Caravan review: Carpento Caravan 360D compact van

This lightweight Carpento caravan might look like a fancy horse float, but it’s got some great views and touring prospects for couples who don’t want to upgrade to a big tow vehicle.

Sydney-based dealer CARLIGHT Caravans and Trailers does something a little differently from most Australian caravan dealers. For a start, the caravans are generally much smaller and lighter than the average Australian caravan. Secondly, CARLIGHT imports its caravans, but not from China as many do but from Europe, the home of the lightweight caravan and camper.

Up until recently, Polish-built Euro Caravans has been the principal product available, but in a rather interesting recent development, Turkish-made Carpento Caravan has been added to the range. Turkey isn’t the first country that comes to mind when considering a European-built caravan, but there’s no reason not to, given that some of the componentry comes from manufacturers like AL-KO.

Carpento is a relatively new name even in Europe, but the company owner, Faruk Nurcan, has been in the furniture business for the past 30 years. A keen camper, he decided to develop his own range of lightweight caravans, and they are light, too.

The Carpento 360D I looked over has a body length of 3.45m (11ft 4in) and a tare mass of just 750kg. In reality, it’s designed for lightweight touring because the ATM is just 1000kg. Even my around-town vehicle, a Subaru Forester, which doesn’t have a high tow rating, would be a good prospect.

For a refresher on caravan weights and what they mean, check out this feature by Malcolm Street.

Different approach

Under the 360D are some very familiar items; the chassis is an AL-KO hot dipped galvanised, European style with main rails and just a couple of cross members. AL-KO independent rubber suspension (IRS) with shock absorbers is standard, as is the AK270 override coupling. It’s a simple but effective setup that has strength and is lightweight.

The chassis might be a fairly standard setup, but the body is a different matter. It’s an eye catcher to say the least. It looks like a horse float but a very stylish and streamlined horse float. Undoubtedly what adds greatly to the overall look are the panoramic front windows. The bodywork is made from a heat-resistant 32mm sandwich body made from a fibreglass skin with a XPS centre and boxed aluminium section.

A layout with style and imagination

The front dinette transforms into the main bed

The roof is one piece and goes from the front to the right down the rear wall. It is designed to minimise leaks, as is the fibreglass construction of the 360D’s walls, which minimises unnecessary gaps or joins. Fitted onto the front walls are two grab handles. Given its weight, they are quite practical for moving the van around. I’ve seen some on larger vans which are more useful as towel rails.

The entry door is a little different. It’s a moulded fitting with little storage compartments up top and a garbage bin below. It’s a plus for any van traveller. Although the van sits relatively low, a small folding step is helpful.

All electric

There is only one external storage bin built into the 360D body; the other hatch is for the toilet cassette. The free bin is not that big but will take small items. In typical Australian design, there’s a storage box on the drawbar for anything else. It is made of moulded plastic and will hold items like water hoses and power leads. A spare wheel is also mounted on the drawbar. There isn’t a gas system, so there aren’t any gas cylinders.

Storage bin and spare wheel on the drawbar

Unlike vans designed for extended off-grid use, the 360D has a single 100Ah AGM battery and an optional 120W solar blanket, which means it is good for limited off-grid stays. There’s no inverter, so the induction hob can only be used at a caravan park — a portable gas stove might be good for off-grid stays. The Mean Well mains battery charger is rated at 20A.

The exterior design is eye-catching

No wasted space

Stepping into the 360D is a little reminder that European RV manufacturers are masters at space usage. Everything is compressed slightly to be functional, and while space is not excessive, there’s room to move around. The panoramic windows and front roof hatch considerably lighten the interior, and the LED strip lighting, partly semi-concealed, is effective. The downside of the front panoramic glass structure is that nothing can be opened except for the ventilation hatch above the front area. An air-conditioner is an option but will add about 29kg of weight.

Up front, there’s a dinette that folds down into a 1.9m x 1.3m (6ft 2in x 4ft 3in) double bed. Down the rear, there’s a second dinette that also folds down into a single bed, measuring 1.9 m x 0.7m (6ft 2in x 2ft 3in). In between, a small kitchen area, bathroom and wardrobe are fitted in.

The fit out

Like the rest of the van, the kitchen cabinetry is very well assembled. It’s a minimalist arrangement with two cupboards, a single drawer and a couple of compartments built into the wall panel. They look stylish with concealed lighting and the switch panel alongside. A round stainless-steel sink is fitted into the benchtop, and there’s enough space left for the portable induction cooker. Fitted into the cabinetry on the opposite side of the van is an Indel B 65L compressor fridge, just large enough to hold the refrigerated essentials. There’s a drawer below the fridge and the wardrobe above has hanging and shelf space.

The kitchen bench, two cupboards and a drawer are assembled very neatly

Wet bathroom

Bathrooms don’t come much smaller than this one. There’s just enough room to turn around, and there are all the essentials — a Thetford cassette toilet, flexible hose shower and a small wash basin. The bathroom fittings also include a ventilation hatch and wall mirror. It’s definitely good for overnight use if nothing else.

A very compact bathroom but it has all the essentials

Bed making

Although they look a bit fiddly, the fold-down mechanisms to transform the back and front tables into beds are quite simple. The wall slots are accurately placed and it’s very easy to raise and lower the tables — a very effective arrangement. Making up both beds requires locating the stain-resistant fabric cushions correctly.

The benefit of having the two dinettes for a couple is that if they are happy using the smaller table in the rear, then the front bed can be left made up. In warmer weather, the rear dinette has an opening window above the table and the entry door, with its concertina insect screen, is nearby to offer additional airflow and light.

Just enough room for two at the back dinette

The rear dinette folds down into a single bed

Options

Several options are available for the Carpento 360D: inflatable annex, awning, TV and antenna, awning and 120W solar blanket. Given the van’s 250kg payload, some of those inclusions might have to be carried in the tow vehicle. I’d consider extra fridge capacity in the form of a small chest or drawer fridge. That would certainly have to go in the tow vehicle.

This small van tows well

The bottom line

In the Australian caravan scene, the Carpento 360D is a refreshingly different model. It’s not built in the typical local style but is a grand lightweight tourer. The van is not a beefy offroader but that is not the intent. It is more like a van for travellers who don’t have a large tow vehicle and are primarily happy staying in caravan parks.

Measuring up

Pros

• Lightweight tourer
• Two dinette/beds
• Panoramic windows
• Moulded entry door
• Interior fit out

Cons

• Non opening front windows
• Limited payload
• Induction hob can only be used in caravan parks
• Folding steps needed

CARPENTO 360D RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY

The Carpento 360D is almost in a class of its own but it’s quite well priced for an import

TOWABILITY

With a tare mass of just 1000kg, this is a very lightweight towing prospect and no trouble on the road or when parking

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

As a road tourer, it’s ideal for a couple who don’t want a heavy touring van but like solid walls

BUILD QUALITY

Quite good. Internally, everything fits together very neatly in the compact design

LIVEABILITY

Internally, the layout is quite compact, but everything fits in. It’s good for a couple who doesn’t want a big van and are happy to stay in caravan parks

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Given the battery and water tank capacity, the Carpento 360D is good for limited off-grid stays

CUSTOMER CARE

CARLIGHT offers a 12-month-only warranty with the option for an extension

INNOVATION

The European approach (lightweight chassis and body) to building a caravan is a little different and not that common

X-FACTOR

Stylish-looking van inside and out. Its length means it doesn’t require a huge parking space

CARPENTO 360D SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Carpento 360D price from $54,990

OPTIONS FITTED

• 200W solar blanket

Carpento 360D price as shown $54,990

MORE INFORMATION

CARLIGHT Caravans and Trailers

2/148 Toongabbie Road

Girraween NSW 2145

P: 1300 157 122

E: sales@carlight.com.au

W: Carpento / CARLIGHT

THE NEXT STEP

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