Beefy, Austrian-Made Camper Van Aims to Drive America’s Glampers off the Beaten Path

People do like to sit high in their rides, but this high? A ladder would have been helpful to mount the extra-tall Krug Expedition Bedrock XT2, a US$690,000 go-anywhere camper from an Austrian company that wants to conquer the American off-road RV market. This is off-the-beaten-path glamping at its finest.

The example tested is, so far, the only one, but Krug has high hopes for the American market, which has a growing appetite for “expedition” off-road vehicles ranging from trucks to beefed-up RVs. The company describes the XT2 as a “6×4 off-road machine converting a luxury variant of the Ford Super Duty F-550 and bringing it to the next level with suspension and chassis frame reliability.” In other words, it’s a rugged three-axle truck with a double bed attached. The camper is a joint production with Iceland-based Arctic Trucks, which specialises in polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.

One of Arctic’s vehicles set a speed record of 108 hours from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Antarctic research station to the South Pole in 2010. The XT2 might be ideal, then, for a trip through the spectacular scenery of Alaska or for hitting the highway in Canada and driving north. The truck is ready to go off the grid, supported by electric power from a 1,450-watt-peak solar panel array and a 23-kilowatt-hour battery bank.

The founder of Krug, Viktor Ermolov, tried a competitor’s expedition vehicle around 2010 and thought he could do better with a vehicle filling an unmet need for a light (relatively speaking) expedition camper that could drive well in extreme terrain. The first truck came out in 2011.

The Expedition Bedrock XT2 doesn’t mind a dusty trail.
Krug

“Our clients are adventure-seeking individuals with a passion for nature and conservation. They prioritise quality, reliability, and sustainability in their purchasing decisions and are motivated by the desire for unique and meaningful experiences,” Krug Expedition CEO Slawa Knorr said in a statement to Penta .

Asked about the typical client, he said that young couples and families with children are being seen more and more.

On the road, the 9,000 to 10,000-pound XT2, which looks like a normal truck-mounted camper on steroids, was surprisingly easy to drive. Under the hood was a Ford Powerstroke 6.7-litre diesel with direct injection and 330 horsepower, with the weight of the camper yielding something like nine miles per gallon. The assisted steering was fairly light. The brakes felt like they were hauling down considerable weight, which they were. The biggest consideration while driving was considering the width and avoiding contact with cars lining the road. The cab was relatively comfortable, and the visibility good except toward the back, where the big mirrors became extra important.

The third axle decreases ground pressure up to 25%, and the big Continental multi-purpose tires provide a lot of grip. The rear air suspension is adjustable from the cab to accommodate heavy loads and rough terrain.

The exterior camper panels are made from a high-grade, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) laminate that is 70% fibreglass. Inside, the XT2 offers functional luxury. There was a comfortable-looking king bed in its own nook, a kitchenette, a bathroom with walk-in shower supported by a 118-gallon filtered water tank, and a dining area and lounge with a 32-inch TV (with Starlink connectivity) and a table that converted to a second sleeping area. For a week away, it was more than fine, and the buyer can make it as luxurious as they want.

The dining area converts to a second bedroom.
Krug

The kitchen’s fresh water uses the General Ecology Seagull IV-X2 system to banish chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. It may be cold where you’re going, so the quiet Truma Combi diesel-powered air heating system is on board, providing cabin heat and hot water. A hydronic system for underfloor heating is also available for colder climates, with automatic frost protection and radiators in the bathroom and dining area radiators. And for hotter weather, there’s the highly energy-efficient Nomadic Cooling air-conditioning system.

If cooking al fresco is desired, a portable outdoor kitchen can be built into the underfloor storage boxes.

For weekend getaways, any number of less-expensive camper solutions are available. The XT2 is aimed at rugged adventurers, who want to be virtually self-sufficient for excursions off the beaten path. It’s not the only vehicle in this expedition category. There’s also the evocatively named Storyteller GXV Epic, priced at a similar US$696,377. This is a big, tough all-wheel drive truck with up to 1,800 miles of range, 18 kilowatt-hours of available power, a built-in washer and dryer, and more.

Or how about the Ford F-250-based US$350,000 27 North Ascender RexRover truck, which sleeps four? Need more room? The cabover Loki Steyr 1491 accommodates six.

Australian football superstar and Matildas captain Sam Kerr has joined one of the world’s most exclusive luxury watch brands, reflecting on the sacrifices behind a career at the pinnacle of professional sport and revealing she only signed with her new club last week.

As Richard Mille’s first and only Australian partner, Kerr has joined an elite group of global athletes, artists and innovators associated with one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers.

Speaking in Sydney, the 32-year-old reflected on her next chapter, the extraordinary growth of women’s football and the personal sacrifices required to reach the top of the game.

Founded in 2001, Richard Mille has built a reputation for producing some of the world’s most technically advanced and exclusive timepieces. The Swiss watchmaker is renowned for its use of ultra-lightweight materials, Formula One-inspired engineering and limited-production watches that often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars and, in some cases, more than $1 million.

Its ambassadors include tennis great Rafael Nadal, Formula One stars Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, actress Michelle Yeoh and sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

During the Sydney event, Kerr wore the Richard Mille RM 07-04 Automatic Sport, a lightweight model featuring a pink case, blue strap and skeletonised movement. Designed for active lifestyles, the watch reflects the brand’s philosophy of combining high-performance engineering with luxury craftsmanship.

For Kerr, becoming the brand’s first Australian partner is a source of considerable pride.

“Of course, being the only Australian is incredible to me,” she said. “I am very proud to be Australian and I like to put Australia on the map.”

The announcement comes as Kerr prepares for the next stage of her football career following her departure from Chelsea after six-and-a-half years.

While speculation around her future has been mounting for months, Kerr revealed a decision was only finalised recently.

“Everyone thinks that it was decided and I’ve known that (it was) reported that I’d signed somewhere in April, but honestly, I only signed my contract on Wednesday last week,” she said.

“I really hadn’t decided what I was going to do until last week.”

Kerr said she expects details of her new club to be announced around the beginning of July once her Chelsea contract officially concludes.

Despite her excitement about what lies ahead, she admitted leaving one of the world’s biggest football clubs has been emotional.

“I am really sad about it,” she said. “It’s been my home for 6.5 years. I have so many good memories there. I have so many amazing teammates. I’m sad to leave.

“It sucks to leave such a big club like Chelsea too, but it comes to an end to everything, right?”

The 32-year-old also reflected on the transformation of women’s football during her career, describing the Matildas’ rise from relative obscurity to household-name status as one of her proudest achievements.

“What the Matildas have done over the last four or five years has been incredible,” she said.

“The most important thing for me is that you leave the game in a better place.”

Kerr noted that when she began playing, there were few professional pathways for women, limited sponsorship opportunities and crowds that bore little resemblance to those regularly attending matches today.

“We are a part of that generation that still knows what it was like when there was no one in the crowd,” she said.

Today, she said, crowds of tens of thousands remain something the team never takes for granted.

“Even last night we had 20,000 on a Tuesday night nearly. That’s special to us,” she said.

“We feel very lucky that people come out and spend their money and come to a game and watch us.”

Yet behind the accolades, sponsorships and sold-out stadiums, Kerr said there have been significant personal sacrifices.

“I’ve been living out of home since I was 17 years old. I’ve missed a lot of my family’s life,” she said.

“I’ve missed a lot of weddings. I’ve missed funerals. I’ve missed so many things that people don’t see.”

Kerr revealed she was unable to return home for her grandmother’s funeral last year because of football commitments.

“You have to love what you’re doing. You have to want to sacrifice,” she said.

“Everyone makes sacrifices, of course, and what I do is a massive privilege, but there comes a lot of sacrifice with it.”

Away from football, Kerr said Australia remains central to her identity despite spending much of her adult life overseas.

“I think we take for granted in Australia the beaches, the ocean, the open spaces,” she said.

As she prepares for a new club, a new season and a new role with Richard Mille, Kerr said she remains motivated by the same passion that first drew her to the game as a teenager.

“It was really organic,” she said of her relationship with the luxury watchmaker.

“It’s a real family brand.”

Beefy, Austrian-Made Camper Van Aims to Drive America’s Glampers off the Beaten Path

The Matildas captain has joined one of the world’s most exclusive luxury watch brands, sharing candid insights into the sacrifices required to succeed at the highest level of world football.