Global Xplorer - Development History & Testing

Our personal GX may well be registered as XPLORA 2 but in reality it is actually No 5

A New vehicle  &  More Planned Adventures- Registered as XPLORA 2

Where it all started:

No 1. Built on a second hand 2004 FG649 by ATW to my concept.

Over 4 months in 2007 we drove across Russia including the notorious  ‘Road of Bones’ then across Mongolia to Europe and later in 2008 Nth Africa. - 2006-2009 175,000Kms

The vehicle being my first concept, the design proved impractical and in my head I designed a new vehicle that eventually became ‘EarthCruiser’-

No 2.  In 2008 I established the company EarthCruiser and successfully grew the company. In 2010 after 3 years, I again had itchy feet and sold the company to again travel overland.

Taking EC production No3 we travelled Asia, Russia, Nth, Central and Sth America, the length of Africa, across Europe, the UK and Iceland. After some 250,000kms and 11 years the vehicle finally returned home in  2019.

No 3.  In 2012 I heard news that Iveco had produced a new 4x4 and in conjunction with my son Brett and Col Gilliland we purchased the first four Iveco Daily 4x4 units into Australia we established a company called “TravelTrucks”.

We successfully developed a number of accessories and a camping module for the Iveco daily 4x4.  

I felt uncomfortable with the reliability of the Iveco and as I was not prepared to travel in it myself overseas, I sold my share in TT.

No 4.  In 2016/7 as a project I built a Travel Trucks ‘Scrubby’ module onto a  2010 FG84 with the plan to travel Australia whilst our EC was overseas. That travel plan never eventuated, but is was another successful build.

23,000 kms

No 5. During our travels in South Africa I visited my agent for our Super Single wheels in Southern Africa.

That company, MotorHome World happened to also build expedition vehicles and was looking to expand their production. From that meeting, a commercial arrangement was established whereby they would build to our specification the modules to fit onto our host 4x4 FGB71 Fuso Canter

‘Designed from experience’ all 350,00kms of experience and 4 previous trial runs ! AND at an affordable price !

In 2019 a number of family companies ( including Goannatracks and Discovery Motorhomes) combined to form AAV4x4 - Australian Adventure Vehicles.  We purchased premised at 221 Leitchs Road Brendale to support our future growth.

We have now set up our own Global Xplorer vehicle for our Australian and more Global travels.

This is the start of  our build and travels.  Start here