Every van, truck, or RV that rolls into ABC Upfitters for vehicle upfitting comes with a different story — a family planning a year on the road in Europe, a team manager that doesn’t want downtime, a neighbor who wants to keep the AC running when the power goes out. What they all have in common is a need for a build that actually holds up once real life circumstances happen.
With 84 five-star reviews on Google (and counting), we’ve had the chance to work through a lot of “what if” scenarios with our customers. Here are a few of the stories that best capture what we mean when we say vehicle upfitting services done right.
A Van Built for a European Tour
When Dale Hadley came to us planning an extended trip through Europe with his wife, the goal was simple to state and hard to deliver: never rely on shore power. Over four to five months on the road — through Belgium, down to Denmark, then south through Portugal and Spain, across 33 countries in all — that’s exactly what happened.
To get there, our team didn’t just add a battery. We rebuilt the system from the ground up:
- A full system cleanup to eliminate the small issues that turn into big ones on a long trip
- Doubled battery capacity to handle real-world power draw over months, not days
- An upgraded secondary alternator to keep everything charging efficiently on the move
- A reconfigured rear compartment to fit the second battery properly and prevent corrosion (a detail that’s easy to skip and expensive to regret later)
Dale and his wife often parked in pastures with no hookups at all, so the system had to carry its own weight every night. As Dale put it, having the AC running all night without a second thought was: “great peace of mind that you had a system in place and you didn’t need to worry about it.”
The trip wasn’t without its wrinkles; sourcing the right power converters for different countries’ plugs ahead of time was its own puzzle, but when a question did come up about the AC system, a quick call to ABC was all it took. Dale reached us, and our installer Josh talked him through a reset over the phone on the spot.
Now Dale and his wife are planning their next trip: Alberta and British Columbia down to Glacier National Park and he’s already looking forward to putting his system back to work! His advice to anyone weighing a trip like this: “Play now, or you’ll never know!”
Keeping the Power On When It Mattered Most
Not every success story is about adventure. Some are about showing up when things go wrong. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, one of our customers near Asheville, North Carolina put her upgraded van to a use we never could have predicted when we built it.
With so many in her senior living community left without power from the flooding, she started driving through her neighborhood offering what amounted to a lifeline. People could stop by her van to charge oxygen machines and cell phones, grab a hot cup of coffee, cool off in the air conditioning for a few minutes, and catch up on the news — small comforts that become enormous when everything else has stopped working.
Her van was built with a solar lithium system from ABC Upfitters, but as she put it: “It’s so much more than a camper. Thank you, ABC Upfitters.”
It’s not a story we take lightly, and it’s not one we’re sharing for shock value. It’s simply what happens when a properly built power system meets a community that needs it (and a customer generous enough to put it to work for her neighbors).
Solving a Tricky Problem for a Race Team Manager
Sean manages a race car team, and his ask was specific: the RV’s air conditioner needed to keep running continuously over a full weekend, unattended. No shortcuts, no compromises.
Our solution combined:
- The onboard generator as a backup layer
- A DC-to-DC charger for reliable power transfer
- A full roof of solar panels
- Three batteries and two inverters working together
The result was a top-of-the-line system built for one job: run continuously, no matter what. It’s one of the more complex builds we’ve done, and a good example of what’s possible when a customer needs a specific problem solved rather than an off-the-shelf setup.
Sean drove ten hours to our Elkhart shop and spent four days on-site while we handled the retrofit, adding a Starlink install and higher-efficiency ACs along the way. In his own words:
“Anyone can buy some lithium batteries and solar panels — but I felt confident that the Mastervolt system ABC Upfitters was proposing was well integrated and designed for my load… Mike, the main installer, is truly a craftsman who goes the extra mile to ensure the install is clean… I can run everything in the RV, including both ACs, off battery. I don’t even think about what I run, and most mornings I wake up with 83% battery and it charges back up during the day. I highly recommend ABC Upfitters.”
Customers Who Come Back for Vehicle Upfitting
Some of the best proof of a job done right isn’t a story at all, it’s a repeat customer. Patrick & Wendy McNeil from Real Trailer Life are a perfect example. They first came to us in August 2024 to outfit their brand-new 2025 Brinkley Z 3100 with a full solar package. Less than a year later, ahead of an “Epic Alaska Journey,” they came back to expand it because the system they had wasn’t just working, it had earned their trust for something even bigger.
Here’s how they described it:
“ABC Upfitters is simply the best in the business! We first reached out to ABC Upfitters shortly after ordering our 2025 Brinkley Z 3100—and from that very first email to our ongoing relationship today, we’ve never once regretted our decision.
In August 2024, we dropped off our brand-new Z 3100 so they could install a robust solar package. This included 6 x 200W solar panels, a solar controller, 460Ah lithium battery, 3500W inverter/charger, and a DC-to-DC charger—all Mastervolt components. The install looked like a piece of art. Every wire, every connection—absolutely meticulous.
After using the system for nearly a year, we began planning our Epic Alaska Journey for summer 2025 and knew we needed more off-grid capability. Once again, we turned to ABC Upfitters, and once again, they delivered. They added 3 more 200W panels, a second solar controller, a “Solar On The Side” connection with 2 x 200W portable suitcase panels, and a second 460Ah lithium battery. The result? A fully integrated, synergistic system that has kept us powered confidently across even the most remote parts of our trip.
Everyone on the team deserves praise. Ben and Scott have been fantastic to work with—knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely committed to getting it right. Mike and Josh’s installation is truly a work of art. And Stacey handled all the logistics and paperwork with professional grace.”
If you’re looking for a high-quality, fully integrated solar setup that’s done right the first time—don’t look anywhere else. ABC Upfitters sets the standard. Highly, highly recommended!
That’s the kind of relationship a good build creates: not a one-and-done transaction, but a system customers trust enough to keep expanding as their plans get bigger.
The Common Thread
Whether it’s a five-month trip across Europe, a manager that can’t afford downtime, or a neighbor helping a neighbor through a flood, the stories that stand out share one thing: a system built to match exactly what the customer needed, not a generic package.
That’s what vehicle upfitting done right looks like, and it’s why customers keep coming back to ABC Upfitters, one project at a time.
If you’re curious about what some of our customers have to say, check out our reviews page and learn why we would be a great partner for your next project!
You May Also Like:
- The Solar Powered RV Reality Check
- Wifi for RV Boondockers: Stay Online Anywhere
- Running an Air Conditioner for RV Off-Grid
About ABC Upfitters:
ABC Upfitters provides premium, customer-focused, upfitting services to RV clientele who are looking for the ultimate off-grid experience. The close-knit company originated from the rising demand for aftermarket Li-Ion battery upgrades for recreational vehicles. By using technical components, ABC can meet this need and provide an unmatched level of integration and quality for their customers. Contact one of the ABC team members today to learn about their services!