The Ford Transit Trail debuted for the U.S. market for the 2023 model year with a pretty simple mission – to give customers a more off-road capable, rugged, and upfit-ready version of its best-selling full-size van. Given how many companies and individuals have transformed Transits into campers and overlanders in recent years, such a move made perfect sense. However, the Ford Transit Trail has experienced its fair share of issues since then, and now, we’ve stumbled across some used examples being sold without many of that model’s key features.
These “used” Ford Transit Trail vans are currently for sale at Maxwell Ford in Austin, Texas, each of them with less than 100 miles on the clock, in fact. Each is listed as a Ford Transit Trail in the description, which even mentions that model’s lift, track width increase, and unique fender flares, as well as the presence of Transit Trail badging. However, these models have apparently been “de-Trailed,” in that the vast majority of that equipment has seemingly been removed from each one.
The Ford Transit Trail gets quite a few unique features, in fact, starting on the outside in the form of a black grille with integrated marker lamps, black HID headlamps, a skid plate-style front bumper, splash guards, wheel arch cladding, front wheel arch liners, and slider-style side steps. The Transit Trail also boasts a a 2.75-inch wider track and 3.5 inches of additional ride height compared to the regular Transit, and is equipped with 16-inch black alloy wheels wrapped with 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires.
Power comes from the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine, which produces 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque in this guise and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission for up to 6,500 pounds of max towing capacity. The rugged van also utilizes Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system with five selectable drive modes – Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul, and Slippery – along with drillable areas designed for the easy installation of things like shelving, cabinetry, and beds.
It’s unclear why much of this equipment is missing from these vans, but it’s possible that they weren’t attracting any interest new, so the dealer opted to instead sell them as regular Transits on the used lot. The Ford Transit Trail was recalled over a steering issue and a problem with tire clearance – the fix for the latter of which effectively killed its ground clearance, which could have played a role in this strange de-contenting as well. Regardless of the reason, it’s a curious discovery, if nothing else.
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