Oregon-based EarthCruiser, a globally recognized leader in global expedition travel vehicles, just announced the release of the EarthCruiser Terranova, an all-season, cabover expedition camper built on a 4×4 Ford, Chevy or Ram domestic one-ton chassis.
Best known for its Japanese Fuso dual- and single-cab EXP and FX line of 4X4 commercial truck chassis expedition rigs, the new EarthCruiser Terranova will fill customer demand for a cabover expedition camper mounted on a familiar domestic chassis, something for which many customers have a strong brand-preference and find more comfortable to drive. Safety—always a concern at EarthCruiser—is another motivating factor in this new release.
“Vans are super popular for all of the right reasons, but there are some key limitations revolving around safety, safety in their capacity to tour, safety in their occupant capacity,” explained Lance Gillies, EarthCruiser founder and CEO. “Putting seat belts in the back of a van comes with some problems when you convert them into campers. You have what becomes missiles when that vehicle is decelerating at a terrific rate of speed and over bumps. Terranova provides all of the good EarthCruiser stuff, but with proper seat belts, yet still provides access to the camper through the cabover compartment. We know how to do that properly without compromising cabover strength—we’ve been doing that since day one. Plus the domestic one-ton chassis is easy to service, they’re everywhere, and their towing capacity is world-renowned.”
The Terranova camper will be mounted to the vehicle chassis with EarthCruiser’s proprietary kinetic mount system and with the same foam insulated raising-roof found on the EarthCruiser EXD and EXP models. The triple-layer curtain will include eight windows, which provide a 360-degree panoramic view, and will include insect, privacy screens and clear vinyl protective layers. No locks or latches will be required to raise or lower the roof. Made like a racing yacht, Terranova’s fiberglass and high density plastic will stand up to years of rough trails, while EarthCruiser’s foam core composite construction, and multi-layer curtain provide unparalleled protection against the elements, keeping the heat in, or out, during all four-seasons.
The EarthCruiser Terranova 4×4 expedition rig not only looks tough, but delivers on this toughness. Because of EarthCruiser’s years of design experience, the company is able to fit all required systems and a generous living space into a sleek, aerodynamic, truly American design. This approach avoids the bulky, boxy look of most other “expedition” truck bed campers on the market. Terranova’s interior living space is designed to maximize space, comfort, and usability and borrows from EarthCruiser’s other products that have been proven in extreme remote situations all over the world.
The EarthCruiser Terranova offers expanded living quarters with the bed above the cab roof as an alternative to the convertible dinette-bed combination offered in the EarthCruiser EXD. The Terranova comfortably transports and houses four guests and utilizes many of the same systems as the popular EarthCruiser EXP and EarthCruiser FX. These systems—electrical, plumbing, mechanical—are designed to work together seamlessly, and have been stress-tested and repeatedly proven during years of world travel and ranges of environments and temperatures far below sub-zero. Features found in the Terranova include:
A fan system integrated into the roof that efficiently keeps the house fresh, practically eliminating any condensation from occurring and an optional DC air conditioner.
Dinette bench seats with leather cushions and integrated storage.
Premium one-piece countertop with stainless steel sink, a True Induction cooktop, and an Isotherm stainless steel refrigerator and freezer (12 volt/4.24 cubic foot).
A purified water drinking tap and kitchen faucet with hot-cold mixer.
A full-size bathroom with a stainless steel sink basin, full height shower with retractable shower curtain, and showerhead-sink faucet combo; 6.7 liters at 1.77 gallons per minute.
A Thetford cassette toilet is recessed from view when not in use and has a 4.49 gallon waste capacity limit for the 17 liter; 3.96 gallon top flush with 15 liter.
A Grey water closed circuit water recycling system uses three different types of carbon filters, a UV filter, and dedicated electric hot water tank.This system significantly reduces the power required to take a hot shower, by cycling the already heated water through the filtration system, and back out the shower head.
A solar controller and monitoring system with three 108 watt Sunflare solar panels.
A lithium ion 400 amp hour, 12 volt battery.
According to Gillies, Terranova’s dometic chassis makes it possible to offer the product at a lower price point of about $275,000, compared to the EarthCruiser EXP or FX selling price of $375,000.
The EarthCruiser Terranova is in the design and engineering phase now and is expected to go into production in early 2021. Terranova will also available for sale to the international community, including the Middle East and Europe.
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