My name is Daniel Sørheim, I’m 32 years old and I live in western Norway together with my Wife Beate and our cat Theo. I’ve always loved landscape photography, and I started with car camping many years ago, to be able to shoot both sunrise and sunset on location. With the love for photography, hiking in the mountains, overlanding has become a big part of our life. This is our Norwegian overland journey.
Building the “Mini Hus på Hjul”
I drive a 2019 Toyota Hilux Double Cab, with the Canopy Camper that we bought at the end of November 2023. I don’t have a nickname for the rig, but refer to it as “mini hus på hjul” which translates to tiny house on wheels.
The car is still pretty stock, besides some extra lights and suspension. And we got a Snorkel of course. A lift kit is on its way and a new set of rims are already at home in the garage.
The Desire for a Proper Rig
We joined our first overland festival here in Norway in 2022. At that time we just had a small delivery van with a bed and some boxes for storage in the back. Seeing all the cool rigs there and becoming friends with some great people sparked our wanting a proper rig for ourselves. Getting stuck in deep mud at the entrance of the festival made the decision to buy a 4×4 easier.
Why Alu-Cab?
I’ve got a Canopy Camper with the Shadow Awning. Here in Norway we have many windy and rainy days, therefore it was important to have something we could go back to and relax.
Changing clothes standing up is important as well, getting your pants on while laying on a mattrass is not fun. The gear is easy to use and fast to set up that. We use it constantly.
Rough Plans and Tough Trails
Depending on how long we are out, we try to find out what hikes we want to take or which photo spots to go to and then set up a route. Camp spots and duration of the stay we usually decide on when we are there. I like to have a rough plan, but nothing more. If a place is truly amazing we’ll stay an extra day. That’s the kinda freedom I enjoy with our rig.
It’s All About Community
My travels have often been solo, or only with my wife, and sometimes with a good mate I do photography with. But since we got more into the overland scene, our trips often include several people. Those solo trips no longer exist. We’ve got such a great community here that you always find somebody to camp with on the weekends.
How the Rig Changed Exploration
Before our rig there was always just the goal to take an amazing picture. The rest didn’t matter. Now we try to find more scenic roads, beautiful campsites and the sort of places where we enjoy the overlanding part more. I still want to capture amazing landscapes, but driving to a beautiful spot and relaxing around the campfire has become more important. We also go out more often, and spend close to 60 nights a year in the camper. From summer to winter, all year round
The Storm That Tested the Setup
Not long after we built our rig, I drove up north to Senja with a mate to photograph the Northern lights. We were hit by a proper winter storm and I was worried about opening the camper since the winds were so strong, but we had no choice… The rig was shaking from the wind and I realised how strong Alu-Cab product is built. We were really impressed.
Capability Meets Comfort
One thing I’ve learned over the years is compromise, especially weight and where to put it. More comfort while camping often takes away from the capability while driving. That’s why the Canopy Camper is so perfect. It’s got everything we need. The Hilux drives as good as before, and I don’t even feel the Camper while driving. This makes long trips so much more enjoyable.
Next Stop Iceland
Later this year we are going to Iceland! We are three couples that travel together and we plan to visit Iceland for three weeks. One of the couples had already been there on a guided tour, and will bring us along and show us around. We’re really looking forward to driving those scenic roads and all the photo opportunities
A Final Piece of Advice And A Request to All
Just get out there, short trips or long trips, it doesn’t matter. Grab your wife, your mates, or even your dog, it really doesn’t matter, just get out and enjoy nature.
One thing to remind everyone, please do not leave a trace. More and more people start to enjoy that lifestyle and for us to continue to be able to enjoy that lifestyle we have to care about nature. Follow local guidelines, respect nature, always take your garbage with you and be a good example for others!