I am a self-owned, privately held, 1-Man shop. I aim to remain a low volume custom manufacturer. My goal has never been high-volume commercial sales, or to employ a factory full of people.
- Net Worth: +$1,000,000.00 USD
- Built and Delivered: +$750,000.00 USD
(*2024)
I started operating commercial vehicles in 2002 at the age of 21. Since 2007, I’ve been living out of my self-built campers and commercial work trucks full-time… 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. Some of those years I hauled International freight for 12,000 miles/month, 140,000 miles/year. Other years, I’ve been in the shop building trucks all year… 100 hours/week. I’ve worked and truck-camped in all 48 states and every Canadian Province. From the most remote and inhospitable wilderness areas in North America, to the most congested and dangerous inner-city alleys. A lot of real-world experience taught me what works, and what doesn’t.
I’ve delivered cross-country truckloads for the US Military, and motorcycles to both active duty and ex-Military service members. I’ve designed, built, and delivered custom vehicles for software executives, forest service employees, and even a famous music producer/artist. I sold one of my first vans to a lesbian couple, that travel across state lines to go downhill mountain bike racing. I’ve done marketing with surfboard shapers like Bill Stewart, motorcycle and off-road racing fabricators like Joe Hauler, industry manufacturers like Aluminess, and professional models. I aim to deliver any vehicle you want, prepared any way you want. If your request is outside my scope, please let me refer you to the best person for your needs.
Today I’m building a line of handmade, branded camper conversions. I use proprietary, light-reactive patina finishes (Acid) blended from Powder Blue, Tiffany Green, Copper, Japanese Brown, Gun Blue, Rainbow, and more… applied hot/cold to Copper, Brass, Bronze, Steel, and Aerospace grade Aluminum. I build modular riveted metal interiors; cut custom glass and ventilation; build custom seating; custom upholstery; custom headliners; LED lighting; and hardwood flooring. Most of my vehicles are intentionally normal-ish looking on the exterior, with hidden interior modifications. Lightened, hand-tuned, and hand waxed… [in 2023 we switched from wax to ceramic coatings. We are currently researching PPF partnerships, application techniques, and developing a process for the standardization of paint protection films…]
Experience is invaluable. Experience is something that a lot of my competitors are completely missing from their resume. Look close. Don’t be fooled by feel-good marketing or life-experience-lacking stories. These guys work inside all day, and they sleep in a house at night. They haven’t put in enough work, enough hours, or enough miles behind the wheel… and I can see it. I can see the lack of experience in their daily activity. I can show you. Since 2007, I’ve been driving and wrenching on trucks all day, and I’ve been sleeping in one every night. I trust my life to the refined simplicity, reliability, comfort, and safety of the campers I build. You can too.
After 20 years of working blue collar jobs, I started my business in 2016 at the age of 35.
I sat down and reviewed my business plan with legendary automotive small business entrepreneur Dave Harriton (AEV). I knew when I started, and at multiple points along the way, that multiple failures were inevitable. So I did the only thing I could do… I just ran as hard as I could towards my objective, until I couldn’t.
“What made you want to start building vehicles for other people?”
“My Customers chose me. Every time I stopped at a gas station, or a parking lot – I’m talking back to 1996 – random people would come up to me and start taking pictures of my trucks, or cars, or motorcycles… whatever vehicle I had with me. It was the same thing every time. Strangers walking up to chat and commenting that they were impressed by how “clean” and “nice” my stuff was. I always detailed and worked on my own vehicles. I still do. I started to realize, this is what I do. This is what I do best… and there’s a market here. I sold one for a profit and the rest is history.”
⛽️ EV11 🇺🇸 