2017 Ram PowerWagon with 2018 Earthcruiser GZL-400 (SOLD)

[RLeech]

Price: $99,000 Canadian (SOLD)
Location: Vancouver, BC

The iconic Ram PowerWagon is a match made in heaven for the rare EarthCruiser GZL-400 camper. If your goal is Overland Expedition, or off-road camping, so that you can access the most remote and beautiful camp spots then this overland adventure rig may be for you.

As a professional mountain biker, I spent many weekend to multiple week trips travelling to events in this rig. I spent a few months living on the road with a partner mountain biking very comfortably. I'm six foot tall and had loads of headroom. From BC to the Baja, this truck/camper combo is truly a dream.

I agonized over which camper to purchase. I quickly ruled out 4x4 vans because even with a lift they'd be too risky to get to the best spots. Upon deciding on a truck and slide-in camper, I was close to choosing Four Wheel Camper for my Ram - however, once I added all the options the cost difference was small enough for me to determine the extra cost and craftsmanship for the Earthcruisers lighter weight, insulated fiberglass monocoque shell, and higher overall marine grade quality throughout was worth it. Plus it looks beautiful - no shortage of curious attention when rolling around trailheads that's for sure!

The truck was also a tough decision, especially as a guy coming from a Duramax/Allison. Bottom line is that back-country exploration was paramount, and the lighter weight that a gas engine gives over diesel was a factor. However, having a truck that was factory lifted and kitted with off-road features gives peace of mind - adding these features after market is costly, and also increases the risk of mechanical issues. There is peace of mind when a truck like the PowerWagon has been engineered over years to stand up to the demands of serious backcountry exploration straight from the factory.

I also run an online business so part of my vision was to live as a 'digital nomad' living and working out of the Earthcruiser at the most beautiful camp spots and mountain bike trailheads.

However, life has now gifted me a home and newborn baby so my dream rig is sadly no longer being utilized or practical. I'll be happy and proud to turn over the keys to someone ready to live the life!!

Some of the specs for the Earthcruiser GZL-400 (discontinued model)

• 2x 100 watt Zamp Solar Panels - flush mounted on roof
• Zamp 1600 Watt Inverter
• 2x 90amp AMG House Batteries
• 1.5 Cubic Feet Isotherm Fridge/Freezer
• 22 Gallon (100 L) Potable Water Tank
• Water Purification System
• 9 Gallon Grey Water Tank
• Bed sleeps two (I'm 6' and fit fully) plus dinette table drops to make a single bed for third, or can be used for stealth camping (top down)
• Elgena 2.6 (10 L) Gallon Water Heater
• Dometic 2 Burner Propane Cooktop
• Propane Radiant Heater
• 5 Gallon Propane Tank
• LED Interior & Exterior Lighting
• 6.5 foot Awning
• Interior Shower
• Exterior Shower
• 4x Camper Manual Jacks - easily mount to camper, jack up, unbold the camper, and drive away!

Some of the specs for the 2017 PowerWagon:

• 6.4 L V8 Hemi 2500
• 51,666 miles (92,000 KM) - full service records available.
• Dual Alternators Rated at 380 Amps
• 12,000 lb Warn winch
• Transfer Case Skid Plate
• Fuel Tank Skid Plate Shield
• Leather Trim 40/20/40 Bench Seat
• 9 Alpine Speakers w/Subwoofer
• Remote Start System
• 31 Gallon Gasoline Fuel Tank (120L)
  • External storage on bike rack for two 20L jerry cans!
• Heated Front Seats
• Power Sunroof
• Pwr 10 Way Mem Seats
• Uconnect 3C NAV with 8.4 Touch Display
• ParkSense FT/RR Park Assist System
• Spray-in Bedliner
• Rear 60/40 Split Folder Seat
• Power Fold Blk Trl Tow Mirror w/Mem
• Alarm system
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Locking Tailgate
• Ventilated Front Seats
• ParkView Rear Back-up Camera

Some additional notes of interest:

• The roof pops up super easy - I just climb in and push up and voila - ready to use.
  • I'm 6' and have loads of headspace when cooking.
• The windows are incredible - they can be closed (full insulation), screened, or fully open. The full width one at the back is glorious when cooking.
• Decals will be professionally removed before sale.
• The bed is super comfortable and surprisingly spacious. Some of the best sleeps of my life in it!
• The heater rules - plenty of juice to keep the water tank and lines freely flowing and the air toasty warm - I've slept overnight in temperatures down to -12 celsius or 10 fahrenheit.
• There is plenty of locking storage in the camper - a width compartment with doors both sides, along with storage in the back.
• Water is easy to fill with a collapsible hose included with the kit.
• I will not be considering selling the truck or camper separately because I don't want to deal with fitting the Earthcruiser to a new vehicle, it's a fairly complex installation.
  • Once installed professionally, which mine is, the GZL can be mounted and unmounted relatively easily so you have full use of the PowerWagon without the camper. It's an elegant system.
• A story Pinkbike did of this rig: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/vehicle-check-ryan-leechs-custom-earthcruiser-and-ram-power-wagon.html
• A story Shimano did on this rig: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/info...e-parks-it---ryan-leech-s-next-adventure.html

Some of the additional customizations I made:

• External P3 Flexible 90w Solar Panel with 20' cable - with custom plug-in and integration with house battery charging system
  • I wanted to be sure I had plenty of juice as I was a 'digital nomad' and needed to charge camera's and use my laptop all day even in overcast or winter sun conditions.
• White Knuckle Rock Sliders
  • I wanted real protection - no cheap running boards or side bars.
• ARB CKMTA 12 On-Board High Performance 12 Volt Twin Air Compressor mounted under rear truck seat - hard-wired in.
  • I wanted quick and easy ability to air-down for overland and back up for hwy travel.
• Custom North Shore Bike Rack with spare Gasoline Tank platform
  • I didn't want to compromise departure angle, so had a custom extension welded on - and split the 6 bike rack in half for camper travel. The other 3 hooks bolt right back on when camper not in use. I also wanted to be sure I had plenty of spare fuel for back country exploration, hence the custom fabricated platform that is handy for a variety of other purposes too.
• Battery Isolator and solenoid from truck battery to camper for fast house battery charging.
  • Redundancy is key! I wanted a back-up way to quickly charge my house batteries.
• Firestone Ride-Rite Airbag Spring Kit on rear end.
  • To achieve the perfect ride height, especially when fully loaded with water and fuel, I added these bullet-proof air-bags, and usually run them at about 25 psi.
• 33" Toyo M55's. 285/70R17. Made in Japan and bulletproof.
  • There is a reason all the logging and mining companies spec these on their work trucks. I had two backcountry punctures and one small tears with the tires that came stock on the PowerWagon, the Goodyear Duratrac, and have had zero with the Toyo's. They're down to about 40% life left.

Pricing:
It's important to note that pricing is quoted in Canadian dollars. I'm happy to accept USD if you're from the states, we can use the current exchange rate at the purchase date.
Another important factor to note is that I legally imported the Earthcruiser into Canada and paid full duties/taxes on it.

The rough math of original cost:

• Earthcruiser purchase price: $41,500 USD x 1.26 = $52,290 CND
  • Duties: $6254 CND
• Ram Powerwagon purchase price: $76,360 CND
• Customizations: approx $10,000 CND

The rough total of my ORIGINAL investment: $144,904 CND or $114,474 USD.

I'm aware that this is a sellers market - quality overland vehicles are hard to come by, and new order times are long and costs high. This Powerwagon Earthcruiser combo is also unique and will have high appeal to a specific buyer. My hope is not to take advantage of this market, but instead to quickly find the right buyer who will love this rig and utilize its full potential.

Sale Price: $99,000 CND obo (and just like houses, obo doesn't just mean below, but above too if interest is high)

Ryan Leech: trials@ryanleech.com
Full ad with additional images: https://learn.ryanleech.com/power-wagon-earth-cruiser-for-sale

 

[Herbie]

Wow. I was heavily researching GZLs and MODs last year, and I remember seeing a LOT about this rig. If this had come up for sale 3 months ago, I'd have bought it on the spot! I went in a different direction in February, so I'm out as a buyer, but I will watch this thread with great interest.

GLWS!

 

[RLeech]

Ya it's amazing just how much time is required when researching which rig to get - so many options! I was blown away by just how capable and powerful this combo was - could always find private and remote spots most others could never access, and I don't think I even came close to finding the performance edges. Yes I'll be curious about the interest and intrigue of this offering!

 

[BroncoHauler]

Very interesting setup. Two questions, first is there a diagram of the floorplan so I can get a better sense of how the interior is laid out, and second, are there any bathroom facilities?


thanks,
Herb

 

[kcshoots]

Hi Ryan, from one fellow MTB racer to another. Great to see you and your truck/camper here. Looks like a cool rig.

 

[RLeech]

Very interesting setup. Two questions, first is there a diagram of the floorplan so I can get a better sense of how the interior is laid out, and second, are there any bathroom facilities?


thanks,
Herb

Hi Herb, below is an overhead view of a test model GZL I borrowed from Earthcruiser while I awaited my own - the layout is the same (just has blue instead of white interior - this gives you a pretty good idea of the layout. Regarding the toilet, I decided that since I'd be primarily camping in wild spots, that I'd always choose to go outside even if I had a toilet option, so I saved the space inside.

 

[extremer]

How far does the bed pull out? How many days will a 5 gallon propane tank roughly last both cooking and heating in the cold, and can it be replaced in the same spot with a larger tank? And are there any issues involved bringing it to the US? Thanks

 

[Lucidless]

Ya it's amazing just how much time is required when researching which rig to get - so many options! I was blown away by just how capable and powerful this combo was - could always find private and remote spots most others could never access, and I don't think I even came close to finding the performance edges. Yes I'll be curious about the interest and intrigue of this offering!

Tell me about it, I started with an insane defender 130 expedition build, then downsized to a Discovery pop top build, now upsizing a little to a 78 series troop carrier build... Oh yeah, all in the past 8 months, so it pays off doing research hahaha.. Hopefully 3rd time the charm. Ive always loved these EC slide-ins. GLWS, you have a nice turnkey rig

Too right with the "obo (and just like houses, obo doesn't just mean below, but above too if interest is high)" just so you know everyone on expedition portal is just searching for deals. If it gets into a sort of bidding war, they come back here to complain and then the keyboard warriors come out saying "you should sue the seller because he said he'd sell to you" and so on.. In reality, ive had vehicles sell for $15k us more than posting price because a few guys got into a bidding war..

 

[RLeech]

How far does the bed pull out? How many days will a 5 gallon propane tank roughly last both cooking and heating in the cold, and can it be replaced in the same spot with a larger tank? And are there any issues involved bringing it to the US? Thanks

Your partner can be in bed while you have full use of the kitchen and you can still sit on the front edge of the bench seat too. Regarding propane, lasts so long, you can be out in the cold for weeks, amazing how far a little tank goes, and also yes you might be able to fit a slightly larger size. I actually used to carry a small spare tank but never needed it so left it out of my kit.