Parkland-based business customizes vans for travel, adventure
Sep. 13—TOWN OF PARKLAND — A local business is sending travelers off in style.
Charles Nolt, owner of Runny Yolk Designs, has been building custom camper vans since 2019. Tailor-made to reflect how the owners want to travel, the vehicles can come with amenities including rooftop solar panels, a built-in fridge, insulation and a full-size bed.
The business combines Nolt's engineering background with an outdoor pastime.
"I used to be really big into rock climbing and I had a friend who had built out a van and was actually living in it while working full time. So that was our mode of transportation," Nolt said.
The business is a chance to flex his problem-solving skills as well after working at jobs manufacturing medical supplies for Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and in new product development for a custom lighting shop in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He also taught engineering at Northwestern High School.
"I've always been a builder," said Nolt, and the opportunity to help with a custom van presented itself. He enjoyed the experience so much he decided to make it his full-time summer job. To date, he's built six vans outfitted for life on the road.
His designs for sale include a Ford Transit van he calls "Forest." Storage space is tucked throughout the vehicle, from the cupboards in the kitchen to the drawers under the bed. The back doors open to reveal a chamber that can fit a bike on one side and a panel that revealed the mechanics powering the comforts of home.
Custom touches are everywhere, from the birch plywood on the ceiling to color-changing light strips by the bed. An induction cooktop provides an alternative to campfires. Magnetic, insulated shades for the windows gives owners privacy.
Runny Yolk Designs offers customers two tracks to ownership: purchasing a turnkey van like Forest, or bringing their own new or slightly-used vehicle to Nolt to transform. His work to date has been primarily on Ford transit vans.
Mary Guck and her husband, Marc Micatka, of Seattle, commissioned a van from Nolt after seeing another he was working on and after months of discussions. The couple, who have known Nolt since college, picked up the van, nicknamed Penny, on Aug. 1. The maiden voyage was their trip home.
"We spent the most time in Idaho sort of parking her along different rivers and we camped out every night," Guck said. "That was a lot more comfortable than sleeping in a tent for six days in a row, I'll tell you that. It was very enjoyable."
They recently drove to Lake Katchess, near Seattle, and spent the afternoon and night along a river. Micatka, a software engineer, worked remotely because of the van's solar power.
"So, we just had this little spot to ourselves. Marc worked in the afternoon, I read by the river and then we just headed home the next day, just like a quick jaunt to get away from the city," Guck said.
Being able to cook indoors and have a sink for a water source made it more comfortable, she said. Their van also has an awning that can be set up outside the side door to offer protection from sun or rain. "It's just the most fun you could ever have, in my opinion, as someone who loves to camp," Guck said.
Custom camper vans have been gaining in popularity, Nolt said. They're smaller and more agile than a traditional motor home, opening up more spots for exploration. And they can be outfitted to the owner's specifications.
"The nice thing about me being a full custom shop is I try to best understand how the person wants to use the van, and then I can design around making that a reality," Nolt said. "So if they need to be able to charge a laptop and run a monitor and have internet, I can do that. If they just want to jump in and, you know, go be a little weekend warrior, I can do that, too."
The name for the business reflects Nolt's sense of humor and the family's Parkland hobby farm, Flat Tire Farm.
"Runny Yolk Designs pays homage to the chickens that we keep and kind of some of those passion projects we do on the side," Nolt said.
He said it also "serves as a reminder to both the clients and myself that the best designs and the best products and the best experiences come from fun and creativity. So the name is there to be a reminder that this is fun."
The van named Forest is for sale. The asking price is $79,900. If someone is interested in commissioning a build, Nolt would begin next spring with completion in early summer. It could take time to secure a new van, however.
"So if anyone's interested, now would be a great time to reach out," Nolt said.
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