Galvanised shells are better at resisting rust Porsche are a good case of this.

 

[Gromett]

If you do go down the Transit route. I believe there are plastic liners in the wheel arches. These should be regularly removed and the metal behind inspected. Look up the suspension strut tunnel. Unscrew the cab step plastic liners. Those rot under there.
Have a damn good inspection under the front radiator mounts and that area. Then spend a bit of time underneath.

I could say the same about most vans, but I have seen the wheel arch and cab step both rot out on multiple transits and mercs.

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[chatteris]

my 2007 citroen relay x250 work van will need welding again this year think it was 2008 they started galvanising them

 

[Zains Pops]

I have a mk7 based Transit 2008 so now 15 yrs old (my god time flies by)
it has no rust and has not been especially rust treated.
Equally though it has not been used much in winter so no running on salted roads.
So I’d happily have another Transit based Van providing I knew it’s full history

 

[The Wino]

Our almost 10 year old transit has no sign of any rust that I've seen. I think most cars have very different rates of rusting for the same model. Builders vans are not treated with any care so it's hardly surprising they tend to rust