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TouRig Campers Take Luxury Off Roaders To A Whole New Level

Welcome, Ladies and Gentle-vans (see what I did there…) to another action-packed article on the sights, sounds, and vans here at Overland Expo West. We’ve been here with our sponsors, Four Wheel Campers , checking out all of the amazing campervan conversions , off road trucks and small travel trailers that have turned up to tempt the good people of Arizona and indeed the world! If you’re looking for the definition of an adventure bus , then this expo would be a good place to start, especially if you’re heading in the direction of the TouRig stand. We’ve had a formal sit down with their new build, the Chief Hosa, who has recently been holding court with thousands of eager van life disciples!

This article is sponsored by Four Wheel Campers . They were kind enough to invite us to Overland Expo which gave us the chance to produce this article for the Van Clan community. Check them out if you’re interested in the best pop up truck campers around.

It’s no secret that we have a little bit of a crush on the Sprinter Camper Van . Mercedes Sprinter Conversions and Van Clan go together like cheese slices and SPAM (that’s a good thing for anyone who isn’t from Yorkshire), which is why the TouRig stand instantly caught our attention. It would be safe to say that it felt as though all of Christmases had come at once when we laid eyes on this camper, and what a beauty it is!

Checking Out The Chief Of All Campers With TouRig!

So far we’ve noticed two channels in the off-grid van world; people either want an action packed adventure camper built for extreme sports while living off grid , or a travelling tiny home that can chew up asphalt while maintaining the stylistic and cool aura of a five-star hotel. There’s also the select few like us who love everything on wheels. TouRig campers feel just at home on the rocky mountain trails as they do in the campsite, and they definitely add a sense of comfort and class to any o ff grid adventure.

Let’s Take A look At This TouRig Camper!

My thoughts exactly! As this is an Overland Expo, I feel that it’s only right that we start by looking at the modifications that this Sprinter has had to turn it into an off-grid god. For starters, Golden Colorado’s finest have given this camper an upgraded high-performance suspension system to cope with everything from unsightly potholes to scrambling over moon craters. The lift and extra movement that this suspension provides will certainly make a noticeable difference when you’re crashing through the undergrowth or going that little bit further off the beaten track.

TouRig know that any camper worth its salt should have a proper off-grid tyre set up, and Chief Hosa definitely pulled some big favours to make sure that it was equipped with these bad boys! The 33″ custom tyres make the roughest terrain feel as though you’re driving on water (although you need an amphibious camper if you’re going to start trying crazy stuff like that!)

What Else Does This Camper Have Hidden Away?

TouRig make a vast array of custom products for their campers, most of which they design themselves in the secret workshops in their heavily fortified factory (I might be embellishing the story slightly here). On the top of the camper, you will see the highly coveted TouRig flat pack roof rack system, a patented design that TouRig tell us is the lightest and quietest rack on the market. At 75 pounds it certainly takes the title of featherweight champion, but what does it matter if a roof rack is quiet? I’ll explain

Roof racks essentially cancel out the cleverly designed aerodynamic features of your vehicle. Adding a great big metal square onto the smooth and streamline roof of your camper has negative effects on your vehicles fuel consumption and its speed. TouRig have designed a superior aerodynamic roof rack that reduces drag and is light enough to not make a lot of difference to the weight of your vehicle. These features also eradicate any noise that might be created by wind whipping through the structure or from the bumping of bolts as you scramble through thickets and caves to get to your dream van life travel spots.

As well as creating an additional place for outdoor storage, the roof rack also houses a Solar System that feeds directly down into the Victron Energy 400aH lithium battery system. In English, this beast was born to be the chief of off grid living . The upper deck can be reached by aid of a flat-pack modular ladder that can easily be removed if not needed.

What’s Inside This TouRig Camper

I’m glad you asked! Once you step up onto the power-assisted retractable step, you’re instantly met with a classy interior that looks as though it has come straight from Ron Burgundy’ house. With leather-backed chairs instead of leather-bound books, it is a home that any jazz-flute enthusiast would be proud to relax in (see the film Anchorman for details). TouRig have managed to create an off grid van that feels like a hotel room, the only difference being that you can move this tiny house to a new location when you get bored of your surroundings!

We always take note of the little touches that make a camper feel more like home, and the dimmable LED lighting above and underneath all of the cabinets in this build create a cosy feel that also lights the living area remarkably well. While the cupboards might look as though they’re made from seriously chunky wood, a closer inspection reveals that they are actually made from foam-core with a true-look veneer. The hardwood corners give them the stability of a traditional unit, but this lightweight and durable alternative helps to keep the overall weight of the build down and creates less tension on the walls.

That Table Looks A Little Bit Fancy…

It is! Chief Hosa doesn’t have time for a fixed bed, so TouRig have created a system where the spacious dining table lowers down to accommodate the sofa cushions, thus creating a comfortable looking bed. Now I know what you’re thinking; that’s nothing new. Well, you are very mistaken, as this table automatically lowers via electric assist. Just press the secret button underneath the kitchen counter and voilla! This is James Bond style cool!

Speaking of electrics, TouRig have created an ingenious system called Firefly that allows you to control all of your appliances from one place. The bright touchscreen panel holds all of your battery and solar information, as well as providing you with controls for the air conditioning, furnace, hot water and more. When we can we get one of these for the Van Clan fleet (are you reading this, TouRig?)

Is This TouRig Camper Suitable For Long Camping Trips?

The Chief Hosa camper has everything that you need for a comfortable stint of off grid living, including passenger seats with in-built massage, heat, and reclining functions. For once people will be drawing straws to not be in the drivers seat. All four of the included leather chairs provide a comfortable place to sit and read or to play games with friends and family, and the handy bulkhead storage above the cab is a great place to store all of your van life essentials and belongings.

The kitchen in this TouRig build boasts a single burner for easy off grid cooking, an Isotherm 130L drawer fridge for keeping your beverages cool, and one of the deepest sinks that we’ve seen in a camper to date. This 9inch stainless steel sink could act as a small bath for your aching feet, or it could just be a great place to wash your pots and potatoes.

What’s Out The Back?

Anyone who has spent time living the van life or travelling in a van will know that having some kind of camper shower device is essential for keeping clean on the go. TouRig have opted for an outdoor shower located in the rear of the vehicle, which is great for both cleaning your muddy gear and your muddy self. The back doors create an enclosed area to hide your unmentionables from woodland creatures, and the shower head can be used to give the kitchen floor a quick spritz before wiping down.

TouRig have also added some neat storage pouches to the back doors of the camper, providing a home for all of those miscellaneous items that never really have a place. Speaking of everything having a place, there is also a hidden area for a 2.5-gallon cassette toilet just behind the passenger seat. You might not want to use it, but it’s there if nature comes a knocking and you don’t have time to make other arrangements!

Final Thoughts…

I love the fusion of off road goliath meets stylish city apartment. TouRig have nailed this build (they’ve probably used screws, but you know what I mean) and have created a camper that they can truly be proud of. While our favourite feature has to be the onboard computer that gives this van a Night Rider feel, we can’t deny that the rest of the elements in this build are second to none.

This off road Chief could well be yours for $100’000. If you’re in the market for a luxury overlander and like the way a Mercedes drives, then you should definitely drop TouRig a line and take a look at their fantastic range of campers.

Once again, we would like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors, Four Wheel Campers, for bringing us out to Arizona for the Expo of a lifetime. Let us know your thoughts on this TouRig Camper on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram !

More Content From The Van Clan Team!

• These Campervan Gifts should be on your Christmas List all year round.
• Check out the Citroen Camper Van that’s putting the wild back in wild-camping.
• These Vanlife Blogs should definitely be on your list for 2019.

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The Ultimate Adventure Rig Debate: Van Versus Truck

Is a 4x4 van as capable as a pickup for exploits off the beaten path? Our experts weigh in.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Need an icebreaker at a mountain town bar, or a conversation starter around a campfire? Try this: What’s better, a van or a truck camper?

It’s a debate I’ve had with friends many times over the years (and a topic I’m sure my wife Sarah would greatly appreciate never hearing about again). The pro and con list for each can be endless, and “better” can be in the eye of the beholder and depend on how exactly you want to use the vehicle: Which is more comfortable to camp out of? What does better off road? What gets better gas mileage? Which one does better in the snow?

For the sake of keeping this article from turning into a novel, let’s keep the comparisons between stock, four-wheel drive pickups and vans that come with four-wheel or all-wheel drive from the factory (so we’re not talking about anything requiring a 4WD conversion here). And we’ll keep the question to: “Of these two options, which makes the more capable adventure rig?”

Full disclosure: I’m a truck guy. I’ve long thought that a van—even in four-wheel drive guise—could never get me to the places I regularly go in my truck while hunting and recreating around the West.

But a few months ago, I had the opportunity to test a brand new AWD, 144-inch wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter built out with an Adventure Wagon interior. Truth be told, I was just as stoked to test the van itself as I was the buildout, because I was hoping it might help change my opinion on the truck versus van debate. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Aside from being incredibly loud on anything but pavement (due to the cavernous echo chamber that is the inside of any high-roof van), I found it difficult to navigate on rough dirt roads, and unnerving to drive on any remotely off-camber trails, due to its tall height.

I took the van down a road where I’d previously driven a full-size pickup towing a 20-foot Airstream Basecamp , and found that I couldn’t get as far down the road as I had in the truck due to a pretty sketchy, washed-out turn I’d forgotten about. I didn’t give that zone a second thought with the truck (even while towing). Could the Sprinter have made it? Possibly, but I wasn’t willing to risk flopping a very expensive van over on its side.

I’ve driven and ridden in several types of vans on gravel and dirt roads over the years, and have always had a negative experience. They’re loud, tippy, bulky, and in my experience, harsh-riding (with factory-installed suspensions) they’re designed to haul cargo and deliver packages in urban environments, after all. That said, I’ve never actually owned one, so my take on the question of capability isn’t exactly fair.

To help balance my bias, I reached out to a couple of folks who’ve owned both types of vehicles over the years in hopes of getting a more insightful answer on the truck versus van debate.

My good friends Aaron Gulley and Jen Judge , both longtime Outside contributors, are hunters, cyclists, climbers and skiers, and have lots of experience camping and living full-time out of adventure rigs. Since 2016, their go-to setup has been a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD towing a 2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB . Last Fall, they bought a 2016, 4×4 low-roof 144” Mercedes Sprinter . Theirs has a Sportsmobile pop-top and a minimalist buildout that lends itself to better off-road performance than you’ll get out of most vans.

I also touched base with Chris Cordes , Trail Guide Manager at onX Off Road and former Editor at Overland Journal/Expedition Portal , who has more off-road driving experience than just about anyone I know.

He’s owned a whole host of rigs throughout the years, including a Storyteller Overland buildout based on the 144WB VS30 4×4 Sprinter, and a 2000 Ford Excursion (essentially an F250) with the legendary 7.3L diesel engine, running 37-inch tires and every overland mod you can think of. He’s taken all of his rigs on gnarlier terrain than most vehicles will ever see.

If you are adventure rig shopping and considering a van or truck camper, their insights are well worth the read.

Q&A: Which Is the Better Adventure Vehicle—a Van or a Pickup Truck?

Bryan Rogala: You all have lots of experience with trucks and vans in general, and taking them into some serious spots off road that I doubt most Outside readers would take either type of vehicle. What’s your overall take on a 4×4 van vs. a truck?

Chris Cordes: Truth be told, it greatly depends on the vehicles you’re comparing. A Syncro VW or 4×4 E-Series is an entirely different animal than a 170 Sprinter, and a Tacoma is a far cry from an F-350. If I were looking only at full-size four-wheel drive vans and trucks built within the last few years, I’d say this: most 4×4 vans built within the last decade were not designed for off-road use.

They were designed as delivery vehicles with enough capability to tackle forest roads, mud, and snow on the way to drop off their parcels. Their articulation, high center of gravity, gearing, and unibody construction limit them when compared to a full-size 4×4 truck. With enough determination and patience you can bring them farther than many people will believe possible, but it will take twice the skill and three times the stress to do so.

Aaron Gulley: I’ve been pretty impressed with how capable our van is. I will say, I feel a little more hesitant—or reticent—to take it down or up things that I would do with the truck. It feels like the center of gravity is a little higher, and you really notice it when you start getting into off camber stuff. I’m also a little more reluctant to take it onto that type of terrain because it’s a pretty expensive vehicle—not that the truck’s not, but I feel like the truck’s just sort of built for it.

Are there any scenarios that come to mind in which you didn’t drive the van, but you would’ve taken a truck?

AG: We were in the truck this weekend while hunting, and we took a very, very steep and rugged road. I don’t think I would’ve taken the van up or down that. It might have done it, but I would have been far more uncomfortable.

CC: We tried very hard to take the van anywhere we’d take a truck, but found its limits more often than we would have liked. The worst examples were in the mountains where elevation reduced power, and the gearing became inadequate to allow for controlled negotiation of anything even slightly technical. We often had to use momentum to get over obstacles, and a failed attempt could put us in a very precarious situation.

On our last Colorado trip with the van, we made a successful—but white knuckle—ascent to Clear Lake, and a failed attempt at Ophir Pass. We wrote off all mountain passes after that, despite having previously tackled Alpine Loop and Imogene pass in my Excursion and towing a trailer over the same passes.

Talk about the differences in ride height, clearance, etc . Have you found either to perform better in tight spots?

CC: Ride height and clearance will vary greatly depending on the model of van or truck you choose. Ford’s AWD transit, for example, is unacceptably low to the ground in my opinion, but the 4×4 Sprinter has an impressive amount of ground clearance and a respectable approach and departure angle. Compared to some trucks it could actually be an advantage. I never had a problem with the clearance in our van, even when hitting trails like Chicken Corners in Moab [Utah].

AG: I took some measurements of our van (a 2016 4×4 Sprinter), and truck (a 2016 Chevrolet 2500HD) to see how they compare. The seat height in the van is 51 inches from the ground, and it’s only 41 inches in the truck. There’s 9 inches of clearance to the bottom of the rear differential on both rigs, but the side of the van sits 15 inches off the ground, while the truck’s sheet metal sits 20 inches off the ground.

I would actually say the van is better (in tight spots) because it’s narrower. The only annoying thing is that often, because the track width is narrower, you don’t fit quite so well in the big troughs that get dug out on dirt roads. You sort of get punched around from side to side like you’re on a Disneyland ride.

BR: How does the ride on rough terrain compare for, say, a stock three-quarter-ton pickup and a 4×4 Sprinter?

CC: The biggest thing you’re going to notice between the two is how much side-to-side sway a Sprinter or any high roof van has. Because the CG is so high, and the articulation is so limited, uneven terrain can start tossing the van back and forth in a progressively more uncomfortable side-to-side motion until you stop the van or slow to a crawl. This, of course, still happens in a truck, but to a lesser degree unless you’ve got an extremely tall camper in the bed.

AG: I’m really glad we don’t have a high roof—that would make me really anxious. Here in New Mexico where it’s so windy, it’s really nice having the low one, and we still feel like it’s like a wind magnet—I can’t imagine having the tall one. We never feel like we’re getting pushed around by wind in the truck, but the van feels like that a lot.

Jen Judge: The other thing about the van is there’s not as much storage or space inside, so things are sort of floating freely around more. When we take it up super rough roads, stuff flies around, and it’s super noisy. It’s harder to kind of keep stuff in place in the van, so I feel like things inside get beat up more on rougher roads than in a truck.

Any noticeable differences between the two on snow covered roads? 

AG: I’ve taken the van up to the ski hill a couple of times. It’s terrible unless you’re in 4-high, but it seemed fine in 4-high.

JJ: The worst thing is our van doesn’t have a shift-on-the-fly system, so you have to stop and put it in neutral no matter what.

CC: Most of my experience living out of either platform was chasing sunny 75-degree weather, so my snow experience is limited. From the experiences we did have with them in snow, both platforms were capable and predictable.

If you had to pick between a truck with a camper and a van, what would you choose?

CC: Overall, I believe the van is the more spacious and comfortable platform to live in, but if I planned to leave the pavement regularly, I’d want the capability of a 4×4 truck to get me where I need to go and back again. It’s definitely part of the reason we now drive a full-size Dodge.

JJ: I feel like the van actually has the advantage. It’s really close capability-wise for our comfort level driving in the backcountry, but it’s a lot easier to drive around town. I would drive it around town every day, whereas the truck is tough. I feel like if you’re going to have one vehicle, it’s a better choice.

AG: If you’re a person who likes to be outside a lot when you camp and be in the weather, I think a truck is great. If you prefer  more comfort, then the van is great. It’s not going to be quite as capable as a truck, but for the majority of people for what they’re doing, I don’t know that most people are going to be so adventurous in their driving that it’s going to make a difference. I do feel like if I’m honest, there’s probably not many scenarios where we would take the truck that we wouldn’t take the van.

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The 13 Best Overland & Camper Van Rental Companies in USA

Whether looking for a hotel suite on wheels or just a rooftop tent, there's an adventure-ready rig out there for you

Geoff Nudelman

Photo courtesy Elliot Hawkley / Pacific Overlander

If you’re a regular on Field Mag, you likely well aware of the ongoing camper van and overland trend. And with 2020 dragging on with no end in sight, road trip upgrades are very “of the moment”.

Long before #vanlife became a hashtag, there have been companies renting RVs, trailers, and vans of varying sizes and capabilities to anyone looking for a little (or a lot) more in their car camping experience. While the 13 options below are by no means an exhaustive list, they do represent a good mix of what’s out there and what you can likely find in a region near you.

Rental camper vans and overland rigs are an awesome way to see the country, but it’s also worth noting that these are atypical vehicle rentals and mandatory extra charges like insurance and service fees can add up fast. So, if you’re budget-minded, be sure to take a look at the whole package before signing on. Then do so and have a dang good time.

Cascade Adventure Vans - Seattle, WA

Rent this: 2019 sprinter camper van.

If you’ve done any road tripping around the Pacific Northwest, you’ve likely seen one of Cascade’s custom Sprinter build-outs. The company has four options available with varying capacities for sleeping, outdoor cooking, and general gear carrying. Perhaps the coolest feature are the adjustable “elevator beds” that increase or decrease sleeping levels based on individual need.

Price: $615/3 nights (Oct-April)

Texino - Los Angeles, CA

Rent this: 2019 mercedes metris.

Texino is widely known for integrating stylish, practical design features into straightforward Sprinter or Metris van, making it one of the most useful, camping-ready options out there. Pick from their custom-built rental fleet to reap all the rewards of van life without the regular maintenance. (Or buy one of their custom rigs to go full send.)

Price: $215/night

Bohemian Highway Travel Co. - Sonoma, CA

Rent this: land rover defender 110.

You could do much, much worse than exploring wine country in either Land Rover Defender 110 from Bohemian Highway’s two-rig fleet. Our favorite model is built more to be enjoyed during the day with plenty of space to haul sleeping gear for a night under the stars (and that second bottle of Cabernet).

Price: $300/night

Pacific Overlander - Las Vegas, NV & San Francisco, CA

Rent this: 4runner trd offroad with xv-2 xventure trailer.

When you think about that quintessential 4x4 camper experience, you’d probably come up with something close to Pacific Overlander. They have the slick, outdoors-inspired logo, the rugged reputation, and six vehicles of varying capabilities—plus an adventure trailer. They’ll even do one-way rentals, making most of the western U.S. your oyster.

Price: $195/night (4Runner), $100/night (trailer)

Wandervans - Boise, SLC, PDX

Rent this: ford transit van.

For those looking for the no-frills approach, Wandervans has a done a nice job of outfitting Ford Transit vans with enough comfort to sleep inside the van while doing most of your living outside of it. The three western cities they operate out of offers a nice mix of locales to enjoy said basic comfort as well.

Price: $111/night

Outdoorsy - Tempe, AZ

Rent this: 1999 ford e350 high top super duty xl.

Without being too schmaltzy, Outdoorsy is “the AirBnB of the RV market,” offering a range of camper vans, fifth wheels, and even class A motorhomes that owners offer for rent with a few simple clicks. They have myriad options across the country and there’s likely one not too far from where you’re sitting right now.

Price: $149/night

Reparadise - Salt Lake City, UT

Rent this: mercedes 4x4 camper.

If you have a trailer, van, or truck, and are looking to let a pro handle the mechanics and dirty work of a conversion, take it to a shop like Reparadise. Their portfolio speaks for itself. Or just rent an example of their work, like this 4x4 Sprinter conversion.

Price: $225/night

Overland Discovery - Denver, CO

Rent this: explorer plus dodge ram promaster.

Overland Discovery carries three different types of camping vehicles—Jeeps, regular vans, and small RVs. Anything in their fleet would be a fine partner to explore Colorado with, but we especially like what they’ve done with their Dodge Ram ProMaster conversions.

Price: $166/night

Titus Adventure Company - Denver, CO

Rent this: “patsy” 2019 toyota tacoma.

Perhaps you need something a little more rugged. Enter TAC, which offers a small and just plain awesome fleet of 4x4 Toyota off-roaders ready for your plans in the Rockies. Each model comes with a solid rooftop tent and the best part? Unlimited miles.

Price: $145/night Winter, $220/night Summer

Hatch Adventures - Bozeman, MT

Rent this: jeep wrangler.

Hatch maintains a small fleet of Jeeps and Toyotas all outfitted with a host of basic camping supplies (like Yeti mugs and a Camp Chef stove) to make this one of the more turnkey options out there. Wherever you want to go in Big Sky country, their trucks can get you there.

Scamper Van - Atlanta, GA & Asheville, NC

Rent this: scamper van 7.

With two locations in the lower fourth of the US, Scamper Van offers a more family-friendly approach with a buildout that feels more tiny home than van life. The finishes are clean, storage ample, and our feature model sleeps four. What more could you want? (Beside a lot less external branding...)

Price: $139/night

Voyager Campervans - Midwest & The South

Rent this: minny v2.

With six locations across the US, Voyager makes it possible to rent one of their vans to drive to the Smoky Mountains, Mt. Rainier, and even the Grand Canyon. These vans tend to be on the more basic side, but they have some nifty integrated storage and are a smaller footprint for more novice drivers.

Campanda - Maui, HI

Rent this: maui wowie.

Campanda is another ride share platform with more international options, offering vehicles in 42 countries. Among them is this Hymer Activ Class B, which looks and feels like that resort timeshare you were talked into renting, but were pleasantly surprised by when you arrived on the island.

Price: $279/night

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The secrets behind Eddie Van Halen's live rig at Van Halen's final shows

On September 6, 2015, GW was invited to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for an access-all-areas look at Ed's guitars, amps, effects and more

Rig tour: Eddie Van Halen

Van Halen's 2015 tour, which started on July 5 in Auburn, Washington, and ended October 4 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, has now gone down in history as Edward Van Halen’s final public performances with the band.

Ed and his EVH business partner Matt Bruck graciously invited Guitar World to Van Halen’s concert in upstate New York at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival – on September 6, 2015, to give readers an all-access look at the gear that Ed and his son, bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, used on the tour.

The resulting cover story, which appeared in Guitar World ’s February 2016 issue, was not the usual “rig report” list of guitars, amps and effects, but rather an in-depth article that revealed much finer details, including Ed’s live setup signal path and exact settings for his amps and effects. 

The photos of Ed’s gear on the following pages were taken backstage before the September 6 show and were intended to accompany the article. Due to a lack of space and the decision to use performance photos of Ed and the band, most of these photos were cut from the final version that appeared in print.

Also, a few of the ones that did previously appear were too small to show helpful detail. In honor of Ed’s contributions to guitarists via his own EVH brand, we’ve decided to share these photos for public consumption.

In light of Ed’s passing, these photos are a bittersweet memento of the final sounds that the public heard from his guitar. In fact, the EVH Wolfgang USA with relic’d Ivory finish seen here was not only Ed’s main guitar throughout the entire 2015 tour, but it was also the very last guitar that he ever played on stage when he used it for the encore performance of Jump .

The final Db chord that Ed played on that guitar is still ringing out in the cosmos as well as the memories of Van Halen fans who witnessed what has now become a historic moment.

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Ed’s white Wolfgang is now also a symbol of the culmination of Ed’s achievements in guitar design, developed over more than five decades of experimentation, innovation and endless pursuit of the ultimate tone.

Similarly, the gear shown here – most of which he developed as well – represents his years of experience as well as his visions for the future. Ed may no longer be with us to personally participate in that future, but the guitars, amps and effects he designed as gifts for his fellow guitarists will allow his legacy to live on by inspiring players for many generations to come.

Rig tour: Eddie Van Halen – Guitars

1. EVH WOLFGANG USA (IVORY)

Chip Ellis built this guitar and delivered it to Ed during rehearsals for the 2015 tour. “I wanted a white Wolfgang that was relic’d, so I asked Chip to build one for me,” Van Halen said. “He did a wonderful job. It sounded better than my trusty old Stealth Wolfgang, so it immediately became my main guitar.” 

Custom details (later available on the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature model) include the red kill switch for staccato effects and BI Tech HPU low-friction volume pot for smooth, noise-free volume swells.

2. EVH WOLFGANG USA (STEALTH BLACK)

This Stealth Black EVH Wolfgang USA was Ed’s main guitar on Van Halen’s 2012 tour, but it became a backup after he received the relic’d white Wolfgang USA about a month before the 2015 tour started.

3. EVH WOLFGANG USA (MATTE RED)

The Matte Red finish on this EVH Wolfgang USA guitar was not offered on any production models, making this guitar one-of-a kind. It was tuned to standard tuning and was one of four options (along with the Circles, Star and Wolfgang WG Standard guitars) that Ed brought on the 2015 tour for playing I’ll Wait .

4. EVH WOLFGANG MINI (SUNBURST)

“Little Guitars” returned to Van Halen’s 2015 setlist, and Ed performed the song on this custom-made mini Wolfgang. Although his sunburst model has a Floyd Rose tremolo with D-Tuna, Ed removed the bar because he didn’t use tremolo on the song.

5. EVH WOLFGANG MINI (AMBER)

Featuring a gorgeous quilted maple top with amber finish, this custom Wolfgang mini guitar was a backup for the sunburst mini.

6. EVH STRIPE SERIES CIRCLES

The EVH Stripe Series Circles model is a reproduction of a custom guitar Ed played briefly on Van Halen’s 1981 Fair Warning tour, immortalized in the Oakland performance video of Unchained. He later added layers of red, yellow and green paint to the original guitar, nicknaming the new makeover “Rasta.”

7. CUSTOM “RASTA” REPLICA

Ed’s friend Scott Smith made this custom replica of the “Rasta” guitar and gave it to Ed during the latter half of the 2015 tour. “Scott has made replicas of every guitar I’ve ever made,” Van Halen said in 2015. “I gave my original one to Dweezil Zappa about 20 years ago.”

8. EVH STRIPE SERIES STAR

Like the Stripe Series Circles, the EVH Stripe Series Star had a short-lived production run in the mid 2010s and is highly sought after today. It is a replica of a guitar that Ed built from Charvel parts in 1980 and used on Van Halen’s Invasion tour that year.

9. EVH WOLFGANG WG STANDARD

Proof that Ed stood behind every product his EVH brand produced, he played this Wolfgang WG Standard – the most inexpensive model offered by EVH – frequently during the 2015 tour. “I prefer the Standard over the Circles and Star guitars because it has a front pickup that I like to use for the solo in I’ll Wait . It’s the most economically priced EVH guitar, but it plays just as good as the Special or USA and sounds great.”

Rig tour: Eddie Van Halen – Amps

Main evh 5150 iii 100s.

For Van Halen’s 2012 tour, Ed relied on EVH 5150 III 100-watt heads that were modified, but for the 2015 tour he used a 100 percent stock 5150 III 100S that featured all of his custom modifications as standard features. 

The amp head on top with the green tape and star was the only amp he played for the entire tour, even though he brought six backups.

EVH 5150 III EL34 Prototype

This is the original prototype of the EVH 5150 III 100-watt EL34 amp. “I plug into it every couple of shows to see how it’s holding up in its first road test, to see how it’s maintaining its tone,” Van Halen said. “The sound is very vintage Van Halen, but it also has the capability of achieving modern high-gain tones.”

Stage Amp Wall

The massive wall of amps and speakers seen on stage was mostly for show, as only the three miked EVH 5150 III 4x12 speaker cabinets were in use. The outer cabinets amplified the wet delay-processed left and right signals, while the center cabinet received a dry direct feed from the main 5150 III 100S head.

Rig tour: Eddie Van Halen – Effects

Ed was “old school” when it came to his pedalboard, preferring to have his stompboxes accessible on stage where he could easily reach down and tweak them if necessary. The sheets at the upper edge and lower left corner were notes to remind Ed of the lyrics when he was singing backup vocals.

Ed used the Roland SDE-3000 digital delays mainly to create reverb-like ambience in his wet/dry/wet rig setup. His PCM70 Cathedral setting was cut from Guitar World ’s February 2016 article due to space constraints – it’s the “double delay” algorithm with both delays set to 424ms, feedback 12 percent (both), mix 100 percent and the remaining parameters at 0.

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Chris is the co-author of Eruption - Conversations with Eddie Van Halen. He is a 40-year music industry veteran who started at Boardwalk Entertainment (Joan Jett, Night Ranger) and Roland US before becoming a guitar journalist in 1991. He has interviewed more than 600 artists, written more than 1,400 product reviews and contributed to Jeff Beck’s Beck 01: Hot Rods and Rock & Roll and Eric Clapton’s Six String Stories.

“I walked up to Tony Iommi and said, ‘Why don’t you just use my amp?’ He saw it was solid-state and said, ‘No, I’m not going to use that!’” Frank Marino on why solid-state amps make the best pedal platforms and starting his own stompbox company

“I bought a 1964 Vox AC30 for £300 from a friend whose partner had died. She knew it was worth a lot more, but she wanted me to have it as a memory of him”: Troy Redfern on his most emotional gear finds and his biggest guitar-buying mistakes

“As soon as I heard the demo, I knew it would be crucial to add rock elements”: Justus West reveals how he sneaked Tosin Abasi and Plini onto the new Beyoncé album (sort of)

Most Popular

This Anti-Van Adventure Rig Is Pickup in Front, Toy Hauler in Back

Toro bravo 4x4 enters overlanding adventure rv market with multi-purpose, mega-rad silver spear class c..

H ey, maybe van life's just not gonna cut it for you, and that's okay. You maybe need a little bit more than a mere van, and luckily abundant varieties of off-road, off-grid travel trailers , and other burly rigs have bloomed in popularity since the pandemic started pushing people outdoors. The latest to catch our eyes? Introducing the 2023 Toro Bravo 4x4 Silver Spear, an adventure rig that combines your favorite medium-duty pickup truck in the front and totally useful toy hauler in the rear.

The company points out that this overlander is good for work, play, and exploration. If you've ever done any combination of the three, it's pretty intuitive to see the awesome potential of this all-in-one 4x4 work truck, RV, and toy hauler. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Just take our money.

First, a little about the company behind the Silver Spear. Toro Bravo 4x4 is brand-spankin'-new, having just launched in February 2023. Its first project is the Silver Spear. The company, founded by former Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Jeff Rohrer (who also happens to have a Business degree from Yale), joined with a concept engineering studio founded in 2020 called PROTOTYP3 to create it.

The Silver Spear is a contemporary Class C toy hauler motorhome, but it definitely leaves the traditional motorhome feeling far behind. It's built on a medium-duty chassis cab pickup truck that's carrying an aluminum-skinned living quarters/cargo box with a rear drop-down cargo door (that's the toy hauler part) for loading and unloading various toys. Naturally, there's open room inside for securing the cargo. Class C toy haulers are not overly common and include (or have included) the Thor Outlaw, Thor Four Winds Fun Mover, and the Weekend Warrior Road Warrior, for example.

Toro Bravo 4x4 will build the Silver Spear on four-door, four-wheel drive 2023 Ford F-550, Chevrolet 5500, and Ram 5500 chassis, allowing customers the freedom to choose their pickup of choice. It'll be lifted over 40-inch tires; That's an absolutely massive tire for a recreational vehicle. Big tires mean more ground clearance and better off-road capabilities. Because of the lift and big wheels, towing capacity starts around 15,000 pounds, which is crazily on the lower end compared to some street-only Super Cs.

The Silver Spear has a "modern utilitarian" design that's rugged yet comfortable, visually uncluttered yet highly configurable. There's nothing plain vanilla boring RV about it, though. It's modular and customizable, with up to 777 cubic-feet of space; It doesn't have any slide-outs. From work to play, it's designed to be a multi-purpose rig. Bumper to bumper, it's 26 feet long, and the whole interior is 19.5 feet long. It stands 11 feet, 7 inches tall overall, with 6 feet, 10 inches of interior headroom.

The interior has everything needed to comfortably sleep four in the middle of nowhere, including an over-cab queen bed, two removable fold-down extra-long twin bunks (lower doubles as a couch), and foldable, removable desks and upper shelves. There's a built-in wet bath (combined with a composting toilet) and a permanent sink. A removable 3D-printed kitchen cart fits a two-burner propane cooktop, electric portable 25-gallon dual-zone cooler, and a meal prep station. A full size tool chest can fit next to the kitchen cart. R-14 insulation enables four-season use.

Although the Silver Spear is lifted, the rear cargo ramp sits at 20 degrees when open, not too steep for loading and unloading. When supported to become flush with the cargo floor, it adds almost seven feet of exterior "deck" table space.

The cargo area itself can hold a variety of toys: full-size sled; full-size sled and 450cc dirt bike; four 450cc dirt bikes; a full-size quad; and more, depending on the loader's creativity and toy size. Cargo can be secured via the integrated floor mounting rails. There are also mounting rails on the outside wall of the box, allowing for additional exterior tables or cargo. There's a pass-through gear tunnel and exterior storage boxes for additional storage.

The Silver Spear holds 60 gallons of fresh water, 30 gallons of grey water, and two 20-pound propane tanks. There is no on-board generator. Rather, three lithium-ion batteries provide 810 Ah and charge from shore power, the truck's engine, or the roof-mounted solar panels. There are five 180-watt monocrystalline solar panels for a total of 900 watts of solar. There's 12-volt air conditioning, two Maxxair fans, a 2,000-watt power inverter, plus a water heater and furnace—all the usual RV systems.

Customers can pre-order the 2023 Toro Bravo 4x4 Silver Spear now with a $100 deposit. And since you've made it this far, the base price is $210,000. It's a steal, if you ask us.

Motortrend.com