Ford Transit SWB - Unique Design - Stealth Campervan

Bought in 2015 when we were just a couple, we converted it ourselves slowly as work, money and time allowed. We started off with quite a basic bed build and very small cabinets but as we did more and more adventures we decided we wanted more comfort and make it slightly more off grid. Although it has very basic electrics, with the split charge relay and a more nomadic holiday, the power will not run out. If based on a campsite, it will last a few days if nothing power hungry is plugged in. There is 40l freshwater container 20l grey water container plumbed in with a Sureflo pump and sink and a 2 ring gas hob with a 8kg gas canister, which lasts a very long time. There is a large L-shaped sofa and table that folds out small double bed. There is also a slide out large Thetford Porta Potti 165 with space for chemicals behind. With this design, storage space has been maximised with 2 large cubbys under the sofa, double cupboard under the hob and a large shelf above, 2 shelves under the sink and 1 above, 1 large drawer and 3 large cubbys above the toilet which take Ikea Uppdaterra storage boxes and a slim book shelf above the bed perfect for maps or reading books, complete with reading light.

3 years ago we had a baby and still managed adventures all sharing the bed, but this year we have added another to the family and that has put a stop to using the van for holidays due to only having 3 belted seats. We had one last big trip last year as a family of 3, where the van went over to Europe for the first time and we visited France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. We kicked ourselves for not doing it earlier and only travelling in the UK. For a couple or family of 3 it can still be a great base for adventures, while being cheap and fairly basic. The conversion is not as accomplished as we would like, but everything is functional and it was designed purely to meet our needs.

• Fully insulated with Celotex and vapour barrier on floor, ceiling and walls
• Pine tounge and groove cladding
• Laminate flooring (showing some wear)
• Large L-shaped sofa which folds out to a small double bed.
• Removable table and table leg
• Fold out rear door table
• 2 Ring Dometic-Cramer gas hob HBG 2335 and 8kg gas canister
• Thetford Spinflo Sink with Reich Trend A cold tap
• Surflo Trail King water pump (30psi)
• 40l Fresh water container
• 20l Grey water container
• Slide out chemical toilet (Thetford 165/365 size)
• MPower Split charge relay 140amp
• 115ah Leisure battery
• 6 LED downlights, split into 4+2 with 2 separate switches near back door and side door
• Flexible reading light over bed
• 6 USB sockets
• 1 Cigarette lighter style socket
• Voltmeter
• Carbon Monoxide Alarm
• Large storage areas under sofa with gas struts
• Privacy tinted windows at side and rear
• VanX curtains
• Homemade blackout cab curtain with rail and stitched in magnets for the sides
• Custom thermal curtains and sucker attachments for the cab
• Coat hook rail at rear door
• Towel rail under sink
• Unique bin drawer
• Animal seat covers, have been fitted since I bought, so seats are immaculate
• Wind deflectors, good for ventilation while keeping rain out
• Towbar and electrics (electrics need repairing, cable frayed at grommet entry into van)
• Spare wheel underneath

Bad bits
• Couple of rust spots on sills, one rust hole on right hand sill near the back. I never got around to remedying the rust.
• Lots of tiny stone chips on windscreen, never been a problem so I have not done anything about it.
• Headlight dashboard light does not illuminate and never has since owning. Was too much of a big job taking the dash off to replace. Doesn’t affect headlight use and fairly obvious if you have your headlights on.
• Fan to right of radio can’t be adjusted and needs replacing.
• 12v Dashboard socket doesn’t work and needs replacing, socket in dashboard cubby works, so I used to use a double USB socket in it.

Pretty upset to sell the van and would have loved to keep using it for holidays. I’m not sure we can afford to upgrade to a 4 berth van so it has meant the end of van trips for us for the time being. However I hope that the van can continue to give others some freedom and great holidays.