Accommodation
Inside, the 7.5 square metre interior of EarthCruiser is well appointed and functional. The light-weight purposely designed home grows 600mm upwards at the push of a button when setting up camp.
This allows a large walk-around area within the camper body in stationary mode, and in its lowered position a more aerodynamic shape for the highway and a compact shape for off-road travel. Access to the EarthCruiser is from the cab or the side door.
The interior of this mobile adventure home is cleverly designed using light coloured all fibreglass cabinetry and large windows that make the living area feel spacious and bright. Quality appliances, hot and cold shower, toilet, ergonomic kitchen, plentiful storage and full size double bed make for comfortable living.
The effective use of solar panelling, a diesel water heater and other proven technology permits extended travel and isolated stays both relaxing and enjoyable.
Body Unit:
Using knowledge from the ocean yachting industry, the engineered designed floor, walls and roof are of a fibreglass composite construction. The walls and roof are 38mm thick and the floor 45mm, within each panel is 30mm of closed cell structural/insulation foam; this combines a high stiffness and strength to weight ratio with superior toughness. This light-weight sandwich structure can be subjected to both static and dynamic loads. The result is that EarthCruiser is strong, light weight and has a very low conductivity of heat as well as high insulative properties.
Floor Layout:
The internal surfaces are curved moulded fibreglass, much as you would expect in a modern cruising yacht. The floor is insulated fibreglass and covered with a removable indoor/outdoor marine carpet. Seating and vehicle cabin access is leather trimmed.
The swing out table allows easy movement to one side and access into the vehicle cabin. The table can be easily repositioned to the seat level and the dining area converts to a comfortable single bed.
The double bed is a comfortable 2 metres long by 1250mm wide. Flanked either end by two large flyscreened windows for breeze or closed with a privacy screen and double insulation.
Set into the 1100 x 600 bench top is a deep bowled sink, mixer tap and water purifier faucet. Above is the command centre featuring lighting, circuit breakers, water-battery gauges, cabin heating controls, and Solar monitor. Our specially commissioned 120 Litre upright fridge/freezer is both practical and functional.
Internally the roof is domed shaped, much like the internals of a modern passenger aircraft. This provides good structural support without compromising external height. This combined with the 600mm high vinyl interface allows ease of movement within the living section.
A fire extinguisher is provided at the entrance door.
Gear Storage:
Internally EarthCruiser offers 10 large removable storage draws. The 600x400x200 draws are equipped with push button latches and are ideal for packing items so that they do not move during off-road travel. Externally is access to the two very large (W1100, H480, D820) under bed storage areas for external camp chairs, table and other bulky items. Both external lockers are lit with switched LED strip lights.
Water:
EarthCruiser is equipped with a 90Lt fresh water tank and an additional optional 100Lt tank is available. The 12V pumping system will allow you to draw water from individual tanks, allowing the use of tank 1 for cooking etc and tank 2 for showering. The plumbing flexibility will also enable to pump from a creek or dam into tank 1 or 2 and pump from tank 1 into tank 2 and vice versa giving maximum control and usage of available water.
It is also possible to pump directly from the creek into either the internal or external shower by-passing both holding tanks.
The purified drinking water will be delivered from any tank via the onboard water purifier through the designated Stainless Steel faucet.
Water Purifier:
With such an important health consideration, EarthCruiser is fitted with the only unit in the world that is independently certified to meet world EPA Health Standards for Microbiological purifiers against Bacteria, Cysts, and Viruses.
The unit provides pure water in 3 ways;
- Using Ultrafine Micro straining it physically removes Guardia, Cryptosporidium and other specific parasites and debris down to 0.4 microns. Removing pathogens also removes disease toxins and is far superior to “poisoning” organisms with pesticides.
- Using a broad spectrum molecular capture it traps and contains organic and other chemicals such as pesticides and solvents, as well as chlorine and trace elements that can be toxic and /or carcinogenic, along with foul taste, odour and colour.
- The Electrostatic removal process uses specially charged space-age surfaces to remove minute particles, molecules and colloids suspended in the water.
There is no bacteria growth in the cartridge and it is made from marine grade stainless steel with lead-free faucets and ports. This is the same system that you will find on most international aircrafts.
The renewable cartridge is good for 4,000 litres or approximately 2 years.
The drinking water system has passed the rigorous verification and field testing of research institutes, health and safety associations, independent laboratories, numerous private expeditions and above all, individual users. Here there is no compromise.
Power:
EarthCruiser is able to be parked up at your favourite isolated spot for up to 10 days without the use of additional power. Given good sunlight, the three 64Watt solar panels and the two 110A/hr batteries will run the 120Lt fridge/freezer and the low draw 12V LED lighting system for this considerable time.
An 1800watt Inverter (240 or 110Volt) provides true sine wave power and will power up your computer and supply sufficient power for other AC powered items.
Should the batteries drop below the 50% ideal level, an alarm system will advise. It is then possible to easily top up the batteries by directly using the vehicles alternator. The electrical system is designed to eliminate the need to carry a portable generator.
The chest high command panel gives full access to all power switches and circuit breakers plus:
- Water tank metres
- House and Vehicle Battery levels
- Charge and discharge of house batteries
- Remaining capacity in amp hours or percentage
- Solar panel input and historical system usage.
- Alarm system for battery and water levels.
A hidden Battery Distribution Cluster and VSR (Voltage Sensitive Relay) allows isolation of vehicle and house batteries independently with the ability to emergency parallel supply to both. Alternatively both systems can be isolated in the off position in case of shipping or for added security and/or storage.
When the engine is first started, the VSR is open and remains open until the start battery reaches 13.7 Volt. At the rated voltage, the relay closes providing charge to both start and the house batteries. When the engine is stopped and the start battery drops below 12.8 Volts, the VSR disengages and separates the start and the house battery bank. This eliminates the possibility of draining the start battery, and protects electronics powered by the house battery from harmful engine spikes.
Setting EarthCruiser apart from others in the market, EarthCruiser does not have 240/110 Volt as a standard feature. The battery pack can supply ample power for lights, water pumps, and refrigeration. Any 240 or 110Volt accessories are powered via the two 240 or 110Volt outlets via the 1800watt on-board inverter. Power is regenerated free from the roof mounted solar panels, or from the vehicle alternator.
Lighting:
The lighting system is both functional and ergonomic. 12Volt LED lights over the cooking, workbench and seating area provides functional lighting, and at the bed head are two adjustable LED reading lights.
Surrounding the bed interface panel are low draw concealed strip lights, these can be adjusted via the dimmer to suit the mood of the evening.
Externally on each side are water resistant LED flood lights. These provide adequate lighting for the ‘camp’ area under the RH awning and lighting for the external shower on the LH side. The positioning of these also provides good light for that late night unpredictable tyre change.
It is through experience learnt from remote international travel that encourages us to also include appropriately positioned internal night lights for that inconspicuous night camp set up.
EarthCruiser also has a ‘panic’ switch that lights up both the external flood lights. This may prove invaluable when you hear that unusual noise at night. Furthermore, should the need arise you can be driving away from a potential problem within less than 60 seconds following a push of the roof & step button, all without leaving the safety or warmth of inside the vehicle.
Cooking:
Internally is the very smart Diesel fuelled Webasto Cooktop. The heat source is an integrated diesel burner drawing fuel directly from the vehicles fuel tank. The cooking surface is an elegant and clean ceramic surface which has room for two pots or saucepans.
EarthCruiser provides adequate food preparation areas that include a deep bowl sink and integrated cutting board. Water is supplied via a combination hot/cold stainless steel tap or from the designated water purifier stainless tap.
Air and Water Heating:
The internal camper heater and the domestic hot water supply is via a Diesel Webasto DualTop. Full climatic heating is user controlled by the adjustable thermostat on the command panel.
Diesel usage is a minimal 0.19 to 0.66 l/hr, and has 11 litres of water on standby.
The EarthCruiser does away with conventional power sources. Propane gas is the usual source of energy for heating and cooking in most motorhomes however, in remote travel, and particularly overseas travel, this is not always available. It is a highly volatile substance, requiring externally vented storage.
Food Refrigeration:
The 120 litre 12V upright stainless steel fridge/freezer with low energy consumption of only 38 amps/24 hours is the most efficient on the market. It operates out of level and is ideal for tropical climates and extended travel.
Bathroom:
The shower has an adjustable rain head nozzle, the mixer tap and shallow bath all designed for when water is both plentiful and for when one must be very conceptive.
The C402 Thetford Cassette chemical toilet is ideal for ease of operation in the bush. It has several unique features including an easy to clean 19.3-litre waste holding tank with a retractable handle and wheels for convenient handling. There is also an advanced level LED display which shows the levels in the waste holding tank.
Exterior appointments:
Shade Awning:
Our most exciting ‘must have’ is a fully retractable 3 metre x 2.5 metre projection awning. This electric awning cleverly retracts fully into the roof to avoid damage in the tight tracks.
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External Shower, Water/Fuel Fillers:
On the driver’s side is a lockable door that conceals the secondary fuel tank filler, the twin water tank fillers and the external shower and mixer taps.
Hiding the fuel and water fillers minimises the possibility of fuel theft and water contamination.
Electric steps:
The Electric steps fully retract so as not to impede the ramp over angle of the vehicle. Activation of the steps is from within the camper module and at the driver’s seat, allowing total flexibility so that you do not have to exit the vehicle during inclement weather before driving away.
Camper to Vehicle Access:
Access to the vehicle cabin from the camper module is via flexible bellows that allows the camper module to move independently to the vehicle cabin. This system is proven over many millions of kilometres in the trucking industry. It is easy to operate, completely waterproof and still allows the truck cab to tilt for service access to the engine.
‘Pop-Top’ Camper Roof:
EarthCruiser is unique, in as such that a full sized expedition motorhome can be containerised. The regulations that currently prevail with some international shipping lines are that RO-RO (Roll on – Roll off) vehicles MUST, for security reasons, have NO personal effects within the vehicle. This may be acceptable for shipping a car from one country to another, however is totally unacceptable for an extended expedition travel vehicle. Containerisation ensures your vehicle and personal effects arrive intact!
With today’s volatile fuel prices economical fuel consumption is important. EarthCruiser does not have a wall of camper extending above and beyond the leading edges of the drivers cabin and affords very economical travel.
The vinyl wall has three (3) layers, white on the outside to reflect the heat, a black internal membrane for reduced temperature/light transfer, and a white interior to keep a comfortable temperature within. Temperature transfer is therefore kept to an absolute minimum.
For cooling the vinyl interface has eight (8) zipper/ roll down ventilation fly screened windows. At head height this gives a 360 degree panoramic view of the surroundings.
Set into the camper roof are two speakers that are connected to the vehicles radio system.
The roof module is raised by four 12Volt actuators, these are activated by a switch conveniently located within the camper door. These actuators also hold the roof down giving a good dust and water seal.
It takes only 48 seconds to raise the roof and camp is set.
Under Body Skirts:
Completing the package EarthCruiser is finished with full under body skirts. These contain lockable battery access, lockable main fuel tank access and two lockable storage bins.
EarthCruiser and the associated equipment is always under constant testing and evaluation hence some items listed above may change as we continue to search for new and better ideas.
