Every big decision on the Outpost, and the reason behind it.
The driver sits up front, close to the front axle, like the classic Bukhanka and Westfalia vans. That puts more of the van's length into living and cargo space, so a 16 ft Outpost has room you'd expect from something much longer. A short, dedicated crush structure up front absorbs energy in a frontal crash, using the approach small cab-forward trucks have pioneered.
Putting the engine in the middle, under a removable cover, frees up the whole rear for a flat floor. It also keeps weight centered for better balance off-road, and it makes the 4x4 simple: the transfer case sits right behind the transmission with short, straight driveshafts to both axles. To work on the engine, you lift the lid.
A floor lever and manual locking hubs, with no electronic switches or modules to fail far from help. It's the most proven way to build a 4x4, and you can see exactly how it works.
A body-on-frame design is tough, easy to repair, and simpler to build without a giant factory. A steel subfloor grid bolts to the frame, and the seat tracks bolt to it, so seats and furniture are anchored to the strongest part of the van.
The body panels are colored all the way through, so scratches don't show bare metal and replacing a panel never means matching paint. Skipping a paint shop also cuts one of the biggest costs of building a car factory, which helps keep the price down.
A pop-top keeps the van low enough for parking garages and drive-thrus, and it gives you standing room and a second bed when you're parked. It's the feature that makes the Outpost an Outpost, so it's standard.
Gas keeps the price down, can be refueled anywhere, and can be fixed by nearly any shop in North America. Four engines fit every tier, from an efficient turbo inline 4 to THE HALO ENGINE. A diesel option is being explored.
Every van is built the same way, and every accessory bolts to standard mounting points that are on every van from day one. That keeps the factory simple and lets any Outpost grow from a Post into a fully loaded Fort over time.