A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS

Randall Johnson gets the run-down of Kohi Campers’ Northstar Hardwall 600 ATV slide-on camper.

Kohi Campers Northstar 600ATV Hardwall Slide On Camper is something that needs to be seen to believe it .

The whole camper is just four metres long, yet there’s easy access to everything you’d expect in a regular modern day caravan.

Storage space has been factored in virtually everywhere, with seemingly none of its internal footprint wasted. The décor is bright and modern, with plenty of large windows and a skylight in the bedroom at the rear of the camper. The layout is simple and intuitive, and there are plenty of power points throughout.

The lounge and dining space is modest, but with a fully manoeuvrable Lagun swing away dining table and two-sided lounge seating, it’s definitely usable. Comfortable enough to sit two adults and a child or two, the kitchen table is removable to create the additional bed.

The kitchen is located in the centre of the camper, along the passenger side wall. It comes complete with a Smev two hob gas stovetop, Dometic fridge freezer, single sink, instant water heater, LP/carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher.

The spaciousness of the elevated loftstyle bedroom area is something special. The bedroom is reached easily by a step in the dining area, and once you’re up there, you can open the sunroof and the windows on either side.

The toilet and shower are contained in the same space but part of the door can be removed when showering to provide additional height and to prevent the toilet door from getting wet.

Functionality has been made a priority on the outside, as exemplified by the external hot shower. It is a real bonus that anyone who loves the outdoors will appreciate. The three exterior LED patio lights and the external power points make it easier to extend the living outdoors.

If you’re interested in creating magical moments with your family in spots that other caravan or campervan owners can’t reach, you can’t go far wrong with Kohi Campers’ 600 ATV.

Prices start at $86,990 for the 600 ATV slide on camper with additional extras available.

Find out more at kohicampers.co.nz

SPECIFICATIONS

Base dry weight 690 - 790kg

Interior height 1.96m

Exterior width 1.98m

Overall length 4.00m

Floor length 1.90m

Approx. centre of gravity .40m

Cabover bed size 1.42m x 1.85m

Dinette bed size 1.00m x 1.85m

Mattress to roof height .80m

Fresh water capacity 64L

Grey water holding tank 31L

Cassette fresh water tank 15L

Cassette black water tank 19L

Price $86,990

Safe And Sound

Paul Owen went in search of a classy caravan that also has the technology to handle New Zealand roads with style. He found it in the form of Dethleffs Nomad 560FMK.

Where most caravans have to muddle their way over imperfections in the road surface with their fixed wheel geometry, the Nomad, like all Dethleffs caravans equipped with the Euro Delta axle, remains composed, giving the suspension more opportunity to fully absorb the bump without straying offline. This is such an improvement to stability and safety, especially given the bumpinfested nature of New Zealand roads, that Dethleffs caravan importers, Brent and Adele Thurlow from Central RV, often wonder why other caravans don’t offer similar suspension formats.

This particular Nomad is equipped with a set of two bunks at the rear and a longitudinal double bed, which is mounted at the front of the left side. This is situated ahead of a U-shaped seating area that faces the kitchen and can be converted into further sleeping quarters.

The kitchen features an oven, a large 142L three-way fridge and a circular sink.

The U-shaped dining area seats six, and the space can be illuminated by the flexible LED spotlights above. The double bed area at the front of the Nomad FMK can be sectioned off from the rest of the van.

At two metres in length, and one metre wide, the bathroom is relatively long and narrow as caravan facilities go. Dethleffs has made the most of the space by separating the shower from the wash basin and tucking the toilet into a corner. It is a bathroom setup that’s designed to handle the demands of a family; the Thetford cassette toilet can store 18 litres of waste, and the crew at Central RV fits larger fresh and grey water tanks to all Dethleffs caravans as part of their extensive preparations for selling them to New Zealand customers.

The model is well set up for extended stays away from powered sites, with enlarged water tanks, a 200W solar energy system with a MPPT regulator, and the battery, a 150Ah LifePo4 lithium unit with built-in monitoring, can be checked with a phone via Bluetooth. The gas plumbing includes an external hook up for a BBQ.

Nomad is an apt name for this model, given that it conjures up images of entire families living their lives on the move. The added strength, towing performance, safety, quality, comfort, and well-evolved design of the Dethleffs Nomad 560 FMK is worth paying extra for.

Find out more at centralrv.co.nz

Specifications

Make/model

Chassis Zinc-plated AL-KO trailer with AAA brakes

Overall dimensions 8.18m L x 2.50m W x 2.65m H

Cabin dimensions 6.75m L with 1.98m head room

Berths 6

Fresh/grey water 160L fresh, 145L grey onboard tanks (monitored)

External height 2700mm

MRO (mass in running order) 1675kg

GVW 2000kg

Price (2023) $119,900