While it can be intrepid to go for a long expedition on a motorcycle it can be rather more comfortable and safer to travel in a well designed camper, preferably based on a military vehicle. This Stewart & Stevenson M1085A1 6×6 Overland Camper fits that bill.
Fast Facts
- A rather unique Stewart & Stevenson M1085A1 fitted out as an expedition vehicle is available from Bring a Trailer at time of the publication of this post.
- The truck is fitted out with both comfortable living quarters and a workshop/storage compartment.
- The camper is fitted to an ex-military truck which provides the rugged foundation on which it is built.
- You will find the sale page for this vehicle if you click here.
I think it’s a very natural human instinct to want to go and explore this amazing world we a privileged to live in. My year old granddaughter is already amazing her parents and grandparents with the sheer speed with which she can crawl as she explores her world – she seems to shift into hyperspace speed with the same ease as Han Solo’s Millenium Falcon in the Star Wars movie.
But when we go traveling it can be much nicer to have a home-like environment to retreat to, and rest in. There are those intrepid souls who set out to see the world mounted on a motorcycle, taking their chances with whatever accommodation might be available on their journey.
Among the first to accomplish such a journey was Carl Stearns Clancy who set out on a newly minted 1912 Henderson and indeed completed his journey. He took some provisions with him, and a Colt 45ACP pistol in a hidden compartment just in case he encountered an excessively adventurous situation.
But for most of us depending on what we can carry on a motorcycle is perhaps a bit too minimalist. It’s much nicer to have a familiar bed to sleep on, a kitchen to make decent meals, a shower, a toilet that does not require an excursion outside braving weather or pesky creatures. And the icing on the cake is of course to have a balcony where you can enjoy a nice cigar washed down with a glass of whisky or rum while you think back over the adventures of the day past, and the potential adventures of the day to come.
To provide such a level of practical “glamping” luxury requires a decent sized rig, a light truck, and at least 4×4, although 6×6 would be even better. And that vehicle needs to have the ruggedness of a military truck.
Just occasionally such a purpose built camper truck appears on the market and it just so happens that one has appeared on Bring a Trailer this week.
The truck in question is a 2002 Stewart and Stevenson M1085A1 6×6 Overland Camper which has been rebuilt as a go almost anywhere camper truck.
This camper truck started out as a military vehicle and was fitted with a communications box, which was extended and then extensively fitted out with all that one could wish for in a civilian recreational/expedition vehicle.
The summary list of fittings is as follows:-
- Chassis: PT018915EFLM
- 19k Miles Shown
- Overland Camper Build
- 7.2L Turbo-diesel Inline-Six
- Seven-Speed Automatic Transmission
- Orange Paint w/Graphics
- 20″ Black Wheels
- Central Tire Inflation System
- 6×6 All-Wheel Drive
- 1:1 EcoHubs
- 2k-Watt Solar Power System
- Retractable Rear Patio
- Dual Power-Operated Side Awnings
- Air-To-Hydraulic Spare Tire Crane
- 21′ Long Living Quarters
- Kitchen, Water Closet, & Sleeping Area
- Rear Garage w/Neodyne Loading System
- Twin 60-Gallon Fuel Tanks
- 175-Gallon Fresh Water Tank
- Scheel-Mann Vario Heated Seats
The truck has two rear compartments: a living section, and a workshop and storage section. The latter is used by the current owner of the vehicle to store his KTM adventure motorcycle, and it also contains controls and batteries to power the vehicle’s systems.
There is a nice video provided by the vendor of the vehicle’s fitting out which you will find if you click here.
The video includes a walk through of the interior compartments.
You can find the Bring a Trailer sale page with more comprehensive details if you click here.
The sale is current at the time of the publication of this post.
This looks like a rather unique and well thought out 6×6 home-from-home for someone who wants to do some adventuring into wild places with a good level of safety and comfort.
Picture Credits: All pictures courtesy Bring a Trailer.
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
