DrummerDan

I've got a 2017 XLT LWB cargo with 18,000 (that's right eighteen thousand) miles on it. I'm on my 4th set of rear brake pads, 2nd set of rotors (the first set of rotors was turned and then replaced with the next brake job. Michigan roads and winters, so you know... but I'm not a hard driver or braker and this isn't a commercially used vehicle. any suggestions I can pass on to my service tech? It's still under (extended) warranty but I've never had a vehicle that required this many brake jobs!

Hauling my 'music stuff' was the entire reason I bought a 2017 LWB. I traded a full size E150 because it was getting to be too much for me to drive around as a personal vehicle. Love this van! Full drum kit, full percussion rig (congas, bongos, chimes, etc.) smallish PA system AND my bass player and his amp. We were a bit cramped but it all fit in nicely! Still using it to haul my drums and/or percussion gear around. Easy to drive, easy to park and, has been mentioned in an earlier post, the sliding side doors and extended open rear barn doors make loading and unloading pretty easy. Definitely Recommended!

I have a 2017 TC XLT LWB cargo. Doesn't have side rails but there are several threaded holes on either side in the rear cargo area. I just put a couple of 3/8" and 1/4" eye bolts in (screwed right in). Between the existing floor D rings and the added eye bolts, I find I've got enough tie-down points (in the rear at least) to hook many different things. Eye bolts aren't expensive and available at most hardware and big box home improvement stores.

Good topic. I've been scratching my head over where and how to mount a two-way radio in my TC and the overhead shelf seems to be about the least objectionable spot. At least to keep most prying eyes away from it. Convenient? Not really, but I'm a musician and often out late at night (and sometimes in somewhat sketchy areas) so 'not obvious' is a real issue. Thanks all!!

Picked up my '17 LWB XLT Cargo Oct 6. So far, LOVE IT! Traded a 2011 E150 'cause it was getting too hard for me to drive. This is GREAT! It holds my drums, PA and my bass player and his gear as well! After looking (hard) at the Nissan NV200/Chevy City Express, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Pacifica and the Mercedes Metris, I gotta say, so far, this was the intelligent choice! I'd joined the forum prior to making my decision because I wanted to see what other owners were doing and saying about their TC's. This forum has been informative and entertaining as well.

Thanks Beta Don and Fifty150. There are several mobility shops in my general area that do good work. However, none of them will touch a Transit Connect built after 2014. I did ask them, and a couple of custom body shops, about converting to a power door, Most of them said they wouldn't even know where to start. Ended up buying something for the wife and her power chair and I'll use the TC for myself

Do you have these items for the 2017 LWB van?

I realize this reply is waaaayyyyy late but.... I've been investigating the TC for wheelchair use as well. Harmar (harmar.com) based in Fla. makes wheelchair lifts that will work for the Connect. A lot depends on the chair and if you wan inside or outside, platform lift or a hoist. For a 2014 TC, the Harmar AL690 will mount in a side door and allows the user to drive their chair onto a platform, hop off and have the chair sucked into the van. Without power doors, it's kind of a drag because you have to stand there until the lift finishes to close the door. Not so good if you have problems standing for several minutes or limited standing ability. Sorry for th delay, but just joined a month or so ago.

In order to make my (soon-to-be) TC more mobility friendly, I want to have the driver's side sliding door converted to a power sliding door. Since this isn't an option on any level of the Transit Connect, can anyone point me to where I might have this conversion done? Preferably in the Great Lakes region? Thanks! Drummerdan