New GXV lifting-roof "Pangea" model

[chrismc]

Glovel Expedition Vehicles has just posted a photo gallery of their new "Pangea" lifting-roof model. Like many previous GXV builds, this one looks to be built on the International Trucks TerraStar medium-duty truck chassis. Hopefully, the full specs will be posted soon. In the meantime, you can browse the photo gallery on GXV's site: GXV Pangea Gallery (http://globalxvehicles.com/gxv-pangea-gallery/)

http://globalxvehicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC_1135aa-copy.jpg

[alosix]

:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:: drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::d rool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::dr ool::drool::drool::drool:

[RR1]

Wonder if they'll ever do that to their UXV model?

Would be cool to have a "low profile" popup on the 550 chassis.

This+popup=awesome

http://www.gfebrushtrucks.com/img/media/brush-truck-3.jpg

[dwh]

Yea, it's a nice rig. They seem to be following the Unicat philosophy with that pop up.

I.e., With the top down, it's still a full-height box, but with the top up you get a second story where the beds are. Nice setup for a land yacht.

That's a somewhat different design philosophy than making a pop up so that when the top is down the whole truck is less tall - such as an Alaskan or westyss' FG build (one of my absolute favorite builds BTW).

[howell_jd]

I had the pleasure of visiting GXV back in early April - before tornados and floods consumed my duties with the Corps of Engineers. During the visit, I was fortunate to witness some rigorous testing subjected upon this awesome vehicle.

Mike Van Pelt had his fantastic crew of innovative craftsmen climb upon the roof and called for the lifting mechanism to raise the entire assembly of metal and men upwards. That would be some snow load I imagine but the roof will handle an extra 1,000lbs or more with little effort. Mike also had the back end of the truck lifted over two feet - twisting the frame - and tilting the truck and living quarters substantially. Once more, the lifting mechanism successfully lifted the significantly off-level roof with no problem.

I am impressed.

Great work GXV team! Hope to visit you all again soon.

Jonathan

[greg.potter]

Very nice!

I'd have to agree with dwh that westyss' build is the nicest non commercially built unit I have seen so far - I too am partial to keeping the overall height down. Some of the Langer and Bock "pop top" boxes from Germany are very nice as well - but not for the faint of wallet.

[charlieaarons]

Wonder if they'll ever do that to their UXV model?

Would be cool to have a "low profile" popup on the 550 chassis.

This+popup=awesome

http://www.gfebrushtrucks.com/img/media/brush-truck-3.jpg

I believe it would be too heavy.

Charlie

[matt s]

That's Alaska plates on that bad boy. I may get to see it in person running around up here someday.

[RR1]

I believe it would be too heavy.

Charlie

A smaller version on a 550 chassis??

http://www.xpcamper.com/

http://www.hookedupfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/xp-camper.jpg

[apexcamper]

I am not trying to hi-jack this thread into a full-height vs pop-up, but as someone who is moving to something larger, I must ask this question.

With the non "full height" pop-ups, does the annoyance and wear and tear of the constant up and down anytime one wants to have a quick lunch, or step out of the weather make it not worth it.

Driving down the highway with the family, want to stop and make some food since we are cheap...pop the top, then drop the top. Get to the camp site when it's POURING down rain, have to wait for the top to come up.

Just wondering if the couple of feet in height you save is worth it. Seems to me that the full height that pops up for more sleep space is more useful and will last longer do to less up and down cycles.

[haven]

Beautiful camper! I imagine some Fire / Police / Homeland Security departments could make good use of this design as a (very) mobile command post.

Regarding the height of the pop-up, I suspect that GXV could build a lower profile version for a customer who has the cash.

[mog]

With the non "full height" pop-ups, does the annoyance and wear and tear of the constant up and down anytime one wants to have a quick lunch, or step out of the weather make it not worth it.

I can't speak for these awesome rigs, but as a prior owner of a ‘Four Wheeler’ pop-up camper, that was never an issue. There was more then enough room inside for the quick lunch stop, get out of the rain, etc. We just popped it to full height for stay in place camping. I think the lower overall height was of great value on trails, not only for overhead obstacles, but also to lower the center of gravity, and the reduced wind resistance was the major plus. I’m sure the Pangea would have plenty of room with the top down. I can't tell if the XP Camper's split door would open in the down position ?

[apexcamper]

Great info Mog, thanks;
Having never actually been in one of the half-height pop-ups I didn't know what to expect. I spent alot of time in the 70's in a pop-up trailer, and I can tell you that you dont get in it unless it is popped...guess I was just translating that experience over

[RR1]

I am not trying to hi-jack this thread into a full-height vs pop-up, but as someone who is moving to something larger, I must ask this question.

With the non "full height" pop-ups, does the annoyance and wear and tear of the constant up and down anytime one wants to have a quick lunch, or step out of the weather make it not worth it.

Driving down the highway with the family, want to stop and make some food since we are cheap...pop the top, then drop the top. Get to the camp site when it's POURING down rain, have to wait for the top to come up.

Just wondering if the couple of feet in height you save is worth it. Seems to me that the full height that pops up for more sleep space is more useful and will last longer do to less up and down cycles.

Problem is easily solved by having a switch in the cab.

A quick you tube search on the XP I posted, shows it raises and lowers quickly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdfDVnnpLvI

I would assume the GXV is similar.

[BigGreen]

Hello
I'm new to the site and this is my first post.
Is there a basic Pangea gxv and does anyone know how much they are?
Thanks

[Jorsn]

Hello
I'm new to the site and this is my first post.
Is there a basic Pangea gxv and does anyone know how much they are?
Thanks

I read somewhere that this is the only one that has been built so far and it was for a customer in Alaska... Cost was $700,000+

[haven]

Welcome, BigGreen!

Generally speaking, GXV models are custom built to the buyer's requirements. Contact the company for an estimate of the cost. As Jorsn says, these vehicles are not cheap.

[BigGreen]

Thanks guys, Yeah that's a littlie out of my price range. I'll try getting a hold of GXV and see if there is a more economical way to
perhaps build one of their other vehicles.

[Ford Prefect]

Just wondering if the couple of feet in height you save is worth it. Seems to me that the full height that pops up for more sleep space is more useful and will last longer do to less up and down cycles.

One thing that is important...

You always want to make sure that the camper is fully useable in the "down" position. IE can you sleep at night, can you go to the bathroom. Perhaps not easily, but can it be done? If not then in the case of a break down, which can be as little as a two dollar part, you are stuck without any place to sleep, eat, etc. I know of a few people who were really glad they paid attention to that detail, and one couple who did not and ended up with a week of discomfort prior to being able to get back to the shop to get their rig fixed. Another thing is redundancy on the pop up mechanism. If you have a manual way to raise the roof AND lower it, that is also good, if it breaks in the UP for instance, and you can't get it down, well then you are fairly well stuck in place for a while.


As for this truck! WOW Super COOL!

thanks for sharing, it is nice to see an American Made truck meeting the high standards so commonly seen in Europe.

Cheers GXV

By the way, if you need someone to transport that thing up to the new owner, don't hesitate to call me.

[dzzz]

I am not trying to hi-jack this thread into a full-height vs pop-up, but as someone who is moving to something larger, I must ask this question.

With the non "full height" pop-ups, does the annoyance and wear and tear of the constant up and down anytime one wants to have a quick lunch, or step out of the weather make it not worth it.

Driving down the highway with the family, want to stop and make some food since we are cheap...pop the top, then drop the top. Get to the camp site when it's POURING down rain, have to wait for the top to come up.

Just wondering if the couple of feet in height you save is worth it. Seems to me that the full height that pops up for more sleep space is more useful and will last longer do to less up and down cycles.

I have an electrically operated top that's operated when standing outside the camper door. I have stood in the rain maybe once or twice a month wishing the top would move faster. But if that's a significant problem, then vehicle supported travel is way too much of a hassle.

The lifting roof on this GXV provides a family size vehicle at a reasonable length. Smaller popups provide a much shorter vehicle. I have a camper with 6'6" headroom on a vehicle that's only 10'6" tall on 47" tires. No way to do that without a popup. I'll be inconvenienced for a moment or two for those features. Plus I don't have to travel with a pole saw.

My concern with a popup IMO isn't the setup time. It's the potential on hard sided popups for mechanical failure and seal problems. I haven't experienced those issue, but it is a more complex and expensive system compared to a traditional setup.