From Will Smith’s two-storey mobile mansion and Bernie Ecclestone’s state-of-the-art F1 command and control centre to Leonardo DiCaprio’s sumptuous on set homestead and a car crazy sheikh’s world record breaking palace on wheels, the RVing Examiner has scoured the globe to find the world’s best mega RV trailers for your delectation.
Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan’s Al Houdaj Caravan
This amazing two-wheeled, five-storey, ship of the desert was built in 1990 by the Speed House Group of Companies for H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The monstrous unit -- which holds the Guinness record for the “World’s largest caravan” -- is 20 m (66 ft) long, 12m (39 ft) wide, 12m (39 ft) high and weighs in at a staggering 122 tonnes (269,000 lb). Dubbed “Al Houdaj,” the caravan that’s fit for a prince includes eight bedrooms (all with en-suite bathrooms), four car garages and water storage for 24,000 litres (5,279 gal or 6,340 US gal). (Check out the video at the 16:07 mark)
Al Houdaj is on display at the Emirates National Auto Museum (ENAM), a huge pyramid-shaped structure located about an hour’s drive south of Abu Dhabi. The museum -- which houses the “Rainbow Sheikh’s” private auto collection -- also features a massive three-storey, ten bedroom, travel trailer shaped like Planet Earth and a five-metre-high replica of a 1961 Dodge Power Wagon. The interior of the oversized pickup actually contains a fully furnished four-bedroom apartment.
Country of Origin: UAE • Price: N/A • Additional Information: World record breaking caravans, motorhomes and travel trailers •
Ron’s mammoth 53-foot-long, two-storey tractor-trailer-based “honey wagons” -- dubbed mobile estates -- are used by some of Hollywood’s biggest action stars including Vin Diesel and Will Smith. “We have been the cutting edge guys for the last 25 years and I don’t think we’re going to stop,” said Ron in a May, 2011 Examiner interview which is certainly great news for those A-list celebrities who have a couple of million available to spend on what many consider to be one of the world’s classiest recreational vehicles.
Hauled by a 20-foot long Class 8 tractor Ron’s multi-level expandable trailers -- which include up to three slide outs -- provide a staggering 1,100 square feet of living space and weigh in at a colossal 70 tons. The rigs’ patented party piece is the amazing 340 square foot vertical slide that’s nestled within the 603 square foot main floor of the trailer.
Country of Origin: USA • Price: $1.8 million • Dimensions: 53-foot long and 13’6” high (17’ when extended) Width 8'-6” (rooms retracted) Width 13'-6” (rooms extended - not including 9'-9”awnings) • Additional Information: Ron Anderson’s Mobile Estates bring 'The Heat' to Hollywood
King Kong Production Vehicles Celebrity Suite
Whilst you’ll still find a number of companies in Hollywood that supply honey wagons for use on studio lots and during location shoots if you want to attract Hollywood’s A-listers then you need to provide something that’s just a tad out of the ordinary. Whilst Ron Anderson cossets stars of stage and screen in his mobile estates and Quixote Studious in its bespoke “Verde” motorhome, David Rovsek’s Newport Beach, CA-based King Kong Productions decided to pimp out a gargantuan 53-foot-long, fifth wheel to provide a little location honey for a select client list that includes Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo Di Caprio.
The quad slide “Celebrity Suite” incorporates ultra high ceilings and the opulent interior boasts mirrored ceilings, automated lighting, heated floors, fireplaces, and a state-of-the-art home theatre system.
Country of Origin: USA • Dimensions: Length 53 feet • Price: N/A •
Visibly Loud Articulated Dream
Piers Donnelly’s Visibly Loud Ltd --a Saint Helier, Jersey-based motorhome management company -- is perhaps best known for its bespoke “Articulated Dream” luxury tractor-trailer based RV. The interior space is complemented by the addition of two full length slides that -- once extended -- provide a prodigious 592 square foot (55m2) living area which makes the trailer ideally suited for use in the corporate hospitality, sports and entertainment markets.
Manufactured by Spain’s Caravanas Rioja and pulled by a MAN tractor the mega RV trailer includes a beautifully outfitted Kitchen -- with a central dining and food preparation island -- and a well appointed lounge along with a Master bedroom with double bed and full length wardrobes. The Guest bedroom provides two single Murphy beds which can be lowered separately or together – they can also be combined to form a double bed. Whilst each bedroom has its own separate en-suite bathroom, the Master bedroom en-suite sports a huge walk-in shower which would certainly be the envy of your neighbours – and apparently the Aston Martin pit crew - when camping at the Indy 500 or Le Mans (check out the video).
Country of Origin: Spain • Dimensions: 13.85 metres long (45 feet), 4 meters high (13 feet) and 2.55m (8 feet) wide • Price: £525,000 ($829,290) • Additional Information: Visibly Loud luxury motorhome: A stylin’ luxus wohnmobile
Bernie Ecclestone’s F1 Motorhome
When Formula 1 racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone needed a portable office to oversee business on the F1 circuit he turned to Witney, Oxfordshire-based trailer and coachbuilder, J.S. Fraser Ltd., to provide his mobile man cave. Of course, when you’re ranked as Britain’s 23rd wealthiest individual by The Times 2012 Rich List you’ll want to strike those multi-million dollar deals in something a little swankier than your average park model or trailer home and JSF’s mobile pied-à-terre certainly delivers. Not only does Ecclestone’s crib include a sumptuous office and conference room but it also incorporates a state-of-the-art exterior surveillance system which the octogenarian billionaire uses to keep tabs on all the movers and shakers in the F1 paddock.
Emblazoned with a slick custom paint job -- provided courtesy of Neil and Mandy Melliard’s Prosign – Bernie’s mega RV trailer acts both as hideaway and hospitality suite for the heavy hitting motorsports entrepreneur.
Oxford Specialist Coachbuilders, established in 2012 by Iain Fraser, has adopted the client base of its J.S. Fraser forbear.
Country of Origin: Great Britain • Dimensions N/A • Price: N/A • Additional Information: Ecclestone’s F1 motorhome keeps an ‘Eagle Eye’ on potential rivals •
Built in conjunction with Eura Mobil, Futuria’s custom built 2-berth tractor-trailer -- dubbed the “Sports + Spa” -- debuted in August 2010 at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany. The limited edition 12-ton corporate motorhome comes complete with an entertainment lounge, an eleven foot roof terrace -- with its own heated Whirlpool bath -- and a full size car garage.
Accessed via a telescoping stern ramp, the spacious car garage – which includes a 230v winch, storage box and tie-downs – can easily handle most sports cars which makes it the ideal RV choice for the well-heeled F1 or NASCAR fan.
Country of Origin: Germany • Price: €657,413 ($878K) • Trailer Dimensions: Length 11.0 metres (36 feet), Height 3.65 metres (11.9 feet), width 2.52 metres (8.2 feet) • Truck Dimensions: Length 6.025 metres, Width 2.38 metres, Height 3.35 metres • Additional Information: Futuria challenge Volkner Mobil Performance for best RV crown •
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