Vanture News Site

When a good Customer of Vanture’s came to the Shop the other day and saw the Nanocamper in progress, he fell in love with it and, before we could begin the conversion, persuaded us to sell it to him. It now is in semi retirement on a farm.–No really, not like the proverbial spaniel that got really old and sick–it putts around helping him oversee his acres and occasionally carries a shovel or such along with. Instead of converting it into a motorhome as we planned, the customer pursuaded us to convert a very small trailer (See the photo Gallery) which made much more sense, since the result is not only very usable (light, easy to tow), but reproduceable–We’ll gladly build you one. Take a look and see if that doesn’t make the best sense in the long run.

Vanture has converted lot of ordinary (and some extraordinary) vehicles into specialized use units, customized to the needs of their owners. Pictures on this site show some of the ones we’ve done since the digital camera became commonly available. It’s difficult, though to show what is possible to do in photographs. Not only that, but when we display our company at local vehicle shows, we again rely on photographs to project an idea of our capabilities.
Unfortunately, photographs don’t do justice to the work. Not only that, there’s a tactile element missing with an image alone. Use of space and small nuances in design just don’t translate all that well into visual images. Above all, one can’t detect the underlying quality of a conversion from a photo alone–the photos show the project in the best light possible or they wouldn’t have been published. The observer hasn’t enough information to make personal judgments about the conversion through a photograph.
The obvious answer is to produce a “flesh and blood” display that observers can experience in reality. What to convert? We toyed with the idea of purchasing an interesting 1937 GMC bus that had been converted in the 70’s and performing a modern, super bus conversion on it to show off our capabilities. There were some problems with that, though, it was too big to display easily (even though it was only 28 feet long, shorter than many Class C motorhomes), it was perhaps too strange to really represent Vanture, it was a bus conversion (sort of), to the exclusion of a van or other vehicle we typically convert, and it would take up too much room when not in use. In a way, it made a statement we really didn’t want to make. We didn’t want to refurbish a Class C vehicle or an antique Class B van or any other type of typical camper for similar reasons.
We ran into the 3 wheel post office vehicle a few years ago and thought it nostalgic and interesting. The idea to convert it into a working life support vehicle sort of gelled when it was brought to the Vanture facility for body work after being brought back to life mechanically over the winter. Chris took a little spin in the vehicle on a Saturday and by Monday produced sketches for converting it to a camper. After some brainstorming, research on available components, and engineering, the concept of the NanoCamper was born.
While it will be fully functional as a camping vehicle and can be licensed, we have no intention of going into production on NanoCampers. There is probably zero chance of finding suitable vehicles to begin with.
The NanoCamper is a design exercise and display unit only, and probably will see duty only in RV shows and maybe the occasional parade.

Sure, Vanture does bus conversions. However, a bus conversion doesn’t meet everybody’s needs. When Don came to Vanture with a conversion van (The kind with plush seats, bay windows, and a complete entertainment system) and told us that his needs had changed, He sat down with Chris and me and a conversion of a van conversion became the latest project at Vanture.

Don is a delightful individual who is extremely interesting to talk to due to his many and varied experiences prior to his retirement. He has just recently lost his beloved wife, Cookie, and is at a life changing juncture. The home of some twenty years is going on the market, the household possessions to be given away, and a general “lifestyle streamlining” is underway with Don.

While he really liked Doug and Jennifer’s bus conversion which is currently underway at our shop, Don is a little intimidated by having a 40 ft, 300 horsepower machine as his daily driver. The tricky bit is that he still wants all the amenities. Chris and I had to really go to the well to fit all he wants
into a standard wheelbase van with a fairly low top. Fortunately, we had a few things going for us because Don had shrewdly selected a Vanworks conversion van as his base so the quality and workmanship is excellent to start with. Unfortunately, we will have to remove some of the interior to fit in the amenities Don wants and needs.

Don’s plan is to become a van nomad. With a self contained vehicle like this, he can visit his children and grandchildren without any imposition whatsoever. After all, he’ll have his own china toilet, microwave, cooktop, furnace, airconditioner, TV, bed, and even his own onboard generator. He will be able to plug into a campground or go it alone as he pleases.

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In a recent interview with John Frank, one of the principals of Vanture Coach Manufacturing, the question about Vanture�s origins came up.

�Vanture is the result of the inspiration, perspiration and determination of Chris Brown, the CEO. He nutured the business for nearly ten years until we met in the early �90�s�, says Frank. �I started out working for Chris and didn�t know much about building anything. I had, however, been involved in every other aspect of the Recreational Vehicle Industry. In a short time we figured out that between the two of us we had all the bases covered. We then more or less merged our two companies (I�d had a little business concern which was involved in advertising and education about RVs) to make Vanture into the dynamic company it is today.�

The company creates �Rolling Accommodations�. A customer comes to Vanture with a specific need and (usually) a vehicle and Vanture makes the vehicle meet the need. Vanture offers creative applications of tried technology coupled with the highest quality possible to tailor each project to the specific needs of the customer.

�The more off the wall and non mainstream the better�, says Frank, �Our strength is in our ability to find the simplest solution to a problem outlined by our customer and then build that solution with the highest quality craftsmanship and materials available within the budget we�ve established with the customer.�

Happy customers is the result.

For the past few years Vanture Coach has been developing a product that would provide the convenience of a recreational vehicle without the considerable expense. The Micro Galley is a complete self contained facility for cooking, food storage, and a water source. It was designed to support any lifestyle or activity away from typical accommodations. It can be mounted in a van, pickup bed, or even used in a tent.

The unit can be built in different configurations which tailor it to the specific needs of each customer. Features such as self contained propane, removable jug water system and 12 volt cooler or even a 12 volt refrigerator are available. All units have surprising storage for their size and can be custom produced in colors and sizes. You can see some examples in the photo gallery, Page 2 under “Custom Accommodations” . For details contact Vanture Coach.