EarthRoamer: 4 Year Field Test

[JRhetts]

JRhetts:
Thank you for taking the time to post an end user experience with the ER. In regards to the floorplan (booth dinette) of the ER...

expeditionvan

To preface my answer to your questions, I need to tell you I have had back surgery and seating comfort is VERY important to me. In fact, I have purchased vehicles based largely on their seats. In this context, ...

We have lived in the ER for 4 continuous months. It was our dining room and living room. The bench seats frankly are fine. Some nights if my back is really bothering me, I may go sit in the truck seats for a few minutes, or I will set up my Kermit chair (which is by far the most comfortable folding chair I have ever found), but I almost always find the bench seats fine.

If we have cooked an elaborate meal and dont want to put the granite countertop down, we will sit side by side on the drivers side and eat. It would not be called 'spacious', but it is fine.

We dont have a TV on board, so I cant say anything about watching one in an ER. We lounge around before and after dinner if the weather outside forces us in, enjoying music and DVDs on a laptop, but no TV on the wall.

Would I probably like a 360 deg swivel recliner? yep, but it wont fit and I dont think I need it.

Hope this helps. John

 

[he-hoo]

I have a question for John. You say your ER traveled all of the Parashant peninsula in Arizona, I assume you went to Toroweap and Kelly point area?

George.

 

[LukeH]

Good on you John for bringing real long term experience to us. I for one would love to adopt your lifestyle, but the children's education is postponing that.
You haven't convinced me to adopt a long nose though; cab over is my choice.
Just a point on the true cost of using your truck, surely it's

(Initial cost + running costs- money recovered on resale) / nights aboard.

Best regards and keep on travelling

Luke

 

[Harald Hansen]

Interesting thread, and thank you for posting!

 

[Trail Monkey]

Nice write up John, interesting info. Glad you guys got plenty of time in the ER. Best wishes on the new build.

 

[JRhetts]

I have a question for John. You say your ER traveled all of the Parashant peninsula in Arizona, I assume you went to Toroweap and Kelly point area?

George.

Yes.

 

[JRhetts]

Good on you John for bringing real long term experience to us. I for one would love to adopt your lifestyle, but the children's education is postponing that.
You haven't convinced me to adopt a long nose though; cab over is my choice.
Just a point on the true cost of using your truck, surely it's

(Initial cost + running costs- money recovered on resale) / nights aboard.

Best regards and keep on travelling

Luke

My cost calculation used the same formula as you note above.

Our new vehicle is a cab over: Mitsubishi Fuso FM with a 17' box on the back, modified for 4x4 and locking rear diff by Marmon Harrington.

 

[Maddmatt]

Hey John,

Funny to 'bump' into you here - glad to hear you're still traveling - let's hear more about this Fuso??? Inquiring (nosy) minds want to know!
-Matt

 

[dzzz]

Our new vehicle is a cab over: Mitsubishi Fuso FM with a 17' box on the back, modified for 4x4 and locking rear diff by Marmon Harrington.

Really an excellent choice. I assume part of the thinking is international travel. The FM is a nice size. I believe some of the vendors for Marmon Harrington also do frame changes too.
I've driven the new 2011 Ford diesel and that is excellent. A real improvement, with a noise level about midpoint between the old diesel and gas. The new transmission is excellent too for back road travel. I just wouldn't want to be in Greece with engine problems on a Ford diesel.

 

[he-hoo]

John, is that an Earthcruiser you guys are getting?

GL.

 

[LukeH]

My cost calculation used the same formula as you note above.

Our new vehicle is a cab over: Mitsubishi Fuso FM with a 17' box on the back, modified for 4x4 and locking rear diff by Marmon Harrington.

Sounds interesting. Are you really that limited in modern 4x4 forward cabs over there? I'm not knocking Fusos mind you, I just find the tyres too small for anything useful. My 365/85x20 xzl hardly notice corrugations caused by 16 inch (and 17.5) car (er sorry you call them truck) tyres.
Is the custom 4x4 conversion better than the factory one or is there not a factory 4x4 available.

Another very, very important point; show us some photos of your new motorhome.
Happy trails
Luke

 

[JRhetts]

John, is that an Earthcruiser you guys are getting?

GL.

If you mean the Australian EarthCruiser [http://www.earthcruiser.com.au/], no. They are building on the Fuso FG chassis; we have an FM which is a much heavier chassis. They use a pop-top design; ours is a rigid box.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Just marking this so I can read it later.

 

[JRhetts]

...Are you really that limited in modern 4x4 forward cabs over there? ...
Luke

Yep! We have NO ACCESS to any of the good Euro trucks - our DOT has simply shut them out.

My 365/85x20 xzl hardly notice corrugations caused by 16 inch (and 17.5) car (er sorry you call them truck) tyres.
Luke

We're riding on Bridgestone M711 tires, size 11R22.5 [22.5 x 8.25 rims]. The ride is simply excellent! A full(!) day of ±500 miles is very comfortable [apart from having to sit in a seat of any kind for that long]. My wife is a very competent driver, but is a bit white knuckled in any vehicle. Literally grips the wheel so hard her hands hurt. After less than half an hour in the Fuso she reported (and a glance at her hands revealed) that she was much more comfortable driving the Fuso than either of our two EarthRoamers. I was perfectly comfortable with the ERs, but the Fuso is in a league of its own, even at 21,000# with full fluids (100 diesel, 105 H2O, and plenty of beer). Certainly not as much power as with the highly-tweeked Ford engine, but we experience a much more relaxing day when moving.

...
Is the custom 4x4 conversion better than the factory one or is there not a factory 4x4 available.
Luke

The FM does not come with factory 4x4, much less locking diff. The FG (lighter weight truck) can be had with factory 4x4.

There is a very active Mitsubishi thread here if you want to know more about Fusos.

 

[dzzz]

Yep! We have NO ACCESS to any of the good Euro trucks - our DOT has simply shut them out.
..................

If there was demand the trucks would be sold here. Much less need for cab-overs make it a different market.