Caravan review: Legend Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V

And once there, we discovered it is a sizeable couple’s offroad van with a revolutionary modular solar and battery system and loads of comfort to boot. 

Legend Caravans has been a family-run builder since 2008. In those 15 years, brothers Zoran and Robert have seen many changes in customer expectations and technological advances. Their Somerton, Vic, business is a vast complex of modern build processes with a fashionable showroom where customers can take their time checking out display vans or taking a tour of the factory. 

The last few years have been testing on all caravan builders, with staff shortages and supply problems exacerbating unprecedented demand. Recently, the team has reassessed the business with a commitment to quality over quantity. They brought all sales in-house to take command of orders and ensure a timely flow of vans to customers. Cutting back on output and maximising quality control guarantees that the vans are perfectly finished. “By slowing down, we can do the job once and do it right,” Zoran told me.

Part of the business rejig was rationalising the model lineup to a core offering of offroad vans, all with an innovative fully electric power supply. That’s right — no gas.

The van on show here sits Legend’s top-tier Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V series, and it comes fully decked out with a long list of standard features. This 21ft 6in couple’s van is one of seven in the premium range and joins models between 19ft 6in and 24ft 6in, a range that includes two family vans. For our review, we had three days touring the countryside around Lake Eildon, north of Melbourne, for photography and video, so we had plenty of time to get acquainted. 

The build

Legend builds with an aluminium frame clad with a composite exterior on a heavy-duty chassis. This is the construction method of most leading offroad caravan manufacturers, and it has been tested over countless outback roads. Legend rivets the aluminium sections of the frame rather than welding them, as it allows for some movement over extreme conditions to avoid cracking. The frame components of the roof and walls are lock-bolted together as well as to the chassis to create a solid and enduring entity. Exterior cladding is a composite panel of two thin aluminium sheets over an insulating polyethylene core. Voids in the walls are filled with AIR-CELL Insuliner — a closed cell fire-resistant core inside reflective foil to temper heat and cold. A single-piece fibreglass panel covers the roof, and the floor is a honeycomb panel. 

The 150mm A-frame connects to an overengineered Legend design S&M truss chassis with a Cruisemaster 4500kg DO45 hitch to the tow vehicle. Suspension is Cruisemaster’s most robust system in its ATX airbag unit with remote control. Stopping power comes from 12in discs with hydraulic actuation.

An impressive exterior

The 21ft 6in Groundbreaker is a standout with a predominantly dark exterior and a high angular stance. The dusty-brown wall exterior honours the now heritage Toyota LandCruisers of the 1970s, but the overall look is modern and well-executed. The truss chassis with its Legend logos is a feature because the body sits flat on the chassis with no wheel arches to disturb the view of the hefty trusses.

One of the most enormous toolboxes I have seen sits on the A-frame, and it’s big enough to hold a 75L Dometic fridge on a passenger side slide, a backup generator on the other side and room for tools and mats in the top section. Ball weight when empty is a relatively slim 180kg, so there’s ample scope for loading the fridge and storage box with all your camping necessities without exceeding maximum specifications. A Black Jack electric jack sits permanently on the A-frame and makes hitching up as easy as possible. 

A fridge slide is just ahead of a custom kitchen with a twin induction hotplate, a black ceramic sink and a Weber Pulse electric barbecue, so you will be well-equipped for outside cooking. Under the van are three 95L freshwater tanks and a 110L of grey water. Talking of water, the plumbing includes a water-saving device that diverts cold water headed to the shower back to the fresh tank until the hot water starts to flow. That’s a neat idea. All the outlets are guarded against stone damage, and while you might think all offroad vans have this covered, that’s not always the case, and unprotected, smashed outlets are common on gibber tracks.

Heading indoors

A twin electric step towards the back helps for climbing inside the van, where the level of finish aligns with the van’s high-end price point. Beautifully finished joinery and rich leather upholstery project an upmarket ambience, while the high 1.96m ceiling adds to the welcoming and spacious atmosphere. To the right of the entry is a sprawling club lounge surrounded by expansive windows, and there’s more than enough room to spread out when relaxing or entertaining guests.

The flat floor design means there are no wheel arches to dictate the interior layout, so the van has a central ensuite, which maximises privacy to the front bedroom. And while there’s a concertina door between the ensuite and living areas, the walkway to the bedroom passes between the nearside enclosed shower and the open toilet area, which may not be everyone’s preference. 

The kitchen features a thoughtful, ergonomic design, with benches on each side of the van that ensure everything is easily accessible. On the passenger side is another induction cooktop and a sensibly placed convection microwave below. Opposite is a smaller bench and ceiling-height cupboard — a handy place for a coffee machine. Further forward, the 224L fridge/freezer is larger than most in a van, so, along with the one outside, there’s generous cold storage for more extended off-track expeditions. 

Renewable power

In Legend’s switch to renewable energy across all models, the company has chosen EcoFlow’s modular power kits. The US company started in 2017 and is new to Australia, but it claims 2.5 million global users across 100 countries. Owners can choose the level of solar charging, battery supply and inverter capacity they need from the various kits. The system is a compact plug-and-play design for RV environments where simplified installation is essential. Dedicated power cables with different plugs and inputs for multiple applications make installation foolproof and fast. The kits come with 2kWh or 5kWh 48V batteries, a mix of 200W solar panels and control modules.

The EcoFlow version on review in our Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V has the top-of-the-line kit, which includes three lithium iron phosphate 5kWh batteries for 15kWh of power and seven 200W solar panels for an impressive total of 1400W. An innovative power hub combines various charging applications and 3600W of pure sine wave 240V power. It can charge from solar, a generator, the vehicle alternator or a 240V input. 

The three batteries and the power hub live in a sealed hatch at the driver-side rear of the van, so the system meets the latest Australian Design Rules (ADR) specifications and is well-protected from the elements and damage. The inverter, distribution/fuse panel and video screen are all inside, and a phone app is available for remote monitoring. 

In practice, the system worked seamlessly over our three-day adventure and with thoughtful use, you should have enough onboard power to keep things running. Charging with up to 1000W from the tow vehicle alternator is an excellent backup for long periods of cloudy weather. 

Towability

Our review of the Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V saw our crew travelling with three Legend vans over three days. While we swapped the driving around, our Creative Director Tim van Duyl managed to win the keys to the Silverado 1500 Premium LTZ tow vehicle most times; see his report in the breakout box to the left. But there’s no denying the 21ft 6in Groundbreaker is a fully loaded and relatively hefty beast with a tare weight of 3255kg. Add in water and supplies, and you will always be over the 3500kg weight capacity of most mid-range tow vehicles. And if you want to take advantage of the 4500kg ATM you’ll be pushing the weight even further over the line. So, the Silverado or a similar higher-capacity ute or truck will have to go into the buying process. 

Head here to read Tim's full review of the Silverado 1500 Premium LTZ.

The bottom line

The 21ft 6in Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V has a monster list of standard features on top of what’s arguably the most comprehensive solar and battery pack currently on the market. It should be no surprise that the big van commands a not insignificant $227,000 cost, placing it in a class for couples who expect the best and are prepared to pay for the privilege.

Legend has taken a significant step into the renewable power future with its new gasless range and has given themselves a point of difference in the market. Our time with the van proved the worth of a well-specified solar and lithium package, and while the initial price premium is significant, there will always be the benefits of cost savings over time and the luxury of on-call power for extended living off-grid. 

AT A GLANCE

The Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V is a couple’s van with all the features you would expect for extended travel. It has class-leading off-grid potential and heavy-duty offroad engineering to explore and stay in special remote campsites in the bush. The superb build quality and level of finish rank Legend among our best offroad builders.

HITS AND MISSES

Hits

• Class-leading off-grid ability
•  Beautifully engineered for offroad travel
•  Comfortable and roomy couple’s interior

Misses

• Price is to be expected, but won’t suit everyone

LEGEND GROUNDBREAKER ULTIMATE 48V RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY 
Not cheap, but it has everything and more

TOWABILITY 
With a 4500kg ATM, it needs a high-end tow vehicle

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING 
If you want a big couple’s van to explore remote places for extended times, check this out

BUILD QUALITY 
Superb engineering and high attention to detail

LIVEABILITY    
Roomy, luxurious and comfortable

SELF-SUFFICIENCY    
It doesn’t get much better than this at the moment

CUSTOMER CARE
Two years on the body and fittings and five years on the chassis and suspension. Extended warranty and customer care are options

INNOVATION
The Legend team has combined the best current features in a very impressive package

X-FACTOR      
If this doesn’t impress, check your pulse

LEGEND GROUNDBREAKER ULTIMATE 48V SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Legend Groundbreaker Ultimate 48V price from $227,000

MORE INFORMATION

Legend Caravans
2 Florey Court
Somerton Vic 3062
P: 03 9308 9550
E: info@legendcaravans.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

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