Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 602 i Caravan World

Believe it or not, your vehicle can be an emotional attachment, tied to memories and experiences. Back in 2005 we purchased a new Nissan Patrol. Little did we know the impact it would have. It became a trusted friend, a reliable tow horse and capable adventurer, taking us to all corners of the country. With a robust drive train, supple ride through long travel coil springs and capable underpinnings, the goal was to set it up for outback touring. Initially that included the protective armour of a bull bar to push the scrub aside and fend off wayward wildlife. Then came spotlights to improve night-time vision, decent tyres to resist punctures in untamed terrain, and a UHF radio to communicate with fellow travellers. As our budget allowed, we fitted other…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.65m (21ft 10in) Overall length 8.98m (29ft 6in) Width 2.39m (7ft 10in) Height 3.12m (10ft 3in) Tare 2543kg ATM 3300kg Payload 757kg Ball weight 233kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium composite Chassis ARV SupaGal box section, 6in rails and drawbar Suspension Independent with coil springs, trailing arms and shock absorbers Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 10in electrics Wheels 15in alloy Water fresh 2 x 95L Water grey 1 x 95L Battery 2 x 100Ah Solar 2 x 170W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Caprice, four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Dometic RMDX21 190L three-way Bathroom Separate shower cubicle and Dometic cassette toilet Hot water Swift 28L gas/elec OPTIONS FITTED Vegas microfibre upgrade PRICE AS SHOWN $79,990 MORE…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A quality build and equipment justifies the hefty price.” TOWABILITY “Sits beautifully on the road with a suitable suspension for its intended blacktop and dirt road touring. It does need a big tow rig.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “A couple would love the room and well-designed interior. You could happily be away for a year and travel in style.” BUILD QUALITY “The attention to detail, and high-end fittings are all on show.” LIVEABILITY “It's a big van, and it makes the most of the generous room to place it in the top class of vans.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “A bit light on from standard with enough power for a few days off-grid.” INNOVATION “Nothing ground breaking in innovation but Regent brings together a swag of great features into…

From its beginnings in 2003, Concept Caravans has grown into one of our most popular caravan builders. And, with the recent acquisitions of some heritage brands, the group has expanded its reach and distribution across new dealerships nationwide. Concept Caravans was born when three key employees of Windsor Caravans decided to establish their own brand, bringing with them years of experience. At the core of the company's success is the range of high-value models that includes the Innovation series. The 670 reviewed here is a stylish and roomy van with a thoughtful design that isn’t often seen in locally-built models. The central ensuite layout makes a lot of sense as it separates the sleeping space from the living space, creating an actual room up front for the bed. RIDING HIGH…

The Land Rover Discovery is a breath of fresh English air in a category long dominated by hard-hauling Japanese heavyweights like the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol. Given it seems something of a Johnny Come Lately against the likes of the aforementioned pair, it’s hard to believe the Discovery has been with us now for three decades. Major upgrades within each of the first two generations mean this all-new third generation model is commonly referred to as the Discovery Five. The ‘Disco Five’ arrived here in 2017, introducing a number of significant firsts, not least of which was the move away from body-on-frame to a unibody chassis design, and the adoption of aluminium chassis and body panels. Land Rover claims the changes increased the new model’s torsional rigidity and reduced…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.55m (28ft 1in) External body length 6.31m (20ft 8in) Internal length 6.24m (20ft 6in) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.2m (10ft 6in) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2420kg ATM 3500kg Payload 1080kg Ball weight 150kg EXTERNAL Frame NIL — Zone RV utilise a proprietary, fully bonded technique Cladding Composite fibre glass sandwich panel Chassis 6in Hot dipped galvanised steel drawbar and chassis Suspension Cruisemaster XT Coil Coupling DO35 V3 Brakes 12in electric drum brakes Wheels 16in Steel rims w/ Cooper AT3 tyres Water 1 x 90L fresh and 1 x 100L grey Battery 2 x 120Ah AGM Solar 2 x 180W Air-conditioner Optional upgrade Gas 2 x 4.5kg Sway control Optional upgrade WARRANTY 3-years (chassis and structure) RVMAP Accredited No INTERNAL…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Certainly, the Switch is not a cheap motorhome, but it’s packed with plenty of features.” DRIVEABILITY “Although over 4500kg when fully loaded, the driving experience is quite pleasant.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Luxury motorhome with most of the home comforts.” BUILD QUALITY “A few areas where things could be better.” LIVEABILITY “Apart from the small kitchen, there is otherwise plenty of room.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Electrical capacity is quite good but the fresh water tanks might be limiting.” CUSTOMER CARE “24-months on motorhome body, 36-month/200,000km on the motorhome engine.” INNOVATION “The rear garage with its slide-out and elevating platforms is the winner here.” X-FACTOR “Spacious interior with slide-out open.”…

Travel has its relaxing moments but isn’t inherently relaxing. Many of us arrive at camp in a state of voluptuous restfulness, ready to unwind a tapestry of undemanding hours spent reading, planning, messaging relatives and listening to the radio. But this calmness balances on a delicate membrane of worn-out tempers and can easily be shattered by a complex setup or a convoluted lay-out. The Golf Tourer 650 strikes me as a van that’ll make evening hours just as enjoyable as daylight adventures. Its welcoming interior is bound to corral your mood in the right direction and, given the van is capable enough to be unlimiting during the day, you know you’re onto a winner. “Even after you’ve loaded in 600kg to reach the 2870kg ATM, the van will remain comfortably…

As overlanders we know to keep our gear in tip-top shape. So we routinely take our tow tug in for its scheduled service as per the recommendations in the owner’s manual. Some of us add a lube service in between times (if you don’t you should) and we also give the caravan its own service every 10,000km (you might even do this last one and the tow tug's lube service yourself). While these service intervals are essential for keeping our rigs ready-to-roll, we also have responsibilities to maintain them between services. If you’re wondering what we mean, think about the pre-flight inspections that ensure airworthiness in the aviation industry. We know these checks are undertaken each and every time before a plane hits the skies. In many industries and agencies,…

Q Hi 12V Guru It was interesting to read the segment in issue 600 of Caravan World regarding breakaway system batteries. My question is, why does the manufacturer insist that we use a 7Ah battery when most vans have a minimum of 100Ah house battery? The only explanation I can find is that the system must be able to hold the brakes for a minimum of 15 minutes in the event of a breakaway. When you consider that the 7Ah battery must keep energised (usually) four magnets as well as the brake lights, I find this to be hard to believe. Also when you consider that it is admitted the lifespan of the 7Ah battery can usually be measured in months not years as in the house battery, this system…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s more expensive than some family vans around but there’s quite a few extra features fitted that make this van something of a standout in its class.” TOWABILITY “Will require a mid to large sized tow vehicle, especially with a family on board.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Bunk van designed for unsealed travel – fits the bill very nicely.” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking OK with touches like the soft-close drawers and some effort made with the sub chassis area.” LIVEABILITY “For a family, well kitted out with bunk beds and general storage. Dinette on the small side though.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Well sized water tanks, battery and solar panel capacity.” CUSTOMER CARE “12 months on caravan and times varying from one year to five years on various chassis…

At last year’s Best Aussie Vans contest, the Regent Cruiser impressed all the judges with a well designed and beautifully appointed interior. So, when the company suggested we have a look at the even more luxurious Monarch slide-out, we agreed straight away. Regent RV has been manufacturing upmarket caravans in Melbourne for more than 30 years and has a solid reputation for going the extra mile in build quality and innovation. It moved to a CNC-produced plywood frame a few years back when it saw Australian buyers were demanding more modern technology to cope with long-distance travel and a harsh climate. As a long-term player in the local market, Regent knows the features discerning buyers want, and the Monarch delivers on those expectations. First impressions play a big part in…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.97m (29ft 4in) External body length 6.7m (22ft) External body width 2.45m (8ft 1in) Travel height 3.17m (10ft 4in) Internal height 2.03m (6ft 6in) Nameplate tare 2610kg Nameplate ATM 3110kg Payload 500kg Ball weight 221kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Traditional high-profile aluminium Chassis Preston Suspension AL-KO roller rocker Brakes AL-KO 10in electric Wheels 15in Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 110Ah Solar 1 x 175W Air conditioner Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Offered as an option INTERNAL Cooking 3+1 recessed oven Fridge Dometic RUA6408X Microwave Swift Toilet Dometic Shower Huge one-piece fibreglass Lighting LED Hot water Trauma gas/electric Washing machine Dometic front loader WMD 1050 OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $79,490 including NSW on-road costs MORE INFO ARV Caravans…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length 4956mm Width (excluding mirrors) 2073mm Height 1888mm Wheelbase 2923mm Ground clearance (unladen) Standard 207mm, offroad 283mm Kerb mass 2311kg Gross Vehicle Mass 3050kg Gross Combined Mass 6650kg Towing capacity Unbraked 750kg/braked 3500kg Towball (max) 350kg DRIVETRAIN Engine 3.0L V6 bi-turbodiesel Transmission Eight-speed automatic, dual-range full-time 4x4 Power 225kW at 3750rpm Torque 700Nm at 1500–1750rpm Gear ratios First 4.71:1, Second 3.14:1, Third 2.11:1, Fourth 1.67:1, Fifth 1.28:1, Sixth 1.00:1, Seventh 0.84:1, Eighth 0.67:1. Reverse 3.29:1. Final drive 3.21; High/low 2.93:1. OPTIONS FITTED $16,220 (Driver Assist Pack — $4,350, third row of seats — $3,470, metallic paint — $2,060, four-zone Climate Control — $1,820, keyless entry — $1,190, active rear locking differential — $1,110, activity key $960, Ebony Morzine headlining — $850) GENERAL Fuel capacity 85L Suspension Independent,…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A Zone RV van for well under $100K? Somebody pinch me!” TOWABILITY “Well balanced van and well setup suspension make the Base a dream to tow on any surface.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Long distance, offroad touring is in Zone's DNA.” BUILD QUALITY “When all I can pick on is a couple of long bolts, that's saying something!” LIVEABILITY “More like an apartment than a caravan.” CUSTOMER CARE “3-year factory warranty on chassis and structure. Manufacturers warranty on appliances.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Really needs another freshwater tank fitted for those longer getaways.” INNOVATION “Timber-less design, aeronautical and marine manufacturing techniques that no other manufacturer uses.” X-FACTOR “A new model from ZONE RV is always going to get some attention!”…

Sunliner is a manufacturer that builds a wide range of motorhomes. It has everything from the Fiat Ducato based Rialta van conversion to the Mercedes Benz powered Olantas to the flagship Isuzu-powered Monte Carlo. Oh, and there’s a fifth wheeler too, the North Shore, for anyone who prefers towing. In between all that is the Switch range. I like the way it’s described in the Sunliner website: “the entry point into the Sunliner range of premium motorhomes.” It’s always good to read the full sentence because the price tag of this motorhome is around the $190K mark. What you get, though, is great deal of bang for your buck. One reason I chose the S494G model is that it comes with a couple of interesting features — an offside slide-out…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.5m (21ft 4in) Overall length 8.87m (29ft 1in) Width 2.47m (8ft 1in) Height 3m (9ft 10in) Tare 2255kg (review model plated at 2270kg) ATM 2870kg Payload 600kg (calculated) Ball weight 160kg EXTERNAL Frame Frameless aluminium composite walls with polyurethane base Chassis 150 x 50 x 3mm RHS steel, double hot dip galvanised Suspension Independent coil spring AL-KO Enduro Touring with single shocks Coupling AL-KO swivel hitch Brakes 10in electric drum Wheels 16in alloy wheels, with 245/70R16 all-terrain tyres (and one spare) as seen Water 2 x 95L fresh water tanks standard, optional grey water tank Battery 100Ah deep-cycle AGM standard, second optional Solar 120W roof-mounted panel standard, second optional Air-conditioner Yes, Belaire air-conditioner (as seen) Gas 2 x 9kg holders on the drawbar, one plumbed…

Barrington Tops National Park P: 1300 072 757 E: parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au W: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/barrington-tops-national-park Gloucester Visitor Info 27 Denison St, Gloucester NSW 2422 P: (02) 6538 5252 W: gloucestertourism.com.au Gloucester Holiday Park Denison St, Gloucester NSW 2422 P: (02) 6558 1720 E: info@gloucesterholidaypark.com W: gloucesterholidaypark.com Polblue Camping Area Polblue Camping Area Rd, Moonan Brook NSW 2337 P: (02) 6545 1128 E: parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au W: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/polbluecampground-picnic-area Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park Gloucester River Rd, Invergordon NSW 2422 P: (02) 6558 3155…

Like many RV and travel journalists at the moment, I’m struggling a bit with filling this column each month. My usual inspiration sources are RV shows, travel related to work, and looking over assorted caravan and motorhomes for this fine magazine. The first two certainly haven’t happened in quite a while and while the third has, things have slowed down somewhat. Having said all that, I have to feel sorry for anyone in the travel writing business at the moment, since international travel is not happening and domestic movements, while looking a bit more positive, are still a rocky road. Right about now, some state borders, like Queensland’s, are opening up whilst others, like Victoria’s, are clanging shut. The only likely international destination in the next few months will be…

Thanks for your great magazine. You may be interested in a modification I made to our 17ft pop-top. It was quite low and dragged its tail over some of those typically steep exits from service stations. We purchased it second hand and it came with a dropped axle and slightly sagged springs. We replaced the axle with a straight one that raised it 60 mm and new springs which probably raised it another 25–30mm. It was certainly a big improvement and looked better. So far so good, but I still watch in the mirrors and crawl out of steep driveways to avoid any scraping. I eventually came up with an adaptation to again minimise any problems, though I'm sure someone else has already done the same or better, I just…

Luxury model caravans are often aimed at the grey nomad or offroad sector of the RV market, but there are several manufacturers which offer more than a basic van for families looking for a bit of classier RV travel. Essential Caravans happens to be one of those manufacturers. Essential introduced its C-Class range to the market earlier this year, amongst which were a number of family layouts of varying lengths. Gosford, NSW-based Alan Graham’s Caravans and RVs had a 6.65m (21ft 10in) model in stock and when I arrived at the dealer on the appointed day, the van was hitched up ready to go. My plan for the day was to head up the Mangrove Mountain area where I had a couple of photo locations in mind, one of which…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.19m (30ft 1in) External body length 7.39m (24ft 2in) Internal body length 7m (23ft) External body width 2.49m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.09m (10ft 1in) Internal height 1.9m (6.2ft) Nameplate tare 2944kg Nameplate ATM 3500kg Ball weight 224kg EXTERNAL Frame CNC plywood Cladding Aluminium Chassis Austrail Dura-gel Suspension AL-KO Rocker Roller Brakes 12in electric Wheels 235/75/R15 Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 105Ah Solar 1 x 150Ah Air conditioner Ibis 4 Gas Bottles 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Oven, gas and electric Fridge Thetford N614-E 186L Microwave Swift 23L Toilet Thetford ceramic cassette Shower Large one-piece fibreglass Lighting LED Hot water Swift gas and electric systems PRICE AS SHOWN $99,990 OPTIONS FITTED Camec 4kg front load washing machine — standard…

When Andrew and Sarah Altschwager had enough of Melbourne city life and working tirelessly at their kitchen manufacturing business, like many young families they sold the company and the house, packed up their life and hit the road in a caravan. They went in search of a new life, and after spending time on the New South Wales mid-north coast, they wandered all the way to the top of Queensland before realising the area around Coffs Harbour was their favourite destination. The mix of ideal climate, beautiful beaches and pristine mountains has that effect on a lot of people. The region has boomed over the last few years and continues to grow at a frantic pace. Because the family had enjoyed the caravanning lifestyle so much, Sarah and Andrew wondered…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A lot of well-finished van for the price.” TOWABILITY “Sensible weight and well balanced on the road.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Roomy and comfortable for long distance blacktop and dirt road touring.” BUILD QUALITY “Neatly finished with quality appliances.” LIVEABILITY “The big club lounge and roomy kitchen are winners.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Limited solar and battery power.” INNOVATION “The central layout is unusual but very practical.” X-FACTOR “High ride and 22ft length add to the distinctive appearance.” CUSTOMER CARE “Two-year Australia-wide warranty with dedicated staff and a network of repairers to handle issues.”…

VALUE FOR MONEY "Pricey options and skinny warranty hold it back here." TOWING PERFORMANCE "A strong and accomplished performer." HITCHING UP "Reversing camera and variable ride height are great inclusions." CREATURE COMFORTS "Superbly comfortable, but you do have to pay extra for some of the best stuff." ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS "Land Rover can’t match the dealership footprint of rival Toyota." FUEL ECONOMY "Smaller capacity diesel is remarkably thrifty, provided you drive it accordingly." SOLO PERFORMANCE "If there’s a smoother and more sophisticated 4x4 out there, it’s probably wearing a Range Rover badge." ENGINE POWER "V6 is remarkably smooth and responsive, but also laced with plenty of readily accessible torque." INNOVATION "Terrain response system is brilliantly effective." THE X-FACTOR "Discovery's remarkable breadth of capability on and offroad is its trump…

It was mid-June, i.e. winter, and I had just spent the day cruising around the bush tracks that run behind Lake Cootharaba and the headwaters of the Noosa River, before hitting the pristine sands of Rainbow Beach in Queensland. There were people swimming and picnicking on the beach. Others were indulging in a spot of skurfing behind a tinny, while several groups were trying their best to catch dinner. It was at that point that everything fell into place. It really is no coincidence that the sunshine state gets overrun by southerners every winter with caravans in tow. Speaking of caravans, that's why I was up here, and I'm sure what we were towing will be of particular interest to quite a few of you. I had spent the day…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 8.5m (27ft 10in) Width 2.4m (7ft 10in) Height (incl AC) 3.2m (10ft 6in) Tare 4190kg GVM 5200kg Payload 1010kg Licence LR MECHANICAL Base vehicle Iveco Daily 50-210 Engine 3L turbo diesel Max power 150kW@3100-3500rpm Max torque 470Nm@1400-3000rpm Gearbox 8 speed automatic Wheels 16in EXTERNAL Fresh Water 100L Grey water 55L Battery 2 x 110Ah Solar 150W Air conditioner Belaire 2400 Gas 2 x 4kg INTERNAL Cooking Thetford 4 burner, grill & oven Microwave NCE Fridge Thetford N3175 3-way 171L Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28: gas/elec PRICE FROM $187,000 Drive Away NSW (Including Garage Option on Iveco 50C17 Chassis) OPTIONS FITTED Switch Up Pack — $5,500: Full stove, Diesel Heater, Ext. Gas Bayonet, second House Battery, Grey Exterior, 1000W…

LOCATION 52–88 Great Western Hwy, Medlow Bath, 110km west of the Sydney CBD via the M4 and A32. HOTEL TOURS • Monday–Friday, 11am and 3pm. • Saturday–Sunday, 10am, 11am, 3pm and 4pm. • $10 per person. • Bookings are essential. LOCAL ATTRACTIONS • Govett’s Leap Lookout. • The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath. • The Three Sisters, Echo Point. • Waradah Aboriginal Centre, Katoomba. • Scenic World, Katoomba. • Jenolan Caves. • Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. • The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba. • NPWS Heritage Centre, Blackheath. CONTACTS The Hydro Majestic P: (02) 4782 6885 W: hydromajestic.com.au Blackheath Glen Tourist Park 67–69 Prince Edward St, Blackheath P: (02) 4787 8101 E: blkheath@tpg.com.au W: bmtp.com.au/Blackheath-glen.html Katoomba Falls Tourist Park 101 Katoomba Falls Rd, Katoomba P: (02) 4782 1835 E:…

VALUE FOR MONEY “You’d pay more for this sort of arrangement elsewhere. With the 650, you’re properly rewarded for your outlay.” TOWABILITY “The lightness, tandem axle and swivel hitch make the Tourer eminently towable, despite the height, width and length.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING For blacktop touring with a couple of kids, it’s a great fit, particularly with those bunks. Off-grid and offroad touring, less so (before upgrades, anyway).” BUILD QUALITY “A well put together van, with a quality chassis, aluminium composite walls and polyurethane in the frame.” LIVEABILITY “With zero setup, a separate toilet and shower, an island bed, an easy-to-use galley kitchen by the dinette, and chair storage under the 5m awning, liveability is this van’s strong point.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “From a perspective of comfort, it’ll keep you…

Other simple things you can do between your rig's scheduled services include: • Use a coolant, rather than water, in the radiator which can help delay corrosion. Be aware that coolant comes in antifreeze/anti-boil (30–50 per cent glycol and that includes anti-corrosion inhibitors) or it comes in corrosion inhibitor-only form. While you may not need anti-freeze/boil at home going back and forth from work, you will in the middle of the desert or in the alps. • Keep a constant speed: This will reduce tyre wear and mechanical fatigue. • Check your vehicle towing specifications: Overloading your vehicle will place undue stresses on both your engine, drive train and towbar/chassis. • Keep an eye on your brakes: City driving, driving in hilly areas and towing reduce their effectiveness (and life…