Ford Wants You to Go Off-Roading in New Transit Trail

• Ford's Transit Van has become a ubiquitous model for commercial fleet operations, but Ford's new Transit Trail goes off the range.

• With upgraded suspension, improved ground clearance, and room to create a living space in the back, the new off-road-focused model is set to start at $65,975.

• Made for van life adventures, Ford will offer three sizes of the van (medium, high-roof, and high-roof extended-length) with cabinetry and a bed-ready interior.

Van life isn't the bohemian ideal it used to be, but the so-called digital nomad movement and its accompanying vans come pretty close. Remote work and remote locations can be had in tandem, thanks to the 21st-century WiFi hotspots and van-back desks, and now Ford wants to take you even farther off the beaten path. Launching a rugged, off-road-ready version of its already popular Transit Van, the 2023 Ford Transit Trail is set to be its premiere #van-life model. Upper Peninsula here we come.

Before you pick your sink and start building out cabinets, you'll have to shell out $65,975 for a base model Transit Trail. That's over $20,000 more than the base model Transit Cargo Van that the Trail chassis is based on, though detailed pricing across the three Trail versions (medium, high-roof, and high-roof extended-length) isn't available just yet. Built on the original Transit platform, the Trail achieves the same Built Ford Tough durability standards, granting it a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Beyond the basic Transit chassis, much of the Trail version is reworked or all-new, starting with its suspension. Ford has increased ride height by 3.5 inches, added a 2.75-inch wider track, and mounted 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires on 16-inch black alloy wheels in the name of ground clearance and traction. It also gets Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, featuring five different drive modes (Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul, and Slippery), with a towing capacity of 6500 pounds if the Heavy-Duty Trailer Package is optioned. Power figures from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 should be ample for hauling pit bikes, dinghies, or your adventure toy of choice, with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque fed through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Customizing the inside of a van to the task at hand is the name of the game for van-life builds. Ford has decided to make that laborious job a little easier by including drillable areas fit for cabinetry, shelving, and a bed. Privacy glass will be available for those who plan to reside in their Trail edition full-time, complemented by a breezy roof vent fan. Electrifying the kind of gadgets that come with living in a van can be a challenge, but Ford says its Upfitter Package will provide the high-capacity switches, auxiliary fuse panels, and dual AGM batteries needed to make it a proper home. Choosing the high-roof, extended-length configuration will similarly aid in this mission by adding standing headroom as well as 487 cubic feet of cargo space.

While this van may end up being a home-away-from-home, it's still a driving vehicle and Ford hasn't forgotten that. Driver amenities are in abundance, with SYNC 4 infotainment, Ford Power-Up software updates, a 12-inch touchscreen, a high-resolution digital camera, and 110-volt, 12-volt, and USB outlets. Adaptive cruise control and Blind Spot Assist 1.0 are available as well. Because this van is intended to go the distance, an optional 31-gallon fuel tank is available for purchase as well.

Ultimately, this model represents an introduction to van life for the more practical, offering an easier stepping stone to hotel-less adventure. Transit Trail owners will have access to FordPro, the company's commercial-focused branch, and its network of retrofitters to aid in the interior buildout process. Pricing may be a prohibitive factor for some van life hopefuls, but the Kansas City-assembled Trail is an OEM-equipped off-road, live-in special that's 90% of the way there. And that's a hard value to beat.

Are you looking for a vehicle to fulfill your Van Life dreams, or maybe you've already found it? Please comment below.