Innholdsfortegnelse for Caravan World Best Aussie Vans i Caravan World

Some people take a very shallow view of Best Aussie Vans. They assume that advertising spend is related to the outcomes. This is plainly not true. There is a cost to enter the event, we do not hide from that. This helps offset the mammoth cost to get 13 vans, 15 staff and twice as many entrants again to pristine locations like we had for over 10 days. The cost is astronomical and is easily the most expensive execution Caravan World undertakes annually. The fee for the entrants is the same for all, there is no discounting, there is no favouritism. We assemble a range of judges (who you can read about from page 10) with strong ethics and and pride in their work. They represent decades of travel in…

PICS CAM INNIS, GRAEME NEANDER, AARON FLANAGAN The Grampians has always fascinated me and I regularly travel into its depths but as you’ll find, there is as much to see and do around the famous ranges. Commencing from the North-West gave us a chance to discover the great roads leading into western Victoria. Our steed a brand new Pajero Sport and our roving home a Titan Blackhawk 19.6; a match made in heaven as we discovered in the long days to come. Close to Horsham, the northern centre of the western Grampians, Mt Arapiles is a 140m tall rock formation that literally juts out from the surrounding crops. More than a marker it calls travellers beyond the horizon and over the short berms that litter the flats. There is a…

Having spent a week inspecting our lineup at Best Aussie Vans, Peter Dunlop, Senior Manager Studio Engineering - GM Australia Design, shares his thoughts on caravans today and how automotive trends could influence their design tomorrow. Here’s what we discovered. ONE VISION There’s no doubt about it, the way we experience the road is fundamentally changing with cameras and sensors playing a vital role. And, as interest in camping holidays booms, the caravanning industry is seeking out the opportunities. “Caravans having reverse cameras [like we saw at BAV] is a great step and integrating these into the vehicle screen is even better, as it ensures all information is in the same spot for the driver,” Peter explains. “This is an obvious plus in being able to see objects and people…

In brief… Bedroom slide-out On-road tourer Club lounge The barriers to embracing adventure can vary, and if a dislike for confined quarters is what’s stopping you, then New Age’s Big Red could be your way in Pegged at around $80K, the New Age Big Red BR19E Slider provides a slide-out for space to walk around the east-west bed, making way for a full-width bathroom, large kitchen and U-shaped lounge. With comfort so firmly placed at the fore, Caravan World was keen to put it under the microscope at Best Aussie Vans. But did the judges approve? Let’s see what they said. GOOD COMPROMISES New Age has really hit the nail on the head with this one. I mean, it feels spacious and comfortable from the second you walk inside. Then…

In brief… Welded alloy frames CNC-cut furniture Dual-axle independent suspension Roadstar is an industry icon, having produced top quality vans in Australia for more than 38 years. Built with alloy frames and employing CNC machinery, Roadstar vans have stood the test of time. The Voyager presented at Best Aussie Vans is aimed at seasoned travellers who are seeking luxury appointments and a bit of rough road grunt without the premium price tag. But does it have the touring credentials to impress the judges? Read on. DETAILS, DETAILS The Voyager is just a great overall travelling package. It’s all upon an Australian-made SupaGal chassis and comes complete with AL-KO’s full offroad suspension, so you know the backbone is nice and strong right from the get-go. When compared to its direct competition,…

In brief… HI-MACS benchtops Cruisemaster suspension Monocoque body Roadstar sets the pace at Best Aussie Vans with its flagship Sirius, spotted by outgoing Caravan World editor Laura Gray months before. Monocoque construction and an efficient chassis underpin a finely-tuned interior for a van that oozes class on and offroad. A CUT ABOVE When class and style meet practicality and usability, you just know you’re in for something special! This really is an impressive package for anyone who wants to go bush, but be a little sophisticated while they’re there too. The chassis is built by Australian Hitec Engineering, who has been in the game for over 45 years. It’s gusseted and reinforced in all the right places with good quality welds – although I did find the mounting plates for…

PICS GRAEME NEANDER AND CAM INNISS. Best Aussie Vans 2017 was a stretch in many ways. We pushed the limits of what we could do in an effort to make the event and its outcomes the best they could be. We travelled more kilometres, we stayed at more parks and we shot at more locations than any year before. With 13 caravans to film, photograph and importantly assess, it would push the limits of ability but again, like years been we bandied together to pull it off. THE LOCATIONS We did things different this year staying at multiple parks across the gorgeous Grampians region around three and a half hours west of Melbourne. Our first base was to the northwest in the capital of the Wimmera region, Horsham. Here we…

In brief… External cooking facilities Alloy construction Pop-top with fold-out bedroom “A five-year structural, drawbar and chassis warranty is enough to anybody a vote of confidence,”– Michael Borg – The lightweight MDC XT12 2018 is ready for action offroad, but the long list of comforts and $40K+ price tag are what earned it a second look at Caravan World’s Best Aussie Vans program for 2017. The XT12’s grand external kitchen allows for ‘all hands on deck’ after a full day of camping fun with shower facilities inside and out for a clean camp – no matter how muddy your adventures get. But did it meet the judges’ expectations? Let’s check it out. ALL-ROUNDER The XT12 2018 is a great all-round touring package. It’s perfect for weekends away or long distance…

“The Endeavour felt slightly better behaved than some of the independently sprung models we towed,”– Michael Borg – In a world where the biggest and boldest broadcasts loud, the confident hum of ‘best fit’ sometimes drowns. Yet building a quality entry-level item takes certain smarts, which Atlantic seemed to have in spades when Caravan World inspected the Endeavour just months before. Well chosen comforts and considered compromises allow otherwise-tyre kickers a real opportunity to get out there and explore. So is the Atlantic Endeavour money wisely spent? Let’s see what our judges think. FIT FOR THE JOB Competitively priced, the Endeavour is set to be a real winner with young families stepping into the caravan lifestyle. It’s not overdone, but has more than enough to keep the fuss-pots happy too.…

In brief… Luxury club lounge Family-friendly format Lightweight body When we first saw the AusRV Finke months before, we were impressed by the intuitive layout and the modern manufacturing techniques adopted by the long-established camper trailer brand. Now returning Best Aussie Vans, can the old kid on a new block impress us with a family-friendly layout? Only one way to find out! SEMI-OFFROAD TO THE CORE I’m definitely a fan of the AusRV Finke. Its overall design is a refreshing take on the average family touring caravan, and I reckon it offers the perfect combination of value, performance and comfort. One thing that really stands out to me is the fact that the Finke is a true semi-offroad caravan. What I mean by that is it’s not a light duty…

In brief… Off-the-grid capability Internal and external cooking Cruisemaster suspension “Structurally, the main chassis sports some top workmanship with premium quality welds throughout,”– Michael Borg – Although new to the market, the Olympic Javelin X8 quickly hit its stride with a smart package geared to the long-term tourer, riding on a solid foundation. The roll-out kitchen will draw crowds at camp but did it leave our tough audience at Best Aussie Vans impressed? Let’s find out and see. PREMIUM WELDS The Javelin X8 looked like a flash bit of gear from the second it rolled into camp. It seemed well made on the inside and out, and sported a genuinely comfortable feel as we stepped inside. It’s classified as a semi-offroad model. However, a few clues suggest it’s more an…

In brief… 2.5T Tare dual-axle offroader Redarc battery management system Raptor coating Only months before, new kid AusRV impressed us with the Byfield All Terrain, a striking all-roader sporting a fibreglass body working in tandem with the chassis for optimal strength on our national park tracks. So when our judging crew heard CW would be inspecting the Byfield Extreme Terrain at Best Aussie Vans, they were thrilled. But did it take the cake at camp? Read on and find out. DELIVERING THE GOODS The Byfield XT was like a breath of fresh air to review, mainly because it’s unique to the rest of the mob. The caravan we tested and judged was fluoro green in colour, which I reckon looks tops but actually serves an even greater purpose – you’ll…

In brief… 14ft van with combo bathroom 2.7t Tuff Ride suspension Internal and external cooking Built by iconic offroad caravan manufacturer Adventure Caravans, the name behind Kakoda and Grand Salute, the Dreamseekerbadged F1 made its debut at Caravan World’s Best Aussie Vans for 2017 on the promise it could deliver touring comforts off the beaten track. Happily, the BAV judging crew weren’t disappointed with this plucky number. At just 14ft long, the Dreamseeker F1 rolls on fully independent suspension and includes a comprehensive cooking capabilities inside and out. So what did the judges have to say about F1? Read on and find out! COMPACT AND COMFORTABLE Ah, the Dreamseeker F1. This really is a fine piece of machinery. The internal layout was a massive winner for me. In fact, I’m…

In brief… 22ft family van Independent AL-KO suspension DO35 coupling Campsite cradles can inspire a lifetime of adventures, which is how the Kokoda Cadet II Xli Platinum earned its spot at Caravan World’s Best Aussie Vans for 2017. Capable of a little rough and tumble, the Cadet pays it forward with room for the crew and ample mod-cons to ease tensions when touring gets tough. But has it got the full kit to deliver its promise? Only one way to find out. AUSSIE APPEAL I walked away from judging the cadet thinking “geez, that’s a great overall package, especially for the price”. I mean it’s not setting any new records in terms of technology. It’s not gold plated with flashing disco lights when you open the door, but it is…

In brief… Monocoque construction Club lounge Spacious interior The quality build, competitive pricing and a smart choice of appliances are what earned this blacktop tourer a place at the table for Best Aussie Vans for 2017. It’s neat and clean underneath and luxurious within, but how did it stack up in this competitive field? NEAT AS A PIN The Pacific Islander just makes me want to immediately hitch up and head off. Honestly, there’s something about it that just screams holiday-in-the-making to me. Starting from the bottom, it’s built upon a sturdy 6in Road Runner chassis and sports a nice and solid fibreglass composite floor. It’s got one of the tidiest undercarriages of the competition too, which is largely thanks to the mid-mounted bathroom (toilet and shower) – that means…

In brief… Made-to-measure Alloy frame G&S Control Rider suspension “The weight’s kept under check thanks to the full aluminium chassis designed to add plenty of strength,”– Michael Borg – Peter Quilty, our BAV judge who took the Legend Trackline Off-Road for a spin mere months before, reckoned it was just begging for tougher terrain. Fast forward to Best Aussie Vans where, under the intense scrutiny of our judging panel, the Trackline earned many plaudits for its strength-to-weight ratio, offroad potential, tour-ability and comforts off-the-grid. So what was it that stood out? Read on. ONE TOUGH TOURER The Trackline Off-Road from Legend is a pretty cool bit of gear. Designed to be the perfect compromise between a luxury tourer and an offroad beast, it’s a great blend for the adventurous at…

In brief… Toy hauler Family-friendly 4.5T riding gear “You’ve got a firm honeycomb floor for sure footing, and cabinetry that’s nice and practical to use, too”– Michael Borg – As more vanners integrate offroad sports into their adventures, manufacturers are responding in kind with internal garages, relegating luxury to the back seat. The Dreamseeker F-14 Tomcat, however, comes to Best Aussie Vans 2017 with a fully-equipped living room plus space for all the sporting gear – but does it deliver in the comfort stakes? Let’s see. FIRM FOOTING What can I say about the F-14? It’s a big black beauty if I ever saw one. Now, the chassis was specifically designed and built by Roo Chassis for the F-14. It’s made from 6in DuraGal and seems sturdy enough to be…

A special thanks needs to go to our event partners, especially naming rights sponsor AL-KO. AL-KO is a market leader in hitches, suspension and other key components supplying most of the caravan industry. It is great to see the team step from the business-to-business shadows to support our special industry more publicly in partnering with us. Without them we could not have invested as much in the video and photography you see here nor could we have taken Best Aussie Vans as far afield as we did. From the whole Caravan World team you have our sincere thanks. And to Tebbs who stepped up last minute to provide us a fleet of towing mirrors, we say thanks too. It was a prerequisite for all entrants to carry towing mirrors but…