THE BIRTH OF AN EXPEDITION TRUCK
Marta was the one who got the ball rolling. Her vision: pack up, leave everyday life behind, and travel the world. However, while Marta originally flirted with the idea of a small, compact vehicle, Stephan was deterred by the tight space. “A van was simply too small for me, too cramped,” he recalls.
Searching for true living comfort combined with genuine off-road capability, the couple discovered all-wheel-drive trucks step-by-step through well-known overlanding travelers, ultimately leading them to KRUG Expedition.
The decisive turning point came during our Off-Road Weekend 2024: during test drives in the off-road terrain and personal conversations with the KRUG team, things clicked instantly. “We met the entire KRUG family—it was simply love at first sight,” Marta beams.
THOUGHTFUL DETAILS: A MOBILE OFFICE & A CAT FLAP
Ideas, floor plans, and CAD drawings gradually turned into reality. During hand-over in Schladming, it quickly became clear how much the intensive planning phase had paid off.
One specific space in the vehicle had caused them headaches beforehand: the integrated mobile office directly behind the driver’s cab. “We spent so much time overthinking it: Will it be too small? Will it take up too much space?” Stephan shares. The solution came through a smart room layout combined with a generous skylight. The result exceeded all expectations: a sunlit, uncompromised workspace on the go.
Another truly unique feature in the vehicle’s layout is specifically tailored to their four-legged companions: since Marta and Stephan are bringing their two 16-year-old cats along on their trip around the world, a custom cat flap was integrated into the interior build. “Most people bring a dog – we’re showing our two seniors the world!”
WHY THE TRUCK IS NAMED “GIZMO”
Anyone who grew up in the 80s knows the cult movie Gremlins. The cute, fluffy hero of the film goes by the name Gizmo – and he was the namesake for the truck. “Gizmo actually just translates to ‘thing’ in English,” Marta laughs. “I thought that was extremely fitting. Above all, I’m pretty sure that thing behind us isn’t always just a sweet, nice Mogwai – in rough terrain, it’ll definitely be a wild Gremlin at times!”
A WORK OF ART ON WHEELS: URBAN ART MEETS OFF-GRID
Even during the handover in July, one thing was clear: Gizmo’s exterior wasn’t quite finished yet. Immediately following the handover, a special highlight awaited the truck: street artist Julian Vogel traveled to Schladming specifically to give Gizmo’s exterior a unique, custom look.
While Marta was in Switzerland, Stephan had the opportunity to watch the transformation live on site and accompany the artist as this rolling piece of art came to life. You can watch the full video showing the creation of this spectacular design on our YouTube channel.
FROM POLAND ACROSS THE PAN-AMERICAN HIGHWAY
Marta, Stephan, and their two furry friends have travel plans as ambitious as the truck itself. Everything begins with a two-week maiden voyage to Poland in September to thoroughly test the vehicle in everyday conditions. Just before Christmas, the real journey gets underway: starting in Portugal, the route winds along the coast through Spain and Italy all the way down to Greece and Turkey.
In spring, we look forward to welcoming them to our KRUG Off-Road Weekend, where they will sharpen their off-road driving skills even further before heading up to the cool north of Scandinavia for the summer. After that comes the shipping to the Americas, where their epic adventure on the legendary Pan-American Highway will take its course.
FOLLOW GIZMO ON HIS ADVENTURES
Marta and Stephan regularly share updates about their travels, daily life in the truck, and living on wheels with cats. Follow them on their social media channels to tag along on their adventure: