By Tony Barthel
Podcaster, Content Creator, StressLess Camper
RV Trader is taking a closer look at some of the newest models arriving on the market in 2024, and there’s plenty to be excited about with innovative designs, new features, and more! This next RV review is for the Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia. As I drove around RV Open House, where the RV industry shares the latest and greatest with dealers, the Patagonia model was something that stood out. This RV seems perfectly prepared for the kind of adventure that you can find in movies, and it’s certainly unlike anything else at the show. So, what’s all the noise about?
Shop for new and used campers for sale online.
What is the Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia?
Global Expedition Vehicles is a company that specializes in extreme overlanding RVs for those who have a serious lust for adventure and are working with a bigger budget. The company makes a variety of overlanding RVs that are much more than just a solar package or simple vehicle. The Patagonia is a custom-made RV that allows each shopper the ability to customize features and components in their specialized build.
The model that was at the Open House actually belongs to a company owner that uses it for their personal adventures and was based on a Kenworth cab-over chassis. Yep, that Kenworth. They don’t mess around.
The process to produce an RV for Global Express Vehicles involves learning more about what a specific customer wants and needs. They ask questions about their RVing experience, where they want to go, and what they want to accomplish with the vehicle. They want to know if one’s anticipated adventure is domestic or around the globe.
From there, they start the design process. No good house is built on a weak foundation, so the company modifies the underpinnings of the truck so that it’s capable of off-road challenges. Part of this modification includes a front axle system designed by Global Expedition Vehicles so that the whole rig is incredibly capable off-road.
What’s Inside
The company’s RVs tend to follow a common floor plan so they can work within the structure and build of a model. This means a bed across the rear of the vehicle, kitchen on the roadside, and dining on the campside.
The bed is a raised affair, so there’s plenty of storage underneath. While the vehicles are all spacious, they’re not as large as many other types of RVs, so you can still travel and fit within somewhat narrow spaces.
These rigs also feature a wet bath, which includes a shower and a toilet in the same room. The toilets are also typically cartridge-style, which can be more convenient. Interiors can be almost as stark or lavish as you desire. The owner’s model I walked around featured tile floors and nice upholstery. This is the advantage of each unit being the customized vision of each specific customer.
Another nice thing is that the company makes the body portion of the RV “float” so that bumps and shakes on the road don’t transition as much as you’d think to the body of the rig. That’s how you can get something with tile floors that’s also very capable off-road.
More Capability
These are some of the most versatile vehicles coming to the market, in my opinion. For example, the one I saw had 200 gallons of diesel fuel on board, along with a 6,500-watt diesel generator. The interior featured all electric appliances, including a Vitrifrigo 12-volt, drawer-style refrigerator, and cooking was done with an induction cooktop. There was also a microwave and air fryer, which a number of RV companies are beginning to put into their rigs.
The company uses Mastervolt battery and inverter systems, which come from the marine industry and are among the best available. They were pioneers in adapting these marine systems to RVs, and now a number of RV brands have started implementing them.
Winches, giant tires, brush guards, traction assist boards, and so many other things can also be incorporated into a build.
Something new with this RV that I haven’t seen with other vehicles yet is a storage garage where you can keep your dirt bike. This is a design feature that makes sense for extreme weather or off-road conditions, where you can drop your dirt bike off and scout out an area first before you take your RV on a secluded trail or try to boondock.
The dirt bike is on a tray, and there’s a hoist to get it up and into the cargo bay, which is under the bed in the back of an enclosed compartment. That same hoist is how you’d raise and lower the spare tire for this rig.
Find your next new or pre-owned motorhome for sale online.
Final Takeaways
As you might expect, these are expensive RVs. They start around $750,000 and can get closer to the $1 million mark. You can also spend that much on a Class A diesel pusher, but those are not necessarily meant to be taken off-road. The Global Expedition Vehicles Patagonia can prove to be a good choice for those who want to simultaneously enjoy luxury and embark on a serious adventure.
When you’re ready to shop for your next vehicle, check out a nationwide selection on the RV Trader marketplace at RVTrader.com.
This is an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A RVs, Class C RVs, and Class B RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. Tony also writes for StressLessCamping.com.
