Built for
show dogs.
Custom Sprinter dog transport vans for handlers who travel to dog shows all over the country. Three layers of insulation, 15,000 BTU roof air, and power that keeps it running at the show grounds or off grid. Over a dozen built and on the road.
Dog handler vans
Every handler van starts with one job: keep the dogs cool and safe on long hauls in summer heat. Then we lay out crates, seating and gear around how you work a show.
Factory steel. Bare, it soaks up sun and passes that heat straight into the van.
Sprayed directly onto the bare metal to cut the heat coming through the steel.
Packed into the wall and ceiling cavities. Wool insulates well and handles the moisture a van full of dogs puts out.
The finished interior wall, with its own insulated core for one more thermal layer.
Dometic FreshJet 2 roof air conditioners at 15,000 BTU each, plus MaxxAir fans to move fresh air through the van.
Plug into shore power at the show grounds. Off grid, run an underbody diesel generator or a battery bank. We set it up for how and where you park.
L-track tie-downs so crates and gear lock down where you want them, and move when your lineup changes. Seating for the people, too.
Bright LED ceiling lights for loading before sunrise, exterior lights around the van, and powered steps that drop when the door opens.
Over a dozen on the roadEach handler van is laid out around the handler's dogs, crates and show schedule. Tell us what you haul and we'll put a layout and quote together.
Start your buildAlso in the shop
We still do electrical, heaters, suspension and racks for camper vans and DIY builds. A lot of small jobs are done the same day.
Our core work. New systems designed from scratch, or troubleshooting and upgrades on what you already have.
Diesel air and hydronic heaters installed, plumbed and wired to the house battery. Cooling for summer trips.
Full Agile suspension installs: lift kits, ride upgrades, and spring packages for heavier builds.
Racks, ladders, bumpers and carriers, up to complete custom interiors with galleys, beds and showers.
Past builds
Come see Eddie in person. Most of the gear we sell is installed on him, so you can try it before you buy.
Demo van
Our own van and rolling showroom. Customers can see, touch and test the components before choosing them for their build.
Customer build
A clean, simple 144″ layout built around a LostHiWay Customs platform bed.
The owners
RAD Vans is a husband-and-wife shop in Auburn. Ryan is a master mechanic with over 20 years in the trade, most of it chasing down and building automotive electrical. Darci handles design and has a real passion for van life.
These days most of our shop time goes into dog handler vans, with over a dozen built for handlers who drive to shows all over the country.
We take our own Sprinter out with the kids as often as we can, so everything we install has been lived with, not just bench-tested.
Questions
What handlers ask us most before starting a build.
We build on Sprinter vans. Tell us the length and roof height you have, or are shopping for, and we'll lay out crates and seating to fit.
Three layers of insulation: Lizard Skin ceramic sprayed on the bare steel, Havelock Wool in the wall and ceiling cavities, and Duratherm insulated wall panels. Cooling comes from Dometic FreshJet 2 roof air conditioners at 15,000 BTU each, with MaxxAir fans for fresh air.
Yes. At the show grounds you plug into shore power. Off grid, we can install a diesel generator underneath the van or a battery bank.
With L-track tie-downs. Crates and gear strap down solid for the drive, and the layout can change when your lineup does.
Yes. We've built over a dozen dog handler vans for handlers who drive to dog shows all over the country.
2135 Grass Valley Hwy in Auburn, California. We're open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call (530) 537-7846 or email radvansauburn@gmail.com.
Contact
Tell us your van, how many dogs you haul and how you travel to shows. We'll put together a layout and quote, or get your camper van work on the schedule.
| Monday – Friday | 9am – 5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |