Description
The new, Revolutionary 4 Season SnoGriz Mountain Camper Prototype for Overlanding Adventures is now undergoing rigorous field testing in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, and Tennessee!
The SnoGriz is the first of a new class of overlanding campers, the 4-season “Mountain Camper”. Intended for use on small pickups like the Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma, the new SnoGriz MC1 manufactured by Torque King of Billings, MT, provides a temperature-controlled haven from the elements just about any place that the truck can go including rocky and timber lined mountain 4x4 trails.
The SnoGriz is a hard-sided unit with about the same width and length of a queen size bed that can sleep 1 or 2 people in heated or air conditioned comfort under harsh mountain or desert weather conditions. When loaded for adventure, the prototype camper weighs in at about 1,000 pounds complete with 48v EcoFlow Lithium iron phosphate 4kw battery bank, 16,000 BTU DC Thermal 48v heater, 48v Cruise-N-Comfort mini-split air conditioner, Two 100 watt cab mounted Zamp solar panels, 24v LED Peterson lights, 24v SeaFlo water pump, 24v Engel 30 liter drawer refrigerator, folding table with extension, 10 gallon fresh water capacity, 5 gallon waste water tank, folding stainless steel sink, Dometic portable toilet, duplex 115v power outlet, internal bike mounting point, 4 screened windows, mounting points for two Rotopax cans, lots of net storage and more.
Dan Guarino, the retired founder of Torque King 4x4 describes what is a Mountain Camper: "A mountain camper is a term I came up with to describe an all-weather overlanding camper with a reasonably low weight and center of gravity that can really be used for overlanding outside of dry desert conditions. It is at home on the interstate as it is off road. A mountain camper is hard sided to prevent structural damage from over-hanging tree branches. It is also essentially bear, bug, and weatherproof. It is small and rugged to fit down narrow, rocky trails, but inside it provides an off-grid, temperature-controlled haven after a hard day of traveling, hiking, fishing, biking, or hunting."
What make the SnoGriz different than other overlanding rigs? Dan: "In my mind, there are 4 other types of overlanding rigs. Large, truck-based units like the Earth Roamer are too big and heavy to be used outside of dry, open country. Units using tents are not really suitable for all-season use, and they are vulnerable to camp thieving bears if left erected. If a vehicle mounted tent has a pop-up top, that top can be easily damaged or distorted from overhanging branches. Overlanding trailers can be quite comfortable and rugged, but they limit mobility in wet, steep, muddy, or snowy conditions and they impair maneuverability on trails with tight corners. Overlanding rigs based on small SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are very capable on the trail, but their small size limits what you can carry, and user comfort can be a problem under adverse weather conditions.
The SnoGriz is my 7th overlanding build with my first one built in 1978 on a 1968 Jeep M715 1-1/4 ton military cargo truck. 
It incorporates all the lessons learned over 45 years of doing what is now called overlanding. It is built on a small but rugged pickup, in this case a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Diesel with a 2" Jeep factory lift kit. The walls and roof are 0.040” thick seamless aluminum sheet to ward off tree branches, take heavy snow loads, provide reinforcement to the internal frame and keep out bears. The 7' length, 8' overall height, cab wide width, and light weight are set to conform to the restricted size of many mountain 4x4 trials. The interior amenities are intended to provide food, water, comfortable bed space and more without wasting much time setting up or breaking camp. Yes, the internal dimensions of the prototype are snug, probably too snug for big and tall people and yes even at 1,000 pounds wet, the weight is higher than we want. These are things we will address with our second prototype which will replace the original pickup bed on a Gladiator or Tacoma with a purpose-built body."
Electrical Input Charging Choices to 48v Battery Bank:
12V x 60 amp from vehicle alternator
24v x 2 100w Solar Panels
120v x 15 amp Shore Power or Generator
Available Electrical Output Voltages that can be used simultaneously from Battery Bank:
DC: 12v, 24v, 48v
AC: 120v
Internal Fresh Water Capacity:
10.6 Gallons. Tank is removable for cleaning or storage. Quick-disconnect hoses
Waste Water Tank Capacity:
5.3 gallons. Tank is removable and vented to outside via quick-disconnect hose
Sink:
Stainless Steel fold-down. 24v pump
Portable Toilet:
Pressurized, push-button flush. Secured to floor with brackets. Removable for cleaning or storage.
Holding Tank: 5 Gallon capacity
Refrigerator:
24 volt. 30 Liter Drawer type
Table:
Fold down steel 25.5" x 13" + 17.5" long laminated wood slide out extension
Bunks:
Lower: 30" wide with 28" x 75" Gel Foam Mattress
Upper: Removable 28" wide cot
Exterior Roof and Walls:
0.040" Aluminum
Insulation:
R13 for Camper Body
Camper Frame:
Well-Seasoned, Lightweight Wood from an old barn we tore down
Interior Walls:
1/8" Mahogany Plywood
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