Mobi Nomad Continental reviewed at Caravan of the Year 2024 presented by MSA 4x4 Accessories

The Mobi Nomad Continental was the unique pocket rocket at this year’s COTY event, a compact couples caravan designed in South Africa that will fit right in on Aussie roads. 

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Suitability for intended touring

The Mobi Nomad Continental was one of the most unique vans at the 2024 Caravan of the Year event. However, that doesn’t mean it didn’t have much to offer, because it did. Designed for a couple who don’t want a particularly large offroad van, it was also very tow vehicle friendly with a tare mass of just 1800kg. 

I reckon it’s also designed for a couple who like the camper trailer lifestyle but don’t like flapping canvas and desire a reasonably short set up time at the campsite. The offside slide-out is manually operated which minimises any electrical problems and everything, particularly the nearside kitchen, is relatively easy to set up for the evening meal. Of note in the kitchen was the storage arrangement that kept everything neatly in place, even when travelling along over rough roads. 

Because the interior is a rather compact, the Mobi Nomad Continental is more set up for external living, which is fine given the available cooking and storage facilities. However, it also offers the comforts of home too, with a surprisingly large ensuite. The dinette arrangement looked more like a work desk, than for dining, which would suit some people quite well.

Although not quite the conventional caravan design, the Mobi Nomad Continental certainly has plenty to offer the right purchaser, particularly those who want something a little different. 

Innovation

Being South African in origin, the Mobi Nomad Continental does have several features that come into the innovative category. For instance, the unpowered offside slide-out differs from most seen here in Australia, yet it improved the interior living space considerably. The van transforms from a 15ft van in travel mode to one with a floorspace of a much larger caravan.

Of note is the fibreglass monocoque structure for the body shell, a construction technique that results in considerable body strength. 

I’ve only seen one drawbar located ensuite before, but that was in a large USA built caravan. This ensuite is located up front and looks a little larger than might be expected, and there’s room to move and it does have the expected facilities of a shower, Dometic cassette toilet, wash basin and small vanity cabinet. All without having difficulty moving around.

The external kitchen was something of a winner, particularly the storage arrangement for all the utensils, which was held very securely in place yet easy to access. The kitchen fittings included a Dometic two-burner cooktop and a square stainless-steel sink. 

Surprisingly for an RV this size, the battery capacity (400Ah lithium) and solar panel rating (600W) were very impressive, as was the inverter rating of 2200W. 

The Nomad isn’t a particularly large van, but it’s certainly one that packs a lot of features into its small travelling footprint. 

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR

Self-Sufficiency

Everything around the little Mobi Nomad tells you it’s all about getting away in the bush as far as possible and staying there for as long as the mood takes you. It’s a unique and practical adventure pod so we expect loads of off-grid autonomy. As the Mobi Nomad owners told us, “You can get lost and enjoy it.”

The van at the event had the Offroad Package option which delivered 600W of solar, 400Ah of lithium power through a 30A REDARC MPPT charger. The AMPTRON 2200W inverter with a 4400W surge capability runs your appliances including the domestic TCL air conditioner mounted on the rear of the van.

I like how the electronics are located in a hatch on the side of the van. They are quickly accessed and safely out of the way and there’s even a set of tools handy if you need some maintenance. 

Water is held in a 200L main tank and that’s about as much as you could expect in this size van. Camped near a creek or a beach there’s enough water for cooking and a quick splash to wash off the dust. I like the two 20L dedicated drinking water jerry cans as a backup.

A single 4kg gas bottle should run the barbecue for ages and there’s an induction cooktop as well. I’d prefer a composting toilet to the 18L cassette; thankfully, Mobi offer four different toilet options, including composting variants. 

Customer care

There’s a relatively small number of Mobi Nomad owners in Australia, so the company is able to keep a relationship going with many owners and the company owners show a dedication to looking after the Mobi mob.

The warranty document tells us that manufacturing and workmanship is covered for two years and the chassis and drawbar for five years for the original owner. 

Mobi Nomad also takes responsibility for repairing appliances for 12 months. The document complies with the statutory wording about the customer’s rights under Australian Consumer Law and the warranty is concise and clearly explained.

Any misuse, overloading or extreme impact damage aren’t warrantied and that’s reasonable.

Authorised repairers can undertake remedial work once authorised by Mobi Nomad, but any costs involved in transporting the van are the responsibility of the owner. 

TIM VAN DUYL — CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Towability

You’ll hardly notice the Mobi Nomad Continental behind you — we certainly didn’t when towing it with a LandCruiser 300 Series GR — but check your mirror and there it is, right there, on your tail because the Mobi has a short A-frame. 

Under the chassis is a suspension that a lot of people dismiss but it’s one of my favourites for small trailers — leaf springs. So simple and repairable, it gets my vote on small trailers every day and it worked brilliantly under the Mobi which hardly moved the tail of the 300 Series GR even over the biggest of dips and bumps. 

I’d suggest you could tow the Mobi Nomad with almost anything thanks to its lightweight and narrow body but my pick would be a short-wheelbase SUV with a tight turning circle so you can make the best of the nimble trailer and go anywhere. 

Value for money

There is nothing like the Mobi Nomad Continental on sale today so it’s hard to assess its value. It’s way more capable offroad than other compacts like teardrops yet has the space of much larger trailers when opened right up so you should compare it to bigger vans and count its compact tow size as a benefit. 

At $89,300 it’s a decent chunk of change, similar to common 17ft single axle offroad vans. If you then consider its small and light tow specs as well as its self-sufficiency specs, it starts to add up to a decent proposition for someone wanting lots of floor space but with limited parking opportunity at home. 

CATHERINE BEST — AUTHOR OF ULTIMATE CARAVAN TRIPS: AUSTRALIA

Build quality

Made in South Africa, the Mobi Nomad Continental is unlike anything we’ve seen in the competition. Supremely compact, it has a body length of 4.7m (15ft 4in), incorporated into a single-axle, slide-out design that adds significantly to the interior space. The monocoque (self-bearing) shell is made from hand-laid fibreglass, which is lightweight and temperature neutral and inlaid with an 18mm plywood floor. Steel bracings provide added rigidity, complemented by a 4mm-thick galvanised steel ladder-frame chassis, long-leaf spring offroad suspension and a 2.7T German brake system. The curved nose has Raptor-coated stone protection.

Assembled in Perth, the Mobi Continental has been put through its paces in Namibia, sand-bashing across dunes with a 48 per cent grade. Its solid offroad performance should transfer to Australian conditions. The water tanks are centred over the axle for optimum stability, and the wheels are set back to balance ball weight. The Mobi is lightweight with an 1800kg tare and an ATM of 2400kg (600kg payload). Inside, the caravan is furnished with Belgian-imported marine-grade carpet on the walls and ceiling, German-made wooden cabinetry, and toughened glass sliding windows with midge mesh and roll-down canvas screens. 

Liveability

The queen island bed is the centrepiece of the Mobi and, when extended, provides 360-degree views from bed. There are two bedside tables with reading lights and USB ports, and all linen is included. The bed overlooks a breakfast bar with double induction cooktop and floating dining chairs (stored in the bathroom). A wall of cupboards at the rear of the van provides ample storage and there’s a pantry cupboard and 152L Thetford compressor fridge/freezer by the door. Sirocco fans and a residential-style split system air-conditioner keep the climate comfortable. Couples will enjoy the spacious ensuite with Dometic 18L cassette toilet and open shower. 

The Mobi is more suited to outdoor living and cooking, with the bed consuming much of the internal space. Outside, there’s a drop-down bench and plumbed sink with a recessed microwave, and a large drop-down picnic table with double gas cooktop and ingenious built-in cutlery and crockery nooks. There’s an extra shelved vertical storage compartment towards the rear of the caravan, storage pockets on the door, and a spare tyre and recessed jerry cans on the back. A 4kg gas bottle is on the A-frame. The Mobi also comes with a positive pressure dust reduction system for offroad journeys, an 18L gas/electric hot water system and a choice of six awning/annex configurations. It’s fully customisable.

X-Factor

The beauty of the Mobi is undoubtably its compact size; it’s small and nimble, yet when the bedroom slide-out is extended, the floor space expands by more than one third. Conveniently, the bed is still functional with the slide-out retracted for quick overnight stays. The windows — providing almost wraparound vistas — are a big selling point of this van. But what surprised me the most about the Mobi is the included extras, and we’re not just talking pillows and a doona — all the crockery, cutlery and cooking gear are included, together with the ancillary goodies most manufacturers usually only use as display props. The Mobi comes with cutlery and crockery for four people, two pots, eight food containers, a kettle and pan. Also thrown in are two dining chairs, two camping chairs, a safe, laundry basket, dustbin and spade. Best of all is the four-bottle wine holder in the door well, complete with four stemmed wine glasses. 

MOBI NOMAD CONTINENTAL SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Mobi Nomad Continental price from $75,000

OPTIONS FITTED

• TCL aircon
• Queen bed
• Roll-out awning
• Self-retracting awning
• Offroad Package
  • 600W Solar
  • 400Ah lithium
  • 2200W AMPTRON inverter
• Electric brakes
• Sirocco fans
• Fly screen

Mobi Nomad Continental price as seen $89,300

MORE INFORMATION

Mobi Nomad
Unit 1, 12 Baretta Road
Wangara WA 6065
P: 0432 885 036
E: info@mobinomad.com.au

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