Today’s low-mileage 2017 Ford F-550 (31,000 miles) with a fully outfitted Total Composites camper has to be one of the most dialed expedition vehicles we’ve showcased. It says a lot when the build specifications are so extensive that it’s a significant undertaking to work through them all. Despite this, it’s competitively priced at $350,000, which is no small sum of money but is a far stretch from purchasing a comparable EarthRoamer LTI, which starts at $775,000. Like the EarthRoamer, today’s build is underpinned by the Ford F-550, which is an optimal platform for this application due to its powerful Power Stroke diesel motor, huge payload and towing capacity, luxurious cab interior, impressive capability, and ease of access to both OEM and aftermarket parts and support. These are just some of the reasons it has been the platform of choice for legendary world travelers, The Turtle Expedition, for many years. It’s a vehicle engineered from the ground up for long-term overland adventures with the interior space and amenities to live and work on the road comfortably full-time (I recommend viewing the detailed photos documented here to grasp the time and money invested in this build). This is a rig you can move into from an apartment without making significant changes to your lifestyle, thanks to over 900 amp-hours of lithium batteries, 900 watts of solar, Starlink, heating, air-conditioning, and more. Expedition vehicles such as this enable owners to take off for months or even years at a time without a second thought and are designed to operate efficiently regardless of the terrain or climate. If you’d like to better understand the benefits of these rigs, listen to an in-depth conversation on the Overland Journal podcast on Principles of Overlanding :: Expedition Campers. As documented on the owner’s Instagram, this proven truck recently returned from a trip to Alaska, and is turnkey ready for its next adventure. In addition, it is sold with service manuals, recovery gear, and numerous spare parts.
From the Seller:
“It’s time to move on and let someone else enjoy the outdoors like we did last summer on our trip to Alaska; check out the trip here. This truck has a lot of room inside, quite a bit more than similar cab-over setups. We purchased the truck from August Motors in Kelowna, BC in 2022 and took receipt of the truck in October 2022. We spent the next nine months learning [aboout] the truck and camper and upgrading the systems for a trip to Alaska in summer 2023. My Instagram and the list below [see original listing] detail these upgrades, as almost every system of the truck and camper was overhauled.”
2017 Ford F-550 XL
The F-550 is fitted with a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel that, in stock form, delivers 330 horsepower and a considerable 750-pound-feet of torque and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. It’s worth noting that the engine and transmission are far from stock and have undergone a huge list of upgrades, as documented in the original listing. Further still, this vehicle provides impressive range thanks to dual fuel tanks (a Ford 40-gallon and Titan 54-gallon auxiliary tank). A long-lived motor and drivetrain are matched with impressive capability thanks to 4WD, high and low range, super single wheels with Continental MPT81 tires, DBL Designs Super 60/Dana 80 hybrid front axle with 6.17 gears, Dana M300 rear axle with 6.17 gears, underside protection, dual winches, uprated aftermarket suspension, and more. Inside, these rugged credentials are balanced with a luxurious interior with driver comforts that include:
- Powered and heated Recaro Ergo MCii bucket seats (front has adjustable air suspension)
- Infotainment system with navigation
- Premium audio
- Cruise control
- Gambler Johnson locking center console with cupholders
- Power steering, windows, and locks
- Air-conditioning
- BGGD Raptor heated steering wheel with controls
- Espar D2 coolant heater
- Kingslim D6-4K dash cam
- Kenwood DNX99DS audio with front and rear cameras and amplifier
- Alpine DVD player with remote
- Morimoto XB Gen 2 headlights with LaminX film
- Upgraded Ford side mirrors with 96-inch panel bodies
- Ram Mount GDS locking dock
Distinguishing Features
The specifications on this build are some of the most impressive we’ve showcased. We highly recommend checking out the original listing, which deep-dives every small detail. Here’s just a selection of notable features:
- Kelderman Air Suspension, front King remote reservoir shocks, and rear Ford shocks
- Total Composites box with Outbound lockable pass-through and windows, collapsing aluminum entry steps, subframe storage boxes (4), Fiamma powered awning, and more
- ArcLab Front bumper with PIAA fog lights and Warn winch (with synthetic rope and Factor 55 link) and ArcLab rear bumper with Keeper winch (with synthetic rope and Factor 55 Prolink XXL)
- Espar D4 heater featuring EasyStart controller and center console-mounted remote
- Starlink in-motion mounted to the roof with a router and power supply
- Victron lithium batteries 930 amp-hours total, dual Mastervolt MacPlus 12-12/50-amp DC-DC chargers, Canadian Solar panels 900 watts total with Aims Power disconnect switch (Lensun 65-watt panel mounted to hood), and Victron SmartSolar MPPT, Cerbox GX with 7-inch display, Multiplus 3,000VA inverter, Smart Battery Protect 220, Smart BMV, and much more
- Wallas 88DU diesel stove and 86D oven with Dometic fan
- Vitrifrigo fridge/freezer and icemaker
- Dometic Penguin 2 air-conditioning
- Bathroom with Thetford cassette toilet and shower, MaxxAir Deluxe fan with remote, and motion-sensing red light for use at night
- ARB twin air compressor
- ArcLab subframe, storage boxes, and fenders
- KC Hilites, Rigid Industries, and Lux Lighting Systems lighting
- Freshwater (36 gallons)
- SwitchPros 9100 8-switch added a camper door for interior/external lighting
- Isotemp Spa water heater
This 2017 Ford F-550 with Total Composites camper is listed for $350,000 and is currently located in Reno, Nevada. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
Contact Information:
Email: unreng@hotmail.com
