Hello! My name is Sydney and I live full-time on the road in a 2017 Ford Transit camper van conversion. It has a high roof that allows me to stand up and walk around inside. Itโs also the 148โ wheelbase model, meaning itโs the shorter โstandardโ version. When I purchased the van, it had roughly 70,000 miles on it and currently has 103,000. Before the Ford Transit I lived in a 2011 Mercedes Sprinter camper van for 9 months, so Iโve had experience with two very different van homes.
I knew the second time around that I wanted something different, so I started researching what van would be the best fit for me. The Transit got my attention because I grew up with Ford vehicles, so I already knew maintenance would be a breeze versus the Sprinter. The price was roughly in the same ballpark, but I could get a newer Transit with less miles for the same amount.
I started searching for a Ford Transit in the Midwest, but I quickly realized that I would have much better luck expanding the search nationwide. There are places in the country that simply have way more Transits for a variety of reasons, which makes the price lower than somewhere with very few. Atlanta had a ton of high roof Transits and the prices were right in my budget. So I found several at a Ford dealership on CarGurus and flew to ATL. My van was among the few that I looked at that day and I drove it home!
If I wouldโve bought one in the Midwest, I likely would have paid a few thousand dollars more for the same van. I highly recommend searching nationwide versus your local area. Iโve been in this van now for a little over a year and I absolutely love it!
A Few of My Favorite Things About the Transit
1. Square-ish Shape Allows for an Easier Build
The Ford Transit body has a more square shape than the Mercedes Sprinter, which leads to a much easier van conversion process. When youโre custom-building cabinetry and other components, working with a square is so convenient versus working with something rounded. Figuring out measurements will take way less time with sharper corners and flatter walls.
Admittedly, the Ram Promaster is the most square option, while the Transit is essentially in between the roundness of a Sprinter and the perfectly square Promaster.
2. Itโs Insanely Tall and Wide
Before insulating and putting in the ceiling, the high roof Transit is about 6โ7โ. After my build, itโs still 6โ4โ which doesnโt just allow for a little headspace – it really opens the space up and makes it feel like Iโm in a regular room.
The width is also really helpful because itโs about 67โ wide. Anyone who is a little shorter (Iโm 5โ10โ) can sleep width-wise instead of length-wise, saving A TON of space for the rest of your build. I sleep lengthwise, but my kitchen counters are about 5 inches wider in the Transit than they were in the Sprinter.
2. Any Mechanic In Any Town Can Work On It
My number one reason and all time favorite thing about my van is that any mechanic in the country can work on it. If I break down or need maintenance/repairs, I can take it to the nearest mechanic. This was my biggest issue with the Sprinter because they are ALL Mercedes-made, which means you have to take it to a Mercedes dealership or Sprinter-certified mechanic.
I travel to all corners of the country and Iโm constantly in really small towns where those things are not available. I had to tow my Sprinter hours away a couple times to the closest place that could work on it. Knowing that I will never have that issue with my Transit gives me a huge peace of mind.
3. Parts and Maintenance are Extremely Inexpensive
Going along with repairs and mechanics, the parts on a Ford vehicle are really cheap. They are easily accessible and inexpensive. The parts for my Sprinter had to come from overseas, which means it took weeks to come in and they were expensive. I canโt tell you how much less anxious I am knowing that I will never have that problem again.
Regular maintenance on my Ford Transit camper van is like a normal car. Thereโs no fancy list(s) of things that I have to constantly keep my eye on or make sure are always in working order. I get my oil changed and have them give it a once over when I do. All set? Sweet.
4. Newer Year and Lower Miles
I mentioned this briefly at the beginning, but I was really happy that I was able to get a Ford Transit at a newer year with less miles for only slightly more than my first van. Ford just started making Transits in the United States, so you canโt find any older than roughly a 2015. But you can find Sprinters from 2004.
I opted to spend a little more upfront with the ability to finance my van and most likely have fewer problems on the road, versus paying less upfront for an old Sprinter and having mechanical problems that you cannot finance.
A Few Things Iโm Not So Crazy About
1. The Gas Mileage Could Be Better
I typically get about 15-17 mpg depending on where Iโm driving. Sometimes if Iโm on a windy road, it feels like someone has cut a hole in my gas tank and itโs literally just spilling out. Watching it go down so quickly has put me in some hairy situations (letting myself get too close to running out) but never caused an actual problem.
It does have a menu on the dash which will tell you exactly how many miles until empty you have. The weight of your build can also affect this and my build is mostly wood. So itโs pretty heavy and it makes sense that going uphill would drain it quickly.
2. Diesel Was My Jam
The Ford Transit has regular gas while my Mercedes Sprinter had diesel. This was really nice for my gas mileage in the Sprinter and it definitely lasted longer with a full tank. I believe the Transit can come with diesel so you do have that option, but they are pretty rare and not so easy to find. But I can go to Mexico with regular gas and not risk ruining my diesel engine, so ha ha.
3. No 4×4 Options
Not that I could afford this anyway, but it would be nice to have as an option. You can get a pricey aftermarket conversion for about $13,000 and make your Transit 4×4, but is it really worth it? Thatโs up to you.
There arenโt many great options for large vans being 4×4, considering the 4×4 Sprinter is known for having a lot of problems and no other vans offer it โfactoryโ. If you think itโs extremely important, I recommend the aftermarket conversion on the Transit or going with a truck camper setup.
Hopefully, they will offer it one day from the factory at a lower price point. There are also only two or three places in the United States that can do this conversion, which makes it quite a lengthy waiting process.
Note: Ford now offers an AWD version of the Transit beginning with the 2020 model year.
4. Where Are All the High Roof Transits?!
Although I finally found the hub of all high roofs in Atlanta, where are all of the ones anywhere else?! There were maybe 3-5 in all of the Midwest. I found some on the West Coast, but they were priced insanely high. I donโt even remember if there were any on the East Coast.ย
If you want a low roof with a pop top, you will find 10 million in every corner and crevice of the world. But if you want to stand up in a high roof, you should just start the search in Georgia. I wouldโve liked to be able to see the vans without having to risk flying across the country and not liking any of them. I Facetimed the dealership in order to check them out to ensure I wouldnโt be wasting my time and money with the flight. However, it was still a risk I would like to avoid.
That said, itโs kind of fun to make your first road trip driving in your new empty canvas back home with just a backpack and a sleeping bag.
Would I get a Transit Again?
Absolutely! I canโt tell you the different kind of mentality my current van allows me to have on the road. I sleep better, drive with ease, and donโt worry constantly the way I did in my last van.
Having extra space in my already-very-tiny home is so nice and knowing that I can take it to any mechanic gives me peace of mind. The parts are cheap, which means I donโt have to think about really costly repairs, while maintenance is a breeze and doesnโt cause me any concern. This is invaluable when your mode of transportation, home, and everything you have is all the same thing.
Although I would love to change a few things, they are nothing that would be a deal breaker for me compared to similar vans. My ideal โdreamโ van is the extended version of the Ford Transit with the 4×4 conversion. Maybe one day! Though I am perfectly content with my current home on the road.
Choosing your home on wheels is a big deal, but itโs also the decision that causes the most lag in time and procrastination. Do your research and then make the jump. Donโt overthink, overanalyze, or allow yourself to remain stagnant because youโre too scared of choosing the wrong one. You will learn as you go and improve things along the way.
Great article. I tried to buy a Beyond RV for the last year. There were NONE, they just started coming out again with a $50,000 price hike. I just ordered a 2022 Transit Crew 350HD 4×4, 3.5 liter eco boost. It has the adaptive cruise and lane following, Adventure Package ( adds all kinds of options like 2 AGM Batteries, 2 alternators. additional wiring harness for RV builds). won’t be here till Feb – Mar. and lots of other goodies. I’ve rebuilt over 40 totaled vehicles as a hobby I just enjoy. I also enjoy making rustic furniture. Just found… Read more »
Hello! Awesome article! I wish I would have found it 6 months ago when I was in my own selection process. Also, Ford started offering factory AWD in 2020! So those will probably start trickling out into the used market in the next couple years. If you’re buying new, it’s a much much cheaper option than the aftermarket conversion as well, sitting around $4k instead of $13k.
Hi Helen, thanks for commenting! The prices on aftermarket 4×4 conversions are pretty ridiculous, and the factory AWD transit is definitely exciting!
~John
Great van! What type of mic do is that? I see it’s USB. Does it eliminate enough of the background and ambient noise?
Hi Laurie, the mic that Sydney uses is a Blue Yeti USB condenser microphone. Being a condenser mic, it can definitely pick up some background noise. Here’s a link to a Reddit thread about properly setting it up for the best sound: https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/3hp8rc/blue_yeti_setup/. Hope that helps!
~John
Just wanted to clear up the 4×4 thing. In America the Sprinters “4×4” system is simply an AWD system. And an archaic one at that. It can only send 35% of power to the front wheels. The Transit AWD system can send 100% to the front wheels if needed. Its a much more capable and modern system. Just doesn’t get the marketing the Sprinter does.
Thanks for the input Chris, that is great info!
Thanks, I just bought one…so happy with my quick decision every day!
Love reading these reviews! Does anyone know if the Transit has cruise control? I saw that I can buy and insert my own cruise control… is this because most don’t come with it? If I install my own, does it work just as well as cars that come with cruise control initially? Thanks so much!!
Kayla
Hi Kayla, cruise control is available on the Transit as an upgraded feature. So if you’re buying a used one, it may or may not have it depending on what the original purchaser selected. Hope that helps!
Hi Sydney! Thank you for the tips on where to find a Ford Transit. I’m from Michigan and have not been able to find ANY high roof transits. I honestly thought I was going to have to settle a medium roof one. I’ll look farther on the East Coast and Atlanta. Thanks again!
Hello Sydney. Thanks for the pointers on the Transit. I’ve been waiting for the 4×4 version (or is it AWD?) and this may be a good time to make more serious plans to get into vanlife. I like the layout of your unit with the lengthways bed; did you design everything and had it built? How much did it cost and how long did it take to get done? When you travel, how much advance planning do you do for your nightstops? Are you ever anxious about someone sneaking up to your van when you’ve settled in for the evening?… Read more »
I want to know the answers to those same questions too! I have a 2018 transit that I will be converting next year!