Spring 2022
OVERVIEW Peace Vans is a family of five businesses centered around connection, community and the inspiration provided by the great outdoors. Founded in 2013 as a repair shop for vintage VW Vanagons, Peace Vans has evolved into the largest VW camper van shop in North America. In 2016, Peace Vans introduced its unique Rental Program, offering consumers a fleet of well-equipped vintage Vanagons and modern Mercedes Metris vans for amazing experiences and road trips around the scenic Pacific Northwest. As Peace Vans was utilizing the Mercedes Metris platform to fabricate a compelling, compliant, small footprint camper van modeled off of the well-loved Vanagon, they became Mercedes’ official partner for the Metris camper in 2020. Building upon this momentum, Peace Vans introduced a Membership Program in 2021 which offers a variety of benefits such as discounted Experiences, access to the entire rental fleet with no minimum rental requirements, and early pick-up & late drop-off options. As Peace Vans looks toward the future and how they can continue to push the envelope within the van life industry, for 2022 Peace Vans is offering an Experiences program that offers the opportunity to explore hidden gems of the PNW. In addition, a Bring Your Own Van Program that allows metris owners to have their own van outfitted and converted to be road-trip-ready by the Peace Vans team. Whether through the Rental Program, Mercedes Metris Conversions, Experiences and Membership options, VW Renovations or Electric Conversions, Peace Vans is in the business of putting epic smiles on people’s faces and helping adventurers create amazing memories.
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HISTORY
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HISTORY The concept of Peace Vans started with a buried dream of founder, Harley Sitner, that was brought to life when Sitner bought his own vintage VW van in the 80s. A long-time admirer of the Volkswagon Vanagon from sightings at Grateful Dead concerts, cruising around Baja and VW bus resurgences, he knew his van was something he was willing to invest time, energy and money towards – as were many of his friends who were also van owners. Unbeknownst to him at the time, there was a need in the market for repair shops that specialized in VW vans. After trial and tribulation of trying to find a repair shop when his own van broke down, Sitner came across the Peace Vans repair shop and transformed it into the success it is today. What started as a personal side project and way for him to get someone to work on his van has now grown into a staple van repair shop for van owners across the US and, ultimately, a movement - a community of passionate individuals centralized around making memories, creating experiences and living life to the fullest.
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RENTALS
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RENTALS From vintage to modern, Peace Vans’ Rental Program allows adventure-seekers to wander with no destination in mind for an average of ~$300/night. Individuals can also take advantage of Peace Vans’ curated itineraries to experience the most localized journeys around the PNW. Whether you prefer the vintage Vanagon or the modern Mercedes Metris, Peace Vans delivers a truly unique and personalized experience for your road trip adventure. Both models comfortably sleep four people with the top popped and seat converted bed; come with a built-in stove, fridge, sink and storage; and include additional “bells and whistles” such as custom Spotify playlists, a 24/7 staffed help line, trip planning support, highquality camping items and local Seattle coffee ground to perfection. Whether wanting to get away on a solo mission or traveling with your partner, family or friends, exploring the magic of the Pacific Northwest with a Peace Vans Vanagon or Metris Camper is the most memorable way to go.
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VANAGON The VW Vanagon has long been considered the interstate icon for its functionality and durability. Embodying the full “vintage” experience (each camper undergoes ~$25,000 in restoration before it enters the fleet to ensure safety while on the open road), the Vanagons do not have AC but “windows down” works great in the PNW. This style tends to get a lot more looks, is extremely fun to drive, and is generally more evocative of the classic VW experience. 12
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METRIS The Mercedes Metris is the perfect choice when you want a pop-up camper experience with all the modern amenities. You may not get as many hand waves or peace signs on the road, but it’s an amazing option when you need to cover a lot of miles in a day, prefer the cool breeze of AC or find yourself more comfortable navigating open roads in a sleek, modern vehicle.
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TESTIMONIALS
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If you are looking for a top shelf experience, Peace Vans delivers. The vans have everything you need and more. Renting from them was a pleasure from start to finish. Their website alone will tell you how much they care about their customers, tons of info about the vans and camping options. Thank you, Peace Vans!”
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This trip and experience with Peace Vans was incredible. It was everything I wanted and more. The people and servicing was excellent and helped us right away when we had trouble. The best part is the staff let us create our own journey and were so laid back. They made you feel like everything was yours. Anyone who is looking to explore the PNW, this is the place to do it.”
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PeaceVans provided an unforgettable adventure with unparalleled accommodations... we will be using them for every future adventure in the Pacific Northwest! Thank you all so much!”
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In renting the camper van, we were able to see and experience so much more of Washington state than we would have otherwise. Also, the camper van becomes part of the experience rather than a means to an end, and a memory our family will keep with us.”
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We were so impressed with the whole experience. The van drove like a dream and had everything we needed for an amazing road trip. The crew at Peace Vans was so friendly and informative every step of the process. I will definitely be renting from Peace Vans again!”
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We had such an incredible experience with Peace Van Rentals. Every engagement from the time of reservation through van return was outstanding. Receiving a special mailing prior to the trip was even more of a delight. We will highly recommend Peace Vans to others as both a service and augmenting experience to explore the beautiful environment surrounding Seattle. We hope to return soon as we plan to travel farther south to Oregon.”
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EXCLUSIVE PEACE VANS CAMPSITES One of the best perks of renting and Memberships with Peace Vans is having special discounted access to exclusive campsites. Born from the desire to offer a more serene camping experience for their renters, Peace Vans Campsites include five unique private campgrounds around Washington state, each offering a variety of activities to experience the magic of that particular area. Available at an additional $25/night, these exclusive camping opportunities allow Peace Vans’ renters and members to get away from the large, organized campgrounds.
CAMPSITE LOCATIONS Joyce Olympic Peninsula Kalaloch (Queets) Olympic Coast Camp Forever Young (Quilcene) Hood Canal Mazama Eastern Washington Skagit Valley *Coming Soon
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EXPERIENCES AND MEMBERSHIP
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EXPERIENCES No longer content with keeping hidden gems to themselves, Peace Vans Experiences offer unique opportunities to explore the most amazing corners of the PNW in new and exciting ways. From Skagit Valley Birdwatching to Kayaking Hood Canal and Foraging around the Cascades, Peace Vans is thrilled to share 10 years of PNW-centric findings for ~$200/trip (not including the van rental and meals, but one is able to bring their own van as an option).
MEMBERSHIPS Introduced in 2021, Peace Vans Memberships are a great way for adventureseekers to gain access to Peace Vans’ entire rental fleet with a plethora of amazing benefits such as no minimum night requirements, access to exciting Peace Vans Experiences at a 25% discount, early pick-up and late drops-offs, access to last minute rental inventory (rent with as little as 48-hours notice), exclusive blogs available through their Membership Portal and more. Membership Cost: $1,000/year not including van rental price + tax and insurance, but members can utilize an existing auto insurance carrier.
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METRIS BUILDOUTS
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MERCEDES PARTNERSHIP For nearly three years, Peace Vans has worked with teams at Mercedes-Benz to bring a modern camper van to market in a scaled fashion. In partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Driverge Innovation Solutions, these three companies built the Mercedes-Benz Getaway Van in 2017, delivering what the US had longed for - a modern pop-up camper van with a smaller footprint. Officially established in February 2020 as the only Metris builder to be affiliated with Mercedes-Benz in this capacity, customers can now order a custom version of the Metris Getaway Van at select Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the US. These vans are nearly identical to Peace Vans’ existing Weekender version with the primary exception being that the pop top is wrapped in one of over 100 color options.
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METRIS CONVERSION PROGRAM Built on the Mercedes Metris platform, Peace Vans created a Metris Conversions business to meet the needs of all travelers. If you’re looking for a roomy camper but still want something that can fit in a standard parking space, a Peace Vans conversion is the perfect choice. Leveraging the finest materials and top-notch craftsmanship, the journey and the final destination are kept in mind when producing these first-class camper vans.
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BRING YOUR OWN VAN PROGRAM For 2022, Peace Vans is offering a unique opportunity for Metris owners to bring in their own van to have outfitted and road trip ready with a Peace Vans conversion. Due to a limited number of 2022 Metris chassis available, paired with continued international supply chain shortages, Peace Vans established this Bring Your Own Van (BYOV) program to ensure as many folks as possible are able to experience the joy, wonder and discovery of a camper van road trip.
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FULL CAMPER A bit like a Swiss army knife, the full camper conversion packs a lot into a small space. It not only seats five and sleeps four, but it also fits in a standard garage. With two beds, swivel seats, a custom-made interior cabinet, 42L refrigerator, room for two portable stoves, an integrated sink and a 6-gallon fresh water tank, this van is primed for outdoor/on-the-go living at its best. Whether adventuring for the weekend, embarking on a month-long trip or just running around town, the Full Camper is a stellar option. 31
WEEKENDER The Peace Vans Weekender conversion is compact, yet comfortable and converts to a dreamy camper with enough room to seat five and sleep four. It’s the perfect solution for folks needing more cargo space or a slightly wider rear bench seat and lower bed. With swivel seats, two beds and a rear bench seat that slides on tracks for different storage configurations, the Weekender is the perfect “get around then get-out-of-town vehicle.” 32
JUST POP TOP Ideal if you need a 7-seat passenger van for driving, or if you plan to roll your own interior conversion but still want a modern pop top to accommodate sleeping for two, Peace Vans will take your stock Metris passenger van and add a pop top on it – all while retaining the original interior.
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ELECTRIC CONVERSIONS Peace Vans Electric originally began from an Art Car creation for the Burning Man Festival, and has now turned into a much soughtafter project for many Volkswagen owners. Turning your aircooled VW into electric includes numerous benefits, including less periodic maintenance, flexibility and efficiency. Each of Peace Vans’ electric conversion projects are unique and tailored to your needs and desires.
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Media Contact: Tiana Noble, WH inc. tianan@WH1969.com