Globi: « After more than ten years, my residents have run out of destinations because they don’t travel to the same places twice, even if it was nice there. I now have the experience and the desire to travel all the areas again and am therefore looking for new travel companions and owners who will continue to travel the world with me. Would you be interested, have the time and money? Get in touch! »

If you know someone who is worthy of taking on Globi and keeping him in a species-appropriate manner, please pass on this link or contact Globiyt@bluewin.ch

We love our quad bike, Ernstli. With him, we can take trips on small paths where we don’t necessarily have to lug our entire house along. We often park Globi in a beautiful, quiet, secluded spot and go on day trips with the quad, or drive to a place from which we like to start a hike. However, Ernstli doesn’t have a very large tank and needs to be refueled every now and then. If we had to take Ernstli to a gas station with Globi every time, it would be extremely inconvenient. Since we didn’t want to carry a separate gasoline tank in addition to diesel, Ernstli runs on diesel, and Globi serves as his “refueling station.” Globi’s tank is large enough to give Ernstli a few liters. This system has given us a great deal of freedom, and we really love it.

Globi was built to travel in remote areas without proper roads for many days at a time. Even the best tires often suffer punctures when off-roading, for example, when driving over sharp-edged rocks with low tire pressure. In these situations, it’s essential that we can change our tires ourselves, even on rough terrain. Globi is equipped for this, and we practiced before our trip. First, Globi can lift its own wheel thanks to the hydraulic supports, saving a lot of muscle power. The spare tires are mounted so that we can place them directly on the tread when removing them. Our tires weigh over 200 kilograms, and lifting them would be extremely strenuous, to say the least. In our workshop inside Globi, we naturally have the appropriate tools for changing a tire, packed so that everything needed is together in one place and easily accessible. Since every truck has air pressure, our professional pneumatic hammer is powerful and efficient. Of course, a torque wrench is absolutely essential, as we definitely don’t want to lose a wheel! Last but not least, the wheel nut locking indicators. Globi has black one for aesthetic reasons, which isn’t really functional! Depending on the region we were traveling in, we changed wheels very frequently.

Living temporarily in the wilderness, far from civilization, amidst the greatest wonders of our planet, is a dream. With Globi, this dream can become a reality. Anyone who has ever pitched their expedition vehicle or motorhome in nature knows that even the flattest meadow is never truly level. A home on wheels that can’t be leveled is simply inconvenient in many ways. Being constantly drawn to the lowest point while sleeping might be amusing for one night, but grease in the frying pan that only runs to one side is already annoying, and it becomes more than impractical when the shower water runs from the tub all over the floor of the living area. None of this is an issue with Globi; the solution is hydraulic leveling jacks. Globi automatically levels itself perfectly in all directions. This is even possible on relatively uneven terrain. In Globi, we always live comfortably level, anywhere in the world.
Luxury in the wilderness!

We built Globi so that we could truly travel through remote, uninhabited places – real adventure. However, especially when driving off-road, the vehicle, or rather its living cabin, can be damaged. If we break down far from civilization and can no longer drive, it could be life-threatening. That’s why Globi is equipped with a complete workshop. The tools and numerous spare parts we carry with us to repair most damage ourselves, even off-road. This equipment is heavy, requires a lot of space, and needs to be neatly organized – all of which Globi provides. The equipment is stored on a heavy-duty drawer system. This is essentially a drawer that runs across the truck and can be extended from both sides. If the vehicle is level, the drawer can simply be extended by hand. However, if the vehicle is damaged and cannot be leveled, the drawer must be extended hydraulically. When fully loaded, the drawer weighs over a ton and would be extremely dangerous without the hydraulic system. Once extended, it likely couldn’t be retracted manually. Because in the event of damage we might not even have an engine anymore, this hydraulic system can be operated manually. In that sense, Globi is an absolutely safe vehicle that has a solution built in for every eventuality.

Remoteness and untamed nature sometimes mean adventure. Getting stuck in sand, snow, or mud with a large truck is no small feat. It’s not like a Defender, which you can simply dig out. More tonnage means more robust recovery equipment. In addition to the hydraulic leveling jacks, which we also use for recovery, Globi has a hydraulic winch at the front and rear. To extend the 25-meter winch cable, we also carry a 25-meter extension cable and a tree sling, all designed to handle our weight. To triple the winch’s pulling power in an emergency, Globi also has three heavy-duty pulley blocks. With this equipment, we’re prepared for all eventualities. We’ve mostly used it for colleagues, though.

Ernstli, our quad bike, not only handles perfectly on gravel tracks, but he also climbs anything and hops over every dune like a sand flea. We use him when things get too tricky for Globi or when we just need to get somewhere and back. We modified him so he fits sideways inside Globi. For adventurous trips, we carry a spare tire on the tow bar, just in case! If we have to stop somewhere for a while to do some shopping, Ernstli becomes our shopping cart. Thanks to his storage boxes, we can transport quite a lot, even a new cooler! To be able to go off-road, Ernstli needs to be securely stowed inside Globi. Based on the experience of colleagues, we decided against using a tarpaulin cover, because this type of cover offers no protection against dust and dirt off-road, and the vehicle becomes unusable after a few years. Ernstli sits on a lift platform covered with aluminum cladding. To minimize the amount of dust from the tracks entering the garage, we installed an air intake. This creates a dynamic pressure effect from the airflow, maintaining a slight positive pressure inside the garage box. This prevents dust, sand, or moisture from entering from the outside. Loading and unloading is very easy and requires no physical effort. The aluminum box is equipped with a flap to prevent head injuries when driving in and out. For us, the combination of a large expedition vehicle with a quad bike is the ideal setup.

Welcome inside Globi. Globi is secured with a batch locking system, eliminating the need for locks that allow dirt and dust to penetrate and can be forcibly opened. All exterior storage compartments and the staircase, including the door, are secured in this way. The staircase can also be hydraulically retracted from the inside for added security at night and when you’re away.

The kitchen is finished with continuous stainless steel for optimal hygiene. The V-Zug induction cooktop has four burners, allowing for more than one large pan to be cooked side by side. Dishes are stored securely on the slopes. The pull-out pantry units are incredibly practical and easy to load. The overhead cabinets provide additional storage space.

The door to the sleeping area also serves as the shower door. This allows for a visual and noise-sensitive separation between the living and sleeping areas, and the shower can be used as a fully enclosed cubicle. The shower, with its starry sky effect and Dornbracht fixtures, might just entice you to linger longer.

The bedroom is raised a few steps. It’s important, however, that you can sit upright on the mattress and have enough headroom. There’s a window on both sides, so no one has to lie in the dark. The skylight is one square meter and also provides access to our roof terrace. The many small storage compartments serve as our wardrobe.

At the bottom of the stairs, on the driver’s side, is the toilet. We prefer the classic rotary macerator toilet, so doing our business is just like in a normal house. The sink is made of brass, which is quite unique.

Back in the living area, the washing machine is located on the ground floor, and the refrigerator is on the top floor. The large refrigerator doesn’t have a freezer compartment and has a compressor mounted behind, not inside, the refrigerator. Under the storage compartment are the espresso machine and our bread maker, both appliances that are crucial for our comfort while traveling.

Next to the kitchen is a pull-out television. We don’t have a TV antenna on Globi; we watch our videos and photos from our server. In addition to automatic underfloor heating, Globi naturally also has air conditioning. Then comes our office, which houses a large 4K monitor—essentially our editing suite. The printer, scanner, and keyboard are safely stowed in the overhead locker.

Globi’s seating area is upholstered in rawhide and arranged so that both of us can stretch out lengthwise. After meals, when it gets too chilly outside, we always end up sitting lengthwise. Underneath the seats are two storage drawers on one side and a large, two-zone freezer on the other.

The solid door to the cockpit folds flat to the floor, so it doesn’t take up any space when open. The doorway is equipped with a bellows, allowing us to keep it open while driving or standing still.

The cockpit is further enhanced with customized leather. Instead of the two original berths, Globi has built-in cabinets for our video and photo equipment and outdoor clothing—everything we like to have readily accessible while driving, but also when we’re at our destination. Globi has a high cabin; we can stand in it, which on the one hand gives a completely different feeling of space, and on the other hand the storage compartments are located in the driver’s cabin instead of on the roof, which is much more convenient.

If we leave Globi alone for months, or especially if we’re shipping him RoRo, he’s completely enclosed with metal. When he’s parked on his own, this helps prevent the sun from constantly beating down on the same spots and fading certain fabrics. The most important thing, however, is the security against break-ins on ships. Many colleagues have had their expedition vehicles ransacked after being shipped. Thanks to our precautions and a bit of luck, we haven’t had a break-in to date.

When the vehicle is being shipped, the driver’s cab must be open, as the owner is never allowed to drive the truck onto the ship himself. Therefore, it’s crucial that the connection to the living area is well and securely locked. Our door is quite burglar-proof!

We install metal plates in front of all the windows, each secured with a narrow lock. Skylight is particularly important. Most of the break-ins we know of were carried out through the skylights and hatches. Even roof vents have been used as entry points. Our skylight is first sealed with a metal sheet and, more importantly, framed with a sturdy metal frame, preventing potential burglars from using a pry bar to force it open.

Of course, all the metal sheets need to be properly stored and securely mounted inside Globi. The window sills are kept in the basement, and the large roof sill plate is in the garage.

Once all the metal sheets are removed, Globi transforms from a forbidding tank back into the friendly travel companion Globi.

The cockpit is further enhanced with customized leather. Instead of the two original berths, Globi has built-in cabinets for our video and photo equipment and outdoor clothing—everything we like to have readily accessible while driving, but also when we’re at our destination. Globi has a high cabin; we can stand in it, which on the one hand gives a completely different feeling of space, and on the other hand the storage compartments are located in the driver’s cabin instead of on the roof, which is much more convenient.

An awning primarily serves as sun protection, but it also helps us in light rain. We can easily sit under our large awning in a light rain. Since the awning extends the entire length of the vehicle, getting in and out is also covered and stays dry in the rain. The awning can be extended and retracted automatically via remote control. When retracted, the awning is essentially flush with the vehicle, meaning it’s integrated and not attached externally. This eliminates the risk of damage from branches. At night, we also use the awning as light for our outdoor storage area. Because the light is positioned high up, it slightly dims the light at our level, and, more importantly, it attracts all the mosquitoes far away from us, up by the awning – so in that sense, our awning also acts as mosquito protection.

In addition to the awning, we also carry tarpaulins in Globi to protect against the wind. Since Globi has relatively high ground clearance, the wind can easily blow underneath the vehicle. To prevent this, and so that we don’t always have to sit directly in front of the rear wheels, we built a mounting system to which we can attach sturdy tarpaulins, allowing us to snuggle up in front of Globi even when the wind is blowing from the ground.

An expedition vehicle used as intended is often far from civilization and must necessarily be able to operate completely self-sufficiently for extended periods. Globi can hold 1,000 liters of diesel and, if necessary, travel over 4,000 km without refueling.

To enjoy Globi’s amenities, electricity is needed, which is stored in two large lithium-ion batteries. Globi generates electricity with six solar panels and a second alternator on the engine’s auxiliary drive. This means that whenever Globi is in motion, it also generates additional power for the living battery. If Globi is parked for an extended period and the sun doesn’t shine for days, the diesel generator kicks in.

The travelers also want to enjoy their time away from civilization, which is why Globi carries 900 liters of fresh water and, in addition to the refrigerator, a large freezer with two separate compartments. Globi is a fully equipped villa in the heart of the wilderness.

The two-piece rims make tire mounting very easy. There are just so many screws! We prefer to use beadlock wheels, which does complicate tire changes a bit.

To increase Globi’s mobility on soft terrain like sand, mud, or snow, it’s necessary to increase the tire’s contact patch. This is achieved by reducing the tire pressure.

The beadlock system keeps the tire bead securely on the rim at low pressure, without compromising the bead seal or slipping during use.

The lower tire pressure increases traction and braking, improves steering control, and prevents the tires from sinking into soft ground or spinning on the wheel.

When we first used the beadlock rubber, it took a little practice, but once you know how, it’s as easy as anything else.