Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
Are we talking about vans or pickups? 
A FWD pickup would just plain suck, if it is to be used as a working vehicle, for example on a farm much of the time off road.
A FWD van or mini-van is a different animal, more likely to be on pavement and more likely to not be as heavily loaded and besides, even with a good load they are still front heavy i.e. the weight is over the drive wheels. The people have voted and FWD mini-vans are O.K. |
Is there anything wrong about taking a van frame as a reference for the development of a pickup frame? Since the frame of the Ram ProMaster is fully-capable for the hauling needs of most pickup owners, and has a lighter layout than the usual for the American-designed pickups and vans, it may be a solution to equate the need for a fully-capable frame while still providing enhanced efficiency due to its lighter layout.
Regarding the weight over the drive wheels, it's not impossible to fit hub-motors at the rear axle in a front-wheel drive frame to provide the required traction under load
