RV designs just like the retract-a-chassis Touchdown trailer from Dutch innovator Expandable are awe-inspiring in and of themselves. However they’re much more so when constructed to job. One in every of Expandable’s newest builds was created for the Shiver Offroad rally raid staff, which might be competing for the Dakar crown in just some weeks. The Shiver x Expandable 6×6 motorhome is an intensely uncommon mixture of rally-supporting grit, off-grid autonomy and spacious luxurious dwelling.
The annual Dakar Rally could also be greatest identified for the sandstorming, badlands-bashing vehicles, buggies and bikes that compete inside its map boundaries, however the occasion has additionally impressed some radical on- and off-road help rigs and RVs. A few of these motorhomes seem rugged and weight-optimized sufficient to make a go on the precise race, whereas others are merely designed to offer dirty, beaten-down rivals a spot to clean up and relaxation between race legs.
The brand new Shiver x Expandable semi motorhome is not fairly able to run Dakar, however it’s designed to navigate rugged, unpredictable terrain whereas faithfully shadowing staff members as they take a look at their mettle on the earth’s most infamous off-road race. On the finish of the day, the rig gives a cushty, totally local weather managed house wherein to retire.
Shiver Offroad
The brand new RV is constructed atop a triple-axle MAN heavy-duty truck platform with all-wheel-drive. As an alternative of hitching up one in all its trailers to the MAN tractor cab, Expandable drops its 30-foot Pod instantly on the chassis, making a succesful motorhome that specs effectively above common.
The Pod rides to the vacation spot similar to a cargo field, sized comfortably throughout the wingspan of the truck’s outsized side-view mirrors. Expandable’s 30-footer packs 8.4 toes (2.6 m) of width and 9.8 toes (3 m) of peak to go together with its 31.4-foot (9.6-m) size. Upon arrival, it expands out in each instructions to almost double width out to fifteen.8 toes (4.8 m), rising inside ground space from 183 sq ft to 452 sq ft (17 to 42 sq m).
Expandable
Expandable begins with an empty Pod and works with shoppers to spec an inside round their wants. In Shiver’s case, that inside combines bunkhouse-style sleeping quarters for six staff members within the entrance, together with communal house within the again.
The central kitchen hugs the nook of the skin bed room wall, creating a novel outward L-shaped house. It comes totally stocked with an induction cooktop, fridge, sink and loads of storage.
The rear lounge space features a slim, bar-height desk pushed up towards the large floor-to-ceiling glass of the Pod’s proper sidewall. That desk seats 4, and a separate decrease seating space splits two chairs with a tea desk. There’s additionally one other desk/two-chair set down the hallway close to the bunks.
Expandable
All these seating areas function each eating house and as lounge/assembly house between meals, working naturally with the big home windows to create a vibrant, open inside that by no means feels too removed from its higher environment. Those that favor an much more intimate reference to the outside can get pleasure from hanging out on the full-length rooftop deck, which is enclosed by security railings and accessed through a stowable out of doors spiral staircase on the rear of the motorhome.
Expandable
Additionally included within the Shiver construct is a rest room space with exterior sink and separate bathroom and bathe rooms and a laundry space with washer/dryer. Whereas the design actually appears to be like fairly elaborate and opulent in comparison with the typical motorhome, Expandable is cautious to level out that it is specced fairly purposefully to carry out its function, with none pointless extra.
To offer usable electrical energy within the forms of off-grid locales concerned in off-road racing, the Shiver x Expandable RV contains each a battery financial institution and an onboard generator designed to maintain issues buzzing with out the necessity for a shore energy hookup.
This specific construct encompasses a strong left sidewall, however Expandable does provide a second glass sidewall optionally, promising much more mild and indoor/out of doors connection. The Shiver rig comes with a double-door entryway with foldaway staircase for climbing as much as motorhome peak, however Expandable Pods additionally characteristic deployable hydraulic legs that permit for quick, easy demounting and decreasing right down to floor peak.
Expandable
We’re not going to nostril round making an attempt to uncover what a personal consumer paid for its wild expandable mobile-McMansion, however we did spend a couple of minutes configuring an analogous 30-foot Pod with rooftop deck, exterior staircase, right-side glass sidewall, strong left wall and strong entrance, which spit out an estimated base worth of US$312,300. Because the ground plan seems custom-built to Shiver’s specs, we left our shell empty, in order that worth is earlier than tallying up any furnishings, facilities, taxes or further charges. It is also for the expandable RV field alone, not together with a truck on which to mount it – it is good to have skilled race staff cash.
We by no means actually imagined what Dakar lodging appears to be like like, but when we had, we actually would not have pictured this – not a foul approach of “roughing it” whereas tackling one of many world’s most punishing off-road programs.
Shiver Offroad
Apparently sufficient, this MAN motorhome is by some means among the many tamer rigs in Shiver’s fleet, which additionally features a separate 30-ft Expandable Pod-based motorhome constructed on a DAF Tatra 8×8, a large 53-foot Expandable service trailer with workshop and sleeping house for 12 folks, and, in fact, the precise 430-hp twin-turbo Century CR7 2WD tube-framed racer that can quickly be butting heads with 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of Arabian desert.
You may have a better have a look at the Shiver x Expandable 6×6 motorhome within the quick video beneath.
6×6 Rally Beast with Expandable Pod Mansion
Supply: Expandable and Shiver Offroad
