2020 FORD TRANSIT-250 3.5L EcoBoost 10-Speed AT, AWD, w/Factory Trailer Package.
VanCompass Falcon 3.3 Fast Adjust shock system w/Topo 2″ lift kit.
Length: 20 feet, weighed GVW as built: 8260 lbs. (no occupants, supplies or cargo onboard, 1/4 fuel)
Clean title; VIN: 1FTBR2XGXLKB10141

Camper Conversion by Alaska Camper Van Conversions, Anchorage; 2020-2021.
https://www.alaskacampervanconversions.com/about

Current odometer: 55,460 miles (10/15/2024).
Ford Motor Company Premium Care 100K extended warrantee in effect; transferrable.
Ford Motor Company Premium Maintenance coverage in effect; transferrable.

No-smoking policy in effect since new.

CAMPER CONVERSION DESCRIPTION:

WHY: I’m selling in order to shift my financial capability towards purchase of an efficient modern airplane. I also have my 1947 Luscombe 8E airplane up for sale at Barnstormers.com and FB Marketplace all in order to better effect upgrade to the ideal airplane for my aerial landscape photography and travel purposes, the Slovenian-made “Pipistrel Virus-SW 100iS”. Ideally, the van would be nice to keep and use in addition to renting out to tourists in Alaska’s busy summer season as I have been doing these past two short and intense seasons, helping to pay off its purchase. My third-tier cargo airline pilot job doesn’t pay well enough to “have it all” at once. All of my renters have been careful and considerate with this camper-van, contrary to the the complaints and stories I sometimes see on the Facebook Outdoorsy.com owners’ forum. If you are an Anchorage, Fairbanks, Sitka, Juneau or Ketchikan resident, the Alaska tourist season rental potential is a real financial incentive. Various Lower-48 gateway locations for national parks and other natural attractions also have high rental-income potential.

GENERAL: Shortly after delivery to Anchorage as a factory-new van with a bare interior behind its full-featured cab, the camper build-out was commenced by Alaska Camper Van Conversions in Anchorage through the remainder of 2020 and well into 2021. It was an extensive design and labor-intensive construction process.

Several interior design innovations were made at the suggestion of the van’s original owner, a friend of mine. The main design improvement involved orienting the bed platform transversely, instead of lengthwise, and placing the interior lighting and heater control-panel within reach of the bed’s head-end. Earlier this year I brought the camper to ACVC to troubleshoot what turned out to be its failed inverter remote-control unit, since easily replaced; their electrician said to me that this camper was his favorite of the at least a hundred they’ve built to-date, I estimate.

As seen in the photographs, the aesthetic is functional, tastefully utilitarian and ergonomic. ACVC began as an ocean-going boat builder in Anchorage; their construction method is based upon welded aluminum materials, as with their boat building. The only wood used is for the countertops as seen in the photographs; all else is welded and shaped aluminum plate and other aluminum structural components.

The floor, wall and ceiling insulation and its installation is commercial marine-grade, avoiding problems with internal moisture accumulation and mold formation. The interior walls provide for removable-panel access to the wiring runs. It’s essentially a sea-worthy cabin on a chassis rather than a hull. Conceivably, the entire camper build could be disassembled and reinstalled in an identical Ford van body in event of a front-end collision or other such accident resulting in “total loss” by an underwriter that doesn’t seriously damage the back end and camper section.

The numerous adjustable cargo-tie-down points in the aft storage (“garage” in camper-van nomenclature) are of aviation application, and I assume also found in marine vessels; my area of expertise is aviation, so they’re familiar to a professional pilot, built and installed for high-strength ratcheting tie-downs and high G-loading.

THE GALLEY includes a built-in stainless-steel sink and faucet leading to a grey-water tank, drainable outside through an interior valve. Potable water is supplied from about as many 5-gallon square-base Nalgene jugs as desired; currently I have 4 on board. One jug fits under the sink for quick-connect hookup to the 24V water-pump/pressure accumulator system. Modification to each jug was easily accomplished with parts available at a hardware store.

A purpose-designed shelf in the garage accommodates 4 potable water jugs as described above, plus the one in use under the sink. While this has not been done, I can imagine plumbing the several shelved jugs in series to the pump for at least 25 gallons uninterrupted capacity, the shelf being in direct line with the sink. Hot water is provided by a removable (e.g., for winter storage or maintenance) Bosch 2.5 gallon 110V electric water heater co-located and secured outboard of the supply jug under the sink (or neatly stowed on the jug-shelf in back), and powered through a timer switch. A hot water line is also sent to the back end, terminating in a quick-connect receptacle for an outside shower station or hose for equipment cleaning, etc.; co-located is a remote switch for the water pump, for when not selected-on at the main switch-panel.

Rather than a potable-water holding tank, this system-design allows the owner/operator to easily ensure system sanitation and simplified, quick winterization along with the reverse process for spur-of-the-moment cold winter utilization.

A Dometic CRX1080 refrigerator is installed, powered by the camper’s 24V system; I’ve found that setting its thermostat to the coldest setting will cause water in the main refrigerator compartment to at least turn slushy.

To make efficient and versatile use of space, there is no built-in stovetop. The countertops provide ample room for a 2-burner propane camp-stove placed wherever it’s convenient inside, in addition to a foldout table extending outside from the sliding-door-adjacent cabinet-countertop pedestal. If a built-in stovetop is desired, it appears to me that such a modification is possible.

The ample overhead cabinetry is designed to accommodate the dimensions of a 2-burner camp-stove. And again by design, a sunken shelf area between the galley window and countertop/sink accommodates several 1-gallon water jugs and/or other items. Adjacent to this shelf is a discretely built-in trash receptacle beneath a section of countertop wood acting as a tight lid.

As seen in the photographs, there is ample cabinet storage; additionally, there are three discreet/hidden compartments, the largest of which is designed to accommodate one or two hunting rifles laid flat.

Two dining/workstations are provided by sturdy flip-up tables at the forward end, left and right; the larger right table is also height-adjustable. Seating for these tables is provided by the driver’s and passenger’s captain chairs, when rotated 180°. The left table, designed to double as a computer etc. workstation, is immediately adjacent to the inverter remote-control panel, accompanied by a 5V USB outlet and a 110V AC household outlet. All of these electrical components are readily accessible from behind for upgrade or repair/replacement. Designed-in accessibility holds true for all other technical aspects of the camper’s design.

INTERIOR LIGHTING is composed of 12 LED ceiling lamps and 3 LED galley lamps mounted directly above the galley workspace, and 4 LED lamps in the aft cargo/garage section of approximately 4000° K color temperature (not harsh, warmish); the garage zone, aft, mid, forward ceiling and galley banks are controlled individually at the main switch panel, accompanied by a collective rheostat rocker switch (except for the garage). A single overhead forward-central ceiling lamp, identical to the other ceiling lamps, is controlled by a switch on the sliding side-door’s frame as an entry dome light.

VENTILATION is provided by an overhead bidirectional fan unit featuring several speeds, either manually controlled or with a handheld remote controller. Each of the camper’s four C.R. Laurence windows feature openable, screened sections.

HEATING is by a Webasto Air Top 2000 STC B gasoline combustion heater making 3753-7000 BTU; maximum burn rate: 9.13 fl. oz. (0.27 liter) per hour from the vehicle’s fuel tank; in 8 hours continuous operation at the thermostat’s maximum setting, consumption will be slightly more than 1/2 gallon from the vehicle’s 30 gallon fuel tank. Its thermostat is located on the main switch panel, easily reachable from the head-end of the bed. The heater’s fuel supply is plumbed such that it will not operate when the tank is below about 25% full, avoiding a stranding.

I’ve travelled the Al-Can highway through the Yukon Territory in December with air temperature down to minus-54°F. In subzero Fahrenheit temperatures it’s very hard on the engine to shut it down and attempt restart after cold-soaking, as well as a threat to survival if overnighting away from civilization, which I don’t recommend. Leaving the engine idling is necessary for the engine’s sake—and for cabin heat—as the Webasto simply lacks the BTU output necessary for an extremely cold environment.

However—rest assured—the idling engine’s cabin heater output is well more than enough for comfort at minus-54°F. I had to turn the van’s cabin heat control down for sleeping comfort overnight. Contributing to the camper-build’s wall and ceiling insulation is an eight-piece full-set of XPLR Outfitters four-season insulated window covers and ceiling fan-vent cover; not only for cold locations, but for hot environments, too. These covers are specifically designed for the Transit’s cab and the camper’s C.R. Laurence windows and ceiling ventilation unit.

A COMPOSTING TOILET by Nature’s Head still in like-new condition is installed in its purpose-designed cabinet, which when encased doubles as a seating area and step up to the bed platform. A switched, integrated 24V power supply for the unit’s circulation fan is co-located, providing silent low-volume airflow ducted outside, maintaining unidirectional flow through the composting compartment, preventing any possible odor escape while promoting the mulching process with continuous air exchange.

THE BED PLATFORM is height-adjustable and is made in two lengthwise sections allowing for removal of one half so as to make additional room for cargo if sleeping one person, or easy removal of the entire platform for bulky cargo-carrying flexibility. A fitted sheet for a size-Full mattress neatly fits the platform’s two custom-made 7-inch-deep encased foam mattress halves when combined as a Full-sized bed. A pair of LED reading lamps are located at each head-end along with USB charging outlets.

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is powered by 4 Fullriver DC224-6 deep-cycle AGM batteries (maintenance-free sealed), automatically maintained and charged by a pair of rooftop solar panels, the van’s own 24V system with the engine running, or the 110V shore-power receptacle. A MagnaSine MS2812 Inverter/Charger provides 110V household current to 6 outlets in four locations. This system simply takes care of itself.

EXTERNAL FEATURES include an in-house custom-built heavy-duty welded aluminum roof rack and access ladder; cargo area dimensions behind the solar panels and ventilation unit measures 57 x 58 inches, and doubles as a 9 foot high observation platform, painted in a non-slip black finish.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING is composed of two high-intensity LED flood lamps on the right side, and two identical lamps at the rear end, each pair controlled by a switch inside, adjacent the sliding side-door and the right rear door, respectively.

THE AWNING is a Fiamma F45s, secured to the roof-rack and extends the full length of the camper section, above the right-side flood lamps, providing protection from rain and sun from the forward doorpost aft to the tail-lights. It remains in like-new condition.

VAN CHASSIS DESCRIPTION:

The van was ordered from the factory with the V6 EcoBoost Twin-Turbo 3.5L engine, mated to its 10-speed with overdrive Select-Shift transmission, powering the automatic all-wheel drivetrain. Accessories include the commercial-level alternator package and dual batteries. The batteries are compartmentalized inside the cab under the driver’s seat, a certain advantage in cold climates. Its adaptive cruise control system is highly effective in traffic and will bring the vehicle to a near full-stop if needed. As a decades-long cruise-control power-user, I find it to be highly desirable. The windshield was replaced and the collision-avoidance/adaptive-cruise-control sensor recalibrated in 2023; documentation included, maintaining accident liability protection.

The suspension was upgraded at the time of camper build with the Falcon 3.3 Fast Adjust shock system including a Topo 2″ lift kit from Van Compass, optimizing drivability for the camper build. Overall handling is non-eventful in crosswinds, on curvy 2-lane roads etc. throughout its highway speed-range. A Toyo Celsius 10-ply rating 4-season M+S rated tire set was mounted in 2023, currently with about 16,100 miles accumulated with even, normal wear; alignment performed in March 2024. The TPMS sensors are all functional and accurately report individual pressures in the dashboard display. An unused dedicated spare tire was purchased new in 2023, secured in its well.

This Transit’s factory-installed 3500kg/7700lb. tow-package was not used until recently when this September I made a 300-mile round-trip to Kenai hitched to a 2100 lb. car-carrier trailer, pulling 5600 lbs. gross weight on return, and without the benefit of trailer brakes. Operating with the drivetrain’s electronic control system trailer-mode selected, the engine-transmission easily and smoothly maintained its adaptive cruise-control-commanded 60 MPH highway speed no matter the gradient; never laboring or drastically downshifting to maintain uphill momentum, while the brakes remained firmly effective on the downgrade including when approaching tight curves, as the rig was put through its paces on the two-lane Seward and Sterling highways.

Engine oil and filter changes have been regularly accomplished per the dashboard maintenance display’s oil change calculator; and beginning July 2023 at odometer 38250, utilizing Amsoil Signature Series 5w/30 full-synthetic and recommended Amsoil filter. The past three oil changes have included oil sample laboratory analysis, those reports included (the report indicates 5w/40; that is a data input error by the lab).

Dealer-conducted engine systems repair maintenance by Kendall Ford of Wasilla, Alaska was accomplished during the Spring of 2023 and comprised replacing the radiator and coolant pump following a radiator leak due to road debris-caused damage. The van was immediately parked and shut down upon first indication of rising coolant temperature, then flatbed-transported to the dealer, allowing no chance of damage to the engine; about 20,500 miles have been driven since then with no further issue.

Reasonable offers will be considered, and I can provide re-positioning at cost, including wintertime.