Vanworks

Camper Van Conversions / Class B RV Manufacturingvanworks.com

Vanworks is a family-owned, RVIA-certified van conversion company in Loveland, Colorado, founded in 1978, that customizes Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster chassis into Class B RVs and sells them direct-to-consumer to adventure and van-life buyers.

Company typePrivate
Founded1978
HeadquartersFort Collins, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What Vanworks does

Vanworks is a 48-year-old, family-owned van conversion company founded in 1978 by Keith Hess and headquartered in Loveland, Colorado (4350 Byrd Drive). The company specializes in converting Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster chassis into Class B RVs under four primary model lines: Nomad, Switchback (S2/S4 variants), Greyrock, and Basecamp Plus. Core technical capabilities span electrical systems (400-600W solar arrays, up to 840Ah EcoFlow battery systems, inverters), climate control (48V AC, Espar diesel heater), kitchen and water plumbing, bamboo and aluminum cabinetry, and custom insulation. Vanworks holds RVIA certification on all three chassis and is recognized by Mercedes-Benz as an Expert Upfitter.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model after transitioning away from a historical dealer-pool arrangement that had distributed over 2,000 units to 175 dealers across 18 states. Customers consult directly with a sales manager and coordinator to spec chassis, model, and options, with financing offered through a partner bank on RV loans up to 20 years at rates starting at 6.99%. Revenue is generated from one-time van sales priced between ~$63K (pre-owned) and ~$182K (fully-loaded Switchback S4 Sprinter), recurring van rentals, ancillary van and auto upgrade services (window tint, PPF, lift kits, bed liners), and optional extended warranty coverage up to 7 years/100,000 miles. Primary customer segments are adventure enthusiasts and van-life lifestyle buyers — individual SMBs/retail consumers using vans for family camping, overland travel, ski trips, surfing, cycling, and year-round off-grid living.

Vanworks currently produces nearly 200 vans per year from a team of approximately 25 named individuals across office, retail, and workshop roles, with cumulative sales exceeding 25,000 vans since founding. The company is privately held, with Keith Hess as Founder & CEO and Preston Hess as President, and operates exclusively in the United States. A new production facility with attached retail store and expanded workshop is scheduled for grand opening on April 25, 2026, representing the most significant recent capacity expansion.

Vanworks firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Vanworks
Legal name: Vanworks Inc
Website: https://vanworks.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1978
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Vanworks is a family-owned, RVIA-certified van conversion company in Loveland, Colorado, founded in 1978, that customizes Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster chassis into Class B RVs and sells them direct-to-consumer to adventure and van-life buyers.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Vanworks industry classification

Industry

Product category: Camper Van Conversions / Class B RV Manufacturing
NAICS: Motor Home Manufacturing (336213)
SIC: Motor Homes (3716), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
akta.pro primary industry: Campervan Rentals (Class B / Converted Vans) (THADAIAA)
akta.pro secondary industry: Bus & Coach Body Manufacturing (Coachwork) (IMACAGAE)

Keywords

Camper van conversions
Class B RVs
Sprinter upfitting
Van customization services
Adventure van builds

Where Vanworks is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Fort Collins
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Vanworks business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Camper Van Sales: Sale of custom-converted Class B RVs built on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster chassis. Vehicles sold range from ~$62,999 (pre-owned) to ~$182,007 (fully-equipped new builds). Sales include both in-stock show vans and custom-ordered builds.
Financing Services: Vanworks offers financing through partner banks, enabling customers to finance both the van chassis and conversion build together on RV loans up to 20 years with rates starting at 6.99% interest.
Van Services and Upgrades: Professional installation and upfitting services including window tint, PPF (paint protection film), suspension lifts, leveling kits, bed liners, and accessory installation for vans and trucks.
Van Rentals: Van rental services allowing customers to rent camper vans for their adventures without purchasing.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	One-time purchase	Base Model (Nomad) pricing for Sprinter 144
Unit Pricing	One-time purchase	Mid-Range (Switchback S2) pricing
Unit Pricing	One-time purchase	Premium (Switchback S4) pricing
Unit Pricing	One-time purchase	Pre-owned and entry-level pricing

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Vanworks product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Vanworks is a direct-to-consumer van conversion company that customizes Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster chassis into RVIA-certified Class B camper vans. Its product lineup spans four core conversion models (Nomad, Switchback, Greyrock, and Basecamp Plus) available across multiple wheelbase configurations, with options including solar power, lithium battery systems, climate control, kitchens, plumbing, and sleeping accommodations. The company also offers pre-owned inventory, post-sale van/auto upgrade services, van rentals, and partner-bank RV financing.

Product overview

Vanworks is an RVIA-certified van builder and dealership specializing in converting Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster vans into Class B RVs for outdoor adventures. The product portfolio centers on three core conversion models: Nomad (available in Transit 148" and Sprinter 144"), Switchback (offered in S2 and S4 variants across Transit 148", Sprinter 144", and Sprinter 170" configurations), and Greyrock (built on Sprinter 170" wheelbase). Basecamp Plus serves as an entry-level RVIA-certified option. Beyond new builds, Vanworks offers van and auto upgrade services including window tint, paint protection film, wheels and tires, lift kits, and bed liners. The company also provides van rentals and financing options up to 20 years on RV loans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Nomad Entry-to-mid-tier camper van conversion model available in Transit 148-inch and Sprinter 144-inch wheelbase configurations, featuring kitchen galley, sleeping area, and essential amenities for adventure travel. Targeted at adventure consumers seeking a compact Class B RV.
Switchback Versatile camper van conversion offered in S2 and S4 variants across Transit 148-inch, Sprinter 144-inch, and Sprinter 170-inch wheelbases, with flexible layouts, premium amenities including kitchen, bathroom facilities, and solar power systems. Targeted at consumers wanting configurable premium builds.
Greyrock Premium camper van conversion built on the Sprinter 170-inch wheelbase, designed for extended travel and camping with a spacious interior and full amenity package. Targeted at consumers seeking a top-tier extended-stay Class B RV.
Basecamp Plus Entry-level RVIA-certified camper van conversion available for Sprinter, Transit, and Promaster chassis, encompassing essential features for van life. Targeted at price-sensitive first-time Class B RV buyers.
Van Upgrades Customization and upfitting service for existing van builds, including installation of electrical systems, cabinetry, insulation, and accessories. Targeted at existing van owners seeking post-purchase upgrades.
Auto Upgrades Vehicle enhancement service including window tint (Carbon and Ceramic shades), paint protection film (PPF), wheels and tires, lift and leveling kits, bed liners, floor liners, remote start, grille and lighting installs, towing, heated seats, and tonneau covers for vans and trucks. Targeted at van and truck owners in the Loveland area.
Van Rentals Rental fleet service allowing customers to experience Vanworks camper van conversions for short-term adventures without committing to a purchase. Targeted at consumers evaluating van life or planning short trips.

Quantifiable outcome

48 years in business with over 25,000 vans sold
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Vanworks

Customer profile

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Vanworks technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Vanworks partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Vanworks competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Storyteller Overland: Adventure-oriented Class B van manufacturer building on Mercedes Sprinter chassis with off-grid and overland positioning. Competes head-to-head with Vanworks' Switchback and Greyrock models in the same enthusiast buyer segment.
Sportsmobile: Long-standing custom van conversion specialist operating on multiple chassis with direct-to-consumer sales. One of the original independent Class B builders and a structural analogue to Vanworks' 48-year heritage.
Advanced RV: Ohio-based high-end custom Sprinter van conversion shop focused on bespoke, premium builds. Comparable custom-build business model and pricing tier to Vanworks' Greyrock and Switchback S4 builds.
Outside Van: Oregon-based custom Class B van conversion builder operating on Sprinter, Transit, and Promaster chassis with adventure-focused positioning. Closest operational and product analogue to Vanworks among independent custom builders.
Pleasure-Way: Saskatchewan-based manufacturer of Class B motorhomes on Sprinter, Transit, and Promaster chassis. Direct competitor in the same chassis set, RVIA-certified product line, and price band.
Leisure Travel Vans: Canadian Class B and Class C motorhome manufacturer under Triple E RV, producing Unity and Wonder models on Sprinter and Transit chassis. Comparable product range and target buyer to Vanworks.

Broad incumbents

Coachmen RV: Forest River subsidiary producing multiple Class B models (Beyond, Galleria, Nova, Realm) on Sprinter chassis. Overlaps with Vanworks across the adventure and van-life buyer segments with much broader dealer reach.
Winnebago Travato / Revel: Public RV conglomerate (Winnebago Industries) with established Class B offerings (Travato, Revel, Solis) on Ram Promaster and Sprinter chassis. Portfolio brand competing with Vanworks across the entry and mid-tier price bands.
Airstream Interstate: Premium Class B motorhome line from Airstream (Thor subsidiary) built on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Competes in the upper end of the same category as Vanworks' Switchback and Greyrock models, with substantially larger parent distribution.
Roadtrek: Established North American Class B motorhome brand (now operating under new ownership after 2018 difficulties) producing Zion, Simplicity, and Chase models. Comparable Class B product portfolio with broader dealer distribution than Vanworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Vanworks compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

Vanworks financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Vanworks leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Vanworks funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Vanworks M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vanworks

What does Vanworks do?

Is Vanworks a public or private company?

Vanworks is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.

When was Vanworks founded?

Vanworks was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Vanworks based?

Vanworks is headquartered in Fort Collins, United States, in the North America region.

How does Vanworks make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Camper Van Sales are the primary driver. The others are financing Services, van Services and Upgrades and van Rentals.

Who are Vanworks's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Storyteller Overland, Sportsmobile, Advanced RV, Outside Van, Pleasure-Way and Leisure Travel Vans. Broad incumbents are Coachmen RV, Winnebago Travato / Revel, Airstream Interstate and Roadtrek.

Does Vanworks have an API?

No public API is recorded for Vanworks.

What industry is Vanworks in?

Vanworks's product category is Camper Van Conversions / Class B RV Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THADAIAA, Campervan Rentals (Class B / Converted Vans), with a secondary code of IMACAGAE, Bus & Coach Body Manufacturing (Coachwork). Its NAICS code is 336213 and its SIC code is 3716.