We looked at a number of options for our next 4×4 truck. We had been using a Nissan Patrol for the past eight years. Over the past two years we have also been using a Lotus off road caravan. We decided that we wanted to combine the best of these two vehicles. We wanted something that could go anywhere and give us maximum comfort. We wanted a truck that would take us around Australia for a few years and then when we retire take us around the world. Once we start the global trip we expect to be on the road for about ten years – so the comfort thing is important!
The key elements that we were looking for in a truck were:
- 4×4 capability
- Reliable
- Long range
- Good water storage
- North/South Bed
- Easy to ship
- Inside toilet and shower
- Good storage
- Good self rescue capability
- Good cold weather capacity (inside heater)
- Good hot weather capacity (AC if possible)
- Outside living/cooking
- Mustnbe able to run hair dryer and hair straighteners (only essential for one member of the team)
We decided that the Earth Cruiser based on a Iveco Daily 4×4 would be ideal. It has better 4×4 capability than the Patrol and comfort on a par with our caravan. The build quality on the Earth Cruiser is second to none. The owners of the company are incredibly friendly and helpful.
The Iveco Daily has a few problems such as the brakes and transfer case mountings – but these can be modified – which we are having done as the build is taking place. The great thing about the Iveco is that it is a true off road vehicle. Full details of the Iveco Daily 4×4 can be found here on the Earth Cruiser web site.
The full features of the Earth Cruiser can be found here. The picture below is Charlie our Earth Cruiser. Our Earth Cruiser will be the 62nd made in Australia. so it will be Earth Cruiser 62 or EC62 or Echo Charlie 62 or just plain Charlie.
Earth Cruiser is a great Australian company based in NSW. After discussion with owners Mark and Susan we decided to go with the largest Earth Cruiser the 440.
We decided on the 2C set up. This gave us the advantage of the North/South bed alignment. The North/South alignment is important for us so we don’t have to climb over each other when we get out of bet in the night (a consideration when you get to a certain age!). The shower and the toilet are placed in the door way giving us more living space. We also went for a large external shower cubicle to use when weather permitted.
The Earth Cruiser comes with MANY MANY options. We decided that we would go for an Earth Cruiser that was very well equipped. In a few years we expect to take it around the world for 10 years doing it – so our thinking is to build ourselves a home from home. Here are some of the options we choose and are being incorporated into Charlie.
Electrical System
We did want to have the cabin air conditioning system which of course uses quite bit of power. Added to this we wanted the outdoors electric BBQ. All in all we wanted to run electrical power in Charlie like we do at home. So we went for the following options:
2 x 400 Ah lithium batteries
1000 Watt of solar panels on the roof of Charlie
3200 Watt Inverter
Lithium equipped regulator
Battery Driven AC unit
Outdoor Electrical BBQ
Water system
The water system on the Earth Cruiser is incredibly sophisticated. You can pump between tanks. You can suck up water from streams and lakes. There is a filter to purify drinking water. The truck can supply constant hot water. Inside the living area there is a sink with hot, cold and purified water. There is also a plumbed in tiolet. We are also having hot and cold water supplied to the back locker of Charlie as we expect to spend a lot of time outside.
Again we wanted comfort. So we have gone for a LOT of water capacity – 440 liters in fact. This will be carried in three 100 litre tanks under the vehicle and 140 liters in a heated tank in the rear locker. The heated tank is a relatively expensive option but it will allow us to operate Charlie in very cold conditions without having to worry about tanks freezing up. We can pump water from the heated tank into the other tanks to stop them freezing. I think we will rarely carry the full 440 liters of water but it will be good when we are doing long isolated transits.
Fuel
All up Charlie will carry 290 liters of fuel. We expect to get between 17l/100km and 22l/100km fuel economy. We will see. The 290 liters should give us ample range for any thing we expect to do.
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