4 days ago
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.
