I traveled in Casper the camper for a year full-time and for over 3 years part-time. After 4 years together on the road, Casper found a new home with a new person in July of 2021. Casper was a low-top Ford transit cargo van that I bought with 18,000 miles on it in 2017. I did a DIY 2-month long budget van conversion for $3,500, lived in it for a while, and eventually opted for a huge remodel. I had it professionally converted into a high-top by Fiberine. Then I designed the layout and handed it over to a team of professionals at RV Renovators to turn it into a cabin-esque camper ready for full-time off-grid living.
Van Specs
- Make & Model: 2016 Ford Transit 250
- Size: Standard length, 130″ wheelbase
- Engine: 3.7L V6
- Fuel: Flex-fuel, Gasoline or Ethanol
- Fuel Consumption: 17 MPG (after conversion)
- Exterior Length: 18ft bumper to bumper
- Number of Seats with Seatbelts: 2
- Drive: 2WD
- Title Status: Clean
- Transmission: Automatic
- Backup Camera in the rear-view mirror
Conversion Specs
- Conversion Company: RV Renovators (Mesa, AZ)
- Conversion Year: 2019
- High Top Extension: 24″ Fiberglass bubble top made and installed by Fiberine (includes two screened windows)
- Living Space: Approx. 55 square feet (not counting driver & passenger seat area)
- Exterior Height: 9’6″
- Interior Height: 6’1″
- Exterior Length: 19ft and 6 inches long (with hitchgate tire carrier)
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 people (and 2 dogs)
- Cost of Conversion: $48,000 (includes labor, materials, appliances, solar electric setup, high-top extension, and various exterior upgrades)
Ford Transit Van Conversion Details & Supplies
Kitchen & Plumbing
- Fridge/Freezer: Dometic CFX 40 Top Loading Fridge (12/24V DC & 100-240V AC)
- Stove: Dometic 2-Burner Glass Lid Stove
- Propane Tank: 11 Pound Propane Cylinder
- Propane Gauge/ Leak Detector (on propane tank)
- Electric Propane Detector* (underneath tank)
- Sink: Stainless Steel Round Kitchen Sink w/ drop in Cutting Board
- Sink Faucet: Single Handle w/ Pull Down Sprayer
- 20 Gallon Fresh Water Tank: 20 Gallon Polyethylene* (underneath the sink)
- 15 Gallon Grey Water Tank (mounted underneath the van, with outdoor lever for emptying)
- Water Pump: Shurflo 12V & Shurflo Pipe Strainer
- Exterior water refill inlet (fits standard hose and has overfill protection)
- 25Ft Drinking Water Safe Hose (for refilling water tank) with Clear2o Inline Water Filter
Bathroom
- Toilet: Nature’s Head Composting Toilet
- Outdoor Shower: Joolca HOTTAP V2 – Hot Water Shower/Dishes “Nomad Kit”
Bedroom & Living Room
- Bed: 5-inch Memory Foam Mattress (Dimensions: 50″ x 70″)
- Couch:
- Dimensions: 25″ x 70″
- Upholstery Fabric by Sunbrella European Collection at Outdoor Fabrics
- Lagun Adjustable Table Mount
- Dining Table/Desk: (32″ x 20″), tucks away behind the driver seat when not in use
Electric & Solar
- Solar Panels: 2 x 160W Solar Panels (320 Watts Total mounted on a Vantech Roof Rack)*
- Battery/Inverter/Charge Controller: Yeti 3000 Goal Zero Lithium All-in-One Power Station (280 Ah of battery storage)
- Battery charges via the solar panels or it can also be charged by the vehicle’s battery while the van is running using the 12v cigarette lighter (charging cord included)
- Interior AC Power Outlet with two 110 volt plugs and 3 USB Ports: Desktop Power Strip w/ Recessed Socket
- 3 x LED Puck Lights (on ceiling)
- 2 x Dimmable LED Strip Lights with Remote* (underneath overhead cabinets)
- Exterior 110/120V AC Power outlet allows you to plug in at an RV Site or to someone’s home (Outdoor extension cord included)
Insulation
- Reflectix Insulation
- Owens Corning Pure Safety Unfaced Fiberglass Insulation R15
- Insulating Foam for Gaps and Cracks
Floor, Walls & Ceiling
- Floor: Paradigm Waterproof Flooring
- Walls: Beaded Finished Plywood
- Ceiling: Knotty Cedar Tongue and Groove Planking
- Cabinets: Pine wood
Exterior Upgrades
- High Top Extension: 24″ Fiberglass bubble top by Fiberine (with two screened windows)
- Roof Rack: Vantech Universal Roof Rack
- Fan/Vent: Maxxair 10 Speed
- Ladder: Universal Exterior RV Ladder
- Spare Tire Carrier: Wilco OffRoad Hitchgate Solo XL (with accessory plate/mounting kit for additional items)
- 6.5ft x 6.5ft Retractable Awning: Smittybilt Awning
- weBoost Cell Signal Booster
Interior Upgrades
- Swivel Base for Passenger Seat (from DiscountVanTruck for $199)
Climate Control
- Reflectix and R15 Owens Corning Unfaced Fiberglass Insulation throughout the van
- Maxxair 10 Speed Fan/Vent with rain shield
- Two upper screened windows (allows for a cross breeze and a layer of protection because the windows are high up)
- Portable Mr. Heater Little Buddy Indoor Propane Heater
- Blackout/insulating curtain between the driver section and living space
- Weathertech insulated reversible black & reflective window covers (for front 3 windows in the cab section)
- Camco RV Fan/Vent Insulator/Reflector blocks out 100% of harmful UV Rays entering via the Maxxair Fan
- Handmade insulated window covers for all the rest of the windows in the living portion of the van (made out of 6mm thick reflective Thinsulate, earth magnets, and the same fabric as the couch)
Interior Storage
- 2 large compartments above the driver and passenger seats
- 5 large overhead cabinets in the back
- Storage under the couch/bed (24” x 70” x 16” tall)
- 3 drawers under kitchen counter (on sink side)
- 2 cabinets with some shelving and storage (on the kitchen side with stove)
- Hooks to hang things inside the toilet closet and on the outside of the toilet closet
- Shelving throughout the van
Short Van Walk Through
Detailed Van Tour
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Items with a * are not the exact product I used but are a comparable item.