If you have the desire to go camping pretty much anywhere in the world, then EarthRoamer has put together a very capable (and luxurious) vehicle that may well suit your needs. Based on the heavy-duty Ford F-750, the EarthRoamer features a few off-roading improvements and rather luxurious living quarters.
The chassis of the EarthRoamer XV-HD retains some of the Ford’s standard components which, on paper, should be rugged enough for roaming much of the planet, but the rear air suspension arrangement gains Fox shocks and a hydraulic levelling function. To lend it more traction, 46-inch Michelin XZL rubber has been fitted to the wheels.
Other interesting equipment includes a Warn Industries winch and a full LED lighting system by Baja Designs. In addition, 2 100 watts worth of solar panels have been fitted to the roof alongside a 20 000 watt lithium-ion battery pack and a 946-litre fresh water storage tank. For peace of mind out in the wild, a 435-litre diesel fuel tank is fitted as well. For us South Africans, this would cost around R6 300 to fill.
Powering the XV-HD through its adventures is a 6,7-litre V8 Powerstroke turbodiesel good for 331 kW and 1 268 N.m of torque. This power is sent through to all four wheels through a six-speed Ford Torqshift automatic transmission.
The highlight of the EarthRoamer XV-HD, however, is the luxurious custom cabin, which is large enough to accommodate six people. Inside, you’ll find a full bathroom with separate shower, washer and dryer; full kitchen with premium appliances; in-floor heating; and a Bose Surround Sound system.
As you can imagine, this custom creation doesn’t come cheap. If you’re interested in one of these, you’re going to have to fork out around $1,5-million (that’s about R22-million) with an initial $375 000 (R5,5-million) deposit. The first three XV-HDs are currently in production, with several more units on the way.
