The base for this van conversion is a Ford Transit 4x4 with an overall length of about 5.5 m and a cargo length of around 3 m. The Transit was chosen because it’s the only panel van available in the shortest wheelbase with an integrated H3 roof, so the rear doors also go all the way up. Thanks to the approx. 2.05 m interior height and the omission of traditional overhead cabinets, the living space feels open and never cramped — even at the shortest wheelbase.
This conversion is designed for off-grid travel for two people. The focus is a permanent bed with a “at-home” mattress, a generous kitchen with induction hob, and a composting toilet. In return, we skip a wet bath and a fixed dinette.
The furniture is built from oak, which glows warmly in sunlight. Open shelves for clothes and toiletries, plus storage boxes in the kitchen, bring color and life to the space.
Two highlights of this build are the bed and the composting toilet. The longitudinal bed has a fixed surface of 1.40 x 1.40 m and extends to nearly two meters by raising the backrest of the bench. The slightly smaller permanent sleeping surface gives the kitchen an extra 50 cm without sacrificing the benefits of a fixed bed.
The pull-out composting toilet is a custom build that fits precisely into the remaining niche. The solid waste box with agitator is made to measure and vents to the outside when slid in.
Key specs of this Ford Transit 4x4 conversion
- Engageable 4x4 with rear differential lock
- 500 kg payload
- 1.40 x 1.93 m longitudinal bed with natural latex mattress
- Bike garage on a heavy-duty slide
- Dometic S7P awning windows
- 300 Ah LiFeYPO4 battery
- 3 kW Victron Multiplus inverter
- Neff induction hob with two burners
- Enamel sink, 45 cm diameter
- 45 L fresh water in canisters with quick couplings and pressure pump
- Outdoor shower with hot water
- 80 L compressor fridge
- 2 kW air heater with intake silencer and inside/outside air control