Mercedes-Benz Zetros – the ultimate RV?

Military muscle meets high-life luxury in this Mercedes-Benz Zetros RV conversion – yours for just Euro 800,000!

Following on from trucksales.com.au's recent story about the public debut of Mercedes-Benz's new Zetros off-road truck in Australia, comes this jaw-dropping Zetros motorhome conversion from Europe – an RV even Rambo would be proud of!

The tough-as holidaymaker appeared at the recent Dusseldorf Caravan Show in Germany – the world's biggest RV expo – where it sent the motorhome set into a frenzy.

While the Zetros is targeting the mining sector here in Australia and won't be readily available until early next year, the model has been around in Europe for several years now, giving German RV conversion specialist Hartmann Spezialkarosserien ample time to perfect its ultimate off-road getaway machine.

The model was first developed as a military truck, but has since found a home with many private-sector concerns whose business interests take them to some of the most inhospitable and remote places on the planet.

Mercedes-Benz says the Zetros combines the off-road ability of the smaller Unimog with the load-carrying capacity of a truck; now, thanks to the body from Hartmann and the interior appointments from fellow German firm Hunerkopf, luxury living quarters have been thrown into the mix.

The Zetros is powered by a 7.2-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine good for a claimed 240kW and 1300Nm, the latter propelling it to a top speed of 85km/h.

While the Unimog is commonly regarded as Mercedes-Benz's off-road flagship, the Zetros – with its 5.1 metre wheelbase and 18-tonne GVM – is better suited to RV conversion, being able to accommodate a spacious 7.7-metre body.

The fully insulated body is constructed from 100mm-thick sandwich panels and an electrically operated 'carbon shell' slide-out provides extra room in the lounge/dining area. There's also a rear bedroom with double bed, a kitchen and a bathroom, each equipped with the latest appliances and dripping with opulence.

The 530-litre fuel tank should deliver a fair old range while the 400-litre fresh water tank and 230-litre grey water tank will also assist those extended off-road sojourns.

The Zetros boasts an 1190mm fording depth and a climbing ability of up to 80 per cent, its off-road credentials enhanced by those massive Michelin tyres. The truck has a travel height of four metres (so forget Maccas drive-thru's) and there's an extension ladder to access the living quarters.

It's worth the climb, however, with niceties including natural-stone flooring, real-wood furnishings, and a glass shower. There's heating and cooling, of course, and a cutting-edge entertainment system with Bose sound system, LED television, and roof-mounted satellite dish. The latter also affords an internet connection.

At the rear of the vehicle is a heavy-duty carrier with hoist, able to lift and stow a motorcycle.

While the vehicle on show in Dusseldorf had a 4x4 format the Zetros is also available as a 6x6 and Hartmann says that too can be turned into mobile home nirvana – at least, for those who can afford one.

The stunning display rig in Dusseldorf came with an equally stunning price – Euro 800,000 ($A1.13 million). The 6x6 will of course cost more while Hartmann says it's even produced an armour-plated Zetros for a cool $A2 million ('Honey? I hear Iraq is nice at this time of year…').

While most of us will baulk at the bucks, Hartmann Sales Manager Ralf Dickhaut says the company is going after a very specific sort of clientele.

"The clients for this concept… the owner isn't the driver," he told sister site caravancampingsales.com.au, while on-site at the expo.

"He has people who drive the car. They need an off-road truck but they want the high-end luxury interior."

We can only dream…

Mercedes-Benz Zetros – the ultimate RV?

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