Boomerweps

2016 XLT SWB. Did you option the aircraft rear seat storage bins? Because my 2014 sales brochure shows them, my 2014 XLT SWB did NOT come with that, nor did my 2017 XLT LWB. I think the 2017 sales brochure shows the bins standard in the Titanium trim IF you don't have the sunroof.

I downloaded the Ford 2017 TC sales brochure and it lists the items in my post. Yes, the rain sensing wipers require the auto headlights. Non auto dimming mirrors have the flip toggle on the bottom middle. On our 2014 TC, my wife usually just left the headlights on. The battery power saving feature shut them off shortly after the TC was turned off anyways. Not true auto headlight s but close. And as I complained in another post, you don't get a roof rack, you get roof rails. For the roof rack option you pay $200. To buy the crossbars to make the rack useable, that's $500+. The 2017 XLT LWB was only a gain of length and seats to me. The loss of some options & features I had and added cargo height were offset by the new features, so it basically evened out.

I'm thinking a simple & lightweight loading enhancement. So just the plywood. Also any framing would take away cargo height, something the seats already do, 5-6" worth compared to the floor on the SWB or cargo TC versions. Still want to be able to easily roll items in and out as much as possible. At least it will only take one sheet of plywood, whenever I get 'round to it.

A couple years ago I found these stick on pads at a discount store Ollies. They stick to the dash and have a sticky top to set your cell phone on. We use it to hold other things, too. But, what I found was I placed it on the flat space in front on the radio screen and I can easily pop (gently force fit) my iPhone 6 for horizontal viewing into the eyebrow space for use as a veiwable GPS. The sticky pad holds it in place and I squeeze it in into a nearly flat vertical position. It does block the radio panel view. I only keep it there for viewing the gps when needed or when I am playing audio from my phone. The iPhone is in a Pelican case. I left the plastic film on the sticky pad for now. Yes, I am a carpeted big dash kinda guy

Do you have pics of how the cross bars mount? I'm interested in non Ford priced crossbars for my 2017.

I feel MUCH better now! Got the TC titled and registered in PA, wife's DP plate mounted. Feels like it's my vehicle now. Notary pointed out the OH title issue date was 20 May. Bought on 8 May. Installed the four net mount buttons (eBay China, like $3 shipped) in the back to help keep things in with the doors open. Had the net from other vehicles. Installed a few other personal touches. A new white Vets Honor Guard sticker on the rear door panel, a new silver U. S. Navy Retired sticker across the rear window tops, and a new license plate surround that states "I spent the Cold War underwater, Silent Service" . The latter two items were eBay bargains. You can get the Retired sticker in many sizes and colors. I figured 1.5"x18" worked best on the windows and got it in silver to match my silver wind fins on the roof (other call them roof rack rails) of my black TC. Set up an appointment to have the AC checked next Tuesday. Salesman tried to tell me how to properly operate the AC when using Max AC mode I guess three years experience on a 2014 TC that I traded in does not count. Going to wait on the Hitch receiver and wiring install till after the dealer visit. My sincere hope is that I won't have to make that 2 hour drive again after the AC appointment.

Yup, 22 days to get the paperwork. Notary here says should have taken about a week, worse case 10 days from that state with their systems. Appointments made with notary for titling and registration and a mechanic for state inspection. If he finds something wrong, corporate Ford will be made aware of my customer dis-satisfaction. Now on a hour drive to our oldest daughters place, find out the AC does not work. Max AC to the feet, should have had freezing legs in five minutes or less, outside temp 75F. Could not tell if the air out the dash vents was any colder than opening the windows. I have a 2 hour interstate drive to the dealers to get them to fix it because it's a delivery problem. What ever happened to Job One? And the dealer mega point inspection? Too busy a personal schedule this week, have to schedule the dealer visit for next week and take a day off to do it ;(

Got the paperwork finally and trying to schedule some notary time. Huge bonus with two grandkids and three row seating. We have the passenger side 2nd row seat folded down and the third row up. Vice versa on the driver's side. So one kid has to sit on the driver's side 2nd row and the other passenger side third row. Works GREAT to keep them from bugging each other (brother 10 & sister 6). Only thing now, they fight over who gets to ride in the far back

I'm 6'2" & the wife is a shrinking 5'10". The SWB 2014 was not good for the two of us sleeping together in it. I like to stretch out. Yes, I was quite happy with the sports car handling of the SWB, just wanted more for the growing grandkids and luggage space on trips. Looking at picking up a full size blowup bed for the LWB, it will just squeeze a little crossways. Also, getting nylon screening to make net bags to go over the large doors to allow the windows to be left open for ventilation without bugs.

Nicely done. Looks like a furniture kit from IKEA

After my sound system haul, I've had a few thoughts. Dangerous, I know I won't be removing my seats but I think cutting a quarter inch 4x8 panel and laying it over the seat backs would add a little strength, protect the seat backings, and let me use wheeled storage boxes easier. So, anybody make a portable platform on the LWB seatbacks? And if so, any detailed measurements or diagrams available for the lazy? I might make it in two sections for ease of handling & use when only the back section is down.

Gig over. Fully packed the Transit Connect LWB, all speakers upright, all floor space taken up but nothing stacked so no load shifting concerns. In the SWB I had, I would have had to stack the footlockers and some gear racks to fit everything. Even though the footlockers and racks are made to interlock together somewhat, our town's roads are starting to emulate Beirut! Hence my load shifting concerns. Thinking more about cutting a thin load floor out of Luan to save the flip and fold seat backings and to add wheels to some of the heavier gear. Not too heavy lifting, but heavy awkward for moving around once in the TC.

Tried going in via the fleet manual reference and got the same result. No link for actual download. Try to save as a PDF to my iBooks. Saves the 3 page index. Doesn't work for me.

I'll try it again. That worked for my 2014, but the 2017 shows up as an online accessible manual where each page loads separately. I'll also try what Beta Don mentioned above.

Yes, I have a paper Owner's Manual I keep in the vehicle. But I like having an easily accessed manual on my iPad so I don't have to run out to the TC when I have a question. When wifi is available I can access the manual, but it's navigation is a little clumsy. Or on my phone to get maintenance part numbers at the auto parts store when driving a different vehicle.

Update. First gig Friday using the new TC LWB for my sound gear. NO decent loading area for my carts so I'll just have unload them into the TC. Then lift the gear onto a 4 foot platform and carry the stuff in, only a 20 foot carry Going to take my time on the TC loading to get a good stable pack. My previous plan was to load the cart using my portable ramp and put the cable boxes behind them for a snug pack. That's out the window since one of my two carts handles are too tall for the LWB with the seats folded down, plus too many steps to move over at this venue. I did ask She Who Must Be Obeyed if she minded me taking her brand new primary vehicle for the gig. She said, "Why not? You're the one making the payments." I'll have to investigate shortening the handles on my larger cart to fit the new TC. Can't buy them, the other model's frame widths are narrower.

Anybody notice Ford replaced the fold forward "desk" plastic passenger seat back in the XLT LWB with a cloth back with a pocket? XL model apparently still has the fold down seat. I liked it in my 2014 for hauling 2x4s. Roof rails standard, but not the crossbars needed to haul ANYTHING on the roof. Rear parking sensors standard. Heated outside power mirrors standard. Auto dimming rear view mirror. Automatic headlights. Rain sensing wipers that automatically turn on the headlights.

I've had 8 vehicles with hatches. Banged my head on them all ;( Also had to replace struts on a couple. The benefit of standing under the hatch in the rain is minimal for me. I still sometimes have groceries fall out the back of my current Explorer when I open the hatch. Barn doors were one of the big attractions for me to the TC. I like being able to open just one side and stuff things in. Less space needed behind the TC to open the dual doors up compared to the hatch. IF you carry a ladder or lumber on the roof, barn doors open easy, not so much for the hatch. The blockage of vision in the middle does take some time to get used to. But with the rear view camera and side mirrors, it has no affect on backing up. I traveled 2&1/2 hours away in another state to get a TC XLT LWB with the dual rear doors, I wanted them that much.

With the 2014, the roof rails and crossbars were an option costing about $400 but to buy that separate cost $1000! And you have to pull down the headliner to install the rails. Spent an hour or so yesterday going over Rack sites. I can save about $50 buying the Ford bars from a mopar site or save $30 and get the aero Thule bars vice the round stock ones. Still, in the $500 range. Think I'll wait a while on the bars. I do have a hitchhauler once I put the Hitch on. Just waiting on some paperwork so I can title the TC in my state before I add it.

Just searched and found the roof rails are standard now on the XLT wagons. The cross bars are a $195 factory option. When I checked, Ford accessory store has them at $495 or so. The Sync was also standard with the XLT. Is Flex Fuel now standard?

Just got in a Curt Hitch receiver and wiring harness via eBay. Looking forward to installing them.

Watched a Utube on the wiring install. It shows the bulk of the install to be on the driver's side and shows a grommet to use to pass the main power line through. It also shows to leave the trailer connector cable in the driver's side rear panel by the jack and pull it out under the back door to use. I think I'll just go that route for the trailer connector. But I'll likely use the main power from the access point mentioned above.

I saw them, too. The ones I saw had a bottom clamp that goes around an exposed rail. The rails on the TC are solid and the factory bars must clamp by grabbing the inside lip on the rails. Think I'm going to cause a fuss at the dealers at my followup visit about the crossbars. Good news. I received my Curt Hitch receiver today. Wiring harness due in mid week. Great installation videos on Utube for both.

After coming across the Ford Transit courier in Utube video comparisons, I decided to check out other videos on them. They look like great mini, mini van. Love the 1/3, 2/3 rear cargo doors and interior cargo cage deluxe version with fold down passenger seat. Sadly, it appears liftgate hatch only in the passenger version :). Ford, bring these to the US! Especially with the 68mpg baby diesel.

Much as I liked my SWB XLT, we decided we wanted the LWB and finally found one 2.5 hours away with most of the features we wanted. Had to be barn doors. Other than the length, only thing we gained were the newer standard XLT features, heated outside mirrors, power driver's seat, rear parking assist. Had non listed roof rails. Only added options were flex fuel and sync. Lost towing package and SiriusXM from previous SWB. So now I have review the towing package threads before ordering a hitch and wiring harness. Also lost about 5-6" of load height but gained the extra seats to keep the grandkids apart