S1, E97: Scott Haslam - Kingbee Vans/ Ranger Sound Car
Scott Haslam, founder of Kingbee Vans and creator of Ranger Sound Car, is revolutionizing both the commercial vehicle industry and Salt Lake City's music scene through innovative approaches to business and community building.
The journey began in 2012 when Haslam and his twin brother started retrofitting vehicles with natural gas conversion kits during a period of high gas prices. While this venture proved challenging to scale, it led them to discover an underserved market need for commercial vehicle upfitting—adding shelving, flatbeds, and service bodies to vans and trucks. This seemingly unsexy business opportunity quickly grew from $250,000 in first-year revenue to $28 million within a decade, demonstrating Haslam's keen eye for scalable business models that solve real problems rather than chasing trendy markets.
Haslam's entrepreneurial philosophy centers on identifying opportunities within niche markets that have substantial transaction volume but lack innovation. The commercial vehicle industry exemplified this perfectly—billions in transactions flowing through systems still using paper invoices, with few companies controlling the entire supply chain. By focusing on the utility and functionality of commercial vehicles, Basin Upfitting (their original company) found tremendous success by enhancing value for customers through customization.
This same business acumen led to the creation of Kingbee Vans in 2021. Recognizing limitations in Basin's regional growth potential, Haslam identified an opportunity to provide customized van rentals to national fleets—something competitors weren't offering. What started with 80 vans has explosively grown to 6,000 vehicles in just four years, with projections to reach 10,000 by year-end. The business has evolved beyond its original concept into a technology-driven disruptor in the rental industry, incorporating peer-to-peer rental technology from an acquired company called Fluid Truck.
But perhaps most fascinating is how Haslam's business success enabled his creative outlet: Ranger Sound Car. After experiencing a magical music festival in Idaho called Lost River Disco, Haslam purchased a 50,000-pound military Hemet truck for $50,000 and outfitted it with a premium Void sound system. This mobile DJ booth allows him to create pop-up music experiences in unique locations—from junkyards to mountaintops—bringing world-class electronic music to Salt Lake City.
What makes Ranger Sound Car special isn't just the vehicle or sound quality—it's the community experience Haslam has cultivated. Artists who perform on the truck consistently describe it as unlike any venue they've played, offering an intimate connection with the audience impossible in traditional clubs. For attendees, the experience provides an escape from everyday life in an environment where creativity and self-expression are celebrated.
As Haslam navigates the challenges of running a fast-growing national business while sustaining his passion project, he's learning to delegate and build teams that share his vision. The evolution of both King B Vans and Ranger Sound Car reflects his personal philosophy: "We're all in this together." This belief drives his approach to business and community-building, creating spaces where people can collaborate, contribute, and collectively create exceptional experiences.
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