As part of our #Vanlife series, we’ll feature custom builders and outfitters who turn a standard van into an Adventure Van. At NAHBS this year, VanDOit held a lot of peoples’ attention with their sweet custom Transit smack dab in the middle of the show floor.
Based in Kansas City, VanDOit’s founders have been in auto industry for three generations, and they’ve been leasing fleet vehicles for 20 years. Now, instead of selling them after leasing them as passenger vehicles (mostly by churches and private schools), they take the low mileage vehicles and turn them into something much, much more awesome.
The vans come off lease with an average of 15,000 to 20,000 miles, which means they’re still fresh, but come to you at a great price…fully outfitted in various states of adventure readiness. Which means you can get this slide-out bike rack design that’s strong enough for you to stand on when fully extended, which is how I took this photo:
Up top, they can do cargo racks with auxiliary AC for when you’re connected to shore power (or running the engine with a converter), and solar panels to keep everything charged. And a satellite TV antenna, too.
All interior parts are made in house. They buy aluminum T-track in bulk and cut and drill it to serve their purposes. And serve it does, forming the mounting spots and attachment points for the TV, bed, and other appointments throughout the cabin.
Like that sliding tray with bike mounts, which could be used to transport just about anything they make a T-track mount for.
You can get them just about any way you want them, but for cyclists, an air compressor and pop-on bike work stand seem like good ideas.
While VanDOit will customize the Mercedes Sprinter, Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV, too, they told us their preference and recommendation is the Transit. Why? Because no matter where you go, you’re probably not far from a Ford dealer or any good mechanic, and most any good mechanic can work on a Ford. Not only will the repairs be more affordable, but the vans themselves are a deal since they’re slightly used.
Interested? Check them out at VanDOit.com.
