ABOUT

RUFUS RETROISTICS is a small vehicle startup in Arizona building one thing: a simple, tough, fixable camper van.

Why the Outpost exists

New vans have gotten huge, expensive, and complicated. Many need a dealer and a laptop for jobs owners used to do themselves. Small camper vans with real 4x4 have almost disappeared, and the old ones people love are getting rare and expensive.

The Outpost is our answer: a 16 ft van with a pop-top and a full mechanical 4x4, priced for normal people, and designed so the owner can fix it.

Where it comes from

The Outpost takes its spirit from two classic vans. From the Soviet-era UAZ "Bukhanka" (the "loaf") come the rounded forward-control shape, the engine between the seats, and a toughness that keeps it working decades later. From the Volkswagen Westfalia campers come the pop-top, the clever camper layout, and the idea that a van can be a home on the road. The Outpost is its own design, inspired by both and copying neither.

What we believe

• Right to repair. Common tools, published manuals and wiring diagrams, parts you can buy, and no software locks on replacement parts.
• Simple by default. Physical switches, analog gauges, and a mechanical 4x4. Nothing electronic that doesn't need to be.
• Built your way. One tough base van and over 250 accessories, all sold one at a time.
• Built to last. A van you can keep on the road for decades.

Who's building it

RUFUS RETROISTICS was started by Bailey, a maker and hardware tinkerer in Laveen, Arizona, who builds custom electronics and automotive computers. The Outpost is being designed and tested in the Arizona desert, which makes a pretty good proving ground for heat.

Where things stand

We're in Phase 0: the design is done on paper and reservations are open. See the roadmap for what comes next, and the FAQ for the honest answers.