Off-Road Adventure Camper Van Houses a Family of Six, Features a Double Murphy Bed Setup

Meet the Christensens, a family of six traveling in a well-designed and well-equipped camper van. For them, traveling with kids isn't something to fear. Instead, it's a fulfilling experience that forms irreplaceable memories and bonds.

Their base vehicle of choice is a 2020 Ford Transit. As you can imagine, outfitting a van to fit a family of six comfortably is not only a challenging task but also a costly one. The Christensens, or better said, the parents, Becca and Tyler, have invested around $150,000 (€ 136,744) for their rig, which is way more than most people would be willing to pay for a tiny home on wheels.

Of course, no matter how efficiently devised the space is inside, living full-time in a camper van with four kids is not a viable option. The purpose of this van is to enable the family to get out in nature and spend more time outdoors.

Tyler explained that because they didn't have the necessary skills, they started looking for a specialized company to bring their vision to life. And that's how they found Vandoit – coincidentally, I just covered their latest project here on autoevolution.

This Ford Transit is ready to head off the beaten path. It features all-terrain tires, a raised suspension, and a Backwoods front bumper with a 12,000-lb. (5,443-kg) winch and two recovery points.

One of the things the Christensens love doing is mountain biking. So, they wanted to carry bikes for each family member on this van – their solution was to fit a rack that could carry all six bikes. Moreover, it comes with a sturdy swing-away system, meaning you can open the rear doors without removing all the two-wheelers.

The rig is not only practical, but it also looks cool. It boasts mostly black elements and grey paint, partly covered by two decals, one on each side. One depicts mountains, while the other resembles canyon rocks, similar to those you can find in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

As soon as you step inside, as expected, you'll notice a space packed with all sorts of stuff. Even though it's pretty full, things are well-organized. Starting from the driver's side, you'll notice the brightly colored driver's and passenger's seats – both can be swiveled.

The next part of the interior is the seating area. Becca and Tyler came up with a clever layout to seat all their kids – there are two two-seater benches that can be set up in two ways. While driving, the benches are set up perpendicular to the wall, one behind the other.

Whenever they set up camp or are stationary, the benches are mounted with their back to the driver's side wall. Above, you'll discover two enormous shelves packed with containers held in place by bungee cords. Near them, there's a TV, a nice-to-have feature, especially when traveling with kids.

Starting with the two overhead shelves, you'll notice an aluminum frame running along the interior. It's essential in this camper van build, as most of its features are attached to it.

When I heard that six people traveled in this camper, my first question was, "How do they all fit inside?" Of course, the Christensens wanted to offer a comfortable way for everybody sleeping onboard. Their solution is one of the best features on this camper: double Murphy beds.

In the sleeping configuration, these two beds are mounted just like bunk beds, attached to the aluminum frame I mentioned earlier. But during the day setup or whenever they need more space, the couple can completely fold them up and move them next to the wall.

If the parents travel alone, the top bed can be removed. But when the entire family is traveling together, three kids sleep in the bottom bed, from side to side, the parents sleep above, and one other child sleeps on a sleeping pad in the empty space in the seating area.

Storage is one of the most important things to consider when living or traveling in a camper van. Devising a clever layout becomes even more critical when six people spend time onboard. You'll discover storage spaces throughout the van, but the main ones are on the side, near the bottom bed, as well as underneath it. Moreover, the family stores stuff under the two benches and in the garage, which I'll soon discuss.

Of course, given the compact space and the numerous people traveling inside, there was no way the couple could fit a kitchen inside. Most of the stuff that makes the outdoor kitchen is stored in the garage, except an enormous Dometic fridge/freezer combo housed under the bottom bed.

The outdoor kitchen arrangement is straightforward – Becca and Tyler set up a table outside and add all the appliances they need, such as a small Dometic water container with a dispenser and a portable gas stove.

And lastly, we have the garage space. That's where the couple integrated the water system, consisting of a Bosch water heater and two 6-gallon (23-liter) jerry cans. On the opposite side, you'll find the electrical system – it features 400 Ah batteries and a 2,000 W inverter connected to three 200 W solar panels on the roof. Moreover, the system can also be charged via shore power or while driving.

Another notable element in the garage is the outdoor shower. Becca and Tyler store a shower tent on one of the rear doors – it can easily be deployed and used so the family members can enjoy a shower in privacy.

You'll also notice a portable toilet, an outdoor light, two cargo baskets, and a bug net covering the entire rear side of the van.

Becca and Tyler also shared some wisdom – even though traveling with four kids sounds scary and damn near impossible, they explained that for them, it was worth it, and the kids quickly adapted to this way of traveling.

All in all, this is an excellent setup – it's practical, as comfortable as it can be, and it proves that with the right amount of determination, need for adventure, and, of course, money, you can find solutions even for the wildest of dreams.