SEMA Show 2015 was no less than exciting than the years before, with a sea of customized vehicles that are sure to turn heads for years to come. Typically, diesel vehicles have not been very common at SEMA, though they seem to have gained popularity over the years. This year we were especially drawn to the unusual, and figured we should share this behemoth with all of you.

We had the opportunity to speak with Don Lariviere from Applied Minds who was happy to give us the low down on this awesome vehicle. Don explained, “It is basically an exploration vehicle to go out and see the world. We designed a tractor-trailer combination so that you can basically set up a base camp with the living quarters in the trailer, then go exploring with the truck. The tractor is a Mercedes-Benz U500 with the OM914 turbo-diesel engine which produces 380 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. We carry 120 gallons of diesel fuel in the truck, which gives us around a 1,000 mile range while pulling the trailer at 7 to 8 mpg, and about double that without the trailer.”

There is also a PTO (power take off) which is driven off the back of the camshaft, and allows the driver to divert half of the engine’s horsepower hydraulically to the rear axle of the trailer. This gives you the ability to push the trailer up to around 20 mph, which is very valuable in tough driving conditions like through sand or over rough terrain.

Don continued, “We have replaced all the coil spring and shock suspension with what is known as hydro-pneumatic suspension. We are using nitrogen as the spring medium and a continuously variable valving system which adjusts for load and handling conditions. We also have hydraulics between the spring and the axle to adjust the ride-height of the vehicle. Moving inside, we built a complete command station with GPS and radios, HF links back to the U.S., worldwide communications at all times via satellite, and an inertial navigation system which allows us to find the vehicle at all times, even if GPS were to be denied due to a jungle canopy or other obstructions.

Amazingly, vehicle weight when fully loaded with water and fuel is just over 51,000 pounds. There are living quarters for three, and while you could theoretically sleep more, the vehicle system was designed for three people – the owner, his wife, and daughter. As you can see there is a bed overhead and another room up top with quite a view. The trailer has a full dining table and galley, and the head doubles as a mud room or entry while camping.

According to Don, “The motorcycle mounted on back is also one of a few diesel motorcycles in the country. The engine is a three-cylinder turb0-diesel out of a Smart Car, installed into a BMW chassis and it is a fantastic motorcycle to ride.”

As you can imagine, this rig attracted some serious attention parked out in the off-road section of the SEMA Show. Not the most low-profile or economical way to travel, but this is one hell of a way to see the world and do so safely and comfortably.