2017 Ford Transit Off-Grid Camper Van Rental in GLENDALE, California

Meet Ethel, a 2017 Ford Transit High Roof camper van that was lovingly hand-built by the owner and her father. This is not a cookie-cutter rental rig.

Ethel was designed and lived in full-time for over two years by a traveling physical therapist, which means every detail was thought through with real-world comfort and practicality in mind. Based out of Glendale, California, this Ford Transit camper van is an ideal launch point for exploring the Southwest, the California coast, national parks, and everything in between.

The high roof gives you the ability to stand upright inside, making daily life on the road far more comfortable. With solar power, a full kitchen, a toilet, and an outdoor shower, Ethel is set up to keep you comfortable and self-sufficient for extended trips.

This van suits couples, solo adventurers, or anyone who wants a well-equipped, road-tested camper van without the bulk of a large RV.

Ethel features a permanent queen-sized bed that stays made up and ready for you at all times. No folding, no converting, no shuffling gear around at the end of a long day.

The mattress is 8 inches of foam measuring 72 by 60 inches, which is a genuinely comfortable sleep surface for two adults. Underneath the bed is a large garage-style storage area accessible through the rear doors, giving you room for bikes, skis, camping gear, and extra luggage without crowding the living space.

• Bed configuration: 1 Queen (permanent)
• Mattress dimensions: 72 x 60 inches
• Mattress depth: 8-inch foam
• Sleeps: 2
• Under-bed garage storage accessible via rear doors

The kitchen setup in this Ford Transit camper van is genuinely functional for week-long trips. The isotherm refrigerator is spacious enough to hold a week's worth of food for two people, and the stove lets you cook real meals rather than relying on camp food.

The kitchen sink is positioned near the side door for easy water access, and the van comes stocked with cups, plates, silverware, pots, and a pan so you can hit the road without a shopping list. A dining table rounds out the setup, giving you a proper place to eat, work, or spread out a map.

• Stove: Yes
• Refrigerator: Isotherm (sizeable, suitable for 2 people for a week)
• Kitchen sink: Yes, positioned near side door
• Dining table: Yes
• Kitchenware included: cups, plates, silverware, pots, pan

Ethel is built to stay powered up well away from hookups. The van runs 200 watts of rooftop solar panels that keep the battery topped off during daylight hours, and a battery isolator means the battery also charges while you are driving.

An inverter is on board to convert stored power for any devices that need standard AC power. This setup is well suited for multi-day off-grid camping without needing to hunt for a campground with electrical hookups.

• Solar panels: 200 watts
• Battery isolator: Yes (charges while driving)
• Inverter: Yes
• Generator: Yes (backup power available)

The van carries a 16-gallon fresh water tank that feeds the kitchen sink. The sink placement near the side door makes it easy to refill from a spigot or water source without having to climb through the van.

The outdoor shower uses the same water supply and works well for a quick rinse after a hike or a day at the beach. There is also a toilet on board, tucked under a small bench seat, which adds a meaningful layer of convenience for overnight and multi-day trips.

• Fresh water tank: 16 gallons
• Kitchen sink: Yes
• Outdoor shower: Yes
• Toilet: Yes (under bench seat)
• Potable water system: No (fill externally)

The Ford Transit is one of the most widely driven commercial and camper van platforms in the United States, which means it handles with far more confidence than a large RV or Class C motorhome. At 22 feet long, Ethel fits in most standard parking spaces and campground spots without the stress of maneuvering a massive rig.

A backup camera is included to help with reversing in tighter situations. The van seats two with seatbelts, keeping the setup simple and well-matched to the two-person sleeping capacity.

• Vehicle: 2017 Ford Transit High Roof
• Length: 22 feet
• Seatbelts: 2
• Backup camera: Yes
• Ceiling fan: Yes
• Extra storage: Yes

This Ford Transit camper van is genuinely built for off-grid travel. The combination of 200 watts of solar, a battery isolator, an inverter, and a backup generator means you have multiple ways to stay powered regardless of where you park for the night.

The 16-gallon water tank, outdoor shower, and on-board toilet reduce your dependency on developed campgrounds significantly. A propane heater keeps the interior warm on cold nights, making Ethel a four-season capable rig for destinations like the Sierras, Joshua Tree, or the desert Southwest.

If you want to camp in remote spots without sacrificing comfort, this Ford Transit camper van delivers that experience reliably.