OZK Customs + Owl Vans

Although it may sound like a cliché now, Owl Vans literally did begin as a garage project. It started when owner John Willenborg bought a Mercedes Sprinter in 2010 and realized that no one was making the type of gear and carriers he wanted to use on his van – the adventure van market was not there yet. With his background in product design, he decided to build what he needed for the Sprinter, beginning with a rear-door tire carrier. Posting his progress on Sprinter van enthusiast forums, he got ideas and feedback along the way that he was able to incorporate into his build – giving this company a true foundation of user and real-world feedback.

When he completed the tire carrier, he was flooded with requests to buy one, as the market did not yet have anything like that readily available. An initial product run of 10 tire carriers expanded quickly, as the adventure van market began to explode and the need for high quality gear and components along with it. The most important thing about the team at Owl Vans – from the owner to the welders and fabricators and product testers, is that they truly care about the industry and the products they are producing for it. All Owl Van components are designed and tested extensively for real-world situations, so that when you take their gear offroad, you know you can depend on it.