Explorer Van Company

What Explorer Van Company does

Explorer Van Company is a family-owned custom conversion van manufacturer founded in November 1980 by Bob and Steve Kesler in Warsaw, Indiana. The company takes OEM chassis supplied by Ford (including Transit), GM (Chevrolet and GMC), and Mercedes-Benz (Sprinter) and converts them into premium, handcrafted passenger vans with seating configurations from 7 to 11 passengers. Approximately 90% of conversion components are produced in-house by a workforce of more than 100 craftsmen, over half of whom have 15+ years of tenure. Build-to-order delivery cycles run 14-21 days.

The company operates as an authorized upfitter for Ford and GM and holds bailment pool agreements with GMC (dating from 1987), Chevrolet, and Ford, giving it preferred access to chassis inventory. Finished vehicles are sold through 200+ dealers across the United States, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The customer base is composed primarily of active families and business professionals; celebrity associations (Kirk Cousins, Jay Cutler, Kevin Durant, Psy) function as marketing assets rather than revenue concentration. Ownership remains entirely with the Kesler family, with no disclosed external or private equity investors, and Steve Kesler serves as President.

Name

Explorer Van Company

Legal name

Explorer Van Company

Website

https://explorervan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Explorer Van Company is a family-owned custom van conversion manufacturer that transforms Ford, GM, and Mercedes-Benz chassis into premium 7- to 11-passenger vans, serving active families and business professionals through 200+ U.S. dealers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Conversion Van Manufacturing

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)

SIC

Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790)

akta.pro primary industry

Chassis Cab Conversion & Vocational Body Integration (IMACAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Bodies & Towables Manufacturing (IMACAGAJ)

Keywords

• Custom van conversions
• Conversion van manufacturing
• Van upfitting services
• Luxury passenger vans
• Van conversion chassis

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Van Conversions: Custom-built conversion vans sold directly to consumers and through dealer network. Customers select chassis (Chevy/GMC, Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter), configure seating (7, 9, 11 passenger), roof height, and add premium options. One-time purchase model with base prices listed for models and various optional packages.
2. Parts & Service: Replacement parts for conversion components including electronics (TV, Blu-ray Player). Many parts manufactured in-house and available through Parts Department. Service support with customer service personnel with 20+ years experience.
3. Dealer Network: Supply of conversion vans to 200+ dealers nationwide through bailment pool agreements with major manufacturers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Explorer Van Company transforms world-class chassis from Chevrolet/GMC, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz into premium, handcrafted custom conversion vans. The company offers six core models across 7, 9, and 11-passenger configurations with options including premium leather interiors, custom entertainment systems, multiple roof heights, and luxury finishes. Production is centralized at the Warsaw, Indiana facility where 100+ craftsmen manufacture 90% of conversion parts in-house, with a standard 14-21 day build and delivery timeline.

Product overview

Explorer Van Company is a family-owned custom van conversion business that transforms world-class chassis from Ford, General Motors (Chevrolet/GMC), and Mercedes-Benz into premium, handcrafted conversion vans. The product portfolio consists of six core conversion van models offered across three chassis platforms: Chevy/GMC (7 and 9 passenger), Ford Transit (7, 9, and 11 passenger with various roof heights including Medium Roof), and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (7, 9, and 11 passenger in Low and High Roof configurations). Each conversion features premium materials including leather seating, custom interiors, entertainment systems, and luxury finishes. The company operates from Warsaw, Indiana and has been in business since 1980, holding authorized upfitter status for Ford and GM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 7 Passenger Chevy/GMC Conversion Van

Quantifiable outcome

• 14-21 days build and delivery time for most custom orders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GMC (General Motors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987Bailment pool agreement allowing GMC to drop ship vans directly to Explorer plant, establishing a formal manufacturing partnership. Similar agreements followed with Chevrolet and Ford.
• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Bailment pool agreement similar to GMC, allowing Ford to supply chassis directly. Explorer is an authorized Ford upfitter.
• Chevrolet (General Motors)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Bailment pool agreement allowing direct chassis supply. Explorer is an authorized Chevrolet upfitter.
• Ken Behlmann / Behlmann GMC (St. Louis)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEarly supporter and first major dealer. Ken Behlmann believed in Explorer Van Conversion from the beginning and was immediately enthusiastic. First Explorer Van sold within a week at this dealership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Outside Van: Custom Sprinter and Ford Transit conversion van builder focused on adventure and lifestyle markets. Competes with Explorer in the custom van category but skews toward outdoor/adventure buyers rather than traditional families.
• Grech Motors: Luxury Sprinter van conversion company (Tour, Strada, RV models) competing head-to-head with Explorer in the premium passenger van segment, including celebrity and executive shuttle use cases. Direct overlap in target customer and chassis platform.
• Midwest Automotive Designs: Direct competitor building custom luxury Sprinter van conversions (Daycruiser, Roadtrek-adjacent). Operates in the same custom conversion van category on Mercedes Sprinter chassis, targeting family and lifestyle buyers with similar handcrafted interior value propositions.
• Storyteller Overland: Custom adventure van conversion company (MODE 4x4, BEYOND, CLASS B) built on Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit chassis. Competes directly with Explorer for the premium custom van buyer, though with an adventure/outdoor positioning.

Emerging players

• Advanced RV: Boutique custom Sprinter van conversion builder focused on high-end, made-to-order Class B motorhomes. Competes with Explorer's Sprinter line for the ultra-premium lifestyle buyer with extensive custom engineering.
• Pleasure-Way Industries: Canadian-built Class B motorhome manufacturer on Sprinter and Transit chassis. Smaller and more niche than Explorer but competes in the same premium custom van travel segment with comparable handcrafted interior emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Airstream: Iconic premium RV manufacturer (parent Thor Industries) producing Interstate and Atlas Class B motorhomes on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Overlaps with Explorer on Sprinter conversions for premium lifestyle and family travel use cases.
• Coachmen RV: Large RV manufacturer (Forest River subsidiary) with a legacy in van conversions going back to the 1970s when founder Bob Kesler worked there. Direct historical connection to Explorer's origin and current competition in the family Class B / conversion van segment.
• Winnebago: Major RV manufacturer with a Class B motorhome line (Travato, Revel, Solis) on Sprinter and Transit chassis. A broader incumbent in the same general 'custom van / Class B' category that competes with Explorer's premium positioning and dealer presence.

Others

• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (upfitter program): Mercedes-Benz's official upfitter program for Sprinter chassis. Not a direct competitor but the OEM ecosystem that Explorer depends on; comparable context for understanding authorized upfitter economics, certification requirements, and chassis supply dynamics that govern Explorer's model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTwYUac246mZPN5gcodx7NA
• Pinterestpinterest.com/explorervan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/explorer-van-co.-inc

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 Explorer Van Company