Up next Gear Review: Primus Tupike Portable Stove Published on May 19, 2021 Author JACOB FEUERMAN Photo Credit Osie Alvarez, Kirby Gonzales, Brian Lau, Tawny Mcvay, Rodney Obra, Gene Pascua, & Nino Querubin Tags Audi Allroad, converted school bus, Jacob Feuerman, Mercedes G500, Mitsubishi Delica, Sprinter van, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Tundra, VAVS, Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 2020 Overland Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show (VAVS) The Overland Community Displays Altruism With a Car Show Amidst a Pandemic Being stuck inside is an overlander’s worst nightmare. But this is exactly what happened in the spring of 2020 when states, one by one, required stay-at-home orders to protect the health and safety of their residents due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor shows were canceled, group camping trips were postponed, and toilet paper was on backorder. And then came Super Fun Outdoors with the Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show, or VAVS. Paired with Rigs & Coffee and Tread magazine, Super Fun Outdoors hosted a virtual overlanding event to bring the outdoor community together while supporting a local food bank in the Bay Area of California, one of the hardest-hit communities at the time. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter The virtual event, VAVS, hosted online and on social media, highlighted many popular builds, including Jeep Wranglers, Toyota Tacomas, and 4Runners, as well as various unique and rare vehicles. Submissions included Mitsubishi vans, International and Blue Bird buses, and luxury builds such as Porsche Cayennes and Audi Allroads. The event wasn’t just for individual builds, though; companies such as Scosche, Planetary Design, Atturo Tire, Sackwear, and more entered their company builds in the hopes of placing in the Industry Build category. Entries poured in from all over the world, including builds from Africa and Europe. With each $20 entry donation participants selected their chosen category and then submitted photos and details on their build. Picking a winner for each category was no easy task. Voting for individual builds was open to participants only, but the general public voted on the Industry Build category. The winners from VAVS walked away with various prizes donated by outdoor industry companies, including a trophy from Mercedes-Benz of Rockland and an outdoor coffee kit from Planetary Design. However, the Virtual Adventure Vehicle Show’s real win was the hundreds of dollars raised for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. While virtual events don’t replace live shows, Super Fun Outdoors brought the community together until a time when we can see these category winners for ourselves in person. Here are the winners for this year’s VAVS show for the primary categories of Best Truck, Best SUV, Best Midsized, Best Van, Best Bus, and the secondary categories including Best Equipped, Best Homebuilt, and Best Quiver. Best Midsized Year: 2015 Make: Audi Model: Allroad Instagram Account: @dffrent_allroad “When I first bought my Allroad in 2015 I wasn’t planning to modify it at all. I only wanted the cargo room coming from an A4 Audi—although I did have an off-roading background with my 4Runners in the past. I joined an Audi club a few years later and I caught the modification bug. Everyone modified their vehicles to go low and I was pressured to do it as well. I wasn’t about that life so I decided to go the static route and lifted my Allroad.” —Gene Pascua Notable Upgrades: Suspension: CAtuned Offroad Gears & Tuning: APR LLC Wheels: Rotiform Tires: Toyo Tires Bumpers: Factory Sliders & Armor: Three Five Customs Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters Control System: Redarc Electronics Winch: Not listed Lights: Rigid Industries Best VAVS Truck Year: 2017 Make: Toyota Model: Tundra Instagram Account: @trd_tundra_oz “I was invited by my friend to attend Tepui Fest. I ask[ed] him, what is that? He told me it’s a gathering of off-road vehicle[s]. I ask[ed] him, what is that? He told me, you got a Toyota pickup that will do. I told him, OK. Well I’m in for a surprise that my truck looks so bare. That’s the start of my modification.” —Osie Alvarez Notable Upgrades: Built by: Stellar Built Suspension: Icon Vehicle Dynamics Gears & Tuning: Not listed Wheels: Method Race Wheels Tires: Yokohama Bumpers: C4 Fabrication Sliders & Armor: Bay Area Metal Fab Bed Rack: Victory 4×4 Rooftop Tent: Tepui Awning: Tepui Control System: 4×4 sPOD Winch: Smittybilt Lights: KC Lights Best Bus Year: 2004 Make: International Model: IC RE Instagram Account: @sincewewokeup “In 2018 we decided to sell our business, three-story home, and most of our possessions to convert a school bus into a tiny home and travel full time. We found our bus, “Oliver,” in May 2018 and moved in exactly one year later on May 29. Life with Oliver means more time together out making memories, more time with our quickly growing kiddos, financial freedom, and more time doing what fills us with joy.” —Tawny McVay Notable Upgrades: Suspension: Factory suspension Wheels: Factory Tires: Not listed Bumpers: Factory International bumpers Control System: Renogy System Lights: Factory lighting Best SUV & Best Equipped Year: 2016 Make: Toyota Model: 4Runner Instagram Account: @trdnugt “With our love for exploring the outdoors, the ‘TRDNUGT’ was purpose-built for anything and everything needed to tackle the most difficult terrain.” —Nino Querubin Notable Upgrades: Built by: Stellar Built Suspension: Icon Vehicle Dynamics Gears & Tuning: Not listed Wheels: Method Race Wheels Tires: Yokohama Bumpers: C4 Fabrication Sliders & Armor: Bay Area Metal Fab Bed Rack: Victory 4×4 Rooftop Tent: Tepui Awning: Tepui Control System: 4×4 sPOD Winch: Smittybilt Lights: KC Lights Best VAVS Van Year: 2018 Make: Mercedes-Benz Model: 4×4 3500 Sprinter Instagram Account: @more.van.ever “After a testdrive of this Sprinter I was instantly sold, and set my sights on making it as off-road capable as possible. In preparation for its first off-road outing with the kids just one month after purchase, I took it to American Vanwerks for windows and seats to transform the cargo van to a decent passenger van. More mods soon followed. This Sprinter has been so much fun to build and take out on trips. Big shoutout to Weekend Offroad. These guys hooked me on this lifestyle and I’ve learned so much from them and everyone I’ve met along the way!” —Brian Lau Notable Upgrades: Suspension: Agile Offroad, Van Compass, Super Springs Gears & Tuning: Renntech tune Wheels: OEM steel rims Tires: BFGoodrich KO2 Bumpers: CAtuned Offroad Sliders & Armor: Rugged Design Concepts Roof Rack: Rugged Design Concepts Awning: AluCab 270 Shadow awning Lights: Baja Designs Best Homebuilt Year: 1993 Make: Mitsubishi Model: Delica Instagram Account: @kooojay “Straight import from Japan. RHD, turbo diesel, 4WD. Ready to go! Long list of upgrades but my favorite has to be the custom swing-out bumper!” —Rodney Obra Notable Upgrades: Wheels: Factory Delica wheels Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters Rooftop Tent: Free Spirit Recreation Awning: CVT Lights: Xprite USA Best VAVS Quiver Year: 2003 Make: Mercedes-Benz Model: G 500 Instagram Account: @koibee_g “I bought this vehicle primarily to set it up for overlanding. I installed most of the upgrades and equipment in my driveway because that’s half the fun of building an overland rig. My tent sleeps four and can also hold some load, which is helpful since the tent took most of the space on my roof rack. I tried to squeeze in as much as I could outside the vehicle so I can have the cargo area for all my camping essentials” —Kirby Gonzales Notable Upgrades: Suspension: King Suspension Wheels: Factory Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Bumpers: Mercedes G Wagon Roof Rack: Front Runner Outfitters Rooftop Tent: iKamper Awning: AluCab Lights: Stedi lights No matter which VAVS show winners were your favorites, each build is unique and ready for adventure.