Exploration Vans - Custom Van Builder

After having Nick recommended to us by another friend who also DIY’d his own rig, we brought our mid-build 2018 Transit XL HR to Exploration Vans to help with a Webasto heater instal. To save money, we bought a Webasto gas heater from Russia (don’t do this) and Nick had to do a ton of legwork to make sure the instal went the way it needed to. While he was in there digging around, he also installed the swivel for our passenger-side seat… a clutch piece of valuable van real estate. We’ve been adventuring mostly weekends in Becky The Van for going on 6 years now, including 5 New England winters (often in below freezing; including a whole week well below zero in Northern Vermont). The Webasto gas heater install has always performed 100% keeping us in T-shirts even in the coldest conditions and we would highly recommend Nick for ANY custom work or builds. Seriously; ANYTHING, he's a perfectionist and fabrication genious and an engineering/systems NERD of the highest order. Disclaimer/clarifyer: Please note that the pics are for a DIY build. Exploration Vans helped with a tricky heater install and the rest of OUR build (we are not professionals) is not nearly as nice as what Exploration produces.

What a pleasure working with Nick. He is a true professional. He was able to sort out and repair some electrical issues from our previous builder, and we had him add the Agile Offroad Baja Fox solution along with added fog lights, front push bar, rear loading LED's, Wolfbox Rearview camera and an Agile Offroad switch console. Thanks for taking an already good van to the next level.

So lucky I met Nick. Randomly pulled into his shop asking questions about what type of van to buy and what to do to it. He helped me through the whole project from start to finish. Always with a smile and a helping hand. His knowledge of vans and builds is amazing. To say the least he knows his shit. Thanks Nick. Would have such a sweet van without ya

I am so thrilled with my experience with Exploration Vans. Creator, Nick Nelson, helped me design the perfect build for a full time living set up for me and my partner. Pinot is a spectacular rig. She’s beautiful inside and out, and ruggedly functional. We’ve already made it 6k miles since April, experienced all weather and have never been uncomfortable. If there’s anything I don’t understand how to work, Nick is quick to help. I really can’t say enough good things about this van and Nick, and I can’t wait for more adventures!

Nick is awesome and has been super to work with, not just buying the van but also all the support and help he has provided post purchase to my wife and I who are total van newbs. Our van was designed specifically for winter travel and camping, and we drove from NH to BC and back again in Winter 2025. We had some learning to do, figuring out how to operate various systems when the temperature was below zero, and the van did super, but in part because of Nick’s help on issues when we were a bit clueless. The build out on the van is of exceptional quality, everything from bamboo cabinets to the floor heating system to the nice add ons like an air compressor and a heavy duty winch. Nick is a terrific person to work with and I can’t recommend him more highly.