Vans for a life lived deliberately. Handcrafted in Colorado for those who refuse to settle for mass-produced adventure.

Adventure, Forged by Hand

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AS FEATURED BY

National Geographic logo with yellow rectangle and black text
The North Face logo, featuring black text and a stylized curved mountain outline.
Text reading 'Outside' in large yellow letters with a black background and red shadowing.
Black logo with the text 'Eddie Bauer' next to a stylized flying goose illustration.
A man in work overalls examining a piece of wood in a workshop filled with tools and equipment.

WE DON’T BUILD UNITS.

Born in the mountains, on the walls, and on the road, our vans are handcrafted for those who refuse to settle for mass-produced adventure.

Every Forged Van is hand-built with care, premium materials, and an obsession for detail.

Most van builders add weight. We engineer it out.

WE BUILD CRAFT.

Our Philosophy

forged for your pursuit

  • Inside of a converted van with wooden paneling, a raised sleeping area with a patterned mattress, LED lights in the ceiling, a compact kitchen and storage space, and windows on the side.

    basecamp

    The foundation of every great adventure.

    A rugged, lightweight gear-hauler stripped of the unnecessary and built to get you reliably to your adventures.

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  • Advanced Basecamp

    Expedition-grade systems in a 144” footprint.

    Features 4-season climate control, a full galley, and sleeping for three—delivering big-van comfort with small-van agility.

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  • Interior of a modern camper van with wooden ceiling, built-in cabinets, a window, and a counter with a sink, with scenic mountain and forest view outside.

    Dreamcatcher

    A refined mobile studio designed for the modern nomad.

    Minimalist meets maximum connectivity, creating the perfect balance of work and wild.

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  • Two people inside a camper van with wood-paneled walls, one sitting on a built-in bench and the other standing at a small kitchen counter, preparing food. The person sitting is smiling and gesturing with their hand, while the standing person is cooking in a frying pan. The bed is visible in the background.

    El Cap

    The pro-athlete & family standard, as built for Alex Honnold.

    Safe, spacious, flexible build enabling adventure for athletes and families

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  • Interior of a compact wooden camper van with a bed, small dining area, kitchen with a sink and stovetop, large rear window overlooking mountains.

    Denali

    Our most shape-shifting expedition rig.

    Accommodates a family of 5, a lift bed, a party lounge, and a mobile conference room.

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  • Your vision. custom forged

    Don't see your perfect layout? Let's build it. Whether you’re a solo adventurer looking to escape for remote work or a family hoping to quicker access to adventures, let’s build the perfect van together.

    Start a custom build
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FIELD TESTED BY LEGENDS

  • Scott Jurek Jenny Jurek Family Van

    Scott Jurek

    Ultra Running Legend

    Ultra Runner - Scott Jurek needs no introduction, trailblazer & record breaker. No stranger to vanlife, Scott chose Forged Vans for his custom family adventure van.

  • Alex Honnold

    Pro Climber & Free Solo Star

    The most recognizable climber in the world. Known for his solo ascents and commitment to sustaibility, Alex uses his solar powered ‘El Cap’ as the ultimate off-grid training facility."

  • A woman and a baby sitting in a bunk bed, with the woman using a laptop and the baby looking at her.

    Emily Harrington & Adrian Ballinger

    Pro climber & High-Altitude Mountaineer

    A mountain power couple. From Everest summits to Golden Gate free climbs, they rely on Forged for family expeditions that balance elite performnce with family comfort.

  • A man sitting at a table inside a tiny house or camper van, working on a laptop, with a DSLR camera and a water bottle beside him, and a landscape visible through the windows.

    Corey Rich

    Adventure Photographer & Director

    A legendary visual storyteller. Corey turns his van into a rugged mobile production studio, allowing him to chase light and capture history in the world’s wildest places.

  • A woman is standing in the doorway of a van with a dog sitting on the step, and she is adjusting the dog's collar.

    Paige Claassen

    Pro Climber

    One of the world’s top climbers and the original inspiration behind Forged’s family designs. Paige proves that high-end performance and family life can coexist on the road.

ENGINEERED TO OUTPERFORM

Most builders obsess over how the interior looks on Instagram. We obsess over how it performs on the road. That is the Forged standard.

A person working on a woodworking project, using a pencil to draw measurements on a piece of material, with tools and a measuring tape nearby.

We reject the industry standard of assembly lines and stapled cabinetry. Instead, we treat every build as a custom commission. Our team hand-builds every cabinet and utilizes building techniques designed to withstand constant vibration. Mass-produced RVs are built to sit still; Forged Vans are engineered to move.

The result is a silent, rattle-free experience that stands up to years of mountain roads and off-grid abuse. When you are twenty miles down a dirt track, you want a rig held together by craftsmanship, not glue and good intentions.

Forged, not assembled.

Close-up of the front part of a white emergency or rescue off-road vehicle at night with bright headlights on, rugged tires, and a black background.

We don't build generic closets; we build expedition gear systems. Whether it’s a 500lb slide-out tray for heavy climbing crash pads, L-track mounted fork mounts for mountain bikes, or vertical racks for powder skis, every inch of storage is built for real equipment and adventure.

This approach eliminates "gear Tetris" at the trailhead. Everything has a dedicated place, allowing you to transition from driving to adventuring in seconds. It’s the difference between a van designed for vacation and a van designed for adventure.

Purpose-built features & storage

Kitchen countertop with espresso machine, sink with black faucet, and towels hanging on hooks by a window.

Your van is a confined space; it shouldn't be a toxic one. We refuse to build with cheap particle boards, solvent-heavy glues, or fiberglass insulation that degrades over time. Instead, we use sustainable materials like solid bamboo, Richlite, and Havelock Wool that are naturally moisture-resistant and free of harmful VOCs.

This commitment creates a healthier living environment for you and your family, but it also ensures longevity. These materials are chosen because they don't rot, warp, or crumble when exposed to the extreme temperature swings of the mountains or the desert.

Materials that matter

Interior of a small, cozy camper with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, a bed with gray pillows and beige bedding, small built-in overhead cabinets along one wall, two small ceiling lights, and a window showing trees outside.

Weight is the enemy of performance. By utilizing 80/20 aluminum framing and aerospace-grade composites instead of heavy lumber and steel, we cut up to 2,000 lbs of unnecessary mass from the build. This isn't just about fuel economy, it’s about preserving your capacity and keeping the weight low.

This weight savings transforms the driving experience. It reduces wear on your brakes and suspension, improves handling in high winds, and gives you the agility to navigate 4x4 trails that heavier, bloated vans simply can't touch.

The 2,000 lb advantage

A man leaning over a ping pong table, preparing to serve, indoors.

Meet the Mastermind

BORN IN THE DIRT

Arjan de Kock didn’t start Forged Vans to build a business. He just wanted to sleep under the stars.

Growing up on a grape farm in South Africa, Arjan learned that adventure doesn’t require luxury, but it does require gear that works.

From the African plains to the Colorado Rockies, he has applied a lifetime of obession towards one goal: building the perfect vehicle for a life lived outdoors.

A gray camper van parked on a rocky desert landscape with large boulders and canyon walls in the background.
Interior of a small camper van with wooden paneling, two seating benches with tan cushions, a small table between them, two small windows, and rounded ceiling lights.
A man working on a drone, adjusting a component with a screwdriver inside a workshop, in black and white.
Interior of a converted camper van with black seats, wooden cabinetry, and windows, with snow outside.
Mercedes-Benz van with off-road tires, fog lights, and a rooftop tent, parked on a dirt surface during sunset or sunrise.
Inside view of a converted camper van with wooden interior, seating area, and table, snow visible on the exterior.

Sleep under a billion stars on a cloudless desert night.

Wake up to the rumble of surf hitting the rocky shoreline.

Cook breakfast beneath a canopy of towering redwoods.

Your adventure starts wherever you wake up.

Contact us.

sales@forgedvans.com
(970) 599 - 3757

Longmont, CO USA