A van mid-build in the shop at night, framing visible through the open door, tools on the bench

Start your build

Let's build your rig.

We're a family-run shop in the Pacific Northwest. We've built our own vans the hard way, lived out of them, and fixed what didn't work. Now we're taking build inquiries. Tell us what you're dreaming up and we'll tell you straight what it takes.

Most popular

Full Conversion

An empty van goes in, a home on wheels comes out. Kitchen, sleeping, seating, power, lighting, storage, all planned around how you actually travel. We take on a small number of full builds at a time, so every quote is custom and every rig gets our full attention.

Single systems

Partial Build or Upgrade

Already have a van that's halfway there? We handle single systems and upgrades: a proper kitchen, better lighting, seating that converts, or exterior work like racks and awnings. Scope and quote are custom to your van, and we'll be honest if a piece of it is something you could do yourself.

Before you spend

Design Consult

Not ready to hand over the keys? Sit down with us and walk through your layout, your systems, and your build order before you spend a dollar on the wrong thing. You leave with a plan you can build from, whether you build it with us or in your own driveway.

The process

No mystery phase.

Talk

We start with a real conversation about how you'll use the van. Weekend ski trips and full-time living are two different builds, and we'd rather find that out first.

Design

We turn that conversation into a layout and a plan, down to where the switches go. You see it and approve it before we cut anything.

Build

We build it the way we build our own rigs, because for the first two, that's exactly what we did. You get updates as it comes together, not silence until pickup day.

Handover

We walk you through every system in the van until you're comfortable running it yourself. Then you drive off, and we're still a phone call away.

What we sweat

The details that decide day two hundred.

Layout that earns its space

Every inch in a van argues with every other inch. We plan the layout around your real routine, where you cook, where you sleep, where the wet boots land, so the van works on day two hundred, not just day one.

Electrical done right

Power is the system you never want to think about, which means someone has to think about it hard up front. We plan the electrical before the walls go on, run it clean, and put the controls where you can see and reach them.

Materials that hold up

A van twists, vibrates, freezes, and bakes. We pick materials and fasteners for that life, not for a photo shoot, and we build things to be serviceable later instead of buried forever.

Built for daily life

Deep sinks you can actually wash a pan in. Counters you can actually cook on. Lighting where the work happens. We've made coffee in a ski lot at dawn enough times to know which details matter.

Fair questions

Asked and answered.

How long does a build take?

It depends on the scope, and we won't pretend otherwise. A full conversion is a matter of months, not weeks, and upgrades can be much quicker. When we quote your build we give you an honest timeline for your project, and we'd rather tell you a real date than a pretty one.

What does a build cost?

Every quote is custom because every van and every plan is different, so we don't publish prices. For context, professional conversions across the industry commonly run $40k to $150k and up depending on scope. Those are industry figures, not ours. Tell us your budget early and we'll design to it instead of around it.

Can I bring my own van?

Yes, that's exactly how we expect most builds to start. Reach out before you buy if you can, because the right starting van saves you real money and headache, and we're glad to weigh in on what you're looking at.

Do you do partial builds?

Yes. Not everyone needs a full conversion, and we'd rather do one system right than talk you into more van than you need. Kitchens, seating, lighting, exterior work, upgrades to an existing build, all fair game.

Where are you located?

We're in the Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon area, and our vans have logged miles from Mt. Hood to Zion. If you're in the Pacific Northwest, come by and talk. If you're farther out, start with a design consult and we'll figure out logistics from there.

Build inquiry

Tell us what you're dreaming up.

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