What a year! 2023 was a year of change and growth for Tri-State Vans & Outside Van. It started out with a bang as Outside Van opened their new production facility and launched Approach, their first model van conversion produced for the mass market. Building custom vans over the years has given Outside Van a unique insight into what works best in the outdoors. They took all that knowledge and condensed it into building a series of innovative adventure vehicles that rely on common layouts and are geared for a broader set of adventurers, explorers, and van lifers, and we are proud to offer them at Tri-State Vans.
To build Approach, they had to modify their manufacturing pipeline that was perfected over the years building one-of-a-kind custom vans and adapt it to fit in with a workflow that focused on high-quantity production. To do this, not only did they need to engineer Approach in a way that was complementary to mass production while still adhering to their construction and quality standards, but it was also necessary that they open an entirely new dedicated facility that enabled this workflow. Thus, Outside Van South was born.
Located just blocks away from their main headquarters, Outside Van South is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where every step of the build process can be done in-house and under complete control of Outside Van. On June 15th, after months of logistical kung-fu, equipment deliveries and installations, and long nights and weekends getting the facility up and running, they officially cut the ribbon for Outside Van South. To mark the monumental occasion and in true Outside Van fashion, they decided to throw a huge party!
With their legacy of building the top adventure vans, they pride themselves on being a resource in the community. Since 2007, they have left a mark and helped define what it is to be an adventure van. They have worked with many builders and manufacturers along the way to help build this industry into what it is today. There is always room around our campfire, and as a tilt of our hat to that community, they invited all their industry friends and turned the Open House into a celebration of all things Van Life.
They opened up the facility for tours, debuted Approach, launched t-shirts out of a t-shirt cannon (!), and had a massive raffle. It was an incredibly successful event, and they wanted to thank everyone who attended and participated. They were humbled by the good vibes and warm reception from our community that we all hold dearly in our hearts.
Not only did they have a blast at the Open House, but they also introduced the Apex Wheel,
their first go at building a wheel that is purpose-built for the unique uses of an Outside Van. Crafted using advanced Flow-Forged technology, the Apex Wheel achieves an exceptional balance between strength and lightweight construction, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and performance. And, the removable rock ring allows you to easily replace any damage or scuffing down the road.
To add to their arsenal of awesome components, the Outside Van team developed the Wing Step Rear Bumper. The Wing Step is a specialized type of rear bumper that incorporates a grip tape step with an integrated wing shape that allows the use of hitch-mounted bike racks and accessories without an extension. The design will not interfere with the use of the backup sensors, and its no-drill install is fast and seamless, allowing you to take your upfit into your own hands without any expensive specialized tools.
As the year marched on and with Approach rolling into Tri-State Vans, the Outside Van team developed and built Slim Chance, a Sprinter 144 concept van that incorporated a new layout and features that they had been secretly developing over the past few years. Outside Van began in 2007 in Hood River, Oregon, which also happens to be one of the top wind sports destinations in the world. So as an ode to our origins, we teamed up with Naish Wind Sports to build the most badass rig this side of the Columbia and to turn Slim Chance into a vehicle kitted out for extreme wind sports. With tons of gear storage incorporated into a murphy bed, a wraparound kitchen that has everything you could ever want or need while camping riverside, and a hitch-mounted outdoor shower, Slim Chance encapsulates the spirit of what they set out to accomplish when developing concept vehicles.
Slim Chance was also their first 144 built on the new Mercedes-Benz All-Wheel Drive Sprinter chassis, and as with all new innovations, they wanted to thoroughly test the capabilities of the new All-Wheel Drive system, so naturally went wheelin’! Mercedes' decision to move away from their 4-Wheel Drive system sent waves throughout the adventure van community, and admittedly, they were also a bit anxious about the new reality for the Sprinter. The move to All-Wheel drive makes a lot of sense. While adventure vans built for overlanding are a fantastic use of the Sprinter chassis, the reality is that most Sprinters built at the Mercedes factory are destined to be package delivery vehicles or utility vehicles used in urban areas. Even the 4×4 chassis were considered a niche offering, and over the years and through a great relationship with Mercedes, Outside Van has been able to secure a sizeable percentage of these chassis to help support and build the adventure van lifestyle. So when Mercedes announced the end of their 4×4 offerings and the move to All-Wheel Drive, they knew they had some learning to do.
To help with tests, Outside Van teamed up with Agile Off-Road and gave Slim Chance one of the first RIP kits designed for the new AWD system. Installed directly at the Agile HQ in Southern California, they then set out to the Anza-Borrego desert with the Agile team to put Slim Chance through some trials.
The desert of Anza-Borrego is filled with deep sandy washouts from ancient rivers that are carved into the rocky terrain, and it is the perfect environment to field test Slim Chance. Guided by John and Jesus from Agile, they aired down our tires, climbed steep sandy hills, weaved through tight slot canyons, and got up to highway speeds off-road in the wide ancient river beds. To sum it up, it was an absolute blast. The All-Wheel Drive system in combination with the RIP kit and the off-roading knowledge of experts like John and Jesus proved that you can really go just about anywhere you want to go in an Outside Van. With some salsa stains, a huge amount of desert dust, and some minor pinstriping (much to the chagrin of their Production Director, Ted Riske. Sorry Ted! 😊), they headed back to Outside Van HQ in the Pacific Northwest with a new sense of admiration for their vans and their capabilities, and full confidence in the All-Wheel drive system.
Building just one concept van wasn’t enough for the team this year, so they designed and built Pacer, a Sprinter 170 dually which was made to be a sanctuary for nomadic professional athletes to prepare, rest, and recover as they travel to compete in professional endurance sports such as trail running and obstacle course racing.
To put it to the ultimate test, we partnered with two incredible athletes, Lindsay Webster and Ryan Atkins. Lindsay and Ryan took Pacer to use on their journey to the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Mammoth Lakes, California. Traveling through high-elevation areas, they acclimated and prepared for the pinnacle endurance event of the year. Using the van’s athletic recovery tools, such as the built-in red light therapy bar in the fully enclosed shower, and the extra amount of gear storage and kitchen space for their training gear, Lindsay and Ryan camped throughout the Cascade and Sierra-Nevada mountain ranges as they weaved their way to Mammoth Lakes. They then met up in Mammoth where Lindsay and Ryan both clinched gold at the OCR World Championships as Pacer passed out refreshments for the athletes and doled out good vibes at the finish line.
To celebrate the amazing Outside Van owner community, lovingly dubbed as our Outsiders, they hosted their second annual Outsider Summit at the end of September at Camp Cedar Creek in Sandy, Oregon. With an unprecedented number of Outside Vans in attendance, the time was filled with tasty food, informative and entertaining seminars, and outdoor hijinks through the trees of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The catered meals brought them together; the warm fires and lively spirits kept them celebrating into the night, and Outsiders of all kinds, including customers, kids, dogs, and employees, came together to partake in the fun!
To wrap up fall, they had a blast celebrating the fall season with their friends from Ecliptic Brewing at our spooky Van-O-Ween event. They brought Approach, Pacer, and Slim Chance full of candy and Halloween decorations. There were plenty of spirits, spooky movies, costumes, and laughs to go around.
Finally, the 2023 Chris King Open House was a killer event that brought the outdoor community together seamlessly. Outside Van partnered with several companies, including Chris King Precision Components, Smith Optics, Pivot Mountain Bikes, and Snow Peak, to outfit our Signature Collection van Knuckles with the latest and greatest in biking and camping gear for the event. The party raged, but eventually, the refreshments ran out, and the pizza guy went ahead and reserved his place for next year. All signs that the day was a success.
As we start 2024, we all have a lot of exciting things in the pipeline, including the release of Outside Van’s newest model, Syncline. We are looking forward to keeping the stoke high and the fuel tanks topped off and can’t wait to bring you along.
See you on the Outside!
CATEGORIES
TAGS
At Outside Van, we meticulously select and source top-tier components and materials, ensuring that every element used in Approach is not only durable but also optimized for the demands of life on the road. This results in a product that not only looks and feels better but also outperforms competitors in terms of longevity, comfort, and overall functionality. Our attention to detail and the relentless pursuit of excellence set us apart as a leader in the van conversion industry.
This durable marine grade vinyl can withstand the most rugged adventures and can be easily wiped down when its time to clean up sand, dirt, mud, snow, or pet hair. Boasting a unique cross-hatch embossed design, Lonseal Lonridge flooring has all the slip resistance a surface needs while also providing a dusting of speckles that help mask the mess.
You won’t find any particle board here. Known for its water resistance, strength, dimensional stability, and longevity, we use marine grade plywood for all of the cabinetry found in Approach. It’s then finished with Wilsonart High Pressure Laminate, which is 3X more resistant to wear, scratches, and scuffing, compared to other laminates.
Corian withstands daily wear and tear, keeping its good looks for many years. Thanks to its nonporous surface, it’s antimicrobial because there’s no place for bacteria and mold to take root. As a low-VOC material, it’s free from dangerous chemicals and supports better indoor air quality.
RoamRest’s Ultimate Tri-Fold Mattress utilizes a dual-hinged tri-fold design that’s extremely versatile and can be easily stored when not in use. It’s made using a 5” thick high performance/low profile foam, soft polyester top fabric that’s water- and abrasion-resistant, and low-slip nylon coated side fabric for easy cleaning. Several unique fabric patterns are available.
Sileather is a silicone leather that’s easy to clean, weatherproof, antimicrobial, and highly durable. Silicone has high thermal stability due to its molecular bonding, which means it’s resistant to both low and high temperatures, which vans see a lot of. Because of its low surface tension, it’s stain resistant and hydrophobic.
Interweave fabric is non-allergenic, mildew resistant, and won’t absorb spills or stains. It’s extremely durable and holds up to regular heavy use. A staple in Outside Vans from the beginning, interweave is tested and approved!
CATEGORIES
TAGS
Call Us
Directions