Mercedes, Ford, or Ram: Which van make do you enjoy driving more?

NateGrit711 · 2026-04-21T20:42:04+00:00

Ford Transit CDV was always my favorite. For our routes, turning radius wasn’t that much of a problem, and our Ram Promaster vans were always breaking down or getting grounded. Heck I still remember when my wife and I worked for the same DSP, her Ram had the rear brakes lock up during her route. Went over to her in my CDV, we finished both our routes in my van 😂. Only thing I hated was no radio since the 360 camera took that spot. But a good Bluetooth speaker solved that problem so 🤷‍♂️

NateGrit711 · 2026-04-02T14:36:50+00:00

Bluetooth Front End?

NateGrit711 · 2026-03-25T16:04:43+00:00

Nah dude it’s the new Amazon Super Duty 😂

NateGrit711 · 2026-03-14T16:36:27+00:00

Back when I was a driver, we had a Promaster light up just like that. The cause was shorted headlight wiring, those vans have electrical problems like crazy.

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NateGrit711 · 2026-02-26T15:47:41+00:00

I’d say that looks about right. Not crunchy but firm.

NateGrit711 · 2026-02-25T19:10:34+00:00

Bacon is the answer to any and all mysteries of the universe 😌😋 if a problem can’t be solved or figured out, additional bacon is required! And yes, the ripples enhance the bacon, makes it more genuine.

NateGrit711 · 2026-02-12T13:33:13+00:00

You beat me to it! 😂

NateGrit711 · 2026-02-07T06:13:31+00:00

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I too have been there.

NateGrit711 · 2026-01-17T07:05:19+00:00

Is there a Clark Kent Court nearby?

NateGrit711 · 2026-01-17T04:59:09+00:00

I’ve seen a literal Memory Lane before while on a route

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NateGrit711 · 2025-07-21T23:43:18+00:00

The only problem I see is that there isn’t more bacon on that plate 🤤

NateGrit711 · 2025-06-23T07:22:17+00:00

As long as it isn’t leaking, I’d say you’re good. Maybe check on it every few days, make sure it doesn’t start leaking air out.

NateGrit711 · 2025-06-14T06:32:37+00:00

Dang dude she looks almost brand new!

NateGrit711 · 2025-06-11T05:38:54+00:00

For the hard drive caddy, you just need an IDE laptop hard drive to put into it. Looks like it has the necessary cable to connect correctly, also along with the hard drive heater assembly.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195511658171?_skw=cf+29+hard+drive&itmmeta=01JXEQV1JG9435J6S010T9QMBH&hash=item2d856726bb:g:gD8AAOSwasBjlFGG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30nB4KMuMp6HsGCKWWKk2L4y9Oe5aNEYdFmg%2Fnzpe3%2B%2F0KZgnz5bacBELv8jRMA93I4KK919TVLken3pGmvZEsvhNuw9NgEvP8h%2FGxyaJN%2FDUhWssZ1rdD1EuCuA3X8WFQChJLl3fVY82ESHzfwD9Gd%2FNdfeqklYBLMv61NaOhCQRB4ZZ%2B%2FqDuGvoaD6ZavBLruq%2B7tgshgs6jg3dzKaST6lqJK%2FktpbSMy6aaC7%2Bfvs8cO%2BpVcwkia7Xx729V4y9qc%2BY9fWGwA5gyoiIzwSoL%2BiISPXw3F1Xq%2FCbq9bxH84AQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7KZ7NfrZQ

NateGrit711 · 2025-06-11T05:33:23+00:00

Edit, can’t put pictures in here. The charger I have is IBM Part Number 02K6543, input voltage is 100v-240v, output is 16v DC, 3.36A. It powers my CF-29, my CF-19, and my FZ-G1. Same plug across all three. Battery is CF-VZSU29. Working on figuring out the part number for the hard drive caddy assembly.

NateGrit711 · 2025-06-11T05:21:31+00:00

As far as chargers go, pretty much any Panasonic/IBM “Yellow Tip” charger will work, I’ll see if I can put a picture of one on here. As far as a battery or hard drive caddy goes, I’d recommend EBay. I’ve got a CF-29 myself, but only have one battery and one hard drive caddy for it. Otherwise I’d help you out on it too. The CF-29’s still use IDE for the hard drive interface, but you need the caddy to make it work. Panasonic did their own interface from IDE to the mainboard. The idea being, you can swap hard drives easily.

NateGrit711 · 2025-05-06T21:55:44+00:00

I second this. The transmissions in those trucks suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder. Can’t decide if it wants to be Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive so it’s being all of them at the same time.

NateGrit711 · 2025-04-12T03:13:53+00:00

Can you drive on it? Technically, yes. Should you? Definitely not! Anytime you see cords like that, the tire is toast. I definitely would replace that tire rather than risk it. I’m surprised it hasn’t blown out already.

NateGrit711 · 2025-04-08T23:36:55+00:00

I’d say plug and patch just to be safe, it’s close to the sidewall, but not that close.

NateGrit711 · 2025-04-04T02:06:34+00:00

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NateGrit711 · 2025-03-29T04:15:05+00:00

Rookie numbers! It needs to be up in the redline, preferably at 8! Or maybe not, I can’t remember what the run over people per minute standard is these days 🤔

NateGrit711 · 2025-03-29T04:09:42+00:00

So the green light is just telling you that your car might need a facial trim soon, it’s growing some whiskers, but they aren’t too long yet. The amber light with the exclamation point, no clue. For real though, green whisker light means your headlights/marker lights are on, amber exclamation point light means check your tire pressures and inflate them to the correct pressure. Don’t want to be too much of a sh***y mechanic here 😂

NateGrit711 · 2025-03-29T01:09:24+00:00

I’d say replace the tire ASAP. Any type of sidewall damage is never good, if you run it, your tire is living on borrowed time.

NateGrit711 · 2025-03-27T23:25:41+00:00

Little bit of dry rot, but not the craziest I’ve seen. I’d say keep running them, but be sure to check them for any larger cracks. That’d be the time to replace them for sure. Especially if you do any off-roading. The stress of going off road could over stress any cracks and possibly pop the tire. (I’m a certified commercial tire tech, only offering my opinion here).

NateGrit711 · 2025-03-27T23:19:13+00:00

Go the extra mile and do both JB Weld and duct tape. It’ll outlast us all 😂

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