When did 1 ton cargo vans go FWD?

[2EHA]

I just thought it was interesting as RWD cargo Vans (full size anyway) have been the norm in North America and I can't recall seeing FWD ones until about 6 months ago. Just wondering when the FWD was introduced to North America (or Canada specifically)? Europe/Asia have always had different transport vehicles in all kinds of configurations.

The rebadged Fiat Ducato arrived in 2013, all ram promaster vans are front wheel drive. It was also the first front wheel drive van in general.

 

[IndyIan]

The VW T4 Transporter vans have been fwd since 1990, I'm sure there are ones in the ROW that have 2000lb payload.
A couple years ago we had a fwd fiat ducato camper van in NZ with a 2.3 130hp turbo diesel and automated single clutch manual transmission. Pretty decent driving rig really, decent mileage and power for the weight and size if you planned ahead a bit on the hills. The downshifts were a bit slow, so if you preshifted down for a slope often it would torque its way over with boost without another downshift.

 

[repairman54]

RWD more rugged. Trans blows just pop another one in one day as that's the most common big driveline failure in fleet use. FWD not so easy. Fleets know that, just like the CV was king of the sedans and PD and taxi Co. only used them while they could get them and wore the remaining ones out.
I'll take a RWD van with snows, any brand, where no FWD one would dare to go. 4 decades of driving like ya stole them Co. van experience.

 

[nobb]

Do the FWD models have more drivetrain related issue? They pack everything so tight, and in the case of Dodge, their cargo van uses the same transmission as the minivan (62TE). It's hard imagining CV shafts dragging a few tons worth of cargo on a FWD vs a sturdy rear axle.

 

[Johnmpb]

What the heck is that monstrosity? Looks like it was designed in Wuhan

 

[edyvw]

In the snow, a loaded up Econoline/ Transit RWD / NV2500 / Express will have a lot of weight over the drive wheels and get around great. As we've seen, the promasters ... don't. At least not around here . There's a video on youtube of Portland ( I think) in the snow and a bunch of AWD stuff can't get up the hill and a contractor in an E350 just walks up right past them.

It is not going anywhere here. On other hand VW Transporter FWD goes like nothing:

 

[930.engineering]

The VW T4 Transporter vans have been fwd since 1990, I'm sure there are ones in the ROW that have 2000lb payload.

Right, the VW T4 might have set the trend for the 1990s. However don't miss the Citroen Type H.

 

[Rmay635703]

Mercedes, Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter have sold them in some form since 2001

 

[2EHA]

Mercedes, Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter have sold them in some form since 2001

sprinter has never been front wheel drive

 

[Rmay635703]

sprinter has never been front wheel drive

Ah I was thinking unibody

 

[edyvw]

sprinter has never been front wheel drive

Vito is. First versions had big issues with axles though.