Caravan review: Snowy River Caravans SRC-24 couples van

An evolution of the extremely popular SRC-19, the SRC-24 grows in length yet maintains a purchase price that will raise a few eyebrows.

This 24ft, composite couples van starts at $77,490. Let that settle in while we go on a journey explaining why I think this might just be the best value van in its category. With a front island bed, centre ensuite and galley plus a sumptuous club lounge and rear entry door, you’d be forgiven for thinking (and expecting) the purchase price to be over six figures but it's not and let's start there.

Imported local

The owners of Snowy River Caravans, the manufacturing facilities of its vans and most of the components used in its builds are Chinese. Some of you may be uncomfortable with that and you’ve all heard the arguments (facts) that a lot of what we wear, most of our furniture and the devices we watch the Caravan World YouTube channel on (go subscribe) are made in China and few people choose to argue that. Why so many products come from China is broadly simple, when it builds something and sells it to someone overseas, its economy tends to benefit. China has an export-focussed economy. In the finer details, Chinese manufacturers benefit from low labour costs, reduced component costs and economies of scale. It builds more, for less.

To give you an example, I’ll use a similarly built and same-size 2024 Crusader Excalibur Prince. It is in the realm of $115,000, and that's after an $8000 discount because the model has been superseded by a yet more expensive one for 2025. There is a lot to unpack if doing a full like-for-like comparison; I will only cover the basics, but here we go.

The SRC-24 has a lot to entice couples who want to stick to the bitumen with a few gravel road trips thrown in

The Excalibur Prince has composite panel walls, ceiling and floor, same for the Snowy. It has a body length of 7m, a smidge shorter than the SRC-24 but is a touch wider at 2.49m versus 2.39m. They share the same layout. The Crusader trumps the Snowy for fridge size with the Snowy having a 50L less capacity (more on that in a tick) and generally, I prefer the appliances in the Crusader. Both have a decent volume of solar and lithium batteries with the Crusader featuring more battery (300A versus 100A) and a 2000W inverter. The Crusader is on leaf springs and the Snowy on IRS, to me a tie. They have almost identical freshwater capacities but for the Snowy, you’ll have to opt on a grey tank which is included in the Crusader. And would you believe their warranties are, on paper, like for like with five years on the structure and two years on the materials used and workmanship.

There are inclusions that go the way of the Crusader. A full-size oven and an inverter are options in the Snowy; you’ll find both in the Excalibur Prince. You could opt for leather in the lounge. Similarly, you can upgrade the standard 150L Thetford compressor fridge to a 224L Thetford. Do that, and you are still going to be on the road for under or near $90,000. Try to negotiate a further $25,000 off the Crusader and tell me how you go.

The view down the van from the Club Lounge demonstrates the social space and privacy of the layout

And why go all of that way explaining how the Snowy is competitive to the Crusader yet crushes it on value for money is because the Crusader is a local brand with local design and development and guess what, the Snowy was locally designed with our conditions in mind. Those conditions have some conditions in how you can live with the SRC-24 though.

Blacktop, mostly

The SRC-24 can go on a gravel road, it is warrantied for that but not more. This is a blacktop tourer that will take you from holiday park to holiday park with a night or two off-grid and a jaunt along a formed gravel road into a national park (just remember to option on the grey tank if you plan to stay in NSW national parks). It is not a behemoth, gargantuan offroad beast with an audacious name like Rock Breaker or World Smasher (I vote we go back to naming vans around calm pastimes and luxury), this is a genteel van with the goal of getting you on the road reliability and at a price you can afford and a list of inclusions and quality you can justify.

Self-sufficiency

It is not uncommon to see lithium in a 24ft van, but it is in a van under $80,000 regardless of its size. Our review van had a second battery fitted, 100A is standard which paired with two 180W solar panels (360W total) should be sufficient to keep the fridge and lights on during clear days indefinitely.

Both battery boxes house 100A lithium batteries

(To find out more about calculating your power management for off-grid days, check out this article by John Hughes.)

As mentioned, under the chassis live a pair of 95L fresh water tanks and space for an optional grey tank. If you were conservative in your water use in the shower, the tanks should last you a week or more. The toilet is a cassette which will likely last a couple three to five days so carry a spare if you want to stay out longer.

Our author would like to see some protection on the drain tap of the tanks

The two 9kg gas bottles on the front feed the Fogatti HWS and internal stove, a Dometic Mobicool MC102 grill and stove. These are a small unit, not big enough for a Sunday roast. With three gas and one electric burner and a grill, they are ideal for pot-based cooking and grilling some meat or veggies. If you want more, there is a strategically placed bayonet near the tunnel boot for a Weber or other barbecue.

There's good external storage in the front tunnel boot for chairs and collapsible tables

Shelter from our hot sun and a bit of privacy is great with an 18ft Dometic roll-out awing covering the bulk of the outside entertainment area. I rate these awnings highly. Adding on extra wind blocks or privacy screens is easy and with an anti-flap kit, you’d hardly know it’s there.

In terms of heat retention and reflection, the way all Snowys are made is about as good as it gets. XPS foam is sandwiched between two skins of fibreglass combining to a system dubbed ALOPLEX. There is alloy box section placed strategically for support of things like the Belaire 2400W air-conditioner unit and the double-glazed windows. The walls and ceiling measure 32mm thick and the floor 42mm thick. Using XPS foam-cored sandwich panels is one of my favourite build methodologies as it reflects heat very well and keeps the cool or warmth in.

Towability

We had my favourite utes for the SRC-24 in the Isuzu D-MAX LS-U+ with a range of tow-centric options fitted. We’ve looked at the D-MAX a heap of times most recently, I reviewed the MY24 D-MAX range including this exact same ute.

At the launch, I loved everything about it, but I did notice, once optioned up, this ute came in at a not insubstantial $79,168.08. That includes some great options like the Compact Clearview mirrors, a tow pack, a lockable tonneau cover, snorkel and rubber mats. The options I think are best for tourers.

Clearview Compact Mirrors are an option on the Isuzu D-MAX range

It's a good thing that Isuzu sees it the same way as it just launched the Tour Mate , a limited edition that has a canopy to replace the tonneau cover but otherwise has much the same options fitted but at a reduced price of $72,990 on the LS-U+. There is an MU-X variant in the works too, I believe.

Running a 3L turbo diesel engine, it has enough power (140kW at 3600 rpm) to hold pace on the freeway and plenty of low-down torque (6450Nm at 1600 to 2600rpm) to pull away from the lights. More importantly, it is a very comfortable place to ride in with electrically adjustable leather seats and a great stereo and a big screen with which to navigate.

On fuel consumption, it excelled, as the D-MAX always does. We saw around 14-16L/100km travelled which for a 24ft van is very reasonable.

A good match for the SRC-24 would be any modern ute with a tow rating of 3500kg and SUV-based counterparts like the MU-X and Ranger-based Everest.

It is worth noting that the IRS suspension under the SRC-24 can be rated up to 3500kg and though I appreciate that it rides nice and low (watch your overhangs), it needs some weight on board to settle on the road or it can bounce a little.

Torsion IRS keeps the SRC-24 low to the ground while still providing moderate articulation

The layout

You read, and likely saw already, that the SRC-24 features a front bedroom, centre ensuite and dinette and rear club lounge. I’ll say it again, this is my favourite layout for its entertaining space and its privacy. The lounge will accommodate, at a squeeze, six and with twin benches, there is room for two chefs plus, with solid doors between the sections, if one of the chefs needs a moment to absorb some negative feedback on the evening hors d'oeuvre, they can hide up front on the comfortable bed. The bed area comes with plenty of storage, a reading light, power point and USB outlet on each side.

The large windows around the rear club lounge offer plenty of natural light and a breeze thanks to the 270 degree aspect

There is good robe space and yet more overhead cupboards at the bedhead and the privacy door between the centre ensuite and bedroom is a favourite of the author

Importantly for people like me, there is great headroom too with the ceilings at 2m and with the shower and vanity and toilet split to a side each in the ensuite, there is plenty of space for drying off and redressing.

The cassette toilet passes the elbow test well

Customer care

The Snowy River SRC-24 caravan comes with a comprehensive warranty, offering a five-year structural warranty and a two-year warranty on materials and parts. This level of coverage is fairly standard within the industry, ensuring protection against defects and providing peace of mind to owners. In addition to this, the individual appliances within the caravan are each covered by separate warranties, as specified by their respective manufacturers.

Snowy River's warranty process is user-friendly and adheres to the guidelines set by Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Claims can be submitted easily through Snowy River’s dedicated warranty portal or via its extensive network of over 20 authorised dealerships across Australia.

To ensure the warranty remains valid, Snowy River clearly outlines a required schedule for regular maintenance. The manufacturer goes above and beyond by including a detailed 21-point servicing checklist that covers essential aspects such as checking the sealant, gas lines, brake components, and more. This thorough checklist is a welcome inclusion, as it's often overlooked in similar warranty documentation, giving owners clear guidelines to follow.

It is important to note that the SRC-24 is not designed for offroad use, but it is warrantied for travel on gravel roads. Snowy River advises drivers to adjust their speed and driving style based on road conditions to prevent damage. As with most warranties, any damage resulting from negligence, abuse, or inappropriate use will not be covered, which is a reasonable expectation.

The spare wheel is located on the back of the van

The wrap

When I last reviewed a Snowy, it was the SRP-18F, a full-body family bunk pop-top . I came away from that review impressed with its level of inclusion and its value though I noted that it was in a more price-competitive market than what we have today. The SRC-24 stands alone and well above the rest for value for money.

It is not a spec-heavy hitter in terms of power, water and ability to go anywhere but doesn’t pretend to be. Th SRC-24 is, in my opinion, the best value couples van in its category and by a long way.

Measuring up

Pros

• Value for money
• Layout and storage
• The way it’s built

Cons

• It could do with more power systems and water
• The standard fridge is a touch small
• Need to option on a grey water tank

SNOWY RIVER CARAVANS SRC-24 RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY

It will take some beating … this is the best deal I’ve seen for its size and style

TOWABILITY

The SRC-24 sits nice and low but needs some weight to settle the independent torsion suspension

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

It’ll do a little gravel road work and a few nights off-grid, exactly what you need in Australia

BUILD QUALITY

I am a big fan of the ALOPLEX system used to build the SRC-24

LIVEABILITY

With excellent outside coverage and inside privacy, it’s about as good as it gets

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

It’ll do a few days off-grid making it a great tourer to hop from park to park

CUSTOMER CARE

The SRC-24 offers a comprehensive warranty, clear maintenance guidelines, and coverage for gravel roads, ensuring durability and satisfaction

INNOVATION

It is tried and true, not revolutionary apart from on price, where it is sensational

X-FACTOR

When your neighbours hear the price they’ll either drop their jaw in envy or get online to fact-check you, it's that good

SNOWY RIVER CARAVANS SRC-24 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Snowy River Caravans SRC-24 price from $77,490

OPTIONS FITTED

• Leather upgrade
• Extra 100Ah lithium battery

MORE INFORMATION

Snowy River Caravans
20–50 Fillo Drive
Somerton Vic 3062
P: 03 9303 6100

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Check out more vans in the Snowy River range here:

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