Rick Huckstepp•1 Aug 2016

REVIEW

SLR Commander 4x4

Four-wheel drive expedition vehicles don’t come much more capable than this MAN-based monster

Tough, truck-based motorhomes are made that way for a reason and this one from Queensland’s SLR has been built from the rubber to the roof on a MAN military-spec cab chassis with the express purpose of travelling the world.

Well, why wouldn’t you?

Powering this beast is a 6.87-litre, twin turbocharged, six-cylinder diesel engine that generates 213kW at 2300rpm and 1150Nm of torque between 1200 and 1750 rpm. To the uninitiated this equals a lot of ‘grunt’ and most likely its future travels to all corners of the globe will see it calling in all of that.

With a payload stretching to eight tonnes, there's plenty of scope for fitting heavy-duty items like the hydraulically-driven winch on the front that's rated to 20 tonnes and itself weighs in at just less than a tonne. An inter-cooled oil reservoir attached to the chassis helps keep the oil at a working viscosity and below boiling point when extricating from a bog.

And when you need to drop the tyre pressure because the sands of the Kalahari are touching the diffs, getting back to ‘road’ pressures are easy with a compressor line at each wheel and a central compressor station to direct the air flow as required.

The spare wheel located in the rear under-body lowers on a swinging frame attached to an electric winch. It doesn’t come with a can of spinach so Popeye will have to bring his own; each wheel weighs in at 200kg! Anyway, if for some reason a torn tyre can’t be inflated, it will still 'run flat', but obviously with a lot of care.

There was no tow bar fitted on this truck, but it's an option although the spare wheel must then be mounted on the back wall.

Military spec bash guards are fitted all round and the mounting of the body on the chassis is via SLR’s torsion-free system – the Queensland company is in the process of having the design registered; hence we can’t show you any images.

However, we couldn’t help but notice how well it worked in practice, allowing the body to rock from side to side, seemingly separate from the cab chassis. Without this sort of torsion system the opposing forces between the chassis and body would tear the latter apart.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Climb up the three steps into the driver’s cabin and you get a bird’s eye view out the windscreen while seated on multi-adjustable air suspension seats with arm rests as well as integrated heating.

More mirrors than a hair salon give the driver plenty of views while manoeuvring in tight spots without having to crane the neck, including monitoring the winch operation below the windscreen.

The truck’s dash is well laid out with everything imaginable that can be switched electronically including the transfer case and a hill climb brake for smooth take-off on steep inclines.

The ZF automated transmission has 12 forward speeds and two reverse ratios. Brakes are air operated drums all round with an off-road ABS switch for improved braking when not on the bitumen.

FIT FOR KINGS

Enough about the truck… After crawling through the cab/body access ‘hole’ we come across the seven-seat leather lounge area including two, seat-belted positions for passengers on the move.

In club-style the table sits on a telescopic pedestal that compresses to allow the back cushions to be used as in-fills for a second king-size bed.

The first king bed is overhead and lifts and lowers on four, electric actuators that are computer controlled to ensure the bed moves evenly. Inputting a minimum weight into the system ensures the bed doesn’t elevate if that weight or more is on the mattress; thus stopping someone being accidentally sandwiched against the roof while snoozing!

Above the bed is a marine quality skylight with blinds and insect screens and if you can handle the vertigo you can exit here and stand on the roof for an even better view.

The roof area not occupied by half a dozen solar panels and the automatic TV antenna can handle deck chairs so a 360 degree view of the Dakar Rally is all yours. You can leave the chairs up top as well, tied down on the rack over the cab roof.

OIL BURNER FOR FRYING EGGS

The kitchen consists of cupboard modules along both side walls with ‘solid surface’ tops, while back ledges against the walls and sink bowl are an integral part of the moulded bench, making for excellent water proofing.

The Webasto diesel system that drives the internal air heating and hot water also heats the flush mounted cook-top while a Miele convection microwave is also mounted in the front of the cabinet along with two large pan drawers.

The module on the opposite wall houses an Isotherm 200 litre fridge/freezer, complemented by a 75 litre Vitrifrigo drawer-type freezer that pulls out into the passage that leads out of the home. The passage also has a stairwell that can be blocked off by a swing-down trapdoor to prevent anyone accidentally falling down the abyss.

Still at the fridge freezer module, we find a short, vertical pull-out pantry servicing the kitchen, while one of the overhead kitchen cupboards holds the hub for the entertainment centre.

There’s also a Dometic front loader washing machine located in the floor-to-ceiling cupboard next to the fridge freezer, near more storage including a kitchen cutlery drawer and three-quarter robe.

SHOWER'S TOUGH TOO

The rear bathroom is sectioned off by a sliding, toughened glass door and once inside, another toughened glass door opens outwards to access the shower cubicle.

Both the shower hob and vanity basin are also made from ‘solid surface’ bench material, moulded in one piece, and there’s a small hatch in the back wall for stowing wet clothes and soiled clothing bin under the bench.

The marine-style macerator toilet connects to a 100 litre black water tank and there are some switches in a cupboard on the back wall that allow control of the various water tanks (800 litre fresh water storage in total).

The new owner of this vehicle plans to carry a 1000cc quad bike in the rear compartment but if that isn’t your cup of tea you could possibly squeeze in a small car, gun racks or perhaps a year’s supply of groceries!

VERDICT

This optioned-up, military-spec SLR 4x4 Commander is not for the faint hearted and if you have short arms and shallow pockets you have come to the wrong link.

Set up for the seriously adventurous world traveller, it’s really only limited by how much you can spend on diesel and overseas shipping. Even the pipes for the water system are insulated to prevent them freezing solid in regions like Antarctica, which is on the ‘to do’ list of the owner when he takes delivery in coming weeks.

The electrical system has also been designed so it can be recharged from the many and varied power grids available around the globe.

Notwithstanding the wow-factor, it’s typical of the sort of vehicle that comes out of SLR’s Molendinar, Queensland factory; as tough as it can be without compromising on quality.

SLR COMMANDER 4X4 EXPEDITION VEHICLE

Base vehicle: MAN TGM 13.290 4x4 cab chassis

Overall length: 9.0m

Internal body length: 6.45m

External body width: 2.4m

Internal height: 2.05m

Travel height: 3.8m

Tare: 10,000kg

ATM: 18,000kg

Body: Foam fibreglass composite using aluminium moulds

Wheels: Michelin XZL military grade tyres and wheels

Cooking: Webasto diesel cook-top, external gas BBQ

Microwave: Miele convection

Fridge/freezer: Isotherm 200L fridge freezer, Vitrifrigo 75L drawer freezer

Toilet: Vacuum flush with macerator and 100L black water tank

Shower: Yes

Air-con: Truma Saphir ducted

Central heating: Webasto combi system (cook-top/water and air heater)

Gas: 2 x 4.5kg

Lighting: LED with external flood security lighting

Batteries: 1 x 340Ah lithium

Solar: 6 x Redarc 150W panels with 60Amp controller

Price: From $450,000. As tested: $600,000 approx.

Supplied by: SLR Caravans & Motorhomes, Molendinar, Qld

SLR Commander 4x4

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