small crew, focused on you
We build one van at a time, and we don't rush it. Every build gets our full attention from the first wall panel to the day you drive it away. Reach out to hear about our next opening and what a timeline looks like for your van.
Meet the Raft Tiger Van Build Team
Nate
Lovell
Lovell
Nate, founder of Raft Tiger Vans, turned his passion for adventure into a way of life. In 2015, he left a career in electrical engineering, sold everything, and lived van life in a retro Astro van. From Colorado’s rugged peaks to the PNW and even the Caribbean, Nate’s journey was filled with mountain biking, whitewater rafting, skiing, an
Nate, founder of Raft Tiger Vans, turned his passion for adventure into a way of life. In 2015, he left a career in electrical engineering, sold everything, and lived van life in a retro Astro van. From Colorado’s rugged peaks to the PNW and even the Caribbean, Nate’s journey was filled with mountain biking, whitewater rafting, skiing, and endless exploration. By 2019, he settled in Asheville, NC, where he launched Raft Tiger Vans—a van build company inspired by his love for craftsmanship and life on the road.
Lovell
Lovell
Lovell
Lovell’s background in car audio gave him a rock-solid foundation in electrical work—and it shows. Around here, he can wire up a full power system in his sleep (though we promise he doesn’t). From planning clean layouts to flawless installs, his work keeps our van build schedule running smooth and looking sharp. Off the clock, Lovell’s a
Lovell’s background in car audio gave him a rock-solid foundation in electrical work—and it shows. Around here, he can wire up a full power system in his sleep (though we promise he doesn’t). From planning clean layouts to flawless installs, his work keeps our van build schedule running smooth and looking sharp. Off the clock, Lovell’s all about making memories—camping with his kids, hitting live shows, and spending time outdoors. Whether he’s installing a solar setup or loading up for a weekend in the woods, Lovell brings the same steady energy to everything he does.
Adam
Lovell
Adam
With a background in fine carpentry and firsthand van life experience, Adam brings precision and adventure to everything he builds. He completed his own van build before joining the Raft Tiger crew, so he knows what works on the road and what just looks good in photos. Around here, he’s the guy making sure every cut is clean, every cabine
With a background in fine carpentry and firsthand van life experience, Adam brings precision and adventure to everything he builds. He completed his own van build before joining the Raft Tiger crew, so he knows what works on the road and what just looks good in photos. Around here, he’s the guy making sure every cut is clean, every cabinet fits like a glove, and every system is built to last.
When he’s not in the shop, you can find him halfway up a cliff face in Utah or chasing the next good view in his rig. But whether on the wall or under a van, Adam’s always building something solid.
Tori
Sineah
Adam
Tori is Nate's wife and his partner in all of it, from backing the business to spending four months crisscrossing Europe in one of the vans. She's a former gymnast who built a successful pottery business, and she's been launching ventures since most kids were learning cursive. She knows what it takes to get something off the ground, and Raft Tiger has had her in its corner the whole way.
Sineah
Sineah
Sineah
Sineah (pronounced shin-ay-uh) runs marketing for Raft Tiger, which means she's behind the Instagram posts, the newsletters, and most of what you're reading on this site. She's also a builder, with more than six years of woodworking and teaching under her belt and her own handywoman business in Asheville, and she still gets out to the sh
Sineah (pronounced shin-ay-uh) runs marketing for Raft Tiger, which means she's behind the Instagram posts, the newsletters, and most of what you're reading on this site. She's also a builder, with more than six years of woodworking and teaching under her belt and her own handywoman business in Asheville, and she still gets out to the shop when a build needs another set of hands. So when she tells you how something's put together, there's a decent chance she's had her hands on it. Originally from Maine, she landed in Asheville by way of Colorado.
Monday through Friday we're working on your next big adventure
