It’s unfortunate that many assume parenthood and adventure travel are mutually exclusive. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard, “Enjoy your freedom because when kids come along, everything changes.” I don’t underestimate that having a child requires adjustments, but I’ve dismissed the notion that it means abandoning the adventurous lifestyle I know and love. Instead, I consider it an opportunity to share these experiences with my mini-me. In this respect, David Houncheringer (@dadaezm) is the overland daddy, both metaphorically and literally, and alongside supermom Jil, they have spent the last few years traveling internationally with their three children (Achille, Otis, and Atlas) in their pinnacle expedition truck, a 1989 Mercedes Unimog 1550L Doka. In a world where “spending time with your kids” is often code for “handing them an iPad,” the Houncheringers remind us that both parents and children thrive when they put down their devices and get outside. Let’s deep dive into the Swiss family’s impressive and extensively proven Unimog that’s become more than a vehicle and is a vessel for freedom that serves as the “ultimate luxury.”

Behind the Build

David spent his early career as a pro photographer and today works increasingly with CGI and other mediums to create breathtaking art installations and collaborates with various brands. He explains, “I started as a photographer and traveled all over Europe documenting my skating and snowboarding friends. Today, I explore with my kids, and it takes me back to those times. Just a kid and his buddies having fun and creating content along the way.” Jil is a kindergarten teacher, which explains her masterful parenting and home-schooling skills. The couple has a long history of adventurous travel, and when kids came along, it wasn’t going to slow them down. “Our families were big travelers, so we wanted to follow in their footsteps. When we had kids, we considered it an opportunity to do more rather than a reason to give up on adventure.” The family started their overland journey in a Land Rover Defender 110 with a pop-top roof, but with bigger trips on the horizon, they set out to find a five-seater expedition truck.

The Truck

One of the biggest challenges when building an overland truck in Switzerland is the complex legalities regarding modifications. This meant sourcing a suitable option with cab seating for five was tricky. “It’s easy to find a 4WD for two or even three people or a van that can accommodate a family of four, but finding something suitable for five proved difficult. Our twins were barely two at the time, so we wanted some comfort.” David found a six- seater 1989 Mercedes Unimog 1550L Doka expedition camper registered and built in France by RRC. “After a year, we found our Mog, and updated it for our goals. It’s a small, big truck, in the sense that we can all live inside comfortably, but it will fit in a normal parking spot and has a better-turning radius than both my Defender and Grenadier. Due to the modifications, we decided to keep it on French plates.”

The Unimog, affectionately dubbed “Mogi,” is considered by many as a pinnacle expedition platform for those pursuing the most ambitious overland journeys and features triple lockers and portal axles. “Portal axles are complicated. They’re the best and worst thing about the Mog. On one hand, they provide a lot of headroom in terms of capability in challenging terrain, which means even from the factory, they’re more capable than most heavily modified trucks. However, they’re complex, and if they start having issues (like we’ve had recently), it’s a nightmare. Especially in sandy environments when you’re handling many little gears.” We discussed the pros and cons of alternative truck chassis and agreed that the best options are those engineered from the factory for rugged applications. “I love rock crawlers and highly modified vehicles, but if you want to travel extensively, it’s not the correct tool for the job. The Unimog was engineered from the ground up for heavy industry, which means that from the dealership, it accepts huge amounts of stress and pain. The standard tires, for example, are intended for hardcore commercial work such as mining and forestry.”

The Camper:

The camper was built with intention by RRC and is, in all respects, engineered to provide uncompromising functionality. The company started life upfitting smaller vehicles such as Land Cruisers and Defenders with a focus on using every inch of space and utilizing premium lightweight materials. They carried forward this minimalist approach when building their expedition trucks, which is why, fully loaded, David’s Unimog is significantly lighter than most comparable expedition trucks. “We don’t even have drawers, just panels that open. Sure, having all those things makes it feel more homey, but it’s extra weight. Subsequently, we’re only 7 tons, which is light compared to many big trucks we see on the road that are around 10 tons. I love this camper because it has been built to be functional and (crucially) fun.” Fun is undoubtedly its defining characteristic, which is a far departure from the serious vibes synonymous with big expedition trucks. In all regards, their habitation box and camping protocol are curated to make every moment feel like an adventure. I laughed when David divulged that he did not want stairs or a conventional fridge in the rig but rather ladders and a top-loading, overland-style cool box “because the former would feel like I was at home and not on an adventure.” This theme continues with the sleeping configuration, which consists of two double beds, one in the pop-top and one in the seating area. “It’s a great setup, which transforms the truck into a two-story house and enables direct access to the roof where we have a seating area; the kids love it. We do compromise on solar capacity, but it’s worth it.”

The couple has huge respect for families that travel long-term in a 4WD and a rooftop tent setup, but after making many trips in their Defender, they knew it wasn’t best suited to this expedition. They require the rig to be a home, place of work, a part-time school, and a sanctuary from inclement weather. “Traveling like this is a lot of work with the kids. We love our setup because we can let them enjoy maximum freedom outside and get completely muddy and sandy, and then at the end of the day, have everyone showered, relaxed, and talking about their day. If you don’t have that option, it becomes chaos inside with lots of mess, and that can make everyone agitated and defensive.” The couple added that if they were to live on the road full-time, this configuration would be too small. “It’s not a full-time house like many German trucks. We love that we all sleep and cuddle together on these 6-month trips, and we cram that time with experiences. However, for full-time, you move slower, and we’d need more space and amenities.” That said, they consider the Unimog the ultimate luxury experience because “What is luxury? It’s being alone on a nice beach with your basic needs met. A hot shower, bathroom, nice food, great view, and good company. The Unimog provides all of the above and access to places other trucks would only dream about.”

Life on the Road

The family first shipped the Mog from Belgium to Uruguay before heading south to Patagonia. From here, they travelled north through Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, where, due to the pandemic, they had to find storage in a hurry. Once restrictions had been lifted they continued the trip through Ecuador and Colombia before shipping to Panama. The Unimog then spent 6 months stored at the Overland Embassy and had its bodywork totally restored. From here they explored Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and continued to Mexico City and Baja. “The Pan-American countries are ideal for big trucks. Nature is wild and wide. Everybody is more easy going out there. Once we find a camping spot, the kids run outside and explore their new backyard whilst we set up camp, prepare food, map our next move, or unwind.” We have now reached San Diego after a crazy Baja trip. The next step will be North America with the goal of reaching Alaska.” Some people have a second residence; we have the truck. Consider it our home away from home. One that leaves us free to roam around to our heart’s desire. The truck will always be there, which is a very liberating feeling. Back home, we live in the smallest of Swiss towns, surrounded by nature, and enjoy outdoor adventures. With no schedule or high expectations, the kids spend all of their time outside the house. One of the nice aspects of intermittent traveling is seeing how the children evolve. Each trip is different as the kids grow up. I’m super excited for this next chapter in the US.”

I’ve long been inspired by the couple’s approach to life and parenting, so I asked whether they had any top tips for other families considering a trip such as this. “Relaxed parents make for relaxed kids. Traveling with young children can be messy. The trick is to turn those nuisances into strengths. A kid means more opportunities to get outside, explore, and do cool stuff.” The couple champion electric bikes, which they credit with transforming their ability to see the world with kids. “The thought of a twin stroller scared us, so we use electric motorcycles to get around with the kids. They’ve since learned to ride them by themselves. The bikes enable us to go out and explore even more (20-50 kilometers from the truck), racing over desolate beaches and off-road paths… and are ideal for cities.”

I wondered whether, in this arguably mollycoddling era, the family had received criticism towards their parenting style. “We occasionally get backlash about taking too many risks, but that’s not how we see it. We’ll never be parents who constantly hold their kids’ hands, but we’ll always be there to catch them if they fall. We trust them, and they have developed great self- confidence, knowing their capabilities and limits. To some, it may seem like we’re just letting them run wild, but that is not what’s at play here. It’s a question of mutual trust, gradually growing with every new mile we cover together. The children amaze us daily and take us out of our comfort zone without even trying. Living in the truck even the simple moments are special.”

I finished the interview by pitching my adoption papers, but with another set of twins just being born, there’s no space for me (sobs). Nonetheless, I’ll continue to live vicariously through their truly outstanding content at @dadaezm

David is currently working on a photography book that documents the family’s travels. If you’re interested in learning more, then you can reach out via email: david@encor.studio

Specifications 

Power

• 1989 Mercedes Unimog 1550L DOKA
• OM366 diesel motor with various upgrades (280 horsepower) and Werner overdrive
• 8-speed forward/reverse transmission

Suspension and Drive 

• Fox suspension

Wheels and Tires 

• Michelin X XZL 365/80 R20 tires

Recovery and Armor

• Custom front and rear steel bumpers
• Winch, 7,500 kilograms
• MaxTrax (2)

Accessories:

• Custom pop-up roof
• ISI bike rack with winch
• Guzzle H20 portable water filtration system
• Kuberg Freerider electric dirt bikes (2)
• Kuberg Cross kid’s electric dirt bike
• Overland Solar fixed panels (and an extra portable panel)
• iKamper Disco Series outdoor cooking system

Fuel capacity

• 260 liters

Water capacity

• 250 liters

Weight

• 7,000 kilograms

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