Anyone used KrugXP for a cabin?

[Tim_A]

Hi there

I plan on visiting KrugXP in Kiev in a couple of weeks' time to discuss my requirements for a cabin to be mounted on an Oberaigner 6x6 chassis.

I saw them at Bad Kissingen in 2014 and was quite impressed with their build quality, as was a friend of mine who was with me and who has driven Dakar support trucks and used to build caravans and motorhomes for a living, so he knows a thing or two about what works / survives on rough roads, and what doesn't.

Whilst I know what I'm getting if I buy a Bocklet or Bimobil cabin for example, Krug is more of an unknown - though their response to all my questions has always been prompt, professional and suggests to me that "they know what they are doing". Otherwise I wouldn't be making the trip.

So does anyone out there have any experience of their cabin builds, or can you put me in touch with a traveler who might know?

FYI The purpose of the cabin - appx 5m x 2.2 x 2.2m is for a trans Africa then trans S America route.

Thanks for any feedback.

[peter-denmark]

I do not know the company but I have delt with Ukranians and Russians on several occations.

In my experience time is not a "concern" in the same way as in Germany/Northern Europe (hope I don't offend anyone here )

Long delays, misunderstandings and so forth can be a problem. I don't belive that they do it to annoy you - they just have a different approach to business.

Cover your bases!

Other than that, I have to say that the Ukranians/Russians are super-skilled with metalworking and they have access to some really cool materials. Titanium cost "nothing" in Ukraine vs. in Europe.

So I would believe that the workmanship is good.

Hop you can use the advice.

[Tim_A]

Thank you Peter, much appreciated. Trust me, after 23 years living and working in the Middle East, I am more familiar with that way of doing business / taking note of delivery promises and adding 5 hours / days / weeks / months, than you might imagine!

In a place where "I am 5 minutes away" means anything up to 2 hours drive, you learn patience. But now mine is exhausted so it's time to leave!

[moggy 1968]

If you need any help let me know, my wifes native tongue is Russian and she has a masters in translation.
If the message is getting lost write it down, or get them to write it down and PM me for my email to send it to and she can take a look.

[Tim_A]

Thank you Moggy - very kind of you to offer. My main contact there speaks fluent English, and 'engineer' too :-) but you never know if and when I might need some help so I will bear that in mind.

I just booked a decent hotel in the town where they are based, for the princely sum of EUR 17. It gets good reviews on Trip Advisor etc so it's not a hovel, but boy is it cheap!


This bodes well for the cost of my cabin - I hope....

[peter-denmark]

Keep us updated! Pictures!

[Alandob]

Can you tell us the vehicle you are interested in and the price - if you are comfortable with this or you can PM me if you don't want to make it public?

Their Land Cruiser setup looks really good and I am in contact with them at the moment regarding this.

[Tim_A]

I am planning to have a cabin appx 4.6m long built for an Oberaigner 6x6 Sprinter. I am with Krug today for 4 more hours. We met last night for several hours to discuss my needs but it was late and I did not go into the factory. I will be doing that today.


We did not discuss a final price - maybe that will come late today or after my visit. I am here to assess the skills and craftsmanship. But after my meeting with them last night I am already confident they are carefully considering and planning all details of a cabin build. I will write more after my visit today.


They have an almost complete Land Cruiser in the factory. I will try to get plenty of photos and details for you. Anything specific you need to know? Please let me know soon - if you see this in time.

[Tim_A]

OK so I spent an evening discussing my requirements in great detail with the owners and consultant engineer of KrugXP and several hours the next day looking over a nearly completed Land Cruiser with a rise and fall clam-shell roof (4x electric stepper motor drives), a 75% complete, almost 6m cabin on an MAN truck, and an approximately 5m cabin only which was about 50% built.


I have not spent as much time looking in total detail at competitors’ cabins, just 10 -15 minutes or so inside each at Bad Kissingen in 2014 looking at other offerings, so I cannot make a direct comparison, just tell you what I saw and learned.


Just a bit of background because it helps explain why KrugXP got into this business. The father, Viktor, established a building materials trading companyand construction company after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Over time they started manufacturing products and materials under license from their suppliers in Europe, and were making a lot of the fixtures and fittings for the properties they were constructing. They were successful doing so, and soon had factories making windows (using the exact same extrusions KCT use), cabinets, bathroom fittings, switchgear etc. And thus employed a lot of engineers and specialist craftsmen.Six years ago Victor bought his own overland vehicle, a 4x4 Sprinter, then later a larger truck with a Bimobil cabin on it. He remains a keen overlander – he’s off to Morocco with his current truck in two weeks time for example. Having looked at those with an eye for the construction details, and since the Ukranian economy is in really bad shape right now, with the subsequent downturn in construction projects, Viktor realised that he had the workshop space, materials, skilled craftsmen and knowledge of overland cabins, so decided to start building them. Why not be in a business which is also your hobby, right!


They showed a 6x6 Sprinter at Bad Kissingen in 2014 and that’s where I met them. Right, background checks over J


I went to Cherkasy (2.5 hours drive south of Kiev) with an open mind. I know I could buy a Bocklet or Bimobil and get good quality engineering, but at German assembly prices. I wanted to know if KrugXP could build something with the same quality of materials, fit and finish. By their own admission Ukranian labour costs are a fraction of those in Germany, obviously, and since a cabin build is labour intensive, there should be big savings, right?


To cut to the chase, I can’t fault the quality of materials, workmanship, attention to detail or apparent desire to do things properly. I was shown round by Joerg Eden, from Germany, who works for Krug in a consultancy role for now, when he’s not involved in oil and gas engineering projects. He is also an overland truck owner / driver, which is how he first met Viktor.


I was on the look out for poor panel fits, ‘average’ fitting of the electronics / electrics, lack of attention to detail, cut price engineering etc. I didn’t find them. I watched and listened to the rise and fall of the roof on the Land Cruiser. There was no rubbing or grinding of surfaces – everything worked as it should, almost silently, and accurately. In fact the quality of the wiring in the trucks was bloody fantastic, clearly their electrician has an eye for detail. All panels, hatches, even the windows, are made in house so can be made any size. Don’t worry about the windows not being KCT or Seitz. They use the same extrusions, same glass, and they claim, higher quality latches and handles etc. They have been making windows for decades. You can specify each and every material, including leather seat covers, natural or artificial veneers, tiles in the bathroom, work surface colours and finish etc., floor finish. Basically, everything you would expect.

NB I was told some of their fitters are former aircraft engineers from Kiev. I have the same background so was keen to ask about jointing compounds, redundant systems, failsafe indicators etc. They answered all my questions without bullshit – I don’t doubt they know what they are doing.


They use components from MasterVolt, Webasto, Dometic etc,, where needs be. They consider the chassis mounting carefully and design to suit. I wanted a lot of unique attributes to my truck – an electric bike ‘garage’ and hoist, only two dining seats and a third opposing ‘captain’s’ seat on a rail to move up to a sliding table, looking out across a full opening hatch for my photography needs. No problem, they will design / build / source them and I’m confident they will do a good job, send me a design for approval, and make it accordingly.


I am awaiting the quote for my cabin in two or three days’ time – they have to design and source the extra items I needed. But I do not doubt I will make large savings over buying from a German supplier. I’m not prepared to compromise on quality or choice of components, and I’m confident I will work with Krug. It will not be ‘cheap’ because I can’t afford to buy ‘cheap’, but I will make considerable savings over a German supplier I am sure.


I am not here to specifically promote them, but having been to see them, maybe I can save you the journey. That’s up to you and all I can say is Kiev is a fantastic city to visit anyway so go ahead and check what I have said here. I think they warrant serious consideration if you are looking to have a cabin built. They are not ‘players’ in the market, they are a serious solution provider. In my personal opinion.

[Yellowcow]

Hi Tim,

I just recently bought a STEYR 12M18 from EXCAP in Germany and I am also looking into a good cabin builder.
After spending several years on research about everything from base truck, cabin builders( looking into UNICAT, Bocklet, etc.), equipment and so on, I decided on the cabin design and equipment and got some quotes from selected builders in Germany - but - I really like what I see from KRUGXP.

I have a first call with them this week.
Since you seem to be a little bit ahead of me and have already visited the factory, i wanted to ask you, if you are open to share some of your lessons learned and initial feedback on KRUGX.
There is really not a lot of refernce out there about them.
If you are OK for a brief phone or SKYPE call, please contact me directly and i can call you.
I live in California - so PST.

E-mail dirk.liepold@icloud.com
Skype: dirk.liepold


Cheers

Dirk

[Tim_A]

Hi Dirk


Happy to help if I can, that's what HUBB's all about, right? I guess you read my post visit report above, so that sums up what I learned really.


So far so good with Krug, I plan on going back in about 6 - 8 weeks' time to see how my cabin's taking shape. Things got delayed a couple of weeks but not through any fault of theirs, but the cabin will be well underway by then.


I'm happy to chat / Skype - I've sent you some more contact info in response to your email.


Speak soon - Tim

[HotelIndia]

Hello Dirk,

first of all congratulations to your decision to buy a Steyr from Excap! Nice car, nice guys, they know what they do!

I have bought my 12M18 just 4 weeks ago from Stefan . It is still in the original military style, but will be converted into an Excap end 2017.

As planning and preparation for an overlander truck needs a hell of a lot of time, I am also already in contact with some of the European cabin builders and received quotes for an empty 4,6m - 4,8m cabin.

I am also in contact now with Jörg Eden from KrugXP.

As I didn't had the chance to went to Bad Kissingen this year, I am interested in getting more information's about the quality of their Cabins and also interested in sharing details about the cabin for the Steyr (Size, Layout, Interior and other details).

Kind regards from rainy and cold northern Germany, Hilmar

[Tim_A]

Hi H.I.


So far, so good with Krug - as you'll have read I visited their workshop and was happy with what I saw. One of my friends (who will also buy a Steyr chassis I think) was at Bad Kissingen this year, and afterwards wrote to me and said he could understand why I'd chosen Krug, due to the quality of the cabin he'd looked around at the show.

My cabin has been slightly delayed but that's as much my fault as Joerg would tell you :-) It's because I've gone through every last nut and bolt and detail with him and this took longer than I think we both expected. But no complaints, it means I'm positive I'll be getting exactly what I expect. Since I'm based in Dubai, it's not so easy for me to just visit the workshop in Ukraine to check the build, which is why I am being so particular over the drawings.

My cabin will be installed in southern Germany in August I hope. Maybe you could arrange with Joerg to see it - I certainly do not mind if you wish to.

So far I have had only positive experiences from my dealing with the company and particularly with Joerg, since he is my primary contact.

Let me know if you have any other questions.


Tim

[HotelIndia]

Hi Tim, thanks for your answer and offer to visit your cabin. I hope to have the chance to meet Joerg and his MAN, when he will be in the North of Germany. Furthermore, Stefan from Excap is receiving the cabin for his Steyr in August/September. Hence, I think at least in autumn I will have the possibility to touch the cabins personally and to see the build quality of KrugXP.

I would be interested in getting some information's from Dirk, about the layout he has chosen for the Steyr, decision on installations and so on.

Best regards, Hilmar

[HotelIndia]

Hi Tim, did you already got your cabin?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk