When Boho Camper Vans appeared on ABC-TV's "Shark Tank' back in 2020, the company was in its infancy, building rental camper vans in a small shop in Tempe.
On the show, Boho Camper Vans struck a deal with entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran for 10% equity in the company in exchange for $150,000 in cash and a $150,000 line of credit.
Since then, the company has experienced tremendous growth as more people look to downsize from larger RVs or rent vans for family vacations.
Boho Camper Vans now has 25 employees, launched an online supply store and is testing a pilot program — dubbed Owner’s Fleet — in San Diego. The company describes the pilot program as the ‘Airbnb for vans’ and is planning to take it nationwide.
“It’s very humbling to see how quickly Boho Camper Vans has grown in a short amount of time,” David Sodemann, co-founder of Boho Camper Vans, told AZ Inno. “But it's very cool because we see so many people who have mentioned that it has changed their lives. We've had engagements and weddings on the road, and we've had first-time experiences to the Grand Canyon that we've been able to facilitate.”
In 2021, they expanded to a 25,000-square-foot production facility in Tempe, where it continues to build, sell and rent customized vans to customers worldwide.
It all started with a van named Stevie
Sodemann and business partner, Brett Ellenson, co-founded Boho Camper Vans in 2018. They believed a camper van rental business had potential for success, but were lacking funds to purchase a van or materials.
The business partners applied for a credit card with the largest limit the bank could offer. They purchased a 2005 Ford E-Series van for $40,000 using the card with plans to convert it into a camper. The plan was to rent the van and make enough money to pay off the purchase off before expiration of the card's 15-month no-interest terms.
Sodemann and Ellenson named the van “Stevie,” upon hearing Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” on the radio after firing up the vehicle's engine to drive it off the lot. Then the rental bookings began to roll in.
By the time the conversion on Stevie was completed and it was ready for its first rental trip, Boho Camper Vans recouped half of its startup expenses with pre-booking rentals. Four months later, Sodemann and Ellenson were out of debt and generated enough income to buy another rental van to convert it into a camper.
“This was all very serendipitous as the goal from the beginning was to pay off a camper van we wanted to use for ourselves and perhaps maybe make a little extra beer money along the way,” Sodemann said. “It has been a surprise, but we aren't as surprised as we were in the beginning because we've really realized the trajectory we've been on, the interest we've garnered, and have really formulated this into a large-scale manufacturing operation.”
The co-founders have since built, rent and sold hundreds of camper vans to customers, ranging from remote workers, retirees, families and young couples looking for a unique travel experience.
“It's people from all over the country. A lot of times, it's people renting for the first time and they've never been to Arizona, so it’s cool to facilitate the experience of seeing Sedona or the Grand Canyon for the first time," Sodemann said. "That’s predominately why we launched a new rental model that allows up to four travelers because we’re starting to see an increase in families.”
Boho Camper conversions start at $40K
Boho Camper Vans uses natural materials — including hardwood frames, red cedar paneling and hemp wool insulation — in its conversions. The vans, which are essentially a tiny home on wheels, come with a bed, sink, shower, grill and cooler. Customers can add on even more features based on their needs.
Rentals usually range from $199 to $250 a night, while conversions typically start around $40,000 but can vary, depending on the type of features selected and whether a customer is purchasing a van or requesting a build-out of their existing van.
Boho Camper Vans is partnering with Chapman Dodge in Scottsdale to offer an option for customers to purchase Dodge RAM ProMasters for conversion, according to the company's website.
Boho Camper Vans recently launched its Boho Supply online retail store, which has a variety of electrical system components, roof racks, appliances and camping accessories.
In the near future, the company is looking to scale its Owner’s Fleet program nationwide by providing a platform for camper van owners to rent out their vehicles.
“We provide marketing support, exposure and drive bookings. The owner is responsible for meeting renters, handing off the keys and making sure the vans are cleaned, flipped and ready to go,” Sodemann said. “It’s just using our brand and influence to help buyers make extra money off of their van when they aren’t using it.”
