This stunning F-550 and Northern Lite combo delivers serious off-road power, full off-grid comfort, and one game-changing feature EarthRoamer can’t match. Demount this, LTx!
For many truck camper enthusiasts, the EarthRoamer LTx represents the summit of off-grid luxury—an elite, all-in-one expedition vehicle built on a Ford F-550 chassis and wrapped in a seamless, monocoque shell. It’s an engineering marvel. It’s also a financial mountain: the base model starts at $798,000, and with options, it often pushes well into the $850,000 to $900,000 range.
But what if you could build your own EarthRoamer-style rig, on the same F-550 chassis, with serious off-road chops and full off-grid livability, for less than a third of that price? That’s exactly what one builder on by assembling a 2021 Ford F-550 and a Northern Lite 10-2EX Limited Edition truck camper.
The final price? Likely under $250,000. In fact, you could probably build three of these Northern Lite-based expedition rigs for less than a single EarthRoamer LTx.
This project began with a brand-new 2021 Ford F-550 Super Duty Lariat chassis cab, which underwent a full single rear-wheel conversion, a 2.5-inch suspension lift, and Fox shocks.
The truck rides on 41-inch Continental MPT tires wrapped around 20-inch wheels. With 6.17:1 gearing, a dual-range transfer case, and a 6.7L Power Stroke diesel delivering 825 lb-ft of torque, this truck doesn’t just look ready for remote exploration—it is.
Mounted on a custom utility flatbed is the Northern Lite 10-2 EX Limited Edition, a clamshell fiberglass truck camper known for its four-season durability, refined interior, and premium components.
The camper includes a queen cabover bed, full wet bath, dinette, Suburban stove, Dometic fridge, microwave, and plenty of storage. The electrical system boasts a 600-watt solar array, Battle Born lithium battery, Cummins generator, and Go Power! power management.
Together, they make a rugged, self-contained overland rig capable of extended backcountry travel, without compromising comfort. Isn’t that what an EarthRoamer-style rig is all about?
What truly sets this Northern Lite rig apart is that it’s fully demountable. You can remove the camper in minutes and drive away in a flatbed F-550 that’s ready to haul gear, tow equipment, or head into town like a regular truck. If the camper needs work, you can still drive the truck. If the truck needs servicing, you can still access your camper.
Want to swap out the camper down the road or move it to another truck? No problem. And when it comes to insurance, storage, or seasonal use, being able to separate the two opens up a range of practical, cost-saving options.
The ability to demount is a level of modularity and flexibility that simply isn’t possible with a fully integrated EarthRoamer LTx. It makes a truck and camper more practical for many overland travelers than a fixed, monocoque design. If we could get them on the record, I bet many EarthRoamers—if not the majority—secretly wish they could demount their truck and camper for all the reasons stated above.
To be fair, an EarthRoamer rep once told me that they could technically change out an older EarthRoamer truck for a new one at their factory—for a price. Exactly what that price was, or how long it would take, was not offered.
Cost and the inability to demount may be the Achilles heel of an EarthRoamer, but the ultra-premium brand has a couple of truly drool-worthy features to flip the table.
First and foremost, EarthRoamers have the number one most wished for missing feature in nearly every truck and camper rig ever to roll down the road—a legitimate pass-through.
Now we’re not going to argue that this feature is worth several hundred grand, but it’s the kind of safety and convenience feature that’s sure to have many loyal truck camper owners thinking, “Yeah, I’d like that.” Heck, we’re firmly in the ‘wish we had a pass-through camp’. Oh man, do we have a few stories when a passthrough would have saved the day. Yes, please!
Another EarthRoamer retort is the brand’s gobsmacking fit and finish. The pictures really don’t do justice to the details that go into an EarthRoamer. Every inch is meticulously considered, designed with blood, sweat, and tears, and executed to the kind of perfection that one expects in a modern Rolls Royce or Bentley.
I don’t think I’ve ever used the word sumptuous in the eighteen years of publishing these electrons, but there’s no doubt EarthRoamer is deserving of the word. Earthroamers are simply gorgeous.
Okay, one more EarthRoamer retort just to show that we’re not completely snowed by our own demountable truck camper bias. The level of equipment and behind-the-walls build is unlike almost anything we find in the truck camper world.
I say almost because there are elements of our marketplace that are definitely nipping at EarthRoamer’s heels in this department, but EarthRoamer’s obsession with the best-of-the-best has been in full gear and advancing for years. If you somehow manage to break your EarthRoamer, you’re probably also at the bottom of a very deep ravine.
Worth the Effort?
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys planning a build, coordinating with upfitters, and putting together the perfect rig for your needs, the Northern Lite expedition setup is a no-brainer. It’s a serious rig with serious capabilities, one that delivers 80 to 90 percent of the EarthRoamer experience at a fraction of the price—while offering real-world flexibility that a fixed-body EarthRoamer simply can’t match.
Yes, you’ll put in more effort up front. But what you get is yours—modular, upgradeable, serviceable, and road-proven. And if you want, you can build two more just like it and still come in under the base price of an EarthRoamer LTx.
Check out the Northern Lite rig featured in this article on Bring A Trailer. Check out Earthroamer at earthroamer.com. Just hide your wallet first.
