Caravan review: Eternity Caravans Vigilante 16’6

Built by Melbourne-based manufacturer Eternity Caravans, the Vigilante 16’6 is a lightweight couples offroader that has tweaked a crowd-favourite layout to suit its compact design.

In brief

• 5.03m (16ft 6in) external body length
• Single axle with ARV Titan-X independent suspension
• Front bed/rear bathroom with separate cubicle layout
• Offroad traveller

A problem many new caravan buyers face is the tension between what’s desired in a caravan and not having a rig that’s too heavy for stress-free towing, whether that’s on or offroad. The most popular layout around these days is one with a front island bed and a rear bathroom. A practical arrangement that generally requires a van with a minimum length of 5.49m (18ft) and a tandem axle design.

Two ways of getting the weight down are to reduce the length of the van and use a single axle. It looks like a good idea, but does that introduce too many layout compromises?

Eternity Caravans is a family-owned boutique manufacturer based in northern Melbourne and, among its models, produces a single axle 5.03m (16ft 6in) van called the Vigilante. My review van came from Parravans Newcastle, an Eternity dealer located in Heatherbrae, the caravan central area of Newcastle, NSW.

The Vigilante is designed as an offroad caravan and, therefore, is heavier than a road tourer of the same length but has a tare mass of 2160kg and an ATM of 3000kg. Apart from anything, it makes a dual cab ute, like the Ford Ranger I was using, an ideal tow vehicle. It minimises the risk of exceeding the Ranger’s GVM, tow rating or rear axle loading. Indeed, the Vigilante is quite a leisurely tow on the road and can be easily manoeuvred around. When travelling offroad, there are advantages to towing a light weight van, and the single axle offers some advantages over undulating terrain.

(For more info about tow vehicles, check out our guide to dual cab utes here.)

The Eternity Vigilante 16’6 has a striking exterior and is ready for rough dirt roadsThe fold-out steps at the entry door are a nice touch

There’s something a bit different about it

Clearly, there are towing advantages to the shorter length. But it does affect the internal layout. Eternity has opted for a variation on the front bed/rear bathroom theme, with a front island bed, a cut-down kitchen, a nearside sideways-facing lounge and a bathroom across the rear. The main difference to the usual for the latter item is that while there are separate toilet and shower cubicles, both doors face into the living area. It’s a neat, space-saving idea without being too impractical. Likewise, the sideways-facing seat and table aren’t the cafe dinette style but still offer seating for two.

For a small van, the Eternity 16’6 has wisely opted for large windows. I particularly like the two-tier frames on either side of the bed at the front. It is more secure than a single large window and offers the nighttime option of closing the lower windows but leaving the upper windows fully open.

Preventing dust incursion into any caravan is always a challenge for any manufacturer, but to reduce that problem, a Dometic dust reduction system (DRS) sits on the right-hand side of the roof area.

Double tier windows offer good air flow and securityA Dometic dust reduction system (DRS) sits on the right-hand side of the roof area

Heading inside the Eternity Vigilante 16’6

Although the overall layout is slightly compressed compared to a more conventional arrangement, there is still room to move, particularly around the bed. It has a pillowtop mattress that measures 1.85m x 1.53m (6ft 2in x 5ft). Lifting the posture slat bed base gives access to the open storage area underneath.

Despite its size, the kitchen is fully equipped with all the expected items: Hawk 600 Series cooktop/grill, sink/drainer, dLUXX microwave oven and a Dometic 188L compressor fridge and plenty of bench space for meal prep. General storage is limited; there are three drawers, including one under the fridge, a cupboard partly occupied by the hot water tank and a floor locker. The BMPRO battery management system (BMS) and a radio unit take up the overhead locker above the kitchen bench.

Facing the kitchen, the dinette has a single seat, long enough for two people and a height-adjustable Nuova Mapa table mounting. That makes it easy to slide in from either side. There’s nothing in the underseat area, so it’s good for general storage space.

There is plenty of room around the queen bed, despite the somewhat compressed layoutThere’s still room to move despite the compact layout

Both the toilet and shower cubicles are large enough to turn around in. A conventional translucent door is used on the shower cubicle, but a more space-effective concertina curtain closes the toilet area off. It’s fully equipped with a Thetford C260 cassette toilet and a small vanity cabinet with a pedestal wash basin, wall mirror and cupboard. The only disadvantage of this arrangement is that you step from the shower into the living area, so keeping the habitation door closed when using the shower is certainly recommended.

Easy access to both the toilet and shower from the living space

How much power does the Vigilante 16’6 have?

At the centre of the electrical system is the BMPRO BatteryPlus35-II-HA BMS which includes a 30A multistage battery charger and an inbuilt 30A MPPT solar regulator. The lithium LiFePO4 battery is rated at 200Ah and the pair of solar panels at 170W each. It’s all monitored by a BMPRO Trek 3 touch panel monitor which, when used correctly, monitors battery voltage and charge status, solar charging currents and water tank levels, among other items. All that equips the Vigilante with a high-power setup that should give four or five days off-grid travel without a problem.

The control panel is well laid out

Standard construction

Eternity Caravans stays with the conventional in its van construction techniques. The body frame is all meranti timber, and the chassis is built by ARV, using a box section design. Painted SupaGal RHS is used — 150mm (6in) for the drawbar and two 100mm (4in) sections laminated together for the main rails. Sub-chassis areas in many caravans aren’t always the neatest places, but the Vigilante’s is done reasonably well, with all the essentials protected and/or strapped up out of the way. The battery box is attached in the conventional position on the offside front chassis rail, the gas bayonet at the front nearside and, a little unusually, there are taps for the freshwater and drinking water storage under the van body, behind the spare wheel.

The battery box is mounted on the front offside rail

Being an offroad van, the Vigilante has an independent suspension, ARV’s Titan-X, rated at 3000kg. It’s fitted with trailing arms, coil springs and a pair of shock absorbers per wheel. The 16in alloy wheels are fitted with 12in electric brakes. Completing the offroad setup is the Cruisemaster DO35 hitch at the sharp end.

Outside living

Given the slightly confined interior, many travellers will use the external slide-out kitchen. It’s well equipped with a stainless-steel sink with both hot and cold water and a gas-fired barbecue. The outside fittings include two hinged picnic tables, an external sound system and two scene lights under the awning. Additional scene lights are fitted to each of the other three walls.

Because the slide-out kitchen takes up most of the front tunnel storage, it’s good to see the alloy checkerplate storage box, with slide-out trays on both sides. There are jerry can holders up front as well. For the gas supply, there are two drawbar-mounted 9kg cylinders.

The external, slide-out kitchen is well equipped 

Eternity Caravans’ customer care

Eternity offers a two-year structural warranty on its caravans and five years on the chassis. As usual, individual appliance warranties apply. Warranty matters can be handled throughout Australia, but in the first instance, the dealer should always be consulted.

Final thoughts on the Eternity Vigilante 16'6

The Eternity Vigilante 16’6 is a van that’s a little different from the usual designs, but it offers much to anyone who desires the usual creature comforts when heading to remote locations but doesn’t want to tow a large van. The Vigilante is very much built for purpose and it’s notable for its inclusions, despite the relatively small size of the van body.

The Eternity Vigilante 16'6 is well suited to a dual cab ute tow vehicle

Measuring up

Pros

• Shorter van body for offroad travel
• Practical layout
• Internal and external kitchen
• It doesn’t require a heavy-duty tow vehicle

Cons

• Limited kitchen storage
• Meranti timber frame is a bit old-school

ETERNITY VIGILANTE 16’6 RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY

Eternity is a boutique manufacturer, and that’s reflected in the price of a purpose-built van

TOWABILITY

It was an easy tow experience — the Vigilante 16'6 is designed for a mid-range tow vehicle and is a well-behaved van on the road

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

A van that’s built for the rough stuff and features an extended off-grid capability

BUILD QUALITY

Eternity does a good job overall in the building of its vans

LIVEABILITY

The layout is quite compact but remains practical in the design

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Has enough battery and solar panel capacity for extended off-grid stays

CUSTOMER CARE

Two years’ warranty on the caravan manufacture and five years on the chassis

INNOVATION

The internal layout, particularly the split bathroom arrangement

X-FACTOR

An offroad caravan that isn’t either overly large or excessively heavy

ETERNITY VIGILANTE 16’6 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Eternity Vigilante 16’6 price from 

OPTIONS FITTED

All standard inclusions

Eternity Vigilante 16’6 price as shown $$87,490

MORE INFORMATION

Parravans Newcastle

329 Pacific Highway

Heatherbrae NSW 2324

P: 02 4983 1551

E: sales@parravansnewcastle.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

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