Great Aussie Caravans Striker reviewed at Australia's Best Hybrids 2024 presented by Tough Dog 4WD Accessories

The Great Aussie Striker was a finalist at ABH 2024 and impressed the judges by offering all the comforts of a full-size van in a lightweight hybrid model.

TIM VAN DUYL — CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Build quality

Great Aussie Caravans is in somewhat of a transformational stage with a refocusing on manufacturing processes and repositioning towards more off-grid and offroad-capable trailers, and I love it. 

I’ve experienced a few of its latest offerings, including the 'halo model' Tonka from issue 644 which impressed John Hughes and me over our three days away. Most of what stands out in the top model carries over in the compact Striker we saw at Australia's Best Hybrids 2024. The same build methodology is employed with Great Aussie’s Allytech aluminium frame that is welded in-house and enclosed with composite cladding with XPS insulation in between. And like the Tonka, the Striker uses top-tier brands for appliances and accessories from the Cruisemaster DO35 coupling up front to the in-house rear-mounted bronze spare alloy wheel and Dometic, Swift and Fusion found inside.

Under the body sits an Intelligent Engineering chassis that is protected with DuraGal before (optional) Raptor coating is applied for further stone protection. Holding up the weight of the chassis and body is TuffRide independent trailing arm suspension rated to a whopping 3000kg with disc brakes added for extra stopping power and confidence. 

The floor of the Striker uses my favourite flooring, a PVC honeycomb that will never rot, is light, feels taut underfoot and has excellent stone protection. Up top is a single-piece composite panel with as few holes cut in it as possible and no joins to lower the chance of any water ingress. 

Towability

You’ll notice the tall and narrow body of the Striker sitting high on its riser-equipped offroad chassis and yes, that is noticeable when towing it. You need to keep your eyes peeled for low-hanging branches and in high winds expect to feel it pushed around a bit more than a pop-top. But that's the thing, it's a full-height hybrid and as I always raise, there is no such thing as a perfect trailer, and everything is a compromise. If you want a narrow track, better-insulated trailer with no canvas, you’ll be happy with the slightly compromised tow.

What is not compromised, and should never be, is the braking and suspension under the Striker. Sitting on an independent, 3000kg rated TuffRide suspension is a good thing. It soaked up the bumps around Merimbula, NSW (and Lake Eildon, Vic) with aplomb and better yet, its braking was sublime. I love disc brakes’ near instantaneous bite and better feel through the brake pedal.

We towed with both a budget-friendly Mitsubishi Triton that felt OK, if a little down on power, and a new Ford Ranger Wildtrak X which offered a bit more poke (and comfort) than the high-milage Triton. 

What would I recommend going in front of the Striker? With its 3000kg ATM and 215kg ball weight, I would suggest any of the modern crop of 4WD utes would be a good fit, or any of the ute-based SUVs like the Isuzu MU-X. If budget constraints come into play, a LandCruiser 200 Series or Nissan equivalent would be a great fit too. 

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Liveability

The Striker's internal layout will look very familiar to any caravan owner. It has a front king bed, a full-width rear bathroom, a nearside kitchen and an offside lounge. The external width differentiates between the hybrid and a conventional Great Aussie caravan. It's just 1.98 (6ft 5in) rather than the usual 2.45m (8ft). The differences are that the bed takes up the entire front area, the lounge is just a sideways-facing seat and the bathroom is narrower than usual. Even though it still has the expected features of a cassette toilet on one side and a shower cubicle on the other, with a vanity cabinet and washing machine filling the remaining space. The internal kitchen bench is fully equipped, including cupboards and drawers. The appliances match the external facilities, except the interior kitchen has an oven for those who like baking. There isn't an external fridge, but the Dometic 224L 12V compressor offers more than adequate capacity.

It does make the interior more confined than usual, but the offset is that the Striker also comes with an external kitchen in the form of a slide-out in the front tunnel storage. Complete with a full four-burner hob/grill and a stainless-steel sink/drainer, the kitchen slide-out includes a cutlery and cooking utensil drawer. A benefit of the full-width bed inside is that two other tunnel storages are also practical. One is just for general gear while the other is a slide-out kitchen bench on the awning side and the battery and battery management system on the offside.

In terms of living inside or out, the Striker is very ambidextrous. Some features, like the bathroom, are inside, although there is an external shower. However, cooking, eating and generally relaxing can be done just as easily inside or out. 

Ease of use

Great Aussie's Striker is much closer to a caravan than any of the other ABH 2024 entrants, as it has no pop-top roof. That makes it easier to set up and pack than just about anything else. A simple matter of parking the van, unhitching, levelling up and setting down the corner stabilisers. Once the windows and doors are open and the awning is wound out, it's just about time to get out the camp chairs.

There's easy access to the slide-out kitchen bench and the adjacent slide-out kitchen benchtop from the outside. There is little storage for kitchen food and cooking items, just enough for the basics.

There is, though, plenty of general storage. In addition to one of the tunnel storages, there is also an alloy checkerplate storage box on the front drawbar. It has slide-outs fitted to both sides and could be used for items like a small barbecue and a generator. The two 9kg gas cylinders are mounted on the drawbar.

The lighting, both inside and out, is well thought out. Inside, there's a subtle blend of ceiling down and strip lights. Outside is the usual wall light under the awning plus one above the slide-out kitchen. In addition, there are LED scene lights on the front and rear walls. Always handy and saves groping around with a torch on a dark night.

Access to the 200Ah lithium LiFePO4 battery, Projecta PM435-BT and the Projecta 2000W inverter is easy, given the location in the dedicated offside bin. A smart touch was building in a hatch into the bed base above. That gives much easier access to the battery, should it need to be replaced at any point. The bottom line is that among all the hybrids, the Striker has to be the easiest to use. 

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Self-Sufficiency

The Striker is well equipped for medium stays off-grid, depending on weather of course. The system includes 600W of solar and a 200Ah lithium Projecta battery supplying 12V and 240V power through a 2000W Projecta inverter. An integrated Bluetooth-enabled Projecta PM435-BT system oversees charging with a 35A AC charger and a 30A MPPT solar regulator. As well as a wall-mounted screen, the system offers smartphone monitoring and activation of various electronic outputs including water pumps, lighting and appliances. 

There’s enough power for most couples to run appliances, including the 224L compressor fridge, and stay remotely for extended periods with judicious power use. I like the gas stove option because it means you don’t need to rely on solar for cooking and a couple of 9kg bottles will last for many weeks.

Like all vans, extended stays might be limited by the 190L water supply if you don’t have access to a creek for washing. However, a 95L grey water tank opens up camping options in council and restricted national parks.

Customer care

Great Aussie is a well-established business with a large output across a huge range of vans. The company has recently employed an experienced general manager with a dedication to quality control and customer service. 

The warranty document is easy to understand and is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. The chassis and A-frame are covered for five years, while the rest of the build is for two years. The warranty is not transferrable and restrictions limit use to gazetted roads and not rough bush tracks. Obligations under Australian Consumer law are clearly spelt out in accordance with the act — and I might add that this is quite unusual in the industry despite it being a requirement. 

A service schedule is outlined, and customers are expected to complete the three month then annual services to meet warranty requirements. Appliances and other outside equipment are covered by those suppliers, but the Great Aussie warranty offers help in sorting any problems. 

ALLISON WATT — CARAVAN WORLD DEPUTY EDITOR

Value for money

If a hybrid is defined as something with mixed origins, the Great Aussie Striker fits the definition beautifully. Featuring the elements of a hybrid van such as external cooking, narrow body and lighter weight, it also boasts all the internal creature comforts of a full-sized caravan such as a full ensuite, washing machine and 224L compressor fridge.

Priced at $111,264, the Striker is built at Great Aussie’s Coolaroo (Melbourne) factory on its welded box aluminium ‘Allytech’ frame using all the quality fittings and appliances that you would expect in high-end caravans.

Essentially, the Striker has the same layout and features as a 19ft or 20ft couples caravan, but it is a shrink-wrapped version at 16ft 6in on a single axle, making it lighter and easier to tow within the wheel tracks of its tow vehicle. 

Inside there’s a king-sized north-south bed, lounge and dining table, full oven, cooktop and grill, microwave, hot water, stereo system, Sirocco fans, 20 cupboards and seven drawers and a full ensuite with separate shower, toilet and vanity — really everything you need. Quality is evident in the details such as CNC carpentry, soft-closing drawers, waterfall benchtop and black sink and tapware.

With its off-grid capabilities, external slide-out kitchen and pantry/drawers plus plenty of external storage it’s hard to beat the Striker for the number of features packed into a small space.

The Striker we tested at ABH 2024 had the Allytech frame, but Great Aussie offers three options for frames including timber, which will drop the price down under $100,000.

The Striker is good value for money for an Australian-made and designed van with all the comforts of a full caravan combined with the lightweight nimbleness of a hybrid. Add to the mix the fact you won’t need a monster of a truck to pull it, and you can’t go wrong.

Innovation

Great Aussie has been building caravans for some time and ventured into the hybrid space about five years ago but has only just started marketing this segment of its offerings a bit more proactively. 

The Striker is a good overall package. Great Aussie has brought all the best elements of its caravans into a really compact and lightweight hybrid van. Owners will like all the caravan-like creature comforts of the interior, and the ease of set up once pulled into camp. There is no roof to pop up or beds to fold out.

Owners will also not have to worry about weight, manoeuvrability or having to fork out to buy a new tow vehicle to pull it.

X-Factor

There’s lots to like about the Great Aussie Striker. It looks cool and quite different with its striking decals, high ground clearance and sand/beige exterior colouring.

It was by far the easiest hybrid in the competition to use with nothing to pop up or fold out — just pull into camp, roll out the awning, set up your chairs and you’re just about done. Because the Striker is a full-sized caravan it has better insulation properties than the pop-tops and more internal storage via overhead cupboards.

It has great off-grid capabilities, good brakes and suspension to support it and a massive 871kg payload. It’s a great overall package which I think will prove popular with buyers. 

A change of scenery

If you are wondering where the lake and skyline came from in the Striker images, Merimbula was hammered by a storm the day we took the Great Aussie out for shooting so a reshoot was booked around Lake Eildon, Victoria. 

GREAT AUSSIE STRIKER SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Great Aussie Striker price from $111,264

MORE INFORMATION

Great Aussie Caravans
88–106 Kyabram Road
Coolaroo Vic 3048
P: 03 9308 8511
E: info@greataussiecaravans.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

If you need help choosing your first caravan or are considering upgrading your existing one, check out all Great Aussie Caravans models 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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