The next big thing

[nxski]

I'm hoping this will be the next big thing in offroading / rv'ing culture. It would seem to be what the Delica is all about but on a much larger scale. If they weren't so bloody expensive and didn't use so much gas I'd be all over this one! Check it out..."Go big or go home!"

http://www.unicatamericas.com/photos_ex58.html

http://web.archive.org/web/200605082234 ... 6x6-2.html

[fexlboi]

This is already big in the overland scene, but just not on this continent :)

More photos if you are interested: http://dinoevo.de/gallery/photos/abenteuer-allrad-2010/

[nxski]

I've seen lots of videos on youtube of them it would just be nice to have something like this over here. We need some more variety in the vehicle department! I don't think I've seen another website with as good of a walkthrough though so I thought I'd share it. You can't beat the solid Uni-mog design either.

[fexlboi]

Over the years I found there is quite a bit difference in how the overland/4x4 people travel in Europe vs. North America. So I don't think this trend will come anytime soon.

NA:
A lot of people have huge trailers or RVs and travel only on the road or make themselves a basecamp and explore some heavy terrain with their rock crawler, ATC, dirtbikes etc.
Also most of the time they do shorter trips. Furthermore everything needs to be cheap. There is not much sense for quality products or the willingness to spend considerable more on quality expedition vehicles/products.

Europe:
There is not much open terrain left for offroading. You just can not go in the woods and "explore" with your 4x4. There are people and private lands everywhere. That limits the use of a rock crawler. They need to travel a pretty long distance to get to something like we have in our backyard. Fuel is expensive, therefore all of these vehicles are Diesel. Overlanders in Europe travel often for several month or even years. So they want it quite comfortable for these long trips.

There are exceptions of course and not everyone is the same, but you get the general difference.

[delidemon]

There is a strong overland presence here in NA. A great website is expeditionportal.com and they have a great publication associated Overland Journal. I went to their last overland meeting in Arizona and it was a great time. Tons of vehicles from VW vans to Landrovers to Unimogs.

Don

[delicat]

Hey Felix,

Just showed these pictures to my wife, guess what?!? She agrees!

[fexlboi]

great publication associated Overland Journal.

I bought a few issues a while back and found it a quite disappointing magazine. The forum is really great though! Would be interesting how many people are actually from NA as it seems the members are more from all over the place.
Anyway, I don't deny the presence of overlanders in NA at all, but it's still way smaller percentage compare to what's going on in this area in Europe.

Just showed these pictures to my wife, guess what?!? She agrees!

I probably know why.

[nxski]

There is a strong overland presence here in NA. A great website is expeditionportal.com and they have a great publication associated Overland Journal. I went to their last overland meeting in Arizona and it was a great time. Tons of vehicles from VW vans to Landrovers to Unimogs.

Don

That is a cool website. Definitely the kind of thing I'd like to get involved with!

[tonydca]

...
Fuel is expensive, therefore all of these vehicles are Diesel.
...

Not sure a Man truck is the epitome of fuel efficiency...

[fexlboi]

... Fuel is expensive, therefore all of these vehicles are Diesel...

Not sure a Man truck is the epitome of fuel efficiency...

For the cross vehicle weight/offered room ratio it is for sure efficient. I bet a fully loaded F450 camper uses the same amount if not even more fuel but is not nearly as capable/roomy as a MAN. Personally I think it's still way too much fuel, but apparently there is a market for these vehicles.
If you compare it to Prius it is a fuel sucking monster.

[tonydca]

Well put - "efficiency" was a poor choice of words on my part. How 'bout "carbon footprint"? Or can it run on WVO? Now *that* would be a rig...

[fexlboi]

Oh I agree. The carbon footprint is terrible if you consider it just for the pleasure of a couple of people going around countries. BUT if they surrender any trips by airplane to tropical holiday locations they are fine to drive around for livetime with this.
At the exhibition I saw one camper Unimog running virgin canola oil. He run it just around Germany. On his trips to Africa he used only Diesel as it was really hard to find any used oil to burn.

[Spadelica]

Since topic popped about jumbo camper...

IMG00170-20100725-1815.jpg (57.14 KiB) Viewed 6205 times

Spotted one near Chilliwack on way back to home from Whipsaw last August. Kinda weird to see almost new Unimog with Alaskan plate, whats up with 25 year law?

It really cool to watch it wheeling along on highway...I probably wont see like one again not for long time.

[fexlboi]

If you are lucky you can spot the EcoRoamer around Vancouver. He is currently in town. That's a monster as well.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/s ... php?t=8936