Outbound Vehicle Upgrades
Every module, every chassis, every quality-of-life upgrade for your camper. Including the Schoolie from the School Bus Adventures DLC.
The four chassis at a glance
Outbound ships with three base chassis, plus a fourth from the School Bus Adventures DLC. The full breakdown including stats and best-use scenarios lives on the dedicated vehicles page; below is the upgrade-relevant summary.
| Chassis | Build Space | Load | Handling | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | Default |
| Pathmaker | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | Default |
| Big One | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★ | Default |
| Schoolie | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★ | School Bus Adventures DLC |
Module categories
The build grid breaks down into five module categories. Build them in roughly this order:
- Storage \u2014 first thing every player needs. Saves round-trips.
- Workbenches \u2014 Saw Bench, Workshop, Fabricator. Without these you cannot refine.
- Power \u2014 see the dedicated power source guide. Solar early, multi-source late.
- Comfort \u2014 Bed, Stove, Insulated Cabin. Required for Mountains.
- Mobility \u2014 suspension, taller tires, lift. Unlocks deeper biome routes.
Suspension and tires
Two key mobility modules players miss for too long:
- Off-road suspension (Workshop T2) \u2014 doubles your safe traversal speed on rocky paths. Required for several Canyons routes.
- Tall Tires (Workshop T3) \u2014 raises ground clearance enough to cross deep streams without stalling the engine.
The Lift module
The most-asked Steam community question: "how do I build downwards?" You don't \u2014 you install the Lift. It physically raises the chassis on jacks and exposes a small under-floor grid. Use it for low-mounted modules like Rainwater Turbines and a hidden floor safe.
The Schoolie (DLC) at a glance
The Schoolie unlocks if you own the School Bus Adventures DLC. It has 5/5 build space and 5/5 load \u2014 nothing else in the game compares for sheer capacity. The trade-off is 1/5 handling: you cannot navigate Mountain switchbacks without the suspension and tires upgrades. Most veterans run a Pathmaker for exploration and a Schoolie as a parked "super base".
Common vehicle upgrade questions
How do I unlock the Schoolie in Outbound?
The Schoolie (school bus chassis) is bundled with the School Bus Adventures DLC. Once installed, swap to the Schoolie at any chassis terminal. It has the largest build space and load capacity of any vehicle in the game but the worst handling — great for hauling, slow on switchbacks.
Can I switch vehicles mid-game?
Yes. Visit a chassis terminal in any biome hub and swap. Your installed modules are kept in storage; you re-place them on the new chassis. There is no loss of materials, but the placement layout resets.
Which vehicle is best for the Mountains biome?
The Pathmaker is the strongest Mountain ride thanks to its handling rating and short wheelbase — it threads switchbacks the Big One simply cannot. If you only own the base game, Pathmaker is the long-game pick.
How do I remove the passenger seat for more space?
On the Big One and Schoolie, deconstruct the front passenger seat from the build menu (interact with the seat → hold E). It frees ~2 grid tiles for an extra storage crate or a compact stove.
Can I build modules below the chassis?
Not by default — the build grid only extends upwards. The Lift module (Workshop Tier 2) raises the chassis and exposes underfloor build slots. This is the only legitimate way to build "downwards".