Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Thomas Smith, Owner, and founder of Navigate Adventure Vans, Grand Rapids.
• Navigate Adventure Vans, located just outside of Grand Rapids, is a premier Midwest van conversion company focused on fully and semi-customized builds.
• Our mission is to create the ultimate camper vans and adventure vehicles that are rooted in quality, versatility, comfort, and beautiful design so we can help our clients live their best adventures.
• The team has 20 years of manufacturing and automotive engineering experience, with a focus on creating high-quality, versatile builds.
• Navigate Adventure Vans caters to the weekend warriors and short-term travelers seeking their next exhilarating journey.
• The Vans
o The Explorer Series build features Adventure Wagon’s cost-effective modular interior systems that can change and grow according to each adventurer's needs.
o Navigate Custom Builds are for clients who are looking for a unique van to fit their wildest travel dreams. Navigate works with each Custom Build customer to create interior and exterior designs and then build to each client’s specifications.
• Adventure van builds typically take between two weeks to four months, depending on options and complexity, and range from $35,000 to over $100,000, in addition to the price of the van.
• Navigate Adventure Vans is proud to be aligned with some of the industry’s leading suppliers such as Adventure Wagon, Agile Offroad, Flarespace, FVC, Renogy, Roambuilt, Victron Energy, Zamp Solar, and several others.
Adventurers
● NAV clients spend their vacations and weekends outdoors, cycling, skiing, fishing, hiking, or hunting. They want to experience adventure on their own time, in their own ways, all while staying safe and comfortable.
● Class B camper van owners don’t just hang at a campsite all day, but instead use their vans as conduits for adventure. Mountain biking, rock climbing, surfing, paragliding, wind surfing, snowmobiling—a camper van provides an affordable way to access the world’s best adventures.
● The non-negotiables
o 4-wheel drive
o Room for gear
o Space-saving solutions
o Innovative features – winch systems, bike racks, etc.
The Industry
• The #vanlife movement was already in full swing before the pandemic, fueled by envyinducing posts on Instagram and DIY van conversion videos on YouTube. But as the pandemic took hold, more and more antsy Americans who could work remotely decided to join the van life community.
• Since the onset of the pandemic, the work-from-anywhere lifestyle has changed the way people approach life. They can focus on extended travel on the weekends or even during the week and essentially go “off-grid,” all the while bringing the pleasantries of
home with them in a fully outfitted van.
• During a time when people are reassessing their priorities, many have taken to a much more simplistic way of life. The allure of having a custom camper van includes being able to focus on extended travel, on and off-grid camping, boondocking, and being able to pack all necessary adventure gear in one, organized space.
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