Off Grid Adventure Vans (OGAVans) was created from a love of “VanLife” and the freedom of being on the road. Our goal is to help you live the adventurous lifestyle you’ve always wanted. With two locations (Maryland & Colorado), we can get your journey started regardless of where you are, and our team will always be there to support you throughout your travels.
This may sound strange, but the success we are grateful for as a company was born entirely from my epic failures. I’m a climber, and my primary reason for wanting to build out a van was so that I could spend time climbing in Utah, Colorado, and the Western ranges. I’m also an audio engineer and felt I had enough building and electrical experience to take on a build.
The first van I bought was an old Sprinter with so many mechanical problems that I had to get rid of it before I even started. The second van was a disaster; ugly in every way, I don’t even have a photo for the record. The third van, I affectionately named ground zero. It took me about six months of around-the-clock work to get it on the road, four times longer than I thought it would, but mission accomplished. Well, not entirely. I planned my maiden month-long voyage but did not plan for -15° below weather. Sadly, I was not prepared.
Why am I telling you this? Because I believe that my initial failures gave me the perspective, experience, and drive to do it right. My vision for this company has always been to build high-quality, affordable, and practical vans for anyone with a sense of adventure.
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible help along the way, especially my family. My mom, lucky for us, is an interior designer and brings her perspective, experience, and savvy to every van we build. My dad is the foundation of the company, helping me kick start the business many years ago. These days, not only does he help manage the business, but he is also our “CPO” – Chief People Officer, working with our clients from start to finish.
The rest of our team is made up of the absolute best trade carpenters, engineers, electricians, and welders in the industry, all devoted to their craft. These are men and women who eat, drink, and sleep what they do — creating dream campervans for our incredible customers.
It takes a village, and we have a great one.
I look forward to starting your adventure,
Aaron
