Building an overland camper is not for the faint-hearted or those with shallow pockets. While most DIY camper builders tend to be optimistic enthusiasts with a passing grade in woodshop and skill with a saw, they soon realize that making a home on wheels is a project not to be taken on lightly, as there is a very slim margin for error. Roadworthiness, safety, and off-road ability are absolutely essential elements of an overland camper build, and every aspect of it must be researched and planned meticulously before the first cut is made or the frame welded. Having a background in architecture and proficiency in design software is an excellent starting point; the builders of the Land Roamer have those skills (at least Jerry does), and that got them off to a strong start. This is not to say that the build was without challenges, but the couple is so confident in the quality of their build that they have decided to turn the experience into a business building campers for like-minded explorers.
Jerry Zomer and Anniek de Jager did not grow up in the overlanding world. Yet, in less than a decade, they have conceived, designed, and field-tested a compact expedition camper that now carries them down the length of South America.
Their Land Roamer Pioneer, mounted to a Ford Ranger, is the product of three and a half years of iterative development—a process that began with a modest holiday in a rented van and evolved into a professional-grade travel vehicle built to endure rough tracks and city streets with equal ease.
Jerry’s introduction to long-distance travel came in 2016 when he left the Netherlands to backpack solo through Australia. There, he hired a campervan, discovered the convenience of a rolling home, and returned determined to create his own. An architectural draftsman by trade, he channeled his interest in construction technology into converting a Volkswagen Transporter. That first build served well inside Europe, but the couple found that two-wheel drive sometimes kept them from the most remote campsites, even on the continent.
Anniek, a medical doctor engaged in research, had earlier broadened her horizons during an internship in Suriname. The experience fed a curiosity for countries beyond the usual tourist routes. When she met Jerry, the pair quickly agreed that self-sufficient vehicle travel offered the balance of comfort and off-grid access they both wanted. Anniek’s pre-requisite was clear: a camper had to deliver most of the conveniences of home. A rooftop tent would not suffice.
Once the decision was made to take an extended journey outside of Europe, a four-wheel-drive platform became essential. Compact 4×4 vans were unavailable in their market, so their attention turned to pickups. After comparing the Toyota Hilux with the 2016 Ford Ranger, which relied heavily on Australian reliability data, they found that the Ranger matched the Hilux for durability while offering more car-like handling and a design they preferred. They purchased a Ranger for roughly $34,000, although they ensured that their still-unbuilt cabin would also fit a Hilux, so the concept would appeal to a broader audience.
What followed was a meticulous design phase that lasted more than two years. Jerry first modeled a camper body in the architectural CAD software he was most familiar with, even producing a paper mock-up. The paper version exposed flaws; the first metal components failed to meet his quality standards. A complete restart in a mechanical CAD environment, supported by an experienced mentor, raised the specification to a higher level and eliminated the need for multiple prototypes. Every panel, bracket, and fastener was finalized in the digital model before fabrication began.
From the outset, the couple rejected most commercially available slide-in bodies, finding them either robust but cramped or comfortable but ill-suited to rough tracks. They drew inspiration from large expedition trucks produced by companies such as Bliss Mobil and SLRV and the do-everything versatility of the Volkswagen Transporter. The challenge was to distill the presence of a big truck into a module that would not compromise maneuverability or parking. In profile, the Pioneer’s flanks taper inward to reduce the chance of striking trees on a tilted trail, while inside, the walls remain nearly vertical to maintain seating comfort. The result is a compact silhouette that still allows four people to sit and eat indoors, a fixed lift bed that leaves the dinette usable at night, and generous storage for gear.
External vehicle modifications cost about $17,000 and focus on protection and drivability rather than spectacle. A Rival front bumper features a winch and improves the approach angle. Ironman suspension, control arms, underbody guards, and a snorkel prepare the Ranger for rough roads and deep water.
Black Rhino wheels are wrapped in Cooper mud-terrain tires, a secondary diesel filter, extended differential breathers, and a 140-liter ARB long-range fuel tank complete the package. At the rear, the cabin forms a protective bumper that meets European regulations and improves the departure angle.
Inside the module, Anniek’s requirement for domestic comfort guided the finish. Upholstered walls, warm neutral colors, and a herringbone floor create a space that feels more like an apartment than a truck. Included are lithium batteries, solar input, and a custom control panel for power induction cooking, hot water, and climate controls. Eliminating bottled gas removes an international logistics headache and aligns with the pair’s preference for simple refueling.
The first full build, Prototype 1, was completed after three years of design work. A three-week proving run through Romania’s mountain tracks, followed by a year of European trips, confirmed the core concept but exposed opportunities for refinement. Prototype 2, the vehicle now on the road in South America, gained induction cooking, an awning, a hot water system, lighter and more attractive drawer construction, and discreet Land Roamer branding. Most changes were aimed at simplifying manufacturing, as the couple intended to sell cabins commercially—an idea that gained momentum once they recognized market interest.
The Pioneer’s maiden intercontinental voyage began when the vehicle rolled onto a freighter in Hamburg bound for Cartagena, Colombia. Since disembarkation, Jerry and Anniek have loosely shadowed the Pan-American Highway, diverting to the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia, the high Andes of Ecuador and Peru, Bolivia’s Salar country, and the Patagonian tip at Ushuaia. They navigate using both paper maps and digital tools, working remotely thanks to a Starlink Mini dish installed en route, as cell data proved unreliable. Power consumption is manageable with their existing electrical system, though the rooftop mounting is less tidy than the pair would like, and will be refined after the trip.
Mechanical setbacks have been minor but instructive. Before departure, they fitted new aftermarket brake calipers. Within 3,100 miles, the units began to seize, wearing the pads down to bare metal. A hurried replacement at a Ford dealership in Guayaquil, Ecuador, restored braking, but air trapped in the system caused a complete loss of pedal pressure on a subsequent mountain descent. An improvised bleed, guided by their Dutch workshop via satellite internet, resolved the issue. Since then, the Ranger has performed faultlessly, though the pair reinforced a bed lift hinge after noticing premature wear during daily use. So, not too much to complain about.
After eight months of continuous travel, Jerry and Anniek remain convinced the Pioneer achieves its mission: compact enough for urban errands, capable enough for remote desert tracks, and comfortable enough to serve as a true home. They estimate that the entire cabin can be transferred to a new chassis without modification, and aside from routine maintenance, a stock pickup requires no structural changes to carry it.
Looking ahead, they will spend at least four more months exploring Argentina and Chile, with plans to traverse the Puna de Atacama and perhaps detour into Paraguay and Brazil. Long-term ambitions include Australia’s desert interior, African national parks, and a transcontinental route to Asia, but they are in no rush to decide. For now, the focus is on refining the Pioneer through real-world use and sharing lessons with the growing community of travelers interested in a cabin that bridges the gap between slide-in convenience and expedition truck resilience.
If the past three and a half years have taught them anything, it is that design is iterative and good ideas need time. Beginning with a paper mock-up that failed to meet expectations, they have arrived at a vehicle—and potentially a product line—that reflects a balance of form and function born of professional skill and trial experience. The Land Roamer Pioneer may have started as a private project, but it now stands as proof that careful planning, disciplined execution, and a willingness to reevaluate can produce a travel solution that is both practical and welcoming, capable of crossing continents without asking its occupants to compromise on comfort.
Specifications
2016 Ford Ranger
Power
- 3.2-liter 200 HP
- 6-speed automatic
Suspension and Drive
- Iron Man reinforced and lifted suspension
Wheels and Tires
- Black Rhino wheels
- Cooper STT PRO tires
Recovery and Armor
- Rival bumper
- Winch
- Skid plates
- Rockslides
- Gear American shackles
- MaxTrax recovery boards and ropes
Accessories
- Solar panels (560 watts), 2,400-watt inverter, 400-amp-hour lithium battery
- Induction stove
- Fridge (90-liter)
- Freshwater 93-liter tank
- Hot water 15-liter tank
- Practical storage (1,900 liters)
- Triple-R 24 Elite+ Stedi Amber LED lights throughout the cabin
You can follow their adventures at landroamer.eu or @lizzy_land_roamer on Instagram.
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