New Carbon Fiber EarthRoamer

[pugslyyy]

EarthRoamer builds the Lamborghini of overland vehicles, and I like them.

Like most of us here, I'm not in the market for a camper that costs more than my house... but there are enough folks out there who are able to afford them for it to be a good business.

I'll just have to be content drooling over a poster up on the wall of my bedroom.
Oh wait, that was the Countach poster back in high school.

 

[chet6.7]

I have been working with emergency services since 2006, and responded to a great many car and truck accidents, many on the freeway.

Personally a cab over design, even one with a bumper is not for me. I like my legs, and the ability to walk.

Hoods and engines offer a good sized crumple zone in accidents.

but to each their own, no single solution is the perfect fit for everyone. Thats why we have options.

A friend of mine has a saying about vans and head-on wreaks....you'll be the first one there.

 

[The Artisan]

I would not buy an engine forward design, poor turning circle and vision, wasting usable length. Horses for courses.

Are you talking about cabovers in general?
Kevin

 

[38snubby]

In December of 2016 we went to GXV to look at a recently completed UXV on a Ford F550 and we probably would have ordered one until we saw the first Kenworth K370 Patagonia build that they had just completed. Once we saw the option of a cab forward on a well supported chassis we never looked back. Almost bought the one they had just completed (the one with the garage that could hold a Polaris Razor) but in the end had them build one for us designed closer to our needs. We have the 3rd build that they did. I don’t know if they have built a UXV in the last few years since they started having the Kenworth available. Now they seem to be mostly building the Kenworth Patagonia/Pangea and the smaller Turtle vehicles in addition to the newer Adventure truck line and a few other models.

Thank you for once again providing a well measured response. There is just not a lot of data out there as most GXV and ER customers do not participate here or on youtube.

 

[Joe917]

Are you talking about cabovers in general?
Kevin

Yes American pick up trucks (engine forward) have very poor turning circles,and vision compared to cabovers (cab forward).

 

[gregmchugh]

Here is a cool custom all carbon fibre expo truck for 200.000 less than an earth roamer. Love the innovative details.

That looks excellent. If only we could get this MAN truck in the US it would be a serious contender over here...

 

[Victorian]

That looks excellent. If only we could get this MAN truck in the US it would be a serious contender over here...

100% there are so many more options available in Europe.

 

[38snubby]

100% there are so many more options available in Europe.

It is actually depressing to think about. Why are they not here? This is a big market so they could destroy what little competition is here.

 

[Victorian]

It is actually depressing to think about. Why are they not here? This is a big market so they could destroy what little competition is here.

Import laws for the USA. Other countries made it a lot easier for manufacturers to establish their brands. I talked to a head engineer at Mercedes a while ago about the cab chassis 4x4. He said it would cost millions to get them onto the USA market. Every little change they make between model (different rear view mirrors, tire sizes....) they need to go through re certification including crash tests... Other countries excepted the European standards (they are VERY high) and therefore opened the door to them.

 

[luthj]

Allowing euro standards as equivalent to the US Fed standards would be a challenge to get through. It would also be a direct threat to the USA based MFGs, as the barrier to entry would be much lower. Hence there is strong lobbying opposition to anything of the sort.

To be fair this goes both ways, as the EU won't let you import an american certified vehicle without testing it against their regs.

 

[pugslyyy]

Import laws for the USA. Other countries made it a lot easier for manufacturers to establish their brands. I talked to a head engineer at Mercedes a while ago about the cab chassis 4x4. He said it would cost millions to get them onto the USA market. Every little change they make between model (different rear view mirrors, tire sizes....) they need to go through re certification including crash tests... Other countries excepted the European standards (they are VERY high) and therefore opened the door to them.

Of course the great irony here is that it was Mercedes-Benz USA that put so much time, effort, and money into making the US importation laws more restrictive.

 

[The Artisan]

Yes American pick up trucks (engine forward) have very poor turning circles,and vision compared to cabovers (cab forward).

Oh yes I agree I read it wrong. My 07 fuso fe140 short wb has just as good turning radius than my bmws.
Kevin

 

[gregmchugh]

It is actually depressing to think about. Why are they not here? This is a big market so they could destroy what little competition is here.

The import laws and emission/safety standards surely have an effect but in the end sometimes it just doesn’t make financial sense. MAN would require a significant investment to move into North American market with no current dealer or distribution base. Daimler is already here with Freightliner and Western Star and Mercedes dealerships but in the end, I don’t think there is enough demand for large cab forward trucks, let alone 4wd versions, to justify bringing any new models over here. As mentioned above, even something seemingly simple like adding the 4wd cab chassis Sprinter to the North American line up was too costly to have it happen. There were a few hundred Freightliner Unimogs imported here the early 2000’s but when the diesel emission standards became more stringent Daimler stopped that. Unfortunate, but that seems to be where we are at...

 

[gregmchugh]

Oh yes I agree I read it wrong. My 07 fuso fe140 short wb has just as good turning radius than my bmws.
Kevin

EarthCruiser had a video showing the turning radius of the 2020 EarthCruiser was close to that of a Tacoma.

 

[Steve_382]

The import laws and emission/safety standards surely have an effect but in the end sometimes it just doesn’t make financial sense. MAN would require a significant investment to move into North American market with no current dealer or distribution base. Daimler is already here with Freightliner and Western Star and Mercedes dealerships but in the end, I don’t think there is enough demand for large cab forward trucks, let alone 4wd versions, to justify bringing any new models over here. As mentioned above, even something seemingly simple like adding the 4wd cab chassis Sprinter to the North American line up was too costly to have it happen. There were a few hundred Freightliner Unimogs imported here the early 2000’s but when the diesel emission standards became more stringent Daimler stopped that. Unfortunate, but that seems to be where we are at...

The Bliss Mobil guy at Overland Expo East mentioned that there was some talk about importing a couple hundred Unimogs to the USA and that they could be used for their camper boxes. Who knows if or when that might happen, but it was interesting to note that they at least had a vehicle at the show. A nice, well designed box also.