Van Winkle is unmistakably a Ford Transit. And that’s the point.
For more than a decade, Advanced RV has built the majority of our custom coaches on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter platform. We’ve also been asked the same question for years: Could ARV build the same kind of high-end, integrated motorhome on a Ford?
Van Winkle is the and answer. It’s one of our first Ford Advanced RVs. Full bath. Large water capacity. Serious electrical. Long-term service access. And craftsmanship that feels like ARV the moment you step inside.
Why the Client chose Ford
Van Winkle was built for a client named Frank—approachable, Midwest-humble, and clear about what mattered.
Frank found Advanced RV through a video where our founder Mike spoke candidly about a mistake – a build we got wrong, and what we did to make it right. “This is someone I would do business with.”
Frank chose Ford because he knew the platform. He’d lived with Ford Transits in a working fleet. And he trusted the Ford service ecosystem—the confidence of being able to get help almost anywhere, without needing a specialty dealership.
As Frank puts it: “That one thing with the Ford outweighed anything with the Mercedes.”
“Custom” means what it should mean
In the RV industry, “custom” can mean a short list of options. At ARV, it means the world is open – as long as it’s safe and legal.
Mike (founder of ARV) says it plainly in the video: “Custom has a different meaning for us than it seems to have in the general RV business… If the client wants a special coffee maker, we build in a special coffee maker… They’re the boss.”
The layout that unlocked everything
Van Winkle’s floorplan is built around a single decision: a motorized bed that stows into the ceiling.
Press a button and the bed glides down on a track system. Stow it back up and the living space opens wide. That one mechanism creates room for the things Frank wanted most:
-
Two counters for real day-to-day cooking and prep
-
Multiple seating zones, including a rear lounge area that can become a small secondary bed
-
A large rear bathroom with a full shower
-
A layout that feels open in the daytime, without sacrificing sleep comfort at night
In the video, the client notes his height (5’7″) and how that made the concept viable: “I have no issue walking underneath that bed.”
The ARV cabinet team made the bed work by moving the motors and mechanics the motors out of the bed structure, hiding them into available body cabinets in the Transit.
ARV Designer Rob summed it up after seeing the final result: “I’ve had a few different people tell me this is the nicest Advanced RV we’ve built yet.”
Full motorhome systems—on a Ford
Van Winkle is a complete, integrated luxury motorhome with the same core ARV philosophy: systems that work together, are serviceable, and are built for years of use.
48V lithium power, built in-house
Van Winkle carries our UL-listed, in-house 48V lithium system (16.2 kWh) with a 4,000W inverter and fast alternator charging. Many owners can travel for long stretches without plugging in—recharging while they drive and using stored power when they’re stopped.
Plumbing and true day-to-day comfort
This is a full coach with a large freshwater capacity (40 gallons) and a true bathroom/shower setup designed for daily use.
Weight, safety, and certification
ARV is RVIA certified, and we build accordingly. That means planning for systems, materials, and payload in a way that keeps the vehicle safe, insurable, and dependable. ARV owners can trust the coach they’re traveling in.
Why the Ford platform matters
Van Winkle is built on a Ford Transit 350 HD DRW with AWD—a platform that has become increasingly viable for high-end Class B motorhomes as Ford’s capacities and configurations have evolved.
There are also practical advantages that matter to real travelers:
-
A gasoline platform many people are already comfortable with
-
Broad service access across the country
-
And typically, an equivalent build that can land at about 10% less than a Sprinter-based Advanced RV (depending on scope)
Ford and Mercedes offer more options for travelers, and a new tool for building the right coach for you.
Want to build on a Ford Transit?
If Van Winkle sparks ideas—whether you’re set on a Transit or still deciding—start with a conversation. We’ll ask how you travel, what you carry, where you go, and what you want your motorhome to feel like after years on the road.
