So, you just sold your start-up for a squillion bucks and are looking to take a year or two off from the rat race to travel overland with the family to distant shores. You have done your research on Expedition Portal and have concluded that you need a vehicle that offers all the comforts of home, sleeping for two adults and two ankle biters (furry or not), ample storage, a camper-to-cabin pass-through, a rugged and reliable base vehicle, and your budget is $500,000, give or take a grand here or there. The Global Expedition Vehicles Adventure-XT checks all those boxes and more. Being a wide, tall, and long vehicle, smaller trails, narrow tracks and roads, and small Latin American villages will present a challenge. But if a hipster can drive a school bus to Patagonia, you can drive the Adventure-XT around the world.
Based on the Dodge Ram 550 Limited Edition Crew Cab 4×4 truck chassis (available with either a 6.7-liter i6 Cummins turbo-diesel engine or a 6.4-liter V8 heavy-duty Hemi), the Adventure-XT is a well-to-do overland adventurer’s dream. This rugged vehicle boasts a meticulously designed body, off-road enhancements, and a host of functional features to ensure a far-above-average overland experience.
The heart of this expedition vehicle lies in its robust body construction. Comprising a 30-millimeter-fiberglass-composite-molded body with a closed-cell foam core, it’s built to withstand the harshest terrains. With dimensions measuring 20 feet 10 inches in length and 89 inches in width, this beast offers ample space for all your adventure essentials. The interior height is 6 feet, 8 inches tall, providing a comfortable living space even in remote locations. One of our favorite features of this vehicle is the camper-to-cab pass-through. This exceptional construction challenge adds an element of convenience and security that can not be understated.
Entering the Adventure-XT is a breeze with its lowered entry door, equipped with a stainless-steel locking system and an electric operation entry-step system. Privacy is ensured with an integrated cabin-to-cabin access privacy blind. The rear storage door facilitates easy access to your gear, while the right-side storage locker with a side access door keeps your belongings organized. With a total of six dual-paned glass windows featuring integrated blinds and screens, you can enjoy the view while maintaining privacy.
This vehicle’s relatively limited off-road capabilities are enhanced with 20-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear G275 335/80R20 tires bouncing moderately on a Liquid Springs premium suspension. The AEV front bumper, complete with fog lights and front fenders, adds both style and protection. A 16,500-pound electric winch ensures you can recover yourself or others when the terrain is gnarly.
Storage is abundant, with rear door access to the rear of the bath and back wall storage areas. In the kitchen, lower cabinets with a solid surface countertop provide ample space for your culinary needs. A stainless-steel sink with a single-lever faucet, a two-burner induction cooktop, and a stainless-steel refrigerator/freezer in a two-drawer style offers everything you need for on-the-road cooking. The Cuisinart microwave/convection oven adds convenience, as do two 120-volt electrical outlets.
For dining and relaxation, the front dining booth can be converted into an auxiliary sleeping area, measuring 44 inches wide. A split table on two swivel mounts provides flexibility. Water tanks are cleverly integrated into both booth benches, and 120-volt and double USB outlets are accessible in the dining booth for your electronic devices.
The Adventure-XT ensures a restful night’s sleep in its cab-over sleeping area, featuring a queen bed with a 60 x 80-inch north-south orientation. Bedside cabinets on the left and right offer storage, windows located on the left and right side walls provide ventilation and scenic views, while 120-volt and double USB outlets ensure you stay connected. Bed and house lights, controllable from the bed area, add to the comfort.
The washroom, or wet bath, comes complete with a shower, a Thetford bench cassette toilet, and a teak medicine cabinet installed above the toilet. A teak lower cabinet with a stainless-steel sink and a mirror on the wall above the sink add a touch of luxury to your overland experience.
The interior of the Adventure-XT is not just functional but also technologically advanced. It features a Mastervolt electrical system, a CZone digital control system, and marine-grade wiring with sealed connectors. The 12- and 120-volt systems include a shore power inlet and interior outlets. A Mastervolt Mass-Combi 12/3,000-watt inverter/charger; Mastervolt MPPT solar charge controller; an 800-amp-hour lithium-ion battery; and 600 watts of solar panels (upgradable to 800 watts) ensure you have reliable power on your journey while energy-efficient LED lighting illuminates the interior.
Maintaining a comfortable climate is essential during your expedition, whether on the beach in summer or in Alaska in winter. The Adventure-XT comes equipped with a Webasto Evo diesel air heater for cabin heat, a rooftop air conditioner, and an exhaust fan with a temperature sensor.
Water supply and plumbing are well thought out with a 90-gallon freshwater supply (170 liters), thermally protected from freezing. Two tanks, each with a capacity of 45 gallons, handle graywater. A Webasto hydronic diesel heater provides hot water, and a variable-speed water pump ensures efficient water distribution. PEX water piping is installed within the cabin envelope for durability.
Additional accessories include extraction mats mounted on the rear, an adventure truck graphic at the rear of the passenger and driver sides, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, and 9-inch off-road LED lights located at the cab nose. The Adventure-XT offers additional upgrade options such as an awning, a dual-pane-acrylic opening skylight at the forward bed area with blind and screens, and the option to paint the Adventure-XT body to match the truck chassis (white is standard). You can also opt for three exterior perimeter lights: driver, passenger, and rear.
The starting price for the Adventure-XT is $495,000, which includes standard components and a truck allowance.
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