Ford Hits the Trails With 2023 Transit Trail, Outfitters Rejoice

Ford’s lineup of commercial vans have always been the perfect blank canvas for buyers, and we have seen the Transit seamlessly fit a wide range of roles. However, trail busting was always limited to outside specialty companies, with Ford not offering a factory solution for adventure seekers. The Blue Oval is now changing that narrative with the 2023 Transit Trail.

Related: 2020 Ford Transit: Real-World Gas Mileage

Blank Slate on Wheels

Ford claims the 2023 Transit Trail is designed to be a base for DIY van owners, and it comes with a number of features to help make the build process easier. The exterior styling retains much of its core Transit DNA, but the Trail adds a blacked-out front grille that features Raptor-style integrated marker lights and blacked-out xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights. Sturdy plastic cladding encircles the van, and the front end features a skid plate to help protect vulnerable components from debris.

The interior plays a role, too, and Ford revealed that the van comes with popular features that an owner might want, including swiveling front seats, an onboard AC inverter, dual alternators and an auxiliary fuse box. Ford even added several drillable areas to help encourage the installation of cabinets and other accessories.

Borrowing a Few Tricks From Raptor Lineup

While the Transit Trail is not as extreme as the F-150 and Bronco Raptor models, Ford engineers still gave the van several tools to help it perform better out in the wilderness. The suspension has been raised 3.5 inches, and all configurations get standard intelligent all-wheel drive with five drive modes — Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul and Slippery — to help them navigate rougher trails.

Meaty 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires provide plenty of grip in the muckiest of situations and are shod to stylish 16-inch black alloy wheels. Unlike the standard Transit, the Trail ditches the naturally aspirated V-6 for the normally optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 310 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. An optional Heavy-Duty Trailer Package allows the van to tow up to 6,500 pounds, which is perfect for hauling gear like four wheelers, snowmobiles and watercraft.

Supply Will Be Limited

Ford revealed that orders for the 2023 Transit Trail are now open, but embracing your inner wanderlust will not come cheap. The base model starts at $67,770 (all prices include destination), which is significantly more than a base $45,250 Transit Cargo Van, and that’s before the full price of a build is factored in. The van is available in either standard or extended body lengths with medium- and high-roof options.

Ford also revealed that supply will be limited as the automaker is allocating some of the production run to outfitters and RV customizers, so buyers will have to act quickly if they want to secure their spot on the order list.

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