Are We There Yet? It Doesn't Even Matter in One of These Great Camper Vans or Trucks!

This August has been a personal favorite of mine as far as my times as an automotive journalist are concerned. Usually, during summer, we would get into a sort of lethargy triggered by most business closing their shades and trying to hide from the excessive heat in exotic, eventually sandy, places.

The automakers did the same thing, and for the most part, the summer of 2023 was more of the same. However, that was primarily valid for the second part of June and its companion month of July. That's because Lexus occupied the beginning of June with the double introduction of the first-ever 2024 TX three-row family-oriented crossover SUV and the all-new 2024 GX 550, an off-road-focused luxury SUV that was an extremely cool surprise from the premium Japanese automaker.

After a few weeks of calm, then, a tidal wave of novelties struck the core of the automotive industry – and one was cooler than the other. First and foremost, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was universally acclaimed by critics and fans alike across every region – and no matter if it was called Prado or 250. In the United States, it will arrive next year with the 326-hp i-Force Max hybrid powertrain seen also inside the engine bay of the all-new N400 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck.

And then there was also the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe with its highly boxy yet stylish design that premiered – where else – in Santa Fe, New Mexico, plus the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ that took Times Square in New York City by storm with its up-to-750 electric ponies and modern full-size SUV looks. But, as it turns out, these significant introductions were just the appetizer to the astonishing number of world premieres housed by the Monterey Car Week and its star attractions – The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering, and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Well, you would think the automotive world needs a respite after that. Wrong, as Alfa Romeo just premiered its first supercar in more than half a decade, and adventurers on four wheels learned how to handle the vanlifer style at two major trade fairs – Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany (August 25 – September 3) and Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado (August 25-27). And we have to say, the destination has just become a lot less important than the journey, thanks to all these great introductions.

As always, many upfitters are participating in these trade fairs. However, over the years, the OEM presence has become a lot more notable – albeit still with a little help from the aftermarket realm. And there's no need to take our words for granted, as we have a slew of eloquent examples. The Ford Motor Company's European arm crashed the Old Continent's RV market with their newest Westfalia-developed Ford Transit Custom Nugget camper van.

For the first time, customers will have access to a new plug-in hybrid model with 229 hp if they want glamping with a zero-emissions component. All camper features are present and accounted for, of course, including the forward-tilting roof, and inside, Ford and Westfalia have reorganized the interior for optimized ergonomics and maximum availability of living space – although the shower did get relegated to the great outdoors.

Back in July, Mercedes-Benz announced its 2024 mid-size van portfolio with lots of updates for the EQV, V-Class, Vito, and eVito. Naturally, the Marco Polo V-Class was also part of the roster. Still, the company refrained from sharing all relevant information because they wanted the world premiere with the public to take place at the Caravan Salon trade fair in Germany. Now, the cat's out of the bag, so there's no reason to play 'Marco/Polo' hide-and-seek with it.

As always, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo gets even more luxurious and incorporates additional technology to warrant higher prices for their glamping option. The van can even boast an LED-illuminated grille, among many other enhancements. Still, there's one part that remains unchanged – the camper side of the equation, which comes standard with a pop-up roof with a roof bed, a seat/bunk combination, a folding table, a fully equipped kitchen, and a wardrobe. As always, many aftermarket options are also available – such as the new CaraLife 630 LQ based on the Fiat Ducato, but there were even some concepts in attendance.

For example, Volkswagen presented an Amarok PanAmericana with a host of enhancements that made it a proper Overlander truck – that's not something you often see in Europe as the Old Continent is mostly used to camper x minivan conversions. VW also represented the latter with the T7 California plug-in hybrid camper van concept with a pop-up roof and all the essentials of (glamorous) #vanlife. However, no one seems to do the camper style better than GMC and its behemoth Hummer EV pickup truck modified by EarthCruiser.

From the beginning, the GMC Hummer EV has been entirely outrageous – with 1,000 horsepower, CrabWalk, and all the reports about it being heavier than an adult-sized elephant. However, I must admit that EarthCruiser has nailed the camper truck upfit solution like a champ – complete with a seamlessly integrated carbon fiber pop-up 'house' and a full-size bed for two adults among the main amenities. Naturally, there's also a kitchenette, an outdoor shower, exterior scene lights, rooftop solar panels, lockable utility hookups, and a grey water tank for the flat-pack toilet. Unfortunately, no one knows a thing about pricing – and I bet it won't be cheap, just like the Hummer EV!