Crazy 6×6 Jeep Truck Camper

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Michael Wendell

Not much to say about this, but I love it. All zombie apocalyptic and Mad Max-looking, this truck camper is based on a pre-1966 Willys Jeep Truck converted to 6×6 at some point during its lifetime. I can’t make out the license plate, but I’d guess it’s based in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska somewhere. It’s definitely in use, or was when the photos were taken, since they show it parked in two different locations. Very nice. If you know anything more, give us a shout in the comments.

By the way, if you like Truck Campers, you may want to check out the Truck Camper Porn website, which is where I first saw the Jeep above. Don’t worry, it’s safe for work (until your boss realizes you’re daydreaming about ditching it all and taking up the modern nomadic lifestyle). Anyway, it’s a great blog, I just wish they posted sources for their photos.

 

Sources: Truck Camper Porn, Pinterest

Categories: Custom, Jeep, Truck Camper, Willys | Leave a comment

Loaded 2008 Sportsmobile 4×4

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Michael Wendell

Here’s a great looking 2008 Sportsmobile RB-50 4×4 with all of the bells and whistles, available now on eBay in Euless, Texas. The camper’s got less than 40,000 miles and is powered by a 6.0 liter Power Stroke V8 diesel. Highlights of the equipment list include an Old Man Emu suspension, 12,000 lb. Warn winch, Sportsmobiles’s wonderful Penthouse Popup roof, an Espar diesel heater with flat plate hot water system, 46 gallon fuel capacity, and tough-looking Aluminess bumpers. You can visit the Sportsmobile website and work out comparison prices for these vans brand-new, and see what used vans are available as well. While I didn’t take the time to work up a comparison price, the auction’s Buy It Now price of $99,449 seems somewhat steep to me. If you’re in the market for a Sportsmobile though, you’re probably more aware of pricing than I am and can make a more educated offer.

As an aside, I have to wonder what’s going to become of Sportsmobile’s reputation for rugged, expedition-worthy 4×4 campers now that Ford has decided to cease production of the traditional Econoline after 2013. The new full-sized Ford Transit, like the Sprinter, will probably not lend itself to relatively simple 4×4 conversions the way the older body-on-frame Ford does, nor do these vans seem to tolerate the added height of a true off-road suspension and larger tires. I’ll ignore, as should we all, the existence of the Nissan NV-series ‘vans’, which apparently Sportsmobile is now working with. I have nothing good to say about them, nothing at all. I really do think the Sprinter/Transit form factor is the future and makes for a far more spacious, comfortable RV than the older Econolines ever did, and I’m excited to see what companies like Quigley and Sportsmobile come up with.

Click past the break for lots of details, features, and a huge photo gallery!

Read more »

Categories: Class B - Van, Ford, Sportsmobile | Leave a comment

Exclusive: Luxurious Globetrotting Volvo

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Michael Wendell

Gerhard has just returned from a two year extended vacation throughout the Americas in this wonderful Volvo off road camper. I spoke with him via email and he described his expedition.

We travelled for two years through Americas. Had started in Nova Scotia, went up to Newfoundland, crossed Canada up to Yukon and Northwest Territories and Alaska. Than we had headed south. Through finally we had spent one and a half years in South America before we extended our expedition to Antarctica. We had a beautiful trip and enjoyed it very much.

Back home, we need to work again. So we will sell our off road camper and we are sure that the new owner will have as much fun with the truck as we have had.

It sounds like an amazing adventure, and if you’re looking for one just like it, you can buy Gerhard’s Volvo for €315,000 ($409,122). The rig’s in Austria, here’s the listing on the mobile.de website.

Gerhard sent me quite a few photos and a very extensive list of features. Click through for the complete gallery and list of everything this amazing rig has to offer. Note that the list of features was sent to me in German, I’ve translated it with the help of Google and my extremely rusty college German. I guess I’m saying that if you’re in the market for a vehicle like this, you might want to confirm the features before you write a check.

(Click through for gallery and details.)

Read more »

Categories: Class A - Full Size, Exclusive, Volvo | Leave a comment

Twenty-three years and a half-million miles in a G-Wagen

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Michael Wendell

What began as an 18 month excursion across Africa has lasted 23 years for Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine. While they’re not travelling in a motorhome, or even a specialist expedition camper… their story is amazing and inspirational.

Check out the story on Digital Trends, with links to a BBC slideshow, a gallery of the G-Wagen on Esquire’s Facebook page and more.

Source: Digital Trends.

Categories: Mercedes-Benz, Travel Stories | Leave a comment

First-Class Fightin’ Foden

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Michael Wendell

This amazing Foden of the UK Military just looks incredibly tough. I had to post it.

Reading about Foden online, a company I’m not familiar with, I learned quite a bit. At the age of 15, Edwin Foden apprenticed himself to agricultural machinery manufacturer Plant & Hancock. He must have been doing something right, because by the time he was 19 he had left for another internship, returned, and shortly thereafter became a partner in the company. By the time Edwin was 46, the company had been renamed Edwin Foden and Sons, and within a few years they were producing their first steam wagons. In 1901 They produced their first truck for the War Office, which formed the basis of a successful line of steam lorries they would sell for the next 30 years. Foden introduced diesel engines in 1932 (although not without quite a bit of drama in the boardroom), and sold their last steam vehicles in 1934.

Despite large MOD (Ministry of Defence) contracts, the 1970′s were tough for Foden, and in 1980 they were acquired by the American firm PACCAR. In 1998 the independent design and manufacture of new Fodens ceased. Thereafter all Fodens were simply rebadged DAF trucks, and less than ten years later, the Foden name itself was put to rest, the last Foden rolling off the line in July of 2006.

Finally, the obligatory motorhome content, a great looking mid-century Foden motorhome conversion, compliments of tudedude on Flickr.

Sources: Le Container, plainmilitary’s gallery on PhotoBucket, Wikipedia, tudedude’s gallery on Flickr

Categories: Foden, Off Topic | Leave a comment