TOURIG got its start in the quirky mountain town of Nederland, Colorado, in 2001. Founder Eric Miller was working as a traveling sales agent in the outdoor industry and needed a vehicle that would provide mobility, a place to sleep, and unlike a plane, would welcome his dog on business trips around the country.
His first van, Big Red, was born out of these necessities and fit the bill perfectly. Van number two, Black Beauty, followed soon after. Eventually, Miller partnered with long-time friend Paul Bulger. Bulger’s experience in the maritime industry provided the perfect skillset to further elevate the quality of TOURIG’s projects. Eventually, TOURIG moved their shop to Golden, Colorado, where they are currently located.
TOURIG’s Xtreme Adventure Van or XAV is a premium upfit on the Sprinter or Transit chassis that’s specifically designed to provide an elevated level of comfort, even on big adventures. They describe their XAV as the “ultimate in design, performance, and luxury within the adventure van class,” and I wouldn’t doubt it, looking at the preliminary vehicle specs.
The TOURIG XAV
The XAV is treated as a custom build and begins with either a Ford Transit all-wheel-drive or Mercedes Sprinter 4-wheel-drive platform (Mercedes 2-wheel-drive is also an option). These upfits generally come in around $120,000 (van not included), although they can also perform much simpler, less expensive builds in the $40,000 to $70,000 price range. The exact vehicle specifications can be dialed in depending on the needs of the particular customer, with seating specified for two to eight and sleeping space for up to four.
Connecting with Eric Miller via email, I asked what makes TOURIG stand out from the competition. “An enhanced user experience from initial contact to vehicle delivery and beyond,” was Eric’s initial response. He also pointed out their “industry-leading 3-year rock-solid guarantee, assuring that TOURIG vehicles are “built to stay built.”
Additional Build Options
Even though TOURIG’s XAV has some general design features that carry over from one vehicle to the next, they treat the platform as a custom upfit, with lots of additional options for customers to choose from. Upgrades are broken down into a variety of categories, including:
Interior – Includes high-end finishes, fabrics, sleeping configurations, storage solutions, kitchen designs, and color pallets.
Exterior – Aftermarket roof racks, bumpers, suspension, vinyl vehicle wraps, tires and wheels, and additional windows.
Custom Systems Engineering – This includes advanced electrical system upgrades, heating and cooling solutions, and advanced plumbing systems.
Learn more about the TOURIG XAV on their website.
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