RAM ProMaster vs Ford Transit: Size, Payload, Reliability

Outside, the two are the same width and close in length. Inside, the ProMaster is slightly wider between the wheel wells and has the lower floor; the Transit is longer in its extended body. The table compares two versions of similar length: the ProMaster 2500 high roof on the 159 in wheelbase and the Transit 250 medium roof on the 148 in wheelbase.

• Width. Outside, both are 81.3 in (6'10") without mirrors; with mirrors the Transit is 97.4 in and the ProMaster 97.6 in with its standard mirrors. Inside, between the wheel wells, the narrowest part of the floor, the ProMaster measures 56 in (4'8") and the Transit 54.8 in (4'6"), the same in every Transit version here.
• Length. Outside, the Transit runs 219.9 in on the 130 in wheelbase, 235.5 in on the 148 in and 263.9 in extended; the ProMaster 195.4 in on the 118 in wheelbase, 236.2 in on the 159 in and 250.6 in extended. The cargo floors inside: Transit 126, 143.7 and 172.2 in; ProMaster 103.1, 147 and 161.3 in.
• Height. Outside, the medium-roof Transit stands 100.7 in (8'5") and the high-roof ProMaster on the 159 in wheelbase 102.1 in (8'7"); the low roofs are 83.6 in (Transit 130) and 91.7 in (ProMaster 118), and the extended high-roof Transit 109.4 in. Ram’s own documents don’t agree on the high roof: the 2015 brochure prints 101 in, the body builder chart used here 102.1 in and the 2022 specifications 105.9 in, so plan on the tallest. A roof rack adds to all of these, so measure a specific van before a low garage or parking deck. Inside heights are under Standing room.
• Volume. Among the 2014–2022 versions here, the extended high-roof Transit holds the most, 487.3 cu ft, against 463 cu ft for the extended ProMaster. For its 2023 super high roof, Ram claims the most cargo volume and cargo height in the class.
• Load floor. The ProMaster’s floor is 21 in off the ground, the Transit’s 28.0–28.9 in. With front-wheel drive there is no driveshaft running to the rear axle, so Ram could build the floor without the hump a rear-drive van needs.

Outside dimensions by version

Similar lengths take the same number of pallets: three in the ProMaster 159 or the Transit 148, four in either extended van. Even the short Transit 130 takes three; the short ProMaster 118 takes two. For a 12 ft ladder, the ProMaster 159 has room and the Transit 148 comes up just short.

Pallets

Both floors are wider than a standard pallet is long, so a 48 x 40 in pallet fits either way round, one per row. Two side by side would need 80 in. The count comes down to floor length.

• ProMaster 159 (147 in): three pallets fit either way round.
• Transit 148 (143.7 in): three fit with the 48 in side across the van. Placed the long way, three need 144 in, 0.3 in more than the floor.
• Transit 130 (126 in): also three, with the 48 in side across the van; three need 120 in that way. The ProMaster 118 (103.1 in) takes two.
• Extended vans: four in each, with the 48 in side across. The ProMaster 3500 extended (161.3 in) has 1.3 in to spare; the Transit 350 extended (172.2 in) leaves 12.2 in behind the pallets for boxes.

Ladders, pipe and sheet goods

A 12 ft ladder needs 144 in of floor. The ProMaster 159 takes it with 3 in to spare. In the Transit 148 a 12 ft ladder doesn’t quite fit: the floor is 0.3 in short. Both extended vans take it easily. Of the short vans, the Transit 130 (126 in) takes a 10 ft ladder and the ProMaster 118 (103.1 in) does not.

A 4 x 8 ft sheet of plywood or drywall lies flat between the wheel wells in every version of both vans here.

A 5 ft 10 in person can stand up in a high-roof ProMaster or in a medium- or high-roof Transit. The tallest cargo box here is the ProMaster’s super high roof, new for 2023 and only on the extended 3500, at 86.4 in inside. Before 2023, the Transit’s high roof was the taller of the two, at 81.5 in against 77.1 in.

The Transit comes with three roofs: low, medium and high. Through 2022 the ProMaster came with two, low and high (Ram 2015 brochure, 2022 specifications). From the 2023 model year Ram added a super high roof on the 159 in extended 3500, for three.

The medium-roof Transit gives 72 in (6'0") at its tallest point, enough for a 5 ft 10 in person with little to spare. Between the two low roofs, the ProMaster’s is taller inside: 66.9 in against 56.9 in. If you’ll work inside the van, at a bench or shelving, plan on a high roof.

The number after the name is the weight class: 1500, 2500 and 3500 on the ProMaster, 150, 250 and 350 on the Transit. A higher number means a higher gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the most the loaded van may weigh. Payload is what’s left for people and cargo after the van’s own weight.

• ProMaster 1500 vs Transit 150: up to 4,010 lb (2022, 118 in low roof) against up to 3,670 lb (2019, 130 in low roof).
• ProMaster 2500 vs Transit 250: up to 4,000 lb (2022, 159 in high roof, 8,900 lb GVWR) against up to 3,790 lb (2019, 148 in medium roof, 9,000 lb GVWR).
• ProMaster 3500 vs Transit 350: up to 4,430 lb (2022, 159 in extended) against up to 4,000 lb (2019, 148 in extended, single rear wheels).

In each pair the ProMaster’s published maximum is higher, but the figures come from different model years and bodies. The short ProMaster 1500 is rated about the same as the long 2500: a lighter body leaves more of a lower GVWR for cargo. Payload also changes year to year; the 2026 ProMaster 2500 159 in high roof is rated up to 4,070 lb.

What a specific van can carry is printed on its driver’s door pillar, on the tire and loading label federal rules require: “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed” a stated number of pounds. Shelving, racks and a partition count against it, so subtract their weight before you plan loads.

The ProMaster turns tighter; the Transit offers all-wheel drive from the 2020 model year. Ram’s specifications list front-wheel drive only, for every ProMaster through 2026.

The gap is large between the short vans, 36.3 ft for the ProMaster 118 against 42.9 ft for the Transit 130, and small between the long ones, 46.8 ft against 48 ft. The extended versions turn in the same circle as the standard long vans.

Ford describes the Transit’s all-wheel drive as always on, with no change to the load floor or seat height. It is optional, so confirm the van you’re looking at has it.

There is no official fuel economy figure for either cargo van. The EPA exempts cargo vans over 8,500 lb GVWR from fuel economy testing, and every version in the payload chart above is rated heavier (the lightest at 8,550 lb). Ratings listed under “Transit” on fueleconomy.gov are for the Transit 150 passenger wagon or the smaller Transit Connect, not the full-size Transit cargo van.

• ProMaster, 2014–2021: a 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic; early vans also offered a 3.0-liter four-cylinder diesel with a six-speed automated manual (both in the Ram 2015 brochure).
• ProMaster, from 2022: an updated 3.6-liter V6 with a nine-speed automatic in place of the six-speed (Ram’s 2022 announcement), still front-wheel drive.
• Transit, 2015–2019: Ford launched it with a 3.7-liter V6, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 or a 3.2-liter five-cylinder Power Stroke diesel, each with a six-speed automatic (Ford 2015 product information).
• Transit, from 2020: Ford’s 2020 lineup is a 3.5-liter V6 or the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, both with a 10-speed automatic (Ford 2020 product page).

Neither van has a clean record. Both have had drivetrain recalls that can let a parked van roll, and both have had recalls for fire risk: the ProMaster’s cooling fan, the early Transit’s trailer tow module. On a used van, what counts is whether those fixes were done and how the van was maintained.

Below are the significant recalls on NHTSA’s record for each van, each linked to NHTSA. Enter the VIN of any van you’re considering at nhtsa.gov/recalls: it lists the safety recalls not yet repaired on that exact van.

Ram ProMaster

• 2014–2019 with the 3.6-liter V6 · NHTSA 20V-036

  The transmission shift cable can come off the transmission, so the gear the lever shows may not be the gear the van is in, and the van can move when the driver doesn’t expect it.

  Fix: A new shift cable.

• 2015–2018 with air conditioning · NHTSA 19V-818

  The engine cooling fan can seize and its motor overheat, a fire risk.

  Fix: A new cooling fan module.

• 2019–2021 with the 62TE six-speed automatic · NHTSA 23V-301

  Debris in the transmission can stop the park pawl from fully engaging, so a van left in Park can roll away.

  Fix: A software update and an inspection, with transmission parts or the whole transmission replaced as needed.

• 2018–2026 · NHTSA 25V-720

  The radiator fan’s electrical circuit can overheat, a fire risk. It covers the current generation too.

  Fix: A new cooling fan module and fuse. Owner letters went out in stages from December 2025, the last expected in July 2026, so on a used van it may still be open.

Ford Transit

• 2015–2017, every van body · NHTSA 17V-408 and 19V-767

  The flexible coupling between the transmission and the driveshaft can fail early. If it does, the van loses drive, the loose driveshaft can damage brake and fuel lines, and a van left in Park without the parking brake set can roll.

  Fix: The final fix is a front driveshaft section with a mechanical u-joint in place of the flexible coupling. Until that was available, the interim fix was a new coupling every 40,000 miles.

• 2015–2017 with a trailer tow module · NHTSA 17V-668 and 18V-275

  Water can get into the tow module and corrode the wiring: rapidly flashing turn signals, a blank instrument panel, or an electrical short with a fire risk.

  Fix: A drain hole in the driver’s door stepwell and a fuse added to the wiring.

• 2020 with all-wheel drive · NHTSA 21V-978

  The bolts holding the rear driveshaft to the transfer case can loosen, and the driveshaft can separate: loss of drive, or a parked van rolling if the parking brake isn’t set.

  Fix: New bolts; if any were loose, a new driveshaft and transfer case flange too.

• 2023–2024 · NHTSA 24V-102 and 24V-805

  Too little rear axle lubricant can damage the axle’s tail bearing, locking a wheel or separating the driveshaft.

  Fix: An axle inspection, with new bearings or a new axle as needed. The follow-up recall checks for wrong bolts used in some of those repairs.

The three-way comparison with the Chevrolet Express, and what else to inspect on any used work van, are in Ford Transit vs Chevy Express vs RAM ProMaster and the used cargo van buyer’s guide.

• Pallets, appliances, boxes loaded by hand: the ProMaster, for its lower floor (21 in) and a little more width. A Transit of similar length takes the same number of pallets.
• Ladders, pipe, lumber: a ProMaster 159 or either extended van for a 12 ft ladder; the Transit 148 falls just short.
• Tall cargo, or working standing up inside: a 2023 or newer ProMaster 3500 with the super high roof (86.4 in inside); among older vans, a high-roof Transit (81.5 in).
• Tight streets and parking lots: the ProMaster, above all the 118 in wheelbase at 36.3 ft.
• Winter roads and muddy job sites: a 2020 or newer Transit with all-wheel drive.
• Heaviest loads: a 3500 or 350, checked against the door-pillar label of the van itself.

Three questions narrow it down, with the matching vans on our lot:

Browse every cargo van we have, or just the ProMasters and Transits. For work trucks too, see commercial vehicles. If you’re financing, start with our financing page or financing a work van with fair or bad credit; if you have a van to replace, get a trade-in value.