Cyclone

What Cyclone does

Cyclone Custom Trucks & Vans is a Minnesota-based, founder-led custom vehicle conversion shop founded by Gary Schultze, an engineer and artist. The firm specializes in bespoke Mercedes Sprinter van conversions, transforming standard cargo vans into fully self-contained leisure vehicles with custom interior layouts (sleeping areas, dinettes, galley kitchens, wet bathrooms with composting toilets) and advanced off-grid electrical systems (solar panels, lithium battery banks, inverters). Its flagship build, the award-winning 2021 Vangri-La Sprinter 2500, integrates features such as secret compartments, wireless charging, and a 400W solar / 500Ah lithium power system, and has been documented in over 100 YouTube videos.

The business operates as a direct, project-based custom fabrication shop. Customers (primarily individual van enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers, plus prospective clients evaluating the shop) engage the firm directly for bespoke conversion projects priced individually based on specifications. Distribution is single-country/domestic with a single identified operating geography (Minnesota). Marketing is anchored on a YouTube content library of more than 100 videos that documents the conversion process and showcases craftsmanship to potential buyers, with the Vangri-La serving as a reference build that doubles as a marketing asset.

Ownership appears to be entirely founder-controlled with no external investment, parent company, or identified institutional backers disclosed. The competitive positioning rests on the founder's hybrid engineering/artistic profile, the award-winning craftsmanship of its showcase builds, and an accumulated content library - rather than on scale, network effects, or proprietary technology. Note: a firmographics block in the source data attributes a 1975 founding date, Gillette, US location, and 501-1000 employees to "Cyclone," apparently referencing an unrelated drilling-rig manufacturer (cyclonedrilling.com); all other detailed company data points consistently to the custom van conversion business described above.

Name

Cyclone

Legal name

Cyclone Custom Trucks & Vans

Website

https://cyclonedrilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cyclone Custom Trucks & Vans is a Minnesota-based, founder-led shop that designs and builds bespoke Mercedes Sprinter van conversions for individual van enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers, pricing each project custom and marketing via a large YouTube build library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Vehicle Conversions

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Motor Home Manufacturing (336213)

SIC

Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Motor Homes (3716)

akta.pro primary industry

Converted Vehicles (Skoolies, Vans, Buses) (THAMADAF)

Keywords

• Custom van conversions
• Sprinter camper vans
• Off-grid van builds
• Mobile living solutions
• Bespoke vehicle interiors

Headquarters

HQ city

Gillette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cyclone Custom Trucks & Vans is a Minnesota-based custom vehicle conversion shop that converts standard Mercedes Sprinter vans into fully outfitted camper vans for personal leisure and overland travel. Each project is bespoke, integrating sleeping quarters, kitchen facilities, wet bathrooms, off-grid power systems (solar and lithium), and innovative storage solutions tailored to the individual customer's specifications. The flagship showcase build, the Vangri-La, demonstrates the shop's craftsmanship and serves as a portfolio piece to attract new custom conversion clients.

Product overview

Cyclone Custom Trucks & Vans is a Minnesota-based custom vehicle conversion company founded by Gary Schultze. The company specializes in bespoke Sprinter van conversions, offering fully custom interior layouts including sleeping areas, kitchen facilities, bathrooms, and advanced electrical systems with solar and battery technology. Their flagship product is the Vangri-La custom conversion, which serves as both a leisure vehicle and a showcase of the shop's capabilities. The company also provides custom storage solutions and innovative features like secret compartments and wireless charging integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vangri-La Custom Sprinter Conversion A bespoke Mercedes Sprinter 2500 van conversion featuring a custom rear bed layout, dinette, galley kitchen, wet bathroom with composting toilet, a 400W solar power system, a 500Ah lithium battery with Victron inverter, and innovative storage solutions including secret compartments and integrated wireless charging spots. Built for personal leisure and overland travel, it also functions as a reference showcase of the shop's craftsmanship for prospective custom conversion clients.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cyclone