Hathi Jr: Our Van Build Story So Far

Hey there! I’m excited to share a little bit of our van build journey — a story of false starts, failures, and fresh starts, on our path to adventure.

AG and I began our van build story back in 2020 when we purchased a 4x4 Sprinter 170. With the world in lockdown and both of us working remotely full time from home, we were searching for a creative outlet—a way to channel our energy and dreams into something tangible.

The Idea

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had wanderlust running through my veins. I spent countless afternoons watching The Wild Thornberrys on Nickelodeon, dreaming of traveling the world. It wasn’t just my passion; AG’s love of travel made her the perfect partner-in-crime for this adventure. Together, we envisioned traveling the world. My first ambition was to do it via motorcycle (I had purchased a BMW R1200 GS Adventure in 2016 with this in mind), but we later settled on building our own overland van—a vehicle that wasn’t just a means of transport but a ticket to exploring the great unknown, named after one of our favorite characters from The Jungle Book, Hathi Jr.

Early Days

Jumping into van builds for the very first time was as exhilarating as it was challenging. We dove headfirst into the project—cutting holes in our brand new van for windows, installing a Maxxfan, designed every inch of our brand new van’s interior. Working in the uncovered parking lot at our Oakland loft building had its own charm and its own set of hurdles. Every cut and every modification was a lesson in creativity, persistence, and sometimes, plain old patience.

But life, as it often does, threw us a curveball. A family situation nudged us to move to Phoenix, where the blistering record high temperatures added another layer of difficulty. We were still working in a parking lot, but it was a very different environment that was not conducive to building. Challenges with work, family, and the ever-present demands of daily life meant that the time we could dedicate to our van project was often limited as well. the biggest hurdle of all, I can be a perfectionist—which definitely didn’t help make things easier on reflection.

A New Hope

Despite the challenges, we managed to get a taste of freedom. We camped in our van on roadtrips, at TinyFest, and at Overland Expo West, even if it was only a temporary setup. Every trip reminded us why we fell in love with the idea of vehicle-based adventure travel in the first place.

Then came a turning point. When Owl announced the Teton X limited edition Sprinter Ekko in late 2024, it felt like a sign. We decided it was time to switch gears, paid our deposit and started looking forward to a totally different type of vehicle build with a van that promised to be travel-ready right out of gate.

Right after we wrapped up the down payment, I found out that I’d been laid off from my job. Instead of seeing this as a setback, we took it as a signal. The time had never been more right to sell all our stuff and truly start our adventure.