Circa 2001 – 2013

Where the Evolution of TOTAL CHAOS Truly Began

The story of TOTAL CHAOS is rooted deep in the desert. Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, TC was a small, hungry brand chasing the Southwest desert racing circuit. We cut our teeth in SCORE, then hammered our way through the MDR series—learning, breaking, improving, and repeating.

It didn’t take long to realize we couldn’t build a company and race full-time. That’s when Dan Vance — the Godfather of Prerunners — stepped in. For over a decade, Dan Vance and Team TOTAL CHAOS collected Class 1450 championships, dominated short-course events, and pushed the limits of bolt-on performance suspension systems. Dan treated desert racing like a science and was one of the most respected drivers in the sport.

He built two legendary TOTAL CHAOS race trucks.

• Tortuga — outfitted entirely with production TC suspension and accessories. A real-world R&D mule disguised as a race truck.
  

• Kung-Fu — a no-compromise evolution that became one of the most recognized 1450 trucks ever built. Always a podium threat in the desert. Always the truck going full-send at the biggest jumps in Glamis on play weekends.

This era was raw. Long days chasing races. Longer nights in the shop fabricating by hand. No CAD. No scanners. Just tubing benders, grinders, welding helmets, and grit. Innovation happened one tube at a time, and craftsmanship had to be earned — not downloaded.

And through all of it, the same husband-and-wife team that launched TOTAL CHAOS in the ’90s still owns and operates the brand today. Still independent. Still innovating. Still building parts for real off-road enthusiasts who want to explore, adventure, and enjoy the dirt the way it was meant to be.

Because at the end of the day, a family that off-roads together, stays together.

SEE YOU IN THE DIRT.

– Team TOTAL CHAOS