Caravan review: Atlas Caravans RVO196RD

Twin axle, 3500kg ATM with offroad independent suspension and off-grid power has become the benchmark spec for many new van shoppers. All this comes at a price with many of these vans selling for well over $100k. Atlas Caravans brings an offer to market for just under $100k which is well worth a look.

In brief:

• 6m (19ft 6in) offroad spec van with independent suspension
• 3500kg ATM, twin axle caravan
• Classic couples van layout

There are not too many positives from the pandemic days, but some visionary people seized the opportunity to set up their own caravan manufacturing operations to help fill the gap in the market caused by surging demand. Aleks Bumbroski, owner of Atlas Caravans, is an example of this entrepreneurial spirit who commenced building caravans in 2021. Aleks is a hands-on technical person with a career as a diesel mechanic and a background in caravan manufacturing prior to that.

Aleks explained that his approach is to keep everything simple and streamlined to focus on quality and value for money. Atlas is a small-volume builder with a limited range offering. The team works to its standardised designs in various lengths and layouts and does not offer custom builds. This approach delivers a highly repeatable product and keeps costs down for a competitive offering.

This is a big year for Atlas as it is rejigging its range with the launch of the RVO series and the RVR series. These two ranges will replace the previous single range RVS offering. So, what do all the letters mean? As per Aleks’ philosophy, it is all very simple. RV is for recreational vehicle, ‘O’ is for offroad, ‘R’ is for on-road and ‘S’ is for semi-offroad.

One of the first RVOs off the production line

Aleks is phasing out the RVS as he finds more and more customers prefer an offroad spec to a semi-offroad spec. The primary difference is the suspension system with RVOs being supplied with Cruisemaster XT offroad suspension rather than Cruisemaster CRS suspension that was supplied standard with the RVS. The RVR is fitted with roller rocker suspension.

We were fortunate to see one of the first RVOs off the line in the form of a RVO196RD. No surprise the 196 refers to 19ft 6in (6m) body length (nominally) and the RD refers to rear entry door. It’s a couples van following the most in-demand format from Australian customers — front bed, mid kitchen and rear bathroom. The couples range is available in models from 18ft (5.5m) through to 22ft 6in (6.9m) and the family bunk bed layouts is available in 19ft 6in and 21in 6in (6.6m) models.

Familiar building technique

Just as the layout is well known, the building technique is very familiar. We are talking about an aluminium frame comprising a welded 25mm square hollow section. The frame is clad with a 3mm composite aluminium sheet in the upper sections and the lower sections feature the ubiquitous aluminium checkerplate. The roof is a one-piece composite fibreglass panel, and the floor is one-piece 12mm ply.

High checkerplate for protection

While we don’t have x-ray glasses to see how well the whole thing goes together, everything I could see from the outside was consistent with a well-made van. I’m talking about things like all the components being nicely aligned, doors/drawers operated smoothly and there were no poorly sealed holes for running plumbing/electrical lines.

Reliable running gear

The chassis is constructed from Australian-made DuraGal steel and supplied by local manufacturer FP Chassis which has been in business since 2004. It’s a traditional box section chassis with a reinforced 6in A-frame combined with 4in main beams and a 4in riser to strengthen the structure and get the van body higher off the ground. Cruisemaster dominates certain aspects of the caravan component industry. This is most evident with its DO35 multi-axis pin coupling, closely followed by its XT offroad spec independent trailing arm suspension.

Twelve-inch electric drum brakes are standard fare. Wheels are 17in alloys paired with 265/70R17 XTREME RT tyres. RT stands for rugged terrain and is a tyre type growing in popularity among many tyre suppliers. RTs are a hybrid between all-terrain tyres and mud tyres. Adopting the stronger internal construction associated with mud tyres and a tread pattern more in line with all-terrain tyres, RTs appear to be a great choice for heavy-duty caravan applications.

17in alloy wheels

External setup

On the A-frame, we have a basic but effective toolbox. Jerry can holders are welded to the vertically hinged doors. I have often wondered about the merit of hinges taking all the weight of a full jerry can, but it seems to be common practice, and I have yet to hear of one failing. In front of the toolbox, a traditional stoneguard protects two 9kg gas bottles. A regulation tunnel boot is positioned at the front of the caravan body giving good upfront storage area. There is no dedicated external kitchen so you will be looking to store a portable barbecue in either the tunnel boot or toolbox. The rear wall of the van is minimalist with one spare wheel attached to the rear bumper and an absence of jerry can holders thanks to A-frame toolbox mounts.

Jerry can holders are attached to the toolbox door

Proven layout

This Atlas shares the same elements you will find in many Aussie vans. The queen-sized front bed has plenty of storage space above, beside and below it. There is adequate space between the bed and the mid-section furniture to walk around comfortably. You get dinette-style seating for two and decent bench space on the kitchen side.

The front bed/rear door layout is popularComfortable dinette seating for two with large windows for plenty of natural light

A Swift gas oven/cooktop and NCE 25L microwave take care of cooking duties and a Dometic 224L compressor fridge keeps your food fresh and drinks cold. Overhead lockers and under bench storage is plentiful and includes a neat little slide-out pantry you see in most vans these days. A Gree reverse cycle air conditioner can keep you comfortable all year round. Supplied as standard, the Dometic dust pressure unit will go a long way to maintaining a dust-free environment.

The full bathroom down the back of the van has everything where it should. The vanity is compact, but I think placing the raised sink right in the corner of the bench is a great way to make the best use of limited space. The NCE 3.5kg top loader washing machine also comes standard and will be a welcome addition for couples who do not like to rely on caravan park washing facilities or laundromats.

The placement of the sink maximises vanity space

Nice power and adequate water

Projecta is the key brand behind the off-grid electrical system in this Atlas. I have been seeing a lot more Projecta systems in review vans of late. I suspect this is because the brand has developed complete plug-and-play systems that are very simple for caravan manufacturers to install, and these systems deliver the performance that savvy consumers are now demanding. A Projecta inverter rated at 3000W is the new benchmark for 12V systems to power up appliances such as coffee machines, air fryers and hair dryers with ease. Power is put back into the system with four 200W solar panels and it is stored with a decent-sized 300Ah lithium battery.

It’s not in the same league as the mega 48V battery bank systems that will run the whole van plus some. They cost an arm and a leg and are just over the top for many users. Instead, the two humble gas bottles provide the energy for cooking and the instantaneous hot water. Water storage is a useful two 95L freshwater tanks and one 105L grey water tank.

Projecta plug and play power system

So, how did the Atlas tow?

The Atlas is your ever popular 3500kg ATM spec with a tare of 2749kg yielding a not huge but respectable payload of 751kg. An unladen nose weight of 165kg represents six per cent of the total weight of the van. A percentage as low as this can indicate that the van weight is biased to the rear which can cause stability problems. However, our review van does not appear to be overly weighted at the rear, suggesting the weight is through the middle and over the axle which is the best place for it to be. Storage locations are towards the front which suggests in packed mode the van nose percentage will rise.

The Atlas RVO196RD towed well behind the Land Rover Discovery during our test drive

Towing duties were performed with a beautifully presented older Land Rover Discovery. Just out of interest I looked up the current model specs online. Unlike many car manufacturers, Land Rover’s published maximum vehicle and trailer combination allows you to use the full 3500kg tow rating when the tow vehicle is loaded to its specified maximum capacity. The maths is 6745kg (gross combined mass) minus 3245kg (gross vehicle mass) equals 3500kg (weight left over for trailer). Clearly, Land Rover has come up with a number that is the sum of its GVM and tow rating. This is a perfectly logical specification. However, I would still not be entirely comfortable with completely loading the car and the van as the van is going to end up heavier than the car. This is not an ideal scenario as the van can end up pushing the car around if the road conditions become unfavourable.

So, what did we think of the Atlas RVO196RD?

I think it would be fair to say that Atlas is more focused on getting the value/quality balance right than it is on innovation. Sticking to what the industry has proven to work, and what consumers find desirable is a safe bet for a relatively new entrant to the market. Value is achieved with a sharp price and many standard inclusions that would be options with other brands. The Atlas team’s execution is solid, and I see no reason why Atlas should not be on your shopping list for a well-built Aussie van.

Measuring up

Pros

• Well-built, proven layout
• Good spec running gear
• Strong value proposition

Cons

•  It doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowd

ATLAS CARAVANS RVO196RD RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY

In our new inflated world just over $100k for a twin axle offroad van, this van from Atlas is about as good as you are going to get

TOWABILITY

Weight distribution appears sensible for stable towing

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

Has everything you need to hit the road

BUILD QUALITY

Everything was in order

LIVEABILITY

Atlas has repeated a well-proven formula that is up to the task and supplies all the necessary comforts of home

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The Projecta offering is a great 12V system for keeping plenty of household appliances powered up

CUSTOMER CARE

A five-year structural warranty ticks the box

INNOVATION

Atlas is more focused on getting the value/quality balance right than it is on innovation

X-FACTOR

The price is among the best value we are seeing for a locally produced, small volume builder

ATLAS CARAVANS RVO196RD SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Atlas Caravans RVO196RD price from $99,750

OPTIONS FITTED

• Luxury colour pack

Atlas Caravans RVO196RD price as shown $102,550

MORE INFORMATION

Atlas Caravans

119 Northgate Drive

Thomastown Vic 3074

P: 03 9460 3936

E: info@atlascaravans.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

If you want to learn the latest caravan news, find the most innovative new caravans and camping gear or get inspired to plan your next adventure off the beaten track to some of Australia's best getaway destinations, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. We promise to send you only the best content.

Related articles:

Tips for planning your dry season caravanning adventure

A guide to caravan towing dynamics and how to stay safe: Part 1

Top tips from Cruisemaster on offroad suspension setups