It’s summer in the Pacific Northwest, and the Van Life crowd is everywhere. From bike races to remote trailheads and grocery store parking lots, you can’t escape them. And I’ll admit it. I suffer from van envy. Half of me wonders how so many people can afford $100,000+ vans, and my other half covets one.
I’ve owned multiple vans over the years—mostly VW Vanogans of one era or another. From full Winabego-outfitted set-ups to bare-bones bench-seat vans, my experience has informed my view of what makes a good adventure van layout. In my opinion, the sweet spot lies somewhere between the fully-kitted RV and the basic cargo setup.
Oregon-based van conversion company Adventure Wagon hits that sweet spot with its versatile, modular van conversion system.
Adventure Wagon Modular Van Conversion System
Adventure Wagon offers completely modular van conversions for Mercedes Sprinters and Ford Transits, allowing you to switch up your layout to match your adventure. I am not talking about RV-like vans with all the amenities. The Adventure Wagon system is a versatile approach to van conversion that allows you to adapt the van to different uses. It’s a pro-grade interior complete with insulation, paneling and wiring that lets you add and remove storage and sleeping components to suit your adventure needs
The system includes everything from the internal substructure—called the A-Frame—to insulation, sound dampening, plug-and-play electrical wiring, venting, wall panels and the all-important L-Track. It’s the Adventure Wagon L-Track that lets you install, remove and configure the interior to match your adventure.
In addition to the framework, walls and track system, Adventure Wagon offers lighting and power solutions, bed systems (Moab Bed) and overhead storage options (Mule Bags). What really sets them apart from the many other van conversion outfits is that their system is also available as a DIY kit.
The Adventure Wagon Workshop in Portland, Oregon where they perform conversions and manufacture most of their components
That’s right, you can do it yourself. A DIY installation generally takes four to six days but varies based on your skills and whether you are working alone or have help. You can also choose to have Adventure Wagon do the installation or work with a certified installer in your area. The DIY kit starts at $16,000. It comes in a crate that will fit in the back of your soon-to-be-converted van. Just pull into their warehouse, have them load the crate and off you go to your garage.
The Adventure Wagon interior set up for a long weekend of basecamp gravel riding.
The Adventure Wagon Advantage is that it’s Modular and Adaptable
While you do not get a kitchen with a sink and cooking amenities, you do get a lot more space to move and room to customize your layout for hauling bikes, skis, surfboards, etc. The more minimalist approach to a van conversion is great when your travels vary. One weekend, you are off to the coast to surf. Your next trip is an extended bike adventure. Come winter, you want room to pack ski gear and sleep. The modular approach offers more storage to pack adventure gear and more versatility to match your plan. You are never locked into a single program. You can even strip out the bed and storage to use your van as a daily driver or general cargo hauler.
While you don’t have an inside kitchen, you have plenty of space to pack your camp kitchen gear. Add a couple of key accessories like a Dometic cooler, Dragon Fly tarp, and some outdoor seating, and you have a sweet outdoor living/cooking space plus a great, roomy indoor sleeping space. My personal experience is that it’s more fun to cook outside anyway. The Dragon Fly Tarp system is pro-grade. It creates a truly bomber, windproof set-up for shelter from sun and rain.
Dragon Fly Tarp setup extends your living space and offers sun and rain coverage
Versatility = Reality
You could call the Adventure Wagon system a minimalist van build, a modular kit or an adaptable conversion because it’s all of the above. But I see it as the van conversion for real life. You don’t always need or want a van full of amenities. In fact, I really prefer cooking outdoors, even when I’ve had an inside cooking set-up. With the Adventure Wagon conversion, you can add, remove or relocate storage based on your trip needs. You can adjust the bed height to match your storage needs. Or you can pull it all out and add a row of seats for hauling people.
The L-Track system lets you customize the location of everything from the Mule Bags to the bed height and Adventure Wagon’s aluminum storage boxes. The boxes secure to the track with easy-to-adjust straps, allowing you to add and remove components as needed or to set up your outdoor basecamp once onsite. You can even use the L-Track to mount cabinetry to create a more RV-like build.
Adventure Wagon manufactures the L-Track right in their workshop
Van Life for Real Life
If you are lucky enough to be planning a van build, Adventure Wagon offers an excellent solution for creating a custom adventure rig. The system’s modular approach lets you build out as much or as little as needed. Their practical approach also offers plenty of potential to add, adjust and redesign your van over time. It’s the van conversion solution for real life. And you can even do it yourself, which for a chronic fix-it-guy like myself, is half of the attraction.
Adventure Wagon Mule Bag overhead storage mounted on the L-Track
The sliding Radio Vans cargo tray makes stowing and accessing bikes a snap
Spacious van interior with Adventure Wagon Mule Bags and aluminum cargo boxes to keep clothes and gear organized
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