Rare RV beast for sale in Queensland

If you've ever dreamt of tackling Australia's most rugged terrain without sacrificing the comforts of a high-end motorhome, this jaw-dropping 2018 Mercedes-Benz Zetros currently listed on caravancampingsales might just be the ultimate rig for the job.

Affectionately named ‘Zeuss’, this imposing 4WD expedition vehicle is the brainchild of avid Queensland-based adventurer Tim Hendy, who commissioned the custom build back in 2019 to fulfill his dream of unrestricted, go-anywhere touring.

Purchased brand-new from Mercedes-Benz on the Sunshine Coast, the heavy-duty truck was handed over to a boutique Gold Coast builder who specialises in crafting just one extreme, no-expense-spared custom motorhome per year.

For Tim, a lifelong camper and motorhome enthusiast, the decision to go with the hulking Zetros over the more commonly seen Unimog came down to long-haul comfort and capability.

"I looked at Unimogs, but they were all really, really old,” he told caravancampingsales.

“Most of the stuff I was looking at had done a million kilometres with the army and they were flogged out.

"Their cruise speed was low, so they'd be slogging along at 80km/h on the highway, and they're uncomfortable."

Then, Tim discovered the Unimog’s big brother, the Zetros 1833 - a tough truck more commonly seen on mining site or big farms.

"When we spotted the Zetros, it was physically bigger and just a more comfortable touring truck because it’ll cruise at 100km/h all day long," he said.

"You can't really beat an Allison six-speed auto either. The thing shifts gears the same as a car does. It's nice and smooth, giving you all that simplicity of driving... and the Zetros handles its weight really well."

With a hefty 16,500kg GVM and powered by a grunty 7.2-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine producing 326hp/1300Nm, Zeuss’s 10-tonne gross weight is well below what the truck is designed to handle.

Despite being a larger bonneted truck, the Zetros is highly capable off-road with parabolic springs, a two-speed transfer case that allows full-time four-wheel drive, locking diffs all round (front, centre and rear) and plenary hub reductions at both axles.

To prevent any cracks to the camper off-road, the living quarters are secured with a heavy-duty, spring-mounted body.

The premium fit-out covers all bases, featuring a suite of appliances and systems from Victron, Honda, Air Command, Camec, Thetford, Fiamma, and Dometic. It sleeps two in comfort and has clocked just 29,000km since new.

“We’ve taken it all over the place, but we run down to Ballarat from the Sunshine Coast once a year to visit family and the aim is to drive the whole way without touching sealed roads,” Tim boasted.

“When you try to avoid the roads, you end up in some incredibly remote parts of the outback… places you’d never dream of taking a regular motorhome.”

Despite its intimidating size, Tim says the big Benz is surprisingly easy to live with, returning a highly respectable 27L/100km when fully loaded out on the road. It's so user-friendly that his wife Natasha regularly takes the wheel, too.

While driving it does require a Medium Rigid (MR) truck licence, Tim points out it's a small hurdle for the freedom it provides.

So, why part ways with such an incredible, apocalypse-ready motorhome? For Tim and Natasha, it's simply a change of pace.

"We've got grandkids now, so we need less hardcore accommodation and a bit more space," Tim said.

"Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but we've done the off-road thing. We're probably at that stage of our lives where that urge is being suppressed. We're very, very happy that we did it, but we just don't need it anymore."

The couple is now looking to trade their expedition rig for a more traditional, road-focused motorhome to enjoy relaxed caravan park touring with their extended family.

For the next owner, this Zetros represents a rare opportunity to bypass the years-long waitlist for a bespoke off-road vehicle and immediately hit the tracks less travelled. It's currently listed for sale at $395,000.

Related: Meet the $1.1 million Hartmann Zetros motorhome

Related: Mercedes-Benz Zetros – the ultimate RV?

Related: Driving the ultimate Aussie off-road expedition vehicle