This Micro Camper Van Has a Well-Organized Interior With a Genius, Hidden Outdoor Bench

So, what makes micro camper vans so beginner-friendly? Well, they're easy to convert due to the little interior space they offer, very budget-friendly (both regarding the price of the conversion and the base vehicle), and provide a great balance of mobility and functionality.

What we have here is a 2010 Ford Transit Connect. It was transformed into a mobile home by Austin, who doesn't use it as a full-time home. Austin is a competitive runner, and he uses this van to go to the races and train in different places, so he doesn't need to have a ton of creature comforts.

At first glance, most people would probably think this is just another passenger van. The only detail that might give away its "camper identity" is a port hole Austin installed on the driver's side. In hindsight, this specific port hole wasn't a great idea, as its rim is quite deep, and snow and rain gather in there, which end up slowly dripping inside the van.

The only other element Austin fitted was a Fantastic vent fan on the roof. Again, he could've made a better choice by going for a stronger fan, but he chose one of the cheapest fans available. Live and learn, right?

Enter the rig, and you'll discover that Austin left the cabin as it was, with the exception of one detail. He extended the overhead space by fitting a large cabinet with two doors – a common modification people make for micro camper vans.

The interior has an open layout, like in most rigs. That means that there's no wall separating the driver's cabin from the living space. Instead, Austin fitted a large curtain for more privacy and a bit better insulation. He also installed a storage compartment with a tiny tabletop between the driver and passenger seats.

Regarding aesthetics, Austin opted for a simple yet homey design with a white ceiling made from a thin pine beadboard, laminate plank flooring, and a beautiful Beetle Killed Pine wall. The look is complemented by LED light strips along the ceiling and a kitchen backsplash made from real marble tiles with a hexagonal shape.

Dead ahead of the entrance (the sliding door on the passenger side), you'll find a long couch spanning from behind the driver's seat all the way to the rear doors. It comes with an extension that allows you to turn it into a bed by pulling it and rearranging the backrest cushions. Moreover, Austin devised three cabinets in the space under the couch.

On the opposite side, you'll find a kitchen that packs the mere essentials. It features a small sink repurposed from a salad bowl, a pine countertop, and a cabinet underneath that houses a straightforward plumbing system. What's more, Austin uses a portable camping stove for cooking.

Regarding storage, you can use an overhead cabinet, a sizeable lower cabinet that also holds a cooler, and three additional cabinets with small doors. But here's the cool and clever part: a door on the side of the three small cabinets can be folded down and supported by a string to the ceiling to serve as a table or countertop.

The plumbing system consists of a water pump and two 6-gallon (22.7-liter) canisters: one for freshwater and the other for greywater. There's also a small control panel integrated into the upper cabinet. It comprises USB ports and switches for the lights and a water pump.

Finally, at the rear, you'll find a propane-powered Camplux heater installed on the kitchen side. Austin uses a showerhead that can be attached to the rear right door for showers.

I saved the best part for last: a custom-built, hidden outdoor bench unlike anything I have ever seen in a micro camper van. He welded metal tubes to expanded steel and attached them to metal L-brackets. They fold flat and slide underneath the living space's floor.

This bench uses the cushions from the interior bed/couch, offering space for two people to sit. It's such a clever solution that takes up so little space yet makes a significant difference to the experience, as it serves as a seating spot to enjoy the views around the rig.

How about power? The rig's simple electrical system is housed behind the driver's seat, underneath the bed. It has a 100 Ah battery connected to a battery isolator that charges the battery while Austin drives, a fuse panel, and a circuit breaker.

All in all, Austin's custom mobile home isn't luxurious by any means, but it does the job as a part-time home. He created an efficient, practical, and aesthetically pleasing arrangement for the living space, and that outdoor folding bench is simply genius.

It took him about a year to build it, but he worked only on the weekends, so something like this can be done much faster if you dedicate more time to it.

Regarding costs, Austin shared that he invested about $2,000 (€1,835) into the conversion—that's a good deal. I don't know how much this Ford Transit Connect cost, but the model is generally cheap when bought second-hand.