MINIMALIST VAN CONVERSION | FULL TOUR! | 2013 Ford Transit Connect

[@chrisgood2go]

this is a fantastic build, very versatile, gives room for a modular camper set up when desired.

[@glenchilada]

Honestly, this kind of minimalist approach is the way to go I think. Gives the owner lots of flexibility to do things how they like. I mostly like that you didn't go crazy with unnecessary interior counter space. One of those trifold sleeper seats in this would be perfect for it.

[@kellythompson4432]

@Lady Bugout does one of those trifold beds in the back leaving the middle area open for room

[@boytardo_clips]

its like a tear drop you can drive ....my favorite so far with all these van conversations

[@andrewconway7730]

Who would hate on you? Your a talented young man who is humble also.

[@whiteryanc]

Love the simplicity and utility of this. These just seem like the perfect stealth weekend-trip vehicle.

[@A222Z]

I can hardly believe that you get hate comments. You & a few others are near the top of my list for great van builders! 👍

[@orangekayak]

This is the way to go on a conversion. Super cheap, and now you have a van that is lightweight and functional. It is still useful to work from and when it is time to camp, you can put whatever you need in it. I did something similar to a 2003 short sprinter with a high top and it functions as my daily driver AND office/camper. Always start with less and add only as you absolutely need.

[@BradiKal61]

I like the idea of a small van like this that you CAN camp out in but most of the time the interior is useful for work , without losing a bunch of space to built in appliances. when you want to camp you put those items in but they dont wreck the vehicle for daily use

[@roguesrt]

Brooooo, that idea with the solar feeding the power house and running extensions from it is clutch! I’m jealous I didn’t think of that!

[@lindac446]

Love the hack 'sleeve' area .. umbrellas, tarp poles/stakes, walking sticks, muddy shoes .. Microfiber tiwelfor drying off.

[@Rp-engineering]

its probably the second best camper conversion I've ever seen second only to the time I just threw a mattress in an old MK2 caddy and realized it was perfect.

[@zackvideo]

This guy doesn't miss! Hope he builds me a van one day!

[@dross24MA]

That storage area behind the driver's seat is *perfect* for umbrellas and a spare fire extinguisher!

[@TheEthanification]

Some of the best quality vanbuild work and video productions. So simple and perfected. Good stuff.

[@stevesidare2493]

Would definitely like to see some build plans for that upper storage compartment. No one ever makes it clear how they rig it up and attach it!

[@Josh_Oakes]

Noted!

[@Jacoooify]

@@Josh_Oakes second that!

[@flyinhawaiian7226]

L brackets

[@ruppert5134]

Where the passagerseat was you try to make a low profile porta potty instead of storage Blind the windows and...make it so the whole front part hinges with the floor and then instead of sitting in the passager seat you would shitting in a potty... .... It would the ideal place to put it....@@Josh_Oakes

[@Cineccita]

This van has a lot of potential. I really like . Congratulations. Thanks for the presentation, Josh !

[@LDR1100RS]

Josh, well done. Very well done.

[@mhans79]

Watching your older videos was the reason I bought a 2010 Transit Connect as my wife and I's adventure van. We found a 2010 mint 1 owner passenger version with low miles. I have been slowly building it out to be our tiny home on wheels for travel and adventure. You pointed out something I like about using a passenger version. You get some extra storage where the passenger footwell is. I found some AGM batteries that will fit in the space on one side for power needs. I fit 2 in there. I have my jack and some other miscellaneous things on the other side.

[@withlovemaverick]

I love how minimalist this is! I would love to learn more about how you made the storage cabinets and overhead storage. Maybe one day you could offer plans to help the DIYers create similar solutions?

[@daylight5500]

Your builds are getting more and more imaginative and this one looks really good.

[@kenhurley4441]

Great for a single person. Small bed, small fridge, and a small portable cooking apparatus and hit the road! 25+ MPG's and see the country.

[@BERNIE817]

Siiiick! I’m gonna need one with a small tv an Xbox with excellent internet connection, A board rack for skate trips, pull out bed, outdoor shower, small area for cooking mini meals, swivel seat for added seating, an awning for outdoor chillin at the skatepark and I’m good!

[@nikolaiburlakoff5503]

Been watching you since your first build. You are getting better and better. Congratulations!

[@vradenknight4872]

You always finish everything so well and with thought to the customer, even if they didn’t think about the extra touches!

[@houseportraitscalligraphy7474]

Beautiful! Clean

[@johnziegelbauer4999]

Nice build , I'm an aging carpet installer and just bought myself a 2013 connect. Looking to convert it with my carpet skills as I've worked on many full sized Van's and boats over the years . The key for these little vans is not to make them to heavy . You seem to have some great ideas on your channel .

[@MrSITH-qj6zp]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea. This can fit for work during the week and get away camping/beach/hike on weekend. Id just keep the passenger seat and add a welders tool box(for gear, kettlebells, securing electronics)behind the seats. Also some rack to hide the solar panels. Very nice build

[@sandrabruzzone.]

Great minimalist work Josh. So glad to see it.👏🏻

[@eight50]

Bit concerned that you mentioned getting “more hate comments than I usually do”. What is wrong with people?! Your design and build quality looks really great. The slightly more minimalist approach certainly ticks all the boxes for me, and everyone I know that is serious about building well designed, practical camper vans. We get really tired of looking at way over-the-top bespoke luxury builds that must costs many $$$$$$ Seems there’s a lot of competition out there for people to show off their luxury expensive build, however, each to their own. So, many thanks for your videos and please keep up with your awesome designs and builds. It’s very refreshing. And one last thing, your hands and fingers are those of an artist for sure.

[@Josh_Oakes]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@AlyssaVanilla]

people are gatekeeping what a “camper van” is??? lol guess they have nothing better to do than be angry on the internet. wonderful job josh!

[@angeladawn805]

For shits and giggles, you can see Transit fans face off against the more basic minivan supporters 🙄 I guess agro idiots will squabble over anything that differs from their 'norms'.

[@吳大椿]

這樣的車子非常適合台灣。網路上常常介紹大車，但是他們不知道那些在此地都不能使用。 只有小車最好，謝謝你。

[@a.w.thompson4001]

So glad to see another of your excellent builds, Josh. Love the variety! This has so much appeal because it's a beautiful blank slate for a variety of purposes as one's needs change.

[@rickhiggins6521]

Love it. I immediately started seeing my bed, cooler, bins , etc etc

[@Pipboy83]

Excellent mate as always, great idea for those who use it for work but can easily pack up for camping :)

[@Josh_Oakes]

Thank you!

[@freeinFL]

Simply awesome! I just love your transit connect conversions!

[@sandeedobberstine5591]

Another great build Josh! Great to see you 👍

[@Josh_Oakes]

Thank you!

[@rachelcharris]

This is very good well done. This is definitely the future for campervanning because people can have much easier electrics and they can add in toilet and removable stove etc which is so much easier from the habitation point of view to maintain. It also means that if people are doing a lot of vanlife then they can rearrange as they figure their way as they find better ways of doing it as long as they make it cosy and get good window coverings etc. I really liked your cover your cubby underneath the passenger seat ❤️

[@phazzyd4150]

Great setup. The minimalist look is always the best look in my opinion 🙏🏻 good work!

[@sheiraeaarrell9215]

This is a really good conversion. I like the storage you have managed to utilise, especially the removal of the passenger seat.

[@windspan20]

You do a great job. Love your van rebuilds and the fact that you customize for each client. Have a great day and Happy Thanksgiving.

[@sashagayle-schneider3383]

Hi Josh, it would be so awesome to get the build plans for the overhead cubby! Thanks so much for offering that!

[@thunderbrown55]

Mr. Josh is the guy, let the haters hate. I will be watching until, I can afford one. #Oakland #keepitinmotion

[@BreezyRider66]

Very well thought out, thanks for sharing your ideas & work...

[@Josh_Oakes]

Appreciate it!

[@GaiaCarney]

Nice design, wide open spaces, considering . . . Thanks for sharing this, Briarwood Vans 🕊

[@alanrobisonPD1960]

Great build so far Josh!! I love the thin grey carpet, it looks great on the walls and cabinets. Keep up your hard work, this is Alan, greetings from Riverside in Southern California.

[@rob280]

Nice build, simple and very flexible. You could setup a slide in bed or what ever and if a couple tie downs were added secure them to that. That way you could take it out when you need to haul something.

[@saeedmdzverynicewarmstoryl4624]

Jash, you are creative. This time you showed us something different. I wish you had made the two buildings on the sides have a door at the top. It would give you a lot more space. I made it and it could accommodate many camping items, such as the table and chairs that fit. I wish you happiness always.

[@abra3cadabra3]

You do such good work!! I love how you customize each van to meet the customer’s needs.

[@Josh_Oakes]

Thank you, it’s always fun to see what each person requests!

[@videovedo36]

YES PLEASE!! to the plans for the front cabinet :) - as always a neat, clever work 👍

[@choolisa4998]

Add a sleeping bag and a mini kitchen pod unit will be a perfect conversion ...👍😍

[@gooutsideeveryday2017]

This is exactly what I've been looking for

[@kiefferkeepinon828]

I love this!! It's got me thinking in a different direction. Thank you--and your client--for thinking outside the box. 🤩

[@johnbecay6887]

great video. love this minimalist approach

[@sethdawg]

This could be great for not only a pillow palace but utility van. Dual functionality!

[@anneparrish2247]

Like this. IMO Flex is better use of space. The owner can set up differently depending on plans.

[@theJuniverse]

This is brilliant and exactly what i want to do. As a digital nomad, I'm not trying to live in a van, but I am moving around with things, and cats, and being able to sleep and work between locations is essential. Now, i just need to find someone to do it....

[@manny-perez]

Great video, I wish you would do them more often! ❤️

[@Josh_Oakes]

Appreciate it! Only so many hours in a day!

[@lynnedolan7905]

About to embark on a 2013 DIY build out ... thank you for some great ideas. Nice work!

[@michaellorenzen8200]

nice build ! I would suggest radius corners on the floor as well as vinyl trim

[@simbadurio444]

It would be nice to see how you sleep and cook with this setup. Say video a weekend getaway with this minimalist design.

[@kevinreist7718]

The removed passenger seat would make a nice spot for a chest fridge. You'd lose easy access to the floor cubby but, you could move the fridge and still get to it (for things you don't need constant access to)

[@justgivemethetruth]

I could tell in a few seconds you have a great sense of space and that your minimalist van layout would be worth watching and very informative ... thank you. That looks so professional and minimalist, great job. One question though, wouldn't it have been nicer to put the LED lighting along the sides of the ceiling to avoid shadowing everything and to throw the light where it would be reflected out better?

[@rhett1734]

I'd definitely be interested in knowing how you make that overhead shelf thingy you use in almost all your builds. I'm currently saving up for a transit connect so knowing how to build it or even get some plans for jt would be amazing

[@a.w.thompson4001]

I agree. Thanks for mentioning that you are considering it, Josh.

[@lorimac0260]

Me too!

[@karencallender]

Me too, had my van for nearly a year and still not built the shelf! 😂 (I have tried)

[@amyhewett9941]

me too! me too!

[@jennygow8987]

Yes! This is exactly what I came here for, looking to build over cab storage in my Transit Connect.

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

Very nice van build. Greetings from Jamaica.

[@mikyo444]

Nice! no freaking jets this time...great build

[@daj2zeta178]

You sir are wery skilled & profesional

[@mayramarrero1218]

Love your van conversion and tours

[@AppleBlogTV]

Not a bad idea I'm thinking of doing something similar only with a drop down Murphy bed on one side because I'm lazy and an awning for use of the outside space

[@ShoelessNomadThailand]

Love the flooring

[@saravanroosbroeck5414]

Build plans! Build plans! Build plans, yessss!

[@taegerd]

Nice work, it looks great. Can you fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in there, on it's edge?

[@trevfindley]

This is exactly what I want to know too...

[@simplicity6564]

Nice and simple. Nice finish work.

[@josephpiskac2781]

Great work and design. Possibly when my RAM PROMASTER CITY is paid off we can look at refining the habitation cabin in it. For now it is rough at the ceiling and a forced assembly of off the shelf items.

[@WanderlustmanC]

Here on referral from my friend Static Scott...love this as all my vans have had the open space vibe and this is good inspiration for the city or connect that I am wanting next. Great job!

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Hi Josh from England, I like your minimalist design & I would love to do this approach to a vw transporter. Great work enjoy camping. 👍🏆

[@jartotable]

Cap screw covers for all those visible screw heads would really finish the interior beautifully.❤

[@armandotrevino8685]

I would really like to see build plans for that upper storage compartment please. Great content brother

[@terrimactavish9547]

Love this for my NV200.

[@tesselund]

Impressive work as always 👏👏👏

[@Josh_Oakes]

Omg thanks Tess!

[@darcymackenzie7654]

great design brother.... just take camping setup out when parked up and booya.... cargo van. Just need a track along the roof to harness the dog so she can roam around while driving yet remain safe

[@connief5154]

Love your work Josh.

[@dixietaal5023]

Looks like a beautiful campervan to me i'd love to own money goes one its perfect

[@marilynrenaud1892]

Excellent! Decided to subscribe for a while and see what you're all about. 👍😁

[@Fenerbahce_1899]

Hi Josh, excellent built. What are the living area dimensions, especially the height and the possible max. length of bed ? thx in advance

[@mojoclaudius6710]

I found your page mid last year (2021) and since then I've simplified my life and converted a 2013 Transit Connect and have been trying to get in as much traveling as possible around the US...just got back from Albuquerque/Roswell New Mexico and going to visit Colorado Springs at the end of April. Thank you for the inspiration and helpful tips. Pleeease keep posting I love your videos! 🤟🤠🤙

[@peaceformula5830]

Wow. Is it hard living in a van, toilet, dishes, clean and clothing etc?

[@mojoclaudius6710]

@@peaceformula5830 Well for the most part I stock my cooler with ice and just buy food as needed for that trip. I pee in one of those handleheld plastic urinals at night...and poops, well I better be close to a toilet when Nature Calls. I haven't had any accidents yet. 😳🤫🤣

[@mojoclaudius6710]

...and I get by with alittle help from my friends and family with the washing of clothes and body🤟

[@marcuslorenzo9705]

Man, I wish you were in Washington State. I would straight just hire you for a partial build. So good.

[@Filmedbyak]

Very clean build

[@Josh_Oakes]

Appreciate it 👊🏻

[@lorimac0260]

Please do make plans for the overhead storage available. Thank you. I was going to recommend the power station I got. It's the Max Oak Blueti AC200P (I think?). But now I'm thinking ... get two smaller ones instead? So one can fit under the glove compartment? But after lots of research, I do highly recommend Blueti or Jackery.

[@qwq203]

I would keep and reverse the passenger seat using the rear foot well instead of the front and still put the power station in that same location as shown. You could fold the seat down for driving, yet have a comfortable place to sit in the van when not driving. Of course, I'm only 5'4", so the rear space would be fine for me to sleep with it like that.

[@gypsygenesis9622]

I love this conversion. I would love to seeee more.

[@tuheur-tk4ju]

Bravo du Québec , Boisbriand

[@AutoMotivate]

The hand adds movement to the video and when you are in front of the camera the hand makes you look more welcoming. No issues with a Josh hand

[@Josh_Oakes]

👊🏻

[@ellea88]

I like your hand being in every shot lol 😂 it cracks me up! Love the build!

[@Josh_Oakes]

🤘🏻

[@cpt.kimintuitiondemon]

love it! multifunctional!

[@bjl8888]

As usual great build!

[@Josh_Oakes]

Appreciate it!

[@halifaxhiker]

Hmm… how cool would it be to do a modular build. So you’re build this but also a matching bed and kitchen unit that could be rolled in or out (and secured somehow) depending on what you’re using the can for. If you need to haul stuff you could just take out the camping setup. Or maybe even sell the van but keep the modules and reuse them in a new van… like furniture.

[@xochiltrodriguez428]

I love it. I want simple. Good job.

[@04dram04]

Josh I want to suggest you paint the black plastic trim on the van. Will make it look brand new. I used black plastic trim spray paint by dupli color. They sell at oreillys auto parts

[@Wilksey1000]

Would love to see how you make the above driver shelf extension on these from transit connect high tops. Yours look really decent and sturdy. I’m no carpenter so any help would be ideal.

[@mikegruber172]

You are an artist

[@sandyadams7177]

Love this minimalist build. Just curious what is the measurements floor to ceiling in this van build?

[@MyTentLife]

Very clever build. I’m looking at a transit van right now and I think I’m going to buy it so I am getting all these ideas. What kind of wall did you build before adding the carpet to it.