When a customer came to us looking to build their dream ski van, they started with the perfect foundation: our Geotrek Flatiron. But they didn’t stop there. With a few strategic upgrades, they transformed an already capable adventure van into the ultimate mountain machine.
Let’s walk through what makes this build special and how you can build your ultimate ski rig
The Foundation: What the Flatiron Already Brings
Before we dive into the upgrades, it’s worth highlighting what makes the Flatiron such a strong starting point for mountain adventures.
Climate Control for All Seasons
Every Flatiron comes standard with both an Espar diesel heater and a rear AC unit. That diesel heater is absolutely crucial for those cold mountain nights, while the AC keeps you comfortable during warmer months or when you’re chasing snow into late spring.
Heated Outdoor Shower
One of our favorite standard features is the hot water heater with outdoor shower setup. After a long day on the slopes, there’s nothing better than rinsing off right at your van. We include the suction cup window mount and Van Essentials shower curtains to create a private outdoor shower space between the rear doors.
Serious Gear Storage
The garage space in the Flatiron is genuinely impressive. We’ve seen customers easily fit three bikes back there, and the same goes for skis, snowboards, and all your other mountain gear. Whether you’re bringing multiple quivers or packing for a group trip, you’ve got the space.
Geotrek Running Boards
All our Flatirons come with our Geotrek running boards, which are especially important on these all-wheel-drive Sprinters. With the factory lift, that first step up is substantial. But these running boards also become essential when you start adding roof-mounted gear (more on that in a minute).
BF Goodrich KO3 Tires
Every Flatiron rolls out with BF Goodrich KO3 tires, which provide excellent traction for mountain driving and winter conditions. They’re built into the base package because we know where our customers are headed.
Custom Mercedes Chassis
The van is built on a custom-ordered Mercedes chassis with LED headlights, LED taillights, and factory Mercedes swivel seats with the comfort package. Those swivel seats become your après ski lounge when you’re too tired to go anywhere but too wired to sleep.
The Upgrades: Taking It to the Next Level
The customer made some strategic choices to dial in the van specifically for ski trips.
1. The Geotrek Ski Box (New!)
This is one of our newest offerings, and we’re really excited about it. The Geotrek ski box mounts to your rear carrier and can fit up to three sets of skis or two snowboards, with room left over for boots and accessories.
The design is clever: you feed the skis up through the bottom, they live on the left side, and your boots fit on the right. This frees up your interior garage space for other gear while keeping your skis secure and accessible. These boxes can be added to any Sprinter van with a rear mounting bracket.
Right now we’re using the Alvan Sherpa carrier, but we’re also developing our own Geotrek racks that should be available in the next couple of months.
2. Van Compass 4.3 Suspension Kit
Mountain roads can be brutal. Washboard dirt roads, rutted access roads, winter driving conditions—they all take their toll.
This customer added the Van Compass 4.3 suspension kit, which delivers a significantly smoother ride on rough terrain. It also improves handling in windy conditions, which anyone who’s driven I-70 to the Colorado ski resorts will appreciate.
If you’re planning to spend serious time on forest service roads or accessing trailheads, this upgrade is worth considering.
3. Fiamma 45s Awning
The 10-foot Fiamma 45s awning might seem like a warm-weather addition, but it’s incredibly useful for ski trips too. It creates instant basecamp space for gearing up, provides shelter while you’re cooking outside, and becomes the perfect hangout spot after a day on the slopes.
This is a manual awning that extends about 10 feet from the side of the van—plenty of coverage for chairs, a table, and your crew.
The Result: A Van That Goes Wherever the Snow Is
What we love about this build is how purposeful it is. This customer knew exactly how they wanted to use their van, and they chose upgrades that directly support that lifestyle.
The ski box keeps gear organized and accessible. The suspension makes getting to remote trailheads more comfortable. The awning creates outdoor living space in any conditions.
But it all starts with the Flatiron’s foundation: a layout designed for serious adventurers, with the climate control, shower, and storage space you actually need when you’re spending weeks on the road chasing powder.
Ready to Build Your Ski Van?
Whether you’re planning full-time van life in the mountains or just want a comfortable basecamp for weekend trips, the Flatiron offers the perfect starting point. And with options like the ski box, upgraded suspension, and awning, you can customize it to match exactly how you adventure.
Want to see this build in action? Watch the full walkthrough video here to see every detail of this customer’s ski-ready Flatiron.
Thinking about your own ski van setup? Let’s talk builds, upgrades, and how to make your van as ready for the mountains as you are.
