iMotorhome+Caravan – Nov 2019

iMotorhome + caravan Nov 2019

Road Trip!

TOURING IN SUNCAMPER’S LUXURIOUS SANTA CRUZ

BRS SHERPA CAMPER TRAILER I IRIDIUM ELECTRIC MOTORHOME THE SILO ART TRAIL I PORTABLE BRAKE CONTROLLER

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ON MY MIND

Award Whining

I

t’s that time of the year when magazines and media companies of all sorts roll out their Best XYZ of the Year awards, amidst much fanfare and celebration.

While there might well be some truly unbiased award programs, it behoves buyers to take any such accolades with a pinch of salt. But don’t just take my word for it, here’s how Allan Whiting opens this issue’s camper trailer review: “The Sherpa we tested came straight from a wellknown camper trailer award event, where it picked up a gong. That surprised us, because we found several problems with this prototype vehicle that you’d think the camper trailer award judges would have spotted.

The most obvious problem was an incorrectly fitted awning bracket. There were also rusting door hinges that turned out to have been made from the wrong material. There were also signs of dust and water entry in the rear compartment. The makers were apologetic and fixed these issues before our test.”

The trouble with some awards programs is they are basically a money making venture and it’s not unknown for participants to shell out a five figure sum to be in the running. Just last year there was a well publicised case where a respected RV magazine journalist resigned his long-held position over matters of integrity. It appears his results were altered and what he considered a dubious quality product picked up an award.

Awards are fraught with peril as they can be perceived to reflect personal bias and possibly back-handers.

Anyway, as Forest Gump said, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that”. Well, for now…

Moving on, our advertising man and Australian Duvalay agent, Neil Hobbs, has returned to the U.K., with wife Dee. It’s a sad development influenced by Dee’s ailing, elderly mother and those of you who dealt with Neil will remember his infectious enthusiasm and love of a good chat. We wish them all the very best, and after decades Down Under wonder how long it will be before the lure of sunshine and wide open spaces brings them back? For now, Neil is still handling advertising enquiries via neil@imotorhome.com.au as he and Dee settle into pre-Brexit Great Britain. I’m sure they would be very happy to hear from any readers/customers who’d like to drop them a line and wish them well.

The bottom line is, when considering a new RV of any type read everything you can and ask lots of questions before parting with your hard earned cash. Long established companies don’t last by building shoddy products, but every manufacture has its oopses. What matters is how a company addresses those issues and that is reflected in reputational integrity, both on social media and amongst fellow RVers. Just be wary of sensational claims by individual, irate customers – there are always two sides to every story and the buyer isn’t always right.

Finally, Malcolm has been flat out between attending the CMCA’s 34th National Rally, which just finished in Elemore, Vic, and other commitments, hence his uncharacteristic NZ review absence from this issue.

He’ll be back in December, before we all take a bit of a break over the Festive Season and recharge our batteries for 2020. Safe travels!

As I’ve previously stated, we’ll never do RV of the Year awards. That’s not because there aren’t any deserving products – far from it – but we simply can’t review every RV in every category at the same time, and therefore can’t make a fair and balanced decision.

Announcing X, Y or Z is the best RV in any category, out of a field of maybe half a dozen at a specially convened/paid event is at best, absurd. Even Editor’s 3

Richard

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Road Tests

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Technical

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

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Neil Hobbs (+61) 0481 295 575 neil@imotorhome.com.au

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CONTENTS

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47

ON MY MIND Award Whining – ‘tis the season for dubious awards...

50

STREET VIEW Haere Mai! Malcolm reports on his recent adventures

53

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

56

TESTED Santa Cruz’n – touring in Suncamper’s luxury flagship

66

TESTED Serious Sherpa – an upmarket camper trailer with lots of tricks

73

DRIVEN Brave New World – the first practical all-electric motorhome

6

RALLY Rally Ho! – Malcolm reports from the CMCA’s 34th Anniversary Rally

PRODUCT Stedi On! – LED driving lights that set the benchmark

PRODUCT Elecbrakes – a revolutionary portable electric brake controller

READER Victoria’s Silo Art Trail – reader Colin Oberin’s excellent adventure

TRAVEL Head On – solo work and travel in an RV isn’t for everyone

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

STREET VIEW

Haere Mai!

I

t’s funny what you get used to. Just recently I was at a caravan event with a number of other journos looking over a number of caravans in Australia. One of the vans, a Royal Flair Piazza (coincidentally not long arrived in New Zealand) has a drop-down bed in the rear, a feature which integrates well into the overall design. Some of my colleagues were a bit amazed at the drop-down bed design, somewhat more so than me, I must confess. Not because I didn’t think it was a good idea but more so because I’ve seen the drop down bed idea used very effectively in any number of motorhome layouts in NZ. It’s usually in an east/west configuration I should point out, but in recent times I have seen a layout in a Bürstner Lyseo IT745 with a drop-down north/south bed. All that reminded me of just how far the drop down bed idea has developed.

often be a trade stand and the likes of Avida, Avan, KEA, Jayco, Sunliner and Suncamper will have their respective motorhomes on display.

Meanwhile back in NZ, I noticed that Tourism New Zealand is expanding its campaign to encourage responsible camping. I presume campers are being encouraged along the lines of the Australian Leave No Trace scheme wherever they might stay. Not difficult I would have thought, at least for any iM readers, but still worth a mention. As the tourism people put it, let us all act as guardians of Aotearoa!

Haere Ra!

Malcolm

The first designs were very heavy (in the case of hand operated ones) or clunky in operation (in the case of electric ones), but the latest generation designs are getting very sophisticated and smooth in operation.

And in Europe, of course, they have been a ‘normal’ feature for years. Just goes to show how far behind some markets are…

Back in May I spent time in Barcaldine, a mid-western town in Queensland. Whilst there I took part in the Australian Motorhoming Lions Club (AMLC) attempt on the Largest Parade of Camping Vehicles (RVs) record.

Well the good news is that it has at last been verified by the Guinness World Records organisation, at 868 vehicles. Many took part in the event and it was good that it finally became official. The Aussies now hold the record, so will there be any challenge from the Kiwis?

Just an insider tip here, you need about 10-12 km of long flat roads before any other consideration!

Still in Australia, just last week I was sitting in my motorhome surrounded by nearly 800 other motorhomes, caravans and 5 wheelers at Elmore in Victoria. The occasion was the National Rally of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA).

Like NZMCA rallies, it was a time for Club members to get together. Unlike New Zealand, just about everyone – especially those from the extreme ends of the country – normally has a great distance to travel, so a rally is often part of a bigger trip. Also a little differently from NZ, RV club rallies are never held in conjunction with a major motorhome and caravan show – the logistics would be all too hard and places like Mystery Creek at Hamilton, for instance, simply aren’t available.

Instead, depending on where the rally is, there will th

8

LETTERS

SWITCH

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9 www.sunliner.com.au

NEWS

Trakka’s new Akuna and AWD Jabiru Revealed

I

t’s a busy time at Trakka, which has released details of its all-new Akuna – built on the excellent new Volkswagen Crafter – and much-anticipated all-wheel-drive versions of the Jabiru 2s and 4S.The Akuna is 2WD only but comes in 6 or 6.9 m lengths in the 2-seat 2s variant, while the 4-seat 4S model is 6.9 m only. Prices start at A$150,000 drive away, some A$30k below the 2WD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Jabiru 2S.The long-awaited AWD Jabiru on the new Sprinter has single rear wheels (at last) and selectable lowrange gearing amongst its many features. Prices start at A$200,000 drive-away, a premium of A$20,000 over its 2WD sibling.

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NEWS

11

NEWS

Suburban Hot Water System Recall

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he Western Australian Government has issued a safety notice over Surburban LPG water heaters.

Models affected are SW6DEA, SW6DA, SW4DEA, SW4DA and the dual-fuel SW6PS. If the water heater model is confirmed to be one of these, it must not be used until rectified by an authorised Suburban agent or dealership, the notice said. Serial numbers affected are from 181315552 to 193002648 on heaters manufactured between April 4 last year to August 1 this year.

“Under certain conditions, the heaters can generate elevated carbon monoxide which in some instances may spill into the caravan, motorhome or camper trailer,” it warned, adding, “Carbon monoxide can be lethal in large concentrations.”

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NEWS

Charity Site Fight

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perators of a popular $5-a-night charity fundraising camping site behind an pub in Outback Queensland’s central west have vowed to fight to keep it open. Proprietors Kev and Jo were forced to close the facility after a complaint. The news resulted in scores of supporters taking to Facebook calling for the camp to be reopened. The 120-year-old Winton Hotel is now working with Council, “To rectify the complaint and other issues”.

“We hope to reopen the camp for the community next season,” the couple said. “We would like to thank everyone for their support and we will be fighting hard to keep the camp going for the community.” ”Kev and Jo said, “We won’t give up but we need to be advised the best way as this is all new to us. We just wanted to set up a camp that campers enjoyed and we could give the money to the community and charities that impacted not only us but surrounding communities.”

The often full-to-overflowing campsite, opened just over a year ago, was well known for its local charity work, donating funds to cancer research and the Flying Doctor Service. The source and details of the complaint are unknown, but likely to be a local caravan park operator. News of the closure attracted over 100 Facebook reactions and nearly 50 comments within the first few hours. Supporter Libby Mangelsdorf wrote: “Hoping you can get things sorted and reopen your wonderful charity camp. We stayed there in July and were so impressed by the facility and that it was all donated to local charity.

Bruce Highway Improvements

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low-moving caravanners will soon be less of a hindrance on the Bruce Highway between Proserpine and Bowen in North Queensland, according to the Federal Transport Minister. Improvements costing $12 million will see two overtaking lanes on the stretch of highway which carries about 3800 vehicles daily. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack. said it would provide motorists with more opportunities to safely overtake. Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, said it was another example of the how the jointly funded $12.6 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program was making the near 2000 km highway a safer road for all motorists.

“From Cairns to Brisbane, making the Bruce Highway safer for all motorists is a high priority for the Queensland Government,” he said. “Projects such 13

NEWS

New Tassie RV Stop Tasmania’s Meander Valley Council is planning to establish an official overnight rest stop for selfcontained RVs at Deloraine Racecourse. It will cater for up to 20 RVs nightly, with a maximum stay of 4 nights. According to a council report, the site had been informally used for some years but the area used for camping was largely limited by fencing and vegetation.

It already has a dump point, which is the the only accessible one in the Meander Valley.

“The use of the site for overnight stays is an existing use,” the report points out. “RV accommodation has been occurring since 2003, when a temporary two year permit was issued and a dump point installed. Council does not have a record of any complaints from nearby residents during this period.”

The plan was to create a distinct zone for visitor accommodation and establish clear rules around the use of the site by overnight visitors. “It is intended that

these actions will ensure that the remainder of the reserve is unencumbered and protect the infrastructure at the site for locals and day visitors,” Council added.

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NEWS

Ford’s Transit Bright Spot

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ord Australia’s predicted product-led sales bounceback in 2019 is yet to transpire, with year-to-date volume down 8.2% and the only models not in the red being Custom and Heavy versions of the Transit van, and 4x4 variants of the Ranger ute.

Sales of the front-wheel drive Transit Custom sales are up 2.7%, while the larger rear-wheel drive has enjoyed a 15.8% sales increase. Ranger 4x4 sales are almost

flatlining, up just 0.2% year-to-date, while 4x2 versions are down 21.9%. Interestingly, Ranger sales exceeded the combined sales of all Ford passenger cars and SUVs, with the 4x4 leading the way.

However, when asked if the highly regarded Transit 4x4 will arrive on Australian shores, Ford says it has no plans to import it.

New Car Price Comparison

F

or the first time, the prices paid for new cars has been revealed on a state and territory basis, proving that where you live significantly impacts what you’ll pay for a new car.

NSW is officially the cheapest place to buy a new car in Australia, closely followed by VIC, according to PriceMyCar’s latest research. NSW buyers will pay on average 0.43% less for a car than the national average. However, NT is the most expensive state, with consumers paying 1.54% more than the national average. For specific brands, however, it can be even more: A Kia in the NT costs 6.32% more than

the national average. By way of comparison, in NSW a Mazda, Mitsubishi or Volvo costs 4.95% less than average, but a Toyota buyer in WA could expect to pay 4.5% more than a NSW buyer. Nissan buyers in SA tend to pay nearly 5% more than their counterparts just over the border in VIC, which equates to about $1,500 on a typical $30,000 car.

The data was collected by PriceMyCar, a website that claims to allow consumers to compare their car of choice from multiple dealerships around their geographical location and obtain the deal that best suits their needs, preferences and budget.

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NEWS

Renault’s Hydrogen Future

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enault in Europe has added hydrogen power to its range of environmentally friendly vehicles, committing to range-extender fuel-cell versions of its electric Kangoo ZE and Master ZE light-commercial vehicles. The move makes Renault the first company to put hydrogen light-commercials into mass production. However, a lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will likely skittle any plans to introduce the technology to Australia any time soon.

Meanwhile, Hyundai has developed hydrogen fuel-cell buses and is forging ahead with hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, including the HDC-6 Neptune that has just been shown in concept form in the United States.

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NEWS

Autobahn’s Remain Speed Limit-Free

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ermany’s Green party attempted to have the country’s famous autobahn system limited to 130 km/h, but a parliamentary vote overwhelmingly defeated the motion. The limit-free autobahn system, which comprises around 70% of all major German highways, is world famous, and enviously admired by many international drivers who live under much stricter controls.

Despite the lack of speed limit, German driver’s impeccable lane etiquette makes them surprisingly safe places to explore the upper reaches of a speedometer. While they account for around a third of all kilometres driven, Autobahns see only around 12% of fatal car accidents, according to an article on Bloomberg. Speed-limited country roads, on the other hand, are where 60% of German road fatalities occur.

The Greens argued that a 130 km/h limit would potentially save lives, reduce national carbon emissions and steer the local car industry away

from high-powered Autobahn blasters and towards slower machines with smaller engines and greater efficiency, resulting in further carbon savings down the line. However, Germany’s Federal Parliament, the Bundestag, voted 372 to 126 to leave autobahn’s unrestricted. Thank goodness…

Hyundai’s Smart Cruise Control

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ooking to bring a little human intuition to the adaptive cruise control experience, Hyundai has revealed it is working on a new form of cruise control that studies the driving style of the person behind the wheel and then mimics their habits, with a little help from machine learning.

Hyundai calls its new system SCC-ML, or Machine Learning based Smart Cruise Control, and it is part of the company’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). It bills SCC-ML as the first cruise control technology to incorporate artificial intelligence. It works by using sensors, camera and onboard computer to monitor the human driver’s patterns and habits. This could include their typical following distance and rate of when its customers felt a difference between how they acceleration. It then runs the data through a machine would drive the car, and how the car behaves when in learning algorithm to mimic their driving style. cruise control mode. It says this caused reluctance to use the feature at all. Hyundai hasn’t said exactly when The South Korean automaker says it developed the the feature will become available, only that it is planned technology in response to driver anxiety that can occur for, “Future implementation of Hyundai vehicles.”

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NEWS

NT Free Camping Offer

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Northern Territory caravan park has gone against the flow and is offering travellers free camping. Wirib Store and Tourism Park in Timber Creek describes the offer as, “An act of outrageous generosity”, adding “People are shocked when we trot out the free word. But there will be absolutely no charge for using power or our amenities. Free means free. There are no hidden catches. In exchange, we invite people to buy supplies and fuel from the store.”

The park, on the Victoria Highway midway between Katherine and Kununurra, is owned and operated by the Gunamu Aboriginal Corporation.

“To share the love, we are limiting campers and their pets to three nights free, and paid camping after that,” a spokeswoman said. Many caravan parks across the country are fighting the growing trend of free camping, claiming their businesses are suffering. But the Wirib park argues, “We believe offering free camping is good news – and we know how fast good news spreads along the camping grapevine. Staying at the park

and shopping in the store generates money for the group and contributes to creating a pathway for future generations.” The offer lasts until March 2020.

18

TESTED: SUNCAMPER SANTA CRUZ

SANTA

CRUZ’N

On the road in Suncamper’s luxurious new flagship…

by Richard Robertson 19

TESTED

that’s not necessary unless you’re fixated on floorspace.

Better to save the expense, weight and complexity as the standard design is more than sufficient.

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uncamper is best know for its Sherwood range of compact motorhomes, built on the Toyota HiLux cab-chassis in both two and four-wheel drive. The company’s bread-and-butter for decades, bigger models have been the exception rather than the rule.

So it came as a real surprise earlier this year when Suncamper rolled out the 8.6 m (28’ 3”) Santa Cruz, built on an Iveco Daily 50-170.

If it seems odd that Suncamper should branch out into the big, luxury market, there’s method behind the ‘madness’: the design was originally for founder Keith Harrison as a personal motorhome to drive off into the metaphorical sunset. Once built, it received such an enthusiastic response it’s now destined for production, and Keith’s dream motorhome has become a test bed and proof-of-concept vehicle. Sorry about that mate…

Seeing as this Santa Cruz is registered and already has close to 10,000 km on the clock, Mrs iM and I jumped at the chance to take it away for a few days.

Driving a loop from Suncamper on Sydney’s northern fringe to Armidale, across the Waterfall Way to Coffs Aimed squarely at the top end of the market, the Santa Cruz is a clean-sheet, bells-and-whistles motorhome that Harbour and then back to the factory, we covered some requires a Light Rigid (LR) licence. The design can also 1200 km and spent 3 nights really getting to know this include a slide-out or two if desired, but in my experience flagship model. What’s it really like? Read on…

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TESTED

Rolling Stock

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his Santa Cruz rolls on a stock Iveco Daily 50170 cab-chassis, but one that drives through the optional and highly desirable 8-speed ZF Hi-Matic auto in place of the standard 6-speed manual. Production models will (hopefully) ride on Iveco’s optional rear air suspension, because in standard form there’s no disguising the fact the Daily is a truck, and the improvement in ride quality is really a must at this price point.

well for longevity and isn’t surprising, given Iveco is one of Europe’s biggest truck manufacturers. Brakes are discs all ‘round – ventilated up front – while safety aids such as anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, hill holder, trailer sway mitigation and other ‘assists’ help keep things safe on the road.

The 50 in the Daily’s model name refers to 5 tonnes, or more specifically, 5.2 tonnes (5200 kg), which is the model’s maximum gross vehicle mass (GVM).

The standard suspension has independent front torsion Although you’ll need an LR driver’s licence, in NSW bars up front and a live axle with multi-leaf springs (at least) all that’s required to get one is some and double-acting shocks at the rear. Combined, they competency-based tuition via a driving school and a have a load capacity of 5800 kg (2100 kg front/3700 kg bit of study. There’s no actual driving test, but an LR rear), so there’s little chance of overloading. Along with licence opens up a whole new world of vehicle driving a maximum braked towing capacity of 3500 kg, the 50- possibilities. The Santa Cruz has a tare weight of 4300 170 Iveco Daily is definitely a truck engineered ‘down’ kg, providing a maximum potential payload of 900 kg to motorhome level rather than a light commercial for two people and all their goods and chattels, plus full vehicle engineered ‘up’ for extra capacity. That bodes tanks of everything.

21

TESTED

“On the road there’s no getting away from the fact this is a big motorhome, yet it’s stable and surprisingly nimble.”

22

TESTED

The 170 in the Daily’s model name equates to 170 hp (125 kW), delivered from a 3.0-litre single-turbo diesel.

Essentially, it’s the same unit that until recently was the top engine choice in the Fiat Ducato. It produces a healthy 430 Nm of torque and while there is the option of the Daily 50-210, which has a 210 hp (150 kW)/470 Nm twin-turbo version of the same 3.0-litre engine, I believe that would be overkill in this application. The ‘little’ engine was more than capable of doing all we needed, especially when given a nudge to drop a gear or two at the base of long/big hills when using cruise control. Engine braking was surprisingly good and the gearbox would hold a gear downhill without shifting up, provided you didn’t touch the throttle. Fuel economy for our trip was 13-14L/100 km (22-20 mpg) – not bad for a big machine being driven at the legal limits – while the 100-litre tank provided a safe range around 700 km.

On the road there’s no getting away from the fact this is a big motorhome, yet it’s stable and surprisingly nimble. I took it into an shopping centre’s open-air car park in Coffs Harbour, where its tight turning circle was appreciated, and ducked-and-weaved between low hanging branches on the drive in and out of Ebor Falls. Overall this is a stable machine that’s also a quiet and comfortable cruiser, although the standard suspension’s ride is defiantly on the truck side of refined.

In the cab, Iveco has certainly lifted its game in recent years. Reasonably car-like and featuring driver and passenger front and side curtain airbags, it also has climate control, electric windows and (heated) mirrors,

remote central locking, cruise control and a touchscreen infotainment system with GPS and hands-free phone integration. However, it’s a pity the steering wheel only has reach adjustment. We both loved the leather covered and heated cab suspension seats, which allow you to dial in your weight for just the right amount of ‘bounce’ over rough roads. Great fun!

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TESTED

Body Beautiful

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ike all Suncampers the Santa Cruz uses a steel frame base and welded aluminium wall frames, with fire-retardant insulation. It’s a strong, proven system which, importantly, has no wood to get wet and rot (internal cabinetry is made of marine ply that’s screwed and glued). The body has fibreglass walls and a singlepiece roof; the latter home to three big Heki hatches, the requisite air-conditioner , solar panels and TV aerial.

The Santa Cruz is a two-berth B-class motorhome, meaning there’s no over-cab bed with resultant body ‘bulge’, so it does appear long and perhaps a bit squat.

There’s a fair amount of rear overhang and while on test that didn’t prove a problem, the towbar did ground a couple of times, even when taking driveways easy and at an angle.

For such a big motorhome, external storage is at a premium. Surprisingly, there isn’t a single, dedicated storage locker and bulky items like golf clubs would be problematic. What the Santa Cruz does have is shared storage in several locations; those primarily being a deep shelf above the slide-out kitchen, plus in the toilet cassette locker for hoses. While there’s enough space for a couple of folding chairs and a table, levelling blocks and a small tool box, if you like to carry the contents of your garage shed you’ll need a trailer.

Other lockers house LPG cylinders, the remote-start generator, 2 x 120 Ah house batteries and electrics, outdoor TV/entertainment system and the water system with external shower. Speaking of batteries, they are also charged by a pair of 100 W solar panels.

And a note on the water system: The 200-litre onboard tank and mains water connectors are in the locker with the outdoor shower and easily-reached drinking water filter. There’s also a second mains water connector, but it’s to flush out the 132-litre grey water tank and is a thoughtful touch. Other external features include an electric awning, speakers and LED lights on both sides of the vehicle, plus double-glazed acrylic windows with in-built privacy and insect screens.

24

TESTED

Stepping Up

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ntry is via a Euro-style security screen door and aided by an electric step. Once inside, you realise the Santa Cruz is something special. It has the look and feel of a modern apartment, with design touches and features that not only break new ground, they enhance the total living experience.

The open plan layout features a front lounge/dinette, mid kitchen, rearward east-west bedroom and a fullwidth rear bathroom. Despite the lack of slide-outs there is a genuine feeling of space, aided in no small part by those three big roof hatches (by Heki they let in some light – sorry!). There are three windows on the driver’s side but only one on the kerb side and none at the rear. If that seems odd don’t worry, it works perfectly well and the Santa Cruz is one motorhome you won’t feel claustrophobic in.

25

TESTED

Better by Design

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emembering the test Santa Cruz was both a personal vehicle and a proof-of-concept leap into a new market meant Mr iM and I spent a lot of time thinking about how the design worked in practice.

For example, Mrs iM loved the kitchen and cooking options, and was determined to try them all. So, first night she cooked on the huge, slide-out kitchen that features a three-burner gas cooker, sink with hot and cold running water and a drawer fridge. Overkill? For sure. Fabulous? Absolutely! Second night it was the microwave, inside cooker and grill. Final night, Mrs iM used the oven and cooktop. “This is a motorhome anyone who loves to buy fresh produce and cook as they go will love,� she commented.

For my money, the pop-up Nespresso machine got the must-have gong. Is it a gimmick? Not if you hanker for good coffee.

Both of us loved the bed and the way it has plenty of headroom to let us sit up to read or just sip coffee before starting the day. And the Santa Cruz must set the record for USB charging outlets: 14 in the living area and 2 in the cab!

26

TESTED

“Mrs iM loved the kitchen and cooking options, and was determined to try them all.”

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TESTED The bathroom also got a big thumbs-up for its openness, with privacy just a slide of the opaque double-doors away. We also loved the glass splashback that looks like tiles, yet is absolutely smooth and easy to wipe clean. And then there was the shower with its dual heads – one adjustable on a hose and the other rainwater – and fully lit back wall.

Plus, the floor was raised so water drained off the sides and we didn’t end up standing in the suds.

Other features we liked included extensive use of open and concealed LED strip lighting; beautifully crafted cabinetry whose curves were replicated in the shapes of the massive bathroom and bedroom mirrors; stone kitchen bench tops; plush leather upholstery and the dark wood-look flooring. The decor, which contrasts dark cabinetry with light bench tops and walls, splashes of colour and plenty of natural light, simply works and feels both modern and inviting. All these elements and others combine to produce a motorhome whose enjoyment in use is greater than the sum of its already impressive parts.

Was everything perfect? No, but is it ever? The cab seats need to swivel to make the dinette truly workable (that’s on the production list) and better cab curtains are needed; some switches could be repositioned to make life a bit easier and the bulky storage issue needs to be addressed. Expect to see a range of revisions and refinements in production vehicles, aided we hope by some objective and constructive input after our travels.

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TESTED

What I Think

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n the final morning we were sitting in bed sipping illy coffee from the Nespresso machine and watching the world go by. A family with three small children was struggling to pack their camper trailer after a rainy night, while our Webasto heater took the chill off the morning air. After another coffee and poached eggs, we watched as the campers finally stowed everything, round-up the kids and headed off.

We lingered for toast and jam, coffee and showers before it was time to follow.

That’s really what the Santa Cruz is all about: Spacious and relaxed living. It’s comfortable, has all mod-cons (I forgot to mention the tiny dishwasher and optional washing machine!) and instills a feeling of contentment not all motorhomes do. From the contemporary interior to the multiple cooking options and myriad charging outlets, it simple covers all bases without fuss. Could it be the perfect Cruzer for you? Best you find out…

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SPECS GENERAL Make

Suncamper Motorhomes

Model

Santa Cruz

Type

B-Class

Berths

2

Approved Seating

4

Licence

Light Rigid (LR)

Pros...

Make/Model

Ivceo Daily 15-170

Engine

3.0-litre 4-cylinder single-turbo diesel

Power

125 kW @ 2900-3500

Torque

430 Nm @ 1500-2600 rpm

Transmission

8-speed automatic/rear-wheel drive

Safety

ABS, ESP, 4 air bags & more

Fuel

100 L

Features Space Liveability Decore Internal storage Iveco auto Towing capacity

VEHICLE

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

4300 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

5200 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

3500 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

8.60 m (28' 3")

Overall Width

2.45 m (8' 1")

Overall Height

3.25 m (10’ 8”)

Internal Height

2.00 m (6’ 6”)

Bed – Queen Size

2.03 m x 1.53 m (6' 6" x 5') approx

Cons...

Slide-Out

No

Awning

Eletctric

Entry Steps

Electric

Cooker - Inside/Outside

2 x gas + 1 x elec, grill and Oven/3 x gas

Rangehood Sink - Inside/Outside Fridge Microwave/Inverter/Generator 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 New – from As Tested – Demonstrator Warranty – Vehicle Warranty – Body

Yes Square, fixed tap/Round with glass lid & folding tap 175 L Dometic 3-way Yes/Yes - 1500 W/Yes - Remote start 12 V LED 2/16 Yes Webasto diesel-fired Swift LPG/Electric Thetford cassette Serparate cubicle

External storage LR Licence Price

EQUIPMENT

2 x 120 Ah 2 x 100 W 2 x 4 kg 200 L 132 L 28 L 17 L (cassette) A$295,000 + ORC A$265,000 – Driveaway NSW 3 Years/200,000 km 3 Years

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Contact

Suncamper Motorhomes 3/9 Sefton Rd Thornleigh. NSW. 2120.

T: 1300 416 854 E: sales@suncampermotorhomes.com.au W: suncampermotorhomes.com.au

TESTED

“This is a motorhome anyone who loves to buy fresh produce and cook as they go will love.”

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THE BEAUTY OF The sANTA CRUZ

This breathtaking motorhome boasts all the luxuries you’d expect from a 5-star hotel.

Built onto the Iveco Daily the Santa Cruz holds it all, with everything at the touch of a button.

With all the latest modern finishes, and extra’s like a pop up coffee machine, genuine Italian leather seats, dual shower heads, twin reverse cameras and a great deal more. The all new Santa Cruz, our 5 star hotel on wheels, really has to be seen to be believed.

www.suncampermotorhomes.com.au MD19015

phone 1300 416 854 for a free info pack or to book your factory tour today!

TESTED: BRS SHERPA

Serious

Sherpa!

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The BRS Sherpa is a great eyecatcher, but at around sixty grand is at the top end of the ‘teardrop’ camper trailer market. We took one away for a test...

by Allan Whiting of OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au images – own and supplied

TESTED

T

he Sherpa we tested came straight from a wellknown camper trailer award event, where it picked up a gong. That surprised us, because we found several problems with this prototype vehicle that you’d think the camper trailer award judges would have spotted.

The most obvious problem was an incorrectly fitted awning bracket. There were also rusting door hinges that turned out to have been made from the wrong material. There were also signs of dust and water entry in the rear compartment. The makers were apologetic and fixed these issues before our test.

Along with the prototype glitches BSR also replaced the removable jockey wheel with a fixed, swivelling ARK Extreme Off Road 750 dual wheel. Our evaluation Sherpa was kindly lent to us by the NSW dealer, Camperact.

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TESTED

Accommodation & Storage

T

he Sherpa offers a luxurious sleeping area that doubles as storage space when travelling. Padded bed heads encourage LED TV viewing in the sack, but there is no interior seating space. Also, reclining foot space for tall people is limited by the cupboards at the foot of the bed.

Remote-control, electrically operated side-opening doors allow easy entry and exit, and meshed door openings provide cross ventilation, supplemented by small opening ports. A travelling couple wouldn’t need more than the foam queen-sized mattress, but two kids can be accommodated in an optional roof-top Alu-Cab unit. That roof-top unit mounts a 200 W solar panel that would otherwise mount on roof rails.

The Sherpa is designed for outdoors living, with the rear section opening up to reveal a pair of 30-litre drawer fridges, a drop-down storage unit and a canting drawer. There is no stove, but plenty of space to stow a portable two-burner unit.

The awning is an Alu-Cab Shadow type that swings around from the side to cover the rear section. Off the right hand side, above the door opening, is a folded shower/toilet enclosure. Optional is a whole tent assembly, to convert the Sherpa into a ‘base station’.

Up front is a large, lidded bin that contains the cabin heater and hot water system, a 125 Ah lithium battery and 12/240 V charging units. That bin is flanked by 2 x 20-litre jerry can holders. Water storage is in a 200-litre bladder that stows inside a body void, not hung underneath.

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TESTED

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

T

he BRS Sherpa is built on a central square-tube ‘spine’ chassis. It has tubular outriggers that mount Cruisemaster trailing arm, coil-sprung suspension, with ‘mandatory’ twin shocks on each wishbone. Air suspension is an option. Wheels are CSA Raptor 17 x 8 aluminium spoke, shod with 265/65R17 BFG KO2 rubber.

Standard on the test machine was the latest iteration of the DO35 coupling.

The bodywork is welded double-skin aluminium sheet with a composite FRP roof. The doors are honeycomb composite FRP with plexiglass windows. We had some concerns with the door seals that, by design, are very soft. On our test route they didn’t allow any dust inside, but it was disconcerting to be able to push a hand between the body and the doors.

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TESTED

Off & On Road he Sherpa’s styling and pricing made us search for the appropriate tow vehicle and we settled on a Range Rover Sport Hybrid. Upwardly mobile couples looked like the target market we thought!

T

were those with overhanging branches, because the awning projected forward of the bodywork, inviting damage should branches get caught between the awning and body.

The Sherpa tipped the scales loaded at 1600 kg and towed beautifully behind the Rangie. It handled rough gravel and lumpy bitumen roads with ease and followed the Sport anywhere it could go off-road, but with some reservations. Trails the Sherpa didn’t like

Setting up the Sherpa for an overnight stay was easy enough, but roof tent access required some agility.

We’re also not convinced the awning would withstand strong winds.

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TESTED

Summary

T

he BRS Off Road Sherpa is a robust design with eye-catching styling, state of the art electricals and inclusions. However, it’s at the top end of the ‘teardrop’ camper trailer scale and offers sleeping-only interior space.

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READER TESTED

39 71

DRIVEN

BRAVE NEW

WORLD 40

DRIVEN

Iridium 70EB: The first all-electric motorhome for the brave new emissions-free world...

T

ucked away in a relatively quite corner of the 2019 Dusseldorf Caravan Salon was an unremarkable white Fiat Ducato motorhome. Looking like any one of a thousand others on display, you could have walked by and never known you missed the future of the world’s motorised RV industry.

Beneath the white exterior of that ubiquitous motorhome buzzed a heart of pure electricity; a heart that for the first time can deliver practical range and zero emissions. It’s really the Holy Grail of RV development, because much or Europe and many other parts of the world are legislating towards a vehicle-emissions-free future.

by Richard Robertson

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DRIVEN

WOFs in a Name?

T

he motorhome in question is an Iridium 70EB, from German company WOF GmbH. WOF builds neither the motorhome nor the drive system, but rather, it sources and integrates both, and markets the finished product. The result is either the Iridium 70EB Generation 1 or Generation 2, with the only differences seeming to relate to motor output and battery capacity.

kWh lithium battery in Generation 2 models. Claimed range is 300 and 400 km, respectively. Charging for both is partly from regenerative braking and a little solar input from a 120-watt roof panel, but mainly from being plugged into a 50 kW CCS fast charger, other wise known as a Type 2 charger.

The motorhome body is by German manufacturer Iridiums ride on a Fiat Ducato cab-chassis that German Bela and the Iridium is basically a Bela Edition P69.

It measure 6.95 m (22’ 9”) long, has a conventional electric drive specialists Elektrofahrzeuge Stuttgart floorplan with front lounge/dinette, mid kitchen and (EFA-S) converts. This is the company that amongst bathroom, and a rear bedroom. other things converted a fleet of UPS delivery trucks to battery power and therefore knows a thing or two about electrifying commercial vehicles. EFA-S installs a With the conversion done and body added, WOF’s job 105 kW/650 Nm motor and 86.4 kWh lithium battery in basically is to make sure it all works, get the message the Generation 1 and a 140 kW/730 Nm motor and 108 out and find buyers. How difficult can it be? Read on…

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DRIVEN

Sales Pitch

W

hile the Iridium ticks the box in terms or size, features and range, price is another matter: Try €169,900 (A$276,000) for Generation 1 and €197,900 ($322,000) for Generation 2. Yikes!

WOF’s Man-At-The-Show, Dierk Simons, was obviously used to the price reaction from most people and so had an argument that goes like this: Motorhomes have a long life and one bought new now will be virtually worthless 20 years down the track because it will be so restricted in where it can go, if indeed it’s even allowed on the road in the new zero-

emission world. And that’s apart from the fuel cost savings.

Given a standard Bella P69 starts at €43,990 (A$71,500) and you could buy 4 for the price of even the cheapest Iridium, I’m not sure most people would agree his argument stacks up. However, it is only a money barrier to becoming an early electric-RV adopter, and I’m sure there are enough well healed Europeans ready to part with their Euros simply ‘because’. That’s especially true as the first batch of Iridiums numbers just 12.

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DRIVEN

On the Road

We made our way across minor roads and out on to the autobahn, where with less than 10 minutes time behind the wheel I was soon sitting on 100-110 km/h with the trucks and chatting easily with Dierk.

N

aturally, I jumped at the opportunity to test drive the Iridium. Last year I had a 10 minute ‘roundthe-block drive of the (then) all-new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but this time it was a proper autobahn-and-all experience.

Dierk manoeuvred the Iridium 70EB Generation 1 out of the car park and then swapped seats. I was expecting big things from 650 Nm of torque – electric motors develop maximum torque from rest – especially as 450 Nm is about the most available locally.

However, the accelerator pedal required substantial pressure and progress was more smooth than stunning, although it built-up nicely. I guess it’s a way of preventing owners from scrambling their eggs and other fridge contents at every start!

I must say that initially, driving the Iridium 70EB was a bit confusing. I’ve driven more Fiat Ducatos than I can remember and in many ways this was like any other, and yet it was like no other. There was no diesel engine noise or gear changes, just smooth, quiet and deceptively rapid progress. And as the speed rose it was only wind and tyre noise that increased; the cab remained devoid of mechanical sounds, making quite conversation easy.

Despite the simplicity of the drive system there is a learning curve. It essentially revolves around monitoring the auxiliary screen in the corner of the dashboard and trying to keep real-time cruise power usage between 10 and 20 kWh/100 km to maximise range. With a heavy foot it was easy to watch the figure increase way beyond that and so driving the Iridium became part computer game as I tried to balance power usage against speed/incline/traffic/. No doubt newbies like me become fixated on the readout, but it wouldn’t take long to develop a feel for the vehicle and know it as much by instinct.

After about 20 minutes I steered us back into the parking area and pressed the off switch. On departure the battery gauge showed 68% capacity and we drove about 25 km. On return it read 60% capacity and 188 km range remaining. When you do the maths on both figures it equates to just over a 300 km range on a full battery, so the range claims seem accurate. In Australia I think you could tour the East Coast at least on the small battery without too much range anxiety, so in Europe an Iridium would be fine.

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DRIVEN

Thoughts

I

f I had to pick a word to describe the whole experience it would ‘relaxing’, despite the learning curve and unfamiliar location, plus my deep desire not to crash and burn! I’d never realised how tiring the rise and fall of engine note and gear changes are in a conventional vehicle – even an automatic – whereas the Iridium just seemed to waft along. Perhaps that’s the greatest take-away for me; that an electric RV future will be more relaxing, even if the vehicle isn’t Jetsons-esque and autonomous. Yet… In 2020/21 Iridium Generation 3 will appear and although battery capacity and motor output are undisclosed, it will have the ability to plug-in and provide power for your home. Fingers crossed Dierk and WOF manage to find buyers for Generations 1 and 2, but there’s no doubt the Iridium is at least the first practical and desirable all-electric RV, if not the actual vehicle or brand that will take us affordably into the brave new world.

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DRIVEN

46

RALLY

Rally Ho! Image supplied

by Malcom Street

I

n central Victoria, the Elmore Events Centre was a great place for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia’s (CMCA) 34th Anniversary Rally. A flat site with power points for all who needed them, it was an excellent venue for the 769 RVs and 1312 members in attendance. You can see my motorhome, it’s the white one up the top right hand corner by the pond, otherwise known as “Duck Island” named after the local residents. Speaking of motorhomes, for my trip to the Elmore rally, Let’s Go motorhomes were kind enough to supply me with a Voyager Deluxe, a two berth motorhome that came with a drop-down bed behind the driver’s cab.

My steed

As with any rally there was plenty happening, including a very good trade area with plenty of motorhome manufacturers in attendance to display their latest models. During the day, all kinds of seminars and workshops happened. There were some interesting photographic opportunities around the various bodies of water by day and night! Disc bowls, happy hours and night time entertainment all happened of course.

In case you are wondering about the pink themes, one rally day was devoted to raising money for the McGrath Foundation for breast cancer care by having a “Pink Up the Rally Day”. All good fun!

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Trade display

LETTERS

Duck Island

Serious competition

Great fun!

Cheers!

KEA friends

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LETTERS

Fancy dress!

Gift wrapped?

Pretty in pink!

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PRODUCT

STEDI ON!

by Allan Whiting of OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au images – own and supplied

I

n 2016 Stedi released the original Type-X, which disrupted the high performance driving light market.

With the introduction of the PRO Edition, Stedi said it is again redefining the driving light category. The new Type-X PRO edition is said to maximise light output and reliability at levels that surpass those of the most respected brands in the industry.

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PRODUCT

Using the latest optic simulation modelling, the reflector geometry was tweaked over and over again, to achieve the most functional beam pattern. A onelux beam distance of 1155 metres is outstanding in the LED lighting world, but Stedi reckons the real strength of the Type-X PRO is its mid-to-long range light distribution.“The key focus was on driver confidence, by increasing the beam throw so the driver has longer analysis time,” Stedi engineers said.“We maximised driver comfort by smoothing out the beam; eliminating shadows and we reduced the light wasted in unimportant zones like treetops and immediately in front of the vehicle. The result is a homogeneous, unrelenting beam that will support you well in any adventure.”Each Type-X PRO lamp has six flood reflectors for improved light distribution onto the road shoulders. This eliminates the need to add

wide beam covers, which are not only less efficient at distributing light, but restrict light transmission.To achieve genuine category-leading performance the Type-X Pro is equipped with 37 Oslon High-Flux LEDs, with the highest lumen density per square millimetre of any comparable LED on the market, Stedi claims.

The hard-coated optical grade lens is derived from ballistic glass, making it virtually indestructible, while a UV stabiliser has been added to ensure the lens won’t discolour or degrade.Pink, green, blue, orange, grey or black inner ring fasteners are independent of the main sealing structure, allowing buyers to choose the colour that best suits their rig. Grey and orange are in the kit, while for black there’s simply no ring. Coloured filters and iconic Stedi smile covers are backwardscompatible.

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PRODUCT

The Type-X PRO mounting brackets are 10 mm-thick, pressure die-cast aluminium that’s ribbed to prevent vibration and ensure fatigue resistance. The bracket was designed to withstand vibration from extreme and prolonged corrugations.

RRP at launch was $690 for a pair of lights, delivered to your door in Oz - unbeatable value for money, we reckon.

We tested a pair of these earlier this year and were very impressed with the quality of the lights and the reversible mountings, which should allow fitment to most ‘roo bars. The combined beams offered bright light out to a kilometre on our test roads and there was adequate spread as well. Stedi’s efforts to eliminate much of the waste light that nearly all LED driving lights emit was quite noticeable. Check out the video link below.

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PRODUCT

by Allan Whiting of OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au images – own and supplied

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elecbrakes

eed to tow a trailer, but your vehicle doesn’t have an electric brake controller? No problem, thanks to Elecbrakes: the unit that connects to the trailer, not the towing vehicle.

This Bluetooth-connected system does away with the need for a vehicle mounted electric brake controller and head unit. Elecbrakes kits are wired or plugged into the trailer, not the tow vehicle, with driver control of five braking programs done by a remote unit or a smartphone.

This Australian designed and made system can be wired into the trailer circuit or can be supplied as a plug-and-play kit that connects between the trailer’s

male 7 or 12-pin plug and the tow vehicle’s female plug.

Whether wired to the trailer or plugged in, the Elecbrakes system operates similarly to a towvehicle electric brake controller, giving the driver control over brake force and also with a manual trailer brake override function. If a vehicle with an electric brake controller needs to couple to an Elecbrakesequipped trailer, the Elecbrakes plug-and-play kit can be bypassed, or the service brake wire (blue) can be disconnected from the trailer plug, letting the Elecbrakes unit take over without interference from the tow vehicle’s brake controller.

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PRODUCT

Elecbrakes on Test

W

e evaluated an Elecbrakes plug-and-play kit that was kindly lent to us by Camperact, the prominent east-coast dealer for many camper trailer and slide-on camper brands.

Team members Sheree and Simon Martin picked up a Track Trailer Mate camper trailer from Camperact and coupled it to their HiLux, plugging in the Elecbrakes kit at the same time (in a previous time, Simon drove B-Doubles for a living so he’s well used to assessing trailer braking performance).

Because the Elecbrakes unit was a test item it wasn’t screwed to the trailer drawbar, but cable-tied, vertically, in place. Horizontal mounting is also acceptable. The plugs in the kit connected between the trailer and tow vehicle, and powered-up immediately.

Simon downloaded the Elecbrakes app to his smartphone and a choice of screens was displayed.

Available info included braking force settings, voltage and light status, along with a page that displayed the brake override button for use in an emergency situation. This page also lit up a large red dot every time the brakes were applied.

When driving, the Elecbrakes system felt just like any other brake control unit on the market and allowed easy adjustment of braking force on the trailer, depending upon the weight of the load being towed.

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PRODUCT

We took our test unit on an 800 km road test that included highway driving, country roads, city driving and dirt roads, corrugations and shallow river crossings that submerged it, but the system did not miss a beat.

It stayed connected for the entire trip and showed no signs of Bluetooth connection lag.

If we had a trailer that needed to be towed by different vehicles we wouldn’t hesitate in fitting an Elecbrakes unit to it. At a cost around $700 it’s around twice the price of a wired-in electric brake controller, but needs no installation and is easily transferrable from trailer to trailer and vehicle to vehicle. Click the link below for more info.

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READER

Victoria’s

SILO ART TRAIL

by Colin Oberin

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READER

A

bout two years ago I gave my wife a voucher I had mocked up on my computer for an all-expenses paid, chauffeur driven tour along Victoria’s Silo Art Trail. She recently redeemed the voucher when we were wondering where to go for our first trip in our new Horizon Waratah. The southern end of the Silo

Art Trail is at Rupanyup, about a three hour drive from Melbourne. From there, the trail wends its way northwards for about 200 kms, with the northern most point at Patchewollock, which is about four and a half hours from Melbourne or about 90 minutes from Mildura.

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READER

Underway

F

rom Melbourne it’s an easy three day round trip, but we decided to take four days as this was to be a ‘shakedown cruise’ for the new van. We left Melbourne about 10.30 am on day one and after a leisurely lunch stop in Beaufort arrived in Rupanyup mid-afternoon.

After a quick trip around town to check out the mural on the wall of the fire station and the cute little café/ gift shop on the median strip in the centre of town, it was on to our first silo art example, which is on the corner of the main street. Then after the obligatory photos it was off to the Rupanyup Memorial Park for the night, which was great value at $10.00 per night for a powered site. The park also provided clean facilities, an electric barbecue, fire circle, outdoor kitchen with hot water, a memorial to the Light Horse Regiment of

World War I fame and a small billabong that we slowly walked around, admiring the plants and the views along the way.

Next morning it was off to the Stick Shed in Murtoa, which is open from 10:00 to 12:30 Tuesday to Saturday and 10:00 to 2:00 on Sunday. The shed is the only remaining emergency grain store built during World War II and is a cultural icon included in the National Heritage list. It is an amazing structure well worth a visit, even by those not especially interested in agricultural history. Anyone not familiar with the Murtoa Stick Shed might like to check out www.thestickshed. com.au.

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READER

From Murtoa we headed for Minyip. It doubled as the town of Coopers Crossing in the Australian TV Series The Flying Doctors, which ran from 1986 to 1992.

From there it was a short hop to the next piece of silo art, at Sheep Hills. This is a little way off the main road, but it’s well signed and the Silo Art Trail brochure has an excellent map of the whole trail, with inset maps that make it easy to locate each of the sites. The silos at Sheep Hills are especially colourful and well worth the diversion. We even met a semi-trailer driver there who parked his loaded truck in front of the silos, took a few photos with his semi in the corner and then went back to work, driving the load to its intended destination.

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READER

Kaff-eine Stops?

A

fter Sheep Hills we stopped for a leisurely lunch in Warracknabeal, the biggest town on the trail, where we also filled up with fuel before heading north again. The silos at Brim are right beside the Henty Highway and you can’t miss them. After more photos it was on to Beulah, where the Kaff-eine Horse Mural (Kaff-eine is a popular Australian mural artist) was a little harder to find, but the trail brochure gave the address and the sat nav led us to the spot.

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READER

Next stop was Roseberry. This is another example of Kaff-eine’s work and again the silos are right on the highway. As it was still mid-afternoon we could have easily taken in the rest of the sites along the trail, but we had already decided to break the trail up into two days. Hence we stopped off for the afternoon and night on the shore of Lake Lascelles in Hopetoun, where powered sites are $20 per night but unpowered are free. After many photos of the gorgeous sunset views across the lake and a pleasant chat around a camp fire swapping stories with other Grey Nomads, it was an early night for us.

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READER

The morning of day three found us taking time to emerge from warm beds. I worked out how to start the hot water service in the van and we both had a hot shower on board. After waving good-bye to the friends we made the previous night it was off to our first stop at Woomelang, to check out the murals. Then it was on to Lascelles for back-to-back portraits of two locals on adjacent silos.

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READER

Finally, it was on to our last stop on the Silo Art Trail, at Patchewollock. Along the way my wife Anne took the wheel for a while just to make sure she was familiar with driving our new van, should she ever want or need to. At Patchewollock we met a group of women travelling together, but each in their own vehicle. Anne

took their photo in front of the excellent mural of a local farmer on the silos, which dominate the town.

She then took a photo of me and our van in front of the mural and our journey along Victoria’s Silo Art Trail was done. However, we were not ready to head back to Melbourne just yet‌

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READER

Not Quite Done

W

e continued on to the regional centre of Ouyen for lunch at the local bakery, then to the Pink Lakes in the Murray Sunset National Park.The road took us past the wayside stop at Walpeup, where I had stayed before. This is another excellent spot for an overnight stay, albeit a bit noisy when trucks roll by at three in the morning. Although there is about 13 kilometres of unmade road to get to the Pink Lakes after turning off the Mallee Highway, we felt the drive was well worthwhile. The lakes were not very pink when we were there, but the remnants of the salt mining heritage and the old village were still visible, complete with mountains of salt packed hard as rock and some old rusting machinery. The signage explaining the harsh conditions the miners lived and worked under was excellent. The isolation was immediately apparent as we stepped out of our vehicle.

Along the loop track, aptly named Pioneer Drive, there were several interpretive signs detailing why the lakes are pink, the local flora, local birds, early inhabitants and so on, so it was a leisurely drive around the circuit before heading back to the main highway.

Instead of staying in the vicinity we headed back to the lake at Hopetoun, only to find our new found friends standing around the fire drinking wine just as they had been doing the previous night. After parking the van we just had to join them for a drink and chat before making our dinner and turning in for the night. The morning of day four brought the picturesque sight of fog over the lake. A few more photos and then it was off towards home, but with a detour to the Bendigo Woollen Mills, where Anne browsed the shop while I snuck next door to the tram depot to check out some of the vintage trams.

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READER

Thoughts and Plans

A

ll too soon we were home in Melbourne and it was time to reflect on our ‘shakedown cruise’. The trip was certainly successful in that the vehicle behaved impeccably; we both felt comfortable driving it and we soon became familiar with the workings of everything – from the hot water heater to the shower, the toilet, the swivel seats, the two-way water system (tank or mains) and the three way power supply (mains, battery and solar). We also found that the vehicle screeches a most annoying noise if you try to drive off without retracting the electric step, and that the parking brake won’t switch off automatically unless the driver is wearing their seat belt.

Like every RV owner I know I had already made a few modifications that personalise the van and on this trip I identified a few more things I want to change before we take a longer trip. These include installing a UHF CB radio, adding more rails for towels, installing a toilet brush and reminding my wife not to forget her tooth brush next time.

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter model we have is a 419cdi, driven by a 2987cc V6 diesel engine, which means plenty of power.

This model came standard with loads of fancy features including window airbags for driver and passenger, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, attention assist, cruise control and speed limiter, amongst others. Apple CarPlay is also standard, which means you can play music or listen to stories on your iPhone through the vehicle audio system. Satellite Navigation is not standard, but with Apple CarPlay you can project Google Maps onto the vehicle’s multimedia screen.

My wife is a big fan of Google maps but I am not so enamoured with the system in the van. Firstly, you connect an iPhone to the multimedia system via a plug located inside the storage box which is on top of the dash. This becomes incredibly hot under direct sunlight, especially as the lid needs to be shut when driving. Secondly, the multimedia screen is set in the centre of the dash and is nowhere near the driver’s eye line, so you have to take your eyes off the road to see the screen. Moreover, if you don’t have a phone signal you may not have any navigation, unless you remembered to download a map of your intended

route in advance. Even then, some functions such as real time traffic conditions do not operate when offline. Personally I prefer an old fashioned stand-alone satellite navigation unit and have installed a Garmin 61, which comes complete with maps of Australia and New Zealand. I have mounted the unit in the lower right hand corner of the windscreen where it is in the driver’s peripheral vision, and so is the road when you glance at the screen.

The Silo Art Trail is billed as Australia’s largest outdoor gallery and is an excellent example of communities working together for their mutual benefit. The trail is highly recommended for anyone travelling to or from Melbourne via the Wimmera Mallee region. Further details including other attractions well worth a visit along the way can be found at www.siloarttrail.com.

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TRAVEL

By Mitch Crowle

S

pending months on end travelling, working and living solo in a vehicle isn’t going to be for everyone. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure it would be for me – even on the day I picked up my Lost Campervan and began life on the road. There will always be a host of people telling you what to do and what not to do, but a big part of me feels that really, the best way to know is to dive in head first and see what happens.

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TRAVEL

The first few days living in a campervan, I ran into an endless string of small troubles. Everything from minor engine trouble to finding a novel way to dry clothes in the Californian heat, when you need to get miles on the odometer. #VanLife hack: the curtains on your side windows double as clotheslines, just make sure not to have the windows down too low as there will be at least one piece of underwear that flies down the highway behind you�

Rather than these minor issues combining into a big ball of stress, they were a great way to get introduced to the lifestyle. Yes, you are on your own. Yes, you can ask for help. But more importantly, you are on your own schedule, and you can adapt as needed in order to prioritise needs when they pop up. If your preference for the night is to roll into a BLM spot, make a fire and cook dinner at 10 pm while enjoying some of the beers you bought earlier that day, then so be it!

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TRAVEL

MAGICAL MOMENTS Along with the inevitable problems that pop up, there is a magical side: The idea that at any time you are able to really turn your trip into a discovery-filled wander.

Roadside attractions – whether good or bad (tip: the bad ones will give you the best stories to share) – or just moments that in ordinary life you wouldn’t come across: A herd of Elk that have taken over a front yard on the edge of the Redwoods; a drummer practicing under an overpass because he doesn’t want to annoy his neighbours; a herd of Bison crossing the road between your vehicle and a snowcapped mountain range on the horizon. By getting out into the world you’re opening yourself up to the opportunity for chance and chaos to surprise and delight you.

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TRAVEL

I had no experience driving in snowy weather and took concerted efforts to watch the forecast, attempting to stay one step ahead. However, a few times this year I ran into some nasty weather. There were dust devils in Texas, a chance snowstorm in Arizona and epic rain in Eastern Washington State. And while there is a point where continuing on isn’t the safe thing to do, these moments all contribute to the experience. Feeling out of your element isn’t a choice most people will make, and at all times most of us will do as much as we can to avoid that feeling. But when it does come and you push through, the feeling on the other side can be extraordinarily powerful.

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TRAVEL

MAGIC MOUNTAINS Happenstance comes at the strangest of times. Leaving Las Vegas, I had breakfast at a greasy little diner and got chatting to the fellows seated next to me on barstools.

When they heard where I was heading, one piped up with “Make sure to stop at Seven Magic Mountains. From the sounds of it, it’ll be right up your alley”.

And so, leaving to get on the road, I looked up where it was. I actually thought it might be an amusement park, but coming up to the turnoff, I got an immense surprise.

This stunning installation in the desert pops up like kaleidoscope and is such a break from the natural vista beyond. Easy to access and the highlight of the day – all from a random conversation that morning.

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TRAVEL

Being out on the road, finding a new place to park each night, weighing up the options of another Walmart carpark versus that boondock spot out-oftown versus the licensed campground that comes with a fire ring, all adds to the experience. For me, it brought about a daily sense of excitement; figuring out where I was going, where I was staying and sometimes having to ditch whatever plan had been made in order to accommodate what popped up that day. And the more time spent on the road, the more accomodating I became as a person and the more open I am now to people and places.

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TRAVEL

I’d heard of Cadillac Ranch, although I didn’t expect to get to see it because of the route I had mapped out. And yet, within a couple of weeks of starting the trip, I was doubling back to Texas and all the plans I had became much looser.

Leaving Texas, I noticed I had the opportunity to go through Amarillo – to see Cadillac Ranch and visit the 72 ounce steakhouse! Driving there that day was filled with nervous excitement. Freezing winds greeted me at the Ranch, and wandering down the row, a kid walked up and started to ask about my camera.

After a couple of questions, he paused awkwardly and then showed me the spray can he’d picked up. Could I show him how to do it?

So for around 10 minutes, in 40” F and stiff winds, I gave an impromptu graffiti lesson to 11 year old Jake. He took to it like a pro and began excitedly shouting for his cousins to come see. When they arrived it turned into a surreal art class, with each taking turns and getting (viciously profane) feedback from each other. I walked away from Cadillac Ranch not remembering the cars at all; rather, that little random experience and the ridiculous nature of what happened. Maybe also, how it feels to try and google ‘frostbite’ with frozen fingers.

Dive in, head first. See what happens. You won’t regret it.

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RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

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.

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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 issue’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

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RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Gin Gin, QLD

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in Gin is a small rural town in the Bundaberg region of Queensland. It is often referred to as Wild Scotsman Country since the capture of one of Queensland’s rogue bushrangers in town, back in 1866. Gin Gin is just 20 minutes south of Lake Monduran, which is popular for both fishing and camping.

of local produce to sample and buy. While in town you can also pay a visit to the old courthouse, which now houses a community-run gallery space.

Gin Gin Rest Area offers RV travellers an overnight parking option up to 24 hours. There is no cost for parking in the rest area and access to toilets, water and covered seating is available. A dump point can Whether travelling north or south, a stopover in Gin Gin be located at 1 Mulgrave St and visitors will also find is always worthwhile. The Wild Scotsman markets are potable water at this site, just a short distance from the held every Saturday in the main street, offering plenty dump point.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Gin Gin Visitor Information Centre Mulgrave St Gin Gin Ph (07) 4153-8888 W: www.bundabergregion.org

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Mulgrave St

Short Term Parking

Gin Gin Rest Area, Bruce Highway 24 hrs, free, pets on leads, mobile coverage, toilets, water, covered seating

Dump Point

1 Mulgrave St Gin Gin

Potable Water

1 Mulgrave St Gin Gin (short distance from dump point)

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RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Dimboola, VIC

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imboola is 334 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide.

The town is surrounded by fields of wheat and cereal crops, as well as numerous sheep farms. It is these industries that have provided the livelihood of the town since the mid-1800s. Several historic buildings can be found, including the former Dimboola Court House, the Old Shire Hall and the Victoria Hotel.

With stunning sunsets, some of Australia’s unique wildlife, national parks, and historic sites, Dimboola is the perfect place to stay. While in town be sure to visit

the Dimboola Common on the Wimmera River flood plains. The Dimboola Common includes historical settlement sites, a Chinese camp and market gardens.

Just a few kilometres out of town, visitors can explore the famous Pink Lake – a small, circular, salty lake that is pink due to pigment produced by bacteria.

The Recreation Reserve on Lloyd Street provides parking for self-contained vehicles at no cost.

Additionally, access to potable water and a dump point is available nearby on Wimmera Street.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Dim-E-Shop 109 Lloyd St, Dimboola. Vic. Ph (03) 5389-1588 E: dim-e-shop@hotmail.com

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Wimmera St, Lochiel St, Victoria St, car park Old Shire Hall

Short Term Parking

Dimboola Recreation Reserve Lloyd St Dimboola. Vic

Dump Point

Wimmera St

Potable Water

Wimmera St

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RV FRIENDLY TOWNS

Port Headland, WA

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ort Hedland is the second largest town in the Pilbara region and is located approximately 612 kilometres from Broome. Known as Marapikurrinya by indigenous people, the town has a population of almost 16,000.

Port Hedland is a great place to visit, especially in August when the town is alive for its North West Festival. Other local attractions include visiting the

BHP Billiton and taking a tour of the area and seeing the Staircase to the Moon.

Short term parking is available for self-contained vehicles for up to 72 hours at Port Hedland Turf Club (April-September) and Port Hedland Golf Club (October – April). Both a dump point and potable water can be located at the Port Hedland Turf Club.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Port Headland Visitor Information Centre 13 Wedge St, Port Headland Ph (08) 9173-1711 W: visitportheadland.com

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Cnr Wedge & Richardson Streets

Short Term Parking

Port Headland Turf Club, McGregor St (Apr-Sep) Port Headland Golf Club, Shoata Rd, South Headland (Oct-Apr) Both sites max 72hrs Self-contained only Pets on leads okay, mobile coverage, bins.

Dump Point

Port Headland Turf Club, McGregor St

Potable Water

Port Headland Turf Club, McGregor St

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“WISELY AND SLOW. THEY STUMBLE THAT RUN FAST.” WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE