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Motor Trend
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Hunter RMV's Isuzu Predator XLE 4x4 Is the Ultimate, $500,000 Mobile Base Camp
There are a number of reasons you might want an overlanding rig. You might want to head into the wilderness for long stints without stopping in town for supplies. Or you might be fed up with life in the suburbs, and you want to live on the open road or off it—permanently. In either of those cases, if you're being totally honest, it's also because overlanding rigs look really cool. The Hunter RMV Isuzu Predator XLE 4x4 is a $500,000 overlanding rig, built on an Isuzu FTR MT3 truck that has been converted to 4WD. It features a 22-foot living space with luxury amenities, powered by a 6.7-liter engine. It's ideal for remote travel or living, if you have the means. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next Regardless of what you want or need in an off-road expeditionary truck, there's a good chance Hunter RMV can build it. Based just outside of Reno, Nevada, in the small town of Minden, Hunter RMV is a low-volume manufacturer that specializes in custom overlanding rigs. After hearing about the brand's latest line of bugout-ready overlanding vehicles, we paid Hunter RMV a visit to drive its Predator XLE 4x4. Outfitting an RMV Predator XLE 4x4 Based on an Isuzu FTR MT3 medium-duty cab-forward commercial truck, the Hunter RMV Isuzu Predator XLE 4x4 is powered by a 6.7-liter Cummins straight-six turbodiesel developing 260 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. The Isuzu FTR MT3 isn't offered with 4WD in the United States, so Hunter RMV takes the donor trucks to Tulsa Truck Works in Oklahoma to do the conversion from RWD. With the addition of a 17,000-pound Meritor MX17-140 front drive axle, a two-speed transfer case, and an Allison 2550 RDS six-speed automatic transmission, the Predator XLE is equipped to tackle the most adverse terrain imaginable. As for its living space, Hunter RMV outfits the rig with a 22-foot composite habitat. Built using 2.25-inch-thick panels, the box mounts to the Isuzu FTR's frame via a four-point articulating subframe that allows it to move independently while traveling off-road. Hunter RMV also slings several steel storage boxes underneath the Predator XLE. The model featured in this review is equipped with a Traeger and a Blackstone grill, both of which are concealed within two of the containers beneath the cabin and mounted on sliding rails so you can pull them out when it's time to cook dinner. Yet another module hides the stairs used to climb up into the Isuzu's box. A remote control is used to extend another steel pod from the side of the Predator. Once fully deployed, you flip down a side door and extend the stairs, which run parallel to the Isuzu's length. Hunter RMV reps told us that it's safer to have the stairs close to the box of the vehicle so you can brace against it when ascending or descending, which is especially handy if you've been enjoying a few adult beverages around the bonfire. Enjoying the Amenities Speaking of open flames and adult beverages, we joined the Hunter RMV crew for a night of camping, which included a steak dinner prepared using the built-in grills. When it got cold, we huddled under a pull-out awning to catch some of the heat from a portable propane campfire. Any electricity we use is supplied by the Predator XLE's onboard 800-ah battery pack, which is rechargeable thanks to a 1,000-watt solar panel array mounted to the roof of the cabin. Once we wrapped up our stargazing, we clambered inside the cabin to get some sleep. Inside, a queen-size bed suspended over the dining area drops down from the ceiling via a motorized system. Roof-mounted fans provide ventilation, though Hunter also equips the Predator XLE with a Truma diesel heat and hot water system and a Dometic air-conditioning unit to control the temperature. The cabin stayed at a perfect temperature all night. Moving screens offer privacy, though we left the shades up so we could wake up to the morning light. The surprisingly roomy bathroom felt larger than what you'd find in a Boeing 737 Max 8, with a full-size sink, Nature's Head composting toilet, and a separate compartment for the shower. Oh, and plenty of hot water drawn from its 110-gallon freshwater tank. As for the living area, it featured a dual induction cooktop, microwave, kitchen sink, refrigerator, and freezers, in addition to a small smart TV, speakers, and a panel of displays that showed a security feed of the surroundings. Hunter RMV took this particular build well beyond the basics, using impressive materials and attractive ambient lighting accents. After a good night's sleep, we felt well-rested for a day on the trail. Driving the Isuzu Predator XLE 4X4 is undoubtedly an unfamiliar experience for most drivers who don't have a commercial driver's license. Because it's registered as an RV, you don't technically need a CDL to operate one, but this is a commercial truck at its core. Take it from us—it's best to ease your way into operating this monster machine. Climbing up into the cab requires a decent bit of athleticism. There are two footsteps plus grab handles to hoist your body up to the height of the seat. Once you're belted in, operating the Isuzu is comparable in many ways to that of a large civilian truck. Turn on the ignition, and the Cummins diesel sputters to life. To get going, you release the vehicle's air parking brake and put the shifter into gear. All Hunter RMV vehicles are equipped with automatic transmissions, so manual shifting isn't something you have to take into consideration. Wheeling out of the camp, we reversed onto the trail with the help of a backup camera mounted over the center stack. The camera's small display, supplemented by large mirrors providing multiple angles of the truck's flanks, offers surprisingly good visibility. The steering rack's slow ratio allows for small, precise adjustments while crawling. The Hunter RMV rig's height and size took some getting used to. Every side-to-side pitch feels wildly magnified. The tallest thing I had driven before this was a portal-axle-equipped Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4(2), and this Isuzu-based behemoth felt titanic by comparison. Thankfully, the diesel engine doesn't strain in any real way as it motivates the Predator XLE 4X4 up to speed. The powertrain exhibits an easygoing nature in general, and it has more than enough power to crawl over rough terrain with ease. As we slowly got our head around the sheer size of the thing, we felt more comfortable rolling along at a faster clip. These vehicles aren't built for speed, but we navigated the smoother parts of the trail at a decent pace. We recommend airing down the tires, however, before heading off into more challenging terrain. Initially, we had planned on doing a mix of road and trail driving and kept the tires fully inflated as a result. Bad call. The 19,850-pound truck pogoed hard over the rougher stuff, causing the rumble seat's locked-out seat belt to squeeze me half to death. Take it from experience—it's best to let some air out of the tires, as we did when we subsequently reviewed the Hunter RMV Acela. In the interest of exercising caution in a truck worth well over a half million dollars as equipped, we ran a spotter ahead of us to scope out any hyper-aggressive undulations or potentially damaging obstacles. And although we were driving in the desert, we had to be mindful of the few trees that stretched over the trail; it would be easy to scratch up the Predator XLE's box if we weren't careful. One such steep and uneven obstacle required some precise wheeling. To avoid a tree off to the right side of the trail, we had to step the left tires up high on a small hill. Although it maintained its footing, the sensation of the cabin swaying to the right was unnerving to say the least. Damage avoided, we eased down the small hill and finished the rest of our route without incident. The only other points of difficulty we experienced were tight hairpins, around which we had to be mindful of not clipping fences or taller bushes as we rounded the sharp bends. On pavement, the Predator XLE 4X4 literally towers over regular traffic, making heavy-duty pickups look miniscule by comparison. It rolls with purpose, and the on-road ride is well-suited for long-distance stints that are extended by its 100-gallon fuel tank, though Hunter RMV recommends you stay below 70 mph to meet what the tire ratings recommend. The Cummins diesel has enough grunt to pull the overlander up to speed with the flow of traffic, and its brakes stop confidently and bring the truck down from speed as smoothly as you apply pressure on the pedal. We spent most of our time driving on surface streets between 35 to 45 mph, and although you need to mind your pace when approaching corners given this is essentially a rolling house on stilts, the Predator XLE behaves predictably enough through a turn. The cabin itself isn't fancy, but it's equipped with basic creature comforts including air conditioning, heating, and Bluetooth connectivity. How Much? Does the Hunter RMV Isuzu Predator XLE 4x4 sound like the solution to your overlanding needs? If so, bring your wallet, and every other wallet stuffed full of cash you can find. Pricing for Hunter RMV's trucks can vary drastically by build, but the Predator XLE 4x4 starts around $500,000. The example we've tested, meanwhile, stickers for $599,000. If you throw in all the extras, you're potentially talking in the high-$600,000 range. Hunter RMV has taken reservations for its expedition trucks through 2026, and seeing that each build takes anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 hours to be completed, long wait time shouldn't be a surprise. But if you have the cash and the patience, then a Predator XLE 4x4 could be your new home away from home, or just your home. Speaking of, for those seeking to ditch their permanent residence entirely, Hunter RMV's mobile command center seems like an awfully compelling bargain.
Motor Trend
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Driven: Bug Out in Ex-Military Style with the Hunter RMV Acela Sherpa X
Military surplus tech is a fantastic foundation to get premiere expedition-truck capability. That's why the folks at Hunter RMV chose the Acela Monterra GL 4x4 platform as the basis for this Sherpa X overlanding rig. While visiting the builder's headquarters in Minden, Nevada, we sampled what the Acela Sherpa X is capable of in its element. As Solid a Platform as You Can Get Hunter RMV uses the Acela Monterra GL 4x4 platform for good reason. These light medium tactical vehicles, or LMTVs for short, are repurposed for extreme-duty commercial-fleet use. Hunter RMV further modifies the trucks, which measure 12 feet, 2 inches to 12 feet, 10 inches tall depending on the size of the habitat affixed to the rear, to serve as the ultimate overlanding rigs. Powertrain specs are as burly as you expect, with a Caterpillar 7.2-liter turbodiesel I-6 engine developing 330 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque. An Allison seven-speed automatic transmission with an integral transfer case sends power to the full-time four-wheel-drive system. Although it's an industrial-feeling setup, the powertrain is about as smooth and refined as an enormous diesel mill can be. The Acela isn't very quick even with so much torque. The Sherpa X package tips the scales at a total of 20,600 pounds as equipped, though its GVWR ensures it can accommodate more than 5,000 additional pounds of cargo. While heavy, the Acela moves with purpose when you push the throttle and is geared for a top speed of up to 74 mph, but the company tests the truck as fast as 80 mph for safety. The dual-circuit four-channel air brakes provide good feedback and allow you to bring what would otherwise be an intimidating vehicle to drive to a stop with little effort. Riding on air springs in the front and rear, the Acela is remarkably comfortable on the road. You never forget how large the truck is, but driving this rig with confidence comes easy due to a slow but deliberate steering rack. The tiller sits in your lap like the frame of a paella pan, allowing you to get a good grip on the rim and maintain control over the expedition truck's every move. You don't have to sit up in the cab alone, either. A three-seat layout allows for a third passenger to sit between and above the driver and whoever rides shotgun. When you get to the end of the pavement and need to go off-road, a button on the console to the right of the steering wheel has four options for varying degrees of tire inflation, including one that's ideal for driving on trails. The central tire inflation system gets the pressure sorted in a matter of minutes and comes with the benefit of allowing you to remain comfortable in the cab. This rig also has a backup camera with predictive lines, which helps you reverse the truck without a spotter. Feasibility as an Overlanding Rig We drove Hunter RMV's Acela back to back with the larger Isuzu FTR 4x4 Predator XLE build, which measures 30 feet stretched over a wheelbase of 188 inches. The Acela feels more manageable on the trail at 26 feet, 3 inches long over a 153.5-inch wheelbase. If you plan to go deep into the wilderness on off-road trails, the Acela's dimensions are a bit more manageable than Hunter RMV's bigger offering. With the Acela's smaller dimensions comes a smaller living space—a 15-foot habitation box with 2.25-inch-thick composite walls. If interior space is a must-have, Hunter RMV's 22-foot Predator box offered with the Isuzu chassis is a better choice, but the Acela's Sherpa X offers much of the same comfort. In either case, a four-point articulating subframe improves stability when Hunter RMV's rigs are off-road. Quality of life inside Hunter RMV's Sherpa X box is as good as it is inside a small apartment. This model comes standard with heating, air conditioning, a skylight, and an exhaust fan. The interior is outfitted with an electronically lifting queen bed over a leather dinette that converts into a second bed. There's a kitchen with a fridge, freezer, induction cooktop, and a microwave oven, as well. A bathroom with a toilet and a sink is situated in one compartment while a separate shower is isolated to help cordon off water into one area of the camper. The Acela Sherpa X's electronics are powered by a Victron Smart Energy system that uses a 1,200-watt rooftop solar panel array, an 800-Ah lithium battery bank, and a 3,000-watt inverter. To help you stay off the grid for extended stints, Hunter RMV outfits a clean water storage tank with a capacity of more than 100 gallons as well as a 35-gallon gray-water tank with a secret dump valve. We got a taste of camping, overlanding style, with the Hunter RMV crew, taking advantage of its vehicles' various exterior features. The slide-out kitchen with a Traeger grill is good for preparing a tasty steak dinner, and the extendable overhead canopy provides shelter from the sun and traps heat from a portable propane fire at night. Should you want to clean off mud and dirt after a day in the wilderness, an outdoor shower is present, as well. As far as mobile basecamps go, the Hunter RMV Acela Sherpa X is the complete package. Sounds Great. How Much? Hunter RMV offers its customers a lot of customization and modulatory, which all allow for a flexible pricing model. Its Sherpa box rigs, like this one, range from $200,000 to $300,000. Hunter RMV hasn't finalized exactly what additional equipment will be included with this Acela Sherpa X, but it's reasonable to expect the final cost to rise to the upper reaches of that ballpark. If you want a fully customized build, pricing will likely climb to the half-million-dollar mark. In a world where expedition trucks can chart deep into the seven-figure realm, the Acela Sherpa X represents something of a bargain, especially when you consider it can be used as a full-time residence for those who are sufficiently adventurous. Its blend of military ruggedness and civilian creature comforts make it a common-sense choice for folks who wade deep into the hardcore overlanding water.
Motor Trend
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
How an $800,000 Overlanding RV Rig Gets Made
A good overlanding rig balances hardcore capability with the desired creature comforts without compromising durability. It's a delicate balancing act with which the folks at Hunter RMV are all too familiar, having been in the business of building expedition trucks for more than a decade. We toured the overlanding rig builder's headquarters and took a closer look at several of its products to get a better sense of what it takes to get one of these rugged mobile homes rolling. They definitely go way beyond a typical camper van or RV. Consultation The first step for the creation of any of Hunter RMV's expedition trucks is an initial consultation. During this meeting, a customer chooses whether they want to start with a prebuilt box or a fully customized rig. Hunter RMV works with the customer to determine the desired dimensions of vehicle, its intended purpose, and other individualizations. Procuring a Chassis Hunter RMV works with a variety of platforms including the Chevrolet Kodiak medium duty truck, Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu FTR MT3, and Acela Monterra GL LMTV. Isuzu models get a 4x4 conversion from Tulsa Truck Works. Acela-based builds are available in 4x4 and 6x6 guises. Hunter RMV performs last-touch chassis modifications before moving on to the next step. Fabricating the Four-Point Articulating Subframe Before Hunter RMV gets to work on installing a habitat on the back of one of its expedition trucks, a four-point articulating subframe must first be fabricated. This system uses four trunnions to isolate the habitat box from the chassis for better stability on the trail and protects the living space from vibrations. Painting the Cab and Installing the Habitat After the subframe is completed, Hunter RMV moves onto the cosmetics and living space. The rig's cab gets a fresh paint job to the specification of the customer. Then, Hunter RMV's team moves on to installing either a prebuilt production box or a custom-built habitat constructed in-house. A car lift is used to move the habitat into place. Once the box is in place, the Hunter RMV crew begins outfitting the interior of the box with furniture and hardware. The customer continues to have input at this point of the build. In some case, details are straightened out during the stage of assembly as the interior layout, materials, and additional features are finalized. Solar Panels and Electronics Hunter RMV equips its trucks with a variety of creature comforts inside the cabin, powered by a Victron Smart Energy system. Specifications vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the customer's needs, but a typical setup from Hunter RMV features a 1,200-watt solar array on the roof, an 800-Ah lithium battery bank, a 3,000-watt inverter, and a 30-amp Victron TR Orion charge controller. The electricity is used for the interior LED lighting, Dometic air conditioning unit, television, camera monitoring, and more. Hunter RMV's rigs typically come equipped with a kitchen comparable to that of a small apartment. The builder installs an induction cooktop with two burners, a microwave, one or two fridges, a freezer, and a sink. There's also a hood vent to pull smoke and steam out of the cabin. Plumbing and Washing Hunter RMV commonly outfits its rigs with more than 100 gallons of freshwater storage and a 35-gallon gray water tank so you can stay out in the wilderness for extended stints. Hot water for the sinks and showers comes courtesy of a Truma diesel heat and hot water system. The rigs are generally equipped with a Nature's Head composting toilet, eliminating one complicated plumbing element. A Garage with a World of Possibilities Some of Hunter RMV's rigs are equipped with a garage that can be used to store gun cabinets, hunting game coolers, extra bunks, or a small workshop. Those that want to haul around a second form of transportation for when their overlanding rig is parked can use the space to store bicycles or motorcycles. To further accommodate this type of customer, Hunter RMV has installed a lift to raise bikes up to the level of the garage. Grills Galore Slung underneath the box of many of Hunter RMV's builds are one to two grills from Traeger and Blackstone. The grills are housed in steel cabinets and can be pulled out with sliding rails whenever it's time to cook. Further Individualization Hunter RMV offers several options to tailor its expedition trucks to the needs of its customers. Some buyers want to be able to get into the cab from their habitat, so Hunter RMV can outfit its trucks with a passthrough connecting the two spaces. This feature comes with a door and insulation to help reduce noise penetration. Those who want to stay online while being off the grid can option Starlink satellite internet, powered by the Victron system. A 4-kW generator is also available for backup power. And in the true spirit of overlanding, Hunter RMV will equip off-road lighting to improve visibility at night. Anything else is up to your imagination and how wide you're willing toopen your wallet. How Much Does a Hunter RMV Expedition Truck Cost? Pricing varies dramatically from build to build due to the nature of individualization provided by Hunter RMV. 'Custom is standard' is the ethos of the builder, granting a high degree of flexibility when it comes to exactly what each finished truck looks like. Hunter RMV's Sherpa line of pre-built boxes starts around $200,000 and reaches $300,000 for the top trim. Custom builds using the Isuzu FTR or Acela LMTV platform start anywhere from $450,000 to $500,000 and can extend as high as $800,000 with enough personalization. Some of Hunter RMV's rivals build expedition trucks in the territory of seven figures, so the rigs pictured here are intended to offer the same capability at a (relatively) more attainable price point. Custom builds can take anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 hours of work, which can take from one to two years from initial inquiry to finalizations. Currently, the manufacturer typically builds three to four rigs per year, so know that patience is key if you're in the market for an expedition truck. Fortunately, those that are willing to wait are bound to get exactly what they want when Hunter RMV has finished working its magic on one of these colossal overlanders.
