--- title: "Need to Get Off the Grid? This Dakar-Inspired MAN RV Will Do the Trick" description: "Loads of ground clearance, 4x4, off-road tires, and a bulletproof diesel engine will take you into the wilderness." date: "2020-08-08" modified: "2021-04-12" authors: - name: "Jesus Garcia" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jesus-garcia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35523/need-to-get-off-the-grid-this-dakar-inspired-man-rv-will-do-the-trick" categories: - "News" - "Trucks" tags: - "rvs" --- # Need to Get Off the Grid? This Dakar-Inspired MAN RV Will Do the Trick ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* We don't need to go into detail about why 2020 seems to be the perfect year to head into the wilderness in a mighty-equipped RV, and not emerge until all of this has blown by. This is easier said and done, of course, but having the right vehicle can definitely make a huge difference. The made-in-Germany, Unicat-built [Terracross TC55]() Comfort Plus is one of those. It's based on a MAN 4x4 TGM 18.340 truck, a vehicle that's mainly used for heavy-duty mining and agricultural work. Unicat uses the MAN's all-wheel drive, steel rear suspension, and 340-horsepower 6.9-liter diesel engine as the foundation for a six-passenger, off-road-capable motorhome. The bonus? The finished product looks like a [Dakar truck]() wearing cargo shorts. This heavy-duty motorhome construction features 2-inch-thick walls with a fiberglass-reinforced polyester outer surface, as well as a heavy duty inner surface with insulation. The living quarters include a seating area, kitchen, a complete bathroom with a toilet and shower separated by a door, and a sleeping area with a set of double beds. ![TC 55 Comfort Plus ]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus ]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus ]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus ]() *UNICAT* Standard equipment includes a 158-gallon, anti-freeze drinking water tank, outside shower, diesel-powered central heating, and a 15-gallon hot water heat exchanger. It's unclear what kind of stove it runs, but it does have a microwave, so you can still eat Hot Pockets. Options on the TC55 Comfort Plus include a washing machine, motorbike carrier, a generator, solar-paneling, and leather interior. Now, one of its best characteristics is that because it was originally designed to be a 4x4 diesel truck, the TC55 is an RV camper that thrives off-road. While the RV buses you often see parked at Wal-Mart can get bogged down with mud, the TC55 can literally drive across a desert. Unicat's YouTube channel [UNICAT Expedition Vehicles]() posted a customer submission video of a TC55 Comfort Plus roaming the Moroccan desert. Of course, I'm not the only one with the clever idea of going off-the-grid in one of these, as the popularity for rental RVs and vans has skyrocketed in the second half of this year by as much as 650 percent, as [we've covered before.]() The [RV Industry Association]() stated in May of this year that "while numbers compared to last May show a 30 percent decrease, the reality is that the RV industry is very strong right now." In June, however, it reported the highest monthly total of RV wholesale shipments since October 2018. ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* ![TC 55 Comfort Plus]() *UNICAT* Now, the Unicat Terracross TC55 Comfort Plus best quality is that because the vehicle was originally designed to be a 4x4 diesel truck, the TC55 is an RV camper that can be used off-road. While the RV buses you often see parked at the far end of a Wal-Mart parking lot can get bogged down with mud, the TC55 can literally drive across a desert. Unicat's YouTube channel [UNICAT Expedition Vehicles]() posted a customer submission video a TC55 Comfort Plus roaming the Moroccan desert. https://youtube.com/embed/9p-p4wxn1no After watching this beast in action, where would you take the Unicat TC55? *Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ### Author social links [Instagram]() [Twitter]()