2020 Ford Transit 250 AWD EcoBoost High Roof — One owner, 66,654 Accident-Free Miles — $57,777 OBO
We have loved every minute of our “front seats to America”—seeing all 50 states and all the provinces. But our travel these days is on a plane to care for family. Which means somebody else should be enjoying our beloved VannaMaria while she’s young and beautiful!
In 2020, my wife and I worked with VanWorks to create the camper van we actually wanted! That allowed us to leave out everything we didn’t like in our previous camper vans, include what we really wanted, and maximize ease of travel flexibility.
We had been GTRV Camper Van and VW Weekender owners and knew from experience we wanted the inside to feel spacious (not claustrophobic) with no heavy and cumbersome construction, no appliances we often didn’t use, and we wanted to have minimal concern about hidden wall condensation. What we did want was AWD, upright storage for our e-bikes inside the van, a skylight big enough to stand up through, a comfy fixed bed, swivel captain’s chairs, and an attractive, comfortable feeling inside.
VanWorks had ordered our 2020 AWD Ford Transit new from Ford in a configuration selected for van-life use. We chose this one because it already included factory rear-door and passenger-side windows, captain’s chairs, SYNC 3, and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. See the original window-sticker photo for the other factory equipment.
We then had VanWorks install a complete electrical system with six LED lights, a shore power connection, and a Dometic fan. Other professionals later installed a C.R. Laurence side window—vented and screened, an upgraded 30-amp exterior shore-power hookup, and a 25 inch wide Tern Overland roof hatch/skylight.
The skylight is wonderful! It’s much larger and more usable than the typical small roof vents and hatches—giving the van lots of light, air, and an open feeling. We can stand comfortably through the opening from the bed, and we love looking up at the stars from the bed.
And our favorite is the fabric walls! Our choice of fabric rather than hard, built-in wall and ceiling panels arose from our concerns about condensation and moisture issues so common in van builds. Also, we didn’t like that all the potential storage spaces in the walls getting covered in a traditional van build. So we used decorator remnants from an upholstery shop, lined inside with quilt batting and wool. That worked exactly as we had hoped—condensation has not been a concern—and with clothing in those wall spaces, the insulation is even better. That design not only preserved access to those storage spaces, but it also significantly reduced the overall weight which helped fuel economy. You can easily change the fabric if you prefer a different design. *
We then built the side-to-side bed with an amazingly comfy Mattress Insider mattress that easily fits my 6’1” height. (I am also able to stand up inside the van comfortably.) The bed is plenty high enough for lots of storage underneath and forward enough that we could snugly stow both our e-bikes upright inside—safe from weather and theft. Between the bed and front seats is wood shelving with lightweight drawers and counter space that includes a lighted computer workspace when the seat is swiveled back.
Other features we love: It is super easy for my wife to drive and park, even in most grocery-store parking lots. Camping setup and takedown are nearly instantaneous unless we need shore power or a little leveling. It also feels much more secure when arriving after dark or overnighting somewhere unfamiliar because we do not need to go outside the van to set things up — especially useful for solo travelers. At 19.5 feet long, we could use city parking spots and were often under the threshold for oversize vehicles, such as with ferries and parks. We also really appreciated FordPass Connect, which allows remote lock/unlock, remote start, vehicle location, maintenance status, and other vehicle information through the FordPass app.
We are including our Goal Zero 1500X power system—with shore power cords, an ICECO VL60 chest fridge/freezer, Breville microwave, electric frypan, bedding, a small space heater that turns off if it tips, a couple USB-chargeable fans, levelers and wheel chock, some campfire stuff, passenger and driver screens that secure into the top six inches of windows, two camping chairs, and insulating covers for all the windows.
The van is very clean and has been well maintained. We have complete repair and maintenance records, including $2,400 of preventive service performed on May 15, completing all recommendations up to 100,000 miles. The heavy duty Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tires have only 10,000 miles on them and the carpeting is brand new.
We are happy to share how we made it work wonderfully for extended travel — cooking, washing up, storage, and day-to-day routines.
2020 Ford Transit 250 high roof
AWD
EcoBoost engine
66,654 accident-free miles
Large Tern Overland roof hatch/skylight — wide enough to stand up through from the bed
Goal Zero 1500X power system
Interior upright bike storage
Six interior LED lights
One-owner—retired couple
Complete maintenance and repair records.
Very clean interior.
Recent $2,400 preventive service
Professional electrical/fan/lighting installation by VanWorks
Professionally installed C.R. Laurence vented screened side window
Dometic roof ventilation fan
30-amp exterior shore-power hookup
Microwave and electric frypan
ICECO VL60 fridge/freezer
Swivel captain’s chairs
Comfortable mattress by Mattress Insider
Lots of storage
Padded carpeted floor
Removable insulated fabric wall coverings with wool insulation
Screens for driver and passenger windows
Thermal window coverings for all windows
Rear-door and side windows
Driver-side counter and workspace
Shelving and flexible storage throughout
Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package with Prodigy P2 electric trailer brake controller
Some campfire stuff and camping chairs
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Backup camera
HD Radio, SYNC 3, 8-inch screen
Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tires
Good body condition
No known mechanical problems
$57,777 OBO.
* We used decorator upholstery remnants from an upholstery shop for the fronts and backs of the wall panels and lined them inside with quilt batting and good wool. If you want to re-cover the panels with a fabric of your choice, just remove the existing panels to use as a pattern and cut your new fabric one inch bigger all around. Fold the extra inch around to the back side of the new fabric and glue it in place with fabric glue. Let it dry. Glue the new fabric over the front of the existing panel. Voila!
