Why We Ditched Our Sprinter Van for This 43-Inch Tire BEAST (Full Truck Camper Tour!)
Welcome back to New Jersey Outdoor Adventures. On todays episode, Patrick Botticelli is at Overland Expo East, bringing you an exclusive tour of one of the most capable and unique full-time travel rigs we've ever featured: an Expedition Vehicle built on a classic 1988 MAN Truck chassis (a cool collaboration with Volkswagen!).
Meet Craig from Van Lifemates, who gives us a deep dive into "Sherp," his incredible off-road capable home on wheels. This German Fire Truck conversion is now a fully self-sufficient overlanding vehicle designed for full-time travel, featuring massive 43-inch run-flat tires, a 5-ton PTO-driven hydraulic winch, and military-grade lockers.
Inside the composite box, you’ll find:
Year-Round Comfort: Three forms of heat (diesel, electric shore power, and engine heat) with a hydraulic radiant heated floor system that warms the entire living space and the massive garage!
Epic Storage: A full pass-through "garage" that holds tools, gear, and even a hydraulic motorcycle rack. Plus, one of the coolest next-level kitchen drawers you’ll ever see!
Off-Grid Power: A robust 24V system with 500Ah Lithium batteries (equivalent to 1000Ah at 12V), 600W of solar, and Victron components.
Wet Bath: A surprisingly spacious wet bath with a sink, towel warmer, and a cassette toilet system.
The Details: Air-ride seats, a manual transmission (the ultimate security device!), and a swing-away rear bumper for extreme off-roading.
Watch the full tour to see why Craig and his wife ditched their previous vans and trailers for this unique full-time RV! Don't miss the discussion on how they legally registered this vintage German military-style vehicle as a US RV/Mobile Home (no CDL required!).
👍 Let us know in the comments: Should Craig keep the classic MAN front or convert it back to the nostalgic VW Vanagon look?
Connect with Craig and Ann with Van Lifemates:
YouTube: @VANLIFEMATES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanlifemates/
Time,Chapter Title
0:00 ,"Intro: Meet Craig, Van Lifemates, and the MAN Truck"
0:29 ,Vehicle Origin: 1988 MAN/VW Fire Truck Conversion
0:48 ,43-Inch Run-Flat Tires & Hub Diffs (The Big Wheels)
1:45 ,"Roof Rack, Storage Boxes, and 5-Ton Hydraulic PTO Winch"
2:57 ,The German Fire Truck History & Composite Box
3:12 ,"Exterior Storage, Onboard Air, and Water Connections"
3:48 ,Cassette Toilet System & Outdoor Shower Setup
4:19 ,Radiant Heated Floor System (Hydraulic Heat)
4:54 ,The Massive Pass-Through Garage & Slide-Out Trays
5:44 ,Hydraulic Motorcycle Lift & Swing-Away Bumper
6:53 ,"Spare Tire Lift, Sand Boards, and Propane Setup"
8:34 ,Stepping Inside: Accordion Screen Door & Cab Access
9:49 ,Outbound Double-Pane Windows (Screens & Blackouts)
10:21 ,Dinette Seating & Water Storage Tanks Below
10:52 ,500Ah 24V Lithium Bank (Victron System) & Solar Specs
11:53 ,"Control Center: Inverter, Water Tanks, and Solar Controller"
12:29 ,Dual-Use Heating System (Heat + Hot Water)
12:35 ,Next-Level Interior Storage: Pantry and Cabinets
13:07 ,"Kitchen Counter Extension, Induction Cooktop, & Fans"
14:43 ,"The Wet Bath: Sink, Towel Warmer, and Maxx Fan"
15:35 ,The COOLEST Drawer Ever! (Garage Bump-Out Storage)
16:08 ,"Queen Size Bed, Overhead Storage, and AC"
16:48 ,DC Air Conditioning & Insulation Performance
17:34 ,"Cab Tour: Apple CarPlay, Garmin, and Manual Transmission Security"
18:18 ,Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Door Security Locks
18:44 ,Air-Ride Seats & Max Travel Speed (60 MPH)
19:05 ,CDL & Registration Secrets (How to Register a German Truck)
20:13 ,"Crawler Gear & Full Lockers (The ""Sherp"" Capability)"
20:58 ,MAN vs. VW Vanagon Front: What Should They Do?
21:38 ,"Previous Travel History (Airstream, Sprinter Van) & Future Plans"
#overlanding
#expeditionvehicle
#truckcamper
#fulltimerv
This channel explores the exciting world of vanlife, with your host Patrick Botticelli, showcasing custom camper van builds, 4x4 off-road adventures, and DIY conversion projects. Join Patrick for in-depth RV tours and inspiring travel stories!
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Дата на публикация: 7 декември, 2025
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