I had the same requirements and looked at the European and Australean products and was straching my head ..... I also looked into local products like Four Wind and Rossmonster and many many many more but durability for 6 - 10 year in unknown territory is number one priority and second priority is manuverability and global service is third priority. Which unfortuntely in this case I can not met, wish I could find something on Toyota truck, but guess they are made in Texas for US market so I am not sure about that either .... I remember talking to OEV and remember my comfort level with the product. I called OEV again and reason I passed them earlier was I thought their model Summit is the smallest they make which need diseal 550/5500 chasis. I do not want to go beyond 350/3500 and have good experience with Ford gas engine and do not want to deal with sulphur issue or complicated exhuast system. Any ways, I am very happy I called them again, they are working on a smaller model with pop up roof and using same composit material and same build quality as their other models. Please do not ask me the model name, call them ... this model has bed for two (east/west configuration), perminent inside bath and toilet and small dinnet area and it can be put on F350 gas engine, have 40 gal fresh tank, can have 600ah battery and if I am not mistaken will have 600 watt solar. For fresh water, I was told that I can get a filteration system which can sip water from the lake fill the tank. Just fyi, in case if you are still in the market ... I looked around for years and believe me I was willing to spend lot of money but this relatively cheap solution is the best I found .... oh and it will be available in Spring 2026 .... I dont know enough about AEV thistory o say anyting about their promise about Spring 2026 but for now I am taking it at the face value.
What rig is best for Pan-American highway?
- Thread starter Blackwatch
- Start date
forget to mention about kitchen and two induction stove and they agreed to get rid of propane on my request and made it full electric. I have to look at my notes but if my memory is any good water and space heating is vias engine fuel.
I agree it does not have lot of fency stuff I hve seen in European expensive expedition vehicles and as engineer I can see it is missing three layers of redudencies but this is basic and it simple and if it break it will be easy to fix and for basicc requirements of manuverability I have not seen anything coming close to it perhas Four Wheel and Rossmonster but durability this will be the best, Guess I will write a report in 12 years if I am still around .....
I am member and reading portal for years and I did not realize my post will be like this ..,.
I agree it does not have lot of fency stuff I hve seen in European expensive expedition vehicles and as engineer I can see it is missing three layers of redudencies but this is basic and it simple and if it break it will be easy to fix and for basicc requirements of manuverability I have not seen anything coming close to it perhas Four Wheel and Rossmonster but durability this will be the best, Guess I will write a report in 12 years if I am still around .....
I am member and reading portal for years and I did not realize my post will be like this ..,.
Blackwatch
New member
Wow, OEV is pretty expensive. $130,000 usd for the camper plus vehicle. The Sprinter 144 AWD seems to be the best fit for available interior size. But the reliability is of concern in places like Peru or Guatemala etc. Ideally I would like a medium sized Toyota like a LC or Hilux/Tacoma but the habitat part has to have 6 feet of headroom, shower/bathroom, sleeps 2, small kitchen and place to sit and eat.
GVWR and payload are causing issues. Looking into extruded aluminum builds.
GVWR and payload are causing issues. Looking into extruded aluminum builds.
I posted on this thread and wanted to put a closure ... in future I may start a new thread if I need some help
After talking to real boss who was on the side line for years while I was doing the research, told me that she want to have the same comfort as Lazy Daze gave us (Class C, we had for four years which I sold last month with in half an hour of advertising it in a small owner group) ... Guess a very small cost for her to company me for a very long expedition ... this also put my set of rigid requirements in the garbage and I signed the contract with the Bliss Mobile for their 16 ft habitate (after all, Boss wanted to have class C comfort) and am getting International Truck. Guess not all of my research is wasted, I know what I am getting into now ... I will not be able to goto 30-40% of the places I would have gone otherwise but that is fine world is big and there is no reason to complain.
Folks are familier with Bliss Mobile but I do not hear much about International Truck. Folks talk about Fusco and other trucks. For semi, International is the only company which make 4x4 with locker in the rear wheel and use L9 Cummins(actually they have other options as well). I simply do not want anybody to modify critical design component especially when I am totally green on the trucks and will be going in the places where getting the service will be a challenge. I am sure driving and servicing FTR will be easier but unfortunately ISUZU do not make 4x4 in US. As I said I do not know much about trucks, may be Tulsa conversion is excellent but this is personal comfort .... Keeping truck as simple as possible ... only changing wheel to alcoe (sp?) and tires I am told they are military grade and we are going to put the bull bar which will have winch and few spot lights and a light bar. Nothing fency.
I will be sending Truck to Netherland will take Bliss Mobile delivery there in Aug and planning on spending four years in Europe before dipping south to Africa from Morocco. Not sure what route I will take but I am familier with 3 month visa requirement and playing with ChatGPT to have some rough idea ..... also reading few travel logs but guess there is nothing like learning from own mistakes. Staying in Europe will make it easy that we do not have to worry about high sulphur diseal or temporary import permit issues and will have time to learn from other travellers as well.
I posted some information here and just wanted to put the closure as I did not acted on what I posted earlier. Keeping current company is higher priority
PS: Somebody commented about price, fair point ... durability is my priority ... all of us are at different point in our life. If age and health permit this will be 10-15 year expedition and as I mentioned I have a reluctant partner. I need a strong, durable and comfortable vehicle and it cost money. We have 27 ft class C RV for almost 4 years and we spent 3+ years in the RV so RV was more than just a machine and both of us were sad selling the RV and we do hope next vehicle will be home away home for us.
After talking to real boss who was on the side line for years while I was doing the research, told me that she want to have the same comfort as Lazy Daze gave us (Class C, we had for four years which I sold last month with in half an hour of advertising it in a small owner group) ... Guess a very small cost for her to company me for a very long expedition ... this also put my set of rigid requirements in the garbage and I signed the contract with the Bliss Mobile for their 16 ft habitate (after all, Boss wanted to have class C comfort) and am getting International Truck. Guess not all of my research is wasted, I know what I am getting into now ... I will not be able to goto 30-40% of the places I would have gone otherwise but that is fine world is big and there is no reason to complain.
Folks are familier with Bliss Mobile but I do not hear much about International Truck. Folks talk about Fusco and other trucks. For semi, International is the only company which make 4x4 with locker in the rear wheel and use L9 Cummins(actually they have other options as well). I simply do not want anybody to modify critical design component especially when I am totally green on the trucks and will be going in the places where getting the service will be a challenge. I am sure driving and servicing FTR will be easier but unfortunately ISUZU do not make 4x4 in US. As I said I do not know much about trucks, may be Tulsa conversion is excellent but this is personal comfort .... Keeping truck as simple as possible ... only changing wheel to alcoe (sp?) and tires I am told they are military grade and we are going to put the bull bar which will have winch and few spot lights and a light bar. Nothing fency.
I will be sending Truck to Netherland will take Bliss Mobile delivery there in Aug and planning on spending four years in Europe before dipping south to Africa from Morocco. Not sure what route I will take but I am familier with 3 month visa requirement and playing with ChatGPT to have some rough idea ..... also reading few travel logs but guess there is nothing like learning from own mistakes. Staying in Europe will make it easy that we do not have to worry about high sulphur diseal or temporary import permit issues and will have time to learn from other travellers as well.
I posted some information here and just wanted to put the closure as I did not acted on what I posted earlier. Keeping current company is higher priority
PS: Somebody commented about price, fair point ... durability is my priority ... all of us are at different point in our life. If age and health permit this will be 10-15 year expedition and as I mentioned I have a reluctant partner. I need a strong, durable and comfortable vehicle and it cost money. We have 27 ft class C RV for almost 4 years and we spent 3+ years in the RV so RV was more than just a machine and both of us were sad selling the RV and we do hope next vehicle will be home away home for us.
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
I returned from a 2.5 year trip from Portland Oregon to SOUTH of Ushuaia in a ‘90 troopy. Changed the tires, brakes and oil. That was it and we were off pavement a LOT. Ran into people in other vehicles that were newer and older and more than expected were waiting on parts.
The Land Cruiser Troopy is tough as nails. That’s why a lot of the ambulances there is the platform.
I’m getting my head around selling mine now. It’s served its purpose to me and it’s time for someone else to take it south. It still has a lot of adventure left in it,
The Land Cruiser Troopy is tough as nails. That’s why a lot of the ambulances there is the platform.
I’m getting my head around selling mine now. It’s served its purpose to me and it’s time for someone else to take it south. It still has a lot of adventure left in it,
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Blackwatch
New member
Great truck, I am in the process of buying a Troopy from Central America and importing it. Alaska to Argentina, Ireland to Australia and parts of Africa. A Sprinter would have been more comfortable but after driving a Troopy in Costa Rica for 2 weeks it's the only vehicle I want now.
FAW3
Adventurer
In ‘63 my dad and I drove from Costa Rica to Texas along the PanAm…in a Chevrolet Corvair. Sections were still under construction with just graded gravel. I was 9 years old. Fabulous memories and I just turned 70!
I’m thinking that a rig somewhere between a Prius and a MOG will do the trip. My only real recommendation is that you:
Enjoy your journey!
I’m thinking that a rig somewhere between a Prius and a MOG will do the trip. My only real recommendation is that you:
Enjoy your journey!
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