Honest Travel Stories from the Mighty8wd

Traveling the world in a massive eight-wheeled RV brings with it unique adventures. We share our experiences with 100 percent honesty: no empty talk, just the raw reality of life on the road. Both the breathtaking moments and the tough setbacks have a place in our story.

The proving ground: from the Netherlands to Turkey

After the construction of our 8x8 monster camper was completed in the Netherlands, we set off on the ultimate test drive. We drove through France, climbed over the mountain passes of Italy, and continued on toward Turkey to check whether every system was working properly. Once we arrived, we found that the border crossing into Russia was closed due to the war situation along the borders. This forced us to turn back immediately and plan a completely new route through France and Germany.

Unexpected Stopover in Vilnius

In order to continue our journey to Russia, Mongolia, and China, we had to reapply for all our official travel documents and visas. We made a detour to Lithuania and spent several weeks in Vilnius while waiting for the paperwork. This forced break turned out to be a blessing: we discovered beautiful places in the historic city and formed close friendships that will stay with us forever.

Across Russia and Through a Severe Trial

As soon as the borders opened to us, we ventured deep into Russia. We visited impressive cities like Moscow, Arzamas, and Diveyevo, where we were once again warmly welcomed by hospitable people. But life on the road also has its dark sides: on the long journey toward the Mongolian border, tragedy struck our little daughter. Traveling with the Mighty8wd is about groundbreaking expeditions, but above all, it’s about resilience when things really go wrong.

Tragedy struck in Russia

In Russia, on our way to Mongolia, disaster struck.

Our little princess became seriously ill. Since we didn’t speak the language and our bank card, internet, and phone weren’t working, we had to make a difficult decision quickly.

Back to Europe.

We drove back to Europe day and night at full speed: a distance of 6,800 kilometers.

Once in Europe, we went straight to the hospital. There, she spent 12 days in intensive care.

She underwent two surgeries, which fortunately went well.

The period that followed was entirely focused on her recovery. Thanks to the doctors’ quick response, the support of family and friends, and her own tremendous will to fight, our little princess gradually got better.

The Recovery

It’s now been five months (September 14, 2026), but unfortunately, her recovery isn’t going very quickly.

She needs to make a full recovery before we can continue our journey,

because where we’re headed is really far from civilization (in the desert).

So we hope she gets better soon.

In the meantime, we’re consciously taking the time to ensure her recovery and to calmly prepare our plans. The desert isn’t going anywhere, and safety and health will always be more important to us than sticking to a strict travel schedule.