Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Dunkel Industries creates ultimate off-road RV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/dunkel-industries-creates-ultimate-off-road-rv/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/dunkel-industries-creates-ultimate-off-road-rv/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/dunkel-industries-creates-ultimate-off-road-rv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2009 Dunkel Industries RV - Click above for high-res image gallery

As they sat looking over the horizon, they realized they had achieved their dream. The guys from Dunkel Industries had driven themselves to a remote spot where they could just relax and enjoy nature at its tranquil best. What made the journey extra special was that they had gotten there in their very own Dunkel Industries Luxury 4x4. Now, "Luxury 4X4" might have some of you thinking Land Rover or Porsche Cayenne. If that's what you're picturing, then all we can say is "Think bigger." Much bigger. Like, so-big-we-can't-get-it-into-the-frame bigger. The Dunkel version of a Luxury 4X4 starts with a Ford F-650 commercial chassis and winds up as the ultimate off-road recreational vehicle.

As their website puts it, Dunkel industries was built on the childhood dream of never having to stop because the trail was 'more than the RV could handle.' So they created a vehicle with "unlimited versatility" that utilizes a Fabco military-grade 4x4 system, capable of driving the luxurious "custom wood, leather and Fiberglass interior" to places no RV dares to go. And in case you want to bring some smaller toys along with you into the wilderness, the bed is big enough to haul a car. That bed also articulates to serve as a ramp to load dirtbikes or ATVs onto the roof. No trailer necessary and no 55-mph limitations for this beast.

There's a full list of the vehicle's features after the jump, but some of the highlights include a firewood box, a shower, and the camp seating built into the running boards and storage bins all around the truck's perimeter. The ATVs on the roof are a definite crowd-pleaser as well. We're not sure how much this project cost the Dunkel Bros. or if they are going to make them available to the public, but we do know that this would make the perfect Autoblog mobile HQ for any automotive event from Pebble Beach to the Baja 1000. Check out the Dunkel Industries website for additional photos and information, follow the jump for the build sheet and check out our own gallery below.


Gallery: Dunkel Industries Luxury 4X4


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Dunkel Industries creates ultimate off-road RV

Dunkel Industries creates ultimate off-road RV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DunkelDunkel Bros.Dunkel IndustriesDunkel Industries Luxury 4x4DunkelBros.DunkelIndustriesDunkelIndustriesLuxury4x4Ford chassisFord RVford truckFordChassisFordRvFordTruckoff-roadoff-road RVoff-roadingOff-roadRvoffroadoffroadingRVMon, 31 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[World's Richest Man invests in RVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/worlds-richest-man-invests-in-rvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/worlds-richest-man-invests-in-rvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/worlds-richest-man-invests-in-rvs/#commentsFiled under:



Everyone's broke. Gas prices keep rising and falling. America's three largest manufacturers of recreational vehicles are losing money like their pockets are full of holes. Perfect time to invest.

Well, it is if you're Warren Buffett, the richest man in the world, who has made an art out of "buy low, sell high." Through his holding company Berkshire Hathaway, the Texas-based legendary Omaha investor has invested some $40 million in Middlebury, Indiana's Coachmen Industries, makers of the Viking line of motor homes. The move is diametrically opposed to that of fellow American investor Kirk Kerkorian, who is rapidly divesting from America's automakers. Prospects in the RV market hardly look any better than Detroit's - projections place sales next year at their lowest in 18 years - but sooner or later, they'll recuperate. You can bank on that...Warren Buffett certainly is.

[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer | Image: Alex Wong/Getty]

World's Richest Man invests in RVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffettcoachmencoachmen industriesCoachmenIndustriesrecreational vehicleRecreationalVehiclervRVsvikingwarren buffettwarren buffett coachmen industrieswarren buffett vikingWarrenBuffettWarrenBuffettCoachmenIndustriesWarrenBuffettVikingTue, 06 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Newell P2000i: the Porsche of RVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/07/newell-p2000i-the-porsche-of-rvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/07/newell-p2000i-the-porsche-of-rvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/07/newell-p2000i-the-porsche-of-rvs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oklahoma-based Newell Coach Corp's latest motorhome, the P2000i, sells for over a million dollars. It's built on a special-made chassis and is powered by a 600-hp turbodiesel. Once parked, four sections expand outwards to maximize interior space. It's said to be one of the most luxurious motorhomes on the market, a favorite of car dealers, businessmen and race car drivers.

So what does this have to do with Porsche, you wonder? Newell contracted Porsche Engineering, the German sportscar maker's consultancy arm, to help modernize the P2000i. With a custom suspension? Nope, that was done by ZF (commonly know for their transmissions). Did Porsche have some hand in the engine, then? Wrong again, that's made by Caterpillar (as far as they get from making sportscars, Porsche hasn't started producing diesels just yet). Maybe a Tiptronic transmission? No, the tranny comes from Allison. Porsche's contribution was the redesigned front end, with Xenon headlamps and "European" styling. (Yeah, that's it.)

Newell has a dealer network to sell its motorhomes, but you can purchase one directly from the factory if you prefer (and have a million bucks to blow on an RV). Newell builds about 40 a year, and each one takes about 10 months to build.

[Source: Automotive News - sub.req.]

Newell P2000i: the Porsche of RVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engineeringmotorhomenewellp200iporschervTue, 07 Nov 2006 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris Motor Show: Knaus V-liner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-knaus-v-liner/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-knaus-v-liner/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-knaus-v-liner/#commentsFiled under: ,



Vive la différence! This Euro-style RV is a cool alternative to its (much) larger North American counterparts.

German travel trailer and recreational vehicle builder Knaus is exhibiting their V-Liner compact RV in Paris, and for his first time seeing the V-Liner up close and personal, John was very impressed. (You may recall that we featured its C-Liner sistership in our "Top 10 ways to motor your home" feature.) Despite the rather baroque front-end styling, the V-Liner is packed with cool features.

Most of the Paris Motor Show press material was in French, so details are scarce, but we do have a translation of the Knaus website's V-Liner description after the jump, with more pics!

Continue reading Paris Motor Show: Knaus V-liner

Paris Motor Show: Knaus V-liner originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>knausmotor homervv-linerThu, 28 Sep 2006 14:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Car carrying motor coach debuts in Germany]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/car-carrying-motor-coach-from-germany/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/car-carrying-motor-coach-from-germany/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/27/car-carrying-motor-coach-from-germany/#commentsFiled under:



Have you ever noticed how many Saturns are towed behind motorhomes on our nation's highways? The reason is because most Saturns are part of a small group of vehicles that don't require the installation of a lube pump to circulate the transmission fluid in order to be towed with all four wheels on the ground. The problem is that most people who are wealthy enough to own an upscale RV wouldn't be caught dead in a Saturn under normal circumstances.

German RV manufactuer Volkner Mobile has developed a solution to this problem that's currently being shown off at the International Caravan Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. The motorcoach on display features a mobile garage situated between the front and rear axles that can stow lower cars like the BMW Z4, MINI Cooper convertible and Mercedes-Benz SLK. The system introduces your vacation cruiser laterally into the RV's belly on a slideout platform and can accomodate vehicles up to five meters in length. No more hauling Saturns or renting Mustang convertibles when you get there.

[Source: Daily Times via Winding Road]

Car carrying motor coach debuts in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadgetgadlingluxistmotorcoachmotorhomeRVvolkner mobileVolknerMobileSun, 27 Aug 2006 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 ways to motor your home]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/top-10-ways-to-motor-with-your-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/top-10-ways-to-motor-with-your-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/25/top-10-ways-to-motor-with-your-home/#commentsFiled under:

The sweltering heat of summer has descended and in some parts of the country it's knocking out power grids left and right. Before the lights go out in your house, perhaps you should prepare a Plan B that involves taking the homestead on the road. To that end we've assembled a list of our Top 10 ways to motor your home comprised of motorhomes, vans, trailers and even a $4.5 million tour bus from 1940. Enjoy...

2006 Featherlite Luxury Coaches Vantare Platinum Plus


Billed as the most expensive luxury coach ever built, the Vantare boasts a price tag of $2.5 million. Marble floors, Italian leather trim, Swarovski crystal lighting, onyx shower walls... the Vantare's emissions are comprised of pure opulence in a gaseous state.

(Follow the jump to see what else made the list and suggest your own candidates in the comments)

Continue reading Top 10 ways to motor your home

Top 10 ways to motor your home originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>motorcoachesmotorhomesRVrvingtrailerstravelingTue, 25 Jul 2006 12:04:00 EST