Prepare For Adventure - Kids Not Invited

In-depth

20 Dec

Come holidays, I’m more of a caravan and blacktop kind of guy. But then I don’t spend day in, day out traversing the tarmac across the country like you lot do. I’ve no doubt that there’s more than a few of you who would happily trade the highways of Australia for those roads less travelled, or indeed where they run out.

If you are one of those intrepid types then this is for you …

One of these beauties also means you have to leave the kids behind as they are an item built for two. But hey, we’re sure Nan and Pops would love to look after their progeny’s progenies for a bit while you head off to places unknown for a voyage of discovery and excitement.

This is Earthcruiser Australia’s latest offering, the Expedition Earthcruiser EXP, which joins the company’s other Iveco Daily cab/chassis based offerings. The EXP is underpinned by the latest 7-tonne Iveco Daily which is Euro 6 compliant and available for the first time with a fluid 8-speed auto transmission. There’s still a traditional 6-speed manual for those of you who think that cog-swapping a Road Ranger for 11 months of the year is not enough.

If you have a look at the offerings from RV manufacturers here in Australia, you’ll find that 90% of them are based on either the IVECO Daily or parent company, Fiat’s Ducato (with an odd sprinkling of VW). The reason is simple: these companies offer a cab/chassis sans back wall, so are ready made to have whatever Earthcruiser and other RV companies wish to build onto the back – no cutting out for walk-throughs. I digress…

Getting the techo stuff out of the way, the Daily runs a 3.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine developing 180 hp and 430 Nm of torque. The new 7-tonne chassis has a towing capacity of 3.5-tonne, and requires the driver to possess a light or medium rigid licence. The all-wheel drive chassis with low range transmission should deliver true go-anywhere adventuring.

Enter stage left Earthcruiser, to weave a bit of their magic on the base vehicle. The company starts with 17-inch forged alloy rims with a 2250kg load rating, shod with massive 37-inch Kevlar-reinforced mud terrain tyres with a 2300kg rating. These raise the Daily even higher off the deck, so an electric 3-step entry system is fitted.

**Steps are electric and there are three of them to help out old truckies with crook backs**

The camper is fully moulded as a single piece for structural rigidity, and features high density thermal foam walls, floor and roof to provide strength and temperature protection.

Now this is no huge RV but hats off to Earthcruiser; what they have done with the layout of the EXP is both ingenious and brilliantly executed. The following inclusions would, you’d think call for a semi-trailer sized living area:

Stainless-steel kitchen sink, inside and outside shower, slide-out internal toilet, freshwater drinking fountain and upright fridge-freezer. The cook-top can be either induction or diesel powered. There is also a continuous hot water service. You can have a Queen sized bed (or optional singles) with plush, high density, foam topper mattresses.

The walk-through from the cab makes the most of the available space by allowing the re-profiled front seats to swivel around, thereby doubling as a lounge/dining area. Awnings are fitted to both sides of the camper which is a great idea and something I wish caravan manufacturers would adopt or at least offer as an option.

Pop the top, which is home to an upgradable 270 W solar panel system, and there are no less than eight zip Windows in addition to the two smaller opening windows at each end of the bed. You will definitely not want for airflow which is a good thing in the Australian climate. But if you want to close up and stay cool there’s a climate control system to do the job.

There is an 1800-Watt inverter/charger (also upgradable) and there are 3 x 120 Amp batteries on board as well as a touch screen to control more than 80 functions in the camper body. 80 functions! I hope the instruction manual is easy to read!

The array of optional extras is as broad as the imagination of the would-be adventurer, who can customise their new vehicle with features from snorkels to toolboxes, winches to reversing cameras, Bilstein shocks or full air suspension. Want a washing machine? Earthcruiser can find somewhere to fit one. The EXP is equipped with 100-litres of water as standard, although an optional 400-litre tank is available.

The standard Iveco 90-litre fuel tank can be augmented by a further 400-litre tank. Together with an upgraded 85-litre AdBlue tank this option gives a notional 2800 km between refills, depending on terrain and loading. That’s enough to keep you off the blacktop for some time.

But it’s the design of the EXP that impresses. On the off-side there’s a decent storage hatch at the rear – big enough for an Esky of your choice. In front of that you lift a hatch and there is the outside shower, replete with privacy curtains. The nearside hatches house the batteries, a fold out table, slide out BBQ and again, a heap of storage space.

**Offside awning is something caravan manufacturers should adopt**

Step inside and a door on the right hand side of the entrance folds out, creating the back of the internal shower which is in the door well. Behind that door is the slide out toilet. Clever stuff!

**…. becomes a shower cubicle and ‘powder room’**

As mentioned the cab seats swivel to create a living area and there is further seating next to the passenger seat.

As well as the air con there are no less than 4 integrated overhead fans. If you can’t stay cool in this beasty, well you’re a winger in the extreme. There’s a two plate cooktop inside and a microwave. Every other bit of available space is filled with drawers so storage is not a problem.

**Overhead fans front and rear, air con and a curtain to separate the lazy one from the industrious one.**

Up front the seats are captain chairs and the driver looks over a neatly laid out instrument panel with great forward vision. The mob at Earthcruiser have simply thought of everything. There’s even a curtain for the bed so I can sleep in while Rita prepares brekky and extra grab straps on the A-pillar grab handles for short arses like me.

**This is a nice place to be when you have to ‘work’**

I started off by saying that I’m a caravan and blacktop kinda guy, but I reckon I could convert to the EXP in a heartbeat. I’m not a desert trekker but I reckon there’s huge areas of the Australian coastline where I could happily set up off the grid for a month or three.

If you do insist on taking the ankle biters, I’m sure Earthcruiser can accommodate you.

Earthcruiser can be found at 53 Montague Street, North Wollongong NSW 2500 | w: earthcruiser.net.au | e: sales@earthcruiser.net.au | p: 0412 64 24 37 |

Tell ‘em Kermie sent you.

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