At this past weekend’s Overland Expo SoCal, I was impressed not only by the huge numbers of attendees and exhibitors — but also by the sheer number of flatbed conversions I saw on rigs. As I walked through the show, it became apparent to me that the flatbed conversion is going to be the most popular mod of 2025. Is the era of the Sprinter van dominance in overlanding over? I’m not sure, but what I am sure of is that without a doubt, flatbeds are here to stay. And based on what I saw, one brand in particular is going to dominate the North American market: Bowen Customs.
Based in Arvada, Colorado, Bowen Customs specializes in commercial flatbed builds. The family-owned business has been around since 2017 and specializes in bridging the gap between form and function. In 2021, the brand introduced its first line of offroad-specific flatbeds and canopy systems and made its debut at Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado. Bowen flatbeds are designed to look good and function even better, and after a weekend of seeing them literally everywhere I looked, I can attest that the brand’s mission is going pretty damn well. Bowen Customs offers camper beds, flatbeds and canopies, topper beds, and crawler beds. If you’re interested in installing a Bowen Customs flatbed on your rig, you can learn more here.
I was able to capture photos of every single Bowen I saw at Overland Expo SoCal. Here’s a selection of what I saw.
READ MORE: 9 Reasons to Camp at Overland Expo West
To see some of these rigs in person and even talk to the folks at Bowen (maybe order one for yourself?) be sure to attend an upcoming Overland Expo event. Our next one is Overland Expo West, coming up soon in Flagstaff, Arizona from May 16-18, 2025. West is our biggest event of the year, with pristine camping whether you’re rolling up in your Bowen flatbed rig or rolling out your tent and sleeping pad from your moto saddlebags. Whatever the trends, all are welcome at Overland Expo events.
