Couple Transforms A Van Into An Apartment And Hits The Road

What do you do when you want to travel the world, but the cost of renting a home and traveling is beyond your wallet? You do what Adam Croft and Nikki Pepperell did — convert a van into a sweet mobile apartment. 

The idea found them after a trip to New Zealand. They were struggling to find a home where the rent wasn’t insanely high. It started as a joke, but they had some friends who lived on a boat, and once they saw how happy and free those friends were, the decision was made. 

They wanted a van that would be large enough but was also common enough to purchase replacement parts anywhere in the world. They chose the Ford Transit Luton Box van.

It is also one of the largest vehicles you can drive without requiring a specialized license. 

They used Google SketchUp, a free 3D modeling software, to design the layout beforehand.

Once it was finalized, they started marking out the plan in chalk.

They insulated the walls and floor, then fixed thin sheets of plywood to the walls. A layer of pine boards was installed to make the final look feel homey.

The floor is laminate, but they may switch to vinyl later since it weighs less. 

Electricity is generated and stored in a battery two ways: while the van is driven and via a solar panel on the roof. It’s more than enough to power all the lights and the water pump. Heat is provided by a wood stove.

The stove was custom-made to fit the small space while still accepting larger logs. 

See the finished product on the next page!