Simple, Effective, and Very Affordable: This Micro Camper Conversion Cost a Mere $1.2K

While I love discussing high-end camper projects, the reality is that few people could ever afford to build a luxurious tiyn home on wheels. I've also covered various budget-friendly builds – a recent one that stands out the most due to the sheer creativity and ingenuity is this skoolie conversion, which cost a staggeringly low $10K.

Of course, the smaller your vehicle is, the more you can shrink your budget. Today's conversion was made by Jake on a 2014 Ford Transit Connect L2 van. Let's start with the driver's cabin. Jake kept it pretty much as he got it, except a headboard he installed, to which he added a tiyn cargo net and a bungee cord for hanging things. Moreover, he separated this area from the rest of the space via a curtain.

You'll understand why he mounted the board once you head inside the living space and notice a shelf above. The modification allowed him to extend the overhead storage shelf above the driver's cabin, where he stores most of his clothes.

Like any other camper, this unit features some utility systems that make living in it more comfortable. While you can do without running water in a micro camper, you can't really skip on electricity and heating.

This rig's systems are hidden underneath the floor on the left side of the van, just by the door. To access them, you'll have to pull off the rubber seal and a plastic step. You'll discover a diesel heater and a 12 V leisure battery that is hooked up to the alternator, meaning it charges while you're driving. Of course, a solar panel system would've been nice, but given this build's purpose of keeping costs to a minimum, they had no place on the rig.

Moving on to the living space, as expected, the design is very simple and practical. Just like in other micro campers, the kitchen is on one side, and the couch/bed is on the other. One thing with this specific vehicle is that the only places natural light can shine inside are through the front windows.

The kitchen area is straightforward. You'll find a decently sized countertop with cabinets underneath, providing copious amounts of storage. That's where Jake holds dry doods, spices, and various utensils. For cooking, he has a portable two-burner stove top powered by a small propane can. Other notable features include a towel holder and a tiny garbage can.

One thing that's missing from the kitchen is a fridge or a cooler box. Jake explained that, at the time the video was filmed, he didn't need one because he had a roof box on the vehicle. Besides providing plenty of additional storage space, the roof box served as a fridge during winter in the UK because it was cold enough outside to keep food fresh. Needless to say, that wouldn't work in many other places across the globe. For summer, Jake said he planned on adding a small 12 V fridge.

You'll notice a simple "control center" for the van's utilities on the kitchen wall. It consists of a wtich for the diesel heater, two USB ports, and a voltage indicator for the electrical system. Above it, you'll notice a tiny shelf. For lighting, Jake uses fairy lights all around the interior and two adjustable reading lights.

The couch hides large storage spaces underneath. Transforming it into a bed is quite simple - you'll have to pull an undersegment, creating a support that can hold the mattress. Then, pull down the cabinet doors, which are designed to rest on the couch frame. Rearrange the cushions, pull the front seats forward for some extra space, and you're good to go.

There was no place to fit a bathroom or a toilet inside this rig. Jake does his needs in the wild or at a public restroom, but he stores a portable 7-liter (1.8-gallon) shower in the roof box that he can use to wash himself.

So, let's quickly go over the finances: Jake bought the vehicle for £4,150 ($5,270 or €4,841) and invested a total of £937 ($1,190 or €1,093) in the conversion. The most significant expenses were for the van's utilities, such as the diesel heater, and for the carpeting and insulation. That brings the total price of this van to £5,087 ($6,450 or €5,933).

Making a budget-friendly conversion shouldn't mean you have to sacrifice comfort or other essentials. Instead, it's all about hunting for good deals on accessories, finding creative ways to implement them, and even asking for your friends and family for support – you never know when one of them has some spare wood or an old fridge that would perfectly fit in your rig.

Jake explained that one of the main reasons he was able to keep costs to a minimum was by "borrowing" various stuff from his family. For instance, he got the wood for free from his uncle, who took a shed apart and had some wood he had no use for.

All in all, this is a cozy and practical conversion. I know it might be too simple for most of you. However, if your need for adventure surpasses your need for a superior level of comfort, this rig goes to show that building a camper that does the job can be done even with the lowest of budgets.