Gigi the LWB high roof Ford Transit

Gigi- the Amazing Ford Transit long wheel base and high roof. 2016 with under 100k millage, I have spent a year doing this bad boy up.
It was originally a minibus so very well taken care of and it passed its MOT with no advisories.

The real selling point of this van is its airiness and openness. I was tired of feeling cramped in vans where there was no real place to walk or look out. That’s why I chose one with lots of windows which open, and designed a walkway so that you never feel like you’re stumbling over cupboards or the bed. I wanted good air circulation too as the summer was hot, so having the truma fan on, windows open AND an overhead extractor/fan meant I stayed nice and cool. It has a bamboo roof and homemade overhead and out of the way cupboards and a book shelf. It is painted like a Victorian style ceiling, white with brown beams and the wooden cupboards are a light beige. A new Moroccan tile floor was installed, as well as lots of side cupboards and kitchen space. All of this contributes to the openness of the van, as the colours are light so make the van look bigger on the inside.

The design of the sofas in the cabin is multi-functional so that there is still plenty of space to be comfortable. There are 2, 3 seater sofas that are perfect for chilling on as you watch the sunset through the back doors. This then transforms into a full 4-6 seater dining table by taking the stowed away stilts out of the cupboard, and the table put at the back and placing it in the centre of the walkway. And then, when you’re ready to get into bed, you simply place the table along the ridges of the benches and place the foam cutouts down. This creates a big king sized bed with no chance of your partner taking up all of the space! I have managed to have a comfortable night sleep with 2 other of my friends in this bed! (* I use my bed sheets to cover my foam cutouts for sleeping and for the photos) so will not be there when picking up)

All along the van are windows with a slight tint on them so ward off nosy passer-by’s and some cute vintage curtains that can be rolled up. This van is also easily customisable so if you decided that you wanted different curtains, they are very easy to take off and replace.

It has an expensive Truma heater installed and connected to an underslung LPG gas tank so that you can fill up gas like you would at a petrol station. This provides heating in the winter that doesn’t leave the van due to the insulation and carpeted sides. This is also connected to the newly installed gas hobs which have never been used! When I have cooked in the van before (using a portable gas hob), having the spice rack next to me and the overhead cupboard above me meant that getting into the swing of cooking was easy and uncomplicated. Additionally, the extractor fan at the back of the van helps reduce any cooking smoke. Other features include 2 USB ports for charging electronics, which are powered by 2 kick-ass batteries which recharge via the van’s battery when you drive the van. You will never run out of charge in the van so you can always rely on the lights and power. The tap is connected to a huge 80-90L water tank hidden under the cupboards which gives you the opportunity for cold and hot water. Under the big cupboard used for pots and pans, there is a simple compostable toilet hidden away. A fridge is also stowed under the cupboard which can also be made a freezer for you ice cream lovers out there.

I have owned 2 vehicles before this and let me tell you- I never want another brand but ford! It has a fantastic computer system that tells me things like, when it is time for an oil change, or when I’m about to back up into something. The audio system is Bluetooth connected however, it also has a CD player if I want an old-fashioned jam. I feel like the king of the road in this van as the drive is super chill and gets up hills like a dream. I have never had any problems with it and it has many thousands of miles left in it.

In total about 40k has gone into this van, through constant remodelling, painting and editing to make it perfect. I have been on great adventures but am leaving the country so don’t need it anymore. Gigi is ready to be properly lived in or taken on holiday. There is also potential for more to be done to this van to make it the ultimate high-tech beast but anything else added to it would just be extra luxury because everything you need is already there.

Side note- I am based in the Isle of Wight which is a cheap and 10 min hovercraft away from Southampton or Portsmouth. The cost of the ferry ticket is included in the price.