6x6 Camper Is a Deluxe Off-Grid Home With Insane Off-Road Abilities and a Motorbike Garage

Although they are much more complex to outfit compared to a camper van, a 6x6 vehicle is an excellent base vehicle for overlanding. It's got the off-road capabilities to go deep into the wilderness while still providing a lot of room to create a cozy and practical interior. Heck, the last 6x6 camper I covered had two slide-outs and comfortably accommodated an entire family.

Mike, also known online as "Drive the Globe," is the builder and owner of this rig. What we have here is a 2002 Stewart & Stevenson M1085 extended-frame flatbed that Mike significantly modified. As he said, he's likely the first person to marry this chassis with a van box taken from an M1079 communication LMTV truck.

And he didn't stop there – he added a custom 8-foot (244 centimeters) extension, making the habitat an impressive 21-foot (6.4 meters) long. By the way, "Drive the Globe" isn't simply Mike's channel name. He actually embarked on a globe-round, 220,000-mile (354,056 km) overlanding trip in an expedition truck. He started the trip a few years back, and his latest upgrade is this rig, which serves as a full-time home.

This truck sports a Caterpillar turbocharged 7.2-liter inline 6-cylinder diesel engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission. What's more, it rides on air suspension, and it's got power steering and air brakes.

But one of its best features, especially for going off the beaten path, is a CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System). Long story short, it allows you to inflate or deflate the tires to find the right balance for the road you're driving on. Moreover, it's got a few presets for mud, highway, sand, and more. This is fantastic to have in your off-roading mobile home, as you can customize the ride from the comfort of the driver's cabin.

By the way, this camper's driver's cabin underwent some radical modifications. The original bare-metal space was carpeted and insulated. Mike also added an A/C, rear backup cameras, a 65-liter (17-gallon) Iceco fridge box, and comfortable heated seats with dual armrests.

Moving back to the exterior, there's no way you can miss this rig on the road, not only due to its sheer size but also because it's finished in bright orange paint. Miek named this vehicle "Bao Bab" after the long-living African tree, which is also known as the "Tree of Life." This theme continues in the vehicle's look, as it's got a graphic depicting trees toward the rear.

This truck is Mike's fourth build. And because he lived (and lives) full-time in his campers, he had to start building this rig as soon as he sold his previous one, as he had nowhere else to stay. And here's the crazy part: it took him just three months to complete this project. Of course, he had some help from friends, but Mike did most of the building. In fact, he spent 18 hours a day working on the rig.

The reason why he wanted to upgrade from his previous camper is that he wanted to fit his bicycle and motorcycle inside. And that's precisely what he did by devising a special loading system inside an ample garage space at the rear, separate from the living space.

Mike rides a KTM 390 Adventure, an off-road capable motorcycle outputting 44 hp and 37 Nm (27 lb-ft.) of torque. But why would you want a motorbike onboard your camper? Well, as Mike also explained, it not only enables you to get to certain spots easier and faster than with the 6x6 beast, but you can also use it for a quick grocery run or to scout ahead when dealing with extreme off-road environments.

Mike's solution for loading and unloading his motorcycle is very clever. His contraption uses a metal frame, straps, and a chock. He attaches the front wheel to the chock, locks the bike in place, and then uses a drill to operate a system that pulls the bike up. When it's up and aligned with the garage bottom, you can simply slide it in.

This solution is brilliant, and it takes Mike just four minutes to load and unload the bike without breaking his back. What's more, his motorbike weighs around 425 lb. (194 kg) with the equipment on it, but his system supports weights of up to 1,850 lb. (839 kg).

Besides holding various tools and gear, the garage is mainly occupied by the rig's utility systems. And this beast of a camper is equipped for total off-grid travel. It features 170 gallons (644 liters) of fresh water, which Mike says is enough to last him about one to two months.

You'll also find the electrical system in the garage attached to a wall. Among other components, it consists of a whopping 1,000 Ah battery bank, a 3,000 W inverter, and 2,000 W solar panels on the roof, which is more than enough for going off-grid.

Mike's rig also comes with a fold-down rear deck, perfect for placing a small table and some chairs to enjoy a nice coffee and beautiful views. Other notable exterior elements include a rack above the driver's cabin and a ladder to get up top.

Even though the exterior looks pretty rough, things completely change once you step inside. The interior is cozy and beautifully designed. Furthermore, even though it's not crazy big, it's got everything you need for a comfortable life on the road.

The first area you'll be in as you enter is the kitchen, located toward the front. It comprises an L-shaped butcher block countertop, an oven/stove combo with a hood above, a sizeable sink, a pull-out fridge, a microwave, a coffee machine, and a toaster. There's also a separate counter with a flip-up extension.

One corner in the kitchen also houses a bar stool and an iMac. By the way, everything is designed to remain fixed into place, even when off-roading..

Regarding storage, you'll discover many overhead cabinets, as well as drawers and cabinets, underneath the countertop. Oh, and one design touch I must mention, which you'll notice in multiple parts of the interior, is a plastic tiled ceiling.

Regarding design, Mike opted for a vinyl wood floor, white walls, and a tiled white backsplash, all paired with white and black cabinetry. And this isn't some custom fancy cabinetry, but one from Ikea.

The camper's control center is located next to the kitchen. You'll discover a touchscreen display with controls for lights, an Amazon Echo, a solar remote, a monitor for the batteries, and more. Another notable system is a StarLink, which is permanently mounted on the roof.

Next up, we have the bathroom, which is surprisingly large. It's divided into two parts: one is a full-size shower, complete with black tiles and a glass door. The other one features a sink with storage spaces underneath, a tiny shelf, a tiled wall, a toilet, and a mirror. Opposite the bathroom, you'll notice a sizeable wardrobe with a hanging closet and shelves.

And finally, we have the bedroom, located at the rear of the living space. It boasts a full-size bed and some cabinets for storage. One nice design touch is a wall wrapped in a sticker depicting Birch and Aspen trees.

The same wall integrates a port hole that leads into the garage. This way, he can open the garage door and have some additional ventilation in the bedroom. Moreover, a Dometic ceiling A/C will keep the space nice and cool on hotter days.

All in all, it's mindblowing how much stuff you can find on this 6x6 camper. It's fully equipped, it can go deep off the beaten path, and it comes with a lot of storage space – I mean, you can fit an entire motorbike inside; how cool is that?