Van Owners Stories

If you’re familiar with Bode Miller, then his name probably prompts memories of his daring runs down Alpine ski routes, multiple Olympic medals, and maybe his recent appearance in FOX’s reality TV show, Special Forces.

What you probably don’t think of is a van full of kids.

But those kids are the most important focus in Miller’s life these days, which makes that van–literally the vehicle that gets the kids to school, sporting events, and gatherings with extended family–an important tool for the Miller family.

The Ultimate Kid-Hauler

And when we say a van full of kids, we really mean a van full of kids–up to 7 of them.  Miller’s oldest, Dace, is pursuing school and sports in southern California.  But the other 6–Nate, Nash, Easton, twins Asher and Aksel, and Scarlet–need ways to travel together regularly.  Daughter Emmeline (“Emmy”), who was tragically lost in a drowning accident as a toddler, makes 8.

Dad Bode and mom Morgan–also a decorated Olympian in beach volleyball–place emphasis on traveling and making memories together as a family.  In their opinion, this is something that airline travel doesn’t always make space for.  The family just moved to the Salt Lake City area, where Morgan plays for the city’s League One volleyball team.  They frequently visit family in southern California and travel to Big Sky, Montana, where Bode’s business, Peak Ski Company, is based.  Rather than fly the family from place to place, the Miller family would much rather see the country together, especially since skis, bikes, and other equipment usually travel with them.  Plus, with Morgan’s new career in League One, the rest of the family wants to support her by driving to her games and tournaments.  “Having a Vandoit, where you can pop the kids in there–and they’re psyched about the trip, too–you can kind of make it about the experience, not just the travel,” Bode shares.

So the use of a large passenger van–particularly one with an upfit–makes a lot of sense for the Miller family.  Bode gained a lot of experience with RVs while traveling Europe as a World Cup racer: He brought multiple RVs over from the US for his team to travel and live in.  In 2018, Bode discovered Vandoit and started following the brand online.  In 2023, he commented on one of Vandoit’s Instagram posts (with a fire emoji), which sparked (pun intended) a series of conversations about a van upfit that would support his large, active family.  As a result, Vandoit departed a bit from their signature campervan models and built a first-of-its-kind “ultimate kid-hauler.”

The Kid-Hauler’s Specs

The Miller’s new van, a 2023 extended-length Ford Transit, has the basic framework of Vandoit’s signature DO model, but without beds or a water system.  These make way for all 12 seats, storage cabinets, a TV, and an upgraded audio system (“That’s going to be valuable for me.  If they’re yelling, just turn it up!” Bode says).  The van has the complete lithium battery system that goes into all of Vandoit’s upfits, so there’s power for plenty of wall outlets for the family’s devices, dome lights and accent lights, a rooftop air conditioner, and an Espar heater.  Because of the van’s modular design, there’s always the option to remove seats and add components and other storage solutions later.  Even with all 12 seats installed, there is still plenty of cargo space in the back, for skis, bikes, and even sleeping.  

The van’s exterior is upfitted with Backwoods bumpers for increased off-road capability, and shackles and a winch for vehicle recovery options.  A rack on the rear door serves as a mounting point for a full-size Falken Wildpeak AT3W spare tire as well as a ladder for accessing the van’s roof.  Another rack holds an Aluminess Deluxe Storage Box–the perfect solution for storing wet gear, firewood, fuel, or other items the Millers don’t plan to keep inside.  The van is equipped with upgraded suspension, including Bilstein front struts with linear coil and

Fox 2.0 shocks with remote reservoir and shock relocation bracket. All of these features come in handy since so much of the Miller family’s travel occurs in the winter ski season–a time and terrain that require the best possible safety and handling features.

Contrary to his daredevil style on the ski slopes, Bode values safety for his family, and he acknowledges that driving a vehicle is one of the most dangerous things a human does.  The stability of the vehicle, along with the upgraded bumpers and dually wheels, brings him a great deal of comfort. He anticipates they’ll be “driving in snowstorms, gnarly stuff, and moose can jump out in front of you!” but has confidence in the Transit’s safety and handling capabilities.

The Time In Between

Second to the safety it provides, Bode and Morgan value the experiences and memories the Vandoit will bring.  “A road trip–if you do them right–can be a part of the whole experience, and a fun part of it,” Bode says. “When we’re driving, especially out here in the West, a lot of historic travel happened here–exploration and frontier travel.  And I always tell them, ‘This is a trip that would have taken a month for people only a couple hundred years ago.’” 

With the prevalence of games and electronic devices, “It’s just about taking up the time in between, and it’s something my wife and I feel strongly about, that we want to get them engaged in the process.  We do play all the games we grew up with–I Spy, spotting letters on signs… [We’re often] making sure we stop and check things out, sort of spur-of-the-moment things that are really good for their brain to understand that there’s stuff all along the way that’s worth seeing.  It’s not just about where you’re getting to.”

The Mental Health Landscape–and Where Vans Fit in It

The Millers’ parenting approach is grounded in an awareness of fostering mental health, and this awareness is a family legacy:  When Bode picked up the sport of skiing as a kid, his parents helped him develop the mindset that success in a sport is far less important than enjoyment of it. As his skiing career grew, he noticed his mindset was vastly different from a lot of his colleagues and competitors.  He observed that people who attached their identity to their achievements struggled with mental health when those achievement moments had passed. “You’re always losing who you just were,” Bode shares with the depth of a philosopher, “instead of being able to focus on the present.”

Bode has made mental health awareness a lifelong endeavor, culminating recently with the production of The Paradise Paradox, a documentary about mental health in America’s mountain towns.  But he is adamant that mental health is a crisis that deserves national attention.  Bode’s conviction is that community change around mental health “has to be driven by well meaning and morally aligned people who are motivated.” He believes a cultural shift when it comes to mental health awareness can come from companies like Vandoit who make mental health awareness part of their philosophy.  

Vandoit has, in fact, made mental health care a focus as they have launched their Commercial Division.  The Vandoit Commercial Division has upfitted several Mobile Mental Health units for nonprofit organizations in the Midwest–with several times as many on order for other organizations across the country.  These units are bringing counseling, intervention, and education services to underserved populations like rural communities and those transitioning out of the justice system.  The value of this kind of accessibility can’t be understated in the world of mental health support. 

Why Bode Chose Vandoit

Bode is looking forward to the fact that his kids will associate the Vandoit with activities and destinations they get excited about.  “We’re an aspirational adventure family… but there are all kinds of barriers to that. This [van] reduces those barriers significantly.”

The main barrier, of course, is the number of Miller family members.  “It’s pretty common that we have to take two cars places,” Bode shares, “and this [van] is a huge improvement over that.”  Another barrier is the fact that their kids are involved in a variety of activities.  “We have a pretty wide range [of ages], which is partly why this [van] is so functional for us, cause they all sort of do different things at different times and need their space at times…  It’s a pretty dynamic group, as you can imagine.”

“Vandoit was one of the top choices for me,” Bode shares about his van search. “Now it’s awesome to be able to see what it can do and see how it functions with the family… I’m psyched to see the versatility and flexibility of what this allows us to do… To be able to throw a mattress in the back and while we’re at a tournament–which some of them are all weekend–and be able to let little ones take naps in the back.  I think there will be a lot to discover with this one.”  Bode comments that Vandoit “allows you to be flexible as a person, as a family, and I think that’s huge.”

Bode is looking forward to a number of trips, like loading the whole family–plus mountain bikes and outdoor gear–in their Vandoit to visit National Parks and other sights in southern Utah. But what he’s most looking forward to is seeing Morgan play pro volleyball stateside–and bring all the kids.  She has played beach and indoor volleyball in the Olympics, and in pro leagues in Russia and Greece, but those were venues the whole family couldn’t visit.  Now, in their Vandoit, everyone gets to go and cheer mom on.

“They take up all my time and energy,” Bode says, speaking about his kids.  “My business stuff definitely has to take a back seat… My priorities are pretty steadfast in that regard.  Right now I’m dad, chauffeur, teacher.”  

And being a chauffeur just got a whole lot more fun, thanks to the Millers’ new Vandoit.

In the world of adventure, few stories are as inspiring as the one of Jeremy McGhee, a trailblazer in both spirit and action. Jeremy, who is a wheelchair user, embarked on a remarkable 2.5-year journey with Vandoit, a company that specializes in crafting personalized campervans to meet the unique needs of its customers. This collaboration resulted in a campervan that not only facilitated Jeremy’s nomadic lifestyle but also played a pivotal role in his mission to enhance trail accessibility for other adaptive riders.

Jeremy highlights a game-changing key feature of  the campervan: “The biggest innovation is an open floor plan so I can turn around comfortably and easily inside the van in my chair. This is tough when considering working around the wheelchair lift and everything I need.”

In the crafting of the Vandoit Campervan, a nod to Jeremy’s needs went beyond the open floor plan. From a wheelchair lift to an easily accessible set of rocker switches by the bed, every detail was carefully considered.

Moving beyond the living quarters, the attention to accessibility extended to every area of the campervan, including:

The Accessible Bathroom & Water System:

Because of the essential nature of cleanliness and personal hygiene, the inclusion of a fully accessible bathroom in the campervan was not just a convenience but a necessity. The bathroom was also built to double as an extra platform to help Jeremy climb into bed after a long day of travel, trail consulting, or surfing.

The Kitchen:

Let’s explore how the campervan’s design extends its thoughtful accommodations to another crucial space—the kitchen.

Innovations in the campervan’s water system showcase Vandoit’s dedication to enhancing Jeremy’s self-sufficiency on the road. A brand-new 22-gallon water tank not only keeps Jeremy stocked for several days but also streamlines the process of dealing with gray water. Unlike the previous system that required Jeremy to navigate around his bike and venture outside the van to access and refill water jugs, this upgraded design allows for greater convenience and independence. With a gray water tank situated beneath the van, the complexities of gray water disposal have been simplified to pulling a plug, marking a significant improvement in the overall functionality of Jeremy’s mobile living space. 

Aluminum Extrusion Ramps for Wheelchair-Friendly Biking:

Jeremy is not just an advocate for trail accessibility: he’s an avid adventurer who loves hitting the biking trails. To facilitate his passion, Vandoit incorporated aluminum extrusion ramps into the campervan design. These ramps provide a transition for Jeremy to access his specially adapted bike, allowing him to explore the great outdoors with freedom. The ramps are made of extruded aluminum and simply hook to the edge of the gear slide for use and unhook for storage.

Adjustable Bed with a Touch of Innovation:

The innovation doesn’t stop there. Vandoit took customization to the next level with a hydraulic, queen size bed that raises and lowers with just the touch of a switch located inside and outside the van for easy transition. The bed not only provides comfort but also aids in pulling his bike inside. When not in use, the bed transforms into storage, creating space for other essentials. Jeremy even cleverly secures his surfboard underneath to free up floor space. These features not only enhance convenience but also ensure that Jeremy can easily navigate the living and storage space within the campervan, further empowering his independence on the road. 

Beyond the innovative design features, Jeremy’s journey serves a broader purpose. As a fervent advocate for trail accessibility, he tirelessly works to dismantle barriers and create opportunities for individuals, irrespective of their physical abilities. The campervan, with its thoughtfully designed features, emerges as a symbol of inclusivity, proving that adventure knows no bounds.

Jeremy’s 2.5-year process with Vandoit stands as a testament to the power of innovation, determination, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to explore and experience the world’s beauty.  As Jeremy continues to pave the way for trail accessibility, his journey reminds us that the open road is meant to be traveled by all, breaking down barriers one adventure at a time. Check out his full van tour on youtube!

“I researched every van company in North America and kept coming back to you guys.” – Roman A.

New van owner, Roman, was brought into the Vandoit family a few weeks ago after buying a 2023 show van. The van made it out to Oregon for Overland Expo Pacific Northwest and back to the facility in Blue Springs, MO before getting scooped up by its new owner.  The van was scheduled to be shown at several more outdoor industry expos during the 2023 season, but Roman couldn’t resist–he saw a van that was just right for him and couldn’t wait!

After researching van companies far and wide to meet his needs, Roman landed on Vandoit. Here, Roman shares the top three reasons he chose Vandoit for the purchase of his campervan.  

1. Customer Service

After filling out the Vandoit contact form, a Sales Guru contacted Roman right away to gauge his needs and desires when it came to his van. Immediately, Roman took notice of the team member’s time and attention to him as a customer. Answering every question he had and responding promptly showed him how much the team cared. He came to the Vandoit facility for a tour as well to see in person the wide variety of options available to him. Because he had done so much research of Vandoit online, he thought he knew exactly what he wanted to see and ask for, but was blown away by the product in real life. Which brings us to the next reason Roman chose Vandoit:

2. “A Genius Engineering Team”

Roman got the pleasure of meeting Lead Engineer, Nick Eisenbarth, while working with the team to finalize his van. When we spoke, Roman raved about the Vandoit engineering team going above and beyond and doing things that are revolutionizing the vanlife and RV industry. “There are probably 40 things you all are doing that nobody else is. And all of those things make so much sense!” Roman shared. While the team was getting busy on the van, Roman was thrilled to be heavily involved with the process. He described the process as “designing his dream home,” which made it all the more joyous to experience.

3. Space For Everyone’s “Golf Clubs”

As Roman pointed out in our interview, many other companies in the campervan market utilize permanently affixed cabinetry, which gets points for simplicity, but it does not allow much space open for the customer to fill with equipment or DIY additions. Roman experienced this when checking out other builds and was relieved to find in a Vandoit, he could fit his ‘golf clubs.’ Although Roman is not a golfer, he used golf clubs as an example to cover all hobbies and activities one could partake in. No matter what your ‘golf clubs’ are, the modular, marine-grade components in a Vandoit can easily be shifted, removed, or added for every activity under the sun. 

Leaving the Vandoit facility with a High Roof EL DO Model that is equipped with everything he needs, Roman is the happiest camper. He shares that he “couldn’t be happier with [his] choice and excited for the future with this van.”