I saw several Truck Campers that made me drool during the Expo, but this one REALLY got my attention. A 4x4 Unimog with a flatbed, pop-up TC. This combo can go almost anywhere. Just need the cash to make it happen. :)

Except under the bridge over the Salt River east of Roosevelt. She sure is a nice unit though. Heck, it would probably just go through the river and up the other side, heck with the bridge.

You're gonna need a chainsaw!!!!

Very impressive, and the pop-up looks good on it. I've seen a lot of these Unimog and similar 4x4 commercial trucks in Germany with camper bodies, but most of them are a box body rather than a pop-up like this, but I like the pop-up to keep the total height down (a bit).I'm not sure I'd have the guts to spend the sort of money we are talking about for a new Unimog like that AND take it into the third world (where it is designed to go as a camper). Maybe an older version of the same thing though.Steve.

That's one of those U500's, right? Wow - yes, I lost quite a lot of drool looking at those! But the nice thing is realizing what I already have works so well for us (and same for so many of the others from our group) and all most of us really wish for is more TIME to get out and enjoy using them.

Here's my favorite TC from the 2013 Overland Expo

60 Replies

seldomseensmith
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2013
While this rig certainly has a wow factor, it is not the type of unit the average person will ever be able to build or afford. And I found it amusing that despite all the custom mods "geared" (pun intended) towards off-roading, he still managed to get the thing stuck in the Utah desert.

I'll keep my humble 3/4 ton truck and pop-up combo, thank you very much.
NMace
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
How do you tuck the sides in when you lower the top?
wintersun
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2013
Where we go this would be much too large a vehicle, might as well have a motorhome. These have recently been completely redesigned by Mercedes.
niftypkg
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
DIY, I did! I mounted a 9' Sunlite pop-up on my F-250 2000 diesel. I call it an OMG. ( Oh My Gosh)
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
TCM just published an article written by the owner of this Unimog Truck Camper. A fascinating read. Lots of customization.

Unimog U500 Truck Camper Article
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
m37charlie wrote:
The original post is a U500. Short wheelbase, with non stock 16.00R20 XZLs.

Charlie

Thanks, Charlie.
m37charlie
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
The original post is a U500. Short wheelbase, with non stock 16.00R20 XZLs.

Charlie
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013
Can anybody confirm that this model of Unimog is a U500?
m37charlie
Explorer
Jun 05, 2013
And as I've previously mentioned, about 40,000 of my 60K miles have been in Australia, N. Africa, Europe and otherwise outside of the USA (maybe 50K if Alaska counts as outside USA) - much on dirt roads, a little on very bad roads. Does the Rudall River NP in Western Australia ring a bell with Valhalla360? Probably not, but 4WD is helpful in getting there. Just a small example. Look at where egn has been.
Not AT ALL atypical of other owners of expedition trucks I know.
I have stayed in KOA exactly once.

Charlie
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jun 05, 2013
valhalla360 wrote:
You're missing the point. I agree, these trucks can go places your average pickup truck can't. My point is the evidence I've found is most are just trophies that never used for their designed purpose.

That is a US thing, it does not apply here. ALL of them here end up Off Road or being used as an Expedition vehicle to travel parts of Asia, Africa etc.

Tony Lee from Australia, OKA and TC posts on this site and this is one of his 4 RV Vehicles. The others are Motorhomes he uses in the US, Europe and Australia.You can PM him.
OKA with unconventional TC