Elevated VAN life in the Ford Transit Custom Sport

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It’s been a long time since I felt excitement like the Ford Transit Custom Sport arriving for testing. You see, the key to an entertaining review is tailoring the trip correctly for the vehicle in question. And the instant I saw the Ford Transit Custom Sport it just hollered at me – as if through a megaphone – West Coast camping trip! And, sidebar, what is it about turning 40 that makes you go giddy with excitement for camping, when decades prior you absolutely loathed it?

That’s a rhetorical question … I know exactly why. Because, in your 20s and 30s, you’re in a rush and you want everything to come easy. However, after 40, I think you kind of accept that everything special in life comes with a bit of effort. And being good at camping requires being organised. The planning and packing: the ground cover, tent poles, cutlery, sleeping bag, portable lights, bag spray, sunscreen, you name it. If you forget any one of these things, your trip is screwed …

FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM SPORT

Not your typical van payload: A quiver of surfboards and a 4:3 wetsuit for the chilly West Coast waters. Image: Ray Leathern

Nevertheless, I was buoyed by having the new Ford Transit Custom Sport as my adventure chariot. It’s basically a massive, empty panel van I could always use as an abode if camping somehow went really wrong. I’ve long wanted to make a surf trip up the West Coast to Elands Bay. Now was the perfect opportunity to pack as many boards as I dared and still have room to spare. The load compartment of the Ford Transit Custom Sport is 5 050-mm long, with a load length of 2 602 mm up to the bulkhead.

Calling it cavernous is underselling it. This isn’t a space, it’s a post code. A surfboard storage facility, bedroom/living room, whatever you want, all in one glorious box. The space easily fits even my 9-foot longboard, but I strap that up above to test the clever adjustable roof racks. Widthwise, you’ve got 1 392 mm between the wheel arches and I’m reliably told the van’s total payload is 1 023 kg. Of which I hardly use any with my quiver of four surfboards, camping mattress and one-man tent.

COMFORT CRUISER

Don’t let the racing stripes and bodykit fool you. This is van life on a whole new level. Image: Ray Leathern

As it turns out, with a Ford Transit Custom Sport up your sleeve, camping has never been so awesome. This isn’t just a van, it’s a paradigm shift in sheet metal. It already won the day on the drive out thanks to Ford’s brilliant 2.0-litre Single Turbo (SiT) EcoBlue diesel engine that produces 125 kW and 390 Nm. I’ve long said it’s arguably one of the best Blue Oval engines as far as efficient performance goes. You’re never found wanting on the open road, it’s torquey yet quiet and sips a mere 8.0 l/100 km. That’s incredible for something the size of a Camps Bay apartment.

A commanding driving position provides the sort of unparalleled view that makes you feel like a benevolent overlord surveying your kingdom. By all rights, you could forgive the suspension for being that of a commercial vehicle. Except, it soaks up bumps and road undulations with sophisticated aplomb. Cabin noise is well suppressed, too, and you want for nothing when it comes to modern conveniences on a long drive. Semi-autonomous cruise control, comfy arm rests, auto air-conditioning and Apple CarPlay, thank you very much.

THE CAMPING BIT

Not too shabby for 30 minutes setup. The practicality of the Transit Custom cannot be underestimated. Image: Ray Leathern

Alighting at Elands Bay Caravan Park, something interesting was happening. Thanks to the awe-inspiring Ford Transit Custom Sport, I felt rested and relaxed to tackle the camping portion of the trip. Days of prepping and packing was swiftly decanted onto the campsite in a mere 30 minutes. And I wasn’t swearing at inanimate objects, promising myself this was the last time I’d ever go camping. Better still, the site has gate access to the beach and is a short walk to the legendary left-hand point break.

A quick surf check reveals a dead-low tide and cross-shore winds. I decide to head back to my wheeled sanctuary and rather make a go of it first thing in the morning when the surf promises to be better. The sun starts to drop over the Atlantic Ocean, casting a golden hue across the rugged bay. I recline in comfort with a refreshing drink in hand and nothing but the sound of the shore break crashing hard on the sand.

THE VERDICT

A lone beacon of civility on the rough and rugged West Coast. Image: Ray Leathern

Bright and early, at first light, I decide to make the short drive to the point carpark, so I have my boards on hand. A dropping swell is a little small for the E-Bay locals, but it provides this rookie welcome space to explore the line-up for the first time. Even the gentle rollers grind hard up against the shallow reef and take accurate positioning to catch. I wipeout plenty but eventually start to find a rhythm and catch some of the best lefts I’ve ridden. All the while the Ford Transit Custom Sport sits proudly on the beach. Like a beacon of modern convenience amidst a wild coastline.

Truthfully, despite the chilly Atlantic Ocean temperatures, I don’t want out because I know what awaits … The tedious campsite tidy-up and long haul back to Cape Town. Eventually I renege and call time on my West Coast session. And, you know what, even the pack up is a cinch when you have a Ford Transit Sport Custom to lob stuff into. This brilliant vehicle gives you the freedom to go anywhere, carry everything, and still enjoy the comforts of home. The only issue now is I find myself on Google maps, plotting journeys to remote surf spots that I would never have considered before. The adventure of the open road beckons, and I will answer the call. Just as long as I have a Ford Transit Custom Sport at my disposal …