[opt overland]

Hi guys and gals,
Since everyone likes pictures, figured we should post some up. We've had a couple promaster clients tell us we should show a bit of our work on this forum. We build rigs in Fort Collins, Colorado and have an overland meetup every Wednesday afternoon starting around 530. Stop on by if your in the area, and feel free to ask questions via our Instagram @optoverland or on this thread. We've been overland building for quite a while and don't mind sharing tips/tricks and product knowledge. We'll keep this thread updated with various promaster builds.
Cheer,
Dai

 

[Winston]

Greetings and welcome. Don't suppose you're in your shop on Sundays? We're on the initial 'test flight' of our conversion and expect to be passing through Fort Collins mid-afternoon tomorrow after lunch with our cousin Joan in Loveland. Would be nice to meet another Promaster owner/entrepreneur.

 

[opt overland]

Greetings and welcome. Don't suppose you're in your shop on Sundays? We're on the initial 'test flight' of our conversion and expect to be passing through Fort Collins mid-afternoon tomorrow after lunch with our cousin Joan in Loveland. Would be nice to meet another Promaster owner/entrepreneur.

Yup, I'll be there. 1319 n. College Ave Fort Collins 80524

 

[Melmike]

Very nice build. How well does the light bar in front illuminate the road? I notice that the stock lights just do not cut it.

Mike

 

[opt overland]

Very nice build. How well does the light bar in front illuminate the road? I notice that the stock lights just do not cut it.

Mike

Works excellent. This is the light bar only

 

[MsNomer]

Maybe great for the PM driver, but I pity the poor oncoming driver who confronts that.

 

[opt overland]

Maybe great for the PM driver, but I pity the poor oncoming driver who confronts that.

Light bars in general aren't meant to be on while driving on the roads or highway. Their for forest service roads night time trail driving etc. Most of our clients don't use payed campsites and prefer Blm land or service roads where they come in handy. Their nice when your out of the country like night driving the Baja peninsula where you can drive with them on.

 

[medicineman4040]

Just enjoyed 12 days of BLM land in Utah...sadly not in the Promaster, just didn't have enough time for the 30+ hour drive there and back so used the Delta promaster
Opt-overland...you outfit Promasters, do you install Espar/Webasto units? Gas burners specifically? Under the passenger seat?
Just a matter of time before we're looking for an installer that knows what he/she's doing.

While out west we engaged The Wave lotto (lost twice) in Arizona. While waiting the lotto I saw a guy with a Sprinter conversion and struck up a conversation. His Espar installers didn't know what they were doing and his install has been nothing but problematic.

 

[opt overland]

Just enjoyed 12 days of BLM land in Utah...sadly not in the Promaster, just didn't have enough time for the 30+ hour drive there and back so used the Delta promaster
Opt-overland...you outfit Promasters, do you install Espar/Webasto units? Gas burners specifically? Under the passenger seat?
Just a matter of time before we're looking for an installer that knows what he/she's doing.

While out west we engaged The Wave lotto (lost twice) in Arizona. While waiting the lotto I saw a guy with a Sprinter conversion and struck up a conversation. His Espar installers didn't know what they were doing and his install has been nothing but problematic.

Yup, we do that. Although we only install the Espar units, not Webastos. The Espars are tried and true, the Webastos can be problematic.

 

[Winston]

Found ourselves in Fort Collins this afternoon so ventured over to Opt Overland where we were only slightly surprised to find Doug and Dai hard at work on this Sunday afternoon. Opt Overland is a comparatively new entrant into the cargo-van 'upfitting' market and, judging from what we saw, they're going to meet with much success. We were particularly impressed with their proprietary roof pop-up which they demonstrated. Looks sturdy and quality and punches the roof up 30". We had previously researched this option - - one of their competitors offers a much less "poppy" pop-up that left us feeling claustrophobic when we climbed up inside. This one is so roomy that you can sit-up in bed "up there" - - it's like having a second story. Too late for us, but pondering all the new alternative floor plans available when one doesn't have to allot for a bed "down stairs"!

As an aside, maybe James and Sarah (and their daughter), Promaster owners whom we met at Lake Granby Sunset Point campground on Saturday should talk to the Opt Overland folks about a pop-up option. Here's how their camper looks from the rear:

In addition to the gas cooktop and cooler/frig, there are two motorcycles and one 4-track!

"Where do you sleep," we inquired? "In a tent," came the reply.

Anyway, Doug and Dai, thanks for your hospitality and tips (Opt Overland seems to have the art of interior "finishing" under control and we may well call upon them for help in this area in the future).

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Yup, we do that. Although we only install the Espar units, not Webastos. The Espars are tried and true, the Webastos can be problematic.
View attachment 36082

I hope that doesn’t come true, don’t you MsNomer?

 

[opt overland]

I hope that doesn’t come true, don’t you MsNomer?

Don't let that scare you if you already have a Webasto, but here in Colorado at elevation their finicky. If your at sea level or lower elevations most of the time the webasto is great.

 

[nebulight]

Does Espar make a gas unit?

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Yes they do. http://thermokingmichigan.com/products/espar-air-heaters/
When I was looking for a good price on a diesel heater I saw gasoline heater priced and they were more than twice as much as diesel. $1744- See: https://esparparts.com/espar-airtronic-b412v-truck-wdigimax-controller-p-25395.html

 

[vlouish]

Don't let that scare you if you already have a Webasto, but here in Colorado at elevation their finicky. If your at sea level or lower elevations most of the time the webasto is great.

Are you referring to the gas Webasto or the diesel Webasto, and also the air heat version or the liquid version? I had read that Webasto gas air units are fine, but would like to know your real-world experience with them.

If we bring a van to you, how long does it take to install a Webasto or Espar under the passenger seat (gas unit)--how many days do you need it?

 

[opt overland]

Are you referring to the gas Webasto or the diesel Webasto, and also the air heat version or the liquid version? I had read that Webasto gas air units are fine, but would like to know your real-world experience with them.

If we bring a van to you, how long does it take to install a Webasto or Espar under the passenger seat (gas unit)--how many days do you need it?

Both gas and diesel webastos at altitude can be a bit finicky. The less phone/internet troubleshooting we have to do the better, we're a small shop with two of us to keep quality control solid. We try to only use reliable products we can count on that are easy for the end user.

That being said, small jobs like that we prefer when folks drop the vehicle off early in the week. Tuesday at the latest and pick up on fridays. Not that it takes that long but we work them in between our large builds. If someone is coming in from out of town and passing thru often times we can install one within the day if it's early in the week and they arrive @6am with coffee/donuts or good beer/wine or lunch and disappear for a majority of the day.

Dai

 

[opt overland]

A little insulation and window cutting today

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

CUT.......... That being said, small jobs like that we prefer when folks drop the vehicle off early in the week. Tuesday at the latest and pick up on fridays. Not that it takes that long but we work them in between our large builds. If someone is coming in from out of town and passing thru often times we can install one within the day if it's early in the week and they arrive @6am with coffee/donuts or good beer/wine or lunch and disappear for a majority of the day.
Dai

I like these guys attitude!

 

[MsNomer]

I hope that doesn’t come true, don’t you MsNomer?

Not worried. We anticipate that there will be altitude issues, as there would be with Espar without the altitude sensor. I don't think it is a quality issue.

 

[ShaunB]

I like these guys attitude!

That's because they're in the beer capital of CO!