As a hardcore RV enthusiast with over a decade of experience, I’ve used all three types—off-road, household, and commercial—for extended periods. So, trust my judgment. Any examples or recommendations I make come from over ten years of hard-earned experience. They may differ from your opinions, but they’ll definitely offer valuable insights.
In my view, RVs should be categorized by their purpose. That’s why I’ve divided them into off-road, household, and commercial types. Due to space constraints, I’ll only focus on off-road RVs here. I’ll write about the other two types another time.
You might ask, why start with off-road RVs in the first article, instead of household or commercial ones?
It’s simple. After over a decade of RV life, I’ve become deeply enamored with off-road RVs. Actually, I’m not alone—many long-time RV enthusiasts share the same passion because off-road RVs are incredibly capable.
Off-road RVs allow me to take my wife and kids on trips during my free time, exploring the beautiful landscapes of our country. No need to squeeze into overcrowded tourist spots, worry about finding accommodations, or struggle with unfamiliar food. We can stop wherever we want and go wherever we please. I’ve even taken off-road RVs to various Southeast Asian countries and Russia.
Next, I’ll explain the different off-road RV brands, their pros and cons, and whether they’re worth buying.
For me, a worthwhile off-road RV must have low-speed four-wheel drive, high maneuverability, and the ability to easily navigate rugged and steep terrains like deserts and mountainous areas.
Off-road RVs can be categorized by size and modification method into off-road pickup campers, off-road truck campers, and C-type off-road RVs.
1. Off-road Truck Campers
Off-road truck campers are built on truck chassis and are the giants of the off-road RV family. They are the most luxurious and comfortable among all off-road RV types. Their advantages include ample space, equipped with furniture, onboard household appliances, storage cabinets, tables, chairs, sofas, etc. These facilities allow people to embark on long-term, independent journeys while enjoying the warmth and comfort of home at any time.
However, all the advantages of off-road truck campers can’t mask their downsides: their large size makes them impractical for daily use or storage. They’re not suitable for short trips but are ideal for year-round, long-term travel.
Moreover, their most fatal drawback is the high requirement for a driver’s license. A regular C license won’t suffice, and very few people have an A license. In China’s urban areas, they’re highly inconvenient. Currently, buyers of off-road truck campers in China are mostly extreme RV enthusiasts, and ordinary RV lovers rarely purchase such vehicles.
If you’re seriously interested, you might consider the MAN off-road RV (around 5 million RMB).
Review: The prices of these RVs generally range from several million to tens of millions. Their advantage is spaciousness, but their downside is their enormous size, making them unsuitable for daily use or storage. The biggest drawback is the high driver’s license requirement, with very few holding an A license. They’re not suitable for short trips but are great for year-round travel. Not recommended for non-enthusiasts.
2. C-Type Off-road RVs
Among C-type off-road RVs, you can choose between domestically produced and imported chassis models. Let’s start with domestic ones. Domestically produced C-type off-road RVs are predominantly based on the Iveco 2045 (four-wheel drive) chassis. In terms of performance, Iveco RVs are arguably the top choice among off-road box-type RVs. Compared to the Ford Transit RVs and Maxus RVs, Iveco RVs have more mature technology and higher market recognition.
Unlike other C-type off-road RVs that commonly use monocoque body technology, the Iveco features a truck-style ladder frame chassis structure. This design allows customization companies to extensively expand space and modify the structure according to customer needs, and the box structure can be seamlessly integrated with the chassis. As a result, Iveco has won the favor of many RV manufacturers.
In terms of RV configuration, the Iveco RV is quite solid and can meet the needs of most enthusiasts.
The advantages of the Iveco RV include: four-wheel drive, decent off-road performance, and the ability to reach many areas with poor road conditions. You can go to grasslands and plateaus. This greatly expands your travel range. The RV is equipped with a 3.0T diesel engine, making it relatively fuel-efficient. The overall price of the RV is slightly lower compared to the other two types.
However, the Iveco RV also has notable drawbacks: its engine is quite old; the exterior looks understated, ordinary, or even a bit shabby; the RV is noisy and bumpy, offering no comfort in driving or riding—it feels like driving a delivery truck.
If you don’t care much about ride comfort or the RV’s appearance, this type of RV is worth considering.
Review: The Iveco chassis comes in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions. The four-wheel drive Iveco chassis is called the 2045, with a base price of around 300,000 RMB. The total cost of the RV is about 500,000 RMB. Paying half a million for the ride and appearance of a delivery truck is somewhat not worth it. After all, an RV isn’t just for living in—it should also be enjoyable to drive and nice to look at.
Now let’s talk about imported chassis models. The top choice in this category is the “Suteng Tantu Traveler Off-road RV.” The Suteng Tantu Traveler is built on an originally imported American Toyota four-wheel drive Tantu pickup chassis. Its engine is a V8 / 5.7L, and those familiar with the Toyota Tantu know that its chassis, engine, ladder frame, and transmission are identical to those of the Lexus LX570 (1.9 million RMB). In other words, this chassis offers exceptional off-road capability, mobility, driving performance, and handling. Aside from any personal preference for Japanese vehicles, this chassis is arguably the best among imported off-road RVs.
As for its features, the Suteng Tantu Traveler features a hard-top side-extension design with two rooms and one living area. The living room is expanded via the side extension, creating a luxurious and comfortable interior. Compared to the cluttered interiors of other RVs, it balances everyday comfort with ample space for your photography gear, golf equipment, and more. The RV includes a dual-zone climate control air conditioner, panoramic sunroof, RV-specific refrigerator, private bathroom, wardrobe, storage cabinets, a full outdoor mobile kitchen, smart entertainment system, fully automated power management system, and fully automated water management system. Most notably, it has an independent power management system that allows it to operate off-grid.
The advantages of the “Suteng Tantu Traveler Off-road RV” are: a premium, eye-catching design that exudes high performance, off-road capability, mobility, driving and handling prowess, along with a spacious, luxurious, and comfortable interior. It can also generate its own power independently. The downside is obvious: since it uses an imported American V8 5.7L Tantu chassis, although it offers excellent value for money, the RV is slightly more expensive than the Iveco model. If you care about the RV’s appearance and ride comfort, it’s worth considering.
Review: If you’re a professional off-road enthusiast who loves exploring nature, photography, or high-quality travel experiences, the “Suteng Tantu Traveler Off-road RV” is a great choice. However, for average users, the 910,000 RMB price tag isn’t just about liking it—it’s a significant investment. Based on market feedback, it holds a significant position in the off-road RV community.
3. Off-road Pickup Campers
Although truck-based off-road RVs offer a lot of living space, they’re too bulky. Domestically produced C-type off-road RVs are more affordable but lack in ride comfort and off-road performance. The Suteng Tantu Traveler performs well but is pricey, whereas the “off-road pickup camper” combines the strengths of both. Its compact size allows for a C license to drive, and its superior off-road capabilities take you to places like the Tibetan Plateau, the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and vast deserts. While its appearance may not be as striking as truck campers, it’s still highly distinctive, bold, and status-enhancing.
"Off-road pickup campers" can be divided into two categories: affordable ones and expensive ones. Based on my personal experience, if you're looking to buy a cheap off-road pickup camper, I’d advise against it. An off-road pickup camper priced at 200,000 RMB offers an overall experience that’s not as good as an off-road box camper.
Good off-road pickup campers basically come in two types. One type is where the camper equipment is simply mounted on the truck bed of the pickup, such as the Eagle Camper shown in the picture below. Its advantage is that it’s relatively easy to disassemble, using hydraulic detachment. However, the downside is also quite obvious—it lacks connection stability and has no resistance to bumps on off-road terrain, making it very prone to damage. Of course, the camper part extends beyond the vehicle’s width, so the overall look isn’t sleek or streamlined.
Overall, this camper setup is priced between 180,000 and 200,000 RMB (excluding the vehicle itself), and it doesn’t even come with a power system. In comparison, it’s not as good as another model from Speedy Campers—the "Speedy Tundra Traverse Camper." It’s a lift-type off-road camper, with the entire vehicle configuration costing only around 600,000 RMB (including the vehicle price). For an all-imported American vehicle with a V8 engine Tundra chassis, its cost-performance ratio is arguably the best on the market.
Review: A high-quality off-road pickup camper is truly a blessing for off-road camper enthusiasts. If your budget is around 400,000 RMB and you’re not too concerned about the camper’s ride comfort or appearance, I recommend going for the "Iveco Camper." If your budget is 600,000 RMB, I suggest the Speedy Camper’s "Speedy Traverse Camper"—its ride comfort and distinctive design are really unmatched by the Iveco Camper. And if your budget is 900,000 RMB, then you’ll want the highest-quality option on the market right now: the "Speedy Tundra Traveler Off-Road Camper." Overall, Speedy’s off-road campers offer excellent value for money.
Closing thoughts: First, a camper is not just about the living space—the vehicle part is equally important. Only when the vehicle is enjoyable and worry-free to drive can you truly have a good time. Isn’t traveling all about having fun? Second, in China, the most scenic spots are often in areas where the roads aren’t particularly smooth, and only an off-road camper can get you to those beautiful places you really want to visit. The best places are usually unpolluted, and those unpolluted spots are often inaccessible to regular campers. And I don’t want to buy a delicate camper that can only be driven in the city. Third, based on my experience, when choosing a camper, I care about both the living quarters and the driving experience.