Cub Campers F14 reviewed at Caravan of the Year 2025 presented by MSA 4X4 Accessories

Cub Campers has fused camper toughness with caravan comfort in the F14 — a lightweight, low-profile hybrid packed with luxury and built tough enough to win our Best Hybrid award at COTY 2025.

Winner — Best Hybrid

The F in F14 stands for fusion. Long renowned for its quality camper trailers, Cub Campers started producing full height caravans and hybrids a few years ago with great success. The F14 is a fusion of Cub’s luxury vans and its lightweight, easy-to-tow but tough campers. It’s likely to appeal to a wide range of travellers and wins this year’s COTY award for Best Hybrid.

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Build quality

At COTY, we have seen a few earlier caravan and pop-top alternatives to the F14 hybrid. What hasn’t changed with this model is the superb build quality of the van. Built in Australia, the Cub F14 is a lightweight, offroad hybrid caravan designed for couples seeking adventure but who cannot do without too many comforts. One hundred per cent BlueScope DuraGal steel is used for the chassis. It’s made with a 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) RHS drawbar and 100mm x 50mm (4in x 2in) RHS for the rails. All finished in three coasts of a premium enamel paint.

Cub uses its own independent suspension with trailing arms, airbags and dual shock absorbers, or there is the option to have Cruisemaster ATX suspension, as seen in this model. On the drawbar is an AL-KO Off-Road Ball Coupling, which is good for vertical and horizontal articulation and easy hitching. Also on the drawbar is an ARK XO750 jockey wheel, the type that snaps up out of the way when not being used.

Cub Campers F14 is a compact pop-top hybrid that won Best Hybrid at COTY 2025The gusset of the pop-top is locally produced

Composite panels are used for the body structure. Filled with XPS insulation, the walls are 30mm thick and the floor sheet 40mm. The pop-top gusset and wall panels are both locally sourced. Since the polyfabric forms quite a chunk of the upper living area, the insulative effect is going to be less than the composite walls and roof.

A feature that really stands out is the Rimex stainless steel used for the benchtops. It’s not only practical but also really catches the eye. The overall impression of the F14, inside and out, is one of a hybrid camper that is really well put together. That’s something we have come to expect from Cub, and there are no exceptions here.

Suitability for intended touring

If you desire a pop-top hybrid with a very low towing profile that is also easy to park undercover yet is easy to set up and has several creature comforts, then Cub’s F14 ticks a substantial number of boxes. Oh, and I forgot to add that it’s built for offroad travel and doesn’t require an extra-large tow vehicle.

For a relatively small hybrid, the 12V power system is quite impressive. It consists of a 300Ah lithium LiFePO4 battery and a 720W solar panel. The power setup is optioned up from the standard model and includes a 3000W inverter. A REDARC battery management system controls it all.

The internal kitchen is quite basic but it’s hard not to be impressed by the external kitchen facilities. The sideways-facing kitchen bench is beautifully made from the Rimex embossed stainless steel we’ve been impressed with in other Cub builds, and it goes together for use very quickly. Built into the bench is a stainless-steel sink alongside a three-burner hob. The hinged extension adds greatly to the benchtop space. Alongside the kitchen bench and on its own slide-out is a Dometic CFX3 95DX fridge/freezer. The Fiamma awning, when extended, covers most of the outside living area.

Towability

Cub’s F14 has a tare mass of just 1759kg and an ATM of 2500kg (or 2700kg if the ATX suspension is optioned on), which translates to a huge variety of vehicles that can be used for towing. Something, for instance, that can easily be used as an around-town vehicle most of the time and just need to put the towing mirrors on and you’re ready to hit the road.

In what was a little different at this year’s COTY, our tow vehicle was a relatively new Toyota HiLux, not a vehicle I have driven before. There were no problems towing the F14; it has a towing height of 2.06m (6ft 8in), which includes the air-conditioner and a narrow width of 2.38m (7ft 8in). In the windy conditions that prevailed at Warrnambool, Vic, it presented a lower profile than a van with a much taller body. We experienced no dramas at all.

The Cub F14 towed neatly behind the new Toyota HiLux

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR

Self-sufficiency

Most Cub owners will seek camping places off well-trodden tracks to enjoy the tranquillity of the bush. The compact design of the F14 suits the challenging terrain that would frighten a full-size caravan, but it still has comfort and enough electrical power with its optional Off Grid Pack to sustain a couple for as long as they like. OK, the extra 100L of freshwater on top of the standard 100L tank adds to the self-sufficiency, but without frugal use you might push the limits without a nearby creek to use. The 50L grey water tank clears the way for more off-grid stays.

With standard specifications, the Cub has 360W of solar and a 150Ah lithium battery, but the 300Ah Off Grid Pack doubles the battery and solar supply and adds that extra 100L water tank. A 3000W inverter was also an extra on the review model, and it can run an air-conditioner and the usual cooking necessities like a coffee machine. So, for a small hybrid, the F14 packs a lot into its off-grid capability.

You can go even more doomsday warrior with 600Ah batteries, 720W of solar and 300L of water. Both upgrades include quality REDARC electronics. And keeping an eye on how the solar supply is coping is via REDARC RedVision display and app that monitors electrical power input and output, so you know it’s time to turn the air-conditioner off for a while.

Another standard feature that adds to extended away time is an OGO composting toilet, so you won’t have to look for a dump point every few days.

The F14 brought to COTY included an ensuite upgrade

Liveability

According to Cub, the F in the F14 marks it as a fusion between a camper and a caravan, so depending on how you look at it, it’s either a big camper or a small caravan. It boils down to all the features couples need for comfortable trips away in a compact footprint.

We saw a 20-minute setup to get everything operational, although for a quick overnight stop, it would be half that to be just bed-ready. An electric actuator winds the roof to more than 2m (6ft 6in), so there’s a feeling of generous space inside. Initially, I thought the low opening at the entrance would be difficult to navigate, but we all soon got used to it, with a couple of us reversing out. The layout has a 2.1m x 1.6m (6ft 9in x 5ft 2in) bed up front, running across the full width of the van. Like all hybrids, outside living is the focus of the F14, so cooking options inside are reduced to a small bench across the rear with a sink and room for an induction cooktop, toaster or coffee maker. An optional 115L fridge sits under the bench. Seats on either side and a versatile swivelling table design give options for dining or relaxing.

Plenty of natural light around the bedComfortable seating for two

The van included a non-standard combination ensuite upgrade with the OGO composting toilet and a shower heated by a diesel heater. A zippered vinyl curtain separated it nicely and there was good ventilation through a large flyscreen.

The exterior cooking arrangements are superb. Sited under a 4m awning, the beautifully crafted stainless-steel kitchen slides then folds along the external wall to create a spacious work area. A slide-out for a chest fridge is just towards the front with storage drawers underneath and a pantry ahead of it, meaning everything is close at hand and well designed.

Value for money

The base price of $74,990 rose to $106,400, with options like the Webasto air-conditioner, 3000W REDARC inverter, internal ensuite and Off Grid Pack with an extra battery, solar and water capacity. Given the quality of the build and fittings, the cost isn’t unexpected for a premium hybrid from a reputable Australian company.

Resale value of all Cub products is superb, and anyone looking for a versatile, rugged offroad van with a low height for storage and plenty of creature comforts won’t find a better alternative.

ALLISON WATT — CARAVAN WORLD DEPUTY EDITOR

Ease of use

It’s already been mentioned that the F14 is light, easy to tow with any mainstream 4x4 vehicle, only 14ft (4.3m) in length and has a low travelling profile — so getting to your favourite camping spot is going to be easy.

When you arrive at camp, levelling the van is made simple with just a press of the controls of the Cruisemaster ATX airbag suspension, which are located just inside the entry door. There’s no manually winding up of the roof — four electric actuators from Denmark take care of that task.

Controls for the optional Cruisemaster ATX suspension

Wind out the Fiamma awning, slide out and swivel the beautiful external kitchen, and you’re protected from the elements and ready to cook up a storm. The fridge and barbecue also slide out ready for use. Pop the little step next to the entry door and you’re good to go.

There’s plenty of lighting inside and out, including the anti-bug variety, and the external stereo system will take care of your entertainment needs. There’s also a hot/cold external shower should you need to wash off at the end of the day before stepping aboard. The electrics are located in a storage cupboard on the far side and easily accessible. The RedVision system is managed via a smartphone app. There are two storage lockers also on this side and the batteries are also tucked away in an external locker.

No additional set up work is required inside as the king-sized bed is already in situ. If you’re tall, be aware that the entry door is quite low in height. You need to stoop to get in and getting out is best achieved backwards.

Innovation

I never cease to be amazed at how much Cub manages to squeeze into its vans and hybrids —perhaps squeeze is not the right word because the F14 doesn’t seem squishy inside at all.

The piece de resistance is its massive king-sized bed with reading lamps, fans, speakers, USB and power points close by — not to mention the windows at pillow level either side so the first thing you see when you wake up is the beauty of your camp. There’s also a massive amount of storage under the bed.

In addition, there’s the functional rear kitchen, combo ensuite and seating for two with a little swivel table for inside dining. All in a 14ft space! But don’t be fooled by the luxurious interior because this little F14 has a tough exterior and will take you anywhere.

The internal kitchen also features the embossed Rimex stainless-steel benchtop

Customer care

Cub Campers warranty document is available on its website. The manufacturer offers a five-year structural warranty on its caravans which includes suspension, internal framework, panels and roof, electrical wiring and plumbing, axles, springs and couplings, drawers and slides, stoneguard and gas box, tool and fridge boxes, gold advanced lithium batteries and the pocket spring mattress.

A two-year warranty applies to the battery charging system/management system, water pump, gas bottles, gas struts and Sphere batteries and three years on the AL-KO shock absorbers.

Appliances and other inclusions not directly manufactured by Cub such as the microwave, fridge, TV and the like will have the recommended manufacturer’s warranty applied. Warranty matters are dealt with through Cub Camper dealers throughout the country. The warranty is void if unauthorised repairs take place on the van.

Cub doesn’t provide hard copy manuals on how to operate the various components of the van. Cleverly, QR codes are located on both sides of the van so customers can download pdf versions of the manual.

The Cub Campers F14 is a luxury pop-top hybrid perfect for couples who enjoy heading off-grid with plenty of creature comforts

X-Factor

If you don’t want a big heavy van and a similarly big heavy truck to haul it, the Cub Campers F14 is for you.

At 14ft long, the F14 is a great size for someone stepping up from a camper trailer. It boasts the luxurious and comfortable interiors synonymous with Cub’s range such as the C16 and the H16. Setting up is much easier than a conventional camper trailer, most of it done with the push of a button or winding out the awning.

And it’s short and nimble enough to get down tight tracks. With a travelling height of just over two metres (plus air-conditioner) it will fit easily in the garage when you are at home between adventures. It really does offer the best of both worlds which makes its ‘fusion’ title all the more relevant.

Congratulations to the team at Cub for another outstanding addition to its range and for winning the Best Hybrid category at COTY 2025.

CUB CAMPERS F14 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Cub Campers F14 price from $74,990

OPTIONS FITTED

• Webasto roof mounted air-conditioner
• Starlink socket
• 3000W REDARC inverter
• 2V fans
• Induction portable cooktop
• 115L internal fridge
• Pantry
• Drawbar upgrade
• Ensuite upgrade
• Cruisemaster ATX suspension upgrade
• Airbag upgrade
• Off Grid Pack (additional 150Ah lithium battery, 2 x 180W solar panels, second 100L water tank, BC-DC 40A battery charger)

Cub Campers F14 price as shown $106,400

MORE INFORMATION

Cub Campers

23 Loyalty Road
North Rocks NSW 2151
P: 02 8838 8600
E: sales@cubcampers.com.au

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