We were lucky to catch up with Nathan Pascal recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nathan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?
Early in my entrepreneurial journey—just a few months in, to be exact—I found myself questioning whether I had made the right decision. I had just finished building an off-grid adventure van for a difficult customer—one who was high-maintenance, unappreciative, and quick to find fault in minor, trivial issues. They accused me of incompetence, demanded money for problems that didn’t exist, and, despite my best efforts, seemed determined to make the experience miserable. I even drove halfway across the country to personally deliver their van, only for them to claim it wasn’t in good enough running condition—never mind the 1,500 miles I had just driven without issue.
That experience left me drained and disheartened. I started questioning whether this was what I really wanted. If this was what it meant to build vans for people, was it worth it? I was ready to throw in the towel and go back to a steady 9-to-5.
But before making that decision, I had one last van to sell.
Then came the phone call that changed everything.
A potential customer, someone who had found my ad online, reached out inquiring about the van. From the very first conversation, it was clear this would be a completely different experience. Remmy and Maholmes were the opposite of my previous customer—enthusiastic, trusting, and beyond excited. They took my word for everything I told them, asked thoughtful questions, and never once argued over details. They were so confident in my work that they purchased the van sight unseen. We arranged to meet in the coming weeks, and for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful.
That sale didn’t just keep my business going—it changed the entire course of my career.
Remmy and Maholmes reminded me why I started this journey in the first place. They showed me that there are customers out there who appreciate craftsmanship, who respect my time and expertise, and who value what I bring to the table. Five years later, I realize that my first bad experience was the exception, not the rule. In fact, Remmy and Maholmes set the standard for the kind of customers I would continue to attract—people who respect and support small businesses.
What makes my relationship with them even more special is that it didn’t end with that one purchase. Over the years, they’ve come back to me for help, always referring to me as a friend, yet insisting on paying me for my time—even if it’s just a 15-minute phone call. On one occasion, when they knew I was short on time, they insisted on paying me double for my assistance.
Because of them, I’ve shaped my own approach to customer relationships. Today, I treat every customer the way Remmy and Maholmes treated me—with trust, respect, and appreciation. And because of that, I’ve built something much greater than a business—I’ve built a community. Every customer I’ve sold to in the past five years has my number, and we’re all on a first-name basis.
Looking back, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had walked away. I’m grateful every day that I didn’t.
And it all started with one phone call.
Nathan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The Story Behind Raft Tiger Vans
I’m Nate, the founder of Raft Tiger Vans. My journey to building adventure vans started long before the business itself. I left a career in engineering to live in a van full-time, spending my days rafting, skiing, and exploring the backroads of the West. Living on the road taught me what truly matters in a van—not just the specs on paper, but whether it’s a space you can comfortably spend extended time in.
That experience shaped everything we do at Raft Tiger Vans. We don’t build flashy, over-customized Instagram rigs. Instead, we’ve honed in on a single, well-refined design that strikes the perfect balance between durability, functionality, and comfort—built to last long after that first photoshoot.
What Sets Us Apart
At Raft Tiger Vans, we don’t just build vans—we engineer them. A van isn’t a house inside a metal box; it’s a rolling, self-sustaining ecosystem that needs to function as one cohesive unit.
That’s why we take a “hard stuff first” approach. Too many vans today are designed backwards—beautiful cabinetry hiding power systems that were an afterthought. But there’s so much more to a van than aesthetics: power, airflow, weight distribution, and durability (to name a few). And they all have to work together seamlessly.
My background is in electrical engineering, so we start with the foundation—power, infrastructure, and structural integrity—before any finish work is even considered. I’ve built a team that shares this philosophy, hiring not just finish carpenters but also experts in vehicle electrical systems and structural fabrication. The result? A van that works as hard as you do, built to last through years of real adventure.
Built for Real Life
A van can have all the high-end features in the world, but if they aren’t easy and intuitive to use, they’ll sit untouched. I’ve learned firsthand that in a small space, every detail matters—whether it’s placing a switch in the right spot or ensuring an efficient, natural workflow.
That’s why we continuously refine our design, making small but meaningful improvements with every build. We listen to our customers—whether it’s moving a shelf to prevent head bumps or improving access to a key system. No detail is too small if it makes life on the road easier.
What I’m Most Proud Of
Beyond the vans themselves, I’m proud of the community we’ve built. When you buy a Raft Tiger Van, you’re not just a customer—you’re part of a network of like-minded adventurers. Every owner has my number, and many of them have become friends. We keep in touch, swap stories, and help each other out. That’s what this is really about.
What You Should Know
If you’re looking for a van built for real adventure—designed with purpose, tested in the wild, and backed by people who care—Raft Tiger Vans is for you. We don’t do endless customizations because we’ve already dialed in what works. Instead, we focus on what matters: a smart, durable, well-built van you can trust.
And if you ever need anything down the road? You’ll have my number.
Let’s get you out there.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Our best source of new clients? Craigslist, hands down. While we dream of selling through fancy referrals or viral social media moments, we keep it old-school—just with a modern twist. We’ve got over 20 Craigslist ads running in major cities across the U.S., and time after time, that’s where the serious buyers come from.
We’ve dabbled in Facebook Marketplace (hit or miss) and Instagram ads (good for eyeballs, not always for buyers), but Craigslist is where the magic happens. It connects us with people who aren’t just scrolling for fun—they’re actively looking for their next adventure rig.
But while Craigslist brings them in, our website is where we win their trust. That’s where people see the thought and craftsmanship behind each build, learn what sets us apart, and realize they’re not just buying a van—they’re investing in a road-tested design built by people who actually live this lifestyle.
Sure, we’d love for word-of-mouth to be our bread and butter, and maybe one day it will be. But for now, we’ll stick with what works. No shame in winning the van game with a little help from Craigslist!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When I first started Raft Tiger Vans, I quickly realized that one of the keys to success was doing what others weren’t willing to do. This wasn’t some grand revelation—it was a simple observation that turned out to be a game-changer.
I started my business right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, just as vanlife was gaining momentum. And while the trend was taking off, I noticed something that seemed blatantly obvious to me but wasn’t being addressed by other builders: Nobody was providing the van itself!
At the time, most van builders required customers to find and bring their own van before the build even started. As a new company, I knew I had to stand out, so I flipped the script. Instead of waiting for customers to bring their own van, I took it upon myself to find the van first, then build it, and provide them with a finished, turnkey product.
It sounds simple now, but nobody else was doing it. I did have one problem to overcome though. There were never any vans available in my area, but I was determined to make it happen. So, I did what most people wouldn’t. If I found the right van online, location didn’t matter. I had a flight booked within 30 minutes. I don’t know how many flights I took in those first few years, but I was willing to fly halfway across the country just to drive a van home the next day.
It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. That resilience and willingness to go the extra mile—literally and figuratively—set the foundation for Raft Tiger Vans. Customers liked the simplicity of me providing all the legwork upfront so all they had to do was show up and drive their finished van home.
That lesson has stuck with me throughout the years: Sometimes, success isn’t about following the crowd. It’s about finding the gap, doing what others aren’t willing to do, and making it happen no matter the obstacles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rafttiger.com
- Instagram: rafttigervans
Image Credits
Jessy and Perry Easton
Brandon Zeluff
Tori Pearce
Briana Autran