Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nate Murphy
The beauty of building a camper yourself is that you can customize it to your needs and desires. You also save a bit of money compared to paying someone to convert a van for you, although you will end up “investing” blood, sweat and tears to complete the project. Today, I'm taking a look at a unique mobile home with superb living space.
Most RVs today have a similar layout, consisting of a living area in the front followed by a bathroom and kitchen in the center, and a bedroom in the back. As you’ll soon see, the rig I’m reviewing today has changed things up to create an efficient and well-designed layout.
What we have here is a 2017 Ford Transit that Adam converted with the goal of living in it full time. I'll start the tour with the outside, as I usually do. You'll be able to tell this is a mobile home when you see it, thanks to the various exterior upgrades.
In the back, Adam attached a bike rack to a 2-inch hitch, using it to haul his KTM motorcycle on his van adventures. The rack is made of aluminum and steel and weighs just 36 pounds (16 kg).
Climb the ladder on the passenger side of the van and you’ll discover a custom roof rack that holds a cargo box, a mountain bike, and a small gas can for the motorcycle. The rest of the roof space is taken up by a Maxxair fan, two solar panels with a total capacity of 300W, and a 54-inch LED light bar up front.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nate Murphy
Step into the van and you’ll feel like you’re in a log cabin. Just looking around, you’ll see that Adam has some serious carpentry skills. He opted for a slatted ceiling made of quarter-inch cedar planks paired with clay-colored cabinetry.
Adam wanted his tiny house on wheels to feel as open and spacious as possible. So, first, he kept the layout open, meaning he didn’t install a wall to separate the cockpit from the rest of the interior. For privacy and to block out light, Adam uses a large curtain. And second, instead of a fixed bed, he designed a convertible one.
You will find the bed/sofa right in front of the entrance. It is big enough to accommodate three people, has some storage underneath and also houses the electrical system. Transforming the sofa into a bed is quick and easy: just pull it out, lower the back panel, open it and rearrange the cushions.
The highlights of the power system are a 100Ah AGM battery, a 2,000W inverter and a solar charge controller connected to the 300W solar panels on the roof.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nate Murphy
Up top, Adam has placed two decent-sized cabinets and a small shelf. He has also found a clever, space-saving way to store his fishing rods: they are held by hooks under the two cabinets.
Then there’s the kitchen, located on the driver’s side of the cabin. The most eye-catching detail is a stunning live-edge ash worktop, finished in two-part epoxy. It also pairs well with the white subway tile backsplash.
The kitchen is also equipped with three wall cabinets, two lower wall cabinets, a two-burner stove, a large sink, a chest of drawers refrigerator with runners and two drawers.
What about plumbing? Well, Adam went with a simple setup with a 20-gallon (76-liter) fresh water tank mounted underneath, connected to a water pump. There’s no heater in the van, either for water or air, but Adam says that hasn’t been a problem for him. If he ever needs hot water, he boils some on the stove. He also uses an electric blanket on really cold nights.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nate Murphy
On the opposite side, Adam has designed a gorgeous desk/storage area—this is definitely the part of the van that looks like it came straight out of a mountain cabin, especially since it’s made of barn wood. You’ll notice a guitar rack, a spice rack up high, a small work surface that doubles as a desk, a small barrel that doubles as a seat and trash can, and a longboard mounted on the wall.
The rest of the space is used for storage, with plenty of space in a large overhead cabinet, a lower cabinet, and a full-height closet. In the back of the closet, Adam has installed hooks to hang some of his clothes.
There is one last cool feature I would like to mention. Adam has installed two hooks, one in the front and one in the back, to which he can attach a hammock. It is perfect for lounging and sleeping. Adam said he slept on it for over a month.
The only convenience that is missing and that some people consider “essential” It's a bathroom. Adam doesn't even have a toilet; he prefers public bathrooms and gyms.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nate Murphy
All in all, this Ford Transit camper is a fantastic custom creation with a one-of-a-kind interior. Its design, color, and layout make it stand out from other vehicles.
