Vanna Adventure Vans

Vanna Adventure Vans is a custom camper van conversion shop based in West Fargo, North Dakota, building and shipping fully off-grid, four-season vehicles nationwide. Founded by Jason Gilbraith and Ben Gleason — one a technical expert who lived full-time out of a Mercedes Sprinter in Colorado, the other a seasoned entrepreneur with a background spanning five continents — Vanna was built from the ground up with a single conviction: the next generation of camper vans shouldn't need a generator or propane to function. Every van that leaves their shop backs that claim up.

The Vanna build philosophy centers on using the most advanced off-grid systems available, not the most common. That means EcoFlow power systems paired with Eberspächer Airtronic and Hydronic heaters — a combination that delivers genuine four-season performance without the maintenance headaches that come with traditional propane setups. All electrical and systems design is done in-house, and every client goes through a custom design process that includes a dedicated 3D rendering of their van before a single piece of wood gets cut. Real wood interiors, maximized gear storage, queen bed configurations, and your choice of Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit chassis round out the package.

Build timelines run 8–12 weeks, and the process kicks off with a free consultation — either in person at their West Fargo shop (which hosts open tours every Thursday) or over Zoom. Clients can source their own chassis or order through Vanna directly.

What They Build:

• Custom Camper Vans — Fully bespoke Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit conversions tailored to the owner's lifestyle, sport, and budget. Configurations for skiing, snowboarding, hunting, fishing, biking, remote work, and full-time van life.

• Specialty Commercial Vans — A growing line of purpose-built commercial vehicles including mobile classrooms (MKC), mobile command centers (MTU), mobile event/marketing vans (MKE), multi-passenger transport vans (MKT), and mobile drone command units — all running the same EcoFlow power architecture as their camper builds.

• Mobile Medical Units (MMU) — Purpose-built medical vehicles through their sister company, Vanna Mobile Medical, designed for clinical and disaster relief deployment.

• Camper Van Rentals — A fleet of their own builds available for rent out of West Fargo, ND — a hands-on way to experience the product before commissioning a custom build.

• Van Service & Warranty Work — Ongoing maintenance, service, and warranty support for existing builds.

Vanna ships nationwide and is actively growing their team and facility. For anyone serious about van life done right — particularly in demanding climates — they're one of the few shops building to a standard where -20°F is an operating condition, not a dealbreaker.