All Unlockable Van Upgrades in Outbound
Your Outbound van may start off feeling a bit sluggish and cramped, but with some upgrades, you can transform it into a powerhouse on wheels. Chances are, you already have most of the materials you need tucked away in your van’s storage.
These upgrades go beyond just boosting speed. You can enhance your battery life to keep your van running longer, and you can also amp up your comfort with new decorations and a larger building area. All you need to do is locate one small terminal to kick things off.
To begin upgrading your camper van, you’ll first need to construct a Vehicle Research Station. This handy device can be placed inside your van and will unlock new recipes for the workbench in your trunk.
You can snag the blueprint for the Vehicle Research Station from a terminal connected to a Signal Tower. In my playthrough, I found it at the locked terminal in The Community Tree POI, located in the northwestern part of the starting region—just across the broken bridge north of the Fire Lookout.
Keep in mind that Outbound dishes out blueprints randomly, so your experience may vary based on the order in which you’ve collected blueprints. You might discover the Vehicle Research Station in a completely different area of the map. It’s wise to explore the POIs marked with a question mark on your map, as they often contain the most significant upgrades.
Once you’ve unlocked the blueprint, simply place the Vehicle Research Station on an empty countertop in your van. From there, you can start upgrading your ride, provided you have enough materials. The game will automatically draw resources from your van’s storage, so you won’t need to clutter your inventory with excess items.
These upgrades are designed to last throughout your entire playthrough, so don’t stress if you can’t gather all the necessary materials right away. The initial map only offers enough resources for the first set of van upgrades, and you won’t be able to increase your speed or unlock additional furniture recipes until you venture further on your road trip. Here’s a rundown of all the van upgrades you can unlock in Outbound.
|
Upgrade |
Cost |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Motor Upgrade I |
Bolts x10 |
Driving up a slope just got easier, which makes for much happier travels. |
|
Motor Upgrade II |
Castings x6, Electronics x2 |
Lets your vehicle climb with even more confidence. |
|
Cooling System Upgrade |
Hardened Metal x2, Electronics x4, Water x10 |
This upgrade lets you keep your engine chill, even in the blazing heat. |
|
Motor Upgrade III |
Adamant Metal x20, Rose Minerals x40 |
The ultimate upgrade for the steepest of slopes. |
|
Battery Capacity Upgrade I |
Bolts x10, Scrap Metal x8 |
Gives your battery a little extra juice for longer journeys. |
|
Battery Capacity Upgrade II |
Battery Components x3, Sheet Metal x2 |
For even longer adventures with fewer stops. |
|
Battery Capacity Upgrade III |
Power Cell x4 |
The final boost to let you travel further than ever before. |
|
Outdoor Building |
Scrap Metal x4, Fiber x10 |
Lets you build, craft, and relax next to your vehicle. |
|
Outdoor Building Space I |
Scrap Metal x20, Everwood Plank x20 |
Adds some extra room to your outdoor campsite. |
|
Outdoor Building Space II |
Sea Shell x20, Raw Coffee Beans x15 |
Lets you expand your outdoor kingdom even more. |
|
Outdoor Building Space III |
Salt x10, Paint x16 |
All the space you could ever dream of, right next to your vehicle. |
|
Weight Capacity Upgrade I |
Bolts x10 |
Provides your trusty vehicle with the ability to carry that extra bit of weight. |
|
Weight Capacity Upgrade II |
Bolts x10, Onyx Minerals x10 |
Lets your vehicle carry more on its roof without breaking a sweat. |
|
Weight Capacity Upgrade III |
Clay x16, Glass x20 |
Even more room for all the toys and trinkets! |
|
Weight Capacity Upgrade IV |
Adamant Metal x20, Blossom Plank x22, Sugar x20 |
The final upgrade. Your vehicle can haul a castle now! |
|
Wooden Roof Variety Pack |
Bolts x10, Everwood Plank x20 |
A variety of timber tops for your classic wooden builds. |
|
Glass Building |
Glass x10, Amberstone x20 |
Allows you to build with the glass style, perfect for sun lovers! |
|
Glass Roof Variety Pack |
Glass x30, Amberstone x20 |
A variety kit of glass roofs, the sky is the limit! |
|
Trellis Building |
Redwood Plank x10, Beeswax x5 |
Lets you bring airy trellis designs into your architecture. |
|
Trellis Roof Variety Pack |
Redwood Plank x30, Beeswax x15 |
Provides you with roof designs that breathe like a summer pergola. |
|
Window Walls Variety Pack |
Everwood Plank x10, Silverbark Plank x10 |
Provides you with a wooden windowed walls variety pack, so you can let the sunlight pour into your home. |
|
Bamboo Building |
Bamboo x15, Blossom Plank x10, Beeswax x5 |
This unlocks the secrets of tropical construction. |
|
Bamboo Roof Variety Pack |
Bamboo x20, Blossom Plank x30 |
Expand your bamboo kingdom by unlocking more bamboo rooftops. |
