Prime Edge Odyssey reviewed at Caravan of the Year 2024 presented by MSA 4x4 Accessories

The Prime Edge Odyssey is designed for couples who want to head away on offroad adventurers without sacrificing the finer things in life, and the judges at COTY 2024 were impressed by its competitive price.

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Suitability for intended touring

Prime Edge Caravans’ Odyssey is a van with much to offer. Its external body length of 6.3m (20ft 8in) is well suited to the front bedroom and rear bathroom layout. As a couples van, there’s plenty of room to move around inside. 

The kitchen bench is well-sized, with a Thetford four-burner cooktop/grill/oven, a large square sink, and a microwave oven in the usual overhead locker location. That other kitchen essential, a Dometic 224L compressor fridge, sits between the dinette and the bathroom. 

Undoubtedly, the van’s feature item is the cafe dinette. Complete with wall cushions and hinged footrests, it oozes comfort for the weary traveller. This is relevant because Prime Edge advertises the Odyssey as a luxury offroad caravan. 

From the outside, the offroad aspect is quite obvious. For starters, the van has a slightly beefy look about it. A look under the van reveals the Cruisemaster ATX coil spring suspension and the disc brake-fitted wheels. 

Offroad travellers seem to like a generous amount of external storage space, and the Odyssey has that. In addition to the well-sized tunnel storage and rear offside bin, the storage boxes on the drawbar offer plenty of space and have slide-outs for items like a barbecue and generator. 

Build quality

The team at Prime Edge has a background in building caravan cabinetry, which is evident in this van build because the fit and finish of the Odyssey interior are superb. Everything from the tan upholstery of the dinette and bedhead to the opening and closing of the drawers is very well done. Of note, particularly regarding the drawers, are the ball-bearing runners rated at 60kg. The bathroom door has similarly rated runners and doesn’t give the impression that it will slide open at the first bump. A little over the top, perhaps, but it certainly inspires confidence in the overall van build.

Under the Odyssey is an ARV-built box section DuraGal chassis with 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) rails and a drawbar. In the sub-chassis area, often a weak point in many caravan builds, everything is very neatly fitted. All the pipework is strapped up properly, and the vulnerable bits have corrugated PVC protection. 

Prime Edge has opted for rivetted aluminium for the frame, and a hail-resistant composite sandwich panel is used for the cladding of both the walls and roof. I liked the dimple black alloy sheeting used for the lower waistline rather than the more usual alloy checkerplate. It has a bit more class about it. That goes for much of the rest of the van, too — a touch of class!

TIM VAN DUYL — CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Towability

Would you believe we towed the Prime Edge with a manual Navara? We did, and although we had to slip the clutch a bit to get it out onto the road, it was actually very good. Would I recommend that exact vehicle for a 3500kg ATM van? No, I’d suggest something with a bit more grunt and heft, like a late-model LandCruiser or Patrol.

The van itself towed very well. Its Cruisemaster ATX coil suspension soaked up the big dips on our test course well and felt safe under brakes. I appreciate that it came on quality Cooper Discovery tyres too.

Crucially, the underside of the van is well protected and throughout. There were still some pipes that I would look to add some protection to prevent stone damage (looking at you grey water tank outlet) but by in large, the underside was very neat with wiring and pipe work well placed to avoid damage when on unsealed roads. 

Value for money

A price tag of $126,000 is no longer a lot of money for a big couples offroader with a 3500kg ATM, especially one with such an impressive list of quality appliances. From the Cruisemaster ATX underneath the locally made (and quality) ARV chassis to the BMPRO battery management system (BMS) with supplementary Enerdrive MPPT’s and Projecta 3000W inverter to the latest AC in Dometic’s FreshJet 7 Series Pro, it’s impressive. Add on the way the Odyssey is made with its riveted alloy frame and its exquisite decor, and I’d expect a van with specs like this to be closer to $150,000. It is seriously impressive and should Prime Edge manage to keep their prices down in this challenging environment it will surely make a few more established brands look over their shoulder. 

CATHERINE BEST — AUTHOR OF ULTIMATE CARAVAN TRIPS: AUSTRALIA

Liveability

The Prime Edge Odyssey has a traditional layout with a rear door and bathroom, mid kitchen and forward north–south island bed. A slick and practical design, the Odyssey is built for comfort, durability and style. The kitchen features a tan cafe dinette with a fold-out table, footstools and great lumbar support. Cooking is a breeze with a full Thetford oven/griller and four-burner gas cooktop, recessed under the dropdown bench to enhance the counter space. Opposite, there are two convenient slide-out pantry racks next to the 224L Dometic compressor fridge. The soft-close acrylic drawers are frameless and rated to 60kg, for maximum storage capacity. There is also a 25L NCE microwave and CaraFan dust reduction system.

The bed has a full-height upholstered bedhead with dual reading lights, wardrobe niches with 240V points and USB chargers, drawers and overhead Sirocco fans. The inner-spring pillow-top mattress feels luxurious next to the oversized bedroom windows, and special mention goes to the Webasto diesel heater, which you can turn on from bed. The bathroom has on-trend matte black tapware, a traditional chemical toilet and a top-load washing machine concealed under the vanity. 

Outside, there’s a small drop-down picnic table, TV entertainment box for the 24in smart TV, speakers for the Fusion entertainment system, dual reversing camera, external shower, and far-side sail track for shade protection. The twin toolbox has slide-outs for a barbecue and generator, while the full tunnel boot, lined with marine carpet, could accommodate a slide-out kitchen. There’s also a tall storage hatch on the van’s far-side corner.

 Self-Sufficiency

The Odyssey is fully equipped for off-grid camping with 252L of fresh water, including a 62L dedicated drinking water tank and kitchen sink water filter. This is a generous water allocation for two people and a couple will safely see out any week-long stay, so long as you don’t read War and Peace in the shower. 

While the water will run out eventually, so long as the sun is shining, the power definitely won’t. On the roof there is 840W of solar, pumped into 480Ah of lithium battery storage, managed by a 40A MPPT solar regulator and a BMPRO high amp battery management system. Add to this a 3000W inverter and you’ll be able to run the air-conditioning (Dometic FreshJet 7 Series Pro) almost around the clock during the day, as well as separately powering any number of appliances, including an air fryer, coffee machine or Thermomix. 

If you’re caught in a storm, there’s power redundancy with the generator slide-out in the front toolbox and two jerry cans on the rear bumper for additional diesel (or water). Also, on the A-frame are two 9kg gas bottles. You’ll need those for cooking and the instant hot water system, which will keep the shower piping hot wherever you go. There is also a 95L grey water tank for capturing wastewater, when required. The only off-grid limitation with the Odyssey is the chemical toilet, which would benefit from a second cassette on extended stays.

X-Factor

If the army held a beauty competition, the Odyssey would win. From the outside, it’s a tough, almost military-looking van, but look closer and there are striking gold flourishes and a shimmery X-plate trim. The van is also a looker on the inside. I love the aesthetic of white cabinetry and timber-look rolled benches against the black catches, sinks and tapware. My favourite design embellishments are the geometric embossed white laminate splashbacks, which add a subtle razzle-dazzle, and the leatherette storage pouch with a squiggly cut-out void by the door. 

Functionally, the Odyssey also has some clever features, including the under-bed storage partition for isolating the inverter to encourage air circulation. Also noteworthy is the bathroom sliding door, which uses robust slide-out runner fasteners usually associated with a fridge or kitchen slide. I also love the two-shelf cupboard in the step well, which is handy for sunscreen, insect repellent and outdoor cooking gear, and the solid A-frame base, which creates a shallow storage area for leads and hoses. A lot of thought has gone into this van.

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR

Customer care

The Prime Edge warranty document is concise and easy to understand. I’m convinced the team at Prime Edge has the customer experience at top of mind and the van is well built with quality fittings that are designed to last. The warranty on the structure, including frame, walls and roof, is five years. The internal fitout by the builder is covered for two years. 

Prime Edge passes on warranty for other fittings including the chassis and appliances to the relevant supplier and encourages owners to seek redress directly from those suppliers but they have a direct email and phone contact within the business. 

The warranty expects owners to keep up a three month then annual regular maintenance schedule. Vans are covered for recreation and not for permanent living. Offroad vans are covered for gazetted roads with cautions about driving sensibly and having correct tyre pressures.

Without suggesting there is any lack of commitment to solving warranty issues, I would like to see the warranty document tidied up and to include the statutory statement about rights under Australian Consumer Law. Prime Edge produces a quality van and I think buyers would like to see a warranty that reflected the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction more closely.

Innovation

The Prime Edge team knows caravan building well and they have a good grasp of what works properly. You can see this drive for excellence in the way they have mixed and matched components in the electrical package, choosing items that have proven their worth. 

One of the common failures we see in some vans that have a hard time on rough, corrugated roads is drawers coming loose or even falling out. So, Prime Edge has included top-quality, over-engineered components that the team admits are much more expensive to install. 

Another common fail point can be the ensuite door. To avoid this, Prime Edge ensured the slides and locks in the Odyssey are built for purpose and are probably the best I have seen. The standard 2m (6ft 6in) ceiling caters for taller buyers and height helps deliver the roomy and airy atmosphere.

Lots of little things show the team understands how people will use the van. Extra storage cupboard at the foot of the bed and protection for electrical elements under the bed are extra steps that matter.

I really appreciate how Prime Edge has designed a van that is visually so well balanced and tempting for buyers. I’m not a fan of dark colours but there’s just something about the van that makes it a complete package for an adventurous couple at a price that’s very competitive. 

PRIME EDGE ODYSSEY SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Prime Edge Caravans Odyssey price from $126,050

OPTIONS FITTED

• Black accessory pack

Prime Edge Caravans Odyssey price as seen $126,050

MORE INFORMATION

Prime Edge Caravans
18 Constance Court
Epping Vic 3076
P: 03 8349 9516
E: info@primeedgecaravans.com

THE NEXT STEP

If you need help choosing your first caravan or are considering upgrading your existing one, check out all Prime Edge caravans available on TradeRVs today. 

The sellers will be happy to help and answer any inquiries you may have about the products advertised for sale.

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