Automotive

Tecrawl Mercedes G-Camper leaves Sprinter 4x4 vans choking on its dust

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Terracamper packs a complete three-person RV into the capable footprint of a stock Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz
The Tecrawl slide-out kitchen features a gas dual-burner stove, worktop and storage cubby
Mercedes-Benz
The interior features a convertible dinette with flip-up table and drop-down sofa/bed
Mercedes-Benz
Terracamper's multiple modules offer space for water storage, an available toilet, electrical hardware and more
Mercedes-Benz
The fridge box is placed for convenient indoor/outdoor access
Mercedes-Benz
The slide-out kitchen packs neatly away in the driver-side rear cabin
Mercedes-Benz
Terracamper impressively manages to fit in dining, bathroom, kitchen and sleeping amenities into a factory G-Class
Mercedes-Benz
The Tecrawl G-Camper is designed to seat and sleep up to three people
Mercedes-Benz
Available dry separating toilet
Mercedes-Benz
The downstairs bed sleeps one person, while the pop-up rooftop tent houses two
Mercedes-Benz
A look at the kitchen in action and the rear window fridge access
Mercedes-Benz
Terracamper packs a complete three-person RV into the capable footprint of a stock Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz
We'd love to see a pop-up roof to open up more interior space plus interior bed access, but Terracamper keeps it simple with compact hardshell rooftop tent
Mercedes-Benz
Terracamper proves the G-Class is more than a fancy Mercedes
Terracamper
The G-Class base gives the Tecrawl the ability to explore where larger camper vans or expedition rigs wouldn't dare
Terracamper
Terracamper puts the Tecrawl to work
Terracamper
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The all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become an American overland and van life icon, but it isn't by any means Mercedes' most off-road-capable vehicle. The new Tecrawl from Terracamper takes advantage of one those superior Mercedes off-roaders, the G-Class, in offering buyers a small, nimble micro-camping platform designed to plunge into Mother Nature's farthest and highest reaches. A smart, high-efficiency indoor/outdoor amenity set ensures that campers take full advantage of their surroundings while always having a place to retreat from the elements to.

After covering Flowcamper's impressive Dog Van last week, we got to wondering what its former sister company Terracamper has been up to. Last we saw, it was updating its longstanding VW Terock 4x4 adventure camper to a T6.1 base back in 2020. It didn't take long to play catchup, as a photo of the baby blue Tecrawl G-Camper greets one the moment they land on Terracamper's home page.

Terracamper puts the Tecrawl to work
Terracamper

Terracamper officially introduced the new Tecrawl earlier in 2023, positioning it as a small, minimalist 4x4 micro-camper for exploring remote spaces around the globe. Though the G-Class is commonly thought of as a luxury SUV – and rightfully so given a US$140K+ MSRP that exceeds the Range Rover's base price – it remains a stout, capable body-on-frame 4x4 with military roots. It boasts three locking differentials, a 9.5-in (24-cm) ground clearance, 27.5-in (70-cm) of wading, and the ability to climb up 45-degree slopes – whether on the Iron Schöckl, the real Schöckl or elsewhere around the natural alpine world.

The G-Class' capability makes it an intriguing base for a go-anywhere camper build, and Terracamper presents one of the simplest packages we've seen outside of the Ququq G-Box. Instead of mounting a motorhome module to the G's bare rear chassis the way EarthCruiser, ICC Offroad and others have, Terracamper installs most of its camper equipment directly into the G-Wagen's factory cabin.

The Tecrawl G-Camper is designed to seat and sleep up to three people
Mercedes-Benz

The two/three-person longitudinal Tecrawl floor plan includes a passenger-side sofa across from a flip-up dining table/desk. The convertible sofa can drop into a 79 x 39-in (200 x 100-cm) solo bed at night, but the main overnight accommodations come by way of the two-person hardshell rooftop tent above.

A single rear passenger seat allows the rig to carry its three overnight occupants to and from camp. The remainder of the rear seating is replaced with camper modules that house kitchen equipment, electrical hardware and general storage space. Instead of a more common tailgate slide, the Tecrawl kitchen slides sideways out the driver-side rear door below the 270-degree awning. It brings with it a portable dual-burner gas stove, a small pantry and a foldaway worktop. The 31-L compressor fridge box stores in the rear driver-side corner, where it can be accessed from inside or outside via the flip-up rear window.

A look at the kitchen in action and the rear window fridge access
Mercedes-Benz

The interior buildout also houses a pressurized water system with 20-L fresh water canister and an available "Xtreme Pott" portable dry separating toilet. The Tecrawl then offers pretty much all the equipment of a larger camper van, only in a smaller indoor space that teams with the roof and area just outside the vehicle to create a proper base camp.

Terracamper offers additional options to improve comfort, including a thermal insulation package, auxiliary air heater, full electrical system with 150-Ah lithium battery and solar charging, and interior LED lighting. The Tecrawl conversion package starts at €11,000 (US$11,900) and mounts to a secondary floor that secures to the rear G-Class floor. The hardware is compatible with five-door G-Class models from 2018 to present.

The downstairs bed sleeps one person, while the pop-up rooftop tent houses two
Mercedes-Benz

We'd love to see the addition of a pop-up roof option to create more interior headroom and the ability to move between the lounge, upper bed and driver's cab without going outside, but Terracamper just offers the rooftop tent for now. Its VW T6.1 Terock and Tecamp vans do come with two available pop-up roof options.

Source: Terracamper

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6 comments
pbethel
Why would anyone ever compare any G Wagon to any Sprinter?
White Rabbit
@pbethel: Your question was answered in the FIRST SENTENCE: "The all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become an American overland and van life icon,..." The rest of the paragraph adds further explanation for the choice.
guzmanchinky
In my 4x4 Sprinter I can park off road somewhere, take a hot shower, cook a meal, and watch the rain outside. But no, I can't go some of the places this thing can...
Thud
Yeah. Nobody's going to step out of that tent in their sleep thinking they are on the gound.
BlueOak
Haha, the typical G-wagon driver in our suburban area - a blond, gym and surgeon-sculpted trophy wife - would fail to see the point.

Similarly, the next most common G-wagon driver - the new fast money single male with lots of gold jewelry and too much cologne - would fail to see the point. No extra chrome? No rubber band profile tires? No extra deep window tint?
EUbrainwashing
I knew a guy who was killed for his watch when traveling too lusciously. You're better off in an everyday looking van. But if you want to go to festivals and fancy days out then why not.