Fresno manufacturer and fabricator Field Van has been modifying vans and turning them into RVs for decades, selling them across the world. When the company rolled out its new rail system, however, the design caught the eye of Mercedes-Benz, which now has reached a deal with Field Van to sell the van in another adventure hub — Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mercedes-Benz Van Center – Warner in West Valley City, Utah will now sell the brand-new SHYFT van from Field Van, according to a news release from Field Van.

Company president Jonny Feld called it a “major milestone.”

“This partnership represents our first external dealer launch and an important step in bringing our craftmanship and innovation to a broader audience,” Feld said. “The Mountain West is built for adventure, and SHYFT was designed to adapt to the way families and individual explorers use their vans for many different applications, whether that’s daily driving, weekend trips, or extended travel.”

Feld Designed the SHYFT for Families

The SHYFT has many of the same features as campers coming out of Field Van — pop tops, water heaters, sleeping space for five, and refrigerators and cooktops. What sets it apart, however, are the features for large groups and families.

The unique sliding bench seat system means the bench and middle seats slide forward, opening up the space to create a “living room.” A lever allows the bench to ride the rail system all the way from the back to the front. Middle seats can easily be removed and used as camping chairs. Feld said the design meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Feld told GV Wire that while on one trip he thought about how to put the van chairs around a campfire. He put out a call to Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering to adapt those chairs. What they came up with was a cradle that turns the pilot seats into rocking chairs.

He hired the college student, naming the system after him — the “Jet Glide.” The student earned the nickname “Jet” for his love of aeronautics.

Much like Field Van, Warner Vans Utah is a family-owned dealership focusing on commercial and recreational vans. With Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce, and Yellowstone national parks all nearby, the deal means a bigger presence for Field Vans in the western U.S. Field Vans has facilities in Fresno and Reno, Nevada.