Rad Rig The Dream Catcher

Motorhome world’s one-of-a-kind luxury globetrotter

- Andrew Middleton

When it comes to overland exploration, there are several ways to go about it. You can go the lightweight route with a bakkie and a tent, you could tow an equipped off-road trailer, or you could opt to travel in your home-on-wheels. The Dreamcatcher is very much the latter option.

Built to endure extended touring periods in the Siberian and Russian winter, where temperatures routinely drop below minus 40 degrees Celsius, this lavishly-equipped motorhome is the ultimate ‘money is no object’ expression of luxury overlanding. The beast can comfortably sleep four absolutely anywhere on earth.

The owners who commissioned this build are very well travelled but are yet to include Siberia and Russia in their travel log. Exploring these territories during winter is going to be a huge challenge, though Dreamcatcher has been designed expressly to do the job.

Motorhome World’s factory in Atlantis Industria took on this custom build after a thorough investigation of Russian exploration vehicles and, specifically, research on the effects of extremely cold temperatures on mechanical components and how to insulate against those sorts of conditions.

The construction process, taking just over eight months, was an exercise in experimenting with new technologies – including developing a twin-voltage electrical system and fitting heating pads on nearly every electrical or mechanical component exposed to the elements.