The Beginning

Our first day with the van! Definitely not stock, but we had a few upgrades in mind.

It seems like all great things start with an idea that sometimes seems just out of reach, but if there’s a will there’s a way. I’ve followed and watched all the inspirational adventure overlanders on YouTube and wanted to get out of my Subaru Outback for a larger 4x4 vehicle with more clearance. The Subaru was great for a long time and it definitely carries the “adventure” vibe, but it was time for the next step.

I remember the first Sportsmobile I ever saw and instantly fell in love. The idea of a full sized vehicle that can provide shelter in a standard sized parking spot with the mobility of a 4x4 was a no brainer for me. Morgan and I love to get out, camp, and explore new places, but we also like the comforts of home. Instead of having to set up a tent (or even a rooftop tent) all we would have to do is park and then we’re ready. The budget definitely didn’t allow for a Sportsmobile, but I quickly discovered Quigley 4x4 vans.

After checking the internet for months for one that was in good condition with lower miles the listing went live for a 2006 Ford E350 Quigley 4x4 6.0L Diesel on Craigslist in Portland. It was at a dealership and we made an appointment to see it the next day. Upon arrival they had the van parked out front and it was large and in charge. The size definitely made an impression, but when the keys turned over that diesel roared like a lion. In all seriousness, it was much louder than expected.

The mechanic of the dealership was the one selling the vehicle, so we were fortunate to get his insight on a few things along with operations of different functions. Needless to say, we sealed the deal that afternoon and kicked off a new chapter in our adventure travel. Since it was at a dealership I was able to trade in the Subaru and finance the new purchase all in one spot which made the leap that much easier.

We were so excited for the new adventures to come and kicked off our first trip a few weeks later by removing the seats and inflating an air mattress in the rear cabin. It was a simple setup that got us thinking about the future. As novice van builders we didn’t know what to expect, but hopefully you can learn a bit about our process of navigating needs vs wants and trying to keep it as minimalist as possible. I will say that in our projects Quigley has been a very helpful resource with any questions about the original build specs.

Thanks for reading! More to come as we continue to build out content. If you have any questions feel free to connect with us on social media!