Big custom camper sightings

[lucilius]

Saw this ER at truck tire place in Anchorage, I was just having them swap spare and weather-checked L rear on my U500.
It looked awfully humongous but was nevertheless the F550 chassis. New in Feb this year. Owner told me they switched up to 365/80R20 Goodyears because of “tire overheating” with the 335s. He said his (Dana 60) front weight is 6K, rear 12k. The (flipped) rear Hutchinsons (on adapters) have a lot of negative offset. I suppose we’ll find out about wheel bearing longevity sooner or later with the 365s.
He thought my policy of having a second unmounted spare was a good idea.
He was there for balance issues - tramping of various wheels. I think the adapters from F550 to Hutchinson could be a balance issue.

There is potential drama with both tires and bearings, esp. if not used/maintained properly. The root issue is weight and the limits of the F550 as designed. Hopefully, the owner of the orange rig gets his vehicle on a scale regularly to see&track his front & rear axle weight, particularly since it's new and when one would expect to be learning the most about how the weight on trips will change depending on passengers & equip carried. If I'm not mistaken, the latest F550 ER's have a slightly higher weight rating either from the factory or possibly from ER and what they are able to work out with Ford so owners can keep their warranty. Weight on these extended body rigs and options layout (e.g. the metal storage box, batteries, custom configs, etc.) seems to be the main issue and maybe one reason ER went to a carbon body that is (?) a bit lighter than fiberglass (just a guess here, i'm comparing experience with fiberglass & carbon/kevlar kayaks), but I don't know if an LTi is actually any lighter overall than a late model XV-LTS in a "pounds per foot of length" comparison. There seems to be a trend for vehicles to get heavier and/or more complex these days for a variety of reasons...which might make sense if they happen to be more capable/reliable but the opposite is usually the case.

 

[IndianaDano]

Probably an "out of round" issue with the goodyears

Lots of reports of them being hit or miss and many coming brand new out of round and unable to balance, even Buckstop themselves have mentioned this, and they sell them.

Yep, love the wider tire but hate the balancing issues. I won't do it a second time unless I can get a round set or I will go back to Continentals.

 

[loonwheeler]

Spotted a blue Unimog camper on Highway 68 between Taos and Santa Fe heading South at around 2:15 PM on 11/24. Sorry, no pics... we were coming head on with our U1300L camper. Turned around hoping they turned back, but didn't find them in 2-3 miles of searching.

We ended up camping just North of the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge and woke up to several inches of snow. A nice surprise given this is Thanksgiving week.



If it was you, please reply or PM us. Would love to hear about your travels and where you were headed!

 

[gdaut]

I did not see the blue Unimog, but if you were driving North from Albuquerque to Santa Fe on Weds, I think I saw you. I was driving South and saw some uncommon expo rig coming North, but it was then blocked by a passing semi.

Also, I saw a new-ish Earthroamer parked on a neighborhood street in New Orleans on Tuesday, with a nice mountain scene wrap. Not its natural habitat. Must have interesting driving that thing through the city to get it there.

 

[charlieaarons]

Seen parked near the beach in La Jolla. The MB Arocs has a website
nomadfamily.ch
The camper didn’t have a torsion free mounting obviously. Didn’t get to talk to them.
The MAN picture was taken by grandson.

 

[loonwheeler]

I did not see the blue Unimog, but if you were driving North from Albuquerque to Santa Fe on Weds, I think I saw you. I was driving South and saw some uncommon expo rig coming North, but it was then blocked by a passing semi.

Also, I saw a new-ish Earthroamer parked on a neighborhood street in New Orleans on Tuesday, with a nice mountain scene wrap. Not its natural habitat. Must have interesting driving that thing through the city to get it there.

Probably wasn't us... On Wed we were headed from Raton, to Las Vegas, and ultimately to Villanueva State Park where we stayed that evening.

 

[Stason]

Hi from Canada, guys. Thats northern BC.

 

[Stason]

Just loving it

 

[FaronFaulk]

We were skiing at Powder Mountain Utah last week, and saw both an Earth Cruiser EXP (the guy parked next to it said it's the only one in the US) on Tuesday, and also an Earthroamer SX on Friday.

 

[gregmchugh]

We were skiing at Powder Mountain Utah last week, and saw both an Earth Cruiser EXP (the guy parked next to it said it's the only one in the US) on Tuesday, and also an Earthroamer SX on Friday.

Earthcruiser has sold many in the US

EarthCruiser

An off-road camper like no other, discover the most advanced EarthCruiser overland vehicle and get ready for adventure like never before.

earthcruiser.com

 

[charlieaarons]

At Cheetah Conservation Fund site (55k hectares!), 44km E of Otjiwarango,Namibia.
Has rear wheel steering but still too big for a couple of tracks we were on. One was deep sand, twisty and massively overgrown (Xade Gate to Piper Pan in Central Kalahari GR); track to Third Bridge in Moremi GR was constant full lock turns.
But at least they’re using it. Appears to have CTIS.

 

[charlieaarons]

Feeding time at CCF. They re-wild kittens from the illegal Horn of Africa/Persian Gulf pet trade.

 

[lucilius]

Seen parked near the beach in La Jolla. The MB Arocs has a website
nomadfamily.ch
The camper didn’t have a torsion free mounting obviously. Didn’t get to talk to them.
The MAN picture was taken by grandson.
View attachment 807908View attachment 807907

Just noticed these pics. Why would MAN turn their frame into swiss cheese with all the holes, weight...convenience for mounting points? Maybe it was the owner/camper company. Seems like a bad idea but engineering is not my thing. Nice leopard btw, safe travels in Africa, etc.

 

[charlieaarons]

I seem to recall seeing other MANs in Unicat’s shop with all those holes.

 

[VWTim]

Passed an Earthroamer LTI/LTS? yesterday on Hwy 22 outside of Salem Oregon. First one I've seen in the wild that didn't look like it came fresh from a big rig wash. White or light gray, was traveling the other way.