EarthRoamer gets into remote places
The connection was a little scratchy, but somewhere east of Des Moines, Iowa, I caught up with Michele Connolly and Bill Swails, who were driving to Pennsylvania to deliver their latest made-to-order EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicle.
Both avid outdoors enthusiasts, Connolly and Swails met at UCLA’s business school. Today they are in business together making “ultimate all-weather expedition campers for individuals who are interested in year-round remote adventure travel,” said Connolly, president/CEO of EarthRoamer.com out of Broomfield, Colo.
Remote, as in really remote.
Chief designer Swails, a freelance outdoor photographer, needed a rig that would get him where he wanted to go and allow him to stay there for extended periods of time.
“We were unable to find a suitable camper from RV manufacturers,” said Connolly, so “we decided to make what we needed.”
In 1999 Swails took the first prototype EarthRoamer on a four-month trip from his home near Denver to Alaska — traveling as far north as the Arctic Ocean.
“It was essentially a pop-up camper on a four-wheel-drive Dodge platform,” said Swails.
From that experience he learned a great deal about what was needed for extended living on the road.
“There were a lot of deficiencies in my equipment,” he said. “The camper quality was poor and leaked water, a lot of water. My sleeping bag got completely soaked and I couldn’t keep my clothes dry. I was totally miserable.”
After that trip several design changes were made, especially with the camper shell.
By 2001 he was off on another extended trip, this time into the blistering deserts of Mexico.
Traveling alone, Swails crisscrossed Baja California in 104-degree temperatures, sometimes on narrow primitive roads more than 100 miles from the nearest pavement.
Swails said he traversed dry creek beds, climbed rocky hills and generally navigated areas where “no RV” (that he knows of) has gone before.
After surviving the Baja, there were more revisions.
“Soon we started getting a lot of good feedback from people about the vehicle,” said Connolly, “so we decided to start making them for other folks as well.”
The latest model
The current EarthRoamer XV is “small enough to be maneuverable in tight spots, but roomy enough to be comfortable for longer trips.”
The rig’s exterior dimensions are 23-feet 7-inches long, 7-feet 4-inches wide and 10-feet 4-inches high. The interior of the camper is 6-feet 6-inches high.
Unlike many cab-over beds, the king-size bunk has enough headroom so you can prop up in bed to read.
Stand-alone features include a standard fresh water tank of 50 gallons with the “capacity for 100 gallons,” said Connolly, “There is a very large marine battery bank and rooftop solar panels that run everything including convection microwave and air conditioner.”
The wet weight of the rig with 59 gallons of fuel and 50 gallons of water is approximately 13,000 pounds; allowing for an addition 2,000 pounds of cargo.
The Ford F-450 pickup has a 6-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel engine with 325 horsepower; average between 11 to 15 miles per gallon.
All season RV
Three reasons why year-round Pacific Northwest RVers might be interested in this rig are:
• One-piece molded camper shell design to totally eliminate leakage — “The body is made of a sandwich construction,” said Swails. “There is a layer of fiberglass, then an insulation board of structural foam and another layer of fiberglass.” The result is a “lightweight body that is leak-proof and extremely well insulated.”
• Energy efficient diesel appliances — The camper heater, hot water and stove are powered by “safe and efficient diesel fuel,” said Swails. “In cold weather the typical RV propane heater creates condensation and consumes a lot of fuel, running the battery down in just a few hours.”
• Four-wheel capability — “You can take this rig on snowy roads in the winter and muddy roads during wet seasons and not worry about getting stuck,” Swails said.
“I feel safer, by far, in this rig in remote areas than I do in the city,” he said. “All you have to worry about out there are a few mountain bikers and hikers.”
What’s it going to cost?
The built-to-order EarthRoamer comes in between $150,000 and $175,000, depending on which bells and whistles you want.
Wheel question
Are there any RV groups for singles? Please send contact information if you know of any.
For more information
For a more complete look at this expedition vehicle, go to www.earthroamer.com. For a brochure call (720) 304-3174 or write to EarthRoamer, 2745 Industrial Lane, Broomfield, CO 80020.