The ULTIMATE ADVENTURE VEHICLE
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Martin and Bethany are avid Outdoor enthusiasts that wanted a self contained mobile living unit that allowed them to fully pursue their passions. This started off as a sprinter that they outfitted as a camper van. For two to Three months every summer they would hit the road and Travel the country. It was during these long travel stints that they learned how much they loved the lifestyle. They decided to hit the road full time. For them, in order for such a proposition to be sustainable, they needed a bigger rig.
They needed a vehicle that was truly four seasons that they could take off road. After doing hundreds of hours of research, they learned that no one made a true four season RV, nor one that was four wheel drive. In order to meet all of their requirements, they had to make something entirely custom.
They ended up getting an M-1083, a decommissioned 6x6 five tonne military truck to build out as their mobile home. They chose a military truck so that they could go on any road, anytime, in any weather. There’s a central tire inflation system that allows them to adjust tire air pressure on the fly depending on the conditions.
“What was really shocking to us, and it may be to a lot of people, is how inexpensive the military sells vehicles.” Martin says while reflecting on the purchase. “The military, as we all know, pays a small fortune for a world-class truck and 15 years later sells it literally for pennies on the dollar. So it does look like a high-end item, but the chassis can be purchased from $3,000 and up from a government auction site.”
The cabin was built by a company called Global Expedition Vehicles, which specializes in conversions of trucks like these into mobile dwellings. While the living area takes up most of this space, they separated the rear four feet of the space to act as a sports garage. In it they store mountain bikes, touring bikes and all the other equipment they need for the other sports they partake in. The rear door of the garage, which is electronically controlled, can be lowered flat to act as a patio, or put all the down to act as a ramp.
The living space has all the necessities of home in a mobile package. The galley has a Vitrifrigo freezer and refrigerator to keep their food cold, an induction cooktop that they’re able to use in sunny conditions, and a diesel cooktop for when they have less electricity available. The space even includes a full bathroom with shower and toilet. Instead of a traditional blackwater system, they opted for a simple wastewater cartridge system that they’re able to bring into public bathrooms to empty. They have a hydronic heat system that utilizes waste heat from the engine to not only warm the cabin, but also produce hot water for taking showers and washing dishes.
Under their queen size bed they have storage for two tanks that store a hundred and forty gallons of water, as well as their electric system which operates off roof mounted solar panels that charge three AGM batteries. While they are able to operate entirely from the energy that they are able to produce from their solar panels, they do have a backup generator for the occasions they decide to use their ceiling mounted air conditioning unit, or clothes drier. The electrical components and water tanks can be accessed from outside the vehicle through two doors on the sides of the cabin.
While a lot of people like the routine of a more conventional lifestyle, Martin and Bethany find that overlanding not only satisfies their desire for exploration, but also costs less than their house and mortgage did.
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