Fueled by Thailand’s function as a number one automotive manufacturing hub and booming journey tourism vacation spot, this yr’s Bangkok Motor Show felt as very like a SEMA-style overland exhibition because it did a full-blown worldwide auto present. In our time on the present ground, we might hardly step over to a brand new sales space with out tripping on the man traces of a rigorously staged campsite or smacking into the snorkel of a hardcore off-roader or full-blown camper rig loaded up with all of the rugged aftermarket parts needed (or not essentially needed) to overland the nation’s thick jungles and verdant mountains.
Fact be instructed, we did not have the Bangkok Motor Present penned in on our 2026 editorial calendar of essential, must-cover RV and overland exhibits. However when New Atlas founder, chairman and lifelong motorhead Mike Hanlon took the chance to attend, he rapidly discovered his digicam’s storage card so overloaded with all manners of rooftop tent, pitched awning and meticulously curated indoor base camp, he needed to swap in one other simply to get photographs of the particular factory-spec vehicles and vans he was there to see.
Maybe this should not have come as a shock. RVs, notably vans and 4x4s constructed up with aftermarket tenting and off-road parts, sit proper on the intersection of two industries important to Thailand’s economic system: automotive manufacturing and tourism/out of doors journey.
Dubbed the “Detroit of the East,” Thailand is the biggest automotive producer in Southeast Asia and 10th largest globally. Regardless that the nation lacks its personal homegrown auto manufacturers, it builds automobiles for a who’s who of main world automakers from Japan, China, the US and Europe, manufacturing over 1.5 million cars per yr for export and home sale. The automotive trade accounts for over 10% of the GDP, making it some of the essential within the nation.
Mike Hanlon/New Atlas
So it follows that Thai-built automobiles have been a significant attraction of the Bangkok present, and Ford shined a very vibrant, highly effective highlight on the all-new Ranger Tremendous Obligation. The envy of nations through which it will not be bought (e.g. Ford’s USA dwelling base), the first-ever Ranger Tremendous Obligation was developed in Australia to package deal huge truck capabilities right into a midsize platform.
Which means as much as 4,370 lb (1,982 kg) of payload – greater than double what’s out there throughout the normal Ranger lineup – throughout the similar small, nimble footprint as another Ranger. It principally seems like an angelically beautiful Goldilocks driving in on a unicorn to truck tenting and overlanding fanatics, earlier than even moving into the out there single cab, turbodiesel V6, manufacturing facility snorkel, metal bumper, long-range 130-L gasoline tank or high-strength metal underbody armor.
Ranger Tremendous Obligation manufacturing for Australia, New Zealand, Asia and all different focused world markets is being dealt with totally by AutoAlliance Thailand, a producing three way partnership between Ford and Mazda. And whereas we had beforehand been low-key maintaining a tally of main Australian camper cover and truck specialists for a take a look at the world’s first tenting rig constructed aboard the brand new Tremendous Obligation, that camper as a substitute got here from the nation of Tremendous Obligation manufacture … and what an epic machine it’s.
Positive Camper
Probably probably the most conspicuous among the many multitude of Tremendous Duties on show at Ford’s sales space, the camper truck was put collectively by Chon Buri-based pickup camper specialist Positive Camper. The outsized, hard-sided module actually drives dwelling Ford’s level that the Ranger Tremendous Obligation is a “midsize truck that may do issues no different midsize truck can do.” On this case, it may possibly put its strengthened chassis and rear axle to work in carrying far more than the small, ultralight campers and toppers to which different Rangers and midsize vans are restricted.
Within the case of Positive Camper’s LF Hopper, that hefty load equates to a big, luxurious telescopic pop-top camper that extends out previous the tip of the mattress for additional area. Utilizing its power-lift roof, the camper opens up a great deal of headroom inside whereas providing a decrease drive top to extra simply handle tunnels and underpasses. The higher roof shell additionally covers over the large entrance window and aspect home windows, defending them from injury.
The entire LF Hopper ground plan packs in a moist toilet, in addition to a kitchen block, dinette and alcove mattress. One notably distinctive spotlight is the rotating console that permits the kitchen fridge to be accessed from outdoors through a hatch on the sidewall.
Positive Camper
Thailand’s automotive trade is not solely centered on churning out full automobiles. In reality, the nation’s 2,200-company-strong auto components manufacturing phase accounted for over 40% of the auto trade’s complete 2022 income of $37.6 billion, in accordance with a report from Thailand’s Division of Worldwide Commerce.
The nation’s components constructing experience was very a lot on present in Bangkok, with many automobiles arriving trying like the kind of specifically outfitted automotive or truck you’d count on at SEMA.
Toyota Motor Co
Toyota held the world premiere of the Thai-built Land Cruiser FJ eventually yr’s Japan Mobility Present. To have a good time the little 4×4’s Thai debut, Toyota confirmed the usual model flanked by a sequence of idea variants, every dressed to the nines in aftermarket {hardware} to a selected theme. The idea sequence included what to our information is the primary new FJ tenting rig on the earth: the Nature Explorer Idea.
Australian off-road specialist ARB, which itself splits manufacturing between Melbourne and Rayong, Thailand, did the heavy lifting for the idea, supplying an expandable hardshell rooftop tent, auxiliary lighting and different add-ons. This rig is then able to make the most of the FJ’s compact, nimble off-road-centric design on expeditions lasting days or even weeks.
Toyota Motor Co
Past making an exemplary advertising and marketing time period, “nature” serves because the underpinning of the opposite main Thai financial engine at play right here. Just like the auto trade, tourism accounts for over 10% of the nation’s GDP – and a few estimates even spike that quantity over 20% when taking each direct and oblique vacationer expenditures under consideration. Pure endowments like lovely seashores, rainforests and nationwide parks helped entice simply shy of 33 million guests in 2025, and the nation is focusing in on surging segments like ecotourism and journey journey because it seeks to get again to pre-pandemic ranges approaching 40 million guests a yr.
Each eco and journey tourism have been rising steadily, and Thailand’s efforts thereof have not gone unnoticed internationally. Final yr, it was introduced the nation ranked within the prime three locations amongst growing nations within the complete Adventure Tourism Development Index.
“East Asia boasts a various panorama of journey tourism locations, with Thailand main the best way. Its well-developed infrastructure, constructive picture and glorious transportation networks make it a best choice for journey vacationers,” the US-based Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation stated on the time.
The ATTA developed the Index in collaboration with George Washington College.
And whilst you do not want a radical off-road rig just like the gnarly Suzuki mini-overlander under to benefit from the nation’s wealth of pure magnificence and journey alternative, it certain would not harm. Suzuki did not give the present automobile a elaborate identify past the “Carry” nameplate of the small truck underpinning the accessory-heavy rig however used it as an illustration of the ฿395,000+ (approx. US$12,225+) multipurpose truck’s versatility and skill to fulfill the varied wants of business and personal patrons.
Mike Hanlon/New Atlas
We’re undoubtedly bought … particularly for that USD worth.
If there’s an organization that finest exemplifies Thailand’s rising automotive/journey cross phase, it’d need to be Carryboy. Based mostly in Bangkok, it is one of many world’s largest producers of fiberglass truck caps, canopies and equipment. It made some critical noise on the 2024 Bangkok present in revealing one of many world’s first Toyota Hilux Champ micro-camper trucks, and this yr, it moved past the truck with the debut of the Carryboy x Farizon Campervan.
Carryboy
We already took an in-depth look at this camper van, out there for costs beginning at ฿2.8 million (approx. US$85,550), and it is so far confirmed our hottest RV article of the yr … by a protracted shot. There’s absolutely various causes for that, however we have now to suppose a feverish curiosity in Chinese language electrical automobiles, and their ever-increasing driving ranges, is among the many largest.
Whereas the Carryboy x Farizon van’s 231 miles (372 km) of vary is not notably spectacular, falling in need of current VW ID. Buzz and Kia PV5 camper vans, what we predict RV lovers are actually eager to see are campers constructed on range-maximizing electrified automobiles that provide north of 1,000 km (620 miles). We did not see a camper van or motorhome promoting that type of vary in Bangkok, however this RD6 pickup truck topped with a two-story Wildland camping topper might get it achieved.
Mike Hanlon/New Atlas
Aimed squarely at off-roaders and adventurers, the RD6 from Geely truck model Riddara gives a number of powertrain choices. The one on present was an all-electric 4WD mannequin, however the “Tremendous Hybrid” range-extended electrical mannequin gives greater than 1,000 km of mixed vary – fairly a visit between pit stops.
The world won’t be fairly prepared for the restricted ranges and prolonged stops concerned with up to date all-electric RVs and overland rigs, but it surely’s undoubtedly itching for high-mileage range-extended electrical variants that may sip gasoline effectively, out-travel many conventional ICE automobiles, gasoline up rapidly and ship zero-emissions driving in pristine wilderness areas and metropolis facilities (62 miles/100 km’s price, within the RD6 PHEV’s case).
And lest you suppose that towering scissor-lifted truck home destroys each final signal of aerodynamics, you will discover it would not prolong over the motive force’s cab. In reality, Wildland has designed it to pack down under cab degree when closed. That is to not say the added 550 lb (250 kg) of weight will not sluggish you down, but it surely’s a extra aerodynamic alternative than many pickup tenting choices.
Take a look by means of the gallery for extra examples of creative tenting and journey automobiles recent off their look in Bangkok.
