Carvan review: Evernew Rugged Terrain 20ft (RT20)

Evernew Caravans stays true to its origins with a well-thought-out, reasonably priced timber-framed couples rough road touring van and flags an aluminium frame option is on its way.

In brief: 

• The Evernew Rugged Terrain 20ft (RT20) represents a sensible design in what it includes and, more importantly, what it leaves out.

This is the fourth Evernew I have reviewed, which gives me a strong sense of the company and its products. The most obvious standout is that Evernew Caravans has been in continuous operation since 1963, building more than 10,000 caravans to date. The Bib family acquired the business in 2017 with Dani Bib at the helm. Dani has a strong background in the automotive industry and has consistently applied rigorous standards to both design and manufacturing.

My observation over the years is that Evernew has focused on consistent quality and a very conservative approach to product development. The team makes small incremental changes, taking the time to engineer designs properly and release updates when they are good and ready.

I spent the day with the next generation of Evernew builders, Dani’s sons — Aydin and Arben. While they were keen to show me through another example of their classically built meranti-framed vans, they also provided an insight into the future. Evernew has spent the last couple of years developing an aluminium frame version and going forward will give customers the choice of timber or aluminium framed builds. While the brothers couldn’t reveal too much, they are really looking forward to bringing the contemporary new look aluminium version to market in the first half of 2026.

The Evernew Rugged Terrain 20ft

Our review van

Like the majority of vans we review, the Evernew RT20 is a couples tourer designed to go further afield and spend some time off-grid. The layout is a little different from most, though, with a front bathroom and rear bed. I think it comes with a very sensible spec without anything too flash, resulting in a reasonable price of $115,320 and a lighter-than-most tare of 2540kg. Let’s explore how Evernew achieves this and see what else we can learn.

How does the Evernew RT20 look? 

The external aesthetic is quite different, with a raw aluminium checkerplate running along the lower sections of the van. We have become quite accustomed to seeing ‘two-tone’ vans with either black powder-coated checkerplate or the more recent trend of a slightly textured polyurethane coating along the bottom. My gut feeling is that more buyers will prefer the black bottom look, but hey, you can order whatever you want. I can tell you with more certainty, though, that the raw aluminium won’t get that stone-chipped look that can appear on black powder-coated surfaces.

The aluminium checkerplate holds up well on rough roads

Construction and build quality

If you are in the market for a meranti frame van, Evernew should be on your list because its vans are among the best. The frames are beefed up with vertical studs located at 300mm centres (instead of the 450mm centres found in many vans) and use 70mm-thick roof beams for increased strength. The roof beams are also contoured to create a slightly curved roof, so water won’t pool up there. Insulation is good with fire-resistant sheets fitted in the walls and batts used in the roof, with composite sheet cladding completing the body.

An earlier factory tour revealed a ‘belts and braces’ approach to sealing a caravan — arguably the single most important job to protect the customer’s investment. To make a join between the wall and roof, first tar tape is applied, then silicone, then the composite panel, followed by another application of silicone, then the J mould, and finally, silicone is applied in the screw holes.

I have been consistently impressed with how Evernew adopts plumbing standards more akin to building a house. Freshwater plumbing consists of a combination of copper and cross-linked polyethylene pipe, rather than the lower-cost, potentially more leak-prone systems typically seen in caravans. The sinks and shower are fitted with traps to prevent unpleasant odours from the grey water tank escaping up through the pipes to stink out the van interior. The grey water tank has a bypass valve, so used water can be directed straight into the caravan park system or onto the ground without first entering the tank. And I really like the drip tray installed under the washing machine, which will direct water out of the van in the event of a leak.

Evernew vans are backed by a tried-and-true build process

Chassis, suspension and running gear

The RT20 has running gear you can rely on. Evernew has been using the AL-KO (formerly G&S) chassis for decades. Every example of the chassis I have seen has gusseting running along the underside of the A-frame to reinforce it, while adding minimal weight. Evernew specifies hot dip galvanising for maximum corrosion protection, even though it is a little heavier than alternative coatings.

Evernew has also been a long-term supporter of Cruisemaster suspension systems, with this van sporting the mid-level XT independent trailing arm variant. It’s my favourite model, even though there are fancier systems available, because it helps keep weight and cost down. Don’t think for a second that you will be compromising on durability, as the XT has been around for more than a decade and is Cruisemaster’s best-selling version.

Cruisemaster XT suspensionGeneral Grabber light truck tyres

Alloy wheels with LT265/75R16 light truck tyres roll down the road, with 12in electric brakes for stopping. And it is nice to see Tuson electronic sway control (ESC) fitted as standard.

A flipped interior layout

The entry door is positioned towards the front of the RT20, and when you first step in there is a real sense of space. A 20ft (6.1m) caravan is a 20ft caravan, but Evernew’s ‘flipped’ layout with the bed at the rear and the bathroom at the front creates a clear view from front to back, making the van feel a lot bigger. Large windows let in lots of natural light and the neutral colour palette contributes to the effect.

The Evernew RT20 has a flipped layout, with the bed down the back instead of up front

The central kitchen features a four-burner stove with grill and oven and a two-door 175L compressor fridge/freezer. Up the front, the bathroom doorway appears to have a bigger opening than most, making it feel less closed off to the rest of the van interior. Of course, closing the door still gives you full privacy and the separate shower and toilet is always a popular setup.

The colour palette reflects the company’s philosophy. It’s a sensible choice with nothing too flashy or over the top. The appliances are known and proven with no gimmicks. The kitchen sink feels just like the one at home, with a stainless-steel finish and a decent-sized drying area.

The interior is tastefully designed

The mid kitchen

The Evernew RT20’s power and battery system

True to the theme, the power system is minimalist by contemporary standards. The Victron Micro can input 30A of solar, 30A from the alternator and 30A from mains power. Paired to the system is a 200Ah Arizon lithium LiFePO4 battery and two 220W monocrystalline solar panels. If you want a small inverter, you will need to tick the option box. Or you can option up the entire system if you like. It will just cost you more weight and money.

The twin 4.5kg gas bottles are minimalist too and help keep the weight down. And the two 95L freshwater tanks and single 95L grey water tank are bang on par with industry norms.

The minimalist power system

Lightweight and safe design

I keep a running record of the key stats of all the vans I review. A 2540kg tare makes the RT20 one of the lighter vans for its size. It’s not achieved with space-age technology but by leaving out stuff that you don’t need. Some people may miss huge toolboxes on the A-frame and hanging off the rear bumper, but it helps on two fronts. Firstly, it keeps the tare weight down, and secondly, it prevents you from putting massive weights at the extremities of the van. All this helps make for better handling and a safer van on the road.

Some people might miss not having a big toolbox on the front, but it has its benefitsRear bumper

Final thoughts on the Evernew RT20

Evernew is sticking to its guns by continuing to offer a meranti frame range but moving with the times with the imminent launch of an aluminium frame range to run in parallel. Timber frame fans are going to find a lot to like about this van. It is just so sensible in terms of a good, honest platform, keeping it simple with features and reaping the rewards with a reachable price and a nice, lightweight build that many other vans don’t even get close to.

Always make sure your weights are right before towing

Measuring up

Pros

• The front bathroom and rear bed are a refreshing alternative
• Minimalist approach keeps weight and price down
• Proven, dependable running gear

Cons

• A minimalist approach will find some customers looking for more features
• Some customers will be hanging out to see the aluminium frame version

EVERNEW RT20 RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY — 8/10

A manageable price by not going over the top with features

TOWABILITY — 8/10

Keeping the tare weight down and away from the extremities is the secret to towing success

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING — 8/10

Everything you need and nothing you don’t

BUILD QUALITY — 8/10

Evernew consistently maintains a high standard

LIVEABILITY — 9/10

I like the flipped layout

SELF SUFFICIENCY — 7/10

Minimalist power system without stretching the budget

CUSTOMER CARE — 8/10

The owner of the company deals directly with the customer on service issues

INNOVATION — 8/10

Evernew puts its effort into attention to detail rather than cutting-edge technology

X-FACTOR — 7/10 

To be frank, this van doesn’t have a lot of pizazz, but it makes up for it with solid dependability

EVERNEW RT20 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Evernew RT20 price from $115,320

OPTIONS FITTED

N/A

Evernew RT20 price as shown $115,320

MORE INFORMATION

Evernew Caravans

20A Reserve Street
Preston Vic 3072
P: 03 9459 7516
E: info@evernewcaravans.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

If you want to learn the latest caravan news, find the most innovative new caravans and camping gear or get inspired to plan your next road trip adventure to some of Australia’s best getaway destinations, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. We promise to send you only the best content.

Related articles:

Caravan review: Evernew RTX28 Edge offroad van

Evernew RTX60 reviewed at Caravan of the Year 2024 presented by MSA 4x4

Caravan World issue #664 is out now