Earthcruiser Australia has just taken the covers off its latest creation. This time, they have created a six-wheel drive motorhome based on the 79 Series Toyota LandCruiser platform. And it looks awesome.
What’s the story?
Developed over 12 months, Earthcruiser decided they wanted to build (in their own words) a vehicle capable of conquering the world’s toughest terrain. Safely, reliably, and comfortably. Well, as comfortable as a 79 Series LandCruiser can be…
Six wheel drive
The drive system was developed by respected 6×6 conversion specialists, 6×6 Australia. It features a clever bogie drive system with a unique coil/airbag sprung bogie drive rear axle set-up. With full load-sharing capability between each rear axle.
This system incorporates a drive-through diff and power divider. This means the third axle remains undriven while the vehicle is on the blacktop. Once traction starts to break, the power divider locks up 100 percent drive to all wheels.
All three axles also have the same track width for easier wheel placement when tackling obstacles. For extra strength, the fully fabricated rear axle/diff housings feature a 3,600kg load rating each. A variable ratio rear steer feature also provides variable steering assistance from the rear bogie based on turn radius and speed.
It has portal axles and three diff locks!
Now that’s a sentence I’ve always wanted to write – yes, the new Earthcruiser features not only portal axles but also selectable differential locks on all three drive axles.
There is a low-range transfer case and the choice of a 6-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission with a fortified clutch.
The portal axles add five inches of lift over a stock 79 Series, with a claimed 390mm of ground clearance. A central tyre inflation system is included, allowing for tyre pressures to be adjusted on the move. This just gets better and better.
Touring mods
The Earthcruiser Extreme 330 XTR6X6 motorhome rides on full airbag suspension system with automatic load and horizon levelling. There’s the option to select between three height modes – kneel, ride and lift – with up to 100mm difference between the lowest and highest modes. Up to 250mm of variation can be achieved in manual control mode but this feature is not for driving purposes.
Chassis clearance at ride height is a terrain-taming 610mm and complementing the airbags are military-spec heavy-duty sway bars with an in-cabin disconnect function that allows greater articulation off-road.
Another cool feature of the Earthcruiser is the fitment of four hydraulic rams which can be used for performing vehicle maintenance or simply to change tyres without needing to manually jack it up off the ground. This will make changing over the 35-inch Federal Xplora mud terrain tyres much easier and kinder on your body.
GVM upgrade
An upgraded 7,000kg GVM has been fully engineered and is registerable federally via SSM (Second Stage of Manufacture). The front axle capacity is also 500kg higher than stock to 1980kg. All up, these changes provide owners with 3,000kg payload (in addition to the outfitted camper body).
To cope with this extra weight, the Extreme 330 XTR6x6 is equipped with a hydraulic brake booster that reduces braking effort while increasing responsiveness; upgraded calipers and oversized heavy-duty vented brake rotors have also been specified to increase stopping power. And the vehicle also now boasts the surety of an electric parking brake that actuates on all four rear calipers.
Beauty on the inside
Earthcruiser has made loads of cabin upgrades to the Landcruiser’s factory offerings. These include re-sculpturing and retrimming the driver and passenger seats for greater comfort and aesthetics.
The cabin is also fully sound and vibration dampened and heat insulated with crawl-through access to the camper.
Two additional seat belted positions are located in the camper body, extending carrying capacity to four people, while sleeping is for three. The body features moulded structurally insulated foam walls and floor and a one-piece infusion moulded structural foam roof that’s closed with double seals.
The entry door receives the same treatment and also features deadlock with all latches and locks being flush mounted or recessed. Overhead, the body boasts a triple-layer block-out roof curtain, incorporating PVC windows, insect and full privacy screens. These materials are rated from -30 to +70°C.
Inside you’ll also find leather dinette seats, precision CNC-routed Corian benchtops, stainless steel sink with a separate purified drinking fountain and freshwater wash taps. There are also internal and external showers with immediate and continuous hot water and central air heating – both diesel-powered. On board water capacity is 275 litres and there’s also a 27 litre grey water tank.
A split system air conditioning system, microwave oven, two-burner induction cooktop, two fridges, washing machine and dryer are also included. This Earthcruiser also features an Arctic System that heats the water tanks. An electric slide-out Thetford chemical toilet ensuite and an integrated high-pressure water cleaner are also included.
Walkaround video
Take a closer look at just how wild the Earthcruiser Extreme 330 XTR6X6 motorhome is, check out this walkaround video the team has put together.
