Love to see these monster truck campers in town

sundowners wrote:

Hi
The thing is-------most of the people that have these trucks have not done a 'trip' before they build/buy one------and on paper they look like the best compromise vehicle for a two or three year trip into 'remote areas'--------the problems are many, but the biggest one that I see is their bulk----they are very expensive to ship, and, as with our de-mountable they limit by being tall and wide on tracks----------but if, like us you want to be independant and self contained they offer a good compromise IMHO
A VW camper is easier to travel with but not nearly as comfortable.
Nigel

Good point Nigel. I looked recently on a German website selling used ones - they were up to $600,000 - I was actually looking for a cheap Mercedes 814D van, but got distracted by browsing some of these expedition trucks (like those things that were for sale near you at Adventure Overland last year). It made me wonder - for each couple that buys one and does 250,000 miles travelling around Africa, Siberia, Nepal, China, etc. (i.e. what these trucks are designed for), how many other buyers get frightened off after their first trip outside Europe / North America, especially given the vehicle value when a carnet-de-passage is required and insurance may not be available.

In contrast I was really impressed with the guys who camped behind you at Adventure Overland - the ones who took all manor of old, low value rear-wheel-drive RVs along the Silk Route to China.

Steve.

See these vehicles all over the world and they are by far the most impractical vehicles you could invent. Apart from the major deserts and of course any Walmart parking lot, they are just too big for most unpaved roads, too heavy for a lot of bridges and too wide for many forest tracks.

These vehicles are not for everybody and they are not intended for (or marketed to) your average American RV "camper". Practicality is not part of the equation.

This type of Expedition Vehicle, like those manufactured by GXV, UNICAT, and yes even EarthRoamer, are designed for people who do global overland travel.
A well built expedition vehicle is remarkably capable both on and off-road and will go places that one could never dream of getting to (and back from) with a truck camper, travel trailer, or motorhome. They use chassis and engines that have stood the test of time, are extremely durable, and have global parts availability (e.g. MAN, Mercedez-Benz, Caterpillar). They are able to travel almost anywhere on the planet (yes, even on forest tracks) and provide for the safety and comfort of the occupants for extended periods of time and in extreme conditions.

For more information on expedition travel I suggest you take a look at Expedition Portal, or plan a visit to the Overland Expo.

By the way, my family of 4 is in the process of planning a year-long trip across the US and Canada in our TC…I see this short trip as preparation for a much longer multi-continent expedition. We'll spend the year in North America learning about what what works and what doesn't, and what we actually need to support a family of 4 (eg. maintenance, fuel, water, food, environmental, living space, etc) with little dependence on the "outside world". You can bet that when the time comes to head out on our round-the-world trip, we'll be doing it in a real expedition vehicle.

Cheers,
-Mark

The German Expedition vehicle that you saw was doubtlessly on its way from Overland Expo in Flagstaff. I attended the gathering this year in my F350/Avion camper and stayed in the TC rally area at the far end of the Expo. But, you're right, they are amazing looking behemoths-but they're not "truck campers":



R to L: 2014 Unimog Expedition/2003 Defender Range Rover with tent top/1999 Freightliner Conversion/Orange 2013 Unimog with vertical slide for two story interior and roof balcony/2009 Unimog

Try a thought experiment with these machines: As I wandered around the 6,000+ adventure folks I thought of the Expedition motorcycles like Cheetahs, perhaps the TCs were a little like Gnus and Wildebeests, the Rovers like Zebras...but the Unimogs were like Elephants. Unwieldy grazing animals but fun to watch.

I know that everyone can make up their own menagerie, since we're missing the predators from this scenario.

What was very interesting is that the organizers of the OX5, Jonathon and Roseann Hanson - who are world expedition experts, gave a special presentation of their vehicle: A 2014 Toyota Tacoma - nearly stock - with a custom made 4WheelCamper on the back. In other words, a TC. they are shipping it to South Africa for their journey this fall.

I had to move my TC from the rally area because I got pinned in..long story...but I had a little taste of the other behemoths besides the Unimogs. Its why I prefer boondocking or rallying with TCs.

tony lee wrote:
See these vehicles all over the world and they are by far the most impractical vehicles you could invent. Apart from the major deserts and of course any Walmart parking lot, they are just too big for most unpaved roads, too heavy for a lot of bridges and too wide for many forest tracks.

Mind you, a F350 with Bigfoot camper on the back ends up about the same size and has just as bad a turning circle.

Hi
The thing is-------most of the people that have these trucks have not done a 'trip' before they build/buy one------and on paper they look like the best compromise vehicle for a two or three year trip into 'remote areas'--------the problems are many, but the biggest one that I see is their bulk----they are very expensive to ship, and, as with our de-mountable they limit by being tall and wide on tracks----------but if, like us you want to be independant and self contained they offer a good compromise IMHO
A VW camper is easier to travel with but not nearly as comfortable.
Nigel

See these vehicles all over the world and they are by far the most impractical vehicles you could invent. Apart from the major deserts and of course any Walmart parking lot, they are just too big for most unpaved roads, too heavy for a lot of bridges and too wide for many forest tracks.

Mind you, a F350 with Bigfoot camper on the back ends up about the same size and has just as bad a turning circle.

jmcgsd wrote:
I've often thought those things must be mighty toasty in the desert on a 110F day!

The body will be built from 3" rigid foam---fantastic insulation, so would be cooler than American built RVs---it may well have AC unit under the floor------the windows on all European built RVs/campers/travel trailers are double glazed and made from a type of plastic

We have a friend who has just finished building one of these on an old German 4X4 army truck chassis/cab----it has NO ECUs or other electricary to give headaches when away from garages with fancy computer equipment
Nigel

You call it a 'monster truck'-----our friends one which looks just the same as pic. (but on a Merc) has the same foot-print as our Dodge dually and Lance de-mountable

Sluggo54 wrote:
Back in 2006 there was one of these in Yellowstone, with French occupants. They were all over my case because I didn't shut off my Duramax while setting up my fifth wheel, thus I was wasting the earth's resources. Had I not idled the truck while getting off the hitch and leveling, I would have been short battery power in that no hook-up, no gennie world.
Finally had to get rude to get them to go away.

Knowing the French, they would have scolded you for showering and using deodorant too!

Sluggo54 wrote:
Back in 2006 there was one of these in Yellowstone, with French occupants. They were all over my case because I didn't shut off my Duramax while setting up my fifth wheel, thus I was wasting the earth's resources. Had I not idled the truck while getting off the hitch and leveling, I would have been short battery power in that no hook-up, no gennie world.
Finally had to get rude to get them to go away.

Tell them you could idle your DMax all night for less fuel than they use to go 50 miles!!

FreeLanceing wrote:
Looks like a C to me, or an oversize B+.

A "Super B", as opposed to a Super C?

Looks like a C to me, or an oversize B+.