Being inspired from the Abenteuer-Allrad, some red wine discussions, studies of magazines and internet forums the decision based on a pickup truck (PU) together with a demountable living cabin was made.
Further on the PU needs to be found. Test drives with the main players on the market
Ford Ranger | Isuzu D_MAX | Nissan Navara | Toyota Hilux are planned.
We have not considered the VW Amarok and the new Mercedes X-Class based on Nissan platform because of the high tech used in these concepts. Our vehicle should be robust and easy to fix technology – while accepting the more basic functions and maybe not so excellent driving behaviour in highway environment.
At the end of this process this car was it – our Fi. a …
Toyota Hilux | Extra Cab | 2.4 l Diesel | 185 gr/km CO2 Emissions | Euro 6 classified | 4 wheel drive | differential lock | manual gear box | air condition | modified with OME 4×4 suspension kit | power boost 170 PS / 480 Nm | Delta aluminium wheels (8J17H2 ET30 Type Adventure 8017) | BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires (TA K02 265/65R17 112T) | Safari snorkel | aluminium under body protection.
The modifications were made by Hurter Offroad Leutkirch.
![](https://greendiamonds.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Fi-_1-1024x664.jpg)
The reasons for this decision were mainly:
- Good price-performance ratio
- Maintenance for the Toyota Hilux is available across the globe
- excellent well-proven PU truck technology
- Extra Cab because of the longer truck bed
- 2.4 l diesel engine is a powerful solution
- modifications for better traction, higher ground clearance, carrying the “heavy load”
The living cabin a Cramer Fernweh Mobil was chosen. It is a good harmony of function, size/weight and well feeling. Benno and his team convinced us in their trustful manner that he is the right partner for our explorer dreams.
Specification: isolated glass fibre cabine | raising roof including mosquito net | roof window | Bed in alcove 160 x 210 cm | 2 kW diesel heating system Webasto Air Top 2000 STC| 32 ltr. Waeco cooling box | 2 flams gas cooker | 50 ltr. water tank | 10 ltr. draintank | Thetford Porta Poti | 95 AH battery | 100 W solarmodul roof mounted | charge controller to charge battery via the vehicle | 270 ° Foxwing awning | sand sheet holder | canister holder for 20 ltr. canister | rear ladder
Dimension: closed roof 350 cm length, 188 cm width, 163 cm height up to 230 cm height with open roof, weight empty 200 kg full packed approx. 600 kg.
![](https://greendiamonds.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Kabine_1.jpg)
The entrance is on the back side – window at each side incl. mosquito net and blackout rollo.
The bed has a wooden bed base and a 80mm mattress. All furniture is glass fibre to reduce weight and to be as robust as possible against humidity and mechanical stress.
As Benno is assembling the cabin with a small team the delivery time seems to be quite long – but fortunately a preordered contract was cancelled and we stepped in. Benno started the work on our cabin in December 2017.
Good progress was made in January