17 Feb, 2015

Legend Cruiser 15.6: 2015 Review

by Malcolm Street

The Legend Cruiser is a very streamlined caravan. That’s not only achieved by the shape but also the flat aluminum composite panels, low waist of alloy checkerplate and sporty-looking decals. And there isn’t a front boot to spoil the lines; instead, a good-sized front tunnel boot is large enough to handle all of the camping essentials.

LAYOUT & DESIGN

The interior has relatively simple cabinetry lines that are enhanced by the predominately white colour of the frames and walls, offset by the patterned upholstery and cupboard doors. Although the windows are relatively small, the lighter colour scheme results in a nice, bright interior which is aided at night by the multiple LED light fittings, including the white/blue switchable reading lights.

BEDROOM & STORAGE

An advantage of single beds is that they can be used in a slightly smaller area than a similarly-sized double bed. In this layout, the 1.88x0.76m (6ft 2in x 2ft 6in) beds demonstrate that very well.

Both beds come with a side window and open shelf above but share a bedside cabinet. Floor locker doors give access to the under-bed storage areas, although part of the offside bed’s storage area is taken up by the Truma hot water heater.

KITCHEN

All of the rear kitchen bench is taken up by the stainless steel sink/drainer and four-burner cooktop, but the wall section has a (raised) benchtop above the 120L fridge and additional bench space above the adjoining cabinet. While the area above the fridge is a bit awkward for normal use, it does have the benefit of a shelf for lifting items in and out of the microwave above.

Another advantage of a split kitchen arrangement is that plenty of storage space is available – overhead lockers, drawers and cupboards. If you want a grill or oven under the cooktop, one less drawer will be available.

With a van of this size, the dinette isn’t going to be oversized; however, it will seat two people without too much trouble, even though the single pole-mounted table is relatively narrow. That’s one of the compromises that comes with a van like this – if the table was any wider, it would be in the walkway.

BATHROOM

The bathroom fits into the rear offside corner and is not the same size as a full-width ensuite, but it still has the essentials – a cassette toilet with moulded washbasin above and a flexible-hose shower. It’s not a space-hogging layout and it fits in very well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Although the Legend Cruiser 15.6 is a relatively small van, there is much to appreciate about it.

Its length and loaded weight make it an excellent towing prospect for not only highway driving, but narrow bush tracks as well. Navigating heavily undulated terrain should not be a problem.

In addition, the van comes with all the expected comforts and features, which makes it ideal for a couple, or even a solo traveller, who might not want a particularly large van.