Earth Roamer LTi, roaming Jay Leno's garage.
If you want to get off the grid whenever possible, the EarthRoamer LTi will do just that, and this episode of Jay Leno's Garage takes a closer look at this very capable vehicle.
The LTi started out as a Ford F-550 Super Duty pickup truck with a stock 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8 and a 10-speed automatic transmission EarthRoamer sources its trucks directly from Ford, and then builds them into a new vehicle with the same high performance and low maintenance requirements as the F-550, disassembled down to the frame rails, the company's customer experience manager Zach Renier explains in the video.
Beyond the front seats, the truck looks almost stock. However, EarthRoamer has installed captain's chairs in the rear in place of the stock bench seat in the cab. Behind the cab is a carbon fiber camper shell supported by a single-wheel rear axle instead of the stock duals. This allows the EarthRoamer to fit 43-inch tires, which are mounted on 20-inch double beadlock wheels.
The four-corner air suspension not only improves ride comfort, but also adjusts for crosswinds (an important consideration given the wide aspect of the camper) and allows the vehicle to level out when parked in a campground. Storage lockers are built into the camper shell, and a swing-out box provides additional storage space. The truck even has a smoker in one of its boxes.
The camper itself has features one would not expect from a rugged overloaded vehicle, such as a cedar closet and wine cellar. The bathroom, however, is a closet-like space with an integrated shower and toilet; it also has a full kitchen with an induction cooktop, microwave, convection oven with broiler, and air fryer.
In a normal RV or trailer, powering all of these appliances usually requires a propane tank or generator inside the vehicle. This not only limits the length of camping trips, but also increases the carbon footprint of the vehicle. So EarthRoamer uses lithium-ion batteries, which are charged by solar panels on the roof.
The truck weighs about 17,500 pounds, with the donor Super Duty chassis accounting for about 9,000 pounds. According to Regnier, the previous fiberglass version was 1,500 to 2,000 pounds heavier. Fuel economy is estimated at 10 to 12 mpg, and the 95-gallon diesel tank allows for an estimated 1,000-mile range.
Still, the EarthRoamer LTi performs impressively off-road for what is essentially a small house on wheels. Watch the video to see it in action.