EarthCruiser - to be more attainable than ever before.

[Gravelette]

I figure they didn't have much choice. Shut down or go bankrupt and leave others holding the bag. Seems they are trying to get some value from what's left. Maybe some "partners" will decide they have something useful to contribute, maybe not.

 

[Darwin]

The lower price-point with this model is very compelling, but also maybe dilutes some of what made EC different from Total Composites, Cascadia Composites, Bison Overland, etc.

As far as I know, none of those companies you listed offer a product that is similar to Earth Cruiser, the differences are pretty obvious, most notably the shell design, construction and material. I also would take issue with your opinion that this is a bad move for EC. What was working in the past could not continue due to a changing market, so switch gears try something else and strive to make a better product. That sounds like a good decision to me and the news that they might actually be more obtainable for the everyman is something to get excited about.

Edit:
I have always found Earth Cruiser to be unique in the industry, and they have been pretty innovative over the years that they have been around. I also really enjoyed their vision and philosophy behind overland travel and how it impacts their design decisions.

 

[calameda]

That sounds like a good decision to me and the news that they might actually be more obtainable for the everyman is something to get excited about.

I won’t quarrel with the merits of the business model from ECs perspective. Clearly they had to try something different. I hope they succeed.

But i am wondering why you and others think adding a layer of “upfitters”, who require their own profit margins, will necessarily result in products “more obtainable for the everyman” as you put it?

I suppose there’s a possibility that some upfitters will offer less expensive sensible standardized configurations. Something like what Outpost did with TC and now Lemker shells.

But we don’t know yet: will some upfitters resist the pull of highly optioned high margin builds, and instead stick with standardized simple configurations? The latter requires volume to make money. And if your starting point is a near 100k shell (a wild guess for EC shells), is the customer volume there to support it?

I don’t know, but its not 2022 anymore.

 

[mog]

And if your starting point is a near 100k shell (a wild guess for EC shells), is the customer volume there to support it?
I don’t know, but its not 2022 anymore.

In 2018 the MOD 300 had a base price of $22,000 and the MOD 400 had a base price of $23,500 (remember these were empty shells).
The completed/turnkey GZL300 and GZL400 during that same time period were approximately $38,500-$41,500 +/-
But its not 2018 anymore --- A cumulative inflation rate from 2018 to 2025 of 20.7% would make those $26,554 - $28,364 for shells, and $46,469 - $50,090 for completed/turnkey in 2025,


For some reference the GaZell in Europe is priced at (before options)


Source -

GaZell‘‘ V3 - L'Aboutissement Optimal pour les Voyages Lointains.

Grâce à l’expérience des GaZell’’ V1 & V2 et suite à une longue enquête auprès des propriétaires, une autre version est née : la GaZell’’ V3.

www.gazell.fr

To the best of my limited knowledge, the Terranova was never offer as a 'shell'.

 

[Old Stout]

These are helpful estimates. I had no idea what the MOG used to cost. If the MOG shell really is in the 30k range, and a functional build out another 25k including labor and margin, that could be interesting.

any seat of pants estimates for the terranova shell?

@ MOG. Any insight on the story between the EC Gazelle and the Eco Camper Chinese version that shows up on the west coast on occasion? https://www.ecocampor.com/truck-camper/fiberglass/ They are about 15,000, and even at that price pretty rare.

 

[mog]

Link@ MOG. Any insight on the story between the EC Gazelle and the Eco Camper Chinese version that shows up on the west coast on occasion? https://www.ecocampor.com/truck-camper/fiberglass/ They are about 15,000, and even at that price pretty rare.

Those certainly look like a knockoff of the French made GaZell (rear door and passenger side accessory door).

Just to clarify, the EarthCruiser were GZL 300 (narrower completed), GZL 400 (wider completed), MOD 300 (narrow unfinished) or MOD 400 (wider unfinished) all could be had with the additional front storage box for an added fee (so 5 foot length without, 6.5 foot with the box ), (BTW, that box is not accessible from the cabin, but IMO is awesome if your bed length allows it. I have all my batteries in the bottom of mine (4-100AH) plus a spare propane tank, then a shelf for added water, etc, and a finally another shelf for a huge area that hold my EZ-canopy, and a lots of other bulky stuff). At one time EarthCruiser 'offered' a MOD 500 which was a flatbed version of the MOD 400. I don't know if any of those were ever built (?). The GZL 600 (my name, not EC , never produced for sale) was a one-off prototype to test some concepts, to include a fully electric heating system that was used on the camper they built for the Hummer EV ( link ) and has 'super-duper' (my description, not EC's) insulated upper fabric for the top.

In addition EarthCruiser Australia lists an Express ( link ) which appears to be in the same 'category'.

They all seem to be pretty rare. I am far from having a pulse on 'the market', but I looked for a few years and only saw two for sale. A GZL400 that included a Power Wagon in the sale, and the GZL300 I bought (I had to provide my own Power Wagon )

 

[lanceatm]

Lance,
It is great to hear new ECs will be entering the Expo market again. And a good selection with the 'MOD' (slide-in under 1 ton trucks) and the 'Terranova' for 1 ton and above trucks.
I have a few questions (disclaimer - I'm not in the market as I have two ECs, but driving around with one on my truck I always get asked about them, and it will be great to say they will be available again).
I don't recall if the 'MOD' was the 300 or 400 dimensions (one of mine is a 300)?

You have the 300 model , the 400 has the same length but ~ 7 inches wider.

I'm guessing the MOD will be available with or without the front storage module depending on the buyer's truck bed size? And will the new MODs have the 'enhanced' rear door?

Yes on the front storage, the door tooling has been revamp for the new products releases. It smoulded and fits very nice.

Is there any change in the future that you will produce the 6.5 foot version like the EC 'prototype' (I call mine an GZL-600 'Unobtainable Edition' ) with the full lifting roof? While I love my 300 (5 foot with 16" storage box) with the tilting roof (solo travel), the '600 UE' with it's additional 30% of floor space, coupled with the much more spacious full lifting top, would be awesome for 2+ travel without going to the much larger (and nicer) Terranova.

Yes we have one in prototype right now, queen size Bed ( North South) . It will have a larger door to make access a bit easier. It will be super easy to fit slide out kitchen beside the door. Only available for full size truck 6.5 foot bed and up.

And will these (unfinished) MODs and Terranovas be available to the consumer directly, or will they only be available to the end-users through authorized upfitters/builders?
I know that Total Composite changed from a direct to end user, to only through upfitters/builders for certainly understandable reasons, so I wonder if that will be the case for EarthCruisers?

The plan is only dealers/up fitters. There does need to be some infrastructure from a material handling perspective. Our thinking was if we work with like minded builders/dealers customers are going to get the right advice from a local to them who knows what they're talking about should the need arise while they add to there dream machine.
As a side note we are working on interior furniture kits to make the build out simpler, faster and affordable. Because we already have invested in the tooling ( they are all one piece, there are no joins what so ever) we can make them like eggs. One after the other all exactly the same. The flat bed version is right behind what we will call the 500.

Again, AWESOME news!
Photos (cuz' photos make any post better)
2016 Power Wagon with an EC300 (w/16" front compartment)
View attachment 882073
View attachment 882074

6.5 foot 'Unobtainable Edition'

View attachment 882075

View attachment 882076

Disclaimer - no relation to EarthCruiser, not EC photos, not EC vehicles nor factory installed units , GZL logo is not an EC logo, and is proprietary to MOG units only