2021 Transit 5-Ton Is Ford’s Strongest Van Ever

Ford has introduced a new derivative of the latest Transit, the 5-ton, which will arrive at dealers across the UK in November.

Available as a panel van or chassis cab, with single or double cabs, three wheelbase and four frame lengths and offering seating for up to seven occupants, including the driver, it has a GVM (gross vehicle mass) rated at 5,000 kg (11,023 lbs).

Boasting a net payload of 2,558 kg (5,639 lbs) on the factory fitted flatbed, the single chassis cab variants can be turned into ambulances and police riot or command and control vehicles. They can also become minicoaches with 19 seats or more and high-capacity wheelchair accessible vehicles, as the increased payload and new axle weights reduce the risk of overloading.

In the panel van configuration, the Transit 5-ton offers a net payload of 2,383 kg (5,254 lbs). The high roof variant has a 15.1-cubic-meter (533 cu-ft) load volume and can haul five Euro pallets. The reinforced body sides support durability when carrying heavy cargo, and the 4,217 mm (166 in) load length, flat load floor, integrated rear bumper step and tie-down points carry over. The panel van is also suitable for police, welfare or construction conversions.

All versions of the Transit 5-ton are rear-wheel drive and pack the 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel that develops 170 PS (168 HP / 125 kW) and 390 Nm (288 lb-ft) of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is offered as standard, but customers can order it with the optional 10-speed auto as well.

With the increased payload, the 5-ton Transit features the uprated 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) rear axle, which arrived in Europe after proving its robustness in North America. The 2,100 kg (4,630 lbs) front axle, which increases the load capacity by 225 kg (496 lbs) over the standard version, is specified with the 10-speed automatic transmission, while other technical upgrades include the new rear brakes, hub assemblies, wheels and wider 205 mm rear tires.