EarthCruiser: Innovation From the Ground Up

Tyres and Rims: Your Fuso Canter 4x4 is delivered from the factory with standard 33’ tyres and duel rims at the rear. Duels are useless off-road! EarthCruiser changes the dynamics of the Canter and comes delivered to you with five 36” Michelin XZL Super Single tyres. These radial tyres are designed to perform in the harshest conditions and are a military specification tyre that is available worldwide. Being a standard 16” rim there are also many alternatives. Currently we are also exploring the options for an on-road/off-road type of tyre for more touring style applications. The Super Single rims we are using are DOT approved. Suspension Upgrade: The Fuso Canter 4x4 truck has a carrying capacity of 3500Kg, yet the EarthCruiser is designed for a maximum load of only 2000Kg. Without a suspension upgrade the ride would be intolerable over extended distances. Currently we are testing our suspension upgrade, and the final “Hard Road/Soft Ride” configuration will be a standard feature of EarthCruiser. Chassis Attachment: Chassis in the Canter and other serious 4x4 vehicles are designed to flex. The EarthCruiser ‘camper’ is attached to this flexible chassis via 8 engineered designed and ADR (Australian Design Rule) approved truck strength sprung mounts. This allows the full chassis movement and any tension created is taken up within the spring. The frame upon which the camper sits is engineered to 5G’s Rear Protection Bar & Tyre Carrier: EarthCruiser’s rear protection bar includes a 3500Kg tow bar, allowing you to comfortably tow a large boat or significant work equipment. On the left hand side, the standard spare tyre carrier incorporates an operator easy tyre lowering device. The right hand side is available for the optional secondary spare tyre carrier, a bicycle carrier or an outboard motor mount. Here the options are endless. Floor, Wall and Roof structure: Using knowledge from the ocean yachting industry, our ‘camper’ floors, walls and roofs are a composite fibreglass construction using marine grade timber for added structural strength. Internally we use 30mm closed cell structural foam; this combines a high stiffness and strength to weight ratio with superior toughness. This light-weight sandwich structure can be subjected to both static and dynamic loads. It has a very low conductivity of heat as well as high insulative properties. Our ultimate aim is lasting structural strength and minimal GVM. This we have achieved and we believe our camper should be less than 1000kg gross mass.

Floor Layout:

Attached is our floor plan layout. One of the major differences between this sketch plan and the actual ‘camper module’ is that all the corners both externally and internally are curved giving a pleasing flow line. The internal surfaces are moulded fibreglass, much as you would expect in a modern cruising yacht. The floor is again moulded fibreglass and covered with removable indoor/outdoor carpet.

A. Under the left hand seat is access to the Battery Distribution Cluster and the inverter. Below this is a large storage bin easily accessible from the door access.

B. The swing out table is mounted to the forward most part of the ‘camper’. This allows easy movement of the table to one side and hence access to the wide crawl-through to the vehicle cabin. This table can also be dropped to the seat level and with repositioning of the removable cushions, a single bed is available.

C. Under the Right hand seat is a large storage space. D. Atop the cooking module is the ceramic cooktop, and behind a lift up storage bin. Directly

below are three or four storage draws, and to the right a deep pull out draw and above, a wine rack or a slide out rubbish bin. All draws and cupboards have duel push button lockable latches ensuring everything remains secure. Suspended from the roof is the optional microwave.

E. The bathroom has a retractable shower head in the vanity basin. The shower area is designed to include a shallow bath for when one must be very frugal with water. We have chosen a Thetford Cassette toilet for reliability and ease of operation in the bush.

F. The double bed is a comfortable 2 metres long by 1250mm wide. Flanked either end by two large flyscreen windows for breeze or closed with the addition of the privacy screen. At the head of the bed are two chrome plated flexible reading lights. Below the bed are four (4) storage bins. Two at the rear provide storage for not so often used items like winter coats, or for those collectables you have acquired along the way.

G. Set into the 1100 x 600 bench top is a smoked glass lidded modern stainless steel sink and mixer tap. To the right is the pure water drinking faucet. The three storage draws have duel push button lockable latches. Above, is a condiments shelf and the lighting/circuit breaker/water-battery gauge panel.

H. Our specially commissioned 120 Litre upright fridge/freezer is both practical and functional. Drawing only 38amps per 24 hours is the most efficient on the market. It operates out of level and is ideal for tropical climates. Personally, I have had ice in my rum every day from the wet tropics in Northern Australia to the hot deserts of the Sahara.

I. Fibreglass or Vinyl floors are very cold to stand on, so we have covered the EarthCruiser floor with removable indoor/outdoor carpet. The added advantages are that it is quick and easy to clean.

J. The side access panel hides the external shower and mixer taps, the duel water tanks fillers and the duel fuel tank fillers. A fibreglass skirt below the floor line provides extra storage, a fuel tank cover, and a good smart flow line to the vehicle.

K. Access to the large under bed storage area ( W1200 x D900 x H400) L. Rear under floor storage. M. Rear spare tyre mount, and optional duel spare tyre mount, bicycle carrier, outboard motor

carrier, etc. N. You will find this to be the most enjoyable part of EarthCruiser, and the centre of activity

when camped with friends. Designed for the quick lunch stop or for the ease of a full camp setup. Under the large 3 x 2 metre electric awning you can pull out the S/S gas BBQ (Griller, Stove and Oven), two storage drawers and extendable table.

Water:

At this stage we envisage two 80Lt fresh water tanks and a 40Lt grey water tank. Our pumping system will allow you to draw water from individual tanks, allowing you to use tank 1 for cooking etc and tank 2 for showering. Flexibility will also enable you to pump from a creek or dam into tank 1 or 2 and pump from tank 1 into tank 2 and vice versa giving maximum control and usage of available water.

You can also pump directly from the creek into either the internal or external shower by-passing both holding tanks.

Of course any drinking water will be delivered via the onboard water purifier through the designated Stainless Steel faucet.

Water Purifier:

With such an important health consideration, considerable time was spent researching product options. EarthCruiser will be fitted with the only unit in the world today certified to meet world EPA health standards.

The unit provides pure water in 3 ways;

1. Using Ultrafine Micro straining it physically removes Guardia, Cryptosporidium and other specific parasites and debris down to 0.4 microns. Removing pathogens also removes disease toxins and is far superior to “poisoning” organisms with pesticides.

2. Using a broad spectrum molecular capture it traps and contains organic and other chemicals such as pesticides and solvents, as well as chlorine and trace elements that can be toxic and /or carcinogenic, along with foul taste, odour and colour.

3. The Electrostatic removal process uses specially charged space-age surfaces to remove minute particles, molecules and colloids suspended in the water.

There is no bacteria growth in the cartridge and it is made from marine grade stainless steel with lead-free faucets and ports. This is the same system that you will find on most international aircrafts. The renewable cartridge is good for 4,000 litres or approximately 2 years.

The drinking water system we have chosen has passed the rigorous verification and field testing of

research institutes, health and safety associations, independent laboratories, numerous private

expeditions and above all, individual users. Here there is no compromise.

Power:

Our vision for EarthCruiser, as a true expedition vehicle, is for it to be able to be parked up at your favourite isolated spot for up to 10 days without the use of additional shore power. Given good sunlight, the three solar panels and the two 100A/hr batteries will run the 120Lt fridge/freezer and the low draw 12V lighting system for this considerable time. An 1800watt Inverter (240 or 110Volt) provides true sine wave power to the optional microwave, and will power up your computer and supply sufficient power for other AC powered items. Should the batteries drop below the 50% ideal level, the alarm system will advise. You can then easily top up the batteries by using the vehicles alternator. Alternatively, you can also use a generator or shore power, plugging it directly into the 240 (or110) Volt inlet whereby the inverter will immediately recognise the supply to be AC or DC via its inbuilt transfer switch. An optional battery charger is also available should you wish. A chest height control panel gives full access to all power switches plus:

• All 3 water tank metres ( two fresh and one grey) • The house and vehicle battery levels • Charge and discharge of house batteries • Remaining capacity in amp hours or percentage • Solar panel input and system usage. • Alarm system for battery and water levels.

A hidden Battery Distribution Cluster and VSR (Voltage Sensitive Relay) allows isolation of vehicle and house batteries independently with the ability to emergency parallel supply to both. Alternatively both systems can be isolated in the off position in case of shipping or for added security and/or storage. When the engine is first started, the VSR is open and remains open until the start battery reaches 13.7 Volt. At the rated voltage, the relay closes providing charge to both start and the house batteries. When the engine is stopped and the start battery drops below 12.8 Volts, the VSR disengages and separates the start and the house battery bank. This eliminates the possibility of draining the start battery, and protects electronics powered by the house battery from harmful engine spikes.

Lighting: EarthCruiser’s lighting system is both functional and ergonomic. Surrounding the cabin interface panel are low draw concealed strip lights, these can be adjusted via the dimmer to suit the mood of the evening. The 12 Volt LED spot lights over the cooking and seating area provide functional lighting, and at the bed head are two adjustable reading lights. Externally on each side are water resistant 12Volt external LED flood lights. These provide adequate lighting for the ‘camp’ area under the RH awning and lighting for the external shower on the LH side. The positioning of these also provides good light for that late night unpredictable tyre change. It is through experience learnt from remote international travel that encourages us to also include appropriately positioned internal night lights for that inconspicuous night camp set up. EarthCruiser also has a ‘panic’ switch that lights up both the external flood lights. This may prove invaluable when you hear that unusual noise at night. Furthermore, should the need arise you can be driving away from a potential problem within less than 60 seconds following a push of the roof & step button, all without leaving the safety of the inside of the vehicle. Cooking: Internally is the very smart Diesel Cooktop. The heat source is an integrated diesel burner drawing fuel directly from the vehicles fuel tank. The cooking surface is an elegant and clean ceramic surface which has room for two pots or saucepans. Externally is a Gas Barbecue on a slide out rack. This burner is a true combination of griller, stove and oven. Made from 18-9 marine grade stainless steel this BBQ, foldout table and storage draws completes the perfect outside cooking centre for that quick roadside lunch stop or relaxing under the awning with a glass of wine whilst the roast cooks. Air and Water Heating: The Webasto DualTop will heat up both the cabin air and the domestic hot water. Diesel usage is a minimal 0.19 to 0.66 l/hr, and has 11 litres of water on standby. External Awning: Our most exciting ‘must have’ is a fully retractable 3 metre x 2 metre awning. This electric awning cleverly retracts fully into the roof to avoid damage in the tight tracks. Something else clever: On the driver’s side is a lockable door that conceals many things. The twin fuel tank fillers, the twin water tank fillers and the external shower and mixer taps. Hiding the fuel and water fillers minimises the possibility of fuel theft and water contamination. The external hot and cold shower is obviously handy however it can also be used as a wash down after refuelling.

‘Pop-top’ Camper Roof: EarthCruiser is unique, in as such that a full sized expedition motorhome can be containerised. The regulations that currently prevail with some international shipping lines are that RO-RO (Roll on – Roll off) vehicles MUST, for security reasons, have NO personal effects within the vehicle. This may be acceptable for shipping a car from one country to another, however is totally unacceptable for extended expedition travel. Containerisation ensures your personal effects arrive intact! With today’s volatile fuel prices economical fuel consumption is important. EarthCruiser does not have a wall of camper extending above and beyond the leading edges of the drivers cabin and affords very economical travel. From personal experience these are my actual fuel consumption figures. Highway travel at 100 KPH or 60MPH = 18Lt/100Kms or 15.7MPG (UK), 13MPG (US) Highway travel at 80 KPH or 50MPH = 16.5Lt/100Kms or 17 MPG (UK), 14.3MPG (US) Dirt track travel at 20-80KPH or 13-50MPH = 17.5Lt/100Kms or 16.4MPG (UK), 13.5MPG (US) Hard cross country 10-12metre sand dunes (no tracks) 21 Lt/100Kms or 13.5MPG (UK), 11.2MPG (US) Internally the roof is domed shaped, much like the internals of a modern passenger aircraft. This provides good structural support without compromising external height. This combined with the 600mm high vinyl interface allows ease of movement within the living section. For cooling the vinyl interface has seven (7) zipper/ roll down ventilation fly screened windows. At head height this gives a 360 degree panoramic view of the surroundings. Our chosen vinyl has three (3) layers, white on the outside to reflect the heat, a black internal membrane for reduced temperature/light transfer, and a grey interior to keep a comfortable temperature within. Thus temperature transfer is kept to an absolute minimum. The vinyl is all seam welded as opposed to stitching that adds holes to the fabric. Is it likely that you are going where it is really cold? We are also working on an Arctic version of EarthCruiser. The vinyl used in this configuration is the same as that used in refrigerated transport industry where the temperature is kept at a constant minus 8 degrees C. Crawl through to vehicle cabin: In EarthCruiser we have redesigned the old bellows system of joining the cabin to the body. Our system is proven over many millions of kilometres in the trucking industry. It is both easy to operate and completely waterproof. For our overseas customers who are ordering the ‘camper’ section for fitment to their Fuso, we supply a template of the cut-out and the fibreglass inserts on the vehicle end. Electric Lifters and Steps: Convenience is what luxury is all about.

The roof module is raised by four hidden 12Volt actuators, this and the 3 step electric steps are activated by a switch confidently located both in the drivers cab and at the camper door. That is to say, that when you stop the vehicle and push the button, by the time you walk around to the camper entrance, the roof and the steps have been extended. At the camper door you only have to push one more button to bring out the 3 metre awning. Camp is set, it’s that easy! As we move down the manufacturing process we are constantly updating and researching. Some items listed above may be changed to improve the functionality of EarthCruiser. Improvements to EarthCruiser learnt from living 6 months in the prototype and travelling over 37,000 Kilometres:

• A more practical internal layout • Double bed does not have to be reset morning and evening from/to a dining table • Split kitchen work area, allows separate cooking and preparation area. • 50% increase in storage internally • Improved access to/from driving cabin • Full skirting and storage boxes below the floor line, but retaining the ramp over angle. • A 3 x 2 metre fully retractable electric awning • External cooking facilities • Electric steps • Hidden 12V roof actuators as opposed to pneumatics • Separate auxiliary fuel tank • Two fresh water tanks • Grey water tank • A quality Water purifier • Improved temperature retardant Vinyl interface • Improved electronics monitoring and low battery warning system. • Improved control over house and vehicle battery, particularly in relation to isolation. • 75% increase in external storage.

Depending on the nature of your travel you may wish to also consider the following options:

• Driver and Passenger seat upgrade to individual Stratos suspension seats • Long range auxiliary fuel tank of 100-125 litres. Giving a total of 200-225Lts

• A secondary spare tyre and tyre carrier • A 240V Microwave run via the inverter • Battery Charger • Endless Air - A Fan Belt driven Air Compressor, bracket and fittings for tyres and air tools. • Tow Bar goose neck, tow ball, and electrical fittings. • Bull Bar • Winch

• A large black felt pen...

...to mark on the calendar the time frame you will be:

Exploring the World - Russia, South America, Australia, Africa and Beyond

Meeting New People and Different Cultures

Beachcombing Isolated Foreshores

Fishing Remote Rivers

Adventuring beyond where the dotted line on the map ends

And Enjoying Life