Outside Van Launches ‘Sanctuary for Endurance Athletes’ – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
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PORTLAND, ORE. – Outside Van is pleased to announce their latest concept vehicle: Pacer. Built using a 2021 Four Wheel Drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 170 3500 chassis as its foundation, Pacer was produced to be a sanctuary for nomadic professional endurance athletes to prepare, rest, and recover as they travel to compete in professional endurance sports such as trail running and obstacle course racing.
Some key features of Pacer are a motorized altitude bed that raises and lowers with the touch of a button, a double-wide galley kitchen for healthy meal prep on the go, and a large shower with a flush-mounted Red Light Therapy Emitter by Clearlight™ that transforms the shower into a recovery sauna.
VAN SPOTLIGHT: Pacer | 4WD 170 Sprinter Adventure Van Conversion Tour
As all concept vehicles built by Outside Van®, Pacer began its life on the whiteboard years before production. Functional van conversions have become the norm in the world of endurance athletes as competitions stretch out into remote outdoor locations, and often begin and end with the rise and setting of the sun. By utilizing a camper van, athletes can arrive days before a competition and spend more time prepping without having to factor in lengthy and complex travel arrangements and often expensive hotel stays. With this in mind, Outside Van® set a goal to build a vehicle that compliments this lifestyle so that athletes can stay in the competitive mindset and perform at their full potential.
The layout is core to any performance-based conversion. A primary need was to create a space that was modular, functional, and could accommodate the unique needs of outdoor endurance athletes. Outside Van® decided to incorporate their motorized Altitude bed which allows for the back area of the van to transform at the push of a button from a sleeping-focused space to prioritizing gear access by raising the queen-sized bed platform to the ceiling and opening up access to the garage. The underside of the bed platform has embedded lights while the garage itself features removable MOLLE panels, durable Lonseal flooring, mesh storage pockets on the doors, and L-track mounted on all primary surfaces to give the user plenty of gear storage options for essential items like mountain bikes, first aid kits, and recovery gear.
The functionality of the garage doesn’t stop there as there’s also a hot/cold water mixer that is fed off the 25-gallon freshwater tank, and a quick connect air compressor coupler that is connected to the 3 Gallon ARB Air Compressor. On the Passenger side is the housing for the 960 Amp Hour Lithium Battery Power System that powers numerous 12-volt and USB power outlets through ought the van for multiple charging options. The house battery system also powers the external lights, Midland MXT-575 Radio, and the JL-Audio sound system so you can light up your camp site, chat with your buddies, and listen to music all without having to run the engine for power. The battery system has three methods for charging: There are dual 140-Watt Zamp Solar panels on the roof that can be expanded using a port on the passenger side captain chain, a Wakespeed secondary alternator that uses the engine to quickly recharge the batteries when on the road, as well as options to connect short power for when you are in a setting that is connected to the grid.
Moving to the living area of the van, it was important to have a balance between functionality and comfort. The galley and cabinetry are all built using durable marine grade plywood and an assembly process that has been refined over the past 15 years to provide a squeak-free experience that is a hallmark of the craftsmanship of an Outside Van®. The passenger side of the van houses a lengthy bench that extends into the slider door opening. This bench allows for full-body relaxation while using recovery gear such as Normatec Compression Leggings or Hypervolt Percussion Massagers made by Hyperice. Under the cushion is a full-length storage compartment with gas actuated struts that help keep the lid of the compartment open while rummaging for athletic gear. On the interior side of the bench is a deep pull-out drawer, as well a mount for a custom Lagun table. On the exterior side of the bench in the slider opening is a pocket table that can be deployed for a quick surface to rest your coffee as you warm up for a brisk morning run.
Opposite the bench on the driver’s side is a double-wide galley kitchen. This galley houses a drawer-based stainless steel combo fridge/freezer, a dual burner glass induction cooktop, a stainless-steel sink, and a robust set of push-lock latch activated bamboo drawers to store pots, pans, plates, and utensils. Above the galley is a small microwave and systems control panel housed in a solid wall mounted cabinet unit, as well as under-cabinet lighting that ensures you can cook at all hours.
For climate control, there is a 12-volt rooftop air conditioner and a MaxxAir 10-Speed vent fan to keep the van cool and fresh. When its cold, there is a Espar Hydronic diesel furnace that utilizes the fuel tank for almost instantaneous hot air and is also used to heat up the water used in the showers and galley sink.
Rounding out the interior, it’s hard to miss the large, custom fabricated shower located directly behind the driver’s seat. This shower is welded out of aluminum and powder coated for durability. The entrance to the shower has a custom-made waterproof curtain that, when zipped up, creates an insulated and fully enclosed showering experience. The base of the shower features a CNC’d Teak floor platform, and there’s a matching fold-out teak bench seat mounted to the wall of the shower. This seat is muti-purpose, and allows for seated washing, while also enabling a relaxation space for when the flush-mounted red light therapy light bar is in use. The Clearlight™ red-light therapy bar system uses a mixture of light wavelengths that help with muscle and skin rehabilitation, which is an added luxury for outdoor athletes who push their bodies to their limits in extreme environments. When not in use, the Clearlight™ system can be covered with a waterproof flap, and a collapsible water-proof shelving system can be installed via L-Track to turn the extra shower space into a functional closet. Finally, the shower enclosure features pocket cubbies which are accessed directly behind the driver’s seat and add that little bit of extra storage that is important when living in such a confined space.
Moving to the external features of Pacer, it is hard to ignore the custom vinyl wrap co-designed with Oregon Design Co which features color hits taken from the interior of the van while prominently featuring Mt. Hood as a testimony to the challenges Pacer’s occupants willingly face.
Further expanding on the performance capabilities of Pacer, the van utilizes a suspension upgrade in the form of an Agile Off-Road RIP Kit featuring custom-tuned Fox Factory Shocks as well as a fortified leaf spring to help mitigate the heavier load of the conversion. Pacer also utilizes a dual rear wheel version of the Sprinter 170 chassis which also helps manage the enhanced weight of the conversion as well as adds towing capacity.
Externally, Pacer has a suite of features that continue its functionality. First, there is a full Rigid Industries light package which includes a 50-inch light bar, ditch lights, bumper lights, amber SAE fog lights, scene lights, and rock lights that help enhance night time driving and camping. There are also auxiliary lights installed into the rear bumper to add further illumination when loading up gear or backing up at night.
There is also a robust set of metalwork, all built in house by Outside Van®. This includes a full-length safari roof rack that acts as a mounting point for the 50-Inch lightbar and Dual 140-Watt Zamp Solar Panels. To access the safari rack, there are side and rear utility ladders which feature L-track mounted on the fronts of each step, as well as grimple plates for better traction in less-than-ideal inclement conditions.
Pacer is an exploration into what is possible with a van conversion. As the utilitarian nature of vans evolve from cargo haulers to essential living spaces, Outside Van is proud to be the leader in innovation and push the boundaries of what van life encompasses.
Pacer will soon be on sale. Since this is a concept adventure van, there is only one in existence and is expected to sell quickly. A sale announcement will be made shortly via Outside Van’s website and social channels.
For more details about Pacer, please visit: https://www.outsidevan.com/van-gallery/pacer/
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/outside-van-launches-sanctuary-for-endurance-athletes/
