10 Years of Tiny Van Living: A Ford Transit Connect Build Tour

The Van Build: Ford Transit Connect

• 🚐 Irina's home is a 2020 Ford Transit Connect long wheelbase, chosen for its height allowing efficient storage up to the ceiling.
• 🛠️ The van build was a collaborative effort, with friends handling the flooring and ceiling, and a professional cabinet maker constructing the interior.
• 💡 Key features include a functional coat closet, integrated freshwater and graywater tanks for the sink, and a soundproofing insulation made from recycled jeans material.

Maximizing Space and Functionality

• 🛋️ The bed is designed to transform into a comfortable couch during the day, featuring a unique cut in the mattress to allow it to fold.
• 📦 Underneath the bed, ample storage is available, including dedicated spaces for a portable toilet (for number one) and a pantry for dry goods and extra clothing.
• 🍳 A clever pull-out pantry and spice rack system provides easy access to kitchen essentials, with a similar setup for clothes and electronics.
• 💧 A thrift-store sink with a folding faucet and strategically placed LED lights enhance the van's utility and comfort.

Power and Utilities

• 🔋 The van is equipped with a 200 amp lithium battery hidden beneath the floor, charged by the alternator via an isolator and a 100-watt stealth solar panel on the roof.
• ⚡ This power system efficiently runs the refrigerator and LED lights, allowing Irina to stay off-grid for up to two weeks in the summer.
• 🍳 An outside kitchen setup with a two-burner stove is available, allowing for extensive meal preparation.

Nomadic Lifestyle and Inspiration

• 🗺️ Irina has been living on the road full-time since 2014, embracing the freedom to travel wherever and whenever she desires.
• 🧘 She finds the nomadic lifestyle to be therapeutic, valuing the independence and self-reliance it offers.
• 🛶 A passion for kayaking leads her to carry her kayak on the roof, utilizing a Tuli Holivator system for easy loading and unloading.
• 🩺 Previously working in business and statistics, Irina transitioned to nursing and chose nomadic life after her children were grown, fulfilling a lifelong desire for travel.