If you need a work vehicle that can do a little more than a van, maybe you need a dropside or a tipper. In case you’re not sure of the difference between the two, a tipper will lift up to slide your cargo out and onto the ground, whereas a dropside is a flat-bed truck with raised sides. Ford makes the fantastic Ford Transit available as a phenomenal chassis cab in several body styles, and the Transit Tipper and Transit Dropside are built on the Single Chassis Cab and Double Chassis Cab. As is customary with Ford, there’s a huge amount of choice, and it’s all based on quality, reliability, and an extremely hard-working vehicle.
Transit Tipper and Dropside Engines, Transmissions, and Drive Systems
There are a variety of engine options for the Transit Tipper and Transit Dropside. Each is based on Ford’s excellent 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel, engine, and you can choose from 130hp, 160hp, and 170hp. On models with a manual transmission, you can upgrade to an EcoBlue Hybrid with “mild hybrid electric vehicle technology”, or mHEV. A 48-volt lithium-ion battery is used to recover and store unused energy, and that energy then supports the engine and powers some of the van’s electrics. It’s a great way to reduce your environmental impact while still being certain you’ll get the power and performance you need.
All of the EcoBlue diesel engines are fitted with an AdBlue tank to keep them in line with the Euro 6.2 emissions regulations and reduce dangerous nitrogen-oxide particulate pollution. You can refill the AdBlue tank yourself when it’s empty, but it should last you quite some miles anyway.
There’s a choice on some models between a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic transmission. There’s also 10-speed automatic available on the 350 and 500 GVMs in L3, L4, and L5. And the Ford Transit Dropside and Tipper can be front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), and driver-activated all-wheel drive (AWD) depending on which overall configuration you choose.
The fuel tank holds 70 litres, and the AdBlue tank holds 24 litres. All models come with an automatic Start-Stop system and Ford’s Easy Fuel capless refuelling system.
Transit Tipper and Dropside Dimensions
There are multiple wheelbases available for the chassis cab and its various configurations. Not every combination is available for every model, so we’ll do our best to detail here exactly what you can get.
One-Stop 1-way Tipper
This is available as a Chassis Single Cab in wheelbase L2 and a Double Cab in wheelbase L3. The Double Cab has crew seating for up to seven people, whereas the Single Cab seats up to three. The 1-Way Tipper has a wealth of features to help you in your everyday life, including:
- 1-way rear tipping to 45 degrees
- Load-lashing points (pull-up) in load bed
- Hot-dipped galvanised, powder-coated steel contraction
- Dual-skin aluminium sideboards and tailboards
- Twin AGM battery electrical system
- 5-stage underfloor ram (chrome plated)
- Electro-hydraulic power pack (2kW)
One-Stop 3-Way Tipper
This vehicle adds the benefit of being able to tip to 45° in three ways – to either side and up and down — to the basic 1-Way Tipper. Its features are largely similar to those of the 1-Way, but it also includes a plug-in wander lead pendant control handset, tailboards hinged at the top and bottom, and 90° retaining chains on the sideboards. The 3-Way Tipper is also available as the L2 Single Cab or the L3 Double Cab.
Dimensions of all the wheelbases, including length and vehicle height, depend on whether you get front-wheel drive (FWD) or rear-wheel drive / all-wheel drive (RWD / AWD), so the figures below — and in fact all of the figures given here — range where appropriate from the lowest value for FWD to the highest value for RWD / AWD. And the float you’ll see mentioned below refers to the bed of the vehicle. It stays flat for a dropside and rises for a tipper, but its dimensions are the same for both models.
L2 Single Cab
Overall length: 5572mm
Overall height: 2200mm
Wheelbase: 3504mm
Overall float length (including float): 5767mm
Internal loadspace length: 3205mm
L3 Double Cab
Overall length: 6022mm
Overall height: 2230-2233mm
Wheelbase: 3954mm
Overall float length (including float): 6204mm
Internal loadspace length: 2795mm
Widths for all models:
Overall Width: 2474mm standard, 2746mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Width with mirrors folded in: 2112mm standard, 2119mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Overall float width (including float, without mirrors): 2098mm standard, 2198mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Internal loadspace width: 2038mm single rear wheel, 2138mm dual rear wheel (dual available RWD only)
Premium and Standard Dropside
There are a huge range of Dropside options available, with the Premium Dropside coming in wheelbases L2-L5 for a Single Cab and L3 & L4 for a Double Cab. The Standard Dropside is available as an L2 Single Cab FWD model.
The Premium Dropside benefits from a range of features including:
- Resin-bonded 15mm ply load deck (replaceable)
- Powder-coated all-steel headboard
- Load-lashing rings (flush mounted), roping eyes
- Steel subframe with robust and lightweight aluminium boards
- Large range of powertrains and GVMs available
The Standard Dropside includes:
- Stainless steel tailboard 90° retainers
- Lashing / D Rings for the headboard
- Fold-out step access to bed, step-in tailboard
Dropside dimensions are as follows; brace yourself as it’s a long list!
L2 Single Cab
Overall length: 5572mm
Overall height: 2200-2220mm
Wheelbase: 3504mm
Overall float length (including float): 5767mm
Internal loadspace length: 3205mm
L3 Single Cab
Overall length: 6022mm
Overall height: 2194-2214mm
Wheelbase: 3954mm
Overall float length (including float): 6204mm
Internal loadspace length: 3645mm
L4 Single Cab
Overall length: 6579mm
Overall height: 2195-2215mm
Wheelbase: 3954mm
Overall float length (including float): 6797mm
Internal loadspace length: 4235mm
L5 Single Cab
Overall length: 7577mm
Overall height: 2208mm
Wheelbase: 4522mm
Overall float length (including float): 7797mm
Internal loadspace length: 5235mm
L3 Double Cab
Overall length: 6022mm
Overall height: 2230-2233mm
Wheelbase: 3954mm
Overall float length (including float): 6204mm
Internal loadspace length: 2795mm
L4 Double Cab
Overall length: 6404mm
Overall height: 2233mm
Wheelbase: 3954mm
Overall float length (including float): 6587mm
Internal loadspace length: 3205mm
Widths for all models:
Overall Width: 2474mm standard, 2746mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Width with mirrors folded in: 2112mm standard, 2119mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Overall float width (including float, without mirrors): 2098mm standard, 2198mm wide (wide available RWD only)
Internal loadspace width: 2038mm single rear wheel, 2138mm dual rear wheel (dual available RWD only
GWVs and Payloads
Ford call the GVW (gross vehicle weight) the GVM; either way, it’s the total combined permitted weight of the vehicle including the vehicle itself, the cargo (payload), the driver, passengers, fuel, etc. The Transit Tipper and Transit Dropside come in GVMs of 350, 470, and 500: that’s 3500kg / 3.5 tonnes, 4700kg / 4.7 tonnes, and 5000kg / 5.0 tonnes.
The payload of the vehicle refers to the maximum amount of cargo you’re legally permitted to carry, and payloads on the Dropside go up to 2391kg. For the Tipper, the payload will vary as the body weight varies due to the type of tipper and its mechanism, but 1200-1500kg is probably a good average.
Transit Tipper and Dropside Trims Level and Specifications
You need to be comfortable in your vehicle whatever you’re carrying. The Tipper and Dropside come with the Leader trim, which offers:
- Connection Radio with DAB, 4” TFT display, FordPass Connect, Bluetooth, 2x USB ports, iPod functionality, remote audio controls, and a GNSS fin antenna
- Vehicle Maintenance Monitor
- Trip Computer
- Driver’s Airbag (option for passenger and curtain airbags)
- Electric front windows
- Driver’s seat (4-way adjustable) with cushion tilt and armrest
- 2-way adjustable passenger’s seat
- MyKey
- Seatback table (fold down)
- Headlights with courtesy delay
- Indicators in the door mirrors
- Side marker lights (on some models)
- Daytime running lights
- Glovebox that can hold an A4 file
- 2x 12V sockets
Options and Safety
You can upgrade to things like air-conditioning, seats that are more adjustable, automatic wipers, etc. There are also options to improve the audio and infotainment facilities, including an 8” touchscreen and Ford SYNC 2.5.
All varieties of the Transit Chassis Cab include ABS, ESC (electronic stability control), Hill-Start Assist, and Curve Control, etc.
Ford Transit Tipper and Dropside Finance
We know that buying a tipper or dropside is a big purchase, so we offer a great selection of low-rate Ford Transit Tipper lease deals and Ford Transit Dropside finance arrangements. You can choose the best option to fit your circumstances from lease purchase, finance lease, contract hire, or hire purchase (HP), and of course we also have superb offers on cash sales and buying outright. If you’re interested in one of these amazingly versatile vehicles, get in touch with us at Swiss today to talk options. We also stock the VW Crafter Tipper and Dropside and the Vauxhall Movano Tipper and Dropside, along with similar vehicles from Renault, Mercedes and more, so we’re bound to have what you need. Give us a call to find out!
