Latest news with #HunterRMV
Motor Trend
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Driven: Bug Out in Ex-Military Style with the Hunter RMV Acela Sherpa X
Military surplus tech is a fantastic foundation to get premiere expedition-truck capability. That's why the folks at Hunter RMV chose the Acela Monterra GL 4x4 platform as the basis for this Sherpa X overlanding rig. While visiting the builder's headquarters in Minden, Nevada, we sampled what the Acela Sherpa X is capable of in its element. As Solid a Platform as You Can Get Hunter RMV uses the Acela Monterra GL 4x4 platform for good reason. These light medium tactical vehicles, or LMTVs for short, are repurposed for extreme-duty commercial-fleet use. Hunter RMV further modifies the trucks, which measure 12 feet, 2 inches to 12 feet, 10 inches tall depending on the size of the habitat affixed to the rear, to serve as the ultimate overlanding rigs. Powertrain specs are as burly as you expect, with a Caterpillar 7.2-liter turbodiesel I-6 engine developing 330 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque. An Allison seven-speed automatic transmission with an integral transfer case sends power to the full-time four-wheel-drive system. Although it's an industrial-feeling setup, the powertrain is about as smooth and refined as an enormous diesel mill can be. The Acela isn't very quick even with so much torque. The Sherpa X package tips the scales at a total of 20,600 pounds as equipped, though its GVWR ensures it can accommodate more than 5,000 additional pounds of cargo. While heavy, the Acela moves with purpose when you push the throttle and is geared for a top speed of up to 74 mph, but the company tests the truck as fast as 80 mph for safety. The dual-circuit four-channel air brakes provide good feedback and allow you to bring what would otherwise be an intimidating vehicle to drive to a stop with little effort. Riding on air springs in the front and rear, the Acela is remarkably comfortable on the road. You never forget how large the truck is, but driving this rig with confidence comes easy due to a slow but deliberate steering rack. The tiller sits in your lap like the frame of a paella pan, allowing you to get a good grip on the rim and maintain control over the expedition truck's every move. You don't have to sit up in the cab alone, either. A three-seat layout allows for a third passenger to sit between and above the driver and whoever rides shotgun. When you get to the end of the pavement and need to go off-road, a button on the console to the right of the steering wheel has four options for varying degrees of tire inflation, including one that's ideal for driving on trails. The central tire inflation system gets the pressure sorted in a matter of minutes and comes with the benefit of allowing you to remain comfortable in the cab. This rig also has a backup camera with predictive lines, which helps you reverse the truck without a spotter. Feasibility as an Overlanding Rig We drove Hunter RMV's Acela back to back with the larger Isuzu FTR 4x4 Predator XLE build, which measures 30 feet stretched over a wheelbase of 188 inches. The Acela feels more manageable on the trail at 26 feet, 3 inches long over a 153.5-inch wheelbase. If you plan to go deep into the wilderness on off-road trails, the Acela's dimensions are a bit more manageable than Hunter RMV's bigger offering. With the Acela's smaller dimensions comes a smaller living space—a 15-foot habitation box with 2.25-inch-thick composite walls. If interior space is a must-have, Hunter RMV's 22-foot Predator box offered with the Isuzu chassis is a better choice, but the Acela's Sherpa X offers much of the same comfort. In either case, a four-point articulating subframe improves stability when Hunter RMV's rigs are off-road. Quality of life inside Hunter RMV's Sherpa X box is as good as it is inside a small apartment. This model comes standard with heating, air conditioning, a skylight, and an exhaust fan. The interior is outfitted with an electronically lifting queen bed over a leather dinette that converts into a second bed. There's a kitchen with a fridge, freezer, induction cooktop, and a microwave oven, as well. A bathroom with a toilet and a sink is situated in one compartment while a separate shower is isolated to help cordon off water into one area of the camper. The Acela Sherpa X's electronics are powered by a Victron Smart Energy system that uses a 1,200-watt rooftop solar panel array, an 800-Ah lithium battery bank, and a 3,000-watt inverter. To help you stay off the grid for extended stints, Hunter RMV outfits a clean water storage tank with a capacity of more than 100 gallons as well as a 35-gallon gray-water tank with a secret dump valve. We got a taste of camping, overlanding style, with the Hunter RMV crew, taking advantage of its vehicles' various exterior features. The slide-out kitchen with a Traeger grill is good for preparing a tasty steak dinner, and the extendable overhead canopy provides shelter from the sun and traps heat from a portable propane fire at night. Should you want to clean off mud and dirt after a day in the wilderness, an outdoor shower is present, as well. As far as mobile basecamps go, the Hunter RMV Acela Sherpa X is the complete package. Sounds Great. How Much? Hunter RMV offers its customers a lot of customization and modulatory, which all allow for a flexible pricing model. Its Sherpa box rigs, like this one, range from $200,000 to $300,000. Hunter RMV hasn't finalized exactly what additional equipment will be included with this Acela Sherpa X, but it's reasonable to expect the final cost to rise to the upper reaches of that ballpark. If you want a fully customized build, pricing will likely climb to the half-million-dollar mark. In a world where expedition trucks can chart deep into the seven-figure realm, the Acela Sherpa X represents something of a bargain, especially when you consider it can be used as a full-time residence for those who are sufficiently adventurous. Its blend of military ruggedness and civilian creature comforts make it a common-sense choice for folks who wade deep into the hardcore overlanding water.
Motor Trend
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
How an $800,000 Overlanding RV Rig Gets Made
A good overlanding rig balances hardcore capability with the desired creature comforts without compromising durability. It's a delicate balancing act with which the folks at Hunter RMV are all too familiar, having been in the business of building expedition trucks for more than a decade. We toured the overlanding rig builder's headquarters and took a closer look at several of its products to get a better sense of what it takes to get one of these rugged mobile homes rolling. They definitely go way beyond a typical camper van or RV. Consultation The first step for the creation of any of Hunter RMV's expedition trucks is an initial consultation. During this meeting, a customer chooses whether they want to start with a prebuilt box or a fully customized rig. Hunter RMV works with the customer to determine the desired dimensions of vehicle, its intended purpose, and other individualizations. Procuring a Chassis Hunter RMV works with a variety of platforms including the Chevrolet Kodiak medium duty truck, Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu FTR MT3, and Acela Monterra GL LMTV. Isuzu models get a 4x4 conversion from Tulsa Truck Works. Acela-based builds are available in 4x4 and 6x6 guises. Hunter RMV performs last-touch chassis modifications before moving on to the next step. Fabricating the Four-Point Articulating Subframe Before Hunter RMV gets to work on installing a habitat on the back of one of its expedition trucks, a four-point articulating subframe must first be fabricated. This system uses four trunnions to isolate the habitat box from the chassis for better stability on the trail and protects the living space from vibrations. Painting the Cab and Installing the Habitat After the subframe is completed, Hunter RMV moves onto the cosmetics and living space. The rig's cab gets a fresh paint job to the specification of the customer. Then, Hunter RMV's team moves on to installing either a prebuilt production box or a custom-built habitat constructed in-house. A car lift is used to move the habitat into place. Once the box is in place, the Hunter RMV crew begins outfitting the interior of the box with furniture and hardware. The customer continues to have input at this point of the build. In some case, details are straightened out during the stage of assembly as the interior layout, materials, and additional features are finalized. Solar Panels and Electronics Hunter RMV equips its trucks with a variety of creature comforts inside the cabin, powered by a Victron Smart Energy system. Specifications vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the customer's needs, but a typical setup from Hunter RMV features a 1,200-watt solar array on the roof, an 800-Ah lithium battery bank, a 3,000-watt inverter, and a 30-amp Victron TR Orion charge controller. The electricity is used for the interior LED lighting, Dometic air conditioning unit, television, camera monitoring, and more. Hunter RMV's rigs typically come equipped with a kitchen comparable to that of a small apartment. The builder installs an induction cooktop with two burners, a microwave, one or two fridges, a freezer, and a sink. There's also a hood vent to pull smoke and steam out of the cabin. Plumbing and Washing Hunter RMV commonly outfits its rigs with more than 100 gallons of freshwater storage and a 35-gallon gray water tank so you can stay out in the wilderness for extended stints. Hot water for the sinks and showers comes courtesy of a Truma diesel heat and hot water system. The rigs are generally equipped with a Nature's Head composting toilet, eliminating one complicated plumbing element. A Garage with a World of Possibilities Some of Hunter RMV's rigs are equipped with a garage that can be used to store gun cabinets, hunting game coolers, extra bunks, or a small workshop. Those that want to haul around a second form of transportation for when their overlanding rig is parked can use the space to store bicycles or motorcycles. To further accommodate this type of customer, Hunter RMV has installed a lift to raise bikes up to the level of the garage. Grills Galore Slung underneath the box of many of Hunter RMV's builds are one to two grills from Traeger and Blackstone. The grills are housed in steel cabinets and can be pulled out with sliding rails whenever it's time to cook. Further Individualization Hunter RMV offers several options to tailor its expedition trucks to the needs of its customers. Some buyers want to be able to get into the cab from their habitat, so Hunter RMV can outfit its trucks with a passthrough connecting the two spaces. This feature comes with a door and insulation to help reduce noise penetration. Those who want to stay online while being off the grid can option Starlink satellite internet, powered by the Victron system. A 4-kW generator is also available for backup power. And in the true spirit of overlanding, Hunter RMV will equip off-road lighting to improve visibility at night. Anything else is up to your imagination and how wide you're willing toopen your wallet. How Much Does a Hunter RMV Expedition Truck Cost? Pricing varies dramatically from build to build due to the nature of individualization provided by Hunter RMV. 'Custom is standard' is the ethos of the builder, granting a high degree of flexibility when it comes to exactly what each finished truck looks like. Hunter RMV's Sherpa line of pre-built boxes starts around $200,000 and reaches $300,000 for the top trim. Custom builds using the Isuzu FTR or Acela LMTV platform start anywhere from $450,000 to $500,000 and can extend as high as $800,000 with enough personalization. Some of Hunter RMV's rivals build expedition trucks in the territory of seven figures, so the rigs pictured here are intended to offer the same capability at a (relatively) more attainable price point. Custom builds can take anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 hours of work, which can take from one to two years from initial inquiry to finalizations. Currently, the manufacturer typically builds three to four rigs per year, so know that patience is key if you're in the market for an expedition truck. Fortunately, those that are willing to wait are bound to get exactly what they want when Hunter RMV has finished working its magic on one of these colossal overlanders.
