Imagine that you wake up in the morning on the ocean, have breakfast with a view of the mountains, and a few days later you meet a sunset in the middle of the desert.
At the same time, you do not need to look for a hotel, pack your bags and get used to a new room. Your home always travels with you.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200: one of the coolest motorhomes in the world
This is exactly the concept embodied by the German company BRABUS, introducing its first motorhome, the BRABUS BIG BOY 1200. This is not just a camper or an ordinary mobile home. This is a premium mobile residence that combines the capabilities of a luxury hotel, a modern apartment and a heavy truck.
Why is it called BIG BOY
The name was chosen in honor of the legendary American locomotive Big Boy, one of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives in the history of railways.
With this name, BRABUS highlights the main idea of the project: huge size, impressive power and the ability to travel almost without restrictions, while maintaining the usual level of comfort.
In fact, BIG BOY is designed for people who want to wake up with a new view from the window every day without leaving their own home.
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Impressive dimensions
At first glance, it becomes clear that this is not an ordinary motorhome.
Main Features:
- length — 12 meters;
- width in the transport position — 2.5 meters;
- width after opening the modules — 4.5 meters;
- height — 4 meters;
- weight — about 26 tons.
For comparison, the popular Mercedes-Benz Tourismo intercity bus is about 12-13 meters long and weighs about 18-20 tons.
It turns out that the BRABUS BIG BOY is almost the same in length as a tourist bus, but inside, instead of 50 passenger seats, there is a full-fledged apartment with an area of more than 30 square meters.
What kind of structures extend out on the sides
In the photos, you can see large protruding sections on the left and right.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 slide-outs — extendable residential modules
These are the so-called slide—outs – extendable living modules.
While driving, they are completely retracted inside the body and are almost invisible. After stopping, the owner presses a button, and the four modules automatically slide out.
It is thanks to them that the width of the living space is almost doubled — from 2.5 to 4.5 meters.
Naturally, it is impossible to move along roads with extended sections. Before starting the movement, all modules are automatically folded and fixed in the transport position.
Premium class apartment inside the bus
After opening the side modules, a full-fledged living space appears inside.
The interior is made in the corporate style of BRABUS Masterpiece.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 inside and out
For finishing, the following are used:
- genuine leather;
- alcantara;
- natural wood;
- carbon inserts;
- exclusive BRABUS Triangle stitching.
The atmosphere is more like an expensive yacht or luxury penthouse than a vehicle.
Spacious living room
The center of the motorhome is a large living room.
- Here are located:
- two large sofas;
- designer armchairs;
- dining table;
- work area;
- 43″ 4K TV.
Spacious living room of BRABUS BIG BOY 1200
Spacious living room and extra bed
If necessary, the living room can easily turn into a full-fledged mobile office.
The kitchen is like in a modern apartment
The kitchen is equipped with almost everything necessary for a long stay:
- induction hob;
- oven;
- dishwasher;
- large refrigerator;
- freezer;
- coffee machine;
- separate wine cabinet.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 Kitchen
It is quite possible to live in such a motorhome for months without experiencing household inconveniences.
Bedroom with a view of the new horizon
There is a separate bedroom in the back.
After opening the modules, there is a spacious area with a 160 × 200 cm bed.
Also provided are:
- spacious wardrobe;
- desktop;
- 43″ TV;
- additional storage systems.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 bedroom
Bedroom in the BRABUS BIG BOY 1200
Another berth is located above the driver’s cabin and automatically lowers if necessary.
The bathroom is like in a good hotel
There is a full bathroom between the bedroom and the living room.
Inside are:
- toilet;
- washbasin;
- Rainforest shower;
- ventilation systems;
- climate control.
The BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 bathroom is like in a good hotel
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 shower room
In terms of equipment, the bathroom is almost as good as high-end hotel rooms.
Internet and entertainment far from civilization
Even in the middle of the desert or in the mountains, the owner stays in touch.
For this purpose, there are:
- Starlink satellite Internet;
- Wi-Fi system;
- two 4K TVs;
- PlayStation 5 game console;
- multimedia center.
In fact, this is a full-fledged apartment with a home cinema and high-speed Internet.
Autonomy away from civilization
Eight solar panels are installed on the roof.
They work in conjunction with the battery system and provide power to household appliances.devices and electronics.
Also provided are:
- clean water tanks;
- heating system;
- air conditioning;
- autonomous power supply.
Due to this, the motorhome is able to work for a long time without connecting to external communications.
Where does the water come from and where does it go
As on yachts, the motorhome uses several separate tanks.
Clean water
Used for:
- shower;
- kitchen;
- washbasins;
- washing machine.
Grey water
After use, water from the shower, sink, and washing machine enters a separate tank of gray water.
Black water
Waste from the toilet is collected in a separate sealed tank.
When the tanks are filled, their contents are drained at special service sites for motorhomes and campers.
Dumping such waste into nature is prohibited in almost all countries.
What’s under the hood
Despite the luxurious interior, this is a real heavy car.
Installed under the cab:
- 12.8-liter turbodiesel;
- 6 cylinders;
- power 530 hp;
- torque 2600 Nm
Such a reserve of power is enough for confident movement even of a fully loaded motorhome.
Maximum speed
The maximum speed of the BRABUS BIG BOY is electronically limited to 90 km/h.
This is standard practice for heavy equipment of this class.
By comparison, many European trucks have a similar speed limit.
Automaton or mechanics
The transmission type is not officially specified.
However, such modern motorhomes are almost always equipped with automated cargo-class gearboxes.
Therefore, the controls are more like a modern premium truck than an old-style bus with a manual transmission.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 cabin
What rights are needed to manage
The usual category B is not enough.
Due to the total weight of 26 tons, a category for heavy cargo transport management will be required.
For example:
- Russia — category C;
- Turkey is category C;
- most European countries are category C.
- In fact, the owner must have the rights of a cargo driver.
Is it possible to drive such a giant on ordinary roads
Yes.
Despite weighing 26 tons, the BRABUS BIG BOY is a fully-fledged road vehicle.
Many people mistakenly believe that roads are limited by the total weight of the car. In practice, axle load restrictions are more common.
Thanks to the three-axle design, the weight is distributed between several axles, so the motorhome can legally travel on public roads in most countries.
However, individual bridges, ferries, and small roads may have additional weight and size restrictions.
Where to service such a motorhome
The residential part of the BRABUS is unique, but the technical component is based on a serial heavy chassis.
Therefore, the service is divided into two parts:
Car part
Serviced by truck services:
- engine;
- suspension;
- braking system;
- steering;
- electronics.
Residential area
Serviced by specialized centers for motorhomes:
- extendable modules;
- furniture;
- plumbing;
- household appliances;
- autonomous living systems.
What is the situation with spare parts
Most consumables are not exclusive.
These include:
- air filters;
- fuel filters;
- brake pads;
- belts;
- technical fluids.
Many owners take a set of basic consumables on long-distance trips in order not to depend on supplies.
But the interior elements and some details of residential modules are ordered directly through the manufacturer.
Is it possible to buy it in any country
Theoretically, yes.
But in practice, everything depends on local legislation.
Import and registration may require:
- certification;
- customs clearance;
- national permits;
- compliance with environmental standards.
In addition, shipments may be limited by sanctions or export regulations of individual countries.
Therefore, such motorhomes are most often purchased by customers from Europe, the Persian Gulf and North America.
Is it possible to ride it to the mountains or the desert
Technically it is possible.
However, the BRABUS BIG BOY is not an SUV.
With a length of 12 meters and a weight of 26 tons, it feels best on high-quality roads and prepared areas.
Therefore, a typical use case looks like this:
- comfortable relocation;
- stopover for several days;
- opening of residential modules;
- rest in a full-fledged home.
BRABUS BIG BOY 1200
How much does the BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 cost
The base cost starts from about 1.26 million euros.
The final price depends on the configuration and individual wishes of the client.
Each copy is assembled almost manually for a specific customer.
The BRABUS BIG BOY 1200 is one of the most unusual motorhomes of our time. It is comparable in size to an intercity bus, in terms of comfort it resembles an elite penthouse, and in terms of autonomy it is able to compete with a small yacht.
It’s not just a camper or a tour bus. This is a full-fledged house worth more than a million euros, which by chance knows how to drive on the roads and allows you to change the address at least every week.
