Body-on-frame construction, solid axles, a proven powertrain, a pop-top, and all the overland living systems on board to make life on the road less traveled quite comfortable. This is the basic recipe that Storyteller Overland cooked up with the new Grand Bohemian overland vehicle.
It’s based on an INEOS Grenadier, is fully kitted out for off-road and camping adventure, and has an Alu-Cab pop-top. The concept behind this vehicle is to allow “its owner to confidently move between the worlds of daily driver, weekend warrior, and true long-range traveler without compromising.”
Possibly the best part of this turnkey rig is that it can be financed as an RV, which means much longer terms and often lower rates than a standard passenger vehicle. Combine that with a comprehensive warranty on the whole build and a lower price point than building it yourself, and things get very compelling, very quickly.
“Even before we ever fully built out our first MODE Adventure Van back in the day, we were dreaming about creating a world’s first turnkey micro camper like the Grand Bohemian. But it wasn’t until Jim Ratcliffe and the good people at INEOS dared to bring the Grenadier to market that we finally had the right platform to go live on,” remarked Jeffrey Hunter, Storyteller Overland Founder and CEO.
A Solid Base
Grand Bohemian is “just” a highly modified INEOS Grenadier SUV. That means it has body-on-frame construction, full-time 4×4, solid axles, is triple locked, and has a proven powertrain — a BMW 3.0L engine backed by an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. It also means it has a big, boxy shape that is perfect for building into a camper.
Overland-Ready
Storyteller Overland calls the Grand Bohemian a “turnkey micro camper.” While it’s not all that micro, it is a lot smaller than any of its other campervan and expedition camper offerings. The turnkey part here is pretty key, as usually you’d either have to build something like this yourself or have a local off-road/overland shop do it for you, paying for the parts and pieces as you go.
The highlight of the camper build is, of course, the Alu-Cab Silenus roof conversion. This creates a bed in the roof as well as standing room inside the vehicle.
Inside, there is a leather-covered L-shaped bench seat that offers up lounge space, storage, and converts to a lower sleep platform. There is also an induction cooktop, 12V fridge/freezer, sink and faucet, and drop-down tables. On board is a 10.5-gallon fresh water tank, a four-gallon gray water tank, and Guzzle H2O water filtration. And let’s not forget the composting toilet.
Air and water heating is via a gas-fired hydronic system. All other onboard systems are electrical.
Its 5,400Wh of Lithionics batteries are charged by the vehicle’s alternator, 400W of solar panels on the roof, and/or a 30A shore power connection. The electrical system also offers up lots of LED lighting, six USB ports, and a 2,000W inverter with four 110V outlets.
You also get an exterior shower in the rear door and a rear ladder. A 270-degree batwing awning creates a bunch of shaded, out-of-the-weather living space.
Possibly the only comfort item the Grand Bohemian doesn’t have is air conditioning. It would be easy to add a portable unit, however.
Off-Road Upgrades
Storyteller Overland didn’t just build a camper on a stock Grenadier. It also upgraded the off-road capability, durability, and comfort of the vehicle.
Like any good off-road build, the upgrades start with suspension, wheels, and tires — in this case, EVICTUS prerunner suspension, Torque Enduro wheels, and BFG all-terrain tires. A winch, a grille guard, fender armor, auxiliary lighting, and an onboard ARB twin air compressor round out the off-road upgrades.
Grand Bohemian: Pricing & Availability
The window sticker MSRP on the Storyteller Overland Grand Bohemian is $278,443. But, its “see-through nationwide sales price” is $198,888.
And, this vehicle is fully RVIA-certified. The main thing this means is that it is eligible for long-term financing, often up to 15 years. But it also means there is nationwide service support through Storyteller’s dealer network if anything goes wrong with the camper/RV systems.
The first production units are already being built at the Global Expedition Vehicles (GXV) plant, owned by Storyteller Overland, in Springfield, Miss., where the GXV Epic is made. First deliveries are expected later this month.
Distribution of the Grand Bohemian will be a mix of already established Storyteller Overland RV dealers and INEOS dealers. The first INEOS dealer to have this vehicle in stock will be Warner near Salt Lake City.
While an early prototype did make an appearance at a Grenadier gathering back in September, you’re getting the details about the Grand Bohemian here first. The production vehicle makes its public, real-world debut at Overland Expo So-Cal later this week.
Animal Emblem
If you were wondering about the logo on the Grand Bohemian, it’s a Kudu. A Kudu is an antelope with spiral horns that is found in Africa.
Storyteller Overland says that “In the wild, the Kudu is observant, elegant, and independent. It is not reactive but is deeply responsive. It is unhurried and intentional, yet it does not hesitate to move when action is required. That same sense of balance and measured confidence defines every aspect of this vehicle. It is refined without excess and rugged without limit.”
