"Unlock Your Adventure Potential with Van Conversion Kits and Complete Van Builds - Trail Kitchens"

Discover the Perfect Van for Your Adventure Rig - Find out Why Trail Kitchens Excels in Van Conversions

Long before the current van craze, vans have been highly sought after as ideal adventure rigs. The appeal of having a self-contained space that accommodates both you and your gear, while still allowing room to move around, is truly unbeatable. When it comes to selecting a van for your adventure rig, you have numerous options to consider. Drawing from our experience, we're here to provide you with valuable insights. While the choices are abundant, we'll focus on some of the more popular options. Keep reading to discover how TK entered the van market and the principles we uphold in offering Van Conversion Kits and Complete Van Builds.

These classic vans have become increasingly popular choices for building adventure rigs. Many of them feature rear-wheel drive (RWD) and maintain their stock configurations. However, a significant number have been converted into 4x4 vehicles either by reputable companies like Quigley or Pathfinder, or through more customized 4x4 conversions. The Express vans were also available in a factory all-wheel drive (AWD) variant.

The vans' body-on-frame construction makes them well-suited for lifting and enhancing their off-road capabilities. Their sturdy and durable truck-like builds ensure reliability in rugged terrains. A common modification you'll come across is the addition of Sportsmobile Pop Top conversions. These ingenious modifications feature a canvas-enclosed pop-top, creating standing space and providing bedding options. This innovation has revolutionized the world of van camping by significantly expanding the available space and comfort.

These vans make excellent off-road rigs and are ideal for weekend camping adventures, offering versatility and reliability in various outdoor settings.

Panel vans have been a staple for quite some time. The Dodge Sprinter vans served as precursors to the modern-day vans like the Ford Transits and the latest Mercedes Sprinter models. These vans feature a unibody construction, as opposed to body-on-frame, resulting in a more comfortable driving experience reminiscent of a car. They are highly regarded for their excellent handling and driving dynamics.

These vans often come with various roof heights, including Low Roof, Medium Roof, or Tall Roof options. The Low Roof models resemble traditional vans, while the Medium or Tall Roof variants offer spacious enclosed areas with standing height, making them perfect for creating a base camp during your adventures. Pop-top conversions are also available for many modern vans, allowing for additional headroom and versatility.

The Mercedes Sprinter vans, renowned for their diesel engines, are a popular choice for full conversions by companies like Winnebago, as seen in the Winnebago Revel model. Initially, they were the only all-wheel drive (AWD) option in the market until Ford introduced AWD versions of their Transit vans in 2020, complete with turbo options. This addition proved to be highly successful and has become a sought-after choice in the market.

While stock AWD options are available, off-road enthusiasts can still opt for true 4x4 conversions on these modern vans. Other companies offer similar, more economical alternatives, such as the front-wheel drive (FWD) Dodge Promaster and the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Nissan NV vans. These options provide a range of choices to meet different preferences and budgets.

Numerous companies, both past and present, specialize in providing interior van conversions and components. However, it is common to find cheap and heavy particle board cabinetry in many vans, even those with high price tags like the Winnebago Revel. These cabinets tend to rattle and deteriorate over time.

In our case, when we began crafting portable kitchens years ago, we decided to take a different approach. We started creating our own cabinets for van interiors using a solid aluminum space frame and riveted construction, reminiscent of airplanes. Our process involves constructing a lightweight and robust aluminum frame, which we then finish with one of our handpicked materials to complete the cabinet. The outcome is a rigid and lightweight unit that remains sturdy and doesn't fall apart or produce annoying rattling noises during your trips. Additionally, all our cabinets are meticulously handmade in Truckee, CA, ensuring exceptional quality.

We firmly believe that our price and quality surpass many other options available in the market. Our passion lies in adventure, and we want others to relish their time on and off the road, just as we do. Thus, we strive to make the process of purchasing and building a van as easy and accessible as possible. Our range of offerings includes various cabinets and systems. Our Van Conversion Kits encompass galleys, water systems, wheel well cabinets, gauchos, Murphy beds, storage benches, cargo slides, power systems, and much more. Furthermore, our water and power systems are self-contained and require minimal effort to install. We offer multiple options for water and power capacities to suit diverse needs. If you need assistance in choosing the right units for your requirements, our knowledgeable staff and members are ready to help.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. We are here solely to assist you. Moreover, please note that our Van Conversion Kits are meticulously handcrafted at our location in Truckee, CA, and are shipped to your home or business on a pallet. Additionally, we offer comprehensive conversion services for your van. We are currently introducing a series of bespoke builds from which you can choose to complete your van. Bring your vehicle to our shop, and we will take care of the entire conversion process. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development, and if you have any inquiries, please don't hesitate to call or email us.

Our journey in assisting people with building their campers began by integrating our Camp Kitchen products into a foundational cabinet within a van, giving birth to the original Van Kitchen concept. To ensure consistency in our manufacturing process, we utilized our tried-and-true method of constructing riveted aluminum space frame boxes. Our goal was clear: to create cabinets that were light, quiet, solid, and of exceptional quality specifically tailored for the van market.

Given our expertise in manufacturing off-grid water systems, such as our renowned Water Boy, which utilizes marine-grade components, we ventured into crafting self-contained water and kitchen systems specifically designed for vans. With the introduction of the Van Kitchen, we realized the demand for various kitchen configurations and sought to provide our customers with a wide range of options to choose from.

Taking our innovative concepts a step further, we delved into the design of Wheel Well Cabinets, catering to the utilization of space around the often awkward wheel well area in all types of vans. Initially, these cabinets served as excellent storage solutions, but we didn't stop there. We introduced TK Systems that seamlessly integrated into any wheel well cabinet. This meant providing options for incorporating a water system, with or without an additional galley, as well as hot water capabilities for dishes or showers. We also developed power systems capable of meeting the electronic demands of refrigerators, lights, and charging stations.

To offer even more versatility, we introduced a simple Bed System that could span between two Wheel Well Cabinets. Suddenly, customers had the opportunity to build an entire van using these modular and independent cabinets, customized to their preferences. All our cabinets are shipped complete, ready for installation. Simply bolt them through or into your van's flooring or utilize L-track systems. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can bring your van to our shop and schedule an installation and system walkthrough.

These modular cabinets and systems provide customers with the means to build a van using handcrafted products of exceptional quality, designed to endure the test of time.