My endless search for the perfect expedition vehicle which I will never realistically buy has brought me to this Mercedes Truck. It is currently on Expedition Portal. It was not the end result which impressed me the most, however, but the step-by-step documentation of the built process.

Yes, we have seen a MAN fire truck being converted into a camper before, but I cannot get enough of these posts. The bonus here is that this one will be for sale midyear in the United States and Canada. Someone please buy it. Jump for specs and dozens of build pictures.

[Source: reisenomaden.de]

Specs:

1978 Mercedes 1017 AF

Restoration of complete truck and new cabin build in 2010

Truck got 90.000 km/ 56‘000miles

OM 352 Engine with 5,6l displacement with a power of 168HP

Legal load max. 12tons

Empty it’s 7.3tons

Cabin:

– build with sandwich plates made of Aluminium with Polyurethane in between (super isolation!)

– the cabin sits on a 4 point frame so it keeps flexible when the truck frame starts to move on 4×4 roads

– 2 x spare tire holders

– motorbike holder (it can be pulled out)

– tree branch protector on top

– inside the cabin everything is made with 15mm (0.6”) multiplex wood and everything is protected with marine laquer or protected with Resopal, a waterproof coating

– bed is 1400 x 2000 mm (55“ x 78.8“)

– Waeco compressor fridge 50L (13gal)

– Kramer gas oven 30L (8 gal)

– integrated 2 flame gas camping stove together with sink, everything stainless steel for easy cleaning

– 2 x 6kg gas bottles

– water filtering system from Katadyn (2 faucets, one with filtering, one without)

– 400L (106gal) fresh water tank, protected with extra pan against leaks inside cabin!

– 40L (10.6gal) grey water tank

– Porta Potti toilet with SOG venting

– shower and toilet in a room at entry. Also made with 30mm (1.2”) sandwich plates and 2mm (0.08”) Aluminium pan as floor with 2 drainage

– drawer sytem below bed for tools etc. Accessible from outside too!

– 2 big outside doors to access big compartments below bed for tools, chairs, canoe, what you want!

– passage to drivers cab can be closed and locked

– 24L (6.4gal) hot water boilder

– Espar 5kW water heater (with 2 fuel pumps for higher altitude) with 3 heaters inside cabin and an additional heater for engine through a heat exchange device

– 5 x Seitz windows 1000x450mm (39.4“ x 17.7“)

– 2 x roof windows including ventilators

– high quality Victron battery chargers, 40 A, 12 V

– 3 solar panels with a total of 390 Watts

– 2 x 200 Ah AGM batteries

– DC/DC converter 12 V to 230V, 3.000 W (for North America this can’t be used. Please let me know if you don’t need it!)

– DC/DC converter 12 V to 110 V, 500 W

– battery status computer

Frame:

– 10.00 x 20 Fuchs wheel tank rims with 365/80R20 trailer tires or 365/85R20

Michelin XZL

– air tank shifted away to get more space for the bigger Diesel tanks

– custom made Diesel tanks. 2mm (0.08“) black sheet, 1x 330L (87gal), 1x 380L (100.5gal) and 1 x 30L (8gal) inside car for heater and as spare tank. All tanks got 3 way manual valves.

– Separ Diesel filter (mechanical & filter)

– custom made exhaust muffler

– custom made aluminium stair on bearings. Can be easily pulled out when parked and pushed back below the cabin during driving.

– 2 x big boxes behind rear axle and below cabin to put other stuff in there (chains, recovery stuff etc.) + 1 box behind right front wheel with integrated grey water tank

– custom made start battery holders

– aluminium roof beam

– aluminium sand ladder holders

– new made heavy duty tropic radiator with mesh in front to protect against bugs etc.

– moved up air filter with Zyklon filter

– Recaro Seats

Optional Equipment:

– 4 x Sand ladders

– different recovery gear like spade, pulling devices, recovery pillow (not sure of the right word!), shackles etc.

– 4 x chains for the wheels

– 2 x complete spare tires with rims

– small Motorbike 80 ccm

– big tool box

– generator, 230V, 1800W