iMotorhome+Caravan 2019 New Zealand Road Test Yearbook by iMotorhome Magazine

iMotorhome + caravan HUGE 155 PAGE ISSUE!

New Zealand

2019 Road Test Yearbook

ON MY MIND

Haere Mai

If you’re contemplating a summer RV escape in Australia, perhaps leave it a few months or reschedule for next year. Travel safe – whichever side of the Tasman you’re on and wherever you are!

here’s no doubt that it’s been something of a good year in the New Zealand motorhome and caravan industry, with plenty of new product on the marketplace. Given what is happening in Europe in particular, 2020 might be looking even better.

Haere Ra

You can expect some new models from all the manufacturers we see in New Zealand, but one little surprise might be a greater presence of Mercedes Benz motive power. Currently, Frankia, Hymer, Niesmann & Bischoff and Auto-Sleeper use ‘Benz, but there might be a few models from the likes of Bürstner, Carthago, Dethleffs, and Rapido appearing as well. That does raise the price of course, so Fiat’s Ducato will still have a strong presence and, to a lesser extent, Ford’s Transit, VW’s Crafter, Iveco’s Daily and Renault’s Master will be around.

P.S. If you enjoy iMotorhome+Caravan and would like to see it continue, you now have the chance to support us directly. Small publishers are under enormous pressure because of the social media and search engine giants that are cornering increasing numbers of advertising budgets. If you value our independent voice and in-depth reviews, please click the PayPal link below – any amount is welcome!

Malcolm

As I write this, a major bush fire crisis is creating havoc in Australia. The Christmas/New Year holiday is a time when many an Australian resident is normally sitting back and relaxing by the pool, beach, river, lake, caravan, wherever. Not this year. Many of those who aren’t actually fighting fires or despairing over lost lives, houses or businesses are on tenterhooks wondering if they will need to evacuate their homes (like Mr and Mrs iM+C Publisher), or sitting on a beach somewhere waiting for a Dunkirk-like naval operation to happen, or sitting in traffic queues as large numbers of NSW coastal towns are being more or less forcibly emptied of all summer time tourists. The remainder of us are trying to do normal things like work, whilst being seriously distracted by all that is happening. New Zealand has not escaped this mayhem either. For some reason, the weather pattern is blowing bushfire smoke and ash all the way across the Tasman, the result being everything from orange glow sunrises and sunsets to brown looking glaciers.

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Whilst much of the bushfire damage should not affect the local RV industry too much, the coastal caravan parks and associated industries that rely heavily on summer traffic to provide their income are literally seeing much of that go up in smoke. Road closures are happening everywhere from the Princes Highway on the south coast of NSW to the Eyre Highway on the Nullarbor Plain in WA. Caravanners and motorhomers usually have the advantage here, usually having food and water on board to last a few days if stuck somewhere.

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Publisher/Managing Editor Richard Robertson (+61) 0414 604 368 richard@imotorhome.com.au

Road Tests

Malcolm Street (+61) 0418 256 126 malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Technical

Allan Whiting (+61) 0410 677 966 allan@imotorhome.com.au

Regular Contributors Emily Barker Robert ‘Bobby’ Watson Colin Oberin Phil McLeod Sharon Hollamby

Published by iMotorhome Pty Ltd PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW 2776. Australia. ABN: 34 142 547 719 T: +614 14 604 368 E: info@imotorhome.com.au W: www.imotorhome.com.au

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience and/or loss arising from reading and/or acting upon information contained within iMotorhome+Caravan magazine or on the website.

CONTENTS

6 17 28 39 51 63

BAILEY AUTOGRAPH 796 Best of British – Trust the British to do things differently

BENIMAR PRIMERO 331 Spanish Lesson – This tiny RV is a lesson in budget motorhoming

BRITZ eVOLVE Electric Dreams – The dream of electric motorhoming is a reality

BÜRSTNER LYSEO IT745 Icing on the Cake – Clever design provides two living areas

BÜRSTNER LYSEO T700 Space Race – Malcolm blasts off in this spacious motorhome

BÜRSTNER NEXXO TIME T569 Just in the Nexxo Time – Spending a few days in this compact beauty

74 86 98 108 120

CARADO T447 Two Four the Road – Space for two, three or four to hit the road

DETHLEFFS PULSE GT I7051 Racing Pulse – Dethleffs' Pulse GT excites with style and panache

DETHLEFFS TREND T6757 On Trend – That's Dethleffs Trend T6757...

ROLLER TEAM PEGASO 740 Bargain Pegaso? – A near-new Italian original at a bargain price

TRAILLITE OAKURA 354 Crafty Move - TrailLite's VW Crafter based motorhome is a beauty

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Tested: Bailey Autograph 796

Best of- ? British ?

Checking out the British-built Bailey Autograph 769â&#x20AC;Ś By Malcolm Street

Tested

The Bailey Autograph rides on a Peugeot Boxer – a Fiat Ducato clone – with an AL-KO chassis, hence the low ride height. Combined with the long overhang, you need to be careful on driveways and any off-bitumen adventures.

n amongst the large selection of mainland European-built motorhomes currently available in New Zealand, there is an interesting selection of British built units. The principle advantage of course from some users’ point of view is that the entry door is on the kerb side. In amongst the British range is Bailey motorhomes and I was able to borrow an Autograph 796 model from TrailLite’s Pukekohe premises for a test run.

Construction

ike a number of other European manufacturers, Bailey use a fibreglass composite structure which has a polystyrene core and fibreglass inner and outer skins. Extruded Alu-Tech rail is used to keep the walls and roof all together in one piece. The end result is quite a stylish looking B-class body structure, looking from the front, and a moulding at the rear that takes away the square look motorhomes often seem to have. The

decal scheme, including the graduated ones, add to the overall appearance. No surprises in the window department, this being a European style motorhome, so double glazed acrylic is used for all the windows, while the door is complete with a window and garbage bin. A mid-sized tunnel boot sits across the rear, with bin doors on both sides. It’s not quite the European ‘garage’ many motorhomes these days seem to have, but is certainly more than adequate for the usual camping essentials and maybe even a small folding bike or two. The bin for the gas cylinders sits just behind the entry door and is therefore quite convenient when arriving or departing a campsite. There are just two keys for the entire motorhome: one for the ignition and the other for everything. Also, I liked the fact both keys could be folded away in their respective fobs, so no sharp edges in the pockets or wallets.

Tested

Under the Bonnet

ost European motorhomes have either Mercedes Benz or Fiat Ducato underpinnings but Bailey is a little different, using a Peugeot Boxer cab bolted to an AL-KO AMC chassis. The differences is mostly in name I should point out, because the Peugeot Boxer is actually a badge engineered Fiat Ducato. However the motive power is trés francophone, being a 2.0-litre Peugeot turbodiesel that puts out a maximum of 119 kW @ 3570 rpm and a healthy torque of 350 Nm @ 1750 rpm.

Top: The Boxer uses a Peugeot 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and 6-speed manual gearbox, which Malcolm found to provide an enjoyable driving experience. Above: The curved rear end panel is also highly stylised, thus managing to avoid the boxy look of so many motorhome rear ends.

I was a little amused by the TrailLite staff when they showed me over the Autograph and delivered something that sounded like a warning, about the Peugeot having a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s a little surprising in this day and age but okay for us who like to drive a vehicle rather than just turn the wheel. It’s a smooth and slick change despite having to use

Tested

your left foot! Did you know that these days, a vehicle with a manual gearbox is regarded as having a Millennial anti theft device??? On the road, the Peugeot engine powers the Autograph along very nicely and I have to say, it was quite a pleasure to drive and easy to manoeuvre. Before purchase, it might be prudent to check on where the Peugeot can be serviced, though…. On the road, something to be careful about is the rather low body line and fairly long rear overhang. Undulating road edges, steep gutters and driveways should certainly be approached with care.

Inside

t seems to me that NZ motorhomers more senior in years might well remember and like the Autograph 796’s layout. Apart from anything else it features the time honoured ‘NZ back’ – that being a sizeable club lounge in the rear with windows all ‘round, offering great views of the outside world. While the club

Decor is Euro-contemporary and well suited to the bright and open interior. Top: The rear club lounge is a nod to the famous and still-popular New Zealand Back, and also converts to a huge bed if required. Above: There’s plenty of seating up front, but the swivelled cab seats serve as extra pews due to the four-seat cafe-style dinette.

Tested

lounge can be made up into a bed, for those who don’t like to do that every night the roof bed above the seating/dining area up front can be left made-up. While there are other internal essentials, like the kerbside kitchen and bathroom across the aisle, it’s not really a conventional layout, but one that does offer a fair bit of flexibility. Because of the chassis height the living area is lower than the cab and the rear seating areas, but there’s a step up to both. However, there is still enough space for the batteries and water tanks to be under the main floor area, with three floor hatches providing access to everything. Apart from the black fridge, mostly neutral tones are used for the interior – white, cream and beige – which in combination with the large windows and three roof hatches results in spacious feel to the living area.

Rear Lounge

f sitting back, enjoying a beverage of your choice and just watching the world go by is your thing, then the rear lounge is the place to do it. In addition there are the expected features like overhead lockers, rear speakers

This is a six berth motorhome and includes a pull-down roof bed and convertible dinette. If the latter is used, you’ll need the ladder to access the former, which cannot be lowered to its full extent.

Tested

and under-seat storage (at least on the kerb side). Additional storage is available under the raised floor and it’s good for things like shoes or smaller items that require a bit of discrete storage. Come nighttime, out-of-sight downlights are fitted under all the overhead lockers. For dining or playing board games, there is a free-standing table that is stashed in the adjacent wardrobe when not being used. If the bed is needed then the cushions can be moved around to form a double bed measuring 2.13 m x 1.6 m (7’ x 5’ 3”)

Catering

ost of the kitchen looks to be fairly conventional, with a four burner (three gas, one electric) hob and separate oven. The square stainless steel sink is set at the back of the bench and this might be an issue for those with shorter arms – although there is the option of standing at the bench end. It does allow for quite a bit of benchtop space, which can be extended by the use of the hinged flap at the end. A neat little addition is the foot space at the base of the kitchen cabinet, which also

The kitchen is compact but has good bench space, thanks to the rear-set sink and flip-up extension at the end.

Tested happens to be where the concealed strip lighting is. Kitchen storage ain’t too bad, with three good sized drawers and two overhead lockers that have extra shelves fitted. There was a time when Euro sourced motorhomes didn’t have particularly large fridges, but this one scores well with a Dometic 155-litre 3-way that has a Daewoo microwave oven above.

Ensuite

t first glance the fully kitted out bathroom appears to have a ‘wet’ floor, but there is a folding shower screen that minimises water splash around the toilet area. In fact, the bathroom layout reflects a sort of minimalist approach, although all the essential features, including a wash basin, good sized mirror, cupboard and towel rail are provided

Front Area I’d have to say the front living area of this motorhome does look fairly crowded, with its four person café-style dinette, two person sideways facing lounge, front swivelling seats and the elevating bed above. If there’s something not to like I guess it would be that the swivelled cab seats are partly blocked by the dinette seat. It’s a design thing, however, as the cab seats really cannot be integrated into the dinette because of the lowered floor, which is necessary given the low floor height because of the elevating bed. It’s all a bit of compromise really, but that’s the price to pay for a six berth motorhome. A side benefit is that if you have a party and the weather isn’t good for sitting outside, then eight people can be seated inside in reasonable comfort. The elevating bed measures 1.95 m x 1.22 m (6’ 5” x 4’) while the dinette bed is slightly smaller at 1.8 m x 1 m (5’ 11” x 3’ 3”). If planning on using both, the upper bed can really only be lowered to a certain level, so the supplied ladder will be necessary.

While the bathroom is certainly compact it does have a shower screen, which protects the toilet and basin but still leaves a wet floor.

Tested Given the flat screen TV location above the rear dinette seat, viewing angles should be okay for at least four people, although meal time viewing might be a bit more restricted.

Electrics

epending on power usage, remote camping times might be restricted to a few days as the single 100 AH battery is backed up by a single 100 W solar panel. However, a pair of nine kilogram gas cylinders will keep the fridge, cooker and hot water going for a while. The eagle eyed might notice that the 230 V power points are still the British style, but I’m sure they will be changed. Although there are enough power points, Bailey do seem to like the rather inconvenient under-seat, near-the-floor variety. Certainly, the main circuit breaker and 12 V fuse panel are on the floor and while easily accessible, they do require bending of the knees to get to. More conveniently located, above the entry door, are the main 12 V touch panel and the water/ space heater controls.

What I Think

here’s much to be said for this layout. It’s an interesting variation of the more traditional style that has a club lounge down the rear and a Luton peak bed up front. Yes, there is a compromise or two, but I reckon it’s a very flexible and spacious layout that works for just two people, a family or grandparents with the grandchildren. Is it the Best of British? That depends on your requirements and point of view, but it’s certainly worth investigating.

Top: Electrical controls are neatly presented and easy to reach, over the entry door. Above: Peugeot’s Boxer feels like a Fiat Ducato but has detail changes that give it a slightly different personality.

Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

Bailey Motorhomes

Model

Autograph 796

Type

B-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

LICENCE Make/Model

Peugeot Boxer HDI 160

Engine

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

119 kW @ 3750 rpm

Torque

350 Nm @ 1750 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed manual

Safety

ABS, dual air bags, ESP, hill start assist

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3457 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

4250 kg

Max Payload

793 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

1750 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.99 m (26' 2")

Overall Width

2.42 m (8')

Overall Height

2.77 m (9')

Internal Height

2.11m (6' 11")

Main Bed

2.13 m x 1.6 m (7' x 5' 3")

Drop down Bed

1.95 m x 1.22 m (6' 5" x 4')

Dinette Bed

1.8 m x 1.0 m (5' 11" x 3' 3")

Tested

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Fiamm F 45

Entry Steps

Moulded

Hob

Thetford 4 burner & grill

Rangehood

Sink

Stainless steel

Fridge

155 L Dometic RMSL 8500 3-way

Microwave

Daewoo

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

Air Conditioner

Space Heater

Truma Combi 4E LPG/electric

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 4E LPG/electric

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Flex hose combo

Pros… • Spacious • 6 berth/6 seat motorhome • Rear club lounge • Good internal storage • Elevating bed can be left made up • Only two keys

CONs… • Low ground clearance • Limited external storage (especially for six people) • Power point locations • Front layout around the cab

CAPACITIES Batteries

1 x 110 AH

Solar

100 W

LPG

2 x 9 kg

Fresh Water

1 x 93.5 L

Grey Water

1 x 93.5 L

Hot Water

10 L

Toilet

19 L

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ As Tested

NZ$ 155,995.00

Warranty Peugeot

3 years/100,000kms

Warranty Bailey

2 years/10 years bodyshell integrity

CONTACT:

Click for Google Maps

North Island TrailLite Auckland 77 Paerata Road Pukekohe. 2120 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz Click for Google Maps

South Island TrailLite Christchurch 61 Hayton Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8042 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz

Tested

“Is it the Best of British? That depends on your requirements and point of view, but it’s certainly worth investigating.”

Tested: Benimar Primero 331

Spanish Lesson Benimarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tiny Primero 331 is a Spanish-made lesson in budget motorhomingâ&#x20AC;Ś By Malcolm Street

Tested

The Benimar Primero 331 is proof you can pack a lot into a small space. At just 5.9 m it’s short enough to fit in a standard car space, yet it manages to include seating and sleeping space for 4 – preferably 2 adults and 2 kids. Note there is only a window on one side for those sleeping above the cab, which seems a bit odd.

ince late 2015 Traillite has been NZ’s importer of Benimar motorhomes. The company started cautiously, with just Fiat Ducato-based Mileos and then added Ford Transit-based Tessaros. Now they have two new motorhomes: the Primero and Benivan. The aptly named Benivans are a large van conversion – something not all that common in NZ – but the Primeros, of which there are three models, are a more budget version of its coachbuilt stablemates. For this review I borrowed a Primero 331, which is a 4-berth C-class that has an external length of just 5.9 m (19’ 4”), meaning it’s short enough for a standard car space. As with most of the Benimar range it has Fiat Ducato underpinnings: the Multijet 130 with a 2.3 litre, 96 kW/320 Nm turbo-diesel. Build wise, the Primero is a combination of fibreglass composite walls and mouldings. The Luton peak does give the Motorhome a somewhat less than streamlined look, but the

Tested

swept back roof line softens the front ‘bump’. Insulation is well handled, with 25 mm of XPS (styrofoam) in the walls and more than twice as much (53 mm) in the roof. Dometic windows are used all ‘round while the door is Euro-style, complete with a top half window and a garbage bin below. Apart from the gas cylinder locker and the toilet cassette door, the only external storage is the door on the rear wall that gives access to the internal under-bed area. With a fresh water capacity of 120 litres and a 100 AH deep cycle battery charged-up by a 150 W solar panel, the Primero is good for a few days freedom camping, but for longer stretches sans mains power, a second battery might be a consideration.

A Bordo The interior is typically European, making good use of the swivelling cab seats as part of the living area. Note the over-cab bed tilts up out of the way for easy cab access. Combined with the tall roof line it adds a genuine sense of spaciousness.

tepping aboard reveals that this Spanish built motorhome has what is known as a French bed layout: A double bed in the rear driver’s-side corner. There’s also a toilet/ shower cubicle in the rear kerbside side corner,

Tested

a mid positioned kitchen and the lounge/ dining area up front. The overall colour scheme definitely has a beige and brown theme about it, one thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nicely offset by the cream and white of the upper areas. Even though it is a fairly small motorhome, the rising roof does give it a spacious feel. There is one disadvantage to the high roof line though â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the hatches is very difficult to reach! All the electrical controls, like the touch panel and the Truma iNet control, are located in a handy position by the entry door. While there is a reasonable number of light fittings, the mains power points are a little less prolific and there were no USB outlets.

Por Adelantado

he Primero 331 is a four-seat motorhome, with swivelling cab seats plus a two-person forward facing seat behind the driver. In addition, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small sideways facing seat between the

Despite its short dimensions there is good living space in the front of the vehicle. The slide-out table extension is a useful feature, allowing you to make the most of the five seat dining area.

Tested

entry door and cab, meaning the front area is fairly spacious and will accommodate four or five people without too much trouble. This is helped by the table, which is clipped to the wall, having an swing-out extension leaf that easily reaches the left hand side seat. A little surprisingly, given that this is more of a budget motorhome, is the wine glass holder above the sideways seat! In addition, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small compartment behind the seat that could be used for wine bottles, as long as a bit of packing material was used. Under the aforesaid seat is where the mains power circuit breakers are found and also the 12 volt fuses. On the opposite side, the forward facing seat has two lockers above and the water tank under the seat cushions. That might sound like an odd place but there is less chance of the water freezing, while a large bung gives access for cleaning and flushing should that be necessary.

Top: The kitchen is tiny, but has adequate storage and a full oven, which is a nice touch. Above: Despite its budget price point, Benimnar has included a wineglass holder â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a move sure to be appreciated in a land blessed with so many excellent wineries!

Tested

Concina

or whipping up a quick paella, the kitchen bench comes with the necessaries like a three burner hob and grill/oven, plus a stainless steel sink. To say the least, the kitchen bench is quite short and has just two drawers – one large and one small – a cupboard and a couple of overhead lockers. There’s no fan extractor, but the large window can be opened to remove cooking fumes. Built into the cabinet opposite is an 81-litre Thetford fridge set at floor level, plus a wardrobe above. In fact there are two wardrobes, with the second one occupying the air space above the foot of bed, a nice use of an otherwise empty area.

Bano

he bathroom is a variation on a theme, to be sure. It’s a bit of a squeeze to get through the door, but once inside you find the vanity, complete with wash basin, plus cupboards above and below. Next is the shower cubicle and finally, on the rear wall, is the Thetford cassette toilet, complete with a window, cupboard and shelf space. While it could be described as a ‘dry’ bathroom – the

The bathroom is on the squeezy side and while the shower is separate from the toilet, you have to walk through the former to get to the latter. That still means wet feet and it makes you wonder why they couldn’t have reversed the setup.

Tested shower has curtains on both ends – you’ll still get wet feet on the way to the loo. I liked the whole concept but did wonder if there’s a good reason why the shower and toilet areas couldn’t be switched around.

Dormitorio

easuring 1.85 m x 1.32 m (6’ 1” x 4’ 4”) the French bed looks quite closedin, but the side window is large and there’s a roof hatch to provide good crossflow ventilation. Overhead lockers are fitted on both the side and rear wall. Lifting the bed base to get to the generous storage area underneath is quite easy, but it would be handy if there were struts to hold it up. The under-bed area is compartmented to keep things neat. It is also double tiered and removing the first base level gives access to the Truma water/air heater underneath. At 2.05 m x 1.55 m (6’ 8” x 5’ 1”) the over-cab bed is considerably larger than its downstairs ‘compatriota’ and lifts up out of the way when not needed. For the occupants there’s a window on the driver’s

Things get crowded aft of the entry door, with the kitchen, bed and bathroom vying for positions. The French bed is just a double in size, but easily accessed and with good natural light and ventilation.

Tested side and a small bedhead with a couple of compartments and two reading lights.

What I Thinko

raillite has certainly done well with the Benimar range – it reckons one in ten motorhomes sold in NZ is a Benimar – which tells you something. It’s also no doubt why the Primero range has been introduced. Clearly aimed at the budget end of the market and lacking some of the sophistication and nice touches of the Mileo and Tessaro range, the Primero is still a fully equipped motorhome ready to roll and perhaps help increase market share to two in ten!

Right: Maximum space utilisation means a secondary wardrobe in the ‘air space’ above the foot of the bed. It’s clever and effectively doubles clothes storage space. Below: This unusual unit at the foot of the over-cab bed is in place of a window and while it provides a useful ‘bedside’ storage, it’s down by your feet. I think most users would simply prefer a window and the option to sleep either way across the vehicle.

Tested

Specs GENERAL Model

Primero 331

Type

C-class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

Registration

WOF

Approved Seating

LICENCE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm@1800 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed Auto (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

2650 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3500 kg

Max Payload

850 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

2000kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

5.90 m (19' 4")

Overall Width

2.30 m (7' 6")

Overall Height

3.00 m (9' 10")

Internal Height

2.16 m (7' 1")

Rear bed

1.85 m x 1.32 m (6' 1" x 4' 4")

Luton bed

2.05 m x 1.55 m (6’ 8” x 5’ 1”)

Tested

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Entry Steps

Moulded

Hob

4 burner Thetford Triplex & grill

Rangehood

Sink

Round stainless steel

Fridge

81 L Thetford N3080 3-way

Microwave

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

Cab

Air Conditioner

Space Heater

Truma Combi 4E

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 4E

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Separate cubicle

Pros… • Four berth motorhome • Well set up lounge/dining area • Plenty of internal cupboard space • High roof line • Under 6m/20’ body length

CONs… • Limited exterior bin storage • Bathroom door a bit squeezy • Lack of struts on the bed base • Minimal number of power points.

CAPACITIES Batteries

1 x 100 AH

Solar

1 x 150 W

CONTACT:

LPG

2 x 9.0 kg

Fresh Water

120 L

Grey Water

105 L

Hot Water

10 L

Toilet

19 L

North Island TrailLite Auckland 77 Paerata Road Pukekohe. 2120 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ As Tested

$129,000

Warranty – Vehicle

3 years

Warranty – Body

5 years

Warranty – Appliances

1 year

South Island TrailLite Christchurch 61 Hayton Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8042 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz

Click for Google Maps

Tested

“The Luton Peak does give the motorhome a somewhat less than streamlined look, but the swept back roofline softens the front ‘bump.’”

TESTED: BRITZ eVOLVE

Electric

Dreams The dream of electric motorhoming is now a reality, at least in NZ...

by Malcolm Street 38

TESTED

icture this for a second: Clambering into your motorhome, turning the ignition key, putting the vehicle in gear and driving off in near silence. Further down the road, whilst stopping to take in a scenic view, there’s enough time to plug into a power point and charge-up the vehicle’s battery before driving off again. An electric motorhome sounds very much like a pipe dream – well, in Australia – but in New Zealand it’s possible to pick up a Britz eVolve rental motorhome and take a tour around the Coromandel via Thames and Whitianga, and get as far as Waitomo Caves on a nine day tour. Alternatively, leaving from Queenstown, a similar length tour will take in the sights of Dunedin, Waitaki, Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Wanaka and Arrowtown. Unlike Tesla for example, Action Manufacturing – builders of the Britz eVolve – isn’t the first name that comes to mind with electrically powered vehicles, but the manufacturer has taken an LDV EV80 cabchassis and built a motorhome on it. LDV is a Chinese manufacturer that was once known as Leyland DAF Vehicles. Action Manufacturing isn’t doing something totally new, they have experience with the 2.5-litre turbo-diesel powered LDV cab-chassis at least, which is what its NZ-only KEA Breeze motorhome is based on. 39

TESTED

Most unusually for an electric vehicle, the LDV’s EV 80 still drives through a conventional gearbox

Power Plant

DV’s EV 80 cab-chassis comes with a 100 kW/320 Nm permanent-magnet synchronous motor, powered by a 56 kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate battery system. The six speed automated manual gearbox that’s bolted to it feels and drives like any such unit on a diesel engine. The vehicle also comes with the expected safety features, like anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) all ‘round, plus driver and passenger air bags. Driving range is about 120 km. Under the bonnet things are a little different as you might expect, but there are still fluid levels to be checked. In the front bumper grill are clues that something is different about this vehicle: It provides different sockets for charging the vehicle battery depending on the available charger type, and there’s a power lead in the vehicle for that purpose. 40

TESTED

The central speedo takes a bit of getting used to and is poorly marked. Battery gauges dominate the dashboard

On the Road

itting in the driver’s seat, this looks for the most part like a conventional vehicle. Being an internationally marketed vehicle, LDV partially solves the problem of right or left hand drive by having a centre mounted dashboard. Conventionally there’s a speedo, but marked slightly irritatingly with km/h inside and mph on the outer edge of the dial. There is also battery percent gauge, kW used gauge and a distance remaining gauge. Since driving conditions can vary, the battery percent gauge is going to be more reliable than the distance remaining.

Fiat. Slightly odd though is the almost total lack of engine noise, making conversation at a normal volume very easy.

For those used to using engine braking on downhill runs, the electric motor doesn’t operate quite the Starting is a matter of turning the ignition key, same way. The vehicle has some sort of regenerating putting the auto in Drive and operating the system, judging by the kW gauge, but going handbrake switch on the dashboard. Gentle downhill, it was like the brake pedal was touched acceleration is good for battery economy, but the intermittently. The lack of engine noise also meant eVolve keeps up with general traffic flow without that all the squeaks and rattles that a motorhome much trouble. The LDV is really just like driving a normal light commercial vehicle, if a little more basic can produces are more obvious – not that there were than say the Euro sophistication or Mercedes/Iveco/ too many I should point out! 41

TESTED

The eVolve is short enough to fit in a standard car space. But given its modest range and weight constraints, we wonder if a van conversion would be more suitable?

Size Matters

nsurprisingly, the eVolve isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a large motorhome and has an external length of just 5.82-metres (19â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1"). Anyone familiar with the THL/Britz/KEA style will recognise the fibreglass composite panel body shape, not to mention the tinted glass windows all around the rear and with just the lower half of both the side windows having an opening. Something very common on just about all NZ rental motorhomes years ago was a small tunnel boot across the rear and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of those here, which is good for fishing rods, poles and snow skis. Giving a contemporary look, the door is the current European style

TESTED

The famed NZ Back’s wraparound windows are a great idea, unlike making up the bed every night

Back to the Future

hinking retro again, anyone looking in a Kiwibuilt motorhome of a decade ago would have seen what I call an NZ Back: A U-shaped lounge with all ‘round windows, popular because it was handy when viewing the scenery in any weather. So it’s no surprise, given the length of the eVolve, that it has one too. It’s conventional, except the driver’s-side lounge has a backrest angled 45 degrees against the kitchen bench, which is great for admiring the aforementioned scenery. Excellent if you are on your own, as there’s only one I guess partners will have to toss a coin... Like most NZ Backs, this one doubles as the dining area and featuring a removable pole mounted table. It’s also the bed, which measures 2.1 m x 1.45 m (6’ 11" x 4’ 9") and unfortunately has to be made up every night. 43

TESTED

Pots n’ Pans

iven the diminutive size of the motorhome, the kitchen bench behind the driver’s seat is surprisingly large, even with the 45 degree seat back carved out of it. The hob is a Philips 100-2100-watt induction unit, which, like the microwave, only runs on mains power (pack a butane Lunchbox cooker if you want to freedom camp – Ed). The fridge, at least, is an Isotherm CRD85 12-volt compressor job and runs off the vehicle. An overhead locker, two good sized drawers and a double cupboard make up the storage space. Above the hob is an exhaust fan, while a large sliding window also provides plenty of ventilation.

TESTED

Staying Clean

ompact is the word for the bathroom, which sits between the side entry door and front passenger seat. Inside the cubicle is a combo ‘wet’ set up, meaning a Thetford cassette toilet, flexible hose shower and a small corner-mounted washbasin. However, you won’t be showering unless plugged into mains power, because the hot water system, like to hob and microwave, is 240-volt mains powered (boil some water on that Lunchbox cooker for a quick wash – Ed)

TESTED

Britz has special itineraries to suit the eVolve’s limited range, and you don’t have to worry about the price of diesel...

All Electric

here’s no LPG system in the eVolve, which as already mentioned seriously limits its freedom camping ability. The fridge, water pump and LED lighting are all 12-volt, but in addition to the hob and microwave, the other items on board that use 240-volts are the house battery charger and the water heater. A rethink in this department would be a good idea. On the charging front, you have several options: Firstly, 50 kW DC Fast Charging Stations are located in a variety of places and while some are pay-as-you-go, some are free! To get an 80% charge they will take between 5 and 45 mins and can be regarded as a between-destinations charge. A full charge takes about 90 minutes. Alternatively, AC Fast Charging is a medium-speed charging option that can take up to nine hours and is best for overnight stops. It can be found at certain Holiday Parks in the form of an EV Friendly site, which should be reserved ahead of arrival. Still, this system allows a faster top-up charge than a normal power outlet at a caravan park, which take longer because the power is shared with the rest of the vehicle’s ‘house’ facilities. 46

TESTED

What I Think

learly, the limitation on the Britz eVolve is the driving range of 120 km. That said, Britz has demonstrated that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to do a decent tour without too much difficultly.

I get that not everyone does this, but there are times when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used a motorhome for work purpose just around either Auckland or Christchurch and given the short distances, the eVolve would work well, as long as I had my charging arrangements in place. If the ownership idea appeals you can even buy an ex-rental if you like, all yours for NZ$130,000 from the RV Super Centre. Action Manufacturing and Britz get top marks for this little enterprise, which really is just a taste of things to come and still a bit of a dream... 47

SPECS GENERAL

Britz

Model

eVolve

Type

B Class motorhome

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

LDV EV80

Engine

EV-80 electric

Power

100 kW

Torque

320 Nm

Gearbox

6 speed AMT

Safety

Driver & passengers air bags, ABS with EBD

Fuel

56 kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate Battery

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3085 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3600 kg

Max Payload

515 kg

Gross Combined Mass

4250 kg

Cons...

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

5.82 m (19' 1")

Overall Width

2.20 m (7' 3")

Overall Height

2.80 m (9' 2")

Internal Height

2.10 m (6' 11")

Main Bed

N/A

Luton Bed

N/A

Dinette Bed

2.10 m x 1.45 m (6' 11" x 4' 9")

Innovative step forward Ideal for shorter trips Easy driving Good sized kitchen NZ Back Good for environment No (fossil) fuel bills!

120 km range Limited freedom camping No LPG system Mains power dependent

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Entry Steps

Elecrric

Cooker Rangehood Sink Fridge Microwave Lighting 12 V Sockets/USB Outlets Air Conditioner Space Heater Hot Water System Toilet Shower CAPACITIES Batteries Solar LPG Fresh Water Grey Water Hot Water Toilet PRICE - NZ As Tested

Philips 100W-2100W induction Yes Stainless steel 85 L Isotherm CRD85 12 V Camec 12 V LED 2 No No 240 V instantaneous Thetford Flex hose, combo cubicle

Contact

Britz Rentals T: 0800 081 032 W: britz.co.nz

RV Super Centre 169 Bush Rd Rosedale, Auckland. 0632 T: 0800 520 055 W: rvsupercentre.co.nz

1 x 100 AH 1 x 135 W N/A 90 L 90 L Instantaneous 19 L NZ$130,000 (used)

TESTED: BĂ&#x153;RSTNER LYSEO IT745

G N ICI he cake!

lied

Images supp

t n o

ving areas

gives two li clever design

s eet discover r t S lm o lc a M ackage... p t c a p m o c in one

TESTED

articularly in European built motorhomes, a design feature that has become quite common over the last five years or so is the drop-down bed. That is, a bed that can be lifted up to the ceiling when not being used and lowered into position at nighttime. It’s something of a space saver and can be used in a number of layouts to either create more space or build a shorter motorhome.

used. What results is a spacious layout with a front lounge/dining area, mid-positioned kerbside kitchen and driver’s-side bathroom, and another lounge at the rear. Cleverly, drop-down beds are fitted above both lounge areas. While there’s a reduction of the normal 2.05 m (6’ 9") headroom under the beds, it’s not that bad – 1.81 m (5’ 11") under the rear one and 1.84 m (6’) under the front.

Like many a Bürstner motorhome, the general décor and interior finish is done very well. A fairly neutral colour scheme of brown, cream and beige keeps things light and bright, aided by large windows and roof hatches. In addition the overall scheme of reading lights and LED strip lights, just about everywhere is bright enough to be seen by day and certainly very effective by night. At night, some of the The subject of this review – the Bürstner Lyseo IT745 – lights also provide multiple choices of lighting level, has an external length of 7.65 m (25’ 1") and a GVM of which not only saves battery power but also adds to the mood. 3850kg. This gives the designer a fair bit of latitude, especially if the aforementioned drop-down beds are German manufacturer Bürstner uses drop-down beds in some of its layouts, including a recent design, the Lyseo IT745, which has not one but two. Auckland-based Smart RV sells various Lyseo models in its mid-range motorhome line-up, where its sits neatly between the budget Carados and more expensive Bürstner Ixeos.

TESTED

Rear Lounge or Bedroom?

robably the most surprising feature about the IT745 is at the rear. By day it features a rear wall lounge with side cabinets and cupboards. For drinkies and nibbles, a small table sits in the middle of the floor. Roman blinds are fitted to both windows and there is a handy, multi-shelf cupboard against the fridge cabinet. Come the evening, transforming the lounge into a bedroom is quite simple: Remove the rear wall cushions, lower the table, push a button by the light switches and the 1.9 m x 1.5 m (6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;3" x 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 11") bed smoothly lowers into position. The bed can actually be lowered so far that apart from the mechanism strap, it looks almost like a conventional fixed bed. In all it certainly makes for a very multi-functional area.

TESTED

Kitchen Fit-Out

here are some things that always look familiar in a BĂźrstner motorhome and the kitchen is one of them: Picture an L-shaped bench to improve both the general storage and bench top areas, fitted with a three burner hob, grill and a round stainless steel sink. As with many a European motorhome, there is no microwave oven, but there is the all-essential fridge: a Dometic 151-litre 3-way unit that butts up against the hob end of the bench. Three drawers are fitted in the under-bench area and the overhead locker includes a shelf.

TESTED

Wet or Dry?

acing the kitchen is the bathroom, and a very stylishly appointed one it is. Complete with a separate shower cubicle with room to turn around in, plus a Thetford cassette toilet, it also has a decent sort of vanity cabinet; one with upper and lower cupboards, a wall mirror and a large-enough wash basin. I also really liked the waterfall effect hot and cold water tap! Additionally, there’s a handy shelf under the wall mirrors. Interestingly, instead of a toilet roll holder the loo paper sits inside the lower cupboard – thus staying dry at all times – and is dispensed via a letter box style slot. Bürstner toilet light switches are a little hard to find – like this one – which is under the wall cabinet! Oh, and given the shower cubicle location, it’s a dry bathroom.

TESTED

Control Panel

aving lived for a quite a few days in another Lyseo model I came to appreciate the panel work by the entry door. Lower down are a couple of small shelves and a grab handle, while above the handle is an impressive array of switches for just about every light in the front area, plus the outside lights. Also located in this area is a flat screen TV that can easily be seen from the front seats. I suspect if I was a keen TV watcher I might be considering a second TV in the rear, however. Finally, at the top of the panel are the main electrical and hot water/space heater controls. I particularly like the Truma iNet panel: Once having figured out how it works, it is very easy to use! Certainly, the Lyseo IT745 is well appointed, electrically speaking. In addition to the overall lighting there are plenty of mains power points, but all are single outlet fittings and there are no USB charging points in the rear area. Strange. A pair of 95 Ah house batteries, a 150 W solar panel and the previously mentioned 1000 W inverter all come standard. 44

TESTED

Up Front

ven though there is a rear lounge, there is still plenty of seating up front in this motorhome thanks to the usual swivelling cab seats, forwardfacing dinette seat and sideways-facing lounge. The table has a swivelling extension leaf that means four or five people can use it without too much trouble. Under the main dinette seat is where the house batteries are to be found, which is also why the inverter supplied power point is to be found in the seat base. It’s a slightly awkward location in terms of trailing leads, but being close to the batteries does minimise voltage drop issues. Above the lounge area the second 2.0m x 1.35/1.25m (6’7" x 4’5’/4’1") bed lowers into position quite easily, although it does not drop down as far as the rear bed. It does of course come supplied with a ladder and given the bed can be reach from both sides, it’s not too difficult to make up.

TESTED

Motive Power

Bürstner always seem to design a streamlined nderpinning the Lyseo IT745 is the ubiquitous looking motorhome, as this one is, and the decal Fiat Ducato cab-chassis. In this instance it’s the Multijet 150, which means the 2.3-litre, 109 kW turbo- scheme and front Skyview hatch make it look even better. Being German, the entry door is on the diesel and the ageing 6-speed automated manual driver’s side and it comes with an electric step, plus transmission (AMT). We know the new Fiat ninethere’s a Thule Omnistor awning. Across the rear the speed fully automatic gearbox has been announced and await with interest to see when it arrives on NZ’s storage area isn’t quite garage size, but I reckon it’s shores. Even with the slightly hesitant gearbox, the Ducato large enough for all the usual camping gear and a bit is still an easy driver and I know some people get paranoid more besides. about the front wheel drive, but I am not one of them. 46

TESTED

What I Think

ertainly, some of Bürstner’s Lyseo layouts have familiar features about them, but the IT745 is a very interesting variation on a theme and demonstrates well the practicalities of drop down beds. Having two is an innovative idea that provides added living space without the need for a bigger motorhome body. It’s a bit like having your cake and eating it too – icing and all – it seems to me...

SPECS Make

Bürstner

Model

Lyseo IT745

Type

B-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence/Certification

Car/COF

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 150

Engine

2.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

109 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

350 Nm @ 1800 rpm

Gearbox

6-speed automated manual (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

Two living areas Two drop-down beds Internal storage Swivelling table Dry bathroom

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3140 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3850 kg

Max Payload

Subject to accessories fitted

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

Cons...

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.65 m (25' 1")

Overall Width

2.30 m (7' 7")

Overall Height

2.99 m (9' 10”)

Internal Height

1.81m - 2.05 m (5’ 11” to 6’ 9”)

Front Bed

2.00 m x 1.35 m-1.25 m (6' 7" x 4' 5"-4’ 1”)

Rear Bed

1.90 m x 1.50 m (6’ 3” x 4’ 11”)

No USB chargers in rear Limited external storage Single outlet powerpoints

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnistor

Entry Steps

Electrci

Hob

3-burner

Rangehood Sink Fridge Microwave Lighting 12 V Sockets/USB Outlets Air Conditioner Space Heater Hot Water System Toilet Shower CAPACITIES Batteries Solar LPG Fresh Water Grey Water Hot Water Toilet PRICE - NZ As Tested Warranty – Chassis & Habitation Warranty – Water Tightness

Yes Round stainless steel w folding tap 151 L Dometic RM89435 3-way No 12 V LED Cab only Cab only Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Thetford cassette Separate Cubicle

Contact North Island

SmartRV Auckland 11 Pavillion Drive Airport Oaks. Auckland. 2022. T: 0800 007 627 E: sales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz South Island

SmartRV Christchurch

2 x 95 Ah AGM deep-cycle 150 W 2 x 9.0 kg 120 L 90 L 10 L 19 L

3 Export Drive Harewood. ChCh. 8051 T: 0800 007 628 E: ccsales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

NZ$169,900 2 years 10 years

TESTED

“Like many a Bürstner motorhome, the general décor and interior finish is done very well.” 49

TESTED

This is living Just arrived. The latest in premium motorhoming with the 2019 Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line. New features of the range include a more spacious entertaining area with twin couch layout, and a groundbreaking dropdown island bed. Create your ‘apartment on the road’ with a choice of interior styles in Bürstner’s innovative wohnfühlen design combined with premium fittings for a modern, comfortable home away from home.

Come and see the new Lyseo range at our sales centre in Auckland and Christchurch.

Motorhome in photo: Carado T449

Exclusively distributed in New Zealand by

11 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland | 3 Export Ave, Harewood, Christchurch | 0800 005 312 (NZ) | imotorhome@smartrv.co.nz | smartrv.co.nz

Tested: Bürstner Lyseo T700

Space Race Malcolm Street blasts off in the new Bürstner Lyseo T700… By Malcolm Street

Tested

The Lyeso T700 is a neat package that perfectly fits the mould as a typical European motorhome. Bürstner makes a quality product anybody would be happy to call their own, and even having the entry door on the drivers side proves no problem after a short period of acquaintance. However, a little more power as standard would be a good move.

mart RV, based in both Auckland and Christchurch, is the official importer of Bürstner motorhomes. Over the last year or so it has been steadily increasing the mid-range Bürstner Lyseo model offering, and one of the latest to appear in the showroom is the T700. It’s a B-class motorhome just a whisker under seven metres in length, making it a handy size for a layout without too many compromises. What you get in the Lyseo T700 is a rear island bed that doesn’t have to be made up every night, a split bathroom, a mid kitchen and a forward lounge/dining, which for a couple comes with multiple seats of choice. There’s no doubt Bürstner does interiors in style, including curved overhead locker doors, LED track-lights and Roman Blinds (in addition to the normal window blinds and insect screens). Four roof hatches deliver considerable ventilation and natural light, particularly the big Skyview hatch over the cab.

Tested

Also worth a mention is Bürstner’s general fit and finish. This particular layout is tried and true, at least mid-to-front, so it’s really the finer details that count in making the Lyseo T700 special. It’s interesting here just to diverge into design philosophies. At the extremes there are US manufacturers, who consider space something to be achieved in a design, whereas Europeans tend to see space as something to be used, preferably in multiple ways. NZ and Australian manufacturers usually sit somewhere in between, but I reckon the Europeans are winning this particular space race.

The Lyseo T700 is right at home on country backroads. Once you find the perfect spot it’s quick and easy to set up, and there’s plenty of natural light and fresh air in the front lounge/dinette area.

In the Lyseo’s design it’s not only items that can be seen that matter. As with any motorhome there are any number of hidden features, for example the Lyseo’s freedom camping ability: It has a pair of 90 amp-hour deep-cycle batteries, 150 watts of solar and even a 1000 watt inverter. This latter item makes a real difference – I have a number

Tested

of devices that need mains power for charging and this inverter has power to spare. It could also run a coffee machine or toaster, although not at the same time.

Construction

nderpinning the Lyseo T700 is a Fiat Ducato Multijet 130 cabchassis with the 2.3 litre 96 kW/320 Nm turbo-diesel and 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Writing from an Australian perspective, where everyone thinks in terms of the 132 kW engine, perhaps it would be nice if the upmarket Lyseo at least had the 109 kW engine for just a bit more grunt underfoot. That said, the motorhome does get along nicely on most roads and is a smooth driver. Built with the usual fibreglass composite body structure, the T700 has a très chic look about it. Standard is a Hartal entry door complete with garbage bin, Polyvision double-glazed acrylic windows and a Thule Omnistor awning. Highly impressive is the

There’s no doubting Europeans know how to make the most of any space. While the Lyseo T700 is strictly a two berth motorhome, there’s plenty of space to invite friends in for a bite or drink.

Tested

2.1 m x 0.94 m x 0.87 (6’ 11’ x 3’ 1” x 2’ 11”) boot/garage across the rear. Easily accessible from both sides, it has room aplenty even with the spare wheel in there. Mid way along the passenger side are two locker doors, one for the pair of nine kilogram LPG cylinders and the other for accessing the power socket connection and 120 litre water tank. One of the things I like about Euro-built RVs is that the water tank is usually easily accessible and comes with a large bung to make cleaning out and draining a fairly easy chore.

Relaxing

here’s no doubt from looking at a layout like this about the benefit of having swivelling cab seats. They mesh very well with the main, two-person lounge/dinette seat and a sideways-facing lounge. The table in between is fixed to the wall, but also angled to make getting to and from the area easy. In addition it has a handy extension piece that can be swung out so the table is easily reached from all seats. Overhead lockers are fitted both sides, plus there’s a shelf above the cab and good sized under-floor storage in front of the entry door.

A curved roofline and discrete body mouldings prevent the Lyseo T700 from appearing boxy. Inside, the layout is thoroughly conventional and beautifully finished.

Tested

Catering

oving to the kitchen, the bench is L-shaped and comes with a three burner hob and round stainless steel sink. In Euro tradition there isn’t a great deal of bench top space, but there are a few handy features – like the extractor fan, wall splashback and spice rack. Fitted below is a grill/oven, three drawers and a floor locker. LED strip lighting under the lip of the kitchen bench might seem to be a bit of a gimmick but it’s quite handy when looking in the drawers at night. Across the aisle by the entry door is where the 145-litre, 3-way (12V/240V/LPG) fridge is to be found. Instead of having the fridge off the floor and/or there being cupboard space above, in this layout there is a just an open shelf area. The wall behind it is the mounting point for the 48 cm TV with twin tuner satellite receiver, electrical touch panel and the Truma iNet heater control. It’s a funny effect, but having the TV set back further than where it might usually be mounted does make it seem small!

Details like track lights abound, and while the small L-shaped kitchen might appear cramped it’s surprisingly well thought out and practical to use.

Tested Amenities

ürstner always seem to do its bathroom cubicles very elegantly and this one is no exception. It has the usual Thetford cassette toilet, a pedestal wash basin, decent sized upper and lower cupboards and a wallmounted mirror. Like the rest of the motorhome, the toilet cubicle gets a ducted heater outlet, but instead of a hinged door, Bürstner has opted for a space saving roller shutter unit. When open it also makes it considerably easier for getting past to get to the bed. Across the way, the shower cubicle has a touch of class about it too. It’s not just a white moulded box, but has separate and different coloured mouldings, and a rather flash-looking flexible hose shower, all of which creates a different look. Oh, and more practically, there is room to turn around whilst having a shower, which is not always possible in some motorhomes I have looked at!

Bedroom

etting down to a little more detail, the rear bed has a memory foam mattress and measures 1.9 m x 1.4 m (6’ 3” x 4’ 7”). It’s offset to the driver’s side, which does result in a little more space around the shower cubicle. The other effect is that the bedside wardrobes are different widths: the kerb-side one having very generous hanging space, while the other is fitted with multiple narrow shelves. This arrangement might not be appreciated by those who like things symmetrical, but I reckon it works okay. In keeping with the bed, the windows are differently sized too, with the driver’s-side one being somewhat larger than the other. Together with the roof hatch, though, there is still a good cross flow of ventilation. At the base of the bed, two diagonal doors provide access to the under-bed area not already taken up by the rear boot/garage, plus there is a good under-floor hidey-hole as well.

Split bathrooms are the gold standard in any motorhome and the one in the Lyseo T700 doesn’t disappoint.

Tested What I think

espite my brief little drive in the Lyseo T700 I enjoyed my travels. It’s a well appointed motorhome with a layout that includes a decent size island bed. Although this is a two berth motorhome I liked the fact it comes with space up front for when guests come calling. That’s on cooler days, of course. When the sun is out there’s nothing better than relaxing under the awning and enjoying a wine or three in the time honoured RV style!

Unusually, the island bed is offset to the driver’s side, which provides more walk-through access on the shower cubicle side without compromising practicality. The memory foam mattress is a nice touch, as is an unobstructed bedhead so you can sit up to read or enjoy your morning coffee.

Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

BÃ¼rstner

Model

Lyseo T700

Type

B-class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

LICENCE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm@1800 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed automated manual (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

2890 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3500 kg

Max Payload

610 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

6.99 m (22' 11")

Overall Width

2.30 m (7' 7")

Overall Height

2.99 m (9' 10")

Internal Height

2.05 m (8' 7")

Main bed

1.9 m x 1.4 m (6' 3" x 4'7")

Tested

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnistor

Entry Steps

Electric

Hob

3 burner

Rangehood

Yes

Sink

Round stainless steel

Fridge

145 L 3-way

Microwave

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

Air Conditioner

Cab only

Space Heater

Truma Combi 6E

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 6E

Toilet

Thetford cassettte

Shower

Separate cubicle

CAPACITIES

Pros… • Quality • Island bed layout • Well set up lighting system • Large table • Decent sized external storage • Good looking interior • Shelf area above fridge

CONs… • Small kitchen • Lowest powered of the Ducato diesels • Inverter outlet in a slightly awkward location • No spare wheel cover

Batteries

2 x 90 AH

Solar

1 x 150 W

CONTACT:

LPG

2 x 9.0 kg

Fresh Water

120 L

Grey Water

90 L

Hot Water

10 L

Toilet

19 L

North Island SmartRV Auckland 11 Pavilion Drive Airport Oaks, Auckland. 2022 T: 0800 007 627 E: sales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ As Tested

$164,900

Warranty – Vehicle

2 years

Warranty – House

2 years

Click for Google Maps

South Island SmartRV Christchurch 3 Export Ave Harewood. ChCh. 8051. T: 0800 007 628 E: ccsales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

“Built with the usual fibreglass composite body structure, the T700 has a très chic look about it.”

TESTED

Come and see the new Lyseo range at our sales centre in Auckland and Christchurch.

Motorhome in photo: Carado T449

Exclusively distributed in New Zealand by

11 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland | 3 Export Ave, Harewood, Christchurch | 0800 005 312 (NZ) | imotorhome@smartrv.co.nz | smartrv.co.nz

TESTED: BÃ&#x153;RSTNER TESTED: AIR NEXXO OPUSTIME T569

Just

Nexxo in the

Time

by Malcolm Street 33

TESTED

For me, it’s because I get to see many a motorhome that has been in service for a while and unlike a brand new model, it has more than a few kilometres on the clock. So I get to see how it stands up to the rigours of rental service and that is often very telling.

These little thoughts buzzed through my brain as I picked up a Bürstner Nexxo Time T569 from the Wilderness/Smart RV Auckland depot. It was a 2016 model and had about 150,000km on the clock, so it had been used a fair bit in its rental life. I wasn’t planning on racking up too many more kilometres, since I was on a RV journo business trip around the Auckland area. Wilderness has come to understand my needs for a mobile office and accommodation, and were waiting, keys in hand, when I walked in the door.

For you, it’s roughly the same reason, but also because if you are in the market for a motorhome it might well be possible to try it out; or if not the exact motorhome, something very similar. There’s nothing quite like a try-before-you-buy: it can save a very expensive mistake if there’s some feature that really doesn’t suit.

Just a little side note on that issue, I’ve been to the Wilderness office quite a few times and have noted the careful handover procedure for travellers who haven’t used a motorhome before, which does take a bit of time. It’s a little faster for those who are familiar with motorhome travel, which is handy for those of us keen to hit the road!

uckland and Christchurch-based dealer SmartRV operates very much in tandem with the company’s rental arm, Wilderness. I mention that little fact because it is very beneficial to the likes of me and you.

TESTED

Business As Usual

I’ve been in this business long enough to remember when swivelling cab seats weren’t all that common. These days they are almost obligatory and in this case both seats swivel around to neatly mesh with the dining table and dinette/passenger seats.

ith a length of 5.89m (19’ 4") and a tare mass of 2620 kg for this particular machine, the T569 isn’t large. However, it’s a handy length and weight for those who don’t want an oversize unit, but who still desire a bit of comfort and space inside. Anyone familiar with the Bürstner range won’t be surprised by the cab chassis: the ubiquitous Fiat Ducato Multijet 130. It’s 2.3-litre turbo-diesel puts out maximum power of 96 kW and a torque of 320 Nm, and drives through Fiat’s 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). From the outside the T569 has a slightly nose down attitude, but that’s not obvious inside and does ensure a reasonably good departure angle when negotiating gutters and driveways that dip awkwardly. In a motorhome this length a French (corner) bed is easiest if you don’t want to make up a bed every night, or clamber into a roof bed. This one is in the rear kerb-side corner, with the bathroom in the opposite corner and the kitchen between it and entry door. Up front is the usual lounge/dining area and overall it’s a compact arrangement, but one with everything in its place.

TESTED

Up Front

t looks a bit compact, but for two people there’s a choice of seats and a relatively good amount of table space. If another two people come visiting the table has an extension piece that rotates out from underneath and almost doubles the size. The TV is in the roller shuttered cupboard above the rear seats, so viewing is definitely best done from the swivelled cab seats. For those looking for a mains power point under the table, it isn’t there. Instead, it’s under the overhead lockers, just above the rear seat. It’s actually a better location than having to scrabble under the table and also suits the location, because there’s a blanket box (for want of a better description) with a hinged lid at the base of the bed and that’s an ideal location for charging portable devices. The blanket box also has a side door, so you don’t have to lift the lid when you want to get something out. Like in many a motorhome the power point is only a single outlet, but I learned a long time ago to carry a multi-outlet power board. It works very well here, since I use the table as an office desk as well. Still on power points, this Bürstner motorhome (like most in the Wilderness fleet) has an inverter. Only 600 watt-

rated, it’s still good enough for charging laptops, phones and camera batteries and the like. It’s fitted into the base of the bed and is handy for the blanket box top, plus also for the table if a long enough power lead is available. 36

TESTED

Catering

ompact motorhome equals compact kitchen, well 95 percent of the time. As is the case here, the kitchen bench has a three-burner hob, a small round stainless steel sink and a 115-litre 3-way fridge under the bench top. Given the shape of the hob, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of vege cutting space at the front of the bench area. For storage thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a single drawer and cupboard in the under-bench area, while across the aisle the space between the bed and dinette offers a multishelved cupboard. In the space above the kitchen bench, three overhead lockers supply a generous amount of space and I always like the purposedesigned cupboards that keeps the glassware, cups and plates all nicely secure.

TESTED

Corner Bed

he corner bed measures 2.02 m x 1.32–1.18 m (6’7" x 4’1"-3’ 10" ), with the usual chamfered corner to ease getting to the bathroom. Overhead lockers are fitted all ‘round, but unless you have really long arms it’s usually necessary to clamber on to the bed to get to the corner ones. 38

TESTED

Under-bed storage is quite good, which is just as well because it’s the only place to keep bulky items. Access via the small external door is okay for chairs and the like, but not much more. Note the twin house batteries and inverter, while the gas cylinder lives in the cupboard just inside the access hatch.

Lifting the posture slat bed base gives access to a storage area. Even with the gas cylinder bin and deep-cycle batteries taking a chunk of this space, it’s still quite spacious. The external rear access door isn’t particularly large, so any oversize items will have to come in via the main door. The external rear access door is good for camping chairs and table plus the usual power leads and water hoses, though. For any wet items like hoses, a plastic container should be used.

TESTED

Corner Bath

acing the bed on the opposite side are two items: the first being a small wardrobe that’s not oversized, but good enough I reckon for several changes of clothes for two people. You just might have to leave the tuxedo at home... The other item is, of course, the bathroom. It’s of the ‘wet’ variety, with the cassette toilet right at the back and the shower, complete with folding doors, in front. That’s not a major drama, except the floor needs to be wiped dry after use. Also fitted is a swivelling wash basin, and upper cupboard and a wall mirror. Bürstner sometimes put the bathroom light switches in funny places and this one is under the cupboard, which first time users will find cannot be easily seen when standing up! After it’s found, though, no problem.

The swing-out basin is very clever, and while you do need to dry the floor after showering, to use the loo, it’s easily reached.

TESTED

For a motorhome that’s been a rental the Nexxo Time T569 still has plenty of life left, while at less than 6 metres long it’s easy to find that perfect spot but still big enough to live in.

What I think

here are two levels of comment here. One is that if a fairly small motorhome and one with all the essentials for a couple is required, this Nexxo Time T569 is going to fit the bill nicely. It’s large enough to be comfortable but sized to be an easy handling motorhome on the road. Secondly, unless the Wilderness team has a heavy refurbishment program, this Bürstner seems to have stood up to the rigours of motorhome rental life quite well. Certainly the engine performed as it should, as did everything else in the motorhome body. Some motorhome hire companies use purpose-built motorhomes for rental use but this one is actually built for the retail market and is still looking good. Maybe it’s Time to call in and check one out? 41

SPECS GENERAL Make

Burstner

Model

Nexxo Time T569

Type

B-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car/WOF

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm @ 1800 rpm

Gearbox

6-speed automated manual (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

2620 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3500 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

Cons...

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

5.89 m (19' 4")

Overall Width

2.30 m (7' 7")

Overall Height

2.75 m (9')

Internal Height

1.95 m (6’ 5”)

Bed

2.02 m x 1.32 m-1.18 m (6' 7" x 4' 1"-3’ 10”)

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Entry Steps

Moulded

Hob

3-burner

Yes Round stainless steel w folding tap 100 L Dometic RM8501 3-way Panasonic 12 V LED USB in cab No Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Thetford cassette Wet bathroom

Good for two people Quality Internal storage Easy handling Manoeuvarable Skyview hatch over cab Try before you buy

Small engine Small kitchen Wet bathroom External storage access Contact North Island

SmartRV Auckland 11 Pavillion Drive Airport Oaks. Auckland. 2022. T: 0800 007 627 E: sales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

2 x 90 Ah AGM deep-cycle No 1 x 9 kg + 1 x 4 kg 120 L 90 L 10 L 17 L

South Island

SmartRV Christchurch 3 Export Drive Harewood. ChCh. 8051 T: 0800 007 628 E: ccsales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

$92,900 3 Months

TESTED

Go wherever the road takes you. Literally.

Fletchers Bay, North Island

No road restrictions, modern self-contained motorhomes and outstanding customer service. Experience New Zealand your way in a premium rental motorhome from Wilderness. Find out more at wilderness.co.nz

Tested: Carado T447

Two Four The Road!

Two, three or four can hit the road in the versatile Carado T447â&#x20AC;Ś By Malcolm Street

Tested

Carado might be the Hymer Group’s entry-level brand, but there’s nothing cheap and cheerless about the T447. The B-class body blends nicely with the Fiat Ducato cab, aided by subtle striping and colouring. At the rear a rounded roofline and side body mouldings prevent the dreaded box-on-wheels appearance, but without overdoing things.

ingle bed motorhomes aren’t always popular but they do have a bit of a fan base. In particular, it’s amongst those who are less able, those who just prefer the convenience of single beds, and those who like to travel with a friend with whom they do not wish to share a bed! This is why Smart RV has in its range, motorhomes like the Carado T447. Actually it has a bit more than just a single bed layout; indeed it’s very multifunctional, but I’ll delve into that later. Carado is part of the German-based Erwin Hymer Group, which also includes names like Bürstner, plus Hymer as a brand itself. However, when compared to those two, Carado comes in at the budget end. There are some common factors, though, like the Fiat Ducato base vehicle, which is used in about 75 percent of motorhomes sold in Europe. In the Carado T447 it’s a Ducato Multijet 130 wide track cab-chassis, with a GVM of 3495

Tested

kg and tare mass of 2815 kg, giving a good payload of 680 kg. The 130 figure refers to 130 hp which all Euro manufacturers seem to use (and very strange in a metric orientated Europe I have to say). Anyway, in metric terms the 2.3-litre turbo-diesel puts out a maximum of 96 kW and 320 Nm of torque. An option on this model is for the more powerful 109 kW / 350 Nm Multijet 150, which for someone who likes a bit more grunt – like me! – would definitely be a consideration.

Body Building

Euro motorhomes are big on garages – boots to you and me – and the T447’s is capacious without being over the top. And despite opinions to the contrary, the entry door on the driver’s side is no big deal in practice and very quickly adapted to.

he Carado T447 is a B-class motorhome with fibreglass walls and roof, aluminium composite walls, a very large (2.15 m x 1.1 m x 1.18 m) rear storage bin and an entry door on the driver’s side. It comes with double glazed acrylic windows, skyview hatch up front, a typical Euro door that includes an internal concertina-style insect screen, the gas bin behind the rear

Tested

driver’s-side wheel and a Thule Omnistor awning. It might be a base model but it still has a reasonably streamlined look about it.

Stepping Aboard

he 7.38m (24’ 3”) external length provides generous interior space for this four-seat/four-berth motorhome. Layout is typically European, with a front lounge/ dining area, a mid kitchen, split bathroom and a rear bedroom. Above the lounge/dinette is a drop-down bed, while at the rear is a series of steps to get to the bathroom and bedroom because of the big rear garage underneath. Up front, the seating is also on a slightly raised platform; one result of which is an underfloor storage compartment. Both cab seats swivel to mesh with the table, while the forward-facing two-person dinette is seat belt equipped. Just to keep it friendly, there is also a sideways-facing lounge between the driver’s seat and entry door. Above the cab the large hatch allows in plenty of light, as do the side windows.

Top: The front half of the T447 is a model of space efficiency and integrates the cab seats well into everyday life. Note the overhead bed with lights underneath and cupboards attached – you hardly realise it’s there when not in use. Above: Easily manually operated, when lowered the overhead bed reveals its own roof hatch and has privacy curtaining. Access is via a short ladder from the kitchen side.

Tested

When the drop-down bed is needed you just move a few seat cushions around and lower the bed by hand. It’s a cantilever system that is easy and smooth to operate. Drop down beds are an amazing innovation that appeared less than a decade ago, but have really changed motorhome interior design. There are power operated versions available, but for most people – like those without shoulder/arm issues – the hand operated variety work just as well and are less complex, expensive and heavy.

Kitchen

uropean motorhome kitchens tend to give the impression that the designer is presented with the challenge of something like, “Just how much kitchen can we jam into as limited area as possible?”. There’s no exception to that line of thinking here, in the carado’s L-shaped layout. It does contain a three-burner hob with grill/oven below plus a round stainless steel sink, all of which leaves an itty-bitty amount of bench space. Strangely, though, from experience we know it actually works…

Top: Despite being cosy the lounge/dinette is also bright and airy, thanks in no small part to the big over-cab ‘skyview’ hatch. Above: Although small the typically-Euro L-shaped kitchen is functional and includes a full oven, but not a microwave.

Tested

There is also a cutlery drawer, cupboard, floor locker and overhead cabinet space. A feature of this kitchen layout though is that the 167-litre fridge across the aisle has a set-back roller shutter cupboard above and even a bit of shelf space. A power point in this locality would be good, given it makes an excellent electronic device charging area.

Split Bathroom

here’s a step up to the aisle space between the kerbside shower and the toilet cubicle opposite, which in keeping with the front area has another under-floor storage compartment – good for shoes and the like. It’s here that the rear section can be closed off from the front simply by swinging the toilet-cubicle door open. It’s also handy if you have guests along or someone simply wants a bit of peace and quiet. Having a split bathroom does away with any ‘wet’ bathroom issues and in this case the shower cubicle has hinged clear screens that close off the shower but stow away when not being used.

The split bathroom can be closed off from the living area using the toilet cubicle door. Practical and well equipped, the bathroom arrangement works well and has everything you need, including good storage.

Tested While it looks a bit tight, there is room to move in the toilet cubicle. It includes the expected cassette toilet, vanity wash basin and a good sized wall mirror, but I like the multi shelved cupboard in the corner – excellent for all those small bathroom essentials.

Flexible Beds

n the bedroom the standard setup is two single beds. Both are 0.8 m (2’ 7” in) wide, but one – at 2.1 m (6’ 11”) – is slightly longer than the other, at 2.05 m (6’ 9”). Not that it really matters; both are more than long enough except maybe for basketballers! However, if a large double bed is required, then by fiddling around with bases and cushions, a giant king bed can be created. It’s your choice! Overhead lockers are fitted across the rear wall and there are shelves above both windows, while with the single bed arrangement there’s a good sized bedside shelf between the beds. Cupboard doors at the base of both beds give access to a generous amount of storage space; the driver’s-side one being fitted with a clothes hanger rail. It might look a bit oddly located, but I reckon the Truma hot water/space heater switch is in a good position at the base of the bed. It’s easily reached from the front of the motorhome, while on a cold and frosty morning it’s not far to clamber out of bed.

Power Department

lectrically speaking the T447 is well equipped, with two 80 AH house batteries, a 150 W solar panel and a 1000 W 12/240 V inverter. Those considering extended remote stays might consider a bit more solar panel capacity, while with 122-litres of fresh water and 92-litres of grey, the T447 is Freedom Camping certified.

Twin beds make a lot of sense and the T447’s can also be converted to a huge ‘king’ if desired. Note the big side windows and roof hatch, and the central storage unit that doubles as a shared bedside table.

Tested What I think

hen I first stepped into the Carado T447my impression was of a slightly cramped layout. It wasn’t helped by the fact that it was a very rainy day and I had everything closed up. However, after the obligatory time sitting in the front seats and relaxing, I decided it was a layout I could easily live with. Particularly, I like the flexibility of the bedding arrangement: just singles, a double and singles or two doubles – indeed, something for everyone, however many there are!

Through-cab access is good and the Fiat Ducato provides comfortable and economical cruising. Whichever way you look at it, the Carado T447 is an affordably good thing!

Price Crash!

martRV has advised that since Malcolm reviewed the Carado T447 the price has dropped from $141,900 to $129,900 – a saving of $12,000! The same reduced price now also applies to Carado T449, which is basically identical apart from an island rear bed, making both models even better value.

Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

Carado

Model

T 447

Type

B-class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

LICENCE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3-litre turbo-diesel

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm @ 1800 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed AMT

Safety

ABS, ESP, Traction Plus, Driver/passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

2815 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3495 kg

Max Payload

680 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.38 M (23' 3")

Overall Width

2.33 m (7' 8")

Overall Height

2.91 m (9' 7")

Internal Height

2.10 m (6' 10")

Single beds

2.05 m/2.1 m x 0.8 m (6' 9"/6' 11" x 2' 7")

Drop Down Bed

1.95 m x 1.4 m /1.1 m (6' 5" x 4' 7"/3' 7")

Tested

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnistor

Entry Steps

Electric

Hob

3-burner Thetford & Thetford grill/oven

Rangehood

Dometic

Sink

Stainless steel round

Fridge

167 L Thetford N3170 3-way (12 v/240 v/ LPG)

Microwave

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

2 x USB

Air Conditioner

Space Heater

Truma Combi 6E (LPG/electric)

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 6E (LPG/electric)

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Separate cubicle

Pros… • Reduced price! • Good sized single beds • Multi bed setup possible • Very well sized external storage • Split bathroom

CONs… • Small kitchen bench space • Limited kitchen storage • Lower powered Fiat engine

CAPACITIES Batteries

2 x 80 AH

Solar

150 W

Inverter

12 V – 240 V 1000W

LPG

2 x 9.0 kg

Fresh Water

122 L

Grey Water

92 L

Hot Water

10 L

Toilet

17 L

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ As Tested

$129,900

Warranty – Vehicle

2 years

Warranty – House

2 years

CONTACT:

Click for Google Maps

North Island Wilderness Motorhomes 11 Pavilion Drive Airport Oaks, Auckland. 2022. T: 0800 007 627 E: sales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz Click for South Island Google Maps Wilderness Motorhomes 3 Export Ave Harewood. ChCh. 8051. T: 0800 007 628 E: ccsales@smartrv.co.nz W: smartmotorhomes.co.nz

“Carado is part of the German-based Erwin Hymer Group, which also includes names like Bürstner, plus Hymer as a brand itself.”

Go wherever the road takes you. Literally.

Arrowtown, South Island

No road restrictions, modern self-contained motorhomes and outstanding customer service. Experience New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Autumn & Winter your way in a premium rental motorhome from Wilderness. Find out more at wilderness.co.nz

TESTED: DETHLEFFS PULSE GT I7051 DBL

racing

PULSE! Dethleffs Pulse GT excites with its style and panache, reports Malcolm Street... 71

TESTED

ethleffs motorhomes have been gaining an ever increasing presence on New Zealand roads. That’s mostly courtesy of distributor Zion Motorhomes, which now has quite a considerable range of Dethleffs product in its showroom.

“Being German built, the Pulse GT has a driver’sside entry door, while the passenger has a cab door on the kerb side...”

There are a number of models available, but the one I took for a spin on rather a grey day was a Pulse GT I7051 DB; an A-class motorhome that has an external length of 7.4 m (24’ 5”), a GVM of 3850 kg and a tare mass of 3250 kg, thus giving a comfortable payload of 600 kg. In case anyone happens to look on the Dethleffs website, the 7051 is also available as a Low Profile motorhome (what we call B-class), signified by a T rather than the letter I in front of the number (in Europe the letter I stands for Integrated, which is their term for what we call an A-class – Ed). In both cases, the GT or Gran Turisimo designation means a few extra goodies, like a leather steering wheel, 16in alloys and central locking. Apart from the alloy wheels, the clue to the GT moniker is the red skid plate at the front of the motorhome. 72

TESTED

A Fiat Ducato cab factory-produced for an A-class motohome (above left and below), bolted to a ‘normal’ Ducato cab. Both are deesigned to be attached to AL-KO chassis. In the case of the A-class, the skeletal structure is specially engineered to maximise strength and rigidity for the body builder.

Cab-Chassis

here’s not much ‘cab’ in the case of an A-class motorhome built on Fiat’s purpose-built, cut down Ducato platform. In this instance it’s a Fiat Ducato Multijet 160, a cut above the normal Multijet 130 that many a Euro motorhome seems to use. What that means is a bit more grunt underfoot, with the 2.3-litre turbo-diesel delivering 117 kW and 380 Nm, while of course you also get Fiat’s 6-speed Comfort-matic automated manual transmission (AMT). However, the new nine-speed full auto is certainly on the way and we can’t wait!

TESTED

Body Building

ethleffs use a composite body structure for the Pulse GT. The walls have aluminium/XPS foam/ wood panelling whilst the roof and floor are similar, except the external cladding is GRP (fibreglass). The overall result is a quite a stylish looking motorhome that manages to avoid a boxy look by having a slightly curved rear wall. For cold climates the body construction is designed to have minimal ‘cold spots’, so no aluminium or wood inserts. Presumably that works for hot weather too. To back up its body construction method, Dethleffs provides a six year water ingress warranty. Being German built, the Pulse GT has a driver’s-side entry door, while the passenger has a cab door on the kerb side. The other notable feature is the 1.1 m x 0.9 m (3’ 7” x 2’ 11”) boot or ‘garage’ across the rear; its large doors on both sides making access easy. To achieve the height of the garage it does mean the double bed has to be a fair height off the floor. However, it’s not fixed, so if full storage height isn’t needed the bed can be lowered using a simple winding handle. Tie down rings along the base of the garage make it easy for keeping large items secure, too. Fitted to the driver’ side is a full length Thule Omnistor awning, while out of sight on the roof are a 200 W solar panel and Kiwi Sat satellite dish.

TESTED

Inside

tepping into the Pulse GT reveals a layout that does have a bit of style and class about it. The cabinetry certainly has something of an elegant look, not only in its general design but also the colour scheme and lighting system. In addition to concealed LED strip lights, the reading lights certainly have a contemporary look. Forward of the entry door is the front lounge dining area, which includes the cab. Opposite the door is the kitchen bench, leaving the rear of the motorhome the bathroom and bedroom. The overhead lockers are worth a mention, at least those in the front. They are two tone and angled back, with an additional shelf. A little differently, the locker door is a soft opening bifold arrangement that lifts upwards.

TESTED

Up Front

wo sideways-facing seats and the swivelled cab seats form the dining and lounging area. This includes a fairly large table that hinges over to give easy access to and from the cab. Windows all around give a nice panorama of your surrounds. The Pulse GT is designed carry four people, but the observant might note there doesn’t appear to be any extra seating, at least not the forward facing and seat belted variety. Standby by for a little design trickery, because by removing a few cushions, extracting two seat backs from their hidey-hole and fitting them at the rear ends of the inwards-facing dinette seats, the result is a proper pair of forward-facing passenger friendly seats! There’s a bit of fiddling involved, but it’s neat idea if you only occasionally carry extra passengers.

TESTED

Food Preparation

ike the rest of the motorhome, the kitchen has a clean, uncluttered look about it. It also has the expected features, like a three burner hob and round stainless steel sink with a Thetford grill/oven below. Bench space is nominal, but at least the hob has a split lid and the sink a cover for when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not being used. A couple of power points are hidden under the overhead lockers. A nice touch is the splash panel that keeps too much cooking spatter from getting on to the adjacent seat (or a person sitting there). For storage, the cook gets a cutlery drawer, cupboard, small under-bench shelves and overhead lockers. Opposite the kitchen bench, a cabinet contains not only a 142-litre Thetford 3-way fridge, but a couple of storage compartments and a cupboard. Not to be forgotten is the flat screen TV, which mounts sideways when not being used.

TESTED

Bedroom

he stylish theme of the interior continues into the bedroom. In addition to the standard insect screen/ blind, the windows get translucent Roman blinds. Not only are there trendy-looking bed reading lights, but also semi-concealed LED strip lighting behind a panel in the ceiling and under the steps, at floor level. The bedroom cabinetry also deserves a bit of a mention. There is of course the 1.9 m x 1.6 m (6’ 3” x 5’ 4”) island bed; one with curved corners at the base and that can, as mentioned, be raised or lowered to adjust garage space. There are also the usual overhead lockers and bedside wardrobes, but the latter are angled to overhang the bed without actually getting in the way. Both sleepers get a pillow cubby and a decent bit of bedside storage as well.

TESTED

The Splitty

plit bathrooms seem to be very much in vogue these days. On the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side, the cubicle there contains the cassette toilet and quite a decent vanity cabinet setup, with both upper and lower cupboards as well as a wall mirror. On the opposite side, the shower cubicle has the expected flexible hose shower, towel rail and split doors to facilitate easy access. The bathroom area can be closed off from both ends; the toilet cubicle door closing off the front part of the motorhome while sliding doors close off the rear.

TESTED

Verdict

reckon the Pulse GT ticks any number of boxes. From the outside it’s a stylish looking motorhome that does well in the external storage department. Inside, the overall appearance is quite pleasing to the eye and practical at the same time. Although it was raining – sometimes quite heavily on the day of my test drive – I found it a very easy handling motorhome on the road and one that was a pleasure to drive.

GENERAL Make

Dethleffs

Model

Pulse I7051

Type

A-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence/Certification

Car/COF

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 160

Engine

2.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

117 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

380 Nm @ 1500-2750 rpm

Gearbox

6-speed automated manual (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3250 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3850 kg

Max Payload

Subject to accessories fitted

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.44 m (24' 5")

Overall Width

2.33 m (7' 8")

Overall Height

3.00 m (9' 10”)

Internal Height

1.93 m - 2.06 m (6’ 4” - 6’ 9”)

Island Bed

1.90 m x 1.60 m (6' 3" x 5' 4")

Drop-down Bed

1.95 m x 1.5 m (6’ 5” x 4’ 11”)

A-class layout Stylish décor Overhead locker design Height adjustable bed Clever passenger seats Bed sizes

Cons...

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnisport

Entry Steps

Electric

Hob

3-burner & Thetford Duplex oven

No Round stainless steel 142 L Thetford N3142 3-way (12v/240v/LPG) No 12 V LED 1 x Cab, 1 x Living area No Truma Combi 6E (LPG/electric) Truma Combi 6E (LPG/electric) Thetford cassette Separate Cubicle 2 x 95 Ah 1 x 110 W 2 x 9.0 kg 116 L 90 L 10 L 17 L NZ$178,000 2 years 5 years water ingress

Small kitchen Passenger seats fiddly Narrow shower Needs WOF

Contact

Zion Motorhomes 50 Gateway Drive Pokeno. 2471. T: 0800 11 28 28 E: sales@zionmotorhomes.co.nz W: zionmotorhomes.co.nz

TESTED

“I reckon the Pulse GT ticks any number of boxes. From the outside it’s a stylish looking motorhome that does well in the external storage department. Inside, the overall appearance is quite pleasing to the eye and practical at the same time.”

Tested: Dethleffs Trend T6757

On Trend

That’s Dethleffs Trend T6757… By Malcolm Street

Tested

Dethleffs is a well regarded German manufacturer and the Trend series is one of its entry level offerings. Being available for hire through McRent means interested buyers can experience their potential purchase in the real world before making a decision. It also gives the option of buying a low-mileage near-new unit at a considerable saving.

part from having a great holiday, one of the reasons for hiring a motorhome if considering a purchase is the ability to do an extended test drive beforehand. That is certainly the case with a McRent motorhome hire: The motorhomes available for hire are also sold (both new and used) by Zion Motorhomes, based in Pokeno near Auckland. McRent was kind enough to lend me a Dethleffs Trend T6757 on a recent trip to Auckland. It was mostly a working trip I should point out, although I did get to enjoy Waitangi Day with a considerable number of other people at Orewa. I know most people use a motorhome for recreational purposes, but I find them equally good as a mobile office. Apart from anything else, I never have the problem of leaving something behind in a hotel room!

Powering Along

he Dethleffs Trend is German-built and like many a motorhome out of Europe, rides on a Fiat Ducato cab-chassis; a Multijet 130

Tested

with a 2.3-litre, 96 kW/320 Nm turbo-diesel and the all-too-familiar 6-speed automated manual gearbox. With an external length of nearly 7m (23’), the Trend’s size makes it easy enough to drive, whilst still having generous internal space. It also does well in the weight department, with a tare mass of 2999 kg and a GVM of 3499 kg, leaving a max payload of 500 kg. As usual, the Europeans seem to score very well in this area.

Around the Outside

C The big boot – garage in Euro-speak – is typically European and provides heaps of storage, while having a separate bike rack adds versatility.

onstruction is the usual fibreglass sandwich panel with moulded panels back and front, giving the Trend a stylish, streamlined look. It’s interesting that there are very few motorhome built in Europe these days that have a frame. No surprises in the door and window department, with the former being a standard Hartal unit and the latter Poly Plastic double-glazed acrylics. For some reason, amongst European

Tested

manufacturers the Germans are really the only ones who won’t make a mirrored body layout for right-hand drive vehicles, which results in the entry door being on the so-called ‘wrong’ side. That said, having used quite a few for various motorhome trips, I really haven’t found it a problem and there are even some places where it’s an advantage. Fitted mid way along the driver’s-side is the LPG locker, which is large enough for a pair of nine kilogram gas cylinders. For those who like to carry around a little more gear than I was, the large boot – ‘garage’ in Euro-speak – across the rear will carry most motorhomer’s travel needs. Push bikes might not fit, but that’s okay because there’s a Fiamma bike rack on the rear wall. I reckon that’s a good idea because a couple of mountain bikes give a great deal of flexibility when touring, not to mention exercise!

Inside and out, the Trend is thoroughly conventional and typical and current European motorhome design, decor and technology. It’s strange, however, that most German manufacturers steadfastly refuse to put the entry door on the kerb side for right-hand drive markets, while other European manufacturers do.

Tested

Living Space

y Trend was a four berth motorhome, with an island bed down the rear and a drop-down bed above the front lounge/dining area. The rest of the layout follows a fairly standard German pattern, with a mid kitchen on the kerb side and a split bathroom in front of the rear bedroom. A benefit of the almost 7m (23’) length is that there are few compromises in the overall layout and decent room to move around.

Relaxing

p front, the dining area is surprisingly roomy. Both cab seats swivel, of course, and there’s a forward-facing dinette/lounge seat aft of the passenger’s cab seat, with the table in between. There’s also a sideways-facing seat between the entry door and cab. On the opposite side there’s a smaller seat along the wall, which means both cab seat occupants can put their feet up when watching TV (it being located on the fridge cabinet by the door). There is but one 240V power point in the front area and it’s in the usual place in the seat base, and a

Cosy, comfortable and functional: The Trend’s front living area is a model of space efficiency, and the rest of the layout follows suit.

Tested

bit awkward to get at. My solution is to use a multi-outlet power board that sits on the seat, you just have to be careful of trailing leads. Above the seating area is a 2.0 m x 1.4-1.1 m (6’ 7” x 4’ 7”-3’ 7”) drop-down bed that lowers to a level that requires a short ladder to access. There are overhead lockers fitted beneath the bed and the one nearest the kitchen bench is actually just a door that has to be opened when the bed is lowered, so as not to hit the kitchen bench. Interesting!

Cookhouse

here was a time when L-shaped kitchens were a bit of a novelty, but not any more, as most Euro designers seem to use them and for good reason: They create valuable space, with storage below and work bench on top. Fitted into the benchtop are a three-burner hob and a round stainless steel sink, with a grill/oven down below. Under the benchtop is a cutlery drawer and a couple of cupboards. In a “d’oh” moment, I wondered where the power points were. Located immediately below the

Clockwise from top left: A secondary sleeping area often comes in very handy, and the Trend’s roof bed is easily accessed from the kitchen via this short ladder; with the bed retracted you hardly know it’s there, especially as the overhead cupboards are attached to its underside. Note the middle ‘cupboard’, which is really just a door that has to be opened when the bed is lowered to clear the kitchen bench; While the L-shaped kitchen is small we’ve proven over the years it’s quite liveable, so don’t be put off even if you like to cook.

Tested overhanging benchtop, beside the cutlery drawer, they can’t actually be seen when standing at the bench, but are still in a handy position. On the opposite side of the aisle the 142-litre Thetford fridge sits above a floor locker.

Split Bathroom

hower cubicle doors are sometimes a bit of a fiddle when getting in and out, but these score well. When not in use a floor panel slots into place over the shower base, providing easier access to and from the bedroom. On the wall outside the bathroom is where the Truma INet controller for the hot water and air heater is to be found; a location that seems to have more to do with manufacturer than user convenience. Opposite the shower is a well set-up toilet cubicle, complete with cassette toilet, wash basin, decent sized wall mirror, towel rails and a multi-shelved cupboard – always a handy item for small bathroom essential items. Both the shower and the toilet cubicle have a ceiling ventilation hatch.

Rear Bedroom

iven the size of the rear boot/garage storage, it’s no surprise the 1.9 m x 1.5 m (6’3” x 5’) sits a fair height off the floor. Fortunately, even without a step it’s not too difficult to get in and out. There are no bedside cabinets as such, but on both sides there is a decent sort of shelf area, plus the usual wardrobes and overhead lockers. At the base of the bed is a cupboard with two shelves, but the lower area is mostly taken by a water tank. Unlike most NZ and Australian-built RVs, the Europeans often put the water tanks inside to prevent freezing in winter. Also at the base of the bed is a discreet under-floor compartment.

There’s no substitute for the convenience and privacy of a split bathroom.

Tested What I Think

he Dethleffs Trend scores very well in a rental situation. It has easy handling and given itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s built for the retail market, it is kitted out very well for potential buyers, both new and used. Judging by what I saw at the recent Covi Show, ex-rental Trends with around 20,000 km on the clock looked to be in very good condition and were priced well below a new model, making them a very attractive proposition. Another benefit of having the same vehicle for both retail and rental markets, is that trying before you buy is very easy. Try one some time soon!

Inside and out, the Dethleffs Trend T6757 is a practical and appealing motorhome and would suit a lot of buyers. The icing on the cake is being able to try before you buy!

Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

Dethleffs

Model

Trend T6757

Type

B-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car

LICENCE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3 litre

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm@1800 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed AMT

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

2999 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3499 kg

Max Payload

500 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

6.94 m (22' 9")

Overall Width

2.33 m (7' 8")

Overall Height

2.94 m (9' 7")

Internal Height

2.13 m (7')

Main bed

1.9 m x 1.5 m (6' 3" x 5')

Dinette Bed

2.0 m x 1.4 - 1.1 m (6' 7" x 4' 7" - 3' 7")

Tested

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnistor

Entry Steps

Moulded in

Hob

3-burner Domentic

Rangehood

Sink

Round, stainless steel

Fridge

142 L Thetford N3142 3-way

Microwave

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

Air Conditioner

Space Heater

Truma Combi 6E LPG/Electric

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 6E LPG/Electric

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Separate cubicle

Pros… • Well proportioned layout • External storage capacity • Sturdy table mounting • Drop-down bed • Spacious lounge/dining area • Split bathroom • Payload

CONs… • Under-seat dinette power point access • Truma heater panel location • Bed height might be an issue for some

CAPACITIES Batteries

1 x 100 AH

Solar

110 kW

LPG

2 x 9 kg

Fresh Water

116 L

Grey Water

90 L

Hot Water

90 L

Toilet

19 L

Toilet

17 L

CONTACT:

Click for Google Maps

McRent Motorhomes (Also Zion Motorhomes) 50 Gateway Park Drive Pokeno, 2402, Auckland T: 09 267 6789 E: auckland@macrent.co.nz W: www.mcrent.co.nz/motorhome-rental-auckland/ Click for Google Maps

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ From As Tested

NZ$122,990 (used, 2018 model)

McRent Motorhomes 54 Greywacke Road Harewood, 8051 Christchurch. T: 09 267 6789 E: christchurch@macrent.co.nz W: www.mcrent.co.nz/motorhome-rental-christchurch/

TESTED: TESTED: ROLLER TEAM AIR OPUS PEGASO 740

Bargain PEGASO?

An Italian original at a price that might just make it a bargain buy... by Malcolm Street

TESTED

he motorhome scene in New Zealand is a little different to that of Australia. For example, whilst there are very few mid sized A-class motorhomes circulating Australia there are any number of makes and models on the road in NZ. One of said motorhomes is a Roller Team Pegaso 740, imported into New Zealand by the RV Super Centre. Like all Roller Team stock at the RVSC, it has done a year or so of service with the Just Go motorhome rental company in the UK before being exported to New Zealand. The Italian built Pegaso has an external length of 7.4m (24’ 4”) and is built on a Fiat Ducato Multijet 130 cab-chassis, with a GVM of 3500kg and a 96 kW/320 Nm turbo-diesel engine. There are two entry doors: a conventional driver’s door and a habitation door on the kerb side. For the overall body construction, fibreglass composite with styrofoam insulation is used for the roof, side walls and floor, resulting in quite a stylish looking motorhome with a raked front and moulding on the rear wall. Seitz awning-style acrylic double glaze windows are fitted all round. Although not overly equipped for extended free camping stays, the Pegaso certainly has all the essentials, like 100-litre fresh and grey water tanks, a 100 Ah house battery and 150 W of solar panel capacity. 59

TESTED

External Storage

point of interest for those who like to carry items like golf clubs, folding bikes and maybe a BBQ will be the large garage space in the rear. Accessible from both sides, it will take a fair bit of gear, especially as the bed above can be raised for taller items. Also fitted into this area is the spare wheel, which does take a bit of space, and the Truma Combi 6E gas/electric water and space heater, which doesn’t take up space because it’s fitted into its own compartment further forward, under the bed. There’s a smaller locker under the front passenger window, handy for items like power leads and hoses, while the pair of nine kilogram gas cylinders are to be found in their mid driver’s-side side locker.

TESTED

Four Berth

he layout is a fairly standard Euro setup, with a front lounge/dining area, mid kitchen, split bathroom and rear bedroom, complete with island bed. To accommodate four people thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a drop down bed above the cab, while the layout arrangement is such that the rear and front sleeping areas are separated by the bathroom. The interior is done out in a fairly light hue colour scheme that all fits together quite well in a practical arrangement. In keeping with many a contemporary motorhome design, concealed and semi-concealed LED strip lights are fitted everywhere.

TESTED

On the Road

lthough the Pegaso 740 looks like a bulky motorhome to drive, it really isn’t. Sitting in the driver’s seat you have excellent panoramic vision of the road ahead, while both the bus-style external mirrors and the rear view camera give a good view of what’s going on behind. Fiat’s Multijet 130 powers the motorhome along adequately – nothing startling mind you – and the 6-speed AMT gearbox has the usual low speed hesitations, but otherwise it slides through the gears well enough.

TESTED

Living Room

ndoubtedly the benefit of an A-class is the spacious dining/lounge area up front. Aided in part by swivelled cab seats, there space enough for a forward facing passenger seat thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fitted with two seat belts and a side facing lounge as well. The dining table, which pushes to one side when not needed, can be reached from all seats. Windows are fitted almost all around, although there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t one between the entry door and cab, but general external vision is quite good.

TESTED

Cordon Bleu?

atering is handled quite well in the relatively small kitchen, which consists of an L-shaped bench on the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side side and a fridge cabinet opposite. Bench area isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t excessive, but there is enough space for a three burner cooktop and round stainless steel sink. Built into the under-bench space is Thetford grill/ oven, plus cupboard space that includes a wire basket pantry. Fridge design has changed a fair bit in recent times and to fit in more awkward locations, fridges like this Thetford 141 litre have been slimmed down. While still a two-door unit, the bottom section is a pull-out drawer primarily designed for tall drink bottles. This you can access them in hot weather without letting the cold air our of the main fridge section above (which still has a small freezer section up top). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ingenious and especially welcome in hot Antipodean summers. The slimming down also allows for a second wire basket pantry to be fitted adjacent to the fridge. Apart from a cupboard, the area above the fridge is where the touch panel control system, water/heater control and a flat screen TV are to be found. 64

TESTED

Bathroom in the Middle

rom the front of the motorhome you step up into the bathroom. Set in the middle is a vanity cabinet with pedestal wash basin, cupboard below and wall mirror above. On the kerb side, the shower cubicle has the dual role of walkway as well. Folding screens and a concertina curtain close off the shower cubicle when in use, while a removable floor panel means no wet feet when passing through. On the opposite side, the toilet cubicle is similarly designed as a walk through and the Thetford cassette toilet sits on a slightly raised platform that might be an issue for persons with shorter legs. As an extra for privacy, a concertina curtain can close off the toilet from the rest of the motorhome.

TESTED

Bedroom

t the rear, the partition between the bathroom and bedroom creates a slightly cramped feel, but there is certainly space for the 1.9 m x 1.36 m (6’ 2” x 4’ 4”) bed, along with wardrobes on either side and a couple of overhead lockers. Because of the garage underneath, the bedside cabinets have a handy extended length. On both sides you’ll find a step up into the bedroom, plus sliding doors for closing off the bathroom. Windows and a mid-sized roof hatch give a good cross flow of ventilation and natural light level. For those who like to watch TV from bed, the partition between bedroom and bathroom has an appropriate mounting bracket, power point and antenna connection. Secondary sleeping can be found in the cab, in the form of a roof-bed measuing 1.85 m x 1.34 m (6’ x 4’ 4”) that can be lowered by hand when needed. The job of lowering it is quite easy – the cab seat-backs have to be lowered of course – and probably the most difficult bit is actually making-up the bed, although once done it can be left that way. 66

TESTED

What I Think

or an ex-rental motorhome this Pegaso 740, with around 29,000 km on the clock, was in surprisingly good condition. There were just a few user marks, but nothing to worry about. Certainly for anyone desiring to get into a 7.4 m (24’ 3”) A-class for under NZ$130,000, the Pegaso isn’t a bad deal and does provide plenty of motorhoming comfort and style. You could almost say it’s a work of art...

GENERAL Make

Roller Team

Model

Pegaso 740

Type

A-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence/Certification

Car/WOF

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

96 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

320 Nm @ 1800 rpm

Gearbox

6-speed automated manual (AMT)

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3160 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

3500 kg

Max Payload

Subject to accessories fitted

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

Cons... Lowest powered Ducato Main bed length No USB chargers in rear Free camping constraints Toilet height

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.41 m (24' 4")

Overall Width

2.35 m (7' 9")

Overall Height

2.95 m (9' 8”)

Internal Height

2.13m (7’)

Front Bed

1.90 m x 1.36 m (6' 2" x 4' 5")

Rear Bed

1.85 m x 1.34 m (6’ x 4’ 4”)

A-class layout Living area External storage Partitioned floorplan Lighting

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Entry Steps

Moulded

Hob

3-burner

No Round stainless steel 141 L Thetford N3141 3-way (12v/240v/LPG) No 12 V LED Cab only No Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric) Thetford cassette Separate Cubicle 1 x 100 Ah 1 x 150 W 2 x 9.0 kg 100 L 100 L 10 L 17 L

Contact North Island

RV Super Cantre 169 Bush Rd Albany, Auckland. 0632. T: 0800 52 00 55 E: info@rvsupercentre.co.nz W: rvsupercentre.co.nz

South Island

RV Super Cantre 1159 Orchard Rd Harwood. ChCh. 8053. T: 0800 52 00 55 E: info@rvsupercentre.co.nz W: rvsupercentre.co.nz

NZ$169,900 12 Months

TESTED

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For an ex-rental motorhome this Pegaso 740, with around 29,000 km on the clock, was in surprisingly good condition. There were just a few user marks, but nothing to worry about.â&#x20AC;?

TESTED: TRAILLITE OAKURA 354

Crafty

Move!

TrailLiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VW Crafter-based Oakura 354 combines German knowhow and Kiwi cunning... by Malcolm Street, with additional images supplied 36

TESTED

railLite’s relatively new 300+ range of motorhomes comes with a few features of note, including the layout and the fact it’s based on Volkswagen’s latest Crafter cab-chassis. Currently in the 300+ range there are 3 layouts: one has a drop down bed in the rear, another has single beds in the rear and yet another – the Oakura, and the subject of this review – has an island bed at the rear. Starting with a few facts, the Oakura 354 is quite a large motorhome. With an external length of 8.0 m (26’ 3") and a GVM of 5500 kg, it’s designed to not

only offer generous interior space, but also to carry a bit of weight as well. Some of the weighty items that have to be accommodated includes 300-litres of fresh water and 270 amp-hours of AGM housebattery capacity. The 220-litres of grey water gets in there somewhere too, but it’s generally assumed that when the freshwater tank is filled, the grey water tank is emptied. 37

TESTED

New Crafter by VW

ne of the items of interest to me in this particular motorhome was my first time drive of the new Volkswagen Crafter cab-chassis. What’s new about the Crafter is that it’s purely a Volkswagen design, unlike previous models, which have been a shared design with Mercedes-Benz and its Sprinter. Crafter’s features are interesting; namely rear-wheel drive, plus max power of 130 kW and max torque of 410 Nm from a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. It’s actually a twin turbo engine, hence the higher power for the engine capacity. Undoubtedly the major feature is the replacement of the old (and unloved – Ed) sixspeed automated manual transmission (AMT) that

harked back to early Mercedes-Benz Sprinter times, by the new super-smooth eight-speed full auto. Its gear changes are seamless, making driving the Oakura 354 a real treat. If you want a bit more fun with your driving, then a six-speed manual gearbox is also available. In the driver’s cab, the dashboard layout does have that distinctive, teutonic VW look about it, but all the controls and instruments are where they should be. Good sized external mirrors give a good rear view, while on the right of the dash board is the rear view camera display.

TESTED

Around the Outside

rom the outside the Oakura 354 is quite a stylish looking motorhome, the effect added to by the raked back area above the cab and the metallic grey and white colour scheme. There’s no problem with external storage, there being a good sized rear tunnel boot, done in the Euro ‘garage’ style. In addition, there are two smaller lockers along the driver’s-side, one being for the battery management system and the other for the pair of 9.0 kg LPG cylinders. Covering the Hartal entry door and most of the kerbside wall, except for part of the rear window area, is a Thule Omnistor awning. Mostly out of sight, a 600 mm Kiwisat satellite dish sits atop the roof.

TESTED

Stepping Aboard

benefit of a motorhome this length is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to design a layout with few compromises. Thus we have an island bed in the rear with a split bathroom separating the sleeping area from the front living space. Mid-station is the kitchen, leaving the front for the lounge/dining area. The overall colour scheme consists of darker hues

for the cupboards and overhead lockers, with light beige-and-white for just about everything else. Like many a classy motorhome these days, lighting is a mixture of ceiling fixtures, reading lights and LED strips. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite effective and obvious, even in daylight.

TESTED

Using the Cab

s expected, both cab seats swivel. They are a little awkward to get to, given the table location between the two sideways-facing lounges, but they do ensure comfortable seating for two and the additional bonus of four being able to sit around the table without much difficulty. The table can be folded down to form a second bed. Cupboards are fitted above both seats and there are a couple of handy compartments on both sides of the cab. There are large windows on both sides of the lounges, while the cook doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out either.

TESTED

Catering

itted into the kitchen bench, the square stainless steel sink does give the kitchen bench a contemporary look, but I did wonder if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central location between cooktop and bench end is as useful as if it were at one end or the other. However, that might not have allowed a cut-out in the top drawer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nothing like using every available space for storage!

Even with the grill under the oven there are still four good sized drawers. There is indeed a fridge cabinet, complete with 190-litre 3-way Dometic refrigerator plus a Panasonic microwave oven above, and it comes with a wine rack, a couple of high shelves and a TV in-between.

TESTED

Separate Bathroom

plit bathrooms seem to be almost de rigueur these days and this one works well, with the shower cubicle on the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side and the toilet cubicle opposite. The door to the latter can also be swung fully open and used to close off the rear of the motorhome, for privacy. Slightly different shapes are used for the respective cubicles; the shower being a quarter circle and the toilet a slightly angled arrangement, which provides space to use the cassette toilet and also the wash basin on the vanity.

TESTED

At the Rear

verybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite these days, the island bed sits in full splendour in the rear of the Oakura. Wardrobes are fitted on both sides and each has mains power points and charger outlets. Given the height of the bed due to the garage underneath, six drawers are built into the bed base that faces the front, while steps are fitted on either side. Large windows on both sides provide plenty of light and fresh air, and like the front windows, these have Roman blinds in addition to the integrated blind and insect screen in the frames.

TESTED

Utilities

his is a very well equipped motorhome, both for those who like to stay in holiday parks and those who wish to roam off the beaten track. Power points are fitted into all the likely-use places, including the ‘garage’ storage area. The 270 amp-hours of AGM battery capacity supplies the 12-volt load and is charged-up by a 30-amp Redarc battery management system and 300-watts of solar panels. An option for those who require mains power when off-grid is a Redarc 2000-watt inverter (which should perhaps be standard in a vehicle of this capability and price – Ed).

TESTED

What I Think

olkswagen’s all-new Crafter is a refined performer, while the ‘house’ area is built very much in the TrailLite tradition and provides plenty of space in its 8 m (26’ 3") length. It’s a motorhome with room to move, plus ample storage, features and liveability. The Oakura 354 also provides buyers with a Germanchassied alternative to the Sprinter, while building on TrailLite’s proven expertise – a very Crafty move indeed...

SPECS GENERAL Make

TrailLite

Model

Oakura 354

Type

B-Class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Car/WOF

Pros...

VEHICLE Make/Model

Volkswagen Crafter

Engine

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

130 kW @ 3600 rpm

Torque

410 Nm @ 200 rpm

Gearbox

8-speed automatic

Safety

ABS, ESP, driver and passenger air bags, etc

Fuel

75 L

WEIGHTS

New VW Crafter 8-speed auto Build quality Island bed Split bathroom External storage

Tare Weight

Varies

Gross Vehicle Mass

5500 kg

Max Payload

Varies

Braked Towing Capacity

2000 kg

Cons...

Overall Length

8.00 m (26' 3")

Overall Width

TBA

Overall Height

3.05 m (10' 0â&#x20AC;?)

Internal Height

TBA

Rear Bed

1.80 m x 1.47 m (5' 11" x 4' 10")

Kitchen sink sans drainer Thru-cab access 12 V fuse access

DIMENSIONS

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Thule Omnistor

Entry Steps

Electric

Hob

Thetford 3-burner with grill and oven

Yes Square stainless steel 100 L 2-door Dometic 3-way Panasonic 12 V LED 3 x USB in motorhome No Ebespacher diesel Suburban gas/electric Thetford cassette Separate cubicle

North Island

TrailLite Auckland 77 Paerata Road Pukekohe. 2120. T: 0800 872 455 W: traillite.co.nz South Island

TrailLite Christchurch

270 Ah AGM deep-cycle 300 W 2 x 9 kg 300 L 220 L 23 L 19 L

61 Hayton Road, Wigram, Christchurch. 8042. T: 0800 872 455 W: traillite.co.nz

$222,000

The End.