Yay VanWorx

Anyone who travels in a van knows that eventually you are dependent on the generosity and good will of strangers to find a place to stay, get repairs, or otherwise deal with emergencies.

Our recent experience of good will came when our electrical system totally failed in the midst of pretty serious heat. For many this would be at least an inconvenience, but travelling with a wooly husky means that nighttime in the van is stressful if not dangerous. We do not have air conditioning in our van and rely on a rooftop fan vent and assorted rechargeable fans to provide some circulation and relief in hot weather. All of these appliances were inoperable in the van without batteries and power, so we were all sweating (and panting) through the nights.

Diagnosing and fixing a gremlin electrical problem in a custom built van is not a simple exercise. RV repair places tend to know how to fix trailers and name-brand RVs, but have little patience or experience working on a van setup that is unique.

With a combination of the internet and luck, we found VanWorx of New England in Douglas, Massachusetts. We made a late afternoon call and hoped we could get an appointment while traveling through Massachusetts. VanWorx has amazing reviews and happened to have obvious expertise in specialty van installations and repair, including electrical systems.

We received a call back after-hours and we were fit in the next day, despite the shop being “slammed” with work. Luke Malo, the owner, took care of us personally and fixed the problem quickly and completely. He was extremely generous with his time and talent. I concluded he is a van savant in addition to being just a nice and conscientious person. We have never done an endorsement on our site, but if you ever have reason to need van work in New England, this is your go-to shop.