Inside
Our space is fully insulated with high-quality materials like kingspan and celotex, and includes a moisture-blocking layer under the pine wood cladding and birch plywood that covers the floors, ceiling, and walls.
It features a full-sized, super comfy double bed that easily transforms into a three-seat sofa. Under the bed, there’s a huge storage area accessible through a door at the end. You can also split the bed into two smaller single beds if needed.
The kitchen has a twin burner stove connected to a 6kg Gaslow Bottle, which can last over a month if used daily. Filling the bottle costs about $8, and it’s easy to do even inside with adapters for different countries available.
The Gaslow website has a helpful map showing where you can refill in the UK and Europe. For safety, we’ve installed a Carbon Monoxide detector with a seven-year lifespan, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher.
The kitchen area includes a small stainless steel sink and faucet, operated by a Whale foot pump drawing water from a 70L fresh water tank. There’s also a 10L grey water tank that’s easy to remove and empty. This setup can comfortably provide a week’s worth of water for two people.
To keep things cool, especially during summer, there’s a Fiamma crystal roof vent for air circulation.
The electrical setup includes a 110ah AGM battery connected to a 120w solar panel, powering a 12v system with one outlet and energy-efficient LED lights. We also have a 240v hookup option. This system is designed for easy expansion if you want to add more panels or batteries.
We’ve fitted a side window professionally (receipt available) and customized all the woodwork using solid materials, no MDF, and only natural paints and oils.
There’s also a Fiamma Bi-pot Toilet in the back, which is unused, easy to clean, and doubles as a solid cedar wood seat when not in use.
We spent six months converting the van ourselves. All the worktops are made of solid beech wood, and the kitchen counter features a natural edge design using spalted birch, treated with durable Hardwax Oil.
The chest at the back of the van combines chestnut and ash wood. We designed and cut all the decorative woodwork, using maple and birch plywood.
We used pine for the frames and cladding, and added details with yew wood. I’m still adding more yew wood details whenever I get the chance. We made sure to reuse high-quality wood and bought new materials only from responsible sources.
Inside the van, there’s a ton of storage space. Despite being large, the van is much easier to drive than a motorhome, which is really helpful on rainy days. It’s light enough to leave room for more stuff if needed.
We didn’t include a shower and toilet originally because, after a few test trips, we realized we didn’t need them. Instead, there’s a removable bench topped with chestnut wood in that space. If you travel in colder seasons and want hot showers, this space could be perfect for installing a boiler.
All the furniture is built into units that can be rearranged easily. We set it up this way for our convenience, but the layout worked well as it was.
This van is ready for adventure! You can live off-grid for weeks, and it’s perfect for any trip, no matter how long you plan to be away. It comes with options like roof-racks, all-terrain tires, water tanks underneath, and extra batteries.
There’s plenty of room to pack gear for all kinds of sports and every season. You could even add a small wood burner or a hammock if you like. This van makes it easy to travel for months at a time.
Technical Details
- Model: Late 2012 Ford Transit XLWB 350 – RWD
- Engine: 6-speed manual 2.4L Duratorq, very powerful
- Mileage: 170,000 miles, but it’s well-maintained and can go much further
- Fuel Efficiency: Averages 35 MPG, over 40 MPG on highways
- Features: Reverse camera, additional 12v plug above the steering wheel for phones, auxiliary port on the passenger side
- Includes: 2 sets of keys
- Maintenance: MOT valid until January 23, 2021. Recent updates include new brake discs and pads, a new handbrake, full service, and an air filter change. New side lights and a replacement light cover have been added. The MOT initially failed due to a blown fuse, but this has been fixed. Oil and filter changes have been done every 6 months, regardless of mileage.
Price: $12,850
Contact: Email marvineibner@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.quirkycampers.com
