YouTuber Converts 5-door Force Gurkha Into A Studio Apartment!
In India, the affinity towards motorhomes and 'van life' has lately been on the rise. With YouTube and the creator economy growing and getting more rewarding than ever, we see more people building motorhomes and doing long drives and road trips with them. The folks behind the YouTube channel ' Retired Punjabi' have converted a Force Gurkha 5-door into a 'Studio apartment'. They even gave their viewers a complete video tour of the vehicle.
Force Gurkha 5-door Converted Into Motorhome
The video tour starts by introducing the vehicle. The YouTubers prefer to call it a ' Studio Apartment' instead of a camper or caravan. The vehicle's cabin has been modified to include a mini (indoor) kitchen, a bed for two that converts to a bench seat for up to four, a mini fridge and several storage areas. There is even a dedicated area for their pet- a Persian cat.
The video explains the kitchen in detail. There are two burners, fuelled by an Indane mini cylinder. There is also a custom-built access point to turn the LPG cylinder on and off. There are a few drawers in which the family stores the cutlery and other essentials. An overhead storage compartment accommodates miscellaneous groceries.
The mini fridge keeps their fruits and vegetables fresh. The mini kitchen also has a tap that draws water from a tank kept underneath, with the help of an electric pump. It is a custom-made Steel unit, with a capacity of 35 litres. The family also has two portable containers for storing more water. The sink has a proper lid, closing which would convert it to a usable area.
This Gurkha camper has a second kitchen that can be accessed from the outside. The 'external' kitchen gets a Butane-burner, chopping board, and storage areas.
This vehicle also has a proper bed space built inside it. The bench seats can be converted to a 'slider bed' in a matter of seconds. It can accommodate two people, and those with heights of up to 6 ft can fit in. The Gurkha has a wheelbase of 2825 mm (9ft). This would mean that the usable area at the rear would be slightly more than 6ft.
This vehicle has been fitted with efficient and interesting power management systems. There are two roof-mounted solar panels (225W each) and an inverter that sits inside the cabin. These power the entire cabin and its equipment.
There are also three exterior lights for added practicality. All the wiring and electrical setup have been done neatly with no exposed portions.
The exterior and interior lights, appliances and most other electrical equipment in the cabin can be operated with Alexa. You also get to find a mixer, portable exhaust fan, and a mini projector for entertainment.
In addition to all these, this camper has also been equipped with a rooftop tent that can be deployed quickly. The total cost of this build remains unknown. However, the 5-door Gurkha is priced at 18 lakh, ex-showroom.
More About The Gurkha 5 Door
Force Motors launched the Gurkha 5-door in India in May last year. It brought to the table, the convenience of having more room and features inside, even while retaining the familiar 2.6-litre Mercedes-sourced diesel engine. The powerplant now produces 140hp and 320Nm- a major hike over the previous 91 hp mark.
The Gurkha might not have been a runaway hit like the Mahindra Thar, but it definitely owns a crowd of 'niche' buyers.