EarthRoamer Ownership: Truths, Triumphs, and Tribulations

What if your favorite road trip memories — think scenic campsites, crackling campfires, and stunning wilderness — came with a king-sized bed, a proper bathroom, and the ability to carry 100 gallons of water for hot showers in the middle of nowhere? That’s the EarthRoamer. It’s not just a camper. It’s a rolling sanctuary that dares to combine rugged overland capability with undeniable luxury.

For my wife, Laura, our rescue greyhound Dakar, and myself, the EarthRoamer has been our ticket to exploring North America’s wildest corners without sacrificing the comforts of home. It’s powerful, self-sufficient, and unapologetically big. Big enough, in fact, to draw a few side-eyes in a quiet campground.

But like any grand adventure, owning an EarthRoamer comes with its triumphs and trials. Since we brought our used Earthroamer home in late 2020, it’s taken us everywhere, from the Arctic Ocean to Baja California. Along the way, it’s taught us some lessons — some practical, others costly. This is life with an EarthRoamer in all its rugged, quirky, and magnificent glory.

What We Tried First

After 6 months of living out of a Land Cruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier in Australia, we knew two things. We loved vehicle-based travel, but we craved more comfort.

The Land Cruiser was perfect for exploring remote deserts and bushland, yet it left us longing for an enclosed space where we could shut the door, stretch out, and truly relax. Back in the U.S., we experimented with various setups to refine what we wanted in an overland vehicle.

Our favorite build was a Jeep Gladiator with an AT Overland pop-top camper. The truck excelled in technical terrain, and its simple, proven driveline inspired confidence in remote areas. However, while capable and rugged, it felt cramped for two large people and our 80-pound greyhound — both in the truck and the camper — especially during bad weather. It was a great upgrade from a rooftop tent, but we wanted more living space.

Exploring the Alternatives

Before committing to the EarthRoamer, we considered other options. Our first stop was the ubiquitous Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. With dozens of companies offering various conversions and an available four-wheel-drive option, the Sprinter provided ample space and the maneuverability of a standard vehicle.

However, most camper conversions were designed to sleep east-west by way of bubble flares replacing the rear windows. Sleeping in this orientation was a no-go, because at least one person will need to crawl over the other to get out of bed in the middle of the night. A north-south configuration was the only way for us.

The EarthCruiser EXP was tempting with its compact size, ability to fit in shipping containers, and parking flexibility. However, its cab-over Mitsubishi chassis felt cramped, underpowered, and limiting with its two-door configuration — a dealbreaker when traveling with our dog. Although EarthCruiser briefly offered a four-door version that might have addressed this issue, those models were newer and well outside our budget.

We also looked at custom European campers, particularly those built on Unimog chassis. These vehicles boasted unparalleled off-road capability and bespoke interiors, but they came with astronomical price tags and lacked the practicality of the Ford platform for our North American adventures.

Had Bliss Mobil been operating in the USA as it is now, that might have been an interesting consideration. Its biggest selling feature is the ability to replace the chassis once it accumulates too many miles or wears out, with the camper remaining as the primary investment.

Landing on the EarthRoamer

Ultimately, the EarthRoamer stood out as the most complete package — blending rugged capability with unparalleled comfort. Excluding the cost of entry, it was the perfect solution.

Built on a rugged Ford F-550 platform that we already trusted, it featured a fully self-contained camper with a king-sized bed, a spacious wet bathroom, and a massive water tank. The widespread availability of Ford dealerships for service and the comfort of the Super Duty chassis on long road trips further added to its appeal.

The Value of ‘PreRoamed’

Brand-new EarthRoamers of our size can approach the million-dollar mark, a price tag far beyond our reach. Instead, we opted for a “PreRoamed” EarthRoamer through the company’s certified pre-owned program.

This makes ownership significantly more accessible while ensuring the vehicle has been thoroughly inspected and approved by EarthRoamer’s team. Pricing for pre-owned models varies widely. Older units start around $350,000, while newer ones can fetch $700,000 or more. We found a balance in this range and felt confident in our purchase, given the thorough inspections and servicing included.

A Rocky Start: Lessons Learned

Just hours after picking up the EarthRoamer in late 2020, disaster struck. While climbing Eisenhower Pass in Colorado, a coolant line running to the camper’s hot water system burst. It was a cold night, and I wasn’t yet familiar with the vehicle’s systems.

The temperature gauge didn’t alert me to the issue, and by the time I realized what was happening, the engine had overheated. Although refilling the coolant got us home, the engine eventually fried its big-end bearings and required a full replacement.

It was a $25,000 mistake, and I was pretty frustrated at the time — I had placed a lot of confidence in EarthRoamer’s PreRoamed program. Over time, however, I’ve come to understand that it wasn’t EarthRoamer’s fault. This vehicle was used, and even the highest-quality hoses eventually rot and dry out. Now, EarthRoamer replaces the coolant lines on all PreRoamed models they handle.

Had we chosen a camper on a European chassis, I can’t imagine how much more challenging the replacement would have been. All we had to do was whip out our American Express at our hometown Ford dealer, wait 2 weeks for a new engine to be installed, and shed a few tears for the travel funds that evaporated in the transaction. On the bright side, this mishap allowed us to upgrade to a newer-spec Ford Powerstroke engine with a warranty, giving us peace of mind for future travels.

What It’s Like to Drive an EarthRoamer

Even though it’s built on a pickup truck platform you might recognize, the EarthRoamer XV-LTS doesn’t drive like the typical pickup you’ve seen around town. That’s not to say it drives poorly — it’s just that a nearly 20,000-pound machine demands a different approach than an unladen, overpowered pickup.

Cab and chassis model trucks are built for commercial use and feature purposely underpowered engines to improve reliability and longevity. Load it to its maximum gross vehicle weight and fit it with 41-inch off-road tires and snappy performance is not what you’ll get.

Driving a high-center-of-gravity vehicle on both pavement and off-highway comes with its challenges. On the highway, a gust of wind, an extended mountain pass, or even the simple act of passing another vehicle must be approached with extra care.

Often, the limiting factors on long climbs are the engine’s coolant and oil temperatures. You might have the power to climb faster, but you simply can’t push it too hard. I added a Banks iDash Data Pro to manage and alert me when temperatures get too high — an essential addition, in my opinion.

Off-Road in an EarthRoamer

We’ve had our EarthRoamer XV-LTS deep enough into technical terrain to get it on three wheels, and I’m convinced that the limiting factor for vehicles like it is often the person behind the wheel. But, it’s not a bad thing to be a little apprehensive as to where you point your 30-foot-long vehicle.

Granted, you’re not taking it up King of the Hammers style terrain, but reaching that perfect campsite on almost any two-track road is achievable. With independently adjustable air suspension at all four corners, you can control how much the vehicle leans on a steep, off-camber trail and how much clearance you have at each corner in technical terrain. It adds a layer of capability to the EarthRoamer that most never fully utilize outside of leveling the vehicle in camp — which is darn handy in its own right.

The Layout: Small Space Optimization

Most campers and RVs serve the same purpose: portable comfort and shelter. But the variety in layouts comes down to two things: price point and design. Generally, price correlates with quality, and few compare to EarthRoamer in terms of fit and finish — though it’s clear you pay for that excellence.

In a relatively small space, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all layout. We really like the layout of our XV-LTS model EarthRoamer, which has generous storage, a wet bath with an expandable changing room at the back, and a cab-over sleeping area that creates a central living space.

While a new EarthRoamer offers some layout customizability, our “PreRoamed” XV-LTS came with a layout someone else chose. Ours is unique, as it was the first of the “Stretch” models — hence the “S” in “LTS.” It has a massive six-person dinette, with seating for three on each side. When it’s just Laura, our greyhound, and me, this spacious setup lets us stretch out and relax, even when the weather turns rough.

The backrest on the passenger side of the camper folds out into a full-length butcher-block countertop. This greatly expands the kitchen’s counter space, though we don’t use it often.

Overall, there’s little we would change about the camper’s layout. EarthRoamer has stayed true to its original recipe across most models, aside from the even bigger SX and the all-new LTX, which offers a rear dinette that converts into a sleeping area.

It Changed How, and How Often, We Travel

The EarthRoamer has fundamentally changed our approach to travel. It’s less about conquering technical trails and more about finding the perfect campsite to enjoy the lifestyle it offers.

One particularly memorable adventure was our 2-month journey to Tuktoyaktuk, Canada’s northernmost community connected by road. Arriving during a rare Arctic heat wave — with temperatures over 90 degrees — we relied on the EarthRoamer’s air conditioning and massive battery bank to keep our greyhound cool while fending off relentless mosquitoes.

Swaddled in comfort, we developed a serious appreciation for the bikepackers pedaling the entire Dempster Highway. We even made sure to offer a cold drink whenever we saw them.

Winter camping has been equally transformative. With impressive insulation and diesel-powered forced-air heating, our EarthRoamer feels like a cozy cabin on wheels. Whether you’re spending the night in a ski resort parking lot or camping in the snow with friends, it’s remarkable how isolated you can be from the weather outside. There’s virtually no thermal transfer between the fiberglass composite camper and the outside world, so as soon as you shut the door, you’re enveloped in warmth.

Based in Northern Arizona, we deal with many cold nights in winter and scorching days in summer. The EarthRoamer adapts to both extremes, making it a year-round travel companion.

The Challenges: Size & Maintenance

While the EarthRoamer shines in rural North America, urban environments present challenges. Its 30-foot length and 12-foot height demand careful planning, especially for parking. It’s nimble enough to fit lengthwise into two consecutive parking spots — a lifesaver in tight situations.

But, maneuvering in cities still requires extra care. Fortunately, F-550s are common as delivery trucks in urban areas where larger vehicles can’t venture. And, the wide-track front axle gives it a surprisingly tight turning radius.

Much like a boat, there’s always something to service, repair, or upgrade. Diesel heaters require yearly cleaning from soot build-up, water and holding tanks require sanitizing, and just like a home — the entire camper needs a deep clean every now and then.

The most surprising expense revolves around the wheel bearings, EarthRoamer recommends inspection every 30,000 miles, and replacement every 60,000. I’ve replaced the rear wheel bearings twice, and the fronts once. This is in addition to the regular servicing like oil changes ($200) and differential, transmission, and transfer case fluid exchanges ($400). It might be a Ford pickup, but it does have a very expensive house on the back, and you won’t want to skimp on service.

The Continental MPT-81 tires — essential for supporting the vehicle’s weight — require rotation every 3,000 miles and are notoriously difficult to balance. They’re quite loud on the road, last around 20,000 miles, and aren’t cheap to replace.

Beyond the cost, finding a tire shop capable of handling these three-piece, military-grade beadlock wheels is a challenge. Figure $300 for a rotation and about $5,000 to replace all of the tires. If there’s one thing I find absolutely frustrating, it’s the tires. Here’s hoping that Continental releases an improved version of the MPT-81, as has been rumored for years.

EarthRoamer Ownership: Is It Worth It?

You don’t need an EarthRoamer — you want one. Being blunt, you can try to grasp at a million different straws and come up with a million justifications, but you’ve got to truly want this machine. I wanted it, and a little over 4 years into ownership, I’m still in love with it. I have no regrets — it was worth every cent, even after having to drop a new engine into it.

Owning an expedition vehicle becomes a way of life. It’s a rolling invitation to explore remote destinations, extend your camping season, and embrace the outdoors with unparalleled comfort. Living on the West Coast of the USA, we’re fortunate to have almost limitless public lands with phenomenal access. Sometimes, I compare our lifestyle to that of our friends with live-aboard boats. But, we’re able to go further, longer, and in much more comfort with our EarthRoamer XV-LTS.