Utilized as everything from farm rigs to search and rescue vehicles to Dakar Rally race trucks, the Unimog has developed an almost mythical status across its more-than-75-year production run, revered for its durability, versatility, reliability, and tank-like build quality. First introduced in 1948, the Unimog’s name is based on an acronym for “Universal-Motor-Gerät”, translating from German to “universal motorized unit”. And while fitting, that moniker has arguably never been more accurate, as the bulletproof truck is now being utilized as the basis for a truly global expedition-ready dwelling on wheels thanks to Chinese outfit Armadillo transforming the Unimog into the Crawler S.
Dimensions
Being essentially an apartment on wheels, it’s no surprise the Crawler S is a bit of a behemoth. Weighing in at around 8.75 tons, the Unimog-based rig stands at 11.45’ tall, 8.16’ wide, and spans 19.6’. Thanks to the Unimog platform, the thing boasts just over 19” of ground clearance, plus offers approach, break-over, and departure angles of 44°, 41°, and 34°, respectively.
Chassis & Engine
The Armadillo Crawler S is constructed around a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U4023 chassis that basically sees a carbon fiber shipping container stacked on its rails ahead of its cab. At the heart of the Crawler S is a 5.2-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine cranking out 231hp and 664ft-lbs of torque. The vehicle comes fitted with an 84.5-gallon tank, plus can be optioned with a supplementary 20-gallon auxiliary tank — giving the Crawler S some pretty impressive range of close to 1,000 miles between trips to the pump.
Off-Road Bits
To help ensure solid go-anywhere capabilities, the Crawler S has been fitted with front fender flares, a skid plate, a tubular exo-skeleton-style roof rack, a cab top storage box, side lighting, LED headlights, a snorkel, a custom steel bumper embedded with auxilary LEDs, as well as a tubular front brush guard also fitted with auxiliary beams. off-road wheels shod in massive Dunlop all-terrain tires, a full-sized spare, and an onboard inflation and deflation system.
Optional Extras
While the standard Crawler S is already incredibly well appointed, Armadillo is offering buyers a few optional add-ons. such as front and rear 18,500-pound electric winches, an awning, a rear storage box, a cab radio, six-way monitoring, and a rear outdoor kitchen trunk conversion.
Inside The Box
Constructed from carbon fiber, the frameless hot-pressed sandwich structure features windows with double-layer honeycomb sunshades and mosquito nets, electric stairs, marine grade teak flooring with rubber anti-slip strips, a power management System, a LiFePO4 battery pack, air conditioning, a heating system: a fresh air system, and an exhaust system. Alongside a 3D air fiber sofa and mattress trimmed in natural latex, the apartment-like interior has also been decked out with a liftable TV, a 5G wireless router, and a Bose sound system.
The inside of the box is fully insulated for both sound and weather via soft-packing, and the cab is fortified via a full internal aluminum roll-cage. The cabin seats four, with the front two seats sporting air-suspension systems, while the box sleeps four. Other exterior elements include a hatch, an eight-piecee, 880-watt solar setup, an outdoor water connection, and a backup camera.
Kitchen & Bathroom
One of the interior’s major highlights is undoubtedly its kitchen. A chef’s dream, the setup includes a 143-liter fridge, a hidden induction cooktop under an exhaust-equipped range hood, a sink, a built-in microwave oven, and an included full set of kitchenware that fits neatly into custom cabinets. The wet bath is equally impressive, boasting a shower, an electric suction toilet, a bowl-style wash basin, and a window. Both areas are connected to a 320-liter clean water tank, 60-liter grey water tank and a 70-liter black water tank — all of which are crafted entirely from titanium and fitted with level sensors and manual drain valves.
Why We Love It
While we think it’s pretty blatant what makes the Crawler S so special, we’ll nonetheless humor you. For one, it’s based on a rugged and reliable platform where sourcing spare parts is easy from almost anywhere on the planet — just one of many areas that make it an outstanding global expedition vehicle. Again, thanks to its choice of donor, it’s actually pretty off-road capable, with a ton of clearance and suspension travel, not to mention its generous suite of off-road bits. It’s these qualities coupled with the wildly luxurious and beautifully designed and beautifully appointed interior that really makes the Crawler S shine in our eyes. The use of carbon fiber for the box is brilliant too, as it hugely cuts down on weight, allowing for better control, a lower center of gravity, and increased miles-per-gallon and range. Sure, it’s gonna have some trouble negotiating narrow trails or super steep slopes, but it makes up for these shortcomings in practically every other area.
Spec Sheet
Model Year: 2024
Brand: Armadillo
Model: Crawler S
Chassis: Mercedes-Benz Unimog U4023
Engine: 5.2L Turbo Diesel
Power: 231HP & 663.8FT-LBs
Ground Clearance: 19.09”
Approach Angle: 44°
Break-Over Angle: 41°
Departure Angle: 34°
Sleeps: 3
Length: 19.6’
Width: 8.16’
Height: 11.45’
Weight: 17,526LBs
Pricing & Availability
The Armadillo Crawler S is available for order now, with pricing starting from around ￥539,000,000 (~ $3,620,000).
Recap
Armadillo Crawler S Unimog Camper
Chinese brand Armadillo rolls out the Crawler S, a Unimog-based global expedition vehicle that combines bonafide go-anywhere capabilities with an interior that’s akin to a luxury apartment than your typical overlanding accommodations.
