Freedom Vans

Ben N

★★★★★

8 years ago

We are loving our Freedom Van! We had a sprinter 4*4 modified for year round camping by them. Their attention to detail and flexibility was awesome. All of their cabinets and fittings are fabricated by hand in house. The owners, Tom and Kyleigh gave us many great ideas and also were happy to hear our thoughts on the build. It is very clear they are very passionate about their craft. Unlike some other places we considered for our van build, Kyleigh and Tom were always interested in what we wanted, rather than trying to give us what they thought. They also helped us with the specifications for the van from Merceds, so we did not wast money on options that were not necessary. They met with us several times during the build process to consider additions or deletions to our project. Their flexibility and passion for detail is plainly evident. A big thanks you to the two of you and your crew for working with us so closely and showing our van tons of love! Charlie and Debbie N

Jonathan Briggs

★★★★★

2 years ago

What a terrific and skilled group of people! We love our van so much. The van they built for us is amazing. Very high quality design and workmanship. Unparalleled after-sales care. Great people to work with.

D S

★★★★★

7 years ago

I had this dream to live in a van full time. After interviewing multiple van conversion companies, I thought my dream had dead ended. Then I found Tom's contact info through Freedom Vans' blog and gave Tom a ring. From the moment he answered my call, Tom was friendly, genuine, and all out stoked to facilitate making my #vanlife dream come true. Where other contractors offered only "cookie cutter options," Tom was able to transfer my dream list of van build concepts into feasible design, for a reasonable price. Tom’s background and experience in solar energy assured me the power system he would build would withstand the dreariness of the Pacific Northwest's moody weather. Impressively, my van turned out everything I hoped for and more. Tom and Kyleigh's attention to detail and ability to transfer concepts into reality is amazing! I continue to visit Freedom Vans' shop at least once a year for upgrades and updates and Moby snuggles, and I still feel as taken care of as ever! These 2 put so much heart and quality into their work! Freedom Vans can take your dreams to reality, whether building a minimal toy hauler or a luxurious #vanhome.

Ryan C

★☆☆☆☆

Edited 7 years ago

Looks like the majority of the reviews here about Freedom Vans were simply left by their friends or onlookers who admire their photos on Instagram. We've actually been living in our Freedom Van for a complete year now. In that time, we've been able to fully test out their build quality and see how they handle things when problems arise. Here's a quick list of just some issues that we've had: - Gas leak after our espar heater was installed - Rear maxxfan died after a couple days - Solar charge controller malfunctioning - initially no breaker was installed. - Wash kit/hose broke. Called them, Tom became a huge jerk over the phone and didn't offer to fix it until we demanded. He told us to fill a bucket with water and instructed us on how to take a sponge bath. - Counter-top split several times - had to be taken back to them for repair. - Water leak from rear door - poor fitting of the paneling ruined the seal. - Bench seat completely fell apart multiple times - very poor build quality (put together with tiny brad nails from the underside) - Slider door step is broken/sagging in the middle. - Bed incuts breaking and splitting - All cabinet latches needed to be replaced. None worked after several months of use. - Sloppy craftsmanship with wall paneling (random holes everywhere?) Yes, their vans look great at first glance, but look closer and you'll notice the flaws. Tom rushed out our build during the last few weeks (and it was obvious). On top of that, Kyleigh claims to be an expert at customer service, yet she randomly sends us snarky emails. Yes, they have fixed some of these issues under warranty, but not without several trips back and forth and days without our van. At the end of the day - we love our van because of the places it's brought us. And it's opened up so many possibilities for us. But in hindsight, we would have steered clear of Freedom Vans and went with a more reputable van builder. Don't be fooled by the first impression they give you. Once things go wrong, they'll be singing a different tune. And also - just know that when you're asking them to build you out your custom van, the design you come up with isn't your own. They replicated our build almost to a T (exact same colors, stain, flooring, wall paneling, counter-top, etc.) for a different client of theirs. You think they'd have some design insight of their own. At least pick a different color scheme...

Greg Shaurette

★★★★★

2 years ago

Freedom Vans (FV) converted our van, "Fred" on the website, several years ago. You can consider this a short, medium and long term review. We simply could not be happier with the relationship we have with FV from the day we met them until today. We knew immediately after our first contact with Kyleigh at FV we were in good hands. During the design phase Tom and Kyleigh were so patient, understanding our requirements and guiding us through the process. In addition, they were super helpful suggesting some things that we should consider given how we would use the van. Their own experience with van life and now converting vans shows as our van is the perfect balance of form and function. We still can't believe they were able to take all of our requirements and make it a reality. When people ask us "what would you do differently if you did it again" our answer is always nothing. We have FV to thank for that. A full van build is a complex project, if you want the best build that meets your needs and is beautiful then FV should be your first choice. Pros - Professional and personable - They pay a lot of attention to detail - Great communication - Craftsmanship is first-rate - Post-build support is great - Super creative - Really nice people Cons - Seriously, none

Kent Anderson

★★★★★

7 years ago

We just returned from 5000 miles and 40 days in our Promaster. The team at Freedom Vans created an amazing off-grid surf van that worked brilliantly. Hot showers, ice cream and cooking with an instant pot on the deserted beaches of Baja; my wife and I could not be more pleased. We had an idea of what we wanted and the team at Freedom Vans helped us discover what was possible. Great ideas, amazing craftsman and good vibes. Thanks again Kyleigh, Tom and the entire team.

John Puccetti

★☆☆☆☆

Edited a year ago

Read this paragraph from the contract with Freedom Vans very carefully and then decide if you want to take “The Leap of Faith” and allow them to work on your van. If you don’t live in Bellingham, you will be responsible for all of the workmanship and design issues to fix at your own expense. I have spent more than $6,000.00 on repairs for our van. Make sure you have a drawing with written dimensions. Not just a pretty computer graphic. Make sure you specify in writing all the hardware by name and manufacturer. Make sure your van is completely built to your specification’s before you drive it off their property. Know that once you leave Bellingham Freedom Vans will not warranty or pay for anything. Know they will only fix anything that they think is wrong with the van, regardless of what you think or know. Personally, after having been through this bad experience with Freedom vans. I would not do business with a company that has such a serious problem with telling the truth, quality workmanship and integrity. Have an attorney read the contract before you sign and leave you van with them. Paragraph nine from the contract. 9. Punch List. Within thirty (30) days of delivery of the vehicle to Owner or Owner’s carrier, Owner shall inspect the vehicle and shall deliver to Freedom Vans a punch list of items that need to be addressed. Freedom Vans will fix all punch list items that Freedom Vans agrees should be corrected, provided that Owner delivers the vehicle back to Freedom Vans within thirty (30) days of delivery of Owner’s punch list. We retained an attorney practicing in Bellingham he had this to say " The contract we signed is onerous and one sided, we will not be able to sue for damages. "You got screwed". Freedom Vans owners are not ethical or trustworthy.

tracy giesker

★★★★★

2 years ago

Freedom Vans is amazing I am so greatful I found this company. They are very helpful and willing to do even the small jobs that other companies will not do. Quality of work is top notch. Employees are knowledgeable and friendly. I will not hesitate to go back for future projects.

Connor S

★★★★★

6 years ago

I contacted Freedom vans for a single service (bench seat install). They not only worked at a fair price, they were more than flexible and remained professional when a couple issues arose. Hannah and Tom were both awesome to work with. Professional, timely, high quality. Would recommend to anyone and will likely be back for future projects.

S. Family

★★★★★

a year ago

My wife and I spent 1.5 years researching our dream van and potential builders. We could not be happier with the Freedom Van’s build of our van - Ironhide. The team at Freedom Vans took our vision and brought it to life, going above and beyond to incorporate some unique and very specific design features to the van. Just one example - I had a complex requirement for an onboard compartment to house electronics and universal battery chargers and Freedom Vans knocked it out of the park with an ingenious (and highly custom design). Despite being deployed with a large time difference during the majority of the build, the team at Freedom Vans did an outstanding job maintaining communications and keeping me informed. In addition to the quality craftsmanship, Kyleigh and Tom are great human beings and it was a pleasure getting to know them during our build.

Not all who wander are lost.

★☆☆☆☆

a year ago

If you own a Promaster van, go elsewhere for van upgrades. We had Freedom Vans install a Van Compass 1.5" lift kit and improved struts/shocks for a recent 8000 mile drive to BC/Yukon/Alaska. A noise in front-end started almost immediately. Several tries to resolve problem by Freedom's tech did not resolve the noises. We decided to proceed on the trip anyway. In the Yukon (over 500 miles from a repair shop), we dropped a rear shock. The special bolt holding the shock just fell out. Apparently, I was supposed to retorque bolts along way (which requires special tools). PLUS no one told me about this at Freedom. A shop in Alaska got us back on the road after a bill of almost $800 for a make-do repair. We had to hang around Fairbanks for nearly fours days waiting for a parts shipment and a slot at the mechanic's shop. Note: The mechanic in Alaska also determined that the bolt on the other shock was about to fall out, as well. After getting back to Washington (almost a month earlier than originally planned), Tom (Freedom's owner) told me all the issues were my problem and declined to honor their verbal 6-month warranty (except for replacing shock) or pay any of the repair fees we incurred in Alaska. Tom essentially blamed Agile Overland (shock manufacturer) and Van Compass for their poor lift kit installation instructions. The front end issues still exist. Tom did offer to charge us even more money to ATTEMPT to resolve the problem. (Nice of him, huh? Our van had less than 12000 miles when we brought to Freedom Vans for the lift kit install.) So far the lift kit install has cost nearly a thousand dollars more than what we originally paid Freedom -- in repairs & parts shipment (to Alaska) not including unexpected camping fees; time waiting around Fairbanks, Bellingham and various repair shops; many phone calls; and the stress of dealing with all the issues in a place with often limited resources. We also cut our trip north almost month short because the noise in front end was getting louder and the rear shock was working only with a temporary fix. Note: We came to understand, we were the first Promaster Freedom Vans and their tech had ever lifted. A fact later disputed by the owner (Tom) though confirmed by two other staff. If we had only known at the outset... We are now taking our van to a more professional van modifier for front end repair over 3.5 hours away. A company who apparently has more experience with a Promaster -- and is a dealer for both Van Compass and Agile Offroad. Estimates to repair the front end problems repair are now above $1250. As said earlier, if you own a Promaster van - go elsewhere for upgrades. With Freedom Vans - you take a chance. Are you willing to do that? Caveat emptor.

David Hofele

★★★★★

a year ago

Four years ago, I had my Sprinter van built by Freedom Vans, and I'm still incredibly impressed with their work. It's been a truly fabulous conversion that's perfectly suited to my needs. Since then, I've returned to them twice for some modifications and repairs, and each time, they've exceeded my expectations. Their responsiveness is outstanding – they're always easy to reach by email or phone, and they go above and beyond to answer my questions about the van. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. In fact, I give them an unconditional 10/10!

Ryan Corless

★★★★★

7 years ago

We shipped our van all the way from Baltimore to Bellingham just to have Freedom Vans customize it for us. From the start we knew we were going to work with these guys as you can see the attention to detail and craftsmanship they put into every van they produce. Nothing feels mass produced and everything is custom and hand-made! Tom and Kyleigh made the process of planning and executing a seamless process and were great in offering advice and option on achieving what we envisaged for our van. Not only do they make awesome vans, they are also genuinely rad people and made us feel extremely welcome the day we were there to pick up our van "Germaine". If you are in the market for a custom van, these are the guys you want. Join the #vanlife ! Thanks Freedom Van crew!

Mavo

★☆☆☆☆

Edited 7 months ago

Edit 2: Deflection. I have posted zero reviews, but felt this was necessary. Do better, Tom. Edit: Since I can’t respond. I have photos of exactly what I’m speaking on. Anyone on the fence about using Freedom Vans, message me and I’ll provide proof. Recently came across a Freedom Vans build in Sequoia NP and I was shocked to see the lack of quality. The interior build was okay, and I could tell the carpenters know their stuff and have attention to detail. On the other hand, the systems install (grey water, roof rack, accessories) seemed to be installed by a child or someone without experience. The owner of the van agreed and mentioned their frustrations with the owner of Freedom Vans, but leaving it at that. I called Freedom Vans recently to understand the team and process. The wife (?) of the owner mentioned Tom (owner) did most of the installs and has years of experience. I beg to differ. When your black/ grey water piping is lower than the rear differential on a 4x4 sprinter, mis-drilled holes for solar, bumpers and equipment…I understand why the van owners felt the way they did. Shame on you Tom. Your employees hold a higher standard than yourself.

Jonathan Fung

★★★★★

5 years ago

I absolutely love my Freedom Van. I think you definitely need to understand what it is you are buying into when it comes to a van conversion, and the word conversion is key. Tom, Kyleigh and team at Freedom Vans take empty vans that are a shell, and turn them into beautiful custom bespoke campers and adventure machines. There is no standardized way of making a van conversion, as each is unique to its owners specs. Each build is a combination of parts from different manufactures and the team at Freedom make it all work together in way that like art. Their passion in the work is visible. As each build is unique, it certainly does lead to a few headaches and possible struggles as an owner. Unfortunately these aren't like production model cars, they don't get tested and revised, or have an entire team of engineers. These are custom made, built to order, heavily modified vans; and honestly, more parts means more things that might go wrong. This is part of vanlife. If you have not had a project car or vehicle before, this is a large on to take on for the first time. I have had some issues with my van, but Tom and Kyleigh have worked with me on handling those issues in a timely and professional manner every time. I hope to have more work done by Tom and Freedom Vans in the near future, and if I could do another van project I would choose Freedom Vans again.

Andy Shanks

★★★★★

4 years ago

My experience during the “Teton” build was super awesome! Tom and the whole gang are great people to deal with. I ran out of things to put in the van so I don’t see them as often. Having said that, I’ve given tours of Teton all over the rockies, BC and Alaska and the response is the same....”who built that van..it’s so awesome! And damn you’ve got some lights” 🤘

Amy Humphreys

★★★★★

5 years ago

We did a lot of research on van outfitters before we selected FREEDOM VANS to convert our Sprinter 170 4x4 -- and we are so pleased with our decision! We first met Tom and Kyleigh at the 2019 Freedom Van Meet-Up event where we were able to observe some of their builds and talk to previous clients. We heard nothing but high praise for FV expertise, service and quality, which solidified our decision. We knew our build would be complex and come in >$100k (ex cost of new Sprinter), so competence and reputation of outfitter partner was extremely important to us. In late December 2020, Tom and Kyleigh, along with their FV team, delivered us an absolutely amazing custom build with incredible features. We have ventured out on a couple of trips already and are thrilled with our new van. Bottom line: FV's exceptional craftmanship, attention to detail, knowledge and expertise offered during the process and top notch client service was above and beyond. Given the unforeseen pandemic, our van delivery was delayed a bit. Such is the case with any new build plus given the detail of our customizations and materials selected (requiring more honed precision craftsmanship), we anticipated there might be a few 'punch list' items to tweak and fine tune post delivery. Tom and Kyleigh were incredibly professional and responsive, stood by their work and quality commitment, and accommodated a follow up to remedy the outstanding punch list items. Their extended FV team was amazing from every angle - expertise, client service, quality and responsiveness. As I write today, which marks ~4wks from delivery, everything is tight. This was our first van conversion experience; we are pleased we had the FV team doing the job. We will highly recommend working with Freedom Vans -- very glad we did!