EarthCruiser is closing!?!?!

[rruff]

I didn't realize you were talking about the spare! Sometimes you can deflate and ratchet strap them. If you go "light" on the cab you can fit them behind it, also.

 

[rruff]

The 1" aluminum tubing frame should be pretty light and I think the outer fiberglass body is only 1/4" thick or so.

I'd like to see how they are made. I thought it would be a structural sandwich, but I guess not. 1/4" is thick... a sandwich panel would be more like 1/8" on a side with nothing but foam in the middle.

 

[rruff]

I think I've read on here once or twice that modern PUs don't require a sub frame so that's might mean less load to build.

Yes, pickup frames are all boxed and very stiff in torsion now... C&C are still C channel behind the cab.

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

Pretty sure you could fit 37s under either pretty easily. The 1 ton (350 3500) C&C can be had with SRW, so I guess that is what TruckHouse did. I think it would have made sense for TH to go with a 4500/450 (which are only dually) and SS for the much better turning and wider track... but maybe the suspension options are lacking, or AEV doesn't do those?

Rossmonster may be using the pickup chassis (which are boxed and stiff and don't need pivoting subframes) on the Baja, but each chassis manufacturer will have different bed mounting points, compared to the C&C which all have standard width C channel rails.

You hit the upper limit on payload REALLY FAST with the 350/3500 SRWs. You need to go DRW and single them out.

 

[lucilius]

You hit the upper limit on payload REALLY FAST with the 350/3500 SRWs. You need to go DRW and single them out.

It would be interesting to test what real gains in load capacity can be gotten when going from a SRW 350/3500 to a DRW 350/3500 or 450(0)/550(0) with an aftermarket SRW conversion. Without doing an axle replacement, I don't know if the as-engineered DRW GAWR holds when replaced with a custom SRW setup...any engineers out there? In any event, if you have a camper on a pickup/chassis truck, be it a 4Wheel slide-in (quite light) or an Earthroamer (not light), I would really check carefully to ensure you have GAWRs that can easily handle what you're going to be carrying.

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

It would be interesting to test what real gains in load capacity can be gotten when going from a SRW 350/3500 to a DRW 350/3500 or 450(0)/550(0) with an aftermarket SRW conversion. Without doing an axle replacement, I don't know if the as-engineered DRW GAWR holds when replaced with a custom SRW setup...any engineers out there? In any event, if you have a camper on a pickup/chassis truck, be it a 4Wheel slide-in (quite light) or an Earthroamer (not light), I would really check carefully to ensure you have GAWRs that can easily handle what you're going to be carrying.

Ford publishes the numbers online. There’s an upper limit difference of around 1,000lbs (if my memory is correct). Given how low the payload is to start, it’s substantial.

 

[martinf]

Any current or previous owners can chime in on what should a prospective buyer be aware of when considering a used unit today?

The proprietary (maybe?) control system comes to mind, I think everything else could relatively easily be fixed as needed?

 

[lucilius]

Ford publishes the numbers online. There’s an upper limit difference of around 1,000lbs (if my memory is correct). Given how low the payload is to start, it’s substantial.

I don't know if Ford (and Ram) provide a different axle for SRW in 450/550 or just use some kind of an OEM spacer/extension?
At least some expedition campers have in the past taken factory DRW F550 axle and then extended it (e.g. Dana S110 and 130? on Earthroamers) to result in a camper-width SRW setup. IME, there shouldn't be any drama with GAWR, if you're well under limit when fully loaded--- mine's been perfect for 14+ years of roaming around, provided you know your GAWRs, maintain your axles/wheel bearings/etc. correctly and can always stay on top of how much you're carrying.

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

I don't know if Ford (and Ram) provide a different axle for SRW in 450/550 or just use some kind of an OEM spacer/extension?
At least some expedition campers have in the past taken factory DRW F550 axle and then extended it (e.g. Dana S110 and 130? on Earthroamers) to result in a camper-width SRW setup. IME, there shouldn't be any drama with GAWR, if you're well under limit when fully loaded--- mine's been perfect for 14+ years of roaming around, provided you know your GAWRs, maintain your axles/wheel bearings/etc. correctly and can always stay on top of how much you're carrying.

Are we talking about converting a DRW to super singles or just buying an SRW? I was referring to the latter.

 

[lucilius]

Are we talking about converting a DRW to super singles or just buying an SRW? I was referring to the latter.

When you wrote "You need to go DRW and single them out" above, I figured you meant turning a DRW into SRW.

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

When you wrote "You need to go DRW and single them out" above, I figured you meant turning a DRW into SRW.

Well, turns out I'm a flippin' idiot!

You wrote this: "It would be interesting to test what real gains in load capacity can be gotten when going from a SRW 350/3500 to a DRW 350/3500 or 450(0)/550(0) with an aftermarket SRW conversion." and my brain totally missed the "aftermarket SRW conversion" part.

 

[Ozarker]

Well, turns out I'm a flippin' idiot!

You wrote this: "It would be interesting to test what real gains in load capacity can be gotten when going from a SRW 350/3500 to a DRW 350/3500 or 450(0)/550(0) with an aftermarket SRW conversion." and my brain totally missed the "aftermarket SRW conversion" part.

I had nothing to do with these posts!

 

[mog]

Lot of equipment for sale at their auction https://commercialindustrialauctions.com/auction/earthcruiser-liquidation-online-only-auction/
with one vehicle https://www.proxibid.com/2021-CHEVROLET-4500-COE-CREW-CAB-CAB-CHASSIS/lotInformation/85888876



And what looks to be a 'prototype GZL (full pop-top roof instead of the 'normal' tilt-pop roof, and 'flat' entry door). https://www.proxibid.com/EARTHCRUISER-6-5-COMPACT-PICKUP-CAMPER/lotInformation/85889096



*NOTE* no bidding on the GZL as MOG wants another one (ya, that is a joke, bid away)

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

What a sad end

 

[lanceatm]

G`day All
Thank you everyone for the very positive comments in regard to our little company EarthCruiser, it has been really terrific thank you.

To clear some things up -
The company has not closed, only the manufacturing has come to a end in beautiful Bend .

How we delivered that message was dreadful how it was managed was worse. I take full responsibility for hiring the wrong consultants to help me make these massive changes to what we do.

Put simply the town we live in now is not the town we moved to ten years ago.
To earn enough to have a decent living wage and then have that translated to a traded sector business just does not work any more. Many of our local suppliers have either closed or reduced their operations considerably as we must.

Unless one has been through this process I am at a loss as how to explain it - other than it really does suck.

What is at auction will be tools (LOTS OF TOOLS) plant and equipment we no longer need, not any current model EarthCruiser manufactured parts.

There will be a number of useful bits for the FUSO fan ( Michelle said I can`t keep any more) they will not make you a EarthCruiser but ideal for your project. Lots of R and D ( we hosted and funded engineering capstone projects for students of OSU nearly every year for the last ten years) fun stuff for off road and overland gear. There is some really really good gear there.

As an example we have no further need of the proto type slide in camper, we have the data we need for them to become a production item again.

A number of former EarthCruiser crew has taken over, with our encouragement, service of customer vehicles. They are great people and know what they are doing, some have had their enterprises for a number of years. We are very proud of them for their success and worked with them many times and the past and will again in the future.

We have a couple of trucks left to finish for customers, we expect them to be complete in the coming months.

Our primary aim now is move / license / sell EarthCruiser developed products and IP to get more of what we created in the hands of more people to enjoy.

I really miss working with the EarthCruiser Crew, they are some of the best people I have ever met.

All the very best.

Lance