Outbound is a cozy simulation game about someone who has given up their fancy life in the big city to live in a camper van. To get the most out of your new home on wheels, you will want to unlock upgrades and raise the power of your motor.
1. How to Unlock the Vehicle Research Station
To make your van strong enough to carry more items and climb steep roads, you need to research some motor upgrades. This requires a blueprint for the Vehicle Research Station.
- Visit signal towers and take the offered blueprints.
- It may just take a few tries to find the one you need; the blueprints you are offered are mostly random.
- When you finally find the tower with the Vehicle Research Station, make sure to have a recycler ticket ready to claim it.
- Build the Vehicle Research Station with four Scrap Metal and four Everwood Planks.
- Once it is built, interact with the Vehicle Research Station and research the upgrade you need first.
The recipe for the Vehicle Research Station.
Where to Find Scrap Metal and Everwood Planks
The Vehicle Research Station only needs two materials: Scrap Metal and Everwood Planks. These are both fairly easy materials to find.
- Scrap Metal can be found around the bases of signal towers.
- Everwood Planks can be made by putting two Everwood into a Sawmill.
- Everwood and Scrap Metal respawn several times in every in-game day.
2. Cost of Vehicle Motor Upgrades Research
Each upgrade costs materials to make, but most are pretty easy to come by as soon as you need them. There are also two different types of motor upgrades in Outbound, so make sure you choose the correct one for your situation.
| Upgrade Name | Research Cost | Unlock Effects |
| Motor Upgrade I | 10 Bolts | Van can climb steep roads in the Forest map |
| Motor Upgrade II | 6 Casings, 2 Electronics | Van can climb steep roads in the Coastal map |
| Motor Upgrade III | 20 Adamant Metals, 40 Rose Minerals | Van can climb steep roads in the Canyon map |
| Battery Upgrade I | 10 Bolts, 8 Scrap Metal | Expands the life of the battery |
| Battery Upgrade II | 3 Battery Components, 2 Sheet Metal | Expands the life of the battery |
| Battery Upgrade III | 4 Power Cells | Expands the life of the battery |
| Cooling System Upgrade | 2 Hardened Metal, 4 Electronics, 10 Water | Cools the engine for hot locations |
The recipe for the Cooling System Upgrade.
3. Cost of Building Each Motor Upgrade
Now that you have researched the motor upgrade you want, you need to build it. Open the trunk of the van to access your workbench, then click over to the vehicle menu. You will see all the blueprints you have unlocked from the motor upgrades menu.
| Upgrade Name | Building Cost |
| Motor Upgrade I | 5 Bolts, 4 Scrap Metal |
| Motor Upgrade II | |
| Motor Upgrade III | |
| Battery Upgrade I | 5 Bolts, 4 Scrap Metal |
| Battery Upgrade II | |
| Battery Upgrade III | |
| Cooling System Upgrade |
4. Outdoor Building Research Costs
Along with the motor upgrades, there are several other things that the Vehicle Research Station gives you access to. These allow you to expand your outdoor space.
| Upgrade Name | Research Cost | Unlock Effects |
| Outdoor Building | 4 Scrap Metal, 10 Fiber | Lets you build on the roof and outside of your camper van. |
| Outdoor Building Space I | 20 Scrap Metal, 20 Everwood Planks | Expands the amount of outdoor space you have. |
| Outdoor Building Space II | 20 Sea Shells, 15 Raw Coffee Beans | Expands the amount of outdoor space you have. |
| Outdoor Building Space III | 10 Salt, 16 Paint | Expands the amount of outdoor space you have. |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade I | 10 Bolts | Allows you to build more items outside of your van. |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade II | 10 Bolts, 10 Onyx Minerals | Allows you to build more items outside of your van. |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade III | Allows you to build more items outside of your van. | |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade IV | Allows you to build more items outside of your van. |
Once unlocked, these have their own build costs. They can be crafted at the workbench just like the motor upgrades.
| Upgrade Name | Building Cost |
| Outdoor Building | 2 Scrap, 5 Fiber |
| Outdoor Building Space I | 10 Scrap Metal, 10 Everwood Planks |
| Outdoor Building Space II | |
| Outdoor Building Space III | |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade I | 2 Bolts, 4 Scrap Metal |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade II | |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade III | |
| Weight Capacity Upgrade IV |
5. Building Blueprints Unlockable Through the Vehicle Research Station
The third and final menu in the Vehicle Research Station is one for blueprints to make walls, ceilings, and windows for your outdoor space. These also have a separate research and building cost.
| Upgrade Name | Research Cost | Unlock Effects |
| Wooden Roof Variety Pack | 10 Everwood Planks, 10 Bolts | Decorative roof blueprints unlock. |
| Trellis Building | 10 Redwood Planks, 5 Beeswax | Decorative trellises blueprints unlock. |
| Window Walls Variety Pack | 10 Everwood Planks, 10 Silverwood Planks | Decorative walls with windows blueprints unlock. |
| Glass Building | 10 Glass, 20 Amberstone | Decorative glass walls blueprints unlock. |
| Bamboo Building | 15 Bamboo, 10 Blossomwood Plank, 5 Beesewax | Decorative bamboo building parts blueprints unlock. |
| Trellis Roof Variety Pack | 30 Redwood Planks, 15 Beeswax | Decorative roof blueprints unlock. |
| Glass Roof Variety Pack | 30 Glass, 20 Amberstone | Decorative glass roof blueprints unlock. |
| Bamboo Roof Variety Pack | Decorative bamboo roof blueprints unlock. |
Each of these decorative blueprint packs have several different blueprints inside of them. All of these blueprints cost one Everwood.
| Upgrade Name | Building Cost |
| Wooden Roof Variety Pack | Wooden Corner Roof – 1 Everwood Wooden Ridge Roof – 1 Everwood |
| Trellis Building | Varies |
| Window Walls Variety Pack | Wooden Wall – Sliding Window: 1 Everwood Wooden Wall – Diamond Window: 1 Everwood Wooden Wall – Round Window: 1 Everwood |
| Glass Building | Varies |
| Bamboo Building | Varies |
| Trellis Roof Variety Pack | Varies |
| Glass Roof Variety Pack | Varies |
| Bamboo Roof Variety Pack | Varies |
