🧭 Van at a Glance

🔧 Build Summary	Details
Base Vehicle	2021 Ford Transit (mid-length)
Build Budget	$20K–$30K
Key Features	Toilet, fridge, bed, water, electrical, cooking area
Primary Use	Boondocking, national parks, remote travel
Why Transit?	Wider interior, gas engine, serviceability, price

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🌲 The Spark: Camping in the Forest

We’ve always loved the idea of escaping into remote areas with no one around. But there was one catch—my wife wasn’t a fan of sleeping in a tent.

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📺 YouTube Inspiration: Catching the Van Life Bug

The following summer, I stumbled upon YouTube van tours and was instantly hooked. My wife has always said, “You love a good project,” and this was no exception.

I watched countless videos, researching van types, layouts, and build techniques. After months of exploration—and showing her dozens of van tours—we decided to rent a couple of camper vans to test the waters. We wanted to see what we liked, what we didn’t, and whether van life was truly for us.

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🛠️ From Software to Sawdust

By training, I’m a software developer. But I’ve tackled plenty of DIY and home improvement projects over the years—kitchen remodels, furniture builds, and more.

From what I saw in the van tours, converting a van is essentially building a tiny house. I’d already done about 70% of the work required to build a camper van, though I lacked experience in automotive and metalworking. Still, being a DIYer, I figured I could learn.

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💰 Budgeting for the Dream

Building a camper van is a significant investment. Not only do you need to buy the van, but also all the materials and components to build it out. Based on our research, we expected to spend between $20,000 and $30,000 on the build alone.

After careful consideration, we decided to go for it.

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📋 Defining Our Must-Haves

Bullet List Block:

• Ability to boondock for several days
• Avoid crowded RV parks and campgrounds
• Easy driving and parking (shorter vehicle preferred)
• Essential RV features: toilet, permanent bed, refrigerator, fresh water, electrical system, cooking area, and a comfortable living space

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🚐 Choosing the Right Van

We narrowed it down to three main options:

Table Block:

Van Model	Pros
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter	Reliable, fuel-efficient (diesel), multiple lengths and roof heights
Ford Transit	Affordable, AWD available, easy service access, wider interior
Ram ProMaster	Front-wheel drive, boxy shape for easier builds, lower cost

General consensus online:

• Sprinter = high-end
• Transit = mid-range
• ProMaster = budget-friendly

We ultimately choose a Ford Transit for several reasons:

1. ~$20K less than the Sprinter, and only slightly more than the ProMaster
2. Shares parts with the Ford F-150, making service easier in rural areas
3. Slightly wider than the Sprinter—enough to fit a mattress sideways
4. Uses regular gas, which is more widely available than diesel in the U.S.

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🛒 Finding Harvey

This was fall 2021, during COVID and all the related supply chain issues for auto makers. New vans were hard to come by. Ford wasn’t accepting new orders for 2022, and Sprinter dealers were asking 15% over MSRP for next year.

So, I started searching in the used market—even in other states. After several weeks, I found a slightly used 2021 Ford Transit (mid-length, under 10K miles) at a nearby lot. We took it for a test drive and decided it was good enough—especially compared to waiting a year or more.

We bought the van and named it Harvey. And so began our van conversion journey.

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🧠 Lessons Learned & What We’d Do Differently

We’re thrilled with the Ford Transit as our base vehicle. It’s been reliable and well-suited for our needs. But if we were to do it again, we’d order one with a few comfort upgrades:

• Adaptive cruise control (top priority)
• Upgraded seats
• Larger display for radio/navigation

For anyone planning a build, we highly recommend FarOutRide.com. Their guides are incredibly helpful, and we’d follow most of their recommendations.

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📏 Why We Chose the Mid-Length

We opted for the mid-length (20 ft) Transit instead of the extended (22 ft). If we were living full-time in the van or staying in RV parks, we might have gone longer. But for boondocking and navigating forest service roads, the shorter length has been perfect.

Some national park roads restrict vehicles over 20 ft long, so Harvey fits just about anywhere (some tunnels excluded due to height). Harvey can also park in a standard parking space. Unless we shift toward longer stays in established campgrounds, we’d still choose the mid-length.

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🌄 Final Thoughts

Building Harvey was one of the most rewarding projects we’ve ever tackled. It’s given us the freedom to explore, the comfort to relax, and the joy of creating something truly our own.

If you’re considering a DIY van conversion, we say: go for it. The road ahead is full of possibilities.

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