The overlanding and adventure vehicle specialists at EarthCruiser recently brought their new Terranova camper to Los Angeles ahead of an Omaze giveaway that closes on September 1. Based upon a Ford Super Duty pickup and featuring everything EarthCruiser learned building their original Mitsubishi Fuso-platformed off-roaders, the Terranova offers a smaller footprint jam-packed with plenty of creature comforts and off-the-grid tech.
I received an invitation to swing by The Motoring Club in Marina del Rey to tour the Terranova with EarthCruiser founder and CEO Lance Gillies, as well as Sales Associate Colin Cronin, who drew the lucky straw to drive the rig on an Instagrammable road trip down from the company headquarters in Bend, Oregon. Like many enthusiasts eager to get out of the city, I discovered a growing personal interest in off-roading during the pandemic and can now say I've done a bit of overlanding in both a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and my own 1998 Mitsubishi Montero.
In comparison, the Terranova seems like a much bigger truck with a big, roomy box on top, so I found myself curious to learn just how comfortable the best of these high-cost campers can truly feel contrasted with sleeping on a plywood platform in the back of an SUV (or in a tent on the ground, the old-fashioned way). But part of living with a Terranova full-time also involves driving it around town, so of course I had to hop behind the wheel for a spin through the torn-up streets of West LA, plus some highway cruising, as well.
Climb Aboard The EarthCruiser Terranova
EarthCruiser built this first Terranova using Ford's F-350 in Lariat trim as a platform, with the factory Upfitter switch package allowing in-cab functionality for the camper's features. The truck features a 7.3-liter gasoline V8 (as opposed to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel engine) and a 10-speed automatic transmission, with a two-speed transfer case offering two or four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential rounding out the drivetrain.
EarthCruiser also bolted on new wheels shod in Toyo Open Country A/T III tires, in addition to the camper shell that replaces the truck bed, attaching directly to the chassis using a proprietary kinetic mounting system and extending forward over the four-door F-350 Crew Cab. At first, as the truck rolled up, I found myself surprised that it seemed smaller than expected, perhaps thanks to the illusory shrinking effects of a matte grey paint job with blacked-out trim and a custom matte black front bumper.
Exterior Design At First Glance
Once Cronin pulled the Terranova into The Motoring Club's garage, however, and clicked a button on his key fob to activate the pop-up rooftop, the rig began dwarfing a Jeep and a Land Rover nearby (and quickly approaching the roof beams up top). Then, he deployed a 270-degree awning that massively increases the shady footprint—and barely fit width-wise. But that expansion from a relatively compact round-edged box into a much larger living area is exactly what EarthCruiser's customers want from their no-holds-barred overlanding trucks.
The 'Why' Behind Every Feature
The first thing I noticed when Cronin began backing the truck up (using the included backup camera and large side mirrors, since a center mirror would never see the Ferrari parked nearby through the cabin) was a peculiar design inclusion: two different trailer hitches hanging at different heights on rear of the camper shell. I pointed them out to Gillies, who used the decision to illustrate how EarthCruiser always looks into the 'why' behind every feature.
Specifically, the two trailer hitches allow for different angles while towing either on-road or off, with the lower placement intended for stability at speed and the higher offering an improved breakover angle. Similarly, the side access panels visible above allow for easier access to under-cabin storage because so often, opening rear doors on such a long vehicle can feel quite cramped in small parking spots (helping the spare and MaxTrax recovery boards fit better comes as an additional perk).
Creating A Comfortable Interior Space
Climbing into the cabin itself, the amenities all seem equally well thought-out, from the queen-sized bed to the high-quality materials (highly customizable by customer preference), the control panel (also including smartphone functionality), and the drawers that can double as steps (with self-lubricating plastics instead of squeak and squeal-prone rollers). But EarthCruiser achieved the most impressive feat for the Terranova's design by creating a sense of space or, more accurately, a lack of claustrophobia. I'm about 6'1" tall but, unless I squinched up on counters or pillows to get a good camera angle, never felt cramped by headroom—the reflective ceiling helps to create the illusion, much like mirrors can make small rooms feel twice as large. Panoramic views thanks to the zippable and triple-insulated windows, all within a collapsible, weatherproof, and most importantly, white soft extension of the walls further contribute an airy feel to the living quarters.
EarthCruiser Puts Everything Easily Within Reach
As Gillies explained to me almost a year ago about the Fuso-based EarthCruiser, his decades of off-roading experience torture testing rigs everywhere from the Australian Outback to the jungles of Borneo taught him that no matter how well he designs, engineers, or builds any of EarthCruiser's products, something can and will go wrong. Accepting that fact helps to further reinforce the why behind design decisions like keeping access to water filters, air compressors, and water heaters super quick and easy.
But How Does The Big Rig Drive?
Sure, the Terranova offers all the features and all the engineering to justify the borderline-exorbitant pricetag, but how does it drive? Well, we got lucky enough (or unlucky enough, from a content production standpoint) that the city decided to tear up and repave the roads directly outside The Motoring Club on the exact day of our visit. On those bumpy, uneven surfaces and going around tight turns, the Terranova's kinetic mounts helped the Ford stay both firm enough and soft enough to inspire confidence while ensuring comfort. At highway speeds, long sweepers produced a bit of body roll perhaps just slightly in excess of any standard full-sized pickup—but remarkably little wind noise. The 7.3-liter V8's power band, thanks to the 10-speed, felt more than sufficient, as proven by Cronin's claim of a 10.5-MPG trip thus far despite added weight and aerodynamic drag. The beefed-up suspension and Toyo tires all seemed to do their jobs, though the quick drive definitely left me wanting to test how the whole package performs on an actual trail.
Get In On The Fun Thanks To Omaze
To a certain extent, bringing all the creature comforts of home out on the trail—in a package that costs almost as much as a small home—can easily seem besides the point of trying to get away in the first place. But EarthCruiser's clientele want exactly that and, as Gillies explained to me, they've spent a lifetime earning the means to buy what they want. Luckily, for those who lust after one of the world's most capable overlanding pickup trucks but can't justify the expenditure, the Omaze raffle system provides a glimmer of hope for winning a Terranova without shelling out the $289,000 starting sticker, and also includes cash to pay for any incurred tax liability.
On September 15, the giveaway will provide one winner with the same Terranova, based on the Ford, but not this exact one (a good thing because Cronin may or may not put some desert pinstripes on it headed home). EarthCruiser also plans to convert heavy duty Ram and Chevy trucks but at the time of our visit, no customers had yet ordered those brands (and the Chevrolet option seems even less likely due to the unfortunate location of a DEF tank mounted lower than the front axle on diesels). Whether the lucky recipient then feels bold enough to drive their six-figure Super Duty out on a tough trail remains a question of bravery (I certainly never imagined that the most valuable vehicle I've yet driven in my career would figure as an off-roader).
In the meantime, this F-350 Terranova proved itself to me, as EarthCruiser hopes it will for those interested in sparing no expense. Who knows, I might even have to buy a few Omaze tickets—and knowing the money goes toward supporting the First Descents charity certainly helps, too.
Sources: earthcruiser.com, themotoring.club, toyotires.com, omaze.com, youtube.com, ford.com, and firstdescents.org.