iMotorhome Magazine – Sep 2020 by iMotorhome Magazine

iMotorhome magazine Sep 2020

Size

MATTERS! SUNLINER’S NAVIAN’S SIZE MATTERS...

VW T6.1 PREVIEWED I GEHOCAB’S RADICAL CAMPERS PROJECT POLLY IN HOT WATER I ADDING A TOWN WATER CONNECTION

ON MY MIND

It’s A Small World After All

have a confession to make: I believe I’m responsible for Covid, Trump, the China ‘situation’ and, oh yes, the bushfires. You see, late last year when talking about accessing superannuation in about five years time, I said to Mrs iMotorhome, “Well, barring any catastrophes…”.

Many years ago I heard John Howard say he’d never known a drought that didn’t break, nor a flood that didn’t, um, stop flooding (I think). While those living millennia ago in the then-lush Sahara region of North Africa might disagree with him on the drought front, I catch his drift. I therefore know/believe/hope things will eventually return to some kind of normality. However, When have you ever known the world to be in such a at present that seems an awful long way off, especially dire situation (world wars aside)? I have a lot to say but from the confines of this very small world. really nothing to say this issue. Like the news bulletins, conversations seem to go around in circles and it’s I remember once reading an insightful article that impossible to escape the viral/political/economic said you will never be able to get on with life until miasma that pervades the world. And what a small you accept it isn’t fair. I’ve also read (on the wall of a world it has become. patisserie) that life is short and we should eat desert first. I’m beginning to think the latter is my kind of Mrs iM no longer recounts adventures in distant lands philosophy and I’m heading to the refrigerator to check on her latest trip; now, it’s what someone dropped in it out. At least the fridge is the same size as always, aisle three or said to her as she worked the Woolies even if our world isn’t. Hope your world is looking a checkout. I should be in Düsseldorf right now for the little bigger… 2020 Caravan Salon rather than getting excited at the prospect of four nights in Polly to Coffs Harbour in midSeptember. I realise these are very much First World problems, but still, it’s feeling like a very small First World…

Richard

Not only is it small, this First World is also feeling fragile. August saw the passing of a long time friend, former neighbour and colleague during routine surgery for a genetic heart condition. It was two weeks before his 71st birthday. Having built a successful publishing business over the last 20 years, our friend was looking forward to finally retiring. In many ways it’s the story you hear over and over again; of those ‘taken before their time’, just at the beginning of years of enjoyment as reward for a lifetime’s effort. Happy Fathers’ Day… Like many, we are torn between the desire to expand our horizons beyond the supermarket, post office and petrol station, and the wisdom of remaining largely isolated while the virus runs its course. We have friends who managed to get into Queensland and the Northern Territory during that brief window when boarders were open, but I wonder what will happen when they try to return? More over, I wonder what will happen to the RV market as the border closures drag on and the Victorian lockdown cripples not only manufacturers, but the supply and distribution of parts across Australia?

LETTERS TESTED

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CONTENTS

3 8 12 20 33 36

ON MY MIND War Weary?

LETTERS Got something to say? Let us know and share it with everyone...

NEWS A glimpse at what’s happening in the wide world of RVing

TASTED Size Matters – Sunliner’s Navian N601 Ltd Edition’s size matters

RELEASED VW T6.1 – The face-lifted Volkswagen Transporter just gets better

PREVIEW Wilhelm’s Way – Exotic new camper bodies for the latest 4X4s

PROJECT POLLY In Hot Water – Project Polly finally gets a new hot water system

READER On The Town – Installing a town water connector isn’t so difficult

DIY Changes on the Horizon – Number 7 in our continuing series

TRAVEL Yanga National Park – A unique piece of Australia’s pastoral past

RV FRIENDLY Three more country towns supporting our great way of life!

iMotorhome Magazine iMotorhome Magazineis free, independent and published monthly. Download issues HERE or read online HERE Publisher/Editor

Richard Robertson (+61) 0414 604 368 richard@imotorhome.com.au

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

Technical

ÂŠ 2020 iMotorhome Pty Ltd.

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

Contributors

Colin Oberin Warren McCullough

All content of iMotorhome Magazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience and/ or loss arising from reading and/or acting upon information contained within iMotorhome+Caravan magazine, in the app or on the website.

LETTERS

Thanks! HI RICHARD! (Sorry, a bit excited here!). I’d just like to say thank you for reviewing the Jayco RM.19-1. I’ve just recently left hospital - a few days ago - and read your article in which you mention me, It was a real boost! The review highlighted a few things I had no idea about and as a ‘newbie’ I really appreciate.

You’re very welcome Mark, but sorry I couldn’t actually get my hands on one. It’s not a bad little vehicle, but as I noted it does have compromises. Hope you’re on the mend and that you’ll soon be able to hit the road. If there are other vehicles you’d like to know about please ask and I’ll see what I can do.

Cheers! Mark.

In Transit We greatly enjoy the magazine and have just come back from a three week trip through Outback NSW with our Ford Transit Campervan (see photo). We visited towns such as Oberon, Gulgong, Moree, Boomie and Kyogle, plus travelled along the NSW-QLD border. All being well, we intend to do another trip early October, Covid19 permitting. Kind regards. Bob. Thanks Bob and glad you enjoy the magazine. Your trip sounds great and I have to say I’m envious of being able to head away for weeks at a time. I know a few people who has been doing long loops of New South Wales due to the Covid crisis and all seem to have had a good time. Fingers crossed you manage to get away in October, too. How old is your Transit and what is its mileage? Is it an ex-rental? It’s good to see one of Polly’s predecessors out there and still doing a great job! 8

LETTERS

West Side Story Hello Richard, love your magazine but decry its lack of content on anything West Coast wise. Are any articles planned to highlight the West part of Australia please? Some suggestions/ideas below:

6. Recently installed a double 3P curtain behind the front seats so that I can run the aircon on a hot day while driving and not be cooling the whole motorhome. My vehicle AC struggles without the curtain.

1. Free Camping spots/RV Friendly towns in WA

7. Motorhome theft and how to prevent it, what can be done in advance if a motorhome is stolen

2. Maybe an article comparing the cheap and the expensive Diesel Heaters available, our winter has been cold and miserable

8. Installing a lock box and or safe in a motorhome Cheers, Michael

3. The Wildflower season in WA will be good this year due to good rains, viewed mainly in the WA Wheatbelt 4. I recently installed a 3000 W inverter in my motorhome and now can stop anywhere and use my Nespresso coffee machine!

Glad you enjoy the mag Mike and apologies about the lack of West Coast content. Thanks for the suggestions, however you will find W.A. RV Friendly Towns in our monthly feature (as supplied by the CMCA) from time to time. Regarding the rest, I’ll see what I can do, as you’ve got some good ideas in there.

5. I also use a Wynd USB-operated air filter to filter out tiny particles in the motorhome. It is on non-stop.

Heater Shootout? We are retired and own a Horizon Waratah, but unfortunately have only achieved about 8000 km in the 15 months since we took delivery as we are Vic-based. For when we do get back on the road, I would like a comparison of gas and diesel heaters if possible. Thanks for your magazine, Colin Good choice there with the Waratah, Colin, we brought a special Horizon 4X4 Waratah back from Alice Springs via Plenty Highway in 2013 and it performed flawlessly (read all about it in Issue 30 from 3/8/13). Restrictions will eventually lift and then you’ll be able to get proper usage from yours. I’ll certainly look into gas v diesel heaters, thanks for the suggestion, and safe travels when you eventually get back out there.

LETTERS

To Be Sure To be Sure… Hi Team, we are Australian citizens who have been living and working in Ireland for the past 30 years and are avid readers of your Magazine. All going well, in these strange times and with retirement in sight, we are planning to return to Australia to complete the Big Lap in the next 18 months or so. For the past 10 years we have owned a number of Motorhomes in Ireland. We currently own a very comfortable six year old Burstner Viseo i707. It’s a 7.07 meter long A-Class with 2 double beds: a fixed rear-corner French bed and a drop-down in the cab. We mainly travel within Ireland, the UK and France. With regards to the Big Lap of Australia, our research to date would indicate that the majority of rigs doing the trip are off-road caravans. We would like to visit as many of the National Parks as is possible during our twelve month trip. A lot of these roads are unsealed and can be badly corrugated. We would appreciate any advice in the most suitable rig for such a trip. Regards Stephen & Jane

Great to hear from you two and glad you enjoy what we do – even all the way over in Ireland. It sounds like you must have done some amazing trips in your motorhomes and I’m envious of your choice of the Burstner A-class. Nice. Re The Big Lap, it seems most people towing big off-road caravans rarely take them on anything more challenging than a dirt road or occasional beach campsite. Depending on just how serious you want to be in accessing as many places as possible, you might want to look at EarthCruiser or SLRV. These are big ticket machines but most able to get you where you want to go. For something smaller like a van conversion, check out Trakka’s new Jabiru J2M, which is highly capable but much more compact. Horizon Motorhomes does 4x4 versions of its van-conversions and they’re also well worth a look (and check out our Horizon 4x4 adventure here). Alternatively, check out the Suncamper Sherwood 4X4 range of compact C-class motorhomes, based on the Toyota HiLux; Sunliner’s ‘multi-terrain’ Habitat series and the Avida Ceduna

DIY

NEWS

iMotorhome Website Updates Sunliner Prices Rise Developments continue on the iMotorhome Magazine website. Features added in August include a searchable Index of roadtests and reviews from 2016 to the present, with earlier listings to be progressively added. The Index is available on both the Magazine and Articles headings on the homepage; the latter also a new inclusion. Also listed under Articles is Roadtests & Reviews, featuring blog-post versions of roadtests and reviews since July, for online reading and sharing, plus Project Polly (also as blog-posts). Links is another new heading on the homepage and whilst a work in progress, already provides access to an A-Z list of campervan and motorhome manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand, our loyal sponsors and more. Be sure to explore it and also let us know of any links you’d like to see added. Finally, don’t forget our Shop – VanTastic Parts – which is the only online shop dedicated exclusively to campervan and motorhomes accessories, parts and more.

Sunliner says that over the past three years it has made every effort to avoid price increases, even though the price of raw materials have increased. Now, it says, recent chassis evolutions have left them no choice but to increase the price of its vehicles. “There is never a good time to raise prices, however we have taken this opportunity to update specifications of most of our Series, ensuring that Sunliner's RV and towable products set the benchmark for standard inclusions,” the company explained. “This price rise is effective immediately for all new stock units manufactured on our return, however we will hold the Sunliner price increase of all new customer orders placed before 19th September 2020. Contact a Sunliner dealer to secure the 2019 Price”.

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NEWS

Victorian Lockdown Impacts The severe restrictions imposed by the Victorian Government due to the Covid-19 virus lockdown is having a major impact on RV manufacturing in Victoria, with a ripple effect flowing across Australia. The Caravan Industry Association of Victoria (CIAV) confirmed manufacturing in the State has closed for six weeks, which is the duration of the State of Disaster decree that came into effect at midnight on 5 August. Robb Lucas, CIAV chief executive officer, said that the Association’s representations to the Government were unsuccessful despite its best attempts to fight to allow the industry to continue. “In challenging times, it is important that Caravan Industry Victoria is representing its members to ensure their interests are being heard,” Mr Lucas said. “Unfortunately, on this occasion the Victorian Government decided the caravan and RV manufacturing industry was not a permitted industry” “While we are working to keep everyone safe and Covid-free, we all need to be mindful of the long-term

effects of the shutdown on members’ livelihoods, which are at stake. The Association is very conscious of this and is offering significant support for all members. We will bounce back as an industry. We are very resilient; we just want to make sure customers of our members are patient through this difficult period.” Mr Lucas explained. Meanwhile, 20 cases of Covid-19 have been linked to Jayco’s sprawling manufacturing plant in Dandenong. The company employs more than 1000 people at the site and the first case was detected on July 30. Staff who returned a positive result were put under the care of the company doctor and the Department of Health and Human Services. Also caught-up in Victoria’s shutdown are the importers and distributors of the majority of parts and accessories used by RV manufacturers, and also sold to consumers. The consequence of this is that manufacturers in other states are or will be impacted by shortages which could see their production come to a standstill as the situation drags on.

NEWS

Apollo Appreciates $25 Aladdin’s Cave Million Assistance Police have allegedly uncovered an Aladdin's cave of Brisbane-based Apollo stolen property atmultinational a caravan park on Tourism the Goldand Coast. Leisure has secured a two-year, $15 million loan from the Federal Government's COVID-19 Exportidentified Capital It happened after officers from Mudgeeraba Facility, is designed to help previously a vehiclewhich of interest that was thought to haveprofitable been Australian exporters whose businesses have been involved in recent property offences in Robina and impacted by the epidemic. It will also receive a $10 Broadbeach. That led to a search warrant being million loan same period from Queensland executed at for thethe Mudgeeraba caravan park, where Government's Industry Support Package. Apollowere said numerous tools and construction site equipment the funding would it to located continuetwo with its recovery found. Police also allow allegedly syringes and a strategy during “These challenging times for tourism plastic water pipe. businesses”. A 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both Managing Director and Executive, Luke from Mudgeeraba, wereChief charged with two counts of Trouchet, said his company was “Very appreciative” entering with intent, one count of stealing, one count of financialtainted assistance. “Thisone support help us of the possessing property, countwill of receiving navigate through one this count periodofofwilful uncertainty, the tainted property, damagegive andus three opportunity to create a stronger platform and continue counts of drug possession. to employ hundreds of people,” he added. Apollo was now confident it had sufficient liquidity and capacity to trade through the expected prolonged

STOP PRESS! Just as we were going to press, the following update period of subdued tourismthe activity. at Apollo's was received regarding legal Speaking battle as outlined in Northgate factory, Queensland Treasurer Cameron Sorry State in our Letters section: Dick said his Government's loan would help the company adapt itstobusiness to theand challenges posed “Good morning all our friends supporters. Your bydonations COVID-19.   are being well spent. “Apollo builds, sells and rents campervans, RVs “Excellent news: Following further hearings, and motorhomes, employing over 220 people in such provisional orders have been handed down until Queensland,” said. “The banwhich on international travel time as a fullhe hearing is held, could be some has robbed Apollo of morecircumstances. than three-quarters of its time, due to the current rental market, the largest part of which was European tourists. But the Everybody sale of motorhomes holding up “The Orders: gets their is land and buildings well as and our strong health response COVID allows back all are to be given quiet to enjoyment of their more Queensland businesses to open up. So Apollo sites, no more threats or bullying or blocking friends will use this loan to increase their businesses focus from visiting. To keep good faith, we will be paying onappropriate manufacturing moving from four daysby a week fees,and which will be determined an ofindependent manufacturing to five. Apollo's factory also supports expert. I will keep you posted when we hundreds of Queensland small businesses who supply get details. components as part of the manufacturing process”, the Treasurer said. Bye for now, Rich”.

14 19

NEWS

Townsville RV & Camping Strategy Released Townsville City Council has updated its proposed Recreational Vehicle and Camping Strategy after receiving more than 250 submissions on the draft. The strategy was developed to improve visitor numbers, increase the amount of money spent in the region and review community feedback. Acting Mayor Mark Molachino said Council welcomed the responses it received during the two month survey.  “The RV and Camping Strategy looks at more than just the council campgrounds. It is also focusing on how we can encourage the private sector to expand and take advantage of this rapidly growing tourism industry to support jobs and the Townsville economy. Camping and RV tourist numbers have doubled in the last 10 years and the strategy aims to make the region the highlight of their trip to North Queensland. Community consultation is really important to get this right, which is why we asked for residents and tourists to have their say through the Have Your Say platform and receiving 255 submissions means we know which parts of the strategy need a second look”, Mr Molachino explained.

Community Safety and Environment Committee Chairwoman, Margie Ryder, said most submissions received were residents and travellers expressing concerns over the proposed booking fees and online booking systems for Council-operated campgrounds.  “Part of the strategy called for the implementation of an online booking system and a small booking fee to make managing the campgrounds more efficient. After the feedback we received, we took another look at these parts of the strategy”, she said. “One issue Council has with these campgrounds is that without a booking system, it becomes difficult to ensure campers are moving on and allowing space for other travellers to stay. To combat this and address concerns from the submissions received, Council will still adopt an online booking system, but will also take phone bookings through Customer Service for those without internet access. This will allow staff to manage bookings more efficiently, especially during our peak winter months. Council will postpone the introduction of a booking fee for 12 months to collect more data”.

NEWS

Ultimate Fathers Day Tipple Whiskey and motoring enthusiast fathers can only ponder the taste of a unique batch of scotch being marketed by Aston Martin and Bowmore Whiskey. Called the Black Bowmore DB5 1964, each bottle incorporates an Aston Martin DB5 piston and holds 700 ml of Black Bowmore 1964 single malt – one of the rarest and most sought-after single malts ever. Only 25 bottles of Black Bowmore DB5 1964 are being released, each at a cost of £50,000 – about A$91,000 – and all already spoken for. Described as investmentgrade scotch, it's unlikely any bottle will ever be opened. Rather, they will be kept aside to appreciate due to their novelty and rarity. The current record for scotch whiskey is for the Macallan 1926 ‘Macallan 60 Year Old’, which sold at Sotherby’s London auction in October 2019 for £1,452,000 (A$2,640,000 approx)!

NEWS

France Passion App Due to Covid-19 restrictions, motorhoming in France has seen a huge increase in popularity and the France Passion mobile app is now available for those lucky enough to be able to be a part of it. "Touring enthusiasts are back on the road, out to discover the regions of France. Equipped with the indispensable Stopover Guide, motorhomers can park free of charge for 24 hours on the property of any of the wine growers and farmers that make up the France Passion network, with no booking requiredâ&#x20AC;?, the company says. The App is free although you have to enrol in the program, which costs â&#x201A;Ź30 (about A$50). Once enrolled, there is no cost to use any of the more than 2500 properties, although it is hoped you will buy something from your hosts. nearby or close to a specific location; use filters for things like activities, meals, languages spoken, etc, and build favourites lists as well as share opinions and reviews with the France Passion Community. To find out more visit the France Passion website HERE.

Previously only available through its website, the France Passion app delivers a truly mobile experience for users of iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Importantly, the app includes GPS navigation to your selected property. Users can search sites 17

NEWS

Caravan Salon 2020 Continues

In Brief • It has been reported that social media reaction to a suggestion from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia for a 10% rebate on new RVs during the Covid crisis was given the thumbs down. Respondents suggested prices would simply be jacked up by the same amount prior to the ‘discount’. • Victoria’s Moira Shire Council is considering making Numurkah an RV Friendly Town following a petition from local residents. • Aspen Group, which operates a chain of holiday and lifestyle villages, has reported a “Positive financial year” for 2020. The company says its statutory net profit increased by a remarkable 1338% to $11.87 million, while operating profit increased 34% to $6.64 million. • The BIG4 Cania Gorge Holiday Park in Queensland’s South Burnett region is seeking a couple with their own caravan or motorhome to help with general duties. • Victoria’s Campaspe Shire Council has announced annual site holder fees at the Echuca Holiday Park will be waived until stage three restrictions are revoked. Also, registration fees at the park will be reduced by just over 15%. • A Brisbane man scooped $1 million in Gold Lotto, using numbers his family has played for 50 years. Reportedly, he plans to buy a caravan for his holidays. • Melbourne's 2020 Leisurefest has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis. Caravan Industry Victoria Chief Executive, Rob Lucas, said it would be, “disappointing news” for exhibitors and visitors, but said the industry is resilient and will bounce back. • The Calliope rest area and camping grounds on Queensland’s Bruce Highway, west of Gladstone, has just reopened. Gladstone Region Mayor, Matt Burnett, has appealed to travellers using the facility to “Do the right thing” and make sure they keep to social distancing rules during their stay.

Postponed by a week to push its start date into September and avoid August restrictions, the Caravan Salon 2020 in Düsseldorf, Germany, is going ahead as planned. That's despite the withdrawal of a number of participants, most notably the largest manufacturer of RVs in Germany and the Show’s biggest exhibitor, the Erwin Hymer Group. “The trade fair organisation company from Düsseldorf has developed a concept with the motto ‘PROTaction’, which has been agreed with authorities and complies with regulations. This concept makes it possible for exhibitors on their stands and visitors to plan a safe stay on the exhibition site”, the organisers say. “From 4 to 13 September around 350 exhibitors will show how a comprehensive hygiene concept can make trade fairs successful even in these times”. The German RV industry is booming due to restrictions on international travel, to the point that campsite availability within the country is becoming a major issue. To that end, the manufacturer Dethleffs has embarked upon a program to open farms and other private properties to RV holiday makers.

NEWS

TASTED: SUNLINER NAVIAN N601 LIMITED EDITION

Size MATTERS 20

by Richard Robertson images supplied

TASTED

Sunliner’s Navian N601 sits atop a size range that matters to those seeking a balance of practicality and long-term liveability…

hey say size isn’t everything, but sometimes it matters. In the RV world, there is a size limit motorhomes reach before moving into ‘mega’ territory (for ‘mega’, think the Longreach featured last issue). That limit is a function of chassis availability; specifically European vehicle chassis, which are the preference in the local motorhome scene. At this upper limit there are only two players – Mercedes-Benz and Iveco – with chassis rated to around 7000 kg. Beyond that, chassis manufacturers move to models that start around 12,000 kg and in between the only choices are Japanese trucks, like Isuzu (again, think the Longreach featured last issue). Agricultural and unrefined by comparison, they are truly a niche choice

that doesn’t suit the average buyer. With all that in mind it's easier to understand why motorhomes like the Sunliner Navian in this review represent the pinnacle of European-based motorhomes Down Under. The Navian range sits at the top of Sunliner's ‘regular’ motorhome range and second only to the luxurious, but Isuzu truck-based, Monte Carlo in terms of size and price. The range comprises two models: the Navian N541 and N601. The former measures 7.9 m long and has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of either 4490 kg (car licence) or 5200 kg (light rigid licence). The latter – the subject of this review – is 8.5 m long, has a GVM of 7000 kg and can only be driven on a light rigid licence. 21

TASTED

The Navian 601N in this review is a Limited Edition model, specced by Australian Motor Homes in conjunction with the Sunliner factory. Whilst essentially the same as the standard N601, the Limited Edition comes with worthwhile additional/upgraded features and a slightly redesigned kitchen. As I only discovered when this story was complete and being laid out in the magazine, Sunliner has now ‘adopted’ most of the Limited Edition specifications as standard for the Navian N601, although apparently the original floorplan remains unchanged. This is a good move and a win for buyers, as the original specs were somewhat underdone. Nothing like a lengthy rewrite to celebrate a victory for common sense… Priced just below $230,000 on the road, the Navian N601 lives in rarefied territory and buyers at this level have high expectations. Sunliner certainly understands that and had already lavished the Navian series with high levels of standard equipment. It claims the Navian, “Is the ultimate mid-sized touring RV that comes fully equipped with a vast array of accessories all as standard.” It also likens it to apartment living, citing “Slide-outs and long floor plans that provide space more akin to a high-end apartment.” That's what the brochure says, now let's see how it measures up. 22

TASTED

Size Matters

he Navian N601 is classified as a C-class motorhome, due to it having an over-cab bed, and rides on the popular Iveco Daily 70C cab-chassis. Iveco is a truck manufacturer that also makes light commercial vehicles and as such the Daily has heavytruck DNA running through it. That should be good for longevity and it's unlikely that at its GVM limit the chassis will be overstressed. As stated, the N601 is 8.5 m (27’ 11’) long and has a GVM of 7000 kg. This Limited Edition model has a tare weight of just 5170 kg, providing an impressive 1810 kg potential maximum payload. It’s also 2.54 m (8’ 4”) wide, 3.3 m (10’ 10”) tall, has a 3500 kg maximum braked towing capacity. It is certified to carry six people, but sleep ‘only’ four. Which ever way you look at it it’s an imposing motorhome and is well suited to longdistance and long-term travel.

Iveco has done a good job of the Daily’s cab and whilst not quite as stylish as its Fiat Ducato compatriot, it manages a good compromise between commercial vehicle utility and passenger car appeal. Standard equipment includes dual airbags, remote central locking, power steering, cruise control, climate control air-conditioning, electric windows and heated mirrors, plus a touchscreen infotainment system with inbuilt GPS and Bluetooth.

The Daily 70C is powered by a 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 125 kW of power and 430 Nm of torque. Iveco offers a 150 kW/470Nm twin-turbo version of the same engine and this Limited Edition model has been optioned-up with it, which is an excellent choice. Also optional (but not fitted) is air-bag rear suspension, which would be a great feature to The Daily provides a comfortable and reasonably have standard as it transforms the ride quality. What refined driving experience which, while it can't is standard, however, is an excellent eight-speed completely hide its heavy-vehicle heritage, is certainly automatic transmission, which drives the (dual) rear miles ahead of something like an Isuzu. Handling is wheels. The engine is Euro-5 emissions compliant, stable and predictable, with minimal body roll and meaning it doesn’t require AdBlue fuel additive, making precise steering. It also feels ‘substantial’; a subjective life simpler – and cheaper – on the road. observation I know, but reassuring in all the right ways. 23

TASTED

Body Matters

unliner employs a frameless, European-style body construction method that is both light and strong. All walls are one-piece, with the panels comprising a Duple Foam core sandwiched between tough outer layers, and all panels are rebated and interlocked for strength. It also means that in the event of damage a localised section can be repaired without replacing an entire wall. The floor is one piece and fully sealed underneath, while the roof also has a Duple Foam core, and the whole body structure has a high insulation R-rating. The Navian N601 has two slide-outs, both on the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side. The forward slide-out contains a four-seat dinette while the aft one is home to the east-west main bed. Speaking of beds, Sunliner has done a nice job of blending the over-cab body moulding into the vehicle without it appearing blunt or too bulbous. There's a decent amount of external storage and this vehicle had lower-body chequer plate for added stone protection. Sunliner employs drop-down doors on its

external storage lockers, held open by a single strap that prevents them hitting the ground. I've always found this an odd arrangement and although I've never had to live with it, imagine it would be inconvenient trying to lift heavy things like a toolbox or gas cylinder in and out, over the door. It also means a door can fall open if you forget to latch it, something that can't happen with a top or front-hinged set-up. Hmmâ&#x20AC;Ś

TASTED

Features Matter

he Navian N601 already had a high level of standard equipment. It included leather upholstery, a 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter, 3 x TVs, a 3.6 kVa remote-start Onan generator, electric awning, electric step, rooftop air-conditioner, Webasto diesel heater, house entertainment system, outdoor entertainment system, 2 x 9kg LPG cylinders, external barbecue fitting, outdoor shower, washing machine and more. The Limited Edition, however, took things further in some very important areas: Think 300-litres of fresh water and 100-litres of grey, 3 x 160 W solar panels and 3 x 110 amp-hour house batteries. From what I can ascertain that's three times as much water as the original, plus an extra solar panel and house battery (with each solar panel and battery upgraded by 10-watts and 10 amp-hours, respectively). Also, the inverter has been upgraded to 2000-watts. Finally, the Limited Edition has a simplified kitchen design, plus four seat belts and a pop-up TV at the dinette. All-in-all it's an extremely comprehensive standard equipment list and one that makes the N601 Limited Edition equally at home for short or long-term travel as well as on-and-off-grid living. 25

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It's when stepping inside that Sunliner's apartment-onwheels concept hits home...â&#x20AC;?

TASTED

Inside Matters

t's when stepping inside that Sunliner's apartmenton-wheels concept hits home. With both slide-outs extended the interior provides spacious living, with the style and ambience of, well, a modern apartment. The layout is definitely open plan and the review vehicle combined light and dark finishes to quite a striking effect, accentuated and enhanced by extensive use of recessed LED strip lighting. The floorplan positions the entry door immediately aft of the cab. Inside, there are swivelling cab seats and a tilt-up bed overhead; a four-seat dinette in the front slide-out; mid kitchen; an east-west main bed, with its head in the rear slide-out, and a full-width rear bathroom. About the only downside is the swivelled cab seats don’t really ‘mesh’ with the dinette, but other than that it’s a liveable and practical layout. While the standard N601’s kitchen is L-shaped, the Limited’s is more conventional – and the better for it. Not only does it avoid the corners of the L-shaped design, it provides more room to move and doesn't seem to compromise workspace. The kitchen itself is well equipped, with a full oven as well as cooktop,

TASTED

range hood, sink with cutting-board as a cover, and a full-length window. There’s also plenty of storage space above and below. Directly across from the kitchen is the four-seater dinette, which you step-up slightly into because it sits in the slide-out. As mentioned, all four seats are seatbelt equipped, leather upholstered and generously padded. The dining table is a reasonable size and it's also removable, for more casual situations. There's a large window with a couple of cupboards above, reading lights, and a cupboard below that houses the Limited Edition’s pop-up television. This does seem a curious place for a TV, however, as it requires those sitting at the dinette to sharply turn their heads and it is, basically, right in their faces. At least it’s well positioned for the chef! Fortunately, there is another equally large pop-up television ideally positioned across the aisle from the the main bed. That’s in addition to the outdoor TV, which is in its own locker beneath the kitchen window.

the Navian’s living and sleeping areas, as does the small wall section opposite, between the two slideA tall unit at the rearward end of the kitchen bench outs. This would be an ideal place for some kind of houses the two-door, three-way fridge-freezer, with slightly angled, concertina door to provide privacy microwave above. It forms a bit of a bulkhead between between the two areas. 27

TASTED

After Hours Matters

hilst the N601 Limited Edition is a six-seat fourberth motorhome, it's really built for two, plus occasional guests/grandkids. To that end, the over-cab bed is for casual usage and accessed by the requisite aluminium ladder. As mentioned, it also tilts-up for easier cab access. The bed itself is quite spacious, well ventilated and has reasonable head room. From experience I know that in most C-class motorhomes this bed becomes storage for jackets, bulky bedding and other things you regularly use but can't be bothered stowing. The main bedroom, of course, is at the rear. It comprises a queen-size bed in the slide-out and has tables, drawers and slimline cupboards by the head, plus cupboards and reading lights above the bed-head window. Across the aisle is a pair of tall, hanging wardrobes, each atop a stack of four shelves, and these bookend the space between the fridge/ microwave unit and bathroom. Between them is a window, opposite the foot of the bed, with storage below it for the other pop-up TV, plus cupboards above. The bed itself lifts to provide even more storage, in case the rest isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enoughâ&#x20AC;Ś

TASTED

A solid sliding door marks the entrance to the fullwidth rear bathroom and its most prominent feature is the corner shower, to your right as you enter. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generously sized and well-equipped, with clam-shell doors making access easier for those of a, um, larger disposition! In the opposite corner is a slightly L-shaped vanity unit with a small top-loading washing machine concealed beneath the lid of the return. It has storage below and cupboards above, plus a mirror in between. The cassette toilet sits against the back wall, just beside it, and there's a small window above, along with some extra bench space and shelving.

TASTED

What I Think

he Sunliner Navian N601 Limited Edition is an impressive, fully-equipped motorhome that's stylish, spacious and should provide years of comfortable and enjoyable travel. Australian Motor Homes has done an excellent job of refining the design and features, and while it’s really their baby, any Sunliner dealer can now order one. The Sunliner Navian N601 Limited Edition also makes an interesting comparison with the Avida Longreach featured in the last issue. While the N601 is about a metre shorter, both have essentially the same floor plans and near-two-tonne payloads. The Navian has better solar capacity, carries more water and comes with an electric awning, although it lacks the Longreach’s swish outdoor kitchen. Both have the same towing capacity, but the Navian N601 wins hands down when it comes to through-cab access and the

driving experience – a big consideration. Interestingly, Sunliner builds its flagship Monte Carlo on the same Isuzu truck chassis as the Longreach, making it a direct competitor. The Navian 601 Limited Edition, on the other hand, isn't an obvious competitor and yet matches the Longreach in almost every department and betters it in others. It's also more affordable, by around $70,000. All-in-all the Sunliner Navian N601 Limited Edition provides a compelling value proposition for anybody in the market for this size and style of motorhome. It's fairly dripping with standard equipment, while the Limited Edition extras have added utility and capability to the standard design. It's a credit to the team at Australian Motor Homes because their improvements matter, in all the right places…

SPECS GENERAL Make

Sunliner

Model

Navian N601 Limited Edition

Type

C-class

Berths

Approved Seating

Licence

Light Rigid (LR)

Pros... Standard equipment Open floorplan 2 x Slide-Outs 6 Seats/4berths Driving experience Value Payload Towing capacity Air-suspension option

VEHICLE Make/Model

Iveco Daily 70C

Engine

3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

150 kW @ 3100-3500 rpm

Torque

470 Nm @ 1400-3000 rpm

Transmission/Drive

8-speed automatic/Rear-Wheel Drive

Safety

ABS, ESP, Traction Control, Air bags

Fuel

100 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

5170 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

7000 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

3500 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

8.5 m (27' 11")

Overall Width

2.54 m (8' 4")

Overall Height

3.30 m (10' 10”)

Internal Height

2.10 m (6’ 11”)

Main Bed

1.88 m x 1.53 m (6' 2" x 5')

Cab Bed

2.00 m x 1.35 m (6’ 6” x 4’ 5”)

Cons... Locker door design Dinette TV position Cab/dinette integration Single outlet Webasto heater

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

Awning

Electric

Entry Steps

Electric

Cooker

3 x LPG/1 x Electric, Grill & Oven

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 - drive-away As Reviewed Warranty

Yes Stainless Steel 184 L 2-Door 12/240V/LPG Yes 12 V LED Yes/Yes Yes - Roof Mounted Webasto Diesel LPG/Electric Cassette Separate Cubicle

Available From

Australian Motor Homes 31 Pacific Highway Bennetts Green NSW 2290 T: (02) 4948 0433 W: www.ausmhc.com.au

3 x 110 Ah 3 x 160 W 2 x 9 kg 300 L 100 L 23 L 17 L

Manufacturer Sunliner RV T: (03) 8761 6411 W: sunliner.com.au

A$229,990 Click for Details

TASTED

RV enthusiasts helping other likeminded people start their next big adventure...

RV Sales Service Centre Parts & Accessories Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest range of RVs in one convenient location. www.ausmhc.com.au Open 6 Days - 02 4948 0433 enquiries@ausmhc.com.au 31 PaciďŹ c Hwy, Bennetts Green, NSW 2290

RELEASED

VW T6.1 Much anticipated, the facelifted VW Transporter is well positioned to continue its success... by Allan Whiting of OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au

ith the release of the pop-top-roof ‘Beach’ variant and the availability of after-market campervan furniture for the Transporter, there’s renewed interest in the Crafter’s smaller sibling. VW’s Transporter 6.1 range became available for the general public to order from August 2020. Standard equipment across what is virtually the 2021 range includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Front Assist with City Emergency Brake (CEB),

Crosswind Assist, Side Assist including blind spot monitoring and Rear Traffic Alert, Multi-Collision Brake and, in some models, an intuitive digital cockpit. The following summary covers those variants that have 4Motion 4WD fitted.

The Transporter T6.1 van range consists of short and long-wheelbase models that have a choice of 110 kW or 146 kW diesel power, with a 7-speed automated manual (DSG) transmission. 33

RELEASED

tandard equipment comprises: H7 twin halogen headlights; daytime running lights (DRL); sliding door, left side; lifting rear tailgate with window and wiper/washer; 16-inch or 17-inch steel wheels; fullsized steel spare wheel; height-adjustable driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat with lumbar support; leather-wrapped steering wheel with height and reach adjustment; rubber flooring in the cab; electromechanical power steering; 165 mm (6.5-inch) display with USB/AUX/SD input and Bluetooth; a pair of USB-C ports and App-Connect; cruise control with speed limiter; remote central locking; electric windows and heated, folding mirrors; air conditioning; auto headlights; rain-sensing wipers; load compartment locking from cabin and key fob; Hill-Start Assist (HSA); Multi-Collision Brake (MCB); Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP); Traction Control System (TCS); Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA); driver and passenger front and side/head airbags; reverse parking sensors and rear view camera.

RELEASED

Factory or DIY

he factory-built campervan – the California Beach – comes with the 110 kW engine, DSG transmission, electro-hydraulic lifting roof, two powered sliding doors, rear three-place seat, second battery, cabin heater, SatNav, two-tone ‘retro’ paint option, 18-inch aluminium wheels and swivelling front seats. RRP is $94,990, which sounds a lot until you do the DIY exercise and discover that having all this kit, with a VW warranty, is not bad value for money. For those who want to custom-fit a Transporter into a campervan there’s plenty of kit available. Best known is the Van Essa furniture from Germany that can be installed permanently or fitted to an optional floor-rail system that allows rapid conversion from ‘tradies van’ to campervan. For more information on the new T6.1 visit the Volkswagen Australia website HERE. 35

PREVIEW

Wilhelm's Way? German manufacturer GehoCab has a way with design, but it comes at a price…

erman manufacturer GehoCab has revealed outlandishly expensive camper-body designs for the all-new Landrover Defender and Ford Bronco, which sees them cut-and-shut into arguably the most stylish compact 4x4 mini-motorhomes, if not the most practical… GehoCab already builds a body on the back of a Volkswagen Amarok 4X4 single-cab-chassis for those seeking to explore the great European outdoors in a compact but capable vehicle. Called the Kora, it’s essentially a small C-class motorhome, but one that looks like it's from the 21st-century. Manufactured using monocoque construction of carbon-aramid composites, it's both a design and technological tour de force. That’s just as well, given the €134,000 (A$220,000) price tag – which doesn't include the Volkswagen! 36

PREVIEW

Fiete is the Camper

ehoCab calls the design philosophy/style a Seamless Camper and it's now ready to apply its expertise to the very latest and most sought after offroaders – the new Defender and Bronco. Far more adventurous than the Kora’s traditional bolt-bodyto-chassis system, the Seamless Camper involves cutting off the rear end of the donor vehicle’s body behind the C-pillar. Can you imagine? The camper unit – called the Fiete – is designed to blend seamlessly into its host’s body, thus creating the impression of a factory-produced camper. Made largely of carbon fibre it's reported to be very light and when fully equipped weighs in at 460 kg. However, that’s still a hefty load on the back of one of these vehicles and you'd hope there is some suspension upgrade included, or at least available.

Actual living space at the rear of the Fiete is tight, but at least the occupants will have a spacious, overvehicle bed. Still, GehoCab has managed to cram a compact kitchen, shower and toilet, along with a central dinette into the rear of the body. Interior height is reportedly 195 cm (6’ 4”), but buyers can opt for a lower, sleeker roof if stand-up headroom isn't required. Fiete prices will start at €104,500 (A$172,000) when it launches in October and at least that price includes the conversion, if not the vehicle. Standard fit-out includes a frost-proof 90 L freshwater tank, 100 W of solar, a 100 AH lithium battery and a 29 L compressor fridge, plus a boot across the rear that’s been ‘departureangle-optimised’ for off-road driving.

PREVIEW

Findus Keepers

f you're looking for something a little bigger to keep you happy, GehoCab is also offering a variation of the Seamless Camper design to work with vehicles with 3.25-meter-plus wheelbases. That includes the new dual-cab Jeep Gladiator (see artists rendering) and it looks more like a more conventional bolt-on conversion, albeit still a very stylish one. Called the Findus, it can also be fitted to the 70-Series Toyota LandCruiser and an extended-wheelbase Mercedes G-class.

“GehoCab says the Findus will start at €134,850 (A$221,500). The only other cost is the vehicle you need to supply that it attaches to…”

The Findus is said to weigh 527 kg and has a more spacious layout, as you would expect. Innovative design is used to maximise living space and that includes a two-seater L-shaped dinette (whose folding mechanism I was unable to decipher from the blurb) and which can optionally convert to a double bed in addition to the over-cab bed. Also, there’s a tiny corner bathroom that expands to provide enough space to actually use. Imagine that.

PREVIEW

ehoCab says the Findus will start at €134,850 (A$221,500) and comes with a 150 L frost-proof water tank, 300 W of solar, a 160 AH lithium battery, induction cooktop and a 55 L compressor fridge. The only other cost is the vehicle you need to supply that it attaches to… If you're rushing to get out your cheque book (whatever that is) you can probably order online from the GehoCab website. I say probably, because it's all in German. However, where there's a Wilhelm there's a way…

PROJECT POLLY

In Hot Water!

After five years battling a cranky hot water system, Polly finally gets an upgrade... 40

PROJECT POLLY

t’s fair to say that of all Polly’s systems, hot water has given us the most grief during our five years of ownership. I guess that shouldn't really come as a surprise, given that in the first five years of her life she was in the Apollo fleet and subject to the carelessness of countless rental customers. Polly came with a Suburban hot water system and from memory we had it serviced twice. The main problem was intermittent starting, but even when going, water was far from hot at the best of times. It was also clear the anode hadn't been regularly replaced and the tank was rusting out, as witnessed by an initial gush of rusty brown water when used. In the end the system simply refused to light and after our trip away in July Mrs iM declared that travel without hot water was no longer acceptable (which I took to be fighting words!)… Earlier plans to replace the Suburban system had stalled following the recall of recent models and its

withdrawal from sale in the local market. Looking around for alternatives I'd already noted that the Australian designed and manufactured Swift system, which appeared to be almost identically dimensioned, seemed the ideal candidate for the job. Not being a fan of ‘strenuous’ DIY I looked around for a suitable supplier and installer. In an unrelated conversation with Keith Harrison, owner of Suncamper Motorhomes in Sydney's North, I brought up the idea of retrofitting the Swift in place of the old Suburban and Keith didn't seem to think it would be a problem. And so with a date arranged I arrived at the appointed time and work got underway. The actual job fell to Keith's former factory manager of some 15 years, Colin, who now works a few days a week doing modifications and warranty work to keep him out of his wife's hair. And so with a total lack of fanfare Colin got to work and the story really began. 41

PROJECT POLLY

Out with the Old

n a perfect world I would have had the presence of mind to drain the water from the old Suburban unit and also remove the table, bedding and mattress from inside Polly. But then we don't live in a perfect worldâ&#x20AC;Ś Despite that, Colin attacked the first challenge: removing the cover and cutting through the 10 year old silicon sealing goop around the edges. It quickly became apparent the job would have to continue from inside and so, while the 20-plus litres of semi-rusty water drained into a tub, Colin got on with removing the bed baseboard to reveal the old system in all its dusty and road-grimy glory. To cut a long story short it didn't take Colin too much time to remove the old Suburban, with much of it spent ensuring he understood the existing wiring and plumbing layout, while creating a plan to modify it to suit the new Swift.

PROJECT POLLY

In with the New

hilst dimensionally almost identical, the biggest difference is the Suburban has its gas and water fittings at the rear (where you can't easily access them), while the Swift has them at the front, in easy reach from outside. This entailed a reworking of the plumbing and gas connections, but fortunately Colin was well up to the job. It also turned out that this new unit has a 20-litre capacity compared with the Suburban’s 23-litres. While not a lot of difference it is noticeably shorter, and the extra space came in handy when reworking the plumbing. Swift also makes a 28-litre model, but it would have been too big for this installation. Although the same height, the Swift unit is 10 mm wider and that required carefully cutting the external fibreglass surround to fit. Colin soon manufactured a new copper gas line and fittings, plus extended the hot and cold water lines. A small hole had to be cut to accommodate them coming up the side of the unit, but fortunately it was in the internal cabinetry and not Polly’s body. A hot water tempering valve (set to 50ºC) was also installed as it is now a requirement in new RV hot water systems. With the new Swift unit in place and all the plumbing connected, the final task and one of the simplest was to wire it in. Well it looked like it was going to be simple….

PROJECT POLLY

The Suburban on-off switch has a large red light that shows when the unit is on, but not running. The Swift switch has a much smaller red light that comes on when the unit is turned-on and remains on until the water is up to temperature. Colin had hoped to be able to wire the new system into the old switch, but after a valiant effort had to admit defeat on the basis of total incompatibility. What started out as a five minute job took considerably longer (where have I heard that before?), but eventually power was connected. All that remained was reinstalling the perimeter screws to secure the new unit to the body and put on the door.

Speaking of power, Polly’s Suburban unit only ran on LPG, but the new Swift system is LPG/240-volts. That's a great bonus when mains power is available, especially given our small 4 kg LPG cylinder. However, it’s not one we can immediately take advantage of because we don't have a 240-volt connection anywhere near the unit. I was actually thinking it required wiring into Polly’s mains power system, but in fact the Swift unit has a normal power lead and plug, and all I need do is thread an extension lead through. It will require a bit of cut-and-shut, but watch for it in an upcoming issue.

PROJECT POLLY

In Hot Water

he final step and one I hadn't even considered was to have Polly’s whole gas system re-certified. That’s because the job was a modification to the LPG system and not just a replacement. Fortunately, Keith had arranged for Suncamper’s regular certifier to attend at the completion of the job. While finding no problem with Colin’s work, the certifier did detect a slight leak from the valve in the cupboard by the cooktop, which took Colin another half hour to dismantle, clean and reseal. With the all-clear and water in the Swift’s tank we were ready for the moment of truth…. Almost anti-climatically the new unit fired-up first go – and still does (I pop out some times just to check because the novelty hasn’t worn off). With the tempering valve in place it delivers water hot enough to shower in, but might still require a kettle top-up for washing-up.

After literally years of little or no hot water it’s difficult to convey just how good Polly now feels. It’s like she’s ‘complete’ and Mrs iM and I are looking forward to trying it out. We’re off to Coffs Harbour for a few days in midSeptember so Mrs iM can attend an advanced cheese making course (she’s already an expert in soft cheeses and her camemberts are to diet for). I’ll report back in October and might even have worked out the 240-volt connection by then. I’m also working on a video of the job and plan to have it online soon, so you can see exactly what was involved – especially if you’re a disgruntled Suburban owner looking for a swift solution...

My thanks to Keith, Colin and the Suncamper team and especially Colin, for his calm and capable craftsmanship. The job took five to six hours, but considering Colin has restored 1929 and 1959(?) Buicks from scrap to showroom condition, it’s no wonder the job didn’t faze him. It’s also good to know that such knowledge and skill is available for general RV modifications and repair work, so if that’s what you’re after call 1300 416 854 and find out what he can do.

READER

on the

TOWN! Installing a town water connector isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as difficult or expensive as you might think, explains Warren McCullough... 46

READER

hen staying in caravan parks we have always used their showers and toilets. In most parks the amenities are first class and we often have them to ourselves. On a recent trip to the high country the amenities were a couple of minutes walk away, which is an enjoyable stroll in good weather. However, when the temperature dropped below 0ºC and rain started falling – or rather, blowing horizontally in the gale-force wind – our onboard shower began to look very promising. That’s despite it being in a small ‘wet’ bathroom and having a limited on-board water supply.

That experience prompted us to consider the installation of a town (or mains) water connection in the van. Our considerations turned to action when we noticed local caravan parks implementing COVID restrictions in their amenities blocks; limiting the number of available showers and fixing markers on paths for queueing outside the building. A town water connection provides the option of taking a shower in our van without consuming our on-board water supply. It also avoids a brisk walk to and from the shared amenities in crook weather – sheer luxury!

READER

Doing the Sums

dding the plumbing for it appeared to be relatively straightforward and not too expensive: Around $70 for the inlet panel, some PEX water-hose and fittings, cable ties and hose saddles, plus a couple of hours of labour (albeit lying on my back squeezed under the van in the driveway). Planning on a DIY installation, I dropped by our local motorhome fit-out gurus – they fitted out our van a few years ago – for some advice. When they advised that “It only takes an hour or so”; that they had all the parts on-site; that they installed these fittings regularly and offered to supply and install the inlet and related plumbing for $200, I happily handed the job over to their experienced technicians! If you choose to go down the DIY path, the only scary part of the job is cutting a 90 mm hole in the wall of the van to install the inlet plate. Alternatively, fitting an inlet connection under the floor bypasses this issue, though is more difficult to access when connecting and disconnecting the town water hose.

READER When fitting an inlet to the wall of the van, its physical location is a critical consideration. Most caravan parks provide water connection and sullage facilities on the driver’s side of an RV (when reversed onto the site). This avoids having hoses draped through the under-awning living area on the ‘house’ side of the van. Unusually, our MWB Sprinter van also has a sliding door on the driver’s side, so the inlet has to be mounted clear of it too. That makes the only suitable location – other than an underfloor mount – towards the rear of the vehicle.

water connection. The Shurflo inlet also includes a non-return valve so that when the on-board pump is in operation (when not connected to town water) our tank water isn’t pumped out through the town water inlet. Hot water units are also sensitive to excess water pressure and so our Truma UltraRapid unit already has an inline pressure reducer, further reducing the water pressure to 30 psi (~200 kpa).

Once the inlet panel and associated plumbing is installed, the only preparation for using town water – other than connecting a drinking water quality hose to the wall inlet socket – is to turn off the 12 V on-board Given that the van’s plumbing is all under the vehicle, water pump at the control panel switch. You don’t want the mounting location is narrowed down even further: it automatically cutting in and trying to pump water Down low on the rear driver’s side soon became the only position to install the inlet connection – in our case from your underfloor water tank when you turn a tap on (the incoming water pressure is all you need). We on the small panel just behind the rear wheel. Water also connect a B.E.S.T in-line water filter between the pressure and flow are also important considerations external water inlet and the caravan park tap. when installing into a van that already has plumbing – plumbing, that is, designed for use with a low pressure Another item to check is the van’s electrical wiring, 12 V water pump. ensuring power is still available to the toilet flush pump when the main 12V water pump is turned off. Fortunately, the widely available Shurflo town water inlet installed on our van includes a pressure-reducing Fortunately the 12V pump and the toilet in our van valve to drop incoming water pressure to 50 psi (~350 are on separate circuits, which saved a little bit more kpa) to protect the plumbing from a high pressure town fiddling.

READER

End Result

ow when the weather turns nasty and the walk to the amenities block looks cold and miserable, we are able to take an extended shower in the van without depleting our on-board water supply. The town water supply is also available at the sink outlet and to flush the toilet. Connecting a sullage drain hose and leaving it open is also recommended: Our grey water tank holds 45 litres, but the shower head delivers 6 litres of water per minute when connected to town water and so it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take too many showers to fill it. The Truma hot water tank holds 14 litres, heated to 70Â°C. Mixed with cold water by the mixer tap in the shower, it provides more than enough hot water for both of us to enjoy uninterrupted showers (it only takes a few minutes to reheat between showers if required)!

Other accessories that become useful when using the on-board more shower regularly are graduated wheel levelling chocks, to ensure the shower water drains toward the floor waste, and a small squeegee for wiping down the walls and floor after showering. The Surflo inlet panel features a BSP screw fitting, so a click-on adapter is required to connect your external A bathroom roof vent with an exhaust fan is another handy facility to help make a wet bathroom more hose. These are readily available in the gardening amenable for regular showering. More information aisle at Bunnings, labelled as a 'sprinkler adaptor'. Spend the extra few dollars on a brass model and buy about our bathroom accessories general water usage is available at compactrv.net. a couple for when one inevitably goes missing! 50

DIY

changes on the

HORIZON

Number seven in a series of DIY projects by Colin Oberin... 51

DIY

hat do lashing hooks have to do with a campervan? Bear with me and I will explain two such connections. One of the reasons I settled on the Horizon Waratah was the excellent access provided by the rear barn doors, which meant easy access for loading a kayak. I had thought about mounting kayak holders of the type usually mounted on a pack rack, between or on top of the beds. That looked a bit complicated when I tried to work out how to do it, but I quickly found that by placing a waterproof tarpaulin over the beds my small kayak fitted neatly on top of the beds without any specialist holders. That was a much simpler solution, so taking the easy way out I opted for carrying the kayak that way. The nose of the kayak fitted neatly between the stove and the bulkhead at the foot of the driver’s-side bed, leaving a few hundred millimetres between the rear of the kayak and the rear doors. To avoid damaging the cabinetry with the nose of the kayak, I applied some adhesive foam edge protector to the corners. This is soft enough not to damage the kayak, but firm enough to protect the corners if the kayak moves forward under braking. However, as the kayak would be free to slide back and forth with acceleration and braking, I decided it should be tied down. Although there were no suitable tie down points on the kayak, a rope passed through the carry handles could be used to secure it. But where in the motorhome could the rope be secured to? 52

“I realised that by screwing a suitably angled lashing hook behind each bed, a rope passed through the kayak carry handles could be tied to each one, thus securing the kayak...”

DIY

nter the lashing hooks: I realised that by screwing a suitably angled lashing hook behind each bed, a rope passed through the kayak carry handles could be tied to each one, thus securing the kayak. I chose lashing hooks rather than D-ring securing points so I could easily hook a loop in each end of the rope over the hooks to secure the kayak. I carefully tied the loops in the rope I use so the kayak sits almost touching the rear doors when closed, meaning it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slide back or forward while driving, but should it come loose, the nose will be stopped by the edge protectors. The nose also stops the kayak moving from side to side when driving around corners. So far this simple system, which avoids the need to thread the rope through an eye and tie it up each time, has been very successful. Having bought a packet of lashing hooks I had a few spare and I found a use for those tooâ&#x20AC;Ś

DIY

f you’re like me you have a selection of bottles and cans containing things like window cleaner, windscreen washer additive, WD40, silicone lubricant, methylated spirits, laundry detergent, etc, that need stowing; preferably upright and in a cool place. The little shelf above the stove is hardly the best place for flammable materials such as methylated spirits and in any case it is filled with spices, coffee, the coffee plunger, pepper grinder and so on. In my previous van there was a narrow cubbyhole behind each bed just deep enough to take a bottle or can, which I found very useful. I had already found a narrow space between the rear doors of the Sprinter and the overhead cupboards, so I checked behind the beds at floor level and hey presto, there was the perfect space. I just needed to build a narrow cubby hole between the rear doors and beds, like in my previous van, and all will be good (or so I thought for a few seconds). Then the penny dropped: The hot water service is accessed via a door behind the drivers’ side bed, so I can’t just build a cubby hole or shelf behind that bed. On my previous van I had mounted a little basket from the Reject Shop above the sink to hold the dishwashing detergent, etc. Down to the Reject Shop I went again and for a few dollars I had two little baskets: one for each side of the van and each just wide enough to take a bottle or can, while short enough to fit behind the beds. The question now was how to mount the baskets so I could still access the heater. The answer? Screw a couple of lashing hooks to the door and hang the basket from them, so it can be easily removed when the door needs to be opened. I positioned the hooks so the basket actually still sits on the floor when mounted on the hooks, meaning there is no real weight on the door. I used the lashing hooks rather than cup hooks as they sit flat against the sides of the basket and don’t let it rattle and bounce around when driving. How good is that?

DIY

TRAVEL

YANGA

national park by OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au

ueensland National Parks has been resuming some significant agricultural and pastoral properties and converting them into National Parks for many years. In 2007 NSW followed that example, with the inauguration of Yanga National Park, close to Balranald in SouthWestern New South Wales. The Park covers an area of 66,734 hectares, including 1932 hectares of Yanga Nature Reserve and has a frontage of 170 kilometres along the Murrumbidgee River.

Yanga was formerly an important pastoral station, established by William Charles Wentworth – better known as one of the three explorers who blazed a path across the NSW Blue Mountains in 1813 – and was the largest privately owned station in the Southern Hemisphere, covering 85,000 hectares or some 850 square kilometres.

It is largely located in the Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain and is included in a study titled A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Government and each of the State and Territory nature conservation agencies. That’s because of its importance as a breeding site for waterbirds when flooded. Yanga National Park is part of the larger Murrumbidgee Valley National Park that was created in 2010 and protects the largest continuous tract of river red gum forest in the world.

Yanga homestead was built around 1870 and can be visited today. The property was mostly freehold except for the 1932 hectares of Crown Land of Yanga Nature Reserve and more than 90-percent was used for grazing. Yanga Station later became part of C B Fisher’s pastoral empire.The Park lies within the traditional tribal areas of the Muthi Muthi People and there is an Aboriginal sites register covering the park, which currently includes mounds, scarred trees, historic sites, burials and middens.

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Riverland Wonder

anga National Park incorporates 12 different wetland types according to the Ramsar Convention classification system, including inland wetlands and man-made wetlands. The Park embraces four significant bodies of water â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Yanga Lake, Tala Lake, Piggery Lake and Irrigation Lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as well as hundreds of canals and creeks, and extensive river red gum forest along the Murrumbidgee River. It is one of the most significant wetland habitats for waterbirds in Eastern Australia and home to the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest known population of the endangered southern bell frog. Seventeen vegetation classes have been identified in the Yanga National Park, with more than 300 plant species being recorded. River red gum forest and woodland, black box woodland, lignum/nitre goosefoot shrub-land and spike rush-dominated sedge-land are important vegetation classes in the area. Yanga National Park and the surrounding floodplain is habitat for 24 reptile species, 18 fish species (unfortunately, European carp dominant) and 33 mammal species (unfortunately including red fox, red deer, feral cat,

brown hare, rabbit, house mouse and the destructive feral pig). A total of 64 waterbird species from 14 families have also been recorded, but changes to the natural flow regime over the past 30 years has reduced wetland availability, leading to an 80-percent decline in the number of waterbirds recorded in the area.

Since the purchase of the property in 2005 more than 200,000 megalitres of environmental water has been delivered to Yanga wetlands by both the Federal and NSW Governments through the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program. The water has delivered benefits to wetland vegetation, black box woodland, river red gum forests and supported populations of the nationally threatened southern bell frog, while maintaining nesting sites for many waterbird species. 57

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Visiting Yanga

anga National Park may be one of the State’s newest parks, but this area has significant history and Aboriginal families have lived there for millennia. From the early 1800s, explorers, pastoralists, shearers and rabbit trappers arrived, while more recently, fisher-folk and other visitors take their turn camping on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, just like Burke and Wills once did. Bird watchers have a field day, with up to 150 species flocking in the Park’s trees, skies and ecologicallyimportant wetlands. Along the Yanga Lake walking track there’s Yanga Lake Red Gum bird hide, which makes bird-watching less invasive. Spring and autumn are great times for birdwatching. It’s a time when the lakes fill with species that include white-bellied sea eagles and great crested grebes.

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anga Homestead harks back to a time when Yanga Station was one of the Riverina’s most productive pastoral properties. The homestead was built around 1870, along with station outbuildings including stables, a gardener’s shed and station store. The Homestead was built using the Murray pine ‘drop log’ technique: a ‘mortise and tenon’ construction method using trimmed logs slotted into vertical beams. The buildings are in excellent condition for the most part and there are also rose gardens, restored and maintained by volunteers. You can wander around the grounds at any time and enter the cook’s cottage display, but to see inside Yanga Homestead you’ll need to pick up an audio guide and key from Yanga National Park Office, open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Situated on a bend in the Murrumbidgee River, Yanga Woolshed was built in the late 1800s. Once the largest, most modern woolshed in the district, it could house 3000 sheep and provided work for up to 40 shearers at a time. Its location on the river was ideal for transferring baled wool to the barges hauled by paddle steamers, which then took the wool west to the Murray River junction and east to Echuca, for transfer by rail to Melbourne and eventual export. As was said at the time: “Australia rode on the sheep’s back”. Today, you can wander through the Woolshed on a self-guided tour, exploring its runs and pens, while getting a smell and a taste of Australian history. There’s also a viewing platform where the old wharf stood. 59

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Camping

nlike nearly every National Park in Australia, visiting and camping at Yanga is free. Yes, free. Also, campfires are permitted, outside the fire-ban period from October until April. The main 14-site campground is Mamanga, which has fire places, longdrop toilets, rubbish bins and limited phone service. Areas for large groups are also available. The Willows â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an 11-site campground â&#x20AC;&#x201C; features a smaller shearing shed in the picnic area, fire places, long-drop toilets and large, flat and open areas for groups, plus smaller areas. Finally, Woolpress Bend picnic area and remote campground features three

fireplace sites and long-drop toilets. There is no phone service and all sites must be booked in advance, because of limited space. Roads into this area are well maintained and suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles, but red clay, which makes access definitely dry weather only. In addition to the formal campgrounds mentioned there are also Cooba Bend, Keenes and Sandy Bend camping areas. To find out more about Yanga National Park visit the NSW National Parks website HERE.

TRAVELTOWNS RV FRIENDLY

CMCA

RV Friendly Towns image: Joey Csunyo

he RV Friendly program is a Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited (CMCA) initiative aimed at assisting RV travellers as they journey throughout this wonderful country.

will be provided for them that may not be available in other centres, and they will have access to a safe place to stay overnight and possibly for a longer period.

An RV Friendly Town (RVFT) is one that provides a certain number of amenities and a certain level of services for these travellers.

On the following pages are this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured RV Friendly towns. If possible please include them in your travels and support the communities going out of their way to welcome those of us fortunate enough to be travelling. Enjoy!

When RV travellers enter a town displaying the RVFT sign they know they will be welcome. Certain services

RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Koondrook, Vic

oondrook is a picturesque and historic town on the Murray River that is surrounded by the magnificent redgums of the Gunbower State Forest. The town has wide, open, tree-lined streets along with an historic hotel, modern motel, general store and small shopping centreThe Murray River is accessible via the architecturally awarded wharf, floating pontoon and boat ramp. This part of the Murray rewards anglers with the odd Murray cod, golden perch, silverfish and catfish. And, if fishing is not your thing, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Redgum Statue River Walk.

RV travellers can make use of this townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent facilities including the short-term parking at Koondrook Wetland Reserve. Sites are only available to people travelling in self-contained vehicles and for up to 72 hours, while guests are expected to leave a donation for their stay. If you plan to stick around for a little longer, Gunbower State Forest offers parking too. Potable water is accessible at Koondrook Wetland Reserve and travellers will find the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dump point located at 62 Penglase St.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre 90 Kings St, COHUNA, Vic. T: (03) 5456-2047 W: www.thegannawarra.com.au

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Main St between Station & Maunder Streets

Short Term Parking

Koondrook Wetland Reserve, Cnr Penglase & View Sts. Self-contained vehicles only, 72 hrs max, water barbecues, pets on leads, donation required.

Dump Point

62 Penglase St

Potable Water

Koondrook Wetland Reserve, Cnr Penglase & View Sts

RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Hughenden, Qld

ughenden is on the Flinders Highway and Flinders River, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the hub of the mid north-west of Queensland. It is predominantly a grazing area, with cattle properties to the north and sheep to the south. The town has many attractions including four National Parks, gem fields, mountainous volcanic basalt country, sweeping black soil plains and fossil-rich dinosaur areas. Hughenden is a typical larger country town and is the perfect place to rest, replenish your supplies and take time exploring the region. A popular tourist attraction, Porcupine

Gorge has been carved out of a basalt lava-flow by Porcupine Creek. The gorge offers camping, bird watching and swimming, while a diverse range of flora and fauna live amongst the brilliantly coloured sandstone rocks. Travellers visiting Hughenden will find short-term parking at Hughenden RV Parking Area. There is no fee to stay here; however, vehicles must be self-contained and a oneweek maximum stay applies. Potable water and the dump point are located at McLaren Street (outside Ergon Energy depot).

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Hughenden Visitors Information Centre 37 Gray St, HUGHENDEN, Qld. T: (07) 4741-2970 E: info@flinders.qld.gov.au W: www.flinders.qld.gov.au

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Brodie Street & Gray Street

Short Term Parking

Hughenden RV parking area. Self-contained vehicles only, no charge, one week time limit.

Dump Point

McLaren Street (outside Ergon Energy depot)

Potable Water

McLaren Street or Little Avenue (near river)

RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Leonora, WA

eonora is 230 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie in the Northern Goldfields of Western Australia. The area is extremely arid, with summer temperatures of 37°C or more. It has a small population of around 400. Leonora has maintained much of its history, including its wide main street and collection of historic buildings, some of which retain their original uses. While it maintains much of its original character, the shire has been revamped to create a clean and attractive central business district with modern services and facilities. Leonora is

home to the ‘Golden Gift’ event, the richest mile running race in Australia. With a prize pool of $50,000 it attracts athletes from near and far. The event is held over the long weekend in June and is supported by horse racing and free public entertainment, including bands, market stalls, and fireworks. Those visiting Leonora can find short-term parking at Gwalia Historical Museum, on Kane Street. Parking is strictly for selfcontained vehicles only and stays are limited to 72 hours. A dump point and potable water can be found at the Leonora Tourist Information Centre, in Tower Street.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Lot 25, Tower Street, LEONORA, WA T: (08) 9037-7016 E: Library@leanora.wa.gov.au W: www.leonora.wa.gov.au

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Tower Street; Trump Street between Gwalia St & Tower St

Short Term Parking

Gwalia Historical Museum, Kane St, Gwalia. 72 hours max, self-contained vehicles only

Dump Point

Tower Street (Tourist Information Bay)

Potable Water

Tower Street (Tourist Information Bay)

DIY

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