A New Dimension in RVing

Unicat Expedition Vehicles have all the comfort of a conventional RV, and more, but are built to handle extreme terrain. Created in Germany in 1990, Unicats are being adapted for the North American market by UnicatAmericas Inc., of Palo Alto, California. Recently Avi Meyers, the founder of UnicatAmericas, invited RV Life Publisher Diesel Knudson and his fiancée Toni Davis, the magazine’s director of operations, to test-drive a Unicat in Mexico. They gave the Unicat a thorough workout over very rugged ground.

Here is their report, but first Meyers explains how he became associated with Unicat:
“For many years I’ve traveled in various makes, types and models of RVs and have experienced innumerable incidents of breakdown or failure, gotten bogged down in mud, muck, sand, or snow, and simply haven’t had the technical capability to go where I wanted to. Finally, my personal quest for the ideal all-terrain recreational vehicle led me to Unicat. Discovering a company that produces a vehicle that not only met but surpassed my own personal expectations of quality, safety, capability, durability, and comfort was a genuine revelation.

“Many RVs will ably go wherever there are roads, while SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs will take you off-road. Unicat bridges the gap between the two by providing the highest comfort levels of an RV with the go-anywhere ability of an off-road vehicle.”

Diesel’s View of the Unicat:
If first impressions are worth a thousand words, the Unicat would require 10,000 words.  Going over the design and technology incorporated into the go-anywhere, off-the-beaten-path Unicat with Avi, I was simply awestruck!  Attention to detail, attention to detail, and more attention to detail.  That is what caught my eye.

This motorcoach has it all. All the amenities and comforts of home will keep you comfortable in temperatures ranging from 140 degrees above zero to 70 below, yet the exterior has a ruggedness that’s understated again and again.  Its clean lines and no-nonsense white exterior paint job is very deceiving. It’s much more than meets the eye. It is the quality of every nut, bolt and connector that makes the sum of all its parts a “work of art.”

With a reverse-osmosis water maker that produces six gallons of pristine drinking water an hour from almost any liquid source, an upscale icemaker, and 45-quart freezer, all located outside the house in the back of the rig, every need has been met for extended expeditions to who-knows-where.  The storage space at the back also leaves room for chaise lounges, fishing gear, golf clubs and much more.  It includes a 5-foot ladder, and a 12-foot ladder to reach the top, which is 12 feet high. Twin 30-pound propane tanks for the range are located on the back of the EV, with a quick disconnect for the outside barbeque. And a fully outfitted EV wouldn’t be complete without a hot and cold outside shower.

High-end marine-grade components were used extensively throughout as was aviation-quality aluminum, and stainless steel stood out everywhere—all with access and serviceability in mind.  Everything is within reach. An elaborate self-extricating system was on board, including a winch on the front and on the back with 150 feet of Kevlar line to meet any emergency.

The Unicat has thought of everything twice or even three times, from the spare engine parts you may need to use on an expedition to a spare set of hose connectors for water, air, propane and electrical anywhere in the world.  If it’s not on the rig from the factory, you won’t need it.

This high-end expedition vehicle is the Swiss Army knife of RVs—a tool for every possible imagined need.

Driving the Unicat was not at all what I expected. It was very quiet inside, given this unit uses tires that are 18 inches wide and quite knobby in design. The tires and wheels weigh 300 pounds each, yet it only takes one person to change one. With a 310-horsepower six- cylinder engine with 950 pounds of torque mated to a six-speed Allison with two overdrive gears, this Unicat also incorporates a two-speed transfer case to a four-wheel drive chassis—the International 7400 DT 570 with a locking rear differential.  This is serious hardware.

The driver and passenger compartment has the feel of a high-end BMW, except with air-ride leather seats that absorb every twist and turn in the road.  So off the highway we go, down a narrow Jeep trail to reach a deserted beach. This is what the Unicat is all about— leaving the masses behind to find solitude. It only took me a short while to become comfortable with the EV, and then I started driving over very rough obstacles.  The rougher it got, the more fun it became. At times, Toni would squeal because of the unusual attitudes into which I was driving the Unicat.  We literally crawled up and over everything in our path.  It was exhilarating!

Back on the highway, the Unicat was equally enjoyable to drive.  I even drove it down a narrow street in the business district of Loreto and easily parallel parked it.

I’ve now had a taste of a new dimension in RVing, and I must admit I loved it.  I can guarantee you this won’t be our last adventure in a Unicat.

Toni’s View of the Unicat:
I was really looking forward to experiencing a Unicat at Avi’s invitation. When I first saw the Unicat parked on a small street in Loreto, awaiting our arrival, it was unlike any other RV I’d ever set eyes on. I literally had to do a double take. It was unassuming but breathtaking once you really got to looking at it.

Actually, it’s not a typical RV, but an expedition vehicle, EV for short.  It’s for people who want adventure, rugged and adverse terrain, and lots of fun while being totally self-sufficient for extended periods of time.  The amenities inside the house were upscale in every detail. Beginning with the teak wood floors, table and countertop, I was very impressed with the ultramodern interior design. Stainless steel appliances and custom hardware coupled with white European laminate cabinetry gave it a clean spacious look and feel. Outfitted with oven/range, microwave, and two German Kissman refrigerators, cooking a fine meal presents no problem even in the Gobi Desert.  An especially nice touch is an icemaker that makes 36 pounds of ice a day.

With Xelogen lighting throughout, an Alpine stereo system with XM radio, iPod, and satellite TV in motion, including BGAN global voice and e-mail broadband, Unicat has thought of everything. The stainless steel sinks in the kitchen and bathroom even have separate filtered water faucets. An upscale towel warmer/dryer in the shower, and lots of storage space above the sink area make this bathroom a cut above. And when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Avi informed us that there is radiant heat under the dinette, in the shower, and under the queen bed.  There is a 23-inch flat screen TV for watching while in bed, and another for watching from the dinette.

With a built-in fire, smoke and carbon dioxide alarm, the Unicat provides real security for its occupants along with high-security double-paned European glass windows and a three-point locking system stainless steel door.  The EV even contains several safes on the rig—a key safe in the hitch, a giveaway safe bolted under the queen bed, and the real one, which is well hidden. Redundancy is also an important component in its construction with two air conditioners and two Maxx fans in case one might fail out on the road.

On the top of the cab is a diamond plate, stainless steel roof rack with working lights and four HID spotlights for lighting up the desert. There is so much more to tell about the amazing Unicat and its countless amenities designed and handcrafted in Germany.  And whether I was in the passenger seat or running alongside to take photos in a rugged dry riverbed, it was an incredibly unique experience. We’re looking forward to taking a real expedition in a Unicat in some exotic faraway place in the future.

Avi Meyers Outlines His Plans for Unicat:
In entering the American market, UnicatAmericas intends to offer not only the finest expedition vehicles made in the world, but also to introduce Americans to the expedition lifestyle. Drive from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Tierra Del Fuego, Chile—roads optional. Ship your EV to the Sahara, Gobi Desert or the Australian Outback.

The Unicat is a vehicle offering the highest standards of reliability, safety and comfort. With 240 gallons of diesel, 100 gallons of water, a six-month supply of freeze-dried food, a serious first aid kit, clothing, and other supplies and equipment, even parked at home, your Unicat serves as the ultimate rescue, escape or survival module. For pleasure or for much more serious purposes, there is no better-suited vehicle on the planet than Unicat.

The association of adventurous journeys to exotic far-off places has always been with yachts. UnicatAmericas would now like to offer an analogous experience for “landlubbers.” My vision is to offer a new lifestyle concept for the “Baby Boomers.”

I propose to do the following:
• Build vehicles to a standard of uncompromised integrity with incomparable range, safety, capability, and comfort levels.
• Assist in equipping and outfitting each expedition vehicle according to the customer’s personal tastes and preferences.
• Service and maintain each EV in prime condition.
• Organize “Unicatours” to places where others can only dream of going.
• Assist in shipping, handling, insuring, and licensing to any destination.
• Provide global logistics, service and support.

For more information about Unicat, contact UnicatAmericas Inc., 4159 Old Adobe Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Models are available at prices starting from $300,000 to $600,000, depending on the chassis selected. For information, call (415) 515-6644, visit www.unicatamericas.com or e-mail ameyers@unicatamericas.com.