Galactic Adventures

ISSUE 25 | July 18, 2025

Camper Vans gathered at a campfire at sunset

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 25th issue of Galactic Adventures -- our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.

Wow. 25 issues of Galactic Adventures. Thanks to all of you who continue to read and share your stories with us. We thought this resonates with the moment -- "Angel number 25 reminds us to find joy in the small things and to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, even amidst challenges. It suggests that focusing on the positive aspects of your life can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment." As we soak up the last few weeks of summer, our hope and wish is that your adventures ahead are indeed filled with happiness and fulfillment.

This newsletter has become a wonderful resource for our community as a place where stories are told, tips are shared and the community comes closer together. If you would like to share your story via Galactic Adventures, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Send your story to emma.walsmith@storytelleroverland.com

This issue's featured photo comes to us from MODE Owners, James & Sheri Dorris.

🚐 Summer Camp with Rocky Mountain Storyteller Owners

Emma Walsmith, MODElt Owner

"It's gonna be the best weekend ever." - The Nadas, "Best Weekend Ever"

My husband has been in a band, The Nadas, for a little over 30 years. He's a career musician, ya might say. He has traveled far and wide, been to every state but North Dakota (not sure what he has against ND) and he has played some pretty incredible places. From historic music halls to hole in the wall bars & truly, everything in between. Some venues leave an impression and over the last 15+ years we have found ourselves returning to Evergreen, CO to play The Little Bear Saloon every summer, for three days of live music. We call it "Summer Camp" and prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the audience was largely made up of Iowans who traveled to join us, mountain town fans and walk-up music lovers willing to take a chance on The Nadas. But over the last four years, there has been a welcomed addition to the melting pot of Nadas fans at The Little Bear-- STORYTELLERS. Note: I use the term "melting pot"- yes, because of our varied backgrounds but also, because The Little Bear gets a little warm and unless one seeks out the aggressive AC duct by the dance floor, you'll likely be doing a little melting 😅.

Jason and I bought our first MODE in June of 2020 and as you can imagine, the planned Summer Camp for that year was canceled. That being said, we did roll out to Evergreen and play a socially distanced, outdoor show for the fans who kept their previously booked cabins. It was wonderful to share music and stories in a safe way during a time that felt so unpredictable.

The next few years of Summer Camp included camping generously hosted by Storyteller's own Keith Leimbach and his family in Evergreen. Summer Camps of '21, '22 and '23 featured 15-30 Storyteller rigs at the Leimbach home and while Keith insists that we are always welcome, we decided to give the Leimbachs a break in 2024. 2024 Summer Camp saw quite a few Storytellers camping at a not-too-far-from-Evergreen campground and while I had to miss that year, I've heard it was all that and a bag of chips. (Of course it was.)

Enter Summer Camp 2025 which just occurred this past weekend - July 11, 12 & 13, 2025. The Rocky Mountain STORYTELLERS got organized and with the leadership of the always excellent Jeremy & Sarah Sanchez, 17 Storyteller rigs and four absolutely welcomed non-STO rigs, set up camp at Buchanan Park. This camp spot was a wonderful find on the part of Jeremy & Sarah! Only minutes from The Little Bear but set back away from the road, surrounded by beautiful trees and frequented by stunning wildlife.

The amount of joy that moments like these infuse into my life is immeasurable. Little did we know that when we bought our 2020 CLASSIC MODE we would find ourselves lucky enough to be a part of an incredible community of STORYTELLERS. Watching members of our community embrace Jason's band, singing along at shows and dancing their hearts out is a beautiful thing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing your light & love with us-- this STORYTELLERS community is by far the coolest nationwide neighborhood we ever could've found.

If you are hosting events / camp outs for the STORYTELLERS community, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email. We are always interested in exploring ways in which we can support our community, their events and adventures.
emma.walsmith@storytelleroverland.com

🏆 GXV HILT Wins 2025 Red Dot Award

Dillon Hollingsworth, Lead Industrial Designer

When we first set out to design the GXV HILT at Storyteller Overland, we weren’t trying to make just another overland vehicle, we were trying to build something that didn’t exist yet.

Most expedition style RVs are custom one offs: expensive, hard to service, and built outside the RVIA standards that protect customers. We wanted to flip that. The HILT is the first production-scale, RVIA certified, Class C expedition truck. That matters because it opens the door to traditional RV financing, insurance, and nationwide service while still performing in a completely different league.

We designed everything in house: the monocoque composite capsule, the 3-point articulating frame system, and a fully insulated, reinforced structure built for all season, off-grid adventure. We learned how to balance strength, thermal performance, and long-term durability down to the Kevlar reinforced stress points and thermal layering that prevents condensation and mold. The HILT isn’t just designed to last it’s built to be passed down.

This was a defining project for our company. It marked an evolution of Storyteller. In addition to Class B adventure van pro builders, the HILT elevated our team's expedition truck mastery. It pushed us into new territory both in product category and organizational maturity. It diversified our product portfolio and signaled we were ready to scale up our GXV line.

When we started the HILT, the dev team consisted of two designers and the head of Storyteller R&D. Once the project got the green light, we formed our first engineering department and brought on operational support to see it through. 18 months later, our first production unit rolled off the line.

This was also my first time leading a design from concept through production. My role focused on the interior. I started with the galley because in the South, the kitchen is the heart of any home and used it as an anchor to build everything else around.

[Read More]

☀️ From the HQ: Team Member Spotlight

This month’s Team Member Spotlight is a special one. In July, we’re honoring the legacy of our dear teammate, Angie Jones, who brought strength, wisdom, and warmth to everything she touched during her time with Storyteller Overland.

Angie was part of our After Sales and Technical Support Team, where she supported van owners with diligence and deep care. But to describe her role only in terms of tasks would be missing the bigger picture—Angie stood out because of how she worked: with clarity, compassion, and an incredible level of follow-through. She approached even the most complex situations with calm confidence, often becoming a trusted go-to for customers and teammates alike.

She led with consistency and earned respect across departments by being dependable, thoughtful, and quietly tenacious. Her expertise was rooted in collaboration—she wasn’t afraid to work across teams, ask questions, or challenge the status quo in pursuit of better outcomes for our customers and company.

Angie also brought a human touch to her work. She took time to connect—with the people she helped, the team she supported, and the work she believed in. She didn’t just solve problems—she made people feel seen.

Those who worked closest with her knew her as someone who brought a steady presence, a sharp mind, and a generous spirit to every single day. Whether she was tracking down answers, offering support, or simply checking in, Angie always showed up with care and purpose.

As we continue to feel her absence, we also feel deep gratitude for all the ways she helped shape this community. Angie exemplified what it means to take pride in your work, care for those around you, and carry yourself with quiet confidence.

This month, we honor Angie not only for the work she accomplished, but for the way she lived her values and left a meaningful mark on so many lives here.

Thank you for being a part of our story, Angie.

We’re hitting the road in 2025 and we hope you’ll come with us!

Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.

July 15 - 17
Beyond the Pavement - Moab, UT to Montrose, CO

July 26 - 27
AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO

August 16 - 17
AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT

August 22 - 24
Overland Expo Mountain West - Loveland, CO

September 6 - 7
AVE Enumclaw - Enumclaw,

Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.

July 26 - 27 - AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO
August 16 - 17 - AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT
August 22 - 24 - Overland Expo Mountain West - Loveland, CO
September 6 - 7 - AVE Enumclaw - Enumclaw, WA

CHECK OUT FULL TOUR