Windsurfing Van

Anyone running the new Ford Custom Tourneo van. Looking for opinions on reliability and practically for windsurfing van. Heaps of seat configurations including total removal giving 3m storage length in back !

Really liked the look of the tourneo, but when ford said no to Australia getting it, that was the end of that. Much to the relief of the ever suffering delica..

I like that Hummer look they have. Not the worst engine (mivec) and they've fixed the issues with earlier models. The price of an oil burner is going to put anyone bar Bronwyn bishop off. (around 60k). But, you're right with the problems about length. If you've got a board rack the sits in the back, you could nudge the boards between the seats along the middle but that's still only going to give you about 10cms at most. A rough average board, or even an average rough one is going to be around 235cms, still too short. Then if you've got a freeride, you can look at about 245-250.
I've looked at Chrysler grand voyager (about 10k more than what it compares with), Kia carnival (again too short), but both of them are on to something with the seats folding down into the floor. Any front wheel drive has the room as there's no tail shaft tunnel to worry about. The Hyundai I-load or I-max, but the rear seats don't fold down. Or, the transit van, but if you're turning right onto a divided road and sitting in the middle, there's no windows on the port side to look out!
So, for me it's back to the delica, knowing that if it misbehaves, I'll threaten to trade it in and she'll be good for another six months. The length of good behaviour is in direct proportion to how serious you are about trading it in, or just leaving it to rot by the roadside.

If only there was a big, modern, square styled 4wd van. I have a LWB, high roof, Delica. Nice and long, 4wd's good, but I just wish they were wider like the modern vans. I can get 3 10 ft sups in but really only seat two in that configuration. I can get a 10"10 down the middle and still seat 4 plus loads of other gear with the back bench seat folded up. It has been excellent for family adventures as I can still get the toys in. We have had mountain bikes, or sups, or all the windsurf gear and all our clober in at the same time. I have a ply frame I can put in the back and put the queen matress on top, with storage underneath. It has been so handy but always want more space.

I got the first 120,000k's out of it trouble free and I have been claiming it the best car I have ever owned. Then I did the head gasket a few weeks back. I have replaced the head myself to save $ and was surprised to find it really wasn't that hard to work on like all the mechanics whinge about. However now I'm having issues cold starting it(praying its not the fuel pump). So my overall view on the car is still yet to be decided. Hope I can get it sorted soon as I'm missing all the space. At the moment I have to take the ute to the beach and try and pic one sail and board when I leave the house.

Hi Pepe
Yes I have thanks. I even replaced the glow plugs and relay and they are working perfectly. I dont want to take over this thread. I could write a novel on all the things I have checked and replaced. It will be a new van before I'm finished. I have a friend bringing over a scan tool this morning so hopefully that points to something cheap to fix/replace.

If I can't fit the boards in the back without moving the seats forward, I'm afraid she's not going to be too comfortable. I'd also like enough room to put it some sort of safety barrier. Apparently "wear it with pride, dear, it's a carbon art", is not a valid answer for a board glancing off the back of her head on its quick journey towards the windscreen under heavy braking.
The Hyundai imax comes to mind. Diesel, all around vision, and if you unbolt the seats in the back there's and absolute shipload of room. I say the imax only as the rear has insulation and sound deadening upholstery. Also the tailgate to the space between the front seats comes in around 250cms. I can hear wails of protestation coming from the Delica already..

Iload/Imax have tailgate height issues. Essentially, if you back up to the curb to rig up each time you go the reach into the van you're going to get a whack on the forehead. They need longer struts or something...

Imax windsurf edition, board/s or Bike down the side, seats 6, no issued with tail height unless reversed park down a slope and standing on higher ground? Back seats unbolts for a double bed behind first passenger seats when slid forward....curtains optional, no trailer required!

Nice VW set up Evil C, are they VW seats or aftermarket? do they fold flat?

If I was starting again I'd have my Van seats fold flatable..ready made bed then, have seen that done 2 x 2seaters flat back fold flat onto each other, instant bed.
My tribe is 5+me when running on max load need the double seats in back, so board/s have to be vertical for me, my SUP is 9ft 6 and nose sticks just between front seats, could go a smaller SUP if it ad the crew front seat option.

Down side with the Hyundai's is not only their lame seats (it really is a crime the non fold seats) but the rounded curved nature of the design, they are not a boxy straight design so there is heaps of lost useable space due to the curves, so my other 'next van' consideration would be 'must be straight/boxy in the back'.

The VW Crafter look pretty huge. I passed one today. I think they have a 4wd version but I'm betting its not available in Australia. If it is it will cost a bomb.

Ive got a transit crew cab chassis .
Its 6 seats in cabin with heaps of room so much room i can sleep on rear seat but I'm only 5ft 10 inches good to drive good on fuel the rear tray is 2.7mtr long could easily be enclosed & the added bonus is its aluminium tray so don't have to worry about rust. And the smell of wet gear is not actually in the car . They make a seven seater option with another 900mm longer tray .

Max,

Completely agree. Had a Mercedes as my first van and 3 days after pickup was sitting in the van at Kmart, well away from other cars, when a car came in alongside me and the passenger opened her door, straight into the side of the van . When I pointed out what she’d done, she replied “So what? It’s only a truck”.

Nowadays, I pull into the middle of TWO parking bays, so there’s room on both sides. As a concession to others, I try to do all of my shopping early in the morning so others aren’t being inconvenienced.

Only had one complaint in 12 years plus: from a Volvo driver (Volvo: brand new shapes. Same d*ckhead drivers ). He completely ignored the fact that I was well away from others in the parking area AND the van easily overlapped BOTH ends of the parking bays.

Also, if I were to be chipped, I can point out that the bays are CAR PARKING spaces and are not sized for commercial vehicles.

Hope this helps.