Believe It or Not, This Snug, Minimalistic Camper Van Conversion Cost Less Than $500

Micro camper vans are the most affordable types of camper vans you can build since you don't need many features to fill up their interior. I've written about budget-friendly builds, but the cheapest conversion I had ever seen still cost $1,000 (€936). Well, we now have a new record. By the way, if you want to learn more about the typical costs of van life, including how much it'll set you back to buy, convert, and live inside a camper van, check out my article that covers this topic.

Meet Erin Elise and her self-converted tiny home on wheels, based on a 2013 Ford Transit Connect. Sure, it has a no-frills living space, but it's a camper van nonetheless. And it's not just a weekend or short-trip van. She goes away in it for months, traveling across the United States before returning to her home base.

A used 2013 Ford Transit Connect costs about $8,000 (€7,480), depending on its mileage and features. However, Erin purchased the base vehicle in 2022 for $15,000 (€14,030) - the price was higher because the Transit Connect had only 40,000 miles (64,374 km). That brings the total cost of this build to a mere $15,500 (€14,498). That's a fantastic deal.

At first glance, you might not be able to tell someone's living inside this vehicle. The only element that can reveal its "camper identity" is a wooden deck, which is Erin's favorite part of the van. It spans across the entire roof and is the perfect place to enjoy a meal or lounge if you add a mattress on top of it.

I'll start the interior tour with the driver's cabin. Erin left it as it was, except for adding a Vtoman FlashSpeed portable power station, which has a capacity of 1,548 Wh. Erin uses it to charge her gadgets.

Step inside the van, and you'll be greeted by a bright, beautifully designed living space. As Erin proves, having a tight budget doesn't mean you can't give your home a nice look.

To safely stealth camp, Erin created curtains for the van's front windows and a larger one separating the driver's cabin from the rest of the interior. The curtains are black on the outer part, so prying eyes won't be able to tell what they are.

If you're familiar with micro camper vans, you might notice that this rig's layout is quite unconventional. Usually, builders add a kitchen with storage spots on one side and a couch that extends into a bed on the other.

Erin chose a different floor plan for her tiny home. The couch/bed takes up the rear part of the interior, while the front part behind the driver's cabin remains empty. No, it's not dead space, as you'll soon see.

You might wonder, "How did she invest so little into this conversion?" Well, she did what many other camper van builders do: use lots of reclaimed/recycled materials, mainly wood.

If you lift the mattress, you'll reveal two plywood panels. When Erin is ready to sleep, she can flip them to create a one-person or two-person bed, supporting them on a portable countertop she stores next to the bed. The countertop also serves as a storage box.

Since Erin doesn't have a table inside her rig, she uses a different setup. She holds her laptop on top of one of the panels while sitting down on the floor and resting her legs outside the van. It might not be the most comfortable solution, but it does the job.

The couch/bed boasts a children's extendable mattress with two smaller cushions that are meant to be added on when your kid grows. It was the perfect product to use in Erin's case.

Other notable details in the bedroom are two wall-mounted speakers with the vehicle, a light, and four hooks (two on each side) supporting two small bars. The latter can be used to hang stuff. Erin attached a small basket that holds a plant to one of them.

There aren't many dedicated storage spots in this rig. Besides the countertop I mentioned above, Erin integrated two drawers into the bed's frame. But the largest spot in this camper van is the headliner shelf, where she holds all her clothes.

Of course, when the bed isn't extended, the empty space at the front of the interior can also be used for storage. This is where Erin usually stores bikes, backpacks, and more.

You'll have to open the two rear doors to access the kitchen. Two flip-up tables are mounted to the rear doors, and two drawers are integrated into the bed frame. They house food, kitchen utensils, and a two-burner stove.

Indeed, this camper van lacks water tanks, a toilet, a shower, a fridge, and other amenities many people couldn't travel without. However, this setup works amazingly for Erin, and that's what matters. Props to her for building a cozy mobile home on such a small budget.