This Clever Camper Van Sleeps Way More People Than the Footprint Suggests

How many beds can you squeeze into a Ford Transit cargo van?

Published November 22, 2024

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Updated November 22, 2024

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Milwaukee-based camper van upfitter Orion Motors doesn’t lack confidence when it comes to building a set-up so comfortable, you can use it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

While a lifting rear bed is nothing new, Orion doubles down on the concept by also installing one in the front of the van, above the seats. These beds can be raised to the roof during the day and lowered down when night falls.

Accordingly, the system is dubbed 365 and to prove what it can do, the site shows off a 264-inch, high-roof Ford Transit Extended Length cargo van that can sleep not two, not three, not four but five people.

orion-motors-ford-xl-camper-van-beds — Here you can see four of the five sleeping spaces, two double beds mounted on tracks.

Modular magic

The key to doing so starts with one word: modularity. For that reason, the build steers clear of large, immovable components such as bath compartments or fixed bunks.

Instead, it prioritizes sleeping spaces on tracks that can lift and fold out of the way, leaving room for recreational products for day trips.

orion motors ford xl camper van bike storage — Both beds can be raised and lowered, with the rear bed making room for plenty of recreational products.

While a lifting rear bed is nothing new, Orion doubles down on the concept by also installing one in the front of the van, above the seats. These beds can be raised to the roof during the day and lowered down when night falls.

Where does the fifth bed come from? Below the rear double bed is a folding couch that basically disappears into the wall when not in use, yet when deployed can seat three and convert to a single bed for stashing your uncle or whoever your fifth wheel might be.

orion-motors-ford-xl-camper-van-couch-bed — The couch (hidden in the wall in the previous photo) folds out to seat three and sleep one.

What’s particularly practical here is that all these beds do not mean you simply have a single-family sleeper car. When the couch and beds are folded up out of the way, you have access to an L-track built right into the floor as well as tie-down/mounting points.

You can even remove the rear seats (which are mounted on rails) for additional storage, making it possible to stash larger outdoor products such as bicycles, kayaks, dirt bikes and more.

orion motors dirt bikes — Loads of fun can be packed in the back thanks to movable beds and sturdy tie-down points.

The 365 also integrates a standalone toilet in a removable cargo box (plus the option for a collapsible shower room), a kitchen area with a dual-burner camp stove, stainless steel sink and a 59-liter fridge.

In a tailgate-friendly touch, there’s also a 32-inch smart TV that swivels for watching inside or outside with the rear doors open.

orion 365 tailgate mode — Pretty sweet tailgate set-up, with a screen that’s compact enough to ignore if the Jets are playing.

The shotgun seat and rear passenger seats swivel to varying degrees, a third row of seats is optional and various tables are options as well.

When it comes to power, there’s a 450-Ah EcoFlow Independence modular power system with 3,000-W sine wave inverter, 400-W solar panel array, 250-A van alternator and 30-A shore power converter.

flannel family — Modularity standard. Matching flannel optional.

The standard water system is two 19-liter canisters under the sink, but you can add a 95-liter tank with the optional water heater package. There’s also a gas-powered heater and an optional 13,500-BTU A/C unit for climate control.

No matter which options you go with, the modularity appears to make just about anything possible.