By: Hanna Nakano
Photography: Jessica Heuer Photography
As long as there have been vans, there’s been van life in Northern California. The two have been inextricable since the 1960s, tracing back to the counterculture movement, the appeal of freedom, and the urge to rebel against mainstream society.
The urge is similar today for many—it certainly was for the team behind Yolo Camper Vans.
Founded by friends who love the open road and the lifestyle, Yolo Camper Vans aims to be a one-stop-shop for van life needs, building from the vehicle you already have or starting from scratch.
All roads lead home
Best friends Levi Ogner and Kyle Ford grew up in Yolo County, and moved to Los Angeles after high school. Levi married Zoe, also from Yolo County, and the couple enjoyed working in the entertainment industry until the COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape.
“COVID of course hit the industry super hard, and the strikes on top of that. So we both were looking for avenues out,” Zoe told The Dirt. “Levi and Kyle had both built out vehicles for themselves: Kyle had a van and we built out a school bus. They thought they could do that for a living and Yolo Camper Vans was born.”
The group even convinced their best friend Mike Smith, with no ties to Yolo, to move to Davis and join their team.
How it works
Levi, Kyle & Mike work full time building vans, while Zoe handles client communications, admin and graphic design. Their van life services include full custom builds, consultations, design, electrical & water systems, woodworking, as well as general repairs and upgrades or alterations. They recently reached a milestone by offering their own design “The Coastal Cruiser” on a new 144” MB Sprinter, which is for sale now.
What sets their vans apart from the rest is the atmosphere crafted into each build. Lighting can make or break a mood, and the team has dialed into exactly what works for these tiny spaces.
“Light can be so inviting in a small space. Deliberate use of light in our designs offers a dynamic environmental experience,” Levi said. “Combine this with easy-to-deal-with systems and storage and it gets stupid fun and satisfying just being in our vans.”
It’s a lifestyle
The team at Yolo Camper Vans hopes this venture becomes a lifestyle, and they have big dreams for providing different avenues into the van life world: through custom vans, camping spots, repairs, events, and rentals all throughout the west coast.
“No longer receiving healthcare through work and leaving a dependable income was scary. It still is honestly,” Levi told The Dirt. “We’re literally just taking it a day at a time, learning how to build this business into something that can support us and the van life community. We love building vans and working together.”
You can find Yolo Camper Vans at the Davis Farmers Market on occasional Saturday mornings for an in-person tour, or visit yolocampervans.com to check them out online.
