The endless availability of options and upgrades for adventure vans can be overwhelming. Luckily for you, we put together a list of our top 5 upgrades for any adventure van. Whether you're building out an empty cargo van in your free time, or you just drove off the lot with a pre-built custom, this list will help illuminate your path to van life.

 

5. Front Bumper

Vehicle protection is paramount. The front clip of your van could suffer any number of unfortunate encounters while mobile. Reinforced aftermarket bumpers defend everything between the cooling system and the firewall. You'll also find the ability to self-recover, or assist a friend with an added winch is a luxury of such an upgrade. Backwoods Adventure Mods (BAM) and Owl Van Engineering are two champions of the bumper mod game. Strong but subtle, the BAM Scout and Owl Vans Pismo add a quiet aggressiveness to the Mercedes Sprinter that's not to be reckoned with.

The Scout is constructed from one piece of 3/16" steel that adds only 3" of bulk to the factory bumper. It bolts directly to the frame using frame extensions for additional strength, while maintaining compatibility with parking sensors, cruise control, and Active Brake systems. Modeled with and without a bull bar to protect the front grill, both models have ample space for additional lighting.

 

The Pismo, with its ultra-rugged steel design is also winch-ready, and includes an addition 2" front hitch. While it relocates the radar and parking sensors, they maintain full factory function while exceeding Mercedes airflow requirements.

 

For the Ford Transit camp, there is the BAM Nomad. Its lightweight 3/16" aluminum construction features a steel mounting structure ready and waiting for an added winch. The bull bar option doesn't hinder the functionality of factory sensors, and is fabricated to fit a 20" LED light bar.

 

After having one of these premium pieces of van armor (varmor?) installed on your adventure machine, you'll be able to drive with confidence. The way we’re fairly certain Batman drives his van.

 

4.  Extended Range Fuel Tanks

Whether old or new, cargo/utility vans were originally designed with local haulin’ in mind. Why would you need a larger fuel tank when you can throw a rock from any paved road and hit a gas station these days? Unfortunately, your overlanding itch wants to spend mileage like cash, and the only way to quell those fuel gauge neuroses is to dump that original 24 gallon joker and bolt up something with a bit more beef. Range. Beefy range. Depending on your vehicle and tank model, S&B Fitters can increase fuel capacity up to 47 gallons while using your original fuel gauge. 

 

“I can just as easily add an auxiliary transfer tank.” Just because you can, that doesn’t mean you should. Transfer tanks require relays, solenoids, and various other moving parts, increasing that margin for error - and no one with a winch likes calling roadside assistance. Form fitted polyurethane tanks from S&B Fitters utilize every inch of space available to keep you going. Serenity now.

 

 

3. Driver & Passenger Seats

It’s easy to forget that the vans primarily used for conversions weren't necessarily built for your pleasure. The plush comforts of home are rarely discovered in vehicles originally built for the utilitarian olympics. Which is fine - when transporting lumber for that new deck you don't have time to build. When you're ripping up the interstates for hours at a time, you want support, comfort, and love. Even those top dollar factory floor builds will put a strain on those finer sensibilities. Enter, Scheel-Mann Seats.

You'll praise the versatility of the Vario (F and FXXL) on those long drives. Whether you have short or long thighs, an adjustable seat pad behind the knees gives you the support you need to stay away from the orthopedist. Variable 4-way lumbar support and reclining features keep you comfortably driving OR lounging. You won't want to get out of these road warrior seats. Fortunately, when affixed to modern swivel mounts, you can simply pull a 180 and socialize with your crew without stretching your legs.

 

 

 

2. Rear Door Tire & Ladder Rack

It ain’t easy being the fifth wheel. Seating and placement is always problematic - especially considering wheel and tire upgrades are in every vans future. For instance, while Mercedes does not provide a spare tire location large enough to accommodate the inevitable upgrade, some pre-built vans like the Winnebago Revel lack not only a spare, but also the space available to house one.

A rear tire carrier is a must. Think of how much easier it is to change a flat with a rear mounted spare. No more crawling around in the mud for you. No sir. Owl Van Engineering designed a Sprinter ladder & tire rack that grants easy access to the rooftop and any mounted accessories. This integrated type of combo rack leaves room on the adjacent door to mount gear boxes, bicycles, etc. The opportunities here are really only limited by your imagination.

 

PRO TIP AVAILABLE AFTER NO. 1

 

1. Suspension Upgrades 

The number one upgrade you can make to any adventure van is a new suspension. When building a house, you want to first make sure you have a good foundation. That same rule applies when you're building a van - especially one you're adding excessive amounts of weight to. Van builders like Storyteller and Winnebago do an excellent job when it comes to van interiors, but they do not address the importance of suspension. When adding cabinets, power systems, water tanks, etc., vans get heavy, Doc. Heavier than what the factory suspension was ever designed to support. That's when suspension upgrades become necessary to improve driving comfort and capability. Our top choices for van suspension upgrades come from Agile Offroad and Van Compass. These two are giants in van community. Both of these kits aim to improve ride quality and performance - the increased ride height always a bonus. Life is a game of inches.

 

The Agile Offroad RIP Kit includes custom rate rear leaf springs, custom tuned Fox front auxiliary shock and rear Fox shocks, front coil-over conversion, and hub-centric wheel spacers and stud conversion. All these upgrades culminate into a better driving, stopping, and turning van! 

Click here to learn more about the Agile RIP Kit

 

Van Compass makes a few different van suspension kits but we think their Stage 4.3 Kit is the best choice for most people. This kit includes a custom tuned mini leaf spring pack with front and rear 3.3 Fast Adjust Falcon Shocks and front Sumo Springs. If you're looking for quick adjustability this Van Compass 4.3 kit is the way to go! 

Click here to learn more about the Van Compass 4.3 Kit 

The added benefit of a suspension upgrade is you get more lift height. That means fitting a larger diameter tire to increase ground clearance and traverse rougher roads. With a larger all terrain tire you can air-down to create a more comfortable ride off-road as the tires can soak up bumps, rock, and ruts. Airing down puts less stress on pretty much every component of your van.  

  

*Pro Tip. When performing suspension upgrades, consider pairing that with wheel and tire upgrades to save time on the lift and cash in your pocket. Bingo - Bango.

 

While some of the parts mentioned above may be for specific van models, any Main Line Overland representative can help you with your particular project needs.

Click here to fill out our Van Builder Form