11 photos
Photo: Kirsten Dirksen/YouTube screenshot
Living in a van has become a mainstream lifestyle choice for more and more people today. Vanlife is cheap, simple and flexible, and many adopters do so in search of a more self-sufficient lifestyle characterized by freedom and mobility. However, rising off-campus rents in most cities make converting a camper van a unique and affordable living option for some students.
Ethan Liebros, a medical school student in New Jersey, is one of the students who decided to replace dorm life with van life. He attends UCLA Medical School in the expensive Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where most of his classmates pay his $1,600 to his $1,800 a month to rent a studio.
When I started college, I didn't want to take out any more loans, so I was lured into this lifestyle to save money. He is currently graduating from college in his beautifully renovated 2015 Ford Transit. This young man had previously lived in a modified Ford Transit Connect for about a year traveling around the country, but the car was much more compact and he found it difficult, so just before he enrolled in medical school, he I sold it and bought another car. transit van. He then spent two full months converting it into a comfortable camper on wheels, which he now uses as his own dormitory.
With no previous experience, and with the help of his father, Ethan manages to create a minimalist, yet practical, mobile living space that allows him to live off-grid in the middle of the city. Inside the transit van's compact interior, he created a functional kitchen, seating area, and a comfortable bed in the back. To make it feel like a real home, we included details typically found in modern homes, including a custom-cut memory foam mattress, gas range, butcher block countertop, and stainless steel sink with pressure washer. Ta.
Photo: Kirsten Dirksen/YouTube screenshot
The only thing missing inside this van is a proper bathroom with shower and toilet. But Ethan doesn't care about that. He enjoys the simple life in his mobile home, and he confessed that he likes the challenge of finding water and a place to take a shower. With his humble attitude and his philosophy of life, he appears to be the perfect proponent of a minimalist lifestyle.
In addition to the financial benefits of living in a van, this student hopes this lifestyle will make him a more compassionate doctor. “I have a dream of becoming a truly great doctor, one who listens, understands, and cares. This act of living in a van has helped me grow into exactly the kind of person I truly want to be.” “I believe it's helping me do that,” he says.
For the interior of his mobile dorm, Ethan chose a simple layout with no partition between the cab and living space, with the kitchen in the center, followed by two seats, and a sleeping area in the back. In the front, the passenger seat swivels to provide additional seating space when friends come over.
Photo: Kirsten Dirksen/YouTube screenshot
The galley kitchen occupies most of the available floor space and features custom-built cabinetry with large drawers, a pantry, water storage and upper cupboards. It has enough storage space for food, cutlery, tableware and cooking essentials by itself, helping you keep everything organized. Functionality is ensured by a two-burner gas stove, under-counter refrigerator, large sink, and plenty of space to add other electric countertop appliances.
All cabinetry features white and black hardware, giving the interior a light and airy feel, while details like butcher block countertops and green tile backsplash add an elegant touch to the space.
The back of the van is a sleeping area. The horizontal bed, located at window level and with a built-in alcove, makes the most of the vehicle's width and creates an excellent sense of space. It is equipped with a comfortable foam mattress and is built on a raised platform with an integrated drawer that acts as a wardrobe. A practical overhead cupboard provides even more storage space, while two sliding side windows and a back door window ensure plenty of natural light in the sleeping area.
Photo: Kirsten Dirksen/YouTube screenshot
Between the kitchen and bedroom area, there are two small built-in benches that together with a table that slides out from under the bed create a nice dining spot.
Beneath the bed is a garage area, accessible from the rear of the van, that stores electrical system components and Ethan's primary means of transportation, his bicycle.
This modified 2015 Ford Transit may not be the sleekest, flashiest camper out there, but it's a great choice for Ethan, who plans to use it as a temporary home during his four years at school. With just his $14,000 investment, he can basically spend his entire student life on his one year's worth of rent.
