FORD TRANSIT CONNECT MICRO CAMPER VAN CONVERSION FOR TWO: Small budget van for van life! (UPDATED)
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- Опубликовано: 12 авг 2023
- We recently finished traveling to 49 out of the 50 states in our 2013 Ford Transit Connect. We spent nearly two years both converting and traveling out of the van! The micro van conversion took us several months and we have been making van build changes along the way. In this video we show off our entire van build once more including our micro camper van layout, bed build, cabinet, desk, sink, "bathroom," shower, solar panels, electric set-up, and general storage! #vanlife
Related Videos/Shameless Plugs:
Original Van Tour: • FORD TRANSIT CONNECT F...
Van Bed Explained: • Ford Transit Connect M...
Overhead Shelf Explained: • HOW WE BUILT OUR OVERH...
How We Installed new Mirrors: • FORD TRANSIT CONNECT M...
Van Build: • Micro Camper Van Build...
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Below are some of the items and materials we discussed in the video:
Under Storage Drawer: amzn.to/33DgUzb
Folding Brackets: amzn.to/3IPdHN3
Woven Decor: amzn.to/3mbpfQZ
MaxxAir Fan: amzn.to/3F2vrlJ
Noco Boost: amzn.to/3DUa7gV
Large Pillow Case: amzn.to/3ytRuz4
Visor Mirror: amzn.to/33zTv1q
Awning: amzn.to/30yH6tw
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 - amzn.to/311sTFb
YAKIMA, RoadShower 7G (Ours is the 4G model) - amzn.to/3nxA0gi
Rain Shield: amzn.to/3q35DPY
Electric Blanket: amzn.to/3F09HGV
Camp Chair: amzn.to/30tExZw
Drink Holder: amzn.to/3s85mxM
Portable sink: amzn.to/321oAKX
Air Fryer: amzn.to/3F4gvDI
Stove: amzn.to/3IS7L5Q
Refrigerator (21 quart): amzn.to/3sajl6g
Water dispenser: amzn.to/3GLmnlB
Water Jug: amzn.to/3yuaain
Shore Power plug: amzn.to/3EWhaqy
Lights: amzn.to/3s9aG6a
Phone Mount: amzn.to/453x8wj
Safe: amzn.to/3QC6eXZ
Backpack: amzn.to/327NmJt
Portable Toilet: amzn.to/3mb5clI
Portable Urinal: amzn.to/3GHU33m
Mattress: www.target.com/p/6-gel-memory...
Cabinet (Project Source 30-in W x 30-in H x 12.75-in D Natural Unfinished Oak Door Wall Fully Assembled Stock Cabinet from Lowes Item #336276Model #33A W3030B) - www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Sour...
Wallpaper on Cabinet: amzn.to/3GMZhuV
Under shelf wired basket: amzn.to/3q3Wzu7
Drawer Slides - www.lowes.com/pd/Richelieu-2-...
Cabinet Knobs - www.lowes.com/pd/Brainerd-1-3...
Cabinet Top - www.lowes.com/pd/Common-3-4-i...
Roof rack: www.walmart.com/ip/80070-Tran...
Curious about our gear? Want to know what else we have in our van? Click this link here to find out:
www.amazon.com/shop/mikeandhe...
The travel credit card we use: capital.one/42dsoD4
Looking for a travel guide? Check out the GyPSy Guide! They have audio tours for locations all over the world. We especially love using them in National Parks: gypsyguide.com/?afmc=MIKEHTHR...
DISCLAIMER: Please note that the links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links in this video we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you if you do!
#fordtransitconnect #fordtransitconnectcamper #vantour
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This video is the reason I can now proudly say I am the owner of a Ford transit connect and currently converting it solo after years of dreaming but not believing it was possible. Just wanted to say THANKYOU for proving it’s more than possible, it’s beautiful! So grateful for your videos❤
Congratulations! That is so exciting! We are so happy for you! You have to keep us updated on your progress, we would love to hear all about your build and travels 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you. Best of luck!
Just bought one today and starting my conversion in the next couple of weeks. I’m excited
The shoe pockets are definitely a game changer.
You are right! They may not be the prettiest addition but they added valuable storage that we absolutely needed. Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Love the updated van tour. I have watched all your vlogs, and seeing your home after the 49/50 state adventure shows how organization and practicality makes van life possible on a small budget.
We learned the hard way that organization is a must! The first time we went out, we had way too much stuff everywhere lol Ever since then, we have tried our best to only bring what we need and make sure it has a specific place in the van 😊 Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!
To pee or not to pee, It's on a need to know and got to go basis and all you need to know is I've got to go.
This should be the van life motto 😂
Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
@@mikeandheather ha ha have a nice day or nyt .
You too :) @@mysurlytrucker7510
As a 62 year old man I have been going to laundry mats and sometimes wherever I keep the 1 gal jugs for wiper fluid they never leak and in many too much coffee days I am not littering or attracting attention on side of the road or whatever place I can stop
For such a small van, you guys have done an amazing job. 😊exact organization is not only necessary but I also noticed the touches of decor that make a cool statement. The wooden border on the rail of the bed 👍🏽, nice detail. I love your build for you.🥰🥰🥰
You are too kind! We really love our van and are glad you do too 🥰 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!
Another nice Sunday. Have fun 🙂
Thank you 😊 We really appreciate it and you!
my wife and I have been wanting a camper van for a while but haven't seen a super spacious van in our price range, seeing someone able to convert something smaller has given us a lot of ideas, thanks !
You guys continue to bring me joy!
Ditto 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it and you!
Outstanding! As a 6'4 person who was wondering if this van was going to be workable, this was just what I was looking for 🙌
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it. Best of luck in your van search!
Great Vlog... Happy and safe travelling to you both...🚐👏👏☘
Thank you for the kind words and well wishes, we really appreciate it and you watching 😊
This was the most interesting video! You guys complement each other so well. I have never seen a micro camper with so much installed and so logically! Keep doing what you do.
Thank you for the kind words 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching, it means a lot to us!
Your build is most practical. I'm a newbie here. Love the tour
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
I'm a Buffalo transplant living in New Jersey and I just loved following your traveling adventures! Seeing that little 716 Buffalo travel everywhere with you just warms my heart.❤ I'm looking forward to what your new adventures will be!
Small world! That's awesome! We even have a little Buffalo 716 sign in our van 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it and you!
I loved your minivan and the way you organized it. You both did excellent work and a great video!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it 😊
Such a beautiful & complete build! I also love that your road shower is mounted across the width rather than the length! That really opens up the roof some! Amazed that a 6’5” man travelled comfortably here!! Congrats on your adventures! Thanks for sharing!!
You are too kind! Thank you so much for for watching. We really do appreciate your words of encouragement and you watching, it means a lot to us!
Congratulations. I love the simplicity & how organized u both are❤
Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching 😀
Great video! You guys have done an awesome job. It’s really going to help me figure out my own build. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build!
I have a 2012 Transit Connect with 312K miles on it. Be sure to change the transmission fluid somewhere that actually drops the pan and cleans it out (including any debris on the magnet). I have had the engine and transmission mounts changed to remedy a problem with vibration. From what I understand from talking with people having these in commercial service, they won't go over 400k without some sort of major repair.
This is fantastic. Best micro camper ever!
Wow, you are too kind! Thank you so much, we really do appreciate it and you watching!
This is great! We're considering a ford transit custom here in the UK. We converted a Mercedes Vito many years ago and loved it.
Looking at this type of van right now, retired (old 😉) looking to live my best life 🎉 So glad i found you two! Thank you so much! Happy trails! 🦋
That is so exciting! We were actually inspired by a retired person traveling in a Ford Transit Connect which is one of the reasons we purchased our van! There is no age limit on van life 😊 Best of luck in your van search and travels!
I looked at this size, but decided this old lady needs to stand up inside so I went with a hightop van
This is awesome, super inspiring!
What a great van tour you made! It is such a wonderful rig. What you tell about your campervan I can relate to with an Opel Combo (I think in the US it is a Vauxhall). It is a little bit smaller, but I travel by myself. This video showed again how organised you are, I learned a lot from that! Greetings from the Netherlands!
Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching ALL THE WAY FROM THE NETHERLANDS! That is too cool!
We googled an Opel Combo and you are right! It is very similar to the Ford Transit Connect, especially the newer models. It looks like a great little van 😊 Best of luck in your travels!
@@mikeandheather Thanks! You too, on to your 50th!!! 💪🏼
Great video! Looking forward to the measuring session. I think I’ve suggested before you should get it drawn up. It’s a great design!
I’ve started pointing people in the uk looking for van build ideas to your videos.
Take care as always
Yes you did 😊 Thank you so much for the suggestion/idea, we really appreciate it and your support! It means a lot to us!
Very informative yet very succinct...love it!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to set up my FTC. I'm completely clueless, so your videos are a big help!
That is so exciting! Best of luck in your van build! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
Me too!
One of the better vids on van builds.
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Nice job guys! Got some great ideas. Thanks❤
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build!
love the tour, so much inspiration!
Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build 😊
Love your sink...I have grappled with this.
It isn't the fanciest sink but it gets the job done haha Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck with your build.
As always, your commentaries are so good! I enjoy them immensely and can totally relate with my 2013 Transit Connect! Hope you are intending to continue your traveling!
Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your travels as well 😊 #teamtransitconnect
Looks like I will be starting my journey next month-September 😎🙏❣️🤗
We are so excited for you! Best of luck in your travels! You are going to have an amazing time 😊
Really well done video. First time I've seen a solar electrical set up with six volt batteries. Interesting. I'll have to watch more of your videos.
We are really fortunate to have two electricians in the family that set it up for us 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Just found your channel love the van, great layout you have everything you need & doesn’t look cluttered, would love to do this one day ❤
Thank you for the kind words! We really do appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your van search 😉
Very nice for a Small van!💓💖 Love it😍
We love it too 🥰 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
This gives me tons of ideas for a build out I want to do.
That is so exciting, best of luck in your van build! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
I like the side mirrors. I’m looking at doing the same. Happy travels.
Thank you for the well wishes, we really appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your van build 😊
Great job and very efficient!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi Mike & Heather I stumbled across your channel today. I love the Micro camper its awesome. I travel the UK and love Micro Van Life Thanks for Sharing. How brilliant you created a back to the beginning playlist I guess thats my next click. I have a diesel heater in mine too cold in the UK to do winter without. --------> Goes to watch the beginning.
We are so happy you have found our channel 😊 Fair warning, the earlier you go back in our videos, the more cringey and dodgy the camera work is haha But in all seriousness, your support really does mean a lot to us! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it and you! We would love to travel the UK one day, happy travels!
Love your content!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it 😊
Crazy to see how far you guys have grown I remember when you hit 1k subs
Right?! Some days it feels like we just bought the van but when we look back on all we did, it feels like it has been more than 2 years! Time flies when you are having fun 😊 Thank you so much for watching, especially those super cringy early vlogs 😂
Wow, what a great video , and a great fit out of the Transit connection ,
Thank you for a very informative video
i would love to do something like that ,if only i had the knowledge
Greetings from Ireland 😊
Thank you for the kind words and for watching ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND?! Too cool! We really do appreciate it and you 😊
Don't let the lack of knowledge stop you from trying if you are interested in building out a van! We had 0% experience/knowledge which is very evident if you watch back our van build videos! Fair warning those videos are a bit cringy but they may give you some confidence after seeing how little we knew 😂
Nice looking van. I also knock on wood that my Transit Connect hasn't had transmission issues.
Hi Mike at Heather 👋🏽 This is my first video watching your micro camper setup .. your setup is wonderful 👏🏽👏🏽 I will be watching more of your videos .. Take care and be safe 👍🏾
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!
Great job !
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
I have these hanging convex mirrors from amazon on mine and I hate how gaudy they look. One of the mirrors actually broke off and I had to gorilla glue epoxy it back on so idk how long that'll last. I had no idea Britain had the good mirrors! Thanks for showing those, that's at the top of my wishlist now lol
Great Video - Thanks!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you so much for the van tour! My husband, who is 6’3”, has been leery of van life. Once again, I got to show him he was wrong! 😉 Would love to know the dimensions of the bed when it’s in “sleep mode” and how you added the extender for Mike. We love watching your videos and appreciate you taking us along on your adventures!
Let him know that ours is probably one of the smallest vans for van life so it only gets better/more room from there lol The bed is about the size of a twin XL mattress. (3ft x 7 ft) We purchased a twin XL mattress from Target and cut it into the cushions we needed. It is on the small size for sure but definitely doable :)
Shameless plug- here is a link to our bed build video that goes in a lot more depth: ruclips.net/video/fEzCltIEkiE/видео.html
Hope that helps! Thank you for watching!
@@mikeandheather
Thank you so much for the information. I’ll definitely show him the video and let him know that it can be done, even by someone taller! 😂 Thank you again!
@@greeneyesandfreckles Good luck! 😆
I’m 5’8” and it’s hard at times but I’ve done the van life 3 years now
hey I have the same van this has gave me loads of ideas thanks guys !
That's awesome! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it. Best of luck in your van build and safe travels!
Thanks!
Great awning
Your van is the first I have seen with a safe. Something I thought is a necessary for full time travel.
The safe is great for peace of mind for sure! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Smart with the big cushions to hide things in, I'll follow suit
It really does help with storage! Thank you for watching, we appreciate it :)
Love the wheels
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
It’s a great van! 😊
Thank you 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching!
Mary Poppins Van, love it
Love that you described it that way 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!
You both did a great job on the van's fitout. I love your little airfryer its so cute and perfect size. I am putting together a itinerary for our road trip next month. Did you see any strange things in your travels?
The air fryer is one of our absolute favorite things we have in our van! We don't know how we traveled without it for so long at the beginning lol
We hope you have an amazing time on your road trip, that is so exciting!
What do you mean by strange? Like Big Foot strange? Or, sketchy people strange? lol
@@mikeandheatherThank you for your wishes. anything. Bigfoot strange mostly. The first stop we are staying at is a Yowie hot spot ( Australian Bigfoot). So hopefully we will get some good footage 🤣. Might be a idea for a video strange things and bloopers
@@MICHELLE-gu2qc Sadly we did not see anything that cool on our travels, but not for lack of trying! Especially in California in the Redwoods, that is where Big Foot supposedly lives lol
I (Heather) really wanted to drive the Big Foot highway, it is a road in California that has the most sightings in the country! I also wanted to drive the extraterrestrial highway in Nevada to search for aliens lol But both were way out of the way- still on the bucket list for sure though! haha
You will have to keep us updated if you spot anything! We love urban legends! If you are successful finding the Yowie, we may have to add that to the bucket list when we eventually make it to Australia 🤣
You can use the side of the van as a screen for a projector 😊
Great idea, that would be so fun! Thank you so much for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Never heard of transmission problems. It’s a solid van
You are right, it is a very solid van! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!
good job guys
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
This is way too cool
That bed set- up is extremely tight!
Hi, love the video, just wondered what make the detachable cooking utensils were? The one with the single handle and the different attachments in a case.
Thanks
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Sorry we can't be more help with the utensils, we bought the set second hand from a garage sale and it doesn't have any branding to look up the company that sells them. Best of luck finding a utensil set that works for you 😊
I just really love your van set up. I think it was well thought over and constructed really nice. You guys did an amazing job. Do you have a cost total on that? I understand if you don't want to share that.
Thank you for the kind words! We love our van too 😊 We purchased the van for $6,700. We sold one of our cars to pay for it and used the van as a commuter car until we found remote work. We put an additional $5,000 into the build/supplies. We built it out during the pandemic when costs were high, especially the wood so you could probably do it for less now. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
@@mikeandheather❤
Very nice ❣
Thank you! We really appreciate the kind words and you watching 😊
I love to see what the extension looks like. Are the rails already there or did you install it?
woohoo it's Mike and Heather. Why am I always 😮 when y'all say Mike is 6'5, I'm aware but always shocked. Love the build. You guys managed to include everything in this small space. Also love the two extra "table" spaces at the backdoors. Can't wait for your next video. 💕
We quickly learned we brought too much stuff on our first road trip. Every time we have gone out since, we leave more stuff behind haha Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you I really have less worries but more mindfully inserts and usable important things to consider when planning this out. Bc in real life for some of us cannot pay 50 million bucks for a luxury home on wheels and afford food, gas, insurance, maintenance, doctor visits, and whatever else comes with that. My plate is filled already with an autistic son.
You are so right! We originally looked into converting a larger van but quickly learned they were out of our budget. But, where there is a will there is a way 😊 We have even seen people travel extensively out of small cars like a Prius! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you! Best of luck in your van search!
That is a nice van 😁
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
First video I've watched of yalls, and loved it! Subscribed :) I didn't read through all the comments, but where do you guys store food? And do you ever use a cooler? We car camp right now in an Outback & Forester and we've been going back & forth between the transit connect & pro master. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching! We stored our food in the yellow cabinet and sometimes under the bed if we needed extra space. We used our little refrigerator often but never felt the need to have an additional cooler.
You can't really go wrong with either vans! Both the Transit Connect and Pro Master are great choices. In another video we talk a lot about the pros and cons to the Transit Connect: ruclips.net/video/HAPWnDlY2U8/видео.html
Hopefully that helps in your decision making 😀 Best of luck in your van search!
@@mikeandheather Thank you! We'll watch it tonight!
Glad i found you guys just bought a 2010 with a transmission rebuilt with 200000km debating of building it out. Did you do a video about building the bed and where to get the mattress from.
We are glad you found us too 😊 Congratulations on your purchase, that is so exciting! We did document our bed build a little bit, we will include the link to the video down below for you to check out. It was an early vlog and the bed build itself was a lot of trial and error but hopefully you find the process/video helpful still haha Here you go: ruclips.net/video/Y8Jp_CxZJO0/видео.htmlsi=pYrTCNN5nW2jGUDm&t=1098
We purchased the mattress from Target. It is a Twin mattress that we cut up with an electric kitchen knife. Then we purchased fabric from Walmart to sew around the cushions. Here is the link to the mattress in case you are interested in checking it out: www.target.com/p/6-gel-memory-foam-mattress-with-microban-antimicrobial-fabric-cover-room-essentials/-/A-82021635?preselect=81644471#lnk=sametab
Hope that helps! Best of luck in your van build!
One of the things are the mirrors. I'm so glad my Connect hast these mirrors as standard. If one do not have it, buy it.
We much prefer these mirror too! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi Heather & Mike-congrats on all 50 states! I have followed from the beginning!!! Can you tell me where to get the bug thingys that pull over the front windows to keep bugs out and also what you use on the side front and other windows to keep people from seeing light in the van when its dark out. Or send me which video has links to these items! Thansk so much! I am borrowing my 90 yr old dad's transit connect for camping through September!
That is so exciting! You are going to have an amazing time! You will have to let us know how your trip goes, we would love to hear all about it!
Sorry, we do not have mosquito net recommendations for the front windows! That was one thing we never purchased- definitely something that would come in handy though. Not sure if you have gone down the RUclips rabbit hole like we did when we were first researching how to travel out of a Ford Transit Connect, but there is another channel we watched a lot of before our first trip and I (Heather) know that she uses the type of mosquito nets you are talking about! (Because I almost bought them after I saw her use them lol)
The channel name is Lady Bugout. She owns and travels out of a Ford Transit Connect too. I'm not sure which video specifically she mentions them in, but her channel may be worth checking out if you are interested in seeing how they would work with our type of van 😊 Honestly, we didn't purchase them for more of a safety thing. We never left our doors or windows unlocked when we were sleeping unless staying in an established campground. But we could have definitely used them when we were just hanging out in the van and wanted a little bit more ventilation.
We used a car windshield sunshade to cover both our front windshield and the side windows like this one here: amzn.to/47FiJb1
We bought 2, one for the front and another to cut up to fit in the side windows. We first used wrapping paper to make the template of the side windows and then cut the windshield sunshade to match. If you do this, make sure you cut just a little bit bigger than your wrapping paper template so you can shove/stick them in each spot. If they fit perfectly they will not stay up, we learned that the hard way lol
Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching! It really means a lot to us 🥰 We wish you all the best in your van life journey!
Thanks Heather I will check lady buyouts recommendations!! She has good tips and definitely lives in her van! Luckily I just camp in my dads and need windows open at night due to my dog. Dad can’t put a maxair fan in as it won’t fit in his garage. I will make side windows silver thingys like you suggested! My dad had a front window one which keeps the heat out really well. We’re heading to camp at Rincon Campground just for one night tonight so we can’t wait! Hurricane Hilary brought rain and wind but it wasn’t as bad as expected here. Our 5.5 earthquake though got our attention!
Thanks for another excellent video. I travel in a 2010 transit connect and cross the country frequently with a 3 year old female English Bulldog.
Too cute! It sounds like you have an amazing travel companion 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Oh forgot to ask would you be adding extra lights to the roof it looks like there's space in the front of the roof rack. I know showing up at camp after dark is well dark. 😁
You are right, there is a little bit of space still! Thank you for the suggestion, that is a great idea 😊 We really appreciate it!
I would love more info in the mirrors that you got!!! I fear getting into accidents using the mirrors that are provided with my van!!!
Before purchasing our van, we never drove anything without rear windows so we totally understand where you are coming from, we had the same fear! Which is why when people started commenting that they had different mirrors on their Ford Transit Connects in the UK, we looked into seeing how to purchase them.
We ended up buying the two mirrors off of eBay from someone selling them in Great Britain! We also made a video that shows us installing them, here is the link in case you are wanting to see the whole process of us installing the mirrors: ruclips.net/video/TNDvUXQO1L0/видео.html
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Great video!! I’m in Dawson Creek, Bc. Mile zero for your Alaska trip😊
You have a beautiful home 😊 Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Thank you, for your update room tour. Now tested by travelling in 49 states.
I have now TWO small Powerstations from Bluetti. (EB3A)
I got it with huge discount. The first with 33 % Discount.
The second with 60 % Discount, this month.
(Both new.)
The only little problem: It runs not so long by AC power.
But in the US it will run longer, because 110 Volt AC only.
I think, the marketplace for Powerstations becomes bigger.
So old modells with huge discount ?
By Transit connect automatic drive: Take care of your temperature at your gear box.
A burnout costs $ 5.500,-
Greetings from sw Germany (middle europe)
Now Autumn, but not so cold as expected.
You are right! There is a large market for Power Stations and some great deals to be found out there 😊
Wow, $5,500 is a lot of money, that is almost as much as we paid for our entire van! Thank you for the advise on taking care of our gear box, we really appreciate it. We are sad to hear that you had to repair yours.
Thank you so much for watching all the way from Germany! We hope you have a beautiful Autumn season 🍂🍁
@@mikeandheather An US Vanlifer got his automatic gear box broken = $ 5.500
With a Transit connect.
So he mounted a temperature sensor at his new gearbox. And his display for the driver to see the amount of temperature.
I am European, and most drive stick shift.
me too
Because the cars are cheaper.
And his gear box is more reliable.
Or the model is made only by stick shift.
My car costs only $ 600,-
icl. dirt and garbage. But no rust !
And some issues to fix.
@@mikeandheather We have now a mild autumn. Not so cold and less rain.
But all christmas cookies, cakes etc. in the shops now.
Halloween is also here, but not so much as in the US. And less, as in the last years.
I have my winter tyres ready.
Bought all cheaper in the summer.
And half price, because minor miles used.
But to find cheap used rims needed five months.
Love your layout. Searched comments but can't find how you did the orange/white design on your cabinet. It really pulls things together.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! The orange/white design is actually peel and stick wallpaper that we purchased from Amazon. It looks like the wallpaper isn't available on Amazon anymore but it is on etsy. Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out:
www.etsy.com/listing/927743702/golden-wallpaper-navajo-by-kimsa-gold?gpla=1&gao=1&
Hope that helps! Thanks again for watching 😊
Amazing woohoo ❤
Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Beautiful young people 👍🇨🇦
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
What did you put on the walls to cover the metal? And is it insulated? I love it!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Yes, the walls are insulated, after insulating them we added a masonite board over them to smooth out the wall before covering up everything with carpet. We did show the process a little bit in this video here: ruclips.net/video/qFu8bW_nIdI/видео.html
Fair warning, this was one of our first videos and is a bit cringy but it shows the insulation and board we are talking about 😂
I love your bed set up! I was wondering how it does on dirt roads?
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! We have taken the van down a lot of dirt roads. It doesn't have a lot of clearance but does well if you navigate around some of the larger bumps. Here is an example of us driving down a dirt road: ruclips.net/video/UmhhE9bgWtc/видео.htmlsi=lzbjGixrWRHbgPEl&t=562
Hope that helps!
@@mikeandheather Thanks yes!
Thanks for the video. I’m looking into something similar but curious how these are insured since cargo vans are categorized as commercial vehicles. Were you able to insure it as a personal vehicle rather than commercial?
You are right! In New York State we had to register the van as a commercial vehicle because it did not have back windows which was the criteria. But, through Geico, we were able to insure the van as a personal vehicle since we were not using it for business purposes. (We called and talked to an agent who was helpful in making sure it was insured properly. They said that a lot of pick-up trucks also have to be registered as commercial due to the size but that doesn't necessarily mean they are commercial vehicles on the insurance side of things.) Not sure which insurance company you have but our suggestion would be to reach out to them to inquire further 😊 Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Nice build! Do you know the exterior height from ground to roof including the rack and accessories?
Thank you for the kind words! We really appreciate it and you watching! Yes, we do know the exterior height, it is 7 ft from the ground up including the roof rack and accessories 😊
Shameless plug- if you are interested in more dimensions we actually made an entire video with every dimension in our van, including the exterior height. Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/z9o5tdebowU/видео.htmlsi=xdDIiuyjHE0XaD4R
Hope that helps!
Would you guys recommend your portable speaker? That's one of those things I've been debating on!
Yeah, we would recommend it! Honestly, we have never had another portable speaker to compare it to but we like it and it works well for us. We liked that it was small and waterproof 😊 Here is the link to it if you are interested in reading more on it: amzn.to/48r8W8W Hope that helps!
I have a created a no-build camper with my 2023 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van. How do you guys control for condensation in your video? I see you got a max air fan, how much energy does that pull? Do you run it all night?
That is awesome! Honestly, we think having a no-build camper would be even harder to design a layout for so we are incredibly impressed!
The short answer is we don't really control the condensation. In the morning we just use a condensation windshield sponge to wipe if off. (Here is the link to the one we use in case you are interested: amzn.to/46leX5i) We also have a small towel for the days it is really bad but normally it isn't. The worst time we have condensation is during the winter time. We do usually have our fan running every night. If it is a cooler night, we may not run the fan but still crack it open to get some fresh air in. When having it run all night, it doesn't take up too much power. It has never drained our solar batteries 😊
Hope that helps! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hello :)- New to your channel and looking to transition to the van life style and looking for a vehicle that will fit my lifestyle!!!! :)-
Any links for the seat and steering wheel covers? Can't see them anywhere! Thanks :D
Here you go!
We purchased the seat covers from Walmart: www.walmart.com/ip/Auto-Drive-2-Piece-High-Back-Seat-Covers-Bohemian-Dreams-Polyester-Colorful-Universal-Fit-SC3116/812906844?athbdg=L1600&from=/search
We purchased the steering wheel cover from Amazon: amzn.to/3KEuoNM
Hope that helps! Thank you for watching 😊
amazing thank you! much love @@mikeandheather
Know what you know now, would you have gotten the AC unit instead of something else (like the awning for example)?
Absolutely! If we could go back, we would have saved some money in areas and upgraded our fan to an AC unit. We recently made a video on things we would change about our van build and that was one of them 😊 Shameless plug, here is the video if you are interested in checking it out: ruclips.net/video/MmFJ-xlQHTk/видео.html
Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
With your water container, do you take it out to fill or do you have a remote connection to refill it?
We usually take the water container out to fill it. Sometimes, when we are lazy and don't want to take the container out, we use a hose or the smaller water jug to fill it. You can kind of see the process here: ruclips.net/video/BxMiVO5TTNc/видео.html
Hope that helps! Thank you for watching 😊
super curious about that upgreaded blindspot mirror, where can I get one?
We purchased the mirrors through eBay but this was the shop that was listed as the seller: ultimatestyling.co.uk/car-parts/wing-door-mirrors/ford-transit-connect-2009-2013-van-1800-diesel-front-wheel-drive-108bhp-parts?year=2013
Here is the video of us installing them: ruclips.net/video/TNDvUXQO1L0/видео.html
Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😀
Is that some kind of carpet you have on the side walls?
My husband are looking at a Ford Transit Connect XLT. What is the wheel base of your vehiucle?
To be honest, we aren't sure! We assume the van is just the standard wheel base as it doesn't say otherwise- it doesn't say short or long wheel base anywhere...
Hope that helps! Sorry we don't have an exact answer for you. Best of luck in your van search & thanks for watching 😊
You and I have the same length hair. You can get rid of the hair dryer by just idling the car for a short time and using your vents. It's How I've dried my hair many times quickly
So smart! I usually let it air dry with the windows down but on cold days that is not an option haha I will have to give that trick a try next time :) Thank you for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!
One of the things I always wonder is how you handle the gap between the cushions. Don’t you tend to fall down into them when sleeping?
You are right! We did have some issues with our cushions splitting in the middle when we were sleeping with our original bed build. To solve that issue (or at least improve it) we adjusted how far our bed slides out to make it a tighter fit for the cushions. Now we basically have to shove the cushions down to make them fit in the space but it is a whole lot better as the cushions no longer split apart. If we could go back and redesign our bed, we probably would opt for a more futon style with a single mattress to avoid the issue altogether. Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi
I am 66 years old. I have only had the Amish build me a bench bed so far.
I have a 2018 with low mileage.
It has a hatch door.
I recently bought an electric bike.
Do you have any idea where I would mount a bike rake?
I’m thinking the only type that would work is a swing to the side rack. TY.
I describe Van Scoder as my hard shell tent.
Stay safe!
That is so exciting! The Amish do great work, your bed must be really good quality!
We do not have a bike rack on our van so unfortunately we don't have any experience with where to put one on a van. However, we did consider putting a hitch on our van at one point to have a little bit more cargo space. When we were researching, we were also looking at the swing to side rack so we didn't lose the ability to open the back doors. Not sure if you are a solo traveler, but we have also seen people remove the front seat for more storage too!
Sorry we couldn't be more help- best of luck in your van build! It sounds like it is going to be the perfect "hard shell tent" once it is finished 😊 Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Appa!!!!
I really want one of these vans but because of the popularity they are almost unaffordable, at least in my area, wah wah.....😉👍
We are sorry to hear that! The reason we went with this van was the exact opposite, it was the only one we could afford! We purchased our van for just over $6,000 and actually sold Heather's car to put the money towards it 😂 Hopefully they will come down in price for you soon. Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your van search 😊
What are the wheels off of?