Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt North.
Hi Matt, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Titan Vans started well before the business was officially formed. Matt North, owner and founder, grew up in Oregon and spent many years living out of tents, truck campers, and eventually a van after moving to Colorado in 2012. Matt completed his engineering degree in applied physics from the Colorado School of Mines and shortly after launched Titan Vans in 2017. Titan began in a 1000 sqft shop with a simple belief: adventure should be accessible, reliable, and beautifully crafted. At Titan we implemented all of the core principles from engineering to utilize CAD modeling, CNC machinery, and process driven operations. As demand grew, Titan Vans officially launched with a mission to create purpose-built adventure vehicles that balance engineering precision with real-world usability. From the beginning, we focused on systems-first design, modularity, and high-quality craftsmanship—values that still guide every build today.
Over the years, Titan Vans has expanded far beyond custom builds. We added a dedicated Service Department, a Production team capable of handling large-scale manufacturing, and an in-house engineering group responsible for developing proprietary systems like our EX3 electrical system. The company evolved into multiple entities—Titan Vans, Titan Service, RV Dealership, and the Timber Van Kits brand—each supporting a different piece of the customer journey, from full custom vans to DIY kits and nationwide shipments.
Today, Titan Vans is recognized as one of the leading adventure-vehicle manufacturers in the United States. We’ve produced hundreds of vans and shipped thousands products across the country, developed a national Approved Builder Program for Timber Van Kits, and partnered with major brands—including ongoing collaboration with Volkswagen on the new all electric ID.Buzz camper van concept.
We now operate from an expanded facility in Boulder Colorado, where our team of builders, designers, technicians, and engineers continue to refine what a modern adventure van can be. With a focus on reliability, innovation, and beautiful design, Titan Vans remains committed to building the most capable, thoughtfully engineered, real-world adventure platforms on the market.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any company built from the ground up, Titan Vans has grown through challenges that pushed us to adapt, learn, and get better. Our journey hasn’t been linear—it’s been shaped by obstacles that forced us to rethink how we work, improve our systems, and strengthen our team.
One of the biggest hurdles in our early years was simply learning how to scale. As customer demand increased, we had to transition from a small, hands-on shop to a structured organization with defined systems, documentation, and quality controls. This meant mastering new processes, adopting advanced tooling, and continuously training our team to ensure that every build met the standards Titan Vans is known for. Growing the team also came with new responsibilities: developing managers, building a strong culture, and learning how to communicate effectively across departments as the company expanded.
At the same time, no off-the-shelf software existed that truly supported the way we build vans—so we built our own. Developing our internal MRP system required thousands of hours of engineering, testing, and iteration. From recursive BOM logic to tracking labor and materials across multiple entities, we faced the challenge of creating a platform robust enough to handle custom builds, production runs, and e-commerce shipments. It wasn’t easy, but it has become one of our greatest strengths.
Externally, the landscape around us was shifting just as fast. Titan Vans navigated the turbulence of COVID—supply chain shortages, delayed chassis, skyrocketing freight prices, and unpredictable lead times. These pressures forced us to develop flexible sourcing strategies and resilient operations. At the same time, tariffs on imported materials and components introduced new pricing uncertainty, requiring constant forecasting, re-quoting, and communication with customers.
We also expanded into new markets—DIY kits, service department (which includes oil changes and alignments for vans), international shipping, and new RV models—each bringing its own learning curve. Entering a new market meant understanding different customer needs, building new processes from scratch, and ensuring that our quality and brand experience remained consistent no matter where a product ended up.
Through all of this, the challenges didn’t just shape Titan Vans—they strengthened us. Every hurdle taught us something new, pushed us to innovate, and refined the way we operate today. And while obstacles will always be part of the journey, our ability to adapt is what keeps us growing, improving, and building better vans, products, and services year after year.
As you know, we’re big fans of Titan Vans. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Titan Vans isn’t just a camper-van company—we’re an engineering-driven manufacturer focused on building the most reliable, thoughtfully designed adventure vehicles on the market. While many people know us for the quality and durability of our vans, the real magic happens behind the scenes. What truly sets us apart is the internal infrastructure we’ve built to support consistent, repeatable excellence.
We’ve invested heavily in developing our own manufacturing workflows, process controls, and internal software. Over the past several years, we engineered a custom MRP system inside Airtable that tracks every component, sub-assembly, labor hour, and quality checkpoint across our entire manufacturing process. This level of visibility ensures accurate inventory management, traceability, and build consistency—whether we’re producing a full custom van or shipping a DIY kit for our Timber Van Kits line. Our team runs on detailed SOPs, structured onboarding programs, and well-defined departmental systems that help us maintain quality as we continue to grow.
On the product side, we specialize in high-performance, modular designs built for real-world use. We’re known for our engineering-first approach: clean electrical systems, robust construction methods, and cabinetry and components designed for strength, serviceability, and long-term durability. Every design decision is intentional—focused on reliability, simplicity, and making sure customers can enjoy their travels without worrying about their systems.
What we’re most proud of, brand-wise, is our commitment to building vans that genuinely last. We don’t chase trends; we build solutions. Our EX3 electrical systems, our modular builds, our affordable Timber kits, and our overall design philosophy reflect our belief that adventure vehicles should be functional, safe, and easy to live with.
For readers discovering us for the first time: Titan Vans offers a full spectrum of products and services—from customizable built-to-order adventure vans, RV repair and maintenance, to DIY kits shipped internationally. But behind every offering is the same foundation: meticulous engineering, a disciplined internal organization, and a relentless focus on quality.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that building a successful business is far less about doing everything yourself and far more about learning how to build a strong team and the systems that support it. As the business grows, individual effort eventually becomes a bottleneck. Real progress comes from understanding different personalities, strengths, and communication styles, and creating an environment where people can do their best work together. Just as important is putting clear structure and systems in place—processes, accountability, and tools that remove ambiguity and allow the team to scale without chaos. Learning to lead people thoughtfully while building repeatable systems has been the single biggest factor in turning growth from something stressful into something sustainable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.titanvans.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titanvans/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/titanvans/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/titan-vans/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/titanvans
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/titan-vans-boulder
