Quigley is a small family-owned van upfitter that specializes in turning cargo carriers into off-road animals with 4WD. They already did the Baja 1000 in a Chevy 2500, and now they’ve turned a 2015 Ford Transit into an enormous EcoBoosted “rock-crawler,” sort of.
This is one of the first new-generation Ford Transit vans to get Quigley’s upgraded drive system, which includes the independent front axle, front hub locks, steering, and Magna two-speed transfer case out of a Ford F-Series truck. OEM Transit suspension, brakes, stability control, and almost everything else are retained while Quigley engineers make it all work together.
OEM parts mean OEM quality and warranties, and Quigley says they’ll match that with their own bits. The vans are generally purchased through dealerships, though Quigley sells some pre-owned rigs and will upfit your used E-Series, Transit, Chevy, or Nissan van with 4WD as well.
This particular Transit, dubbed “Little Red” by the Quigley crew, is short wheelbase low-roof passenger rig with Ford’s fierce 3.5 EcoBoost V6 and some meaty BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires.
After driving all the way to Utah from Quigley’s Pennsylvania headquarters, the van finished the 3D Trail to Hidden Canyon, Fins N’ Things, and the Gold Bar Rim trails at the 2015 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab. Those might not be the gnarliest tracks the region has to offer but come on, we’re talking about a peoplemover with an eleven-and-a-half-foot wheelbase and it made it through!
Here’s a little clip of the van in action on dirt and slickrock:
Quigley hasn’t commented on returning to racing, but I think they’ve got a great truck van to go back to Baja with now that Ford’s big EcoBoost engine is an option. Apparently the lack of a solid front axle didn’t stifle its rock-scrambling abilities much, and in fact I’d say independent front wheels will make for a much smoother ride blasting down the desert.
Andrew P. Collins is Jalopnik’s off-road and adventure guy. Shoot him an email at andrew@jalopnik.com or hit him up on Twitter @andr3wcollins to talk trucks.