Charlotte and Ken have taken their Hotomobil Gladiator across continents, cultures, and some of the wildest roads on Earth. Their journey is a bold testament to what’s possible when your home has four wheels and no limits. Gladiator Mode—Engaged!
What happens when two dreamers fall in love, quit their jobs, sell their stuff, and drive off into the unknown with nothing but a camper, a camera, and an unrelenting thirst for adventure? You get Charlotte and Ken.
Since 2018, this spirited Belgian couple has been redefining what it means to “go off the beaten path”—turning their love story into an epic global journey across deserts, mountain passes, jungles, and forgotten roads. Their home? A Hotomobil Gladiator truck camper. Their goal? To live fully, love deeply, and wander as far as four wheels and a diesel tank can carry them.
Above: This video captures the essence of Charlotte and Ken’s unique, wild and amazing spirit
It all began with a box truck—a clunky Mercedes Sprinter, which they humorously admit might not have been the most obvious choice for a world tour. But they poured themselves into it, building a tiny house on wheels, then hitting the road in 2020 just as the world was about to shut down. Covid clipped their wings after only four months, but that didn’t stop them. Once lockdowns eased, they hit the road again, traversing southern Europe and the Balkans, living on sun, sea, and spontaneity.
By 2022, Charlotte and Ken had wintered in the Canary Islands, taking their remote work with them. Then came a new passenger—Flo, their fearless German Shepherd puppy—followed by a new ride. Their current home on wheels is a Hotomobil Gladiator camper and a four-wheel drive pickup they’ve named ‘Frank The Tank’—a setup that has carried them across more than twenty-five countries and counting.
With Frank, they’ve plowed through Scottish downpours, tackled the dizzying altitudes of the Pamir Highway, skirted the Afghan border in Tajikistan, and got themselves gloriously stuck in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
And they’re not just ticking countries off a list. They’re walking the Silk Road from Samarkand to the Shaolin Temple. They’re camping on remote beaches in Thailand, navigating the jungles of Laos, and marveling at the Festival of Lights in Luang Prabang. They’ve crossed rivers, mountain ranges, political borders, and cultural divides, all without ever leaving home—because home comes with them.
Above: Charlotte and Ken reflect on their stunning adventures in 2024. Rated PG-13 for mild language, honesty, and stunning footage. If this video gets your attention, subscribe to their YouTube channel and enjoy their adventures
Living in a truck camper full-time means contending with harsh weather, tight quarters, cultural barriers, mechanical failures, and more. But Charlotte and Ken see the challenge as part of the beauty.
In their videos, they often talk candidly about full-time living on the road and the skills it demands: flexibility, open-mindedness, and relentless communication. “Understanding your partner, being open to discussion, and overcoming fears together—that’s how lasting memories are made,” they explain.
In fact, it’s that mutual support that has propelled them through places most travelers only dream of. With each new border, they’ve learned to trust not just the road ahead, but each other—and the life they’ve built in motion.
Above: Truck camping through Kyrgyzstan. Again, rated PG-13 for mild language and outrageously incredible footage, and totally worth a watch. Simply breathtaking.
Charlotte and Ken are slowly making their way back to Europe after five months in Southeast Asia. But don’t expect a straight line. Their route winds through Tibet, the Himalayan Plateau, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Iran. There’s no grand plan—only the promise to keep exploring, sharing, and living by their own rules.
What started as a simple Instagram account to keep family in the loop has blossomed into a community inspired by their boldness, honesty, and refusal to wait for “someday.” Their journey is a living example of what happens when you stop letting fear make decisions for you.
Their advice? “Take the risk. Follow your heart. When you’re old and gray, you won’t remember the dishes—you’ll remember the adventures.” Charlotte and Ken aren’t just travelers. They’re modern nomads chasing beauty, purpose, and freedom—wherever the road may lead.
Click here to follow Charlotte and Ken on YouTube and Instagram.
