Finding myself without a permanent home back in 2024 came as a massive shock. My Edinburgh rental was put up for sale and I needed to leave at relatively short notice. While I own a home, I rent it out to some lovely people. It felt wrong to do to my tenants what had been done to me.
I wasn't sure what to do. I’d watched van life videos for years, so perhaps it was fate I’d end up living in one.
I meticulously researched many vans, focusing on size, reliability, and running costs. In the end, I realised that Transit Custom is the perfect van for me. The 2021 Transit Custom I purchased second-hand met all my criteria and then some.
Not only was the Transit cheaper to buy than other second-hand vans in the segment, but its lower long-term maintenance costs also made it ideal. It's certainly a more affordable lifestyle than renting a place in Edinburgh.
I stayed with my parents and couch surfed with friends while I got the van fit for habitation. Outfitting the van took months of careful work, though I initially saw van life as a temporary solution. I started adding things to make it cosier, a few plants, nice pillows, coffee apparatus, etc., until it started to feel like home.
It wasn’t long before another thought presented itself, courtesy of my brother. What if I started documenting my van life journey? And just like that, my social media career as outside_with_ron was born. Ron is my nickname, and it felt more fun to go with that as my social media tag.
My day job as an electrician takes me to construction sites across Scotland. That means my parking spot is often the site car park itself. Luckily, most sites have access to a gym, so I'll head there for a shower before my shift starts. If not, I have a portable manual pump shower for a quick wash beside the van.
My 12-hour workdays start at 7:30 AM, and end simply: cooking on a portable camping stove. Van life is unique, and it certainly gets noticed.
On my first day at my current job in the Scottish Highlands, I arrived the night before everyone else and slept in the site car park. When the crew arrived in the morning, they already knew who I was — the electrician who lives in his van — thanks to my social media. It was a great icebreaker.
Van life is not easy, of course. I encountered anxieties I hadn’t even thought about before moving into my Transit. When home and work are the same place, space is limited. As a minimalist, I manage, but I still occasionally wish for more room.
The other hurdle has been an anxiety that anyone with a vehicle can relate to — a breakdown. For me, that’d be a major issue as my van is also my home. Towards the end of 2025, that anxiety turned into a reality.
My van broke down, potentially because of an aftermarket product I’d installed. While my van — my home — was being repaired, I was once again without a permanent home. I found alternative accommodations, in a hotel and on a boat, but nothing compared to the van life I’ve become so used to.
Thankfully, a lifeline appeared. A local Ford dealership kindly lent me a 2025 Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)1 for a week. The collaboration was a part of a Ford competition. People can participate by test driving any Transit Custom for a chance to win an electric E-Transit Custom.
I’ve installed over 400 chargers at other people's homes. But as someone without a permanent address, I couldn’t do that for myself. I was worried about public charger availability.
I quickly discovered how robust Scotland's public charging infrastructure is. Once I figured out how to use the van’s built-in tech to find the best charger near me, I never had an issue.
“Van life began as a solution to a problem, and for a week, I got to experience the next evolution of that solution.”Dom Wright, Electrician and van life content creator
As an electrician in Scotland, I often drive in the Low Emission Zones in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow for work. While my 2021 Transit Custom is currently exempt, this will change as it ages. A hybrid or electric vehicle would likely remain exempt longer.
I also take jobs and vacations outside Edinburgh, often involving long drives. For these journeys, the option to switch to petrol in a PHEV is ideal.
My favourite discovery is Ford Pro Power Onboard. I must admit, even as an electrician, I didn’t know much about it. The more I learnt though, the more I realised how useful it is for me, both as an electrician and for my van life.
Professionally, having Pro Power Onboard would make such a difference in working on sites. I wouldn’t have to worry about carrying battery packs or finding an appropriate power source for my tools. I’ll be carrying my own.
Personally, it would mean leaving the separate generator I use for my van life behind. My home itself could power everything.
Getting my own Transit back felt like coming home. I’ve poured so much work into making it my space, and I’m not looking to start over anytime soon. But the experience of driving the Transit Custom PHEV shifted my perspective. It showed me what the future of life on the road could look like.
Van life began as a solution to a problem, and for a week, I got to experience the next evolution of that solution. Whenever the time comes to buy my next vehicle, I know it will likely be hybrid or electric, and it will absolutely have Ford Pro Power Onboard.
Dom Wright is an Electrician and Van Life Content Creator
1 Ford Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid homologated CO2 emissions 86-112 g/km WLTP Euro 6e-bis (UK: 36-52 g/km Euro 6e), homologated fuel efficiency 3.8-4.9 l/100 km WLTP Euro 6e-bis (UK: 1.6-2.3 l/100 km Euro 6e) and pure electric driving range up to 55 km WLTP. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. A range of up to 55 km can be achieved with a fully charged battery — depending on the existing series and battery configuration. The actual range may vary due to various factors (e.g. weather conditions, driving style, route profile, vehicle condition, age and condition of the lithium-ion battery).
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