Merchantville resident and entrepreneur Patrick Coar, 27, has turned his passion for living simply and his talent for design into a career converting all sorts of vans, and even a bus, into tiny homes on wheels. He has created a booming business doing what he loves and believes in. Best of all, he makes it a routine to spend time
living on the road between every conversion. Consequently, in just seven years, he has visited 48 states and explored the entire length of the Baja peninsula, logging at least 125,000 miles visiting some of the most beautiful places in the country. But what he values most about these experiences are the people he meets along the way: he finds they broaden his perspective and teach him that “we are all the same - just humans trying to make it through life based on different circumstances.”
Patrick’s journey into “van life” began when he moved back to Merchantville after attending college and playing rugby in Texas. Inspired by his dream of creating a home- on-wheels and traveling, he immediately started working two jobs and doing handyman work on the side to finance his new business. In his “spare” time, he began working on his first build, converting an old Dodge Caravan minivan into a home using scrap materials he found through friends and family and on Facebook marketplace. When the conversion was complete, he took his finished project for his first “van life” trip down the east coast, visiting 18 waterfalls along the way. Excited to do another conversion upon his return, he drained his bank account and purchased his first Mercedes T1N Sprinter van.
The Mercedes van was empty and sterile - ready to be transformed. Over the course of the next year, Patrick rebuilt this van several times, constantly improving and learning, through trial and error and YouTube videos. He took the finished product on what has become a routine for every build; what Patrick calls a “shakedown” trip. These trips allow him to work out any kinks in his design and, of course, enjoy the fruits of his labors. Patrick has proceeded to build and sell five TN1 Sprinter vans, one school bus that comfortably sleeps seven, as well as other smaller vans, including Mercedes E150s and Ford Transit Connects. He has multiple conversions scheduled for 2024 and receives at least three requests from potential buyers per month.
Every time he finishes a van conversion, he thinks, “I can do it better, make the next one trendier and work better for life on the road.” This ethos, along with his innate talent and lots of hard work, has resulted in vans that are works of art and engineering. They include artisan details in the woodwork, state of the art space-saving components, solar panels for off-the-grid power, storage space for bikes, snowboard/ ski equipment, a kitchen with running water, stove, and refrigerator, and benches, cubbies, and a sleeping area.
Patrick is participating in an industry that has grown exponentially since he started in 2017. His talents have been recognized by the producers of the reality TV show, Gutted, being recruited to appear in a five-episode series filmed in Colorado. He found this to be a great opportunity to challenge himself as well as to share with and learn from some of the best builders in the country.
Patrick’s dream continues to evolve. Taking on van life as a business and lifestyle choice has taught him the value of living simply in community with others. Because he has found out so much about himself through the quiet time on the road and in nature, he aspires to make the same experience affordable to as many people as possible. He has started a new project which he calls “Care-A-Van.” It offers a full build on a budget. Making money is secondary for Patrick. As long as he earns enough to maintain his own sustainable lifestyle, he’s satisfied.
You can see Patrick’s amazing conversions and follow his travels on Instagram @PatchProduxtions “Capturing good times on camera, creating with purpose, telling good stories, treading lightly.”