Caravan review: Gold Class Caravans LC17C couples tourer

Gold Class Caravans is a new brand in the local market, with a parent company that has been established for years and has a strong presence locally and in the United States.

In brief: 

This newly released van from Market Direct Group is a compact couples tourer designed for sealed roads and mild trips into accessible national parks. While its main use will be in caravan parks, the Enerdrive electrical system enables limited off-grid stays.

Another imported van, I can hear you sigh from here. Don’t give up. This one is different and comes with a desirable lineage. Gold Class Caravans is brought to you by Market Direct Group (MDG), the same team that pioneered imports into Australia 20 years ago and leads the market in sales figures across a vast range of campers, hybrids and caravans. MDG has its own exclusive partner factory in China dedicated solely to its brands for the Australian and US markets, which gives it years of experience and tight quality control.

MDG’s launch of Gold Class Caravans offers a modest selection of four layouts, available across either touring or offroad versions, making up a total of eight models. Its marketing approach is simple: equip the vans with all the key components needed and keep the price competitive. So, what you see is what you get. There’s no options list because everything is already included, and even the colours are fixed.

The couples layouts come in a 16ft (4.9m) single axle as well as 17ft (5.2m) and 19ft (5.8m) twin-axle models. For those lugging kids around, there’s an 18ft (5.5m) twin-axle family van. These layouts can be equipped with the Adventure or Luxe package, each featuring electronics and accessories designed to suit off-grid/offroad adventures, or a more relaxed caravan park lifestyle.

In this review, we explore the LC17C — or the Luxe Class 17ft couples van. So, it’s a Gold Class Luxe Class, which makes it doubly classy.

The van looks well-proportioned and has the requirements for outside living

Construction and durability

The build process across the range is standardised, with the Adventure Class offroaders getting more robust suspension and a few other tweaks. The chassis and drawbar are built in-house from hot-dipped galvanised steel, 150x50x3mm Q460 grade steel for the drawbar and 150x50x3mm for the chassis. The body has a 25mm box-section aluminium frame, hand-welded in jigs. The external walls are clad in 3.2mm composite aluminium sheets with an insulating polyethylene core, which, importantly for optimum weather protection, is a single sheet. The lower skirt is flat aluminium powder-coated trimming and the voids in the walls are filled with polystyrene insulation. Internally, the walls are 3mm PVC lined plywood.

In the tradition of most strongly constructed vans, the LC17C is built inside out, where the composite floor is fixed to the chassis and the furniture is installed before the walls fit into place. This way, the walls and furniture can be fixed together for maximum strength. The top is a single fibreglass sheet over a more robust box-section welded aluminium roof frame.

Underneath is a tandem trailing arm independent suspension with coil springs and twin big bore shock absorbers at each wheel with 12in electric drum brakes. Wheels are black alloy numbers with Goodride 265/75R16 all-terrain tyres.

The twin shock absorbers at each wheel and the trailing-arm suspension setup is unusual in a touring van

An appealing exterior style and finish

I like the look of the Gold Class LC17C. It’s well-proportioned with contemporary style and distinctive GCC logos on the front and back for brand definition. Externally, it’s finished in white and black, and that’s the only choice. I’m not a big fan of the high black flat aluminium side trim because I can’t see it serving any purpose beyond current fashion, especially on a touring van. In Gold Class’s defence, the team pointed out that most of the accessories along the side, such as the water filler, table and hatches, are black, so they blend in for a cleaner, more integrated look, which is fair enough. Perhaps there’s a market for colour-coded accessories?

We like the white exterior for better insulation under the Australian sun

This van has outdoor living in mind

The 50mm ball hitch up front reinforces the touring intention of the Luxe Class series, while another external feature highlights why it’s not suitable for offroad conditions: the battery box.

To increase storage space, the battery compartment is underslung from the body, forward of the driver-side wheels, which decreases the wading depth and ground clearance, which is important to have if you’re travelling over rocky terrain.

The battery box is fixed to the chassis to create more storage space

A large storage box at the front has space for two 9kg gas bottles, along with all the usual hoses, electrical leads, ramps, blocks, tools and spares, which are accessible via top and side-opening hatches.

Moving back along the passenger side, under the electric roll-out awning you’ll find a well-crafted slide-out kitchen with a Thetford gas cooktop. It looks well-made, and while it’s robust, the designers have kept the weight to a minimum, which is not always the case for imported vans. Further along, we found a locking picnic table, 240V/12V power outlets and a Fusion waterproof speaker.

At the rear, a hard cover over the spare tyre is a tidy touch, and some details reveal the team has picked up a few tricks about caravanning over the years. The first is a metal cover over the grey water drain hose, which drops down neatly for easy emptying. Then there’s the sturdy single-inlet water-filling system and the way the electrical leads and wiring are routed under the chassis. Many builders overlook these details, so it’s a welcome sign of attention to quality.

It’s great to see protection for the drain hoseAttention to detail under the van is superb

Compact twin-axle for easier towing

For both seasoned travellers and those new to caravanning, a modestly sized twin-axle model might be the Goldilocks solution — sized ‘just right’ — not too big, not too small.

Many explorers attempting to access challenging, confined and remote locations have regretted having an oversized van, not to mention the added expense of towing a heavy rig around. For the touring set, even some caravan parks can be a nightmare with a long van. And newcomers might take the more cautious approach of hooking up something smaller. Then, a twin-axle version can offer a more generous payload and provides increased safety in the event of a flat tyre.

Inside the van, the clever layout provides the kind of practical living space that builders a decade ago couldn’t have imagined. Gold Class creates all its designs and engineering specifications at its Australian headquarters using 3D computer programs. If you spend some time in the LC17C as I have, ask yourself what you’re missing for a comfortable, uncomplicated life on the road ... I doubt there’s much.

A classy interior design and layout

Interior colours are limited to matte white and light grey joinery against a white wall, with a mid-tone timber floor and fawn leather-style upholstery. The kitchen bench is also made of timber laminate and looks impressive, featuring a thick waterfall design. Meanwhile, a white sink and brushed copper tapware lend an upmarket appeal.

The overall effect is modern and light, and most couples should be pleased with it, as having only one colour choice takes the agony out of deciding.

Inside the van is bright and airy

The 17ft layout has been carefully considered to create workable interior living space. A significant part of the solution was having the bed and entry door up front, where the opening at the door doubles as the walking space needed at the foot of the bed. The second trick was locating the bed in the front driver side corner. It’s not an east–west bed deal-breaker and access is easy enough for it to be an acceptable compromise for the extra effort of bed-making. An added benefit is the spacious area on the passenger side, which allows for dressing and provides open access to a larger wardrobe.

Locating the bed in the corner helps create a spacious atmosphereHaving a roomy full-width ensuite is a bonus in a compact van

And importantly, the layout includes a full-width ensuite at the back with a separate moulded shower.

A cafe-style dinette seats four and features a table that drops down to convert into an occasional bed. All compact vans are a compromise on storage, so the designers have maximised every opportunity with high cupboards all around, a floor-to-ceiling pantry next to the fridge, nooks under the lounge and the bed plus a handy cupboard to the right of the entry door.

The cafe dinette converts to a second bedStorage options include a floor-to-ceiling pantry

Gold Class has equipped the van with a comprehensive array of brand-name appliances, including a Dometic induction cooktop, a Thetford oven and grill and 221L fridge-freezer, an NCE flatbed microwave and washer/dryer and an Eberspächer diesel heater. A Dometic FreshJet 7 Series air-conditioner is included for when hooked up to 240V power.

Off-grid power and water capacity 

Although the Luxe Class is built for a more traditional caravan park lifestyle, it still provides enough solar and battery power to venture off-grid for several days. Two 80L freshwater tanks can supply showers and numerous cups of tea, and a single 80L grey water tank ensures compliance at RV stops that require one.

On the power front, the Luxe is as good as you will find in a mid-tier van. We love the Enerdrive system, which features 525W of solar power feeding a 300Ah lithium battery through a 40A MPPT charger or a 40A DC/DC charger from the tow vehicle. You have gas for cooking outside and a 2000W inverter will even run the induction cooktop and the microwave for short spurts if there’s enough sun to keep the battery topped up.

Happily, a Simarine battery monitor tells you exactly where things stand with power use and charging, so even novices at the solar challenge can quickly get a handle on what’s what (or watt’s watt).

Tow testing the Gold Class LC17C

With a tare weight of 2720kg, the LC17C might sound hefty for a 17ft van until you consider it’s loaded with all the equipment you will need for unfussed holidays. The ATM is 3500kg, delivering a 780kg payload — which will leave you a good 600kg for all your stuff, even with full water tanks. I’d guess most folk wouldn’t fill those tanks and would probably end up with a travel weight of around 3000–3200kg. You certainly won’t need anything like the Ford F-150 we had for our tow test, and many trusty twin cabs or modest SUVs will be suitable towing options.

Our drive through suburban Brisbane and onto hilly rural roads showed the Gold Class LC17C towed without any issues. Tuson sway control is there if you get into trouble, but I didn’t need it, and the four drums pulled us up safely.

Out on the road, the van towed flawlessly

What does the Luxe Class warranty cover?

The Luxe Class vans are warranted for use on sealed roads, maintained gravel access roads and graded national park tracks, and come with a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser on the chassis and drawbar, as well as a two-year warranty on the rest of the build. The warranty document is listed on the website and is clear, concise and covers the required statutory disclosures. I like that Gold Class is so transparent. It’s not an offroad van, and it doesn’t pretend to be.

If you think the LC17C is just what you have been looking for, but the warranty is too restrictive, then the Luxe Class probably isn’t for you. Again, Gold Class has kept things simple. Upgrade to an Adventure Class, which is the same layout but offroad ready with a warranty to match. Same same but different.

Final thoughts on the Gold Class LC17C

At $89,990, the price is impressive for the equipment level and build quality. It’s difficult to find an aspect of the van that suggests it’s anything other than a well-built, properly finished Australian-designed van. There are none of the usual giveaways you will find in most imports, such as cupboard joins out of true, cheap furniture fittings, weird gauges, slapdash plumbing or no-name electrics. This van just might be the real deal.

Measuring up

Pros

• Quality appliances and electronics
• Great value
• Compact size for easy towing

Cons

• Only one colour choice

GOLD CLASS CARAVANS LC17C RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY — 9/10

At $89,990, the van is great value considering the equipment level and build quality

TOWABILITY — 9/10

Tows remarkably well with good weight balance and backed by Tuson sway control

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING — 8/10

Couples looking for a compact touring van will enjoy the Gold Class LC17C

BUILD QUALITY — 8/10

Well-finished and with quality appliances

LIVEABILITY — 7/10

It’s compact, so there are compromises, but the layout makes the most of the room available

SELF-SUFFICIENCY — 7/10

Well-suited power and water for a tourer. Enough self-sufficiency for a few days off-grid

CUSTOMER CARE — 8/10

Market Direct Group provides strong customer support. A lifetime warranty on the chassis and a two-year warranty on the body apply to the original purchaser

INNOVATION — 7/10

Packing all the living space into a compact van is brilliant

X-FACTOR — 7/10

Great looking van with all the essentials

GOLD CLASS CARAVANS LC17C SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Gold Class Caravans LC17C price from $89,990

OPTIONS FITTED

N/A

Gold Class Caravans LC17C price as shown $89,990

MORE INFORMATION

Gold Class Caravans
P: 1800 425 277

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