2020 Overland Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show (VAVS)
The Overland Community Displays Altruism With a Car Show Amidst a Pandemic
Being stuck inside is an overlander’s worst nightmare. But this is exactly what happened in the spring of 2020 when states, one by one, required stay-at-home orders to protect the health and safety of their residents due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor shows were canceled, group camping trips were postponed, and toilet paper was on backorder. And then came Super Fun Outdoors with the Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show, or VAVS. Paired with Rigs & Coffee and Tread magazine, Super Fun Outdoors hosted a virtual overlanding event to bring the outdoor community together while supporting a local food bank in the Bay Area of California, one of the hardest-hit communities at the time.
The virtual event, VAVS, hosted online and on social media, highlighted many popular builds, including Jeep Wranglers, Toyota Tacomas, and 4Runners, as well as various unique and rare vehicles. Submissions included Mitsubishi vans, International and Blue Bird buses, and luxury builds such as Porsche Cayennes and Audi Allroads. The event wasn’t just for individual builds, though; companies such as Scosche, Planetary Design, Atturo Tire, Sackwear, and more entered their company builds in the hopes of placing in the Industry Build category.
Entries poured in from all over the world, including builds from Africa and Europe. With each $20 entry donation participants selected their chosen category and then submitted photos and details on their build. Picking a winner for each category was no easy task. Voting for individual builds was open to participants only, but the general public voted on the Industry Build category.
The winners from VAVS walked away with various prizes donated by outdoor industry companies, including a trophy from Mercedes-Benz of Rockland and an outdoor coffee kit from Planetary Design. However, the Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show’s real win was the hundreds of dollars raised for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. While virtual events don’t replace live shows, Super Fun Outdoors brought the community together until a time when we can see these category winners for ourselves in person.
Here are the winners for this year’s VAVS show for the primary categories of Best Truck, Best SUV, Best Midsized, Best Van, Best Bus, and the secondary categories including Best Equipped, Best Homebuilt, and Best Quiver.
Best Midsized
Year: 2015
Make: Audi
Model: Allroad
Instagram Account: @dffrent_allroad
“When I first bought my Allroad in 2015 I wasn’t planning to modify it at all. I only wanted the cargo room coming from an A4 Audi—although I did have an off-roading background with my 4Runners in the past. I joined an Audi club a few years later and I caught the modification bug. Everyone modified their vehicles to go low and I was pressured to do it as well. I wasn’t about that life so I decided to go the static route and lifted my Allroad.” —Gene Pascua
Notable Upgrades:
Suspension: CAtuned Offroad
Gears & Tuning: APR LLC
Wheels: Rotiform
Tires: Toyo Tires
Bumpers: Factory
Sliders & Armor: Three Five Customs
Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters
Control System: Redarc Electronics
Winch: Not listed
Lights: Rigid Industries
Best VAVS Truck
Year: 2017
Make: Toyota
Model: Tundra
Instagram Account: @trd_tundra_oz
“I was invited by my friend to attend Tepui Fest. I ask[ed] him, what is that? He told me it’s a gathering of off-road vehicle[s]. I ask[ed] him, what is that? He told me, you got a Toyota pickup that will do. I told him, OK. Well I’m in for a surprise that my truck looks so bare. That’s the start of my modification.” —Osie Alvarez
Notable Upgrades:
Built by: Stellar Built
Suspension: Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Gears & Tuning: Not listed
Wheels: Method Race Wheels
Tires: Yokohama
Bumpers: C4 Fabrication
Sliders & Armor: Bay Area Metal Fab
Bed Rack: Victory 4×4
Rooftop Tent: Tepui
Awning: Tepui
Control System: 4×4 sPOD
Winch: Smittybilt
Lights: KC Lights
Best Bus
Year: 2004
Make: International
Model: IC RE
Instagram Account: @sincewewokeup
“In 2018 we decided to sell our business, three-story home, and most of our possessions to convert a school bus into a tiny home and travel full time. We found our bus, “Oliver,” in May 2018 and moved in exactly one year later on May 29. Life with Oliver means more time together out making memories, more time with our quickly growing kiddos, financial freedom, and more time doing what fills us with joy.” —Tawny McVay
Notable Upgrades:
Suspension: Factory suspension
Wheels: Factory
Tires: Not listed
Bumpers: Factory International bumpers
Control System: Renogy System
Lights: Factory lighting
Best SUV & Best Equipped
Year: 2016
Make: Toyota
Model: 4Runner
Instagram Account: @trdnugt
“With our love for exploring the outdoors, the ‘TRDNUGT’ was purpose-built for anything and everything needed to tackle the most difficult terrain.” —Nino Querubin
Notable Upgrades:
Built by: Stellar Built
Suspension: Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Gears & Tuning: Not listed
Wheels: Method Race Wheels
Tires: Yokohama
Bumpers: C4 Fabrication
Sliders & Armor: Bay Area Metal Fab
Bed Rack: Victory 4×4
Rooftop Tent: Tepui
Awning: Tepui
Control System: 4×4 sPOD
Winch: Smittybilt
Lights: KC Lights
Best VAVS Van
Year: 2018
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 4×4 3500 Sprinter
Instagram Account: @more.van.ever
“After a testdrive of this Sprinter I was instantly sold, and set my sights on making it as off-road capable as possible. In preparation for its first off-road outing with the kids just one month after purchase, I took it to American Vanwerks for windows and seats to transform the cargo van to a decent passenger van. More mods soon followed. This Sprinter has been so much fun to build and take out on trips. Big shoutout to Weekend
Offroad. These guys hooked me on this lifestyle and I’ve learned so much from them and everyone I’ve met along the way!” —Brian Lau
Notable Upgrades:
Suspension: Agile Offroad, Van Compass, Super Springs
Gears & Tuning: Renntech tune
Wheels: OEM steel rims
Tires: BFGoodrich KO2
Bumpers: CAtuned Offroad
Sliders & Armor: Rugged Design Concepts
Roof Rack: Rugged Design Concepts
Awning: AluCab 270 Shadow awning
Lights: Baja Designs
Best Homebuilt
Year: 1993
Make: Mitsubishi
Model: Delica
Instagram Account: @kooojay
“Straight import from Japan. RHD, turbo diesel, 4WD. Ready to go! Long list of upgrades but my favorite has to be the custom swing-out bumper!” —Rodney Obra
Notable Upgrades:
Wheels: Factory Delica wheels
Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters
Rooftop Tent: Free Spirit Recreation
Awning: CVT
Lights: Xprite USA
Best VAVS Quiver
Year: 2003
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: G 500
Instagram Account: @koibee_g
“I bought this vehicle primarily to set it up for overlanding. I installed most of the upgrades and equipment in my driveway because that’s half the fun of building an overland rig. My tent sleeps four and can also hold some load, which is helpful since the tent took most of the space on my roof rack. I tried to squeeze in as much as I could outside the vehicle so I can have the cargo area for all my camping essentials” —Kirby Gonzales
Notable Upgrades:
Suspension: King Suspension
Wheels: Factory
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler
Bumpers: Mercedes G Wagon
Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters
Rooftop Tent: iKamper
Awning: AluCab
Lights: Stedi lights
No matter which VAVS show winners were your favorites, each build is unique and ready for adventure.
