This Incredibly Versatile Micro Camper Van Has a "Swiss Army Knife" Interior With 4 Modes

Mike is an architecture grad student, so arranging space in clever ways is something he's familiar with. Some time ago, he challenged himself to create four living modes in his van, a Ford Transit Connect. He implemented all four modes: hauling, lounging, working, and sleeping.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. Some exterior accessories on the roof could reveal the van's "mobile home DNA." You'll notice a 100 W solar panel and a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Tray on two crossbars that hold an awning.

Step inside the van, and you'll probably be surprised by how roomy the interior is. Usually, micro camper vans' interiors are split into two parts, each on one side: a kitchen and a bed/couch.

But this one offers much space in the middle, with two tall, floor-to-ceiling furniture units taking just a bit of width on the sides. All of them are made using ¾-inch bamboo plywood. Moreover, the interior has an open layout, meaning no wall separates the driver's cabin from the living space.

Mike added different materials for the walls and ceiling to create more separation between the main two areas in the living space. He fitted a wood ceiling in the rear part of the van and installed grey fabric upholstered walls and a fir veneered plywood ceiling in the other part.

Behind the driver and passenger seats, Mike devised a bench that offers extra storage space inside of it. Above, he created a massive headliner shelf.

There are two ways to enter this van's living space: through the passenger side sliding door or the rear. Although the vehicle has two sliding doors, the one on the driver's side is blocked by a tiny kitchen.

The bench I mentioned above and the kitchen aren't part of the modular setup; they remain there regardless of what mode you're in.

The kitchen features a small sink integrated into a decently sized countertop, a light, three drawers, and a tall slot designed to hold a Coleman portable stove. Moreover, underneath the countertop, you'll find a very simple plumbing system: two 4-gallon (15-liter) canisters, one for fresh water and the other for greywater.

Next, the bench offers storage underneath and houses the electrical system. The latter is a Goal Zero Yeti 400 portable power station with a built-in inverter and solar charge controller.

Let's take each mode one by one. The standard mode is storage, which involves no extended panel or other features. In addition to the kitchen and the drawer, you can use a spacious overhead cabinet and the side units for storage.

Then, we have the sitting/work mode. To create this arrangement, you'll need to open the lower doors of the unit on the driver's side and fold down a panel above. This way, the two doors will serve as support for the panel you fold down.

This panel has a cushion, and you also get a cushioned backrest. Moreover, behind this backrest, you'll find four storage compartments, two open and two closed. If you want a table for working or eating, all you need to do is fold the upper panel of the unit on the opposite side.

The third option is lounge mode. You can fold out the same panel you sit on to create a longer bench with enough space to lounge. Finally, we have the sleeping mode, which Mike shared was the most complicated one to design and create.

Mike doubled up the panels he sits on, which allowed him to fold each one out and rest it on the bench toward the front of the interior. After rearranging the cushions, you get a large bed measuring 6'1" (185 centimeters) in length and 36 inches (91 centimeters) in width. It offers enough space for two people to sleep comfortably.

All in all, Mike came up with an outstandingly creative way of making full use of the little space this Ford Transit Connect offers. He has a decent amount of storage space, a simple yet beautiful aesthetic, and furniture that allows him to transform the living space quickly according to his wants and needs.

It's something unlike anything I haven't seen before, so props to him for this awesome creation. To top it all off, even though he hasn't shared any cost-related info, I'm sure this project was quite budget-friendly. As he shared, the hard part was bringing his vision to life and ensuring everything aligned and worked as intended.

Mike jokingly said that this build took him anywhere between 100 and 20,000 hours – I'm sure he invested a lot of time and energy into this rig, but I'd say it was worth it, and I'm pretty sure he'd agree.