5 Ultimate Expedition Vehicles
As the esteemed Dr Emmett Brown once said: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!” If that’s your idea of the most awesome automotive adventure then you’ll probably want to go fully off-grid as well as off-road when you hit the trail. Here are five fantastic vehicles that are mission-ready.
Land Rover Defender Autohome
We’ll start simple. You can turn almost any car into mobile home-away-from-home by fitting a roof tent. One of the coolest combinations we’ve seen is this new Land Rover Defender fitted with an Autohome hard shell tent that can sleep two in (relative) comfort. Once you’ve found your perfect camping spot, you simply pop up the tent, lower the ladder and you’re all set for the night. If you’re planning a longer trip then you might consider adding a camp kitchen with one of the more ingenious solutions coming from Australian specialist ARB which slides out of the rear and unpacks to reveal a sink, stove and storage.
Airstream Basecamp
Generally speaking we’re not huge fans of caravans as they can be somewhat unwieldy and have a habit of getting in the way of others on the road. That said, if you’re off-road then you’re not holding up anybody’s commute so we wholeheartedly embrace the awesome Airstream Basecamp. The sleek aluminium trailer is light and compact for negotiating tricky trails but tames overnighting in the wilderness with a cosy interior featuring a panoramic window, ample seating for five, a fully-fitted kitchen and optional goodies such as solar power and air conditioning. There’s even a shower and WC so no more worrying about having to do what the bears do in the woods.
Unimog “Mog Home”
The legendary Unimog is Europe’s most capable all-terrain truck. Its all-wheel drive, 230bhp diesel engine, incredible axle articulation and ground clearance enable it to power over almost any obstacle. And that makes it the perfect base for a go-anywhere camper. We’ve seen home-built versions at festivals, but there’s actually an official Mercedes-sanctioned version called the “Mog Home” built by Ziegler Adventure with a very spacious living area, full kitchen and hideaway double bed. Solar power for the electrics and a vast amount of storage will keep you on the road – and off it – for months at a time.
Earth Roamer
Now we’re getting serious. Earth Roamer builds rugged adventure trucks that a big enough and luxurious enough to live-in during a major expedition. The entry-level LTi sits on a Ford F-550 chassis and its carbon fibre camp body extends over the cab giving plenty of standing height, with a variety of different floorplans offered to suit your adventurous desires. But we say go all the way and choose the HD model on the humungous Ford F-750 chassis and never look back. Yes, it will cost you the best part of $2 million by the time you’ve specified it, but with its 115 US gallon fuel tank, 250 gallon fresh water supply and a massive solar array to provide electricity you can go off-grid for months at a time. With its mighty 330hp 6.7-litre V8 diesel engine, massive ground clearance and steep approach and departure angles it’s hard to imagine anywhere on earth you couldn’t roam.
Terra Wind
You may have heard the term “land yacht”, most often referring to a large and luxurious car with a serenely fluid ride. In the case of the $1.2 million Terra Wind, though, you can read it literally. This is a yacht that can be taken on land. It’s a giant coach-style RV with ridiculous levels of luxury that is as comfortable on water as it is on the road. It will do 80mph on the highway and a credible 7 knots in the wet stuff. It’s certainly one way to make a splash on your next road trip.