Raft Tiger Vans

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Raft Tiger Vans Raft Tiger Vans specializes in small, practical, mobile living. We make vans that have been well thought out from the beginning of the design stage.

Every component of a Raft Tiger has a purpose. We build vans the right way or we don't do it at all.

Every van owner has a bathroom story. Let's make sure yours is boring.Most builds use one of two setups. A cassette toil...
10/08/2026

Every van owner has a bathroom story. Let's make sure yours is boring.

Most builds use one of two setups. A cassette toilet keeps everything in a sealed tank that you empty at a dump station or a regular toilet. A composting toilet separates liquids from solids, so the solids stay dry and the smell mostly goes away. Both work. The right one depends on how you travel.

Now the question nobody wants to ask out loud. Can you just dump your p*e?

Sometimes. In town, usually not. Many cities ban urinating on streets or lots, and that includes pouring out a jug in a parking lot. A public toilet is the easy answer, since p*e flushes like anything else.

National parks are clearer. In developed areas, human waste goes in a toilet. Out in undeveloped areas, it has to be at least 100 feet from water and campsites and out of sight of trails. Individual parks can add stricter rules, so check before you go.

Anything from a holding tank goes to a dump station. Never on the ground.

None of this is hard once your setup matches how you actually live. If you're stuck choosing a toilet, or wondering if you need one at all, give us a call. We've built both and we're happy to talk it through.

There's a reason the Sprinter ends up at the top of almost everyone's list.Mercedes has been building it in Germany sinc...
10/07/2026

There's a reason the Sprinter ends up at the top of almost everyone's list.

Mercedes has been building it in Germany since 1995. In Europe it's just the work van. Delivery drivers beat on it every day, and nobody over there cares how it looks parked at a campsite. These photos are from Nate and Tori's trip across Europe, and their van fit right in. Every town seemed to have a few of its cousins parked outside the bakery.

Here's what sets it apart from the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster.

It's the only one of the three you can still get with a diesel in the US. Ford and Ram both dropped theirs years ago. A well-maintained Sprinter diesel can go past 300,000 miles. At 15,000 miles a year, that's twenty years before the engine is even a question.

Diesel also matters in the mountains. A turbo engine holds its power better as the air thins. The ProMaster's gas V6 doesn't have a turbo, and you feel it on a long climb.

Built-out diesel Sprinters usually land in the high teens to around 20 MPG. That's good for a rolling house.

The ProMaster is front-wheel drive only. The Sprinter comes in rear-wheel drive or AWD, which helps a lot when you're carrying a heavy build up a wet dirt road.

It isn't cheap. A Sprinter costs more to buy and maintain than the other two. But if you want a van you'll still be driving ten years from now, this is the one.

That's why we build on it.

09/28/2026

Do what you want.. we just have a good idea what that is 😉

Nate, Tori and Mable went to Europe and brought the VAN! Here are some outtakes from their travels.
09/24/2026

Nate, Tori and Mable went to Europe and brought the VAN! Here are some outtakes from their travels.

Kitchen and workshops are for COOKIN - ready for us to get started on your van conversion? Send us a DM to talk about a ...
09/22/2026

Kitchen and workshops are for COOKIN - ready for us to get started on your van conversion? Send us a DM to talk about a build.

09/18/2026

Just sayin…

Let's talk about something that doesn't come up enough in van life content, especially for folks retiring into this life...
09/16/2026

Let's talk about something that doesn't come up enough in van life content, especially for folks retiring into this lifestyle. Everyone talks about solar setups and bed layouts. Almost nobody talks about the stuff that actually keeps you safe out there.

First: if you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, it's usually tied to a service region back home. That's fine for emergencies, Medicare covers those anywhere, but for anything routine, a prescription refill, a follow-up appointment, you could be paying full price three states away. A lot of full-timers end up switching to Original Medicare plus a Medigap supplement before they hit the road, specifically because it travels with them nationwide. Worth calling Medicare or a SHIP counselor and asking about this before you buy the van, not after.

Second: if something happens to you alone on the road, does your medical information travel with your body? A wallet card or the medical ID feature on your phone's lock screen is what a paramedic checks first, faster than any folder of paperwork sitting in a drawer back home. Worth looking into what your state's portable directive is called and getting it set up before you leave.

Third: someone who loves you should always have a rough idea where you are. A daily check-in text or a location-sharing app you turn on when you're solo means a missed check-in gets noticed in hours, not days.

None of this costs much or takes up cargo space. It's just the kind of homework that makes the whole thing sustainable instead of just adventurous.

Ready for retirement? This is way better than a condo on a golf course. It's time to get going!
09/14/2026

Ready for retirement? This is way better than a condo on a golf course. It's time to get going!

Hands on deck, getting our hands dirty, all hands in - however you spin it we are on it!Not just van conversions but rep...
09/11/2026

Hands on deck, getting our hands dirty, all hands in - however you spin it we are on it!

Not just van conversions but repairs, upgrades and help with your DIY builds. Let us do what we are good at so you can get back to your adventure!

Address

Asheville, NC
28801-06, 28810, 28813-16

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

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