Malcolm goes on a mission to find smaller and lighter-weight caravans to review.
Anyone familiar with the original Mission Impossible TV series or the more recent Tom Cruise ‘Mission Improbable’ film versions will know that both always started with a line something like, “Your mission, should you decide to accept…”.
Those words went through my head as I walked through the entry gates to the NSW Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow in Sydney. Like Editor John Ford at the Victorian show, I was on a mission to find smaller and lighter-weight caravans for reviews. Cheaper was also on the agenda but I’m aware that ‘lighter’ and ‘cheaper’ aren’t always words that can be used together in the caravan industry.
I am interested in smaller and lighter vehicles because the world, particularly European countries, is pushing for electric, hybrid or low-emission vehicles to be more commonly used. However, the caravan industry in Australia gives the impression it is going in the opposite direction, with large offroad caravans seemingly becoming almost normal and something like a Toyota LandCruiser becoming a standard tow vehicle.
At a big show, it is often difficult to find smaller/lighter caravans in among the mini canyons of offroad caravans, but the keen hunter can be rewarded. Of course, some are relatively easy to find. Avan RV for instance has always manufactured a good range of road touring vans suitable for lighter tow vehicles, as has Jayco.
Another consistent performer for lighter caravans is Slovenian manufacturer Adria. Sydney RV had a number of models on display, all easily towable by a mid-sized vehicle. A surprise was on the Carlight Caravans and Trailers stand. Usually, small Polish-built Euro Caravans are to be seen, but the Carpento Caravan brand was very new. Turkish-built with an Italian chassis and an ATM of 1000kg, it’s an interesting entrant into the lightweight end of the market. The van body is very stylish and distinctive, too.
Turkish manufacturer Carpento range is ideal for smaller tow vehicles
Equally interesting was On The Move’s very new Crossfire caravan. This van designed for offroad use, measures 4.7m (15ft 5in), has an ATM of 2200kg and costs under $70,000. A full import from China, the van has some seriously good engineering in the chassis and bodywork.
On The Move’s new Crossfire 4.7 caravan
That doesn’t mean I didn’t find any vans from Australian manufacturers; Majestic’s Sunfinder 17ft van fitted the small and cheap category quite well. Caravan World’s esteemed editor will be writing a review on that very shortly. Coromal’s new Soul Seeker range showed a bit of promise, too, with a nicely priced 16ft van with an ATM of 2420kg. Among the heavyweights on the 7th Street Caravans stand, the Silver Valley range ticks a few weight and size boxes as well.
Motorhome manufacturers must put a little more effort into the weight department, mainly because the vans and cab chassis have GVM limits. In particular 4495kg is of interest, the limit for a car licence. Even so it was surprising to come across a new KEA Navigator M530 motorhome. Based on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter 317CDI MWB van with a length of 6.1m (20ft), it is designed for a family of four. Okay, so everyone has to travel fairly lightly, but it’s a novel approach.
Suncamper launch
In the recreational vehicle world, product launches are somewhat low-key, so low that they often go unnoticed, even by those of us supposed to keep track of such things. Consequently, when a manufacturer announces a special launch at a show, most RV journos are inclined to turn up for the novelty, especially when a free breakfast is also thrown in. Such was the case when well-known Sydney-based manufacturer Suncamper Motorhomes put on a splash at the Sydney show and unveiled, literally, a much-upgraded Conqueror 2.0 motorhome.
Based on either a Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger cab chassis, the Conqueror 2.0 has all the bells and whistles for the dedicated offroad traveller. In addition, Suncamper also took the opportunity to showcase the remainder of its model lineup, most of which have been upgraded recently. Speaking personally, it was good to catch up with the Harrison family, including patriarch Keith, whom I have not seen since his ‘retirement’. Well done, Suncamper!
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