iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 2 - May 19 2012

iMotorhome

2: May 19 2012

.com.au

Issue

because getting there is half the fun...

Reflecting Change Suncamper’s compact-but-fun Sherwood

Interactive Links Touch/select here to find out more!

On my mind...

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elcome to the second issue of iMotorhome eMagazine and welcome back if you’ve been with us since issue number one.

Digital publishing allows us to do things traditional print publishers can only dream of. For example (and in case you haven’t realised it by now), every e-mail and web-

site address in this magazine is interactive. This means that if you’re reading iMotorhome eMagazine on an iPad or other touch-screen device, simply pressing your finger to the screen will either open a new e-mail already addressed to the subject, or open your web browser and take you straight to the website. On the other hand, if you’re

using a laptop or desktop computer, simply moving the cursor over an interactive link will change it from an arrowhead to a hand. Click on the link and you’re in business.

In addition to e-mail and website addresses, any physical address you see in an article is also interactive and by Continued on page 31...

The iMotorhome Team

Richard Robertson Publisher & Managing Editor richard@imotorhome.com.au

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long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer, Richard is a dedicated, longterm motorhome enthusiast.

He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia.

Richard also has a passion for lifestyle-enhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.

Malcolm Street Consulting Editor

malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

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nquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.

If it’s available on either side of the Tasman, Malcolm has probably driven it, slept in it, reported on it, knows how it’s made and can tell you just how good it really is.

Allan Whiting Technical Editor

allan@imotorhome.com.au

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n experienced motoring writer when Japanese cars were a novelty, Allan’s career read’s like Australian motor writing royalty.

Highly experienced in or on everything from motorcycles to B-doubles, Allan also runs www.outbacktravelaustralia. com – an invaluable free resource for anyone into fourwheel driving or touring remote corners of Australia.

Published by iMotorhome. ABN 34 142 547 719. PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW. 2576.

Contact us on 0414 604 368 or Email: info@imotorhome.com.au

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INSIDE EDISNI

2 ON MY MIND

Ed rambles on about interactive links and stuff. Best you read it.

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4 NEWS

A look at happenings in the local motorhome and campervan world...

• Saint Matthew of Wodonga - read it to find out • Inmarsat satphone deal drawing to a close • KEA Open Day - Malcolm Street was there and tells all!

• KEA autumn deals - grab a rental bargain while the leaves are falling

6 TESTED 17 17 INNOVATION

The Next Big Small Thing – taking a fresh look at Suncamper’s Sherwood

What’s the Big Teal? – An innovative modular camper concept

21 21 TESTED 23 31 SHOWTIME 32 NEXT ISSUE!

Brunner Pass – Giving UCC Motorhomes’ Brunner the thumbs up

A look at RV shows coming up in the next few months

News...

Saint Matthew of Wodonga?

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t the recent Sydney Super Show we came across an enthusiastic young man who turned out to be Matthew Sears, the general manager of Albury Wodonga RV World. In case you’ve never attended the Sydney Super Show, it’s a marathon 10-day pilgrimage for RV devotees that would test the patience of any saint assigned to work on a stand, there.

When we met, Matthew appeared as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as if it was his first day and impressed with a genuinely helpful, can-do attitude.

Intrigued by the concept of Albury Wodonga having an RV World, we were impressed to find the business is a locally owned and

family operated company that operates across Australia and has been involved in the vehicle industry for more than 30 years.

Albury Wodonga RV World is a dealer for Avan, Sunliner and Talvor. Additionally – and most interestingly – is that they have what appears to be a thriving motorhome rental business, which has been operating since 2006.

The rental business has a diverse fleet of new two-tosix berth vehicles from the aforementioned manufacturers and Matthew assures me every one comes fully equipped.

Matt (we’re all mates now) also says Albury Wodonga RV World is ideally posi-

Inmarsat satphone prepaid credits deal ends May 31st C

ampersat, which specialises in satellite TV systems, is advising anyone thinking of buying a satellite phone that a special introductory offer by Inmarsat is ending on May 31st.

Not as expensive as you might think, Inmarsat hand-held satellite phones retail around $900 and are supposedly guaranteed to

work anywhere in the word.

Also, people living on-theroad can claim a 50% Federal Government purchase price subsidy, while an 85% subsidy is available to anyone living where there is no Telstra Next G mobile phone coverage.

The deal coming rapidly to an end relates to the validity of prepaid phone

4 tioned as a jumping-off point for touring the Snowy Mountains, Victoria’s delightful wine region and for heading west to the Riverina and beyond.

Apart from all that, Albury Wodonga RV World is an impressive looking dealership that also stocks caravans (what? –Ed) and would probably be a good place to head for a vehicle service and/or spare parts and service for most makes of motorhomes.

Check them out at www. awrvworld.com.au or visit them at 5 Melrose Drive, Wodonga. They also have a telephone, which will ring if you call (02) 6024-4222.

credits. At present you can prepay 100 credits, which last for two years. From June 1st that drops to just six months. A credit costs ‘about’ $1 and is equal to 1 minute, in 15-second increments. Unlike mobile phones, however, there is no flag fall with the Inmarsat system. For full details visit www.campersat.com. au soon.

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News...

Sale of the Century...

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ast Saturday (May 12th), Kea Campers held its annual Open Day at the Company’s premises in Milperra, in Sydney’s South West.

On display were a number of its new and used motorhomes; everything from the six-berth Ford Transit-based Endeavour to the two-berth VW Traveller. For the 4WD enthusiast there were also a couple of Land Cruiser Conquerors on display.

Undoubtedly the bargain of the day were the low km (circa 40,000km) Travellers which are ideal for folk who still have a city job but love to have a weekend escape machine that can also double as a daily driver The iMotorhome team arrived early on the some-

KEA sell new and ex-rental vehicles year-round from its Sydney HQ

what coolish morning, because we wanted a chat with Norman Roe and his team and there weren’t too many people around. By

KEA offers huge Autumn Discounts F

ancy a late autumn motorhome break at a very special rate? In tandem with the Open Day, the rental division of Kea is offering savings of around the 50 percent mark for two, four and six-berth rentals paid for and taken during May and June. Available from Perth, Sydney, Bris-

bane and Cairns, we reckon the latter two are the pick if warmer weather is desired.

Included in these specials are full excess insurance reduction (a real bargain, we have to say) plus camp chairs and table.

Further Details: Phone: 1800 252 555 Email: reservationsau@ keacampers.com.au Website: www.keacampers. com.au

the time we left, however, there were quite a few keen potential motorhome buyers having a good look around.

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

big

The next

small

thing?

Review by Richard Robertson. Images by Malcolm Street

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

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Suncamper’s entry-level Sherwood is small in size, not appeal...

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rom its earliest days the motorhome industry as a whole has sought to produce bigger, fancier and more expensive vehicles crammed with all the comforts of home, and then some. Indeed, there are new motorhomes that seem to have more interior space than flats I lived in as a (much!) younger man and more high-tech gadgets than my house has today.

The ongoing uncertainties on both domestic and global financial markets,

however, coupled with lacklustre or diminishing returns through superannuation in recent years have forced many new motor home buyers to seriously reconsider their priorities. Some have deferred purchase plans, hoping for an improvement in their finances, but age and circumstances wait for no one and there comes a time when the buyer has to do what a buyer has to do. So it should come as no surprise that manufacturers like Suncamper, who

have always produced more compact (read: affordable) motorhomes are seeing a resurgence of interest, particularly in their entry-level machines.

Enter the Sherwood

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mall it might be, but Suncamper’s Sherwood is deceptively spacious, capable and well worth considering – especially as an alternative to a van conversion. If there’s one problem common to most vanconversion motorhomes it’s

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood tunnel vision: the view you get when sitting down the back, looking up the front (or vice-versa).

Step inside the Sherwood, however, and it feels like a real motorhome – even though it’s shorter than many van conversions. This is because the Sherwood is a ‘proper’ C-class motorhome; meaning it has a separate, purpose-built motorhome body mounted on an independent cabchassis, which in this case is Toyota’s venerable HiLux one-tonner.

Host vehicle

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hen Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden they probably threw their swags and a crate of apples into the back of an old HiLux. Suncamper has been building Sherwood’s on HiLux cab-chassis for about the same length of time and while it’s basically a sound unit perhaps a change would make for an even better holiday.

The HiLux’s attraction lies in its relative simplicity, proven strength and

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Toyota-quality engineering.

The Sherwood we tested rode on a HiLux Work Mate single-cab cab-chassis powered by a 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving through a four-speed automatic. Transmission aside, it’s the entry-level model of the HiLux range – and it shows.

Work Mate is Toyota-speak for “most convenient equipment removed.” Think of it as an inconvenience pack.

It’s inconvenient because the Work Mate lacks central locking (key or remote

The HiLux Work Mate comes with a 2.7-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that’s unexpectedly strong, smooth and willing. It’s peak torque of 240 Nm is developed at a relatively low 3800 rpm and it moves the Sherwood along well, but expect a work mate’s thirst when pushed. A turbo-diesel is optional.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

operated), adjustable side mirrors (manual or electric) or even fabric upholstery.

It goes without saying, then, it also lacks electric windows, cruise control or steering wheel-mounted audio or cruise controls.

It also lacks air-conditioning, although thankfully Suncamper includes it as standard equipment.

Given this is essentially a basic Tradies’ truck it’s interesting to see what Toyota does include as standard. Apparently Tradies’ want Bluetooth and iPod/USB connectivity plus (thankfully) dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and power steering.

The Sherwood is very much at home nosing around small towns, like sleepy Brooklyn, pictured here, on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney. Work Mate’s vinyl seats are a turn-off but they’re comfortable and the driving position is good. Thru-cab access is limited unless you’re a gymnast.

The good news is Suncamper will build you a Sherwood on any model HiLux and a turbo-diesel powered SR 4x4 would be the one to choose. Of course this would add to the purchase price, but you’d probably reap considerable fuel consumption and pleasure-ofownership benefits, plus find it easier to sell when it’s time to move up/on.

Better still would be if Suncamper offered the Sherwood on Ford’s excellent new Ranger, or similar newgeneration light commercial cab-chassis.

The driving experience

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hat the HiLux Work Mate lacks in equipment and convenience it makes up for in driving refinement and it’s actually quite enjoyable. The ‘little’

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

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A Sherwood will get you to many places a full-size motorhome can’t – just watch the height.

2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine acquitted itself surprisingly well and the test vehicle had no trouble keeping up with the cutand-thrust of suburban traffic or whisking us up to the freeway speed limit.

Producing 116 kW at 5200 rpm, its main attraction is a substantial 240 Nm of torque at a relatively low 3800 rpm, which matches very nicely to the smooth shifting four-speed automatic transmission. We didn’t cover enough distance to have the opportunity to check fuel consumption, but if anything was going to be this drivetrain’s Achilles heel, this would

be it. The official combined fuel figure for the fivespeed manual cab-chassis is 11L/100km, so I’d estimate mid-teens to midtwenties for a loaded Sherwood in general running.

As said, the HiLux is surprisingly refined and enjoyable to drive and although it’s capable of quite respectable point-to-point speeds, with the motorhome body on its back you want to take it quite easy.

The reason? Body roll. The test Sherwood had air-bag ‘helper’ springs on the rear suspension but I’m thinking these weren’t inflated, given the degree of body roll in non-freeway driving.

Where the HiLux/Sherwood combination really shines is exploring towns and cities, where you can basically park in a single car spot, do a U-turn anywhere and not worry about length and/ or weight restrictions. Just watch the height. It would shine more brightly, however, with side-mirror extensions to clear the motorhome body and convex spot mirrors to clear the usual side blind spots.

A reversing camera and rear parking sensors would be an invaluable addition – as they are to any motorhome – and it would be good to see these included in the standard spec list.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood Body and soul

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here are some motorhome manufacturers that won’t tell you how they construct their vehicles or allow you to see the manufacturing process. Fortunately, Suncamper isn’t one of them. The company uses a proven, rugged and straightforward construction method that has been tried and tested over decades. To quote from the Suncamper’s website: “All motorhome models boast a steel frame base and aluminium, fully welded framework for the walls, rear, nose and single-piece roof. Walls and roof are fully insulated with fire-retardant foam and pressed.

Suncamper builds a wide variety of models at its Thornleigh factory in Sydney’s north Framework is extensive so every fitting is screwed into a solid spot, not into insulation. The walls are more than 30-mm thick and the roof is more than 45-mm.

This is more than double (and in some cases triple) other manufacturers. A rustproofing and sound deaden-

ing agent is applied under the floor to protect from noise and road damage.”

Inside story

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tep inside the Sherwood and the advantages of a full-size motorhome body are immediately obvious.

Bright, modern and spacious for its size, the Sherwood’s just the place to relax by the sea...

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood What it lacks in outright space it makes up for in space efficiency and for one or two people the Sherwood is surprisingly liveable.

Stepping inside the Sherwood is something you’ll only be doing through the side entry-door, however.

Unless you’re a particularly agile contortionist, clambering between the cab and motorhome, over the centre console and between the front seats, is for emergencies only.

Suncamper interiors have always been functional if not particularly stylish. So it’s good to see the company has made considerable efforts to lift the interior appeal of all its vehicles and the Sherwood benefits from the latest high-gloss timber veneers and contemporary leather/fabric upholstery combinations. This gives it a bright, modern and airy feel inside, whilst the rear lounge-come-dinette has you ‘sitting in the view’, thanks to a large (nonopening) rear window and equally large opening side windows. It’s also good to know that cabinetry is solid plywood that’s ‘glued-andscrewed’ together, not just stapled like some.

Throw in touch-operated white/blue LED saloon lighting, LED reading lights on flexible wands, a small flat screen TV/DVD that can be watched from the lounge or bed, ceiling-mounted air-conditioning/heating, glass-topped flush-mounted cooker and sink units and a

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The floorplan shows Sherwood’s compact layout, yet it feels spacious due to plenty of natural light. The new gloss cabinetry looks good, too.

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

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A lot of thought and years of design refinement have made the Sherwood’s interior highly functional and very livable. slimline rangehood, plus a lift-up-and-out dining table that leaves a handy small shelf when stowed away and you have an attractive, practical and highly liveable, compact motorhome.

Cooking, washing, sleeping and all that stuff As you’d expect, the Sherwood’s kitchen is com-

pact but comprehensively equipped. It includes a three burner gas cooker, microwave, 93-litre LPG/12v/240v under-bench fridge, single-bowl sink and just enough bench space and cupboard space to get by with.

The Sherwood carries 72-litres of fresh water, has a 45-litre grey water tank

and a single 9-kg gas bottle to keep you cooking and power the 14-litre Truma hot water system.

The bathroom is suitably compact if basic, but has almost everything you need to keep clean, warm and happy. This includes a Thetford cassette toilet, corner hand-basin with mixer-tap and flexible shower hose

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood with a wall-mount, foldout drying rack and roof hatch with extractor fan. What it doesn’t have, annoyingly, is any sort of medicine cabinet for toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and the like. Bugger.

The defining feature of a C-class motorhome is its over-cab bed and on some vehicles this can require prior experience as a mountain climber/goat to reach. This can be particu-

Over-cab bed is comfortable and quite easily accessible. Note wand-style LED reading lights and large window.

larly perilous in the dead of night when nature calls, but the good news with the Sherwood is that the relatively small distance from the floor to the bed means that by using the single built-in step by the bathroom door you avoid the need for a ladder (or abseiling equipment).

The ‘bedroom’ area is unexpectedly spacious, with good head-height and it lacks the sense of claustro-

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phobia you often find in this sort of arrangement. The bed itself is comfortable and at just a whisker under two-metres long will easily accommodate most people.

There’s good cross ventilation, too, courtesy of large opening windows at the bed head and foot, whilst LED reading lights on flexible wands make catching up on a good book easy without disturbing your partner too much.

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

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Sherwood packs a lot into a compact package. Unlike some...

The bottom line

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uncamper’s Sherwood surprises in many ways and is a ‘serious’ and capable motorhome despite its modest dimensions. It’s well built, well finished, looks good (in a girl-nextdoor kind of way) and provides one or two people with enough features and living space for even extended touring. It’s affordable, reasonably economical, easy to drive and park and allows you to explore out-of-the-way places or

bustling towns and cities with comparative ease.

Toyota’s HiLux is an acceptable host vehicle and although the Work Mate model disappoints, better equipped and more capable/economical versions are available to order. It would be good, however, to see Suncamper experimenting with different cab-chassis manufacturers to give buyers a wider choice of comfort, power and safety options.

The bottom line is I would jump in a Suncamper Sherwood tomorrow and head off around Australia, confident it would make the trip with a minimum of fuss and bother.

So if you’re in the market for a fully-featured motorhome you can drive on a standard car licence, take a serious look at the Suncamper Sherwood. It could just be the Next Big Thing in small things...

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

Specifications

Manufacturer...

Model ...

Berths...

Base vehicle...

Engine...

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Max power...

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GVM...

External length...

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Cooktop...

Fridge...

Microwave...

LPG capacity...

Lighting...

Toilet...

Shower...

House battery...

Solar panels...

Heater...

Air conditioner...

Hot water...

Fresh water ...

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2nd stage compliance Price...

Suncamper Sherwood 2 Toyota Hilux 2.7-litre, 4-cylinder Petrol 4-speed full automatic 116 kW @ 5200 rpm 240 Nm @ 3800 rpm ABS with front discs Driver and passenger 2284 kg 2780 kg 5.646 m (18 ft 6 in) 2.060 m (7 ft 9 in incl awning) 3.033 m (9 ft 11 in) 1.925 m (6 ft 4in) 3-burner Thetford 93 litre 3 way LG 1 x 9.0 kg 12V LED Thetford cassette Flex-hose/wall-mount 1 x 120 amp hour Optional Optional Optional Truma 14-litres 72-litres 45-litres Yes $95,000 + ORC

Pros...

• Only requires standard car licence • Compact size a bonus for parking, exploring and camping • Quality fit and finish • Good-sized bed • Good equipment levels in motorhome

Cons...

• Toyota HiLux Work Mate cab-chassis equipment levels disappoint • Petrol engine thirsty when pushed • Body roll on non-freeway roads • Bathroom lacks knickknack storage • Limited bulky storage

Contact Suncamper Pty Ltd Unit 3, 9 Sefton Rd Thornleigh. NSW. 2120 T: (02) 9484 3952 E: freedom@suncamper.com.au W: www.suncamper.com.au

Innovation...

What’s the big

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TEAL?

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e know this looks suspiciously like a caravan but before you cry “Heretic!”, read on. This story has exciting possibilities for lovers of slide-ons and anyone with a little imagination: Especially if you’re looking for a new business opportunity...

From the USA (where else?), the Teal Camper provides an interesting way of combining the sturdy, hard-sided living quarters of a camping trailer with the easy storage of a smaller pop-up or tent. The thing is shipped to your door as a series of panels and assembles into a two-person dwelling within about 90 minutes (so they claim).

And when you’re finished with it for a while you can dismantle it and store it neatly away.

Inventor Lawrence Drake was inspired by a combination of family camping and daily cargo hauling. When

his daughter suggested a camping trip in 2009, Drake decided his days of tent camping were in the

The Teal Camper would make an interesting slide-on project.

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Innovation...

tools, gear and the like. He realised what would really work in terms of a camper was something he could assemble within the utility trailer for trips away and then take apart when not in use. In that way, he’d have both a camping trailer and a utility trailer in one.

The solution Drake came up with is a modular, assembly-required camper that consists of a series of foam-insulated polyethylene panels.

past. He realised a pop-up camper would be a much better route but didn’t want to have to go out and buy a big pick-up to haul it.

The towing capacity on his Chevy HHR was 1000 lbs.

(455 kg), so what he really wanted was a compact trailer less than that.

When Drake had bought his little Chevy he purchased a 4 x 8 foot (1.2 x 2.4 m) utility trailer for hauling

The panels fit together with nothing more than a Phillips head screwdriver and the provided supply of hardware and waterproof sealing, to create the camper shell. Certain panels are equipped with doors and windows, while a pop-top roof kit expands head room to around 6 feet (1.8 m).

The camper body attaches to a plywood floor in the utility trailer by way of straps or angle brackets.

The camper can be purchased in several sizes for use in different utility trailers and pickup truck beds.

Thanks to its bevelled base it fits neatly in the trailer while offering more interior room than it would with straight walls. Because it’s made-up of individual panels it’s easy to customise, with things like extra windows. You can even expand to a larger sized trailer by adding extra panels.

Inside, the standard Teal camper kit limits you to

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Innovation...

And speaking of interesting slide-on projects, here’s one they prepared earlier... the basics in order to keep weight below the magic number of 1000 lbs (455 kg). Bench seating, a table and a double bed are included in the full camper.

From there, it’s really up to you. Teal offers some addon equipment like a canvas sink cabinet (lighter and easier to break down than wood) and the camper’s open, minimalistic framing leaves the door open for you to customise it with your own equipment and accessories.

Drake’s idea is that you stick with light, camping hardware rather than builtin fixtures to keep things light and easy to dismantle.

So instead of an integrated cooking range and bathroom, you would use a propane camping stove and portable toilet.

Drake has gone so far as to build several prototypes of the camper. Along with the trailer he had to tow it, his original empty camper prototype weighed in at a very lightweight 630 lbs (286 kg).

Currently, Drake is finding out that it takes more than a great idea to get a product off the ground. Despite having some background in the manufacturing realm from a career in the home heating industry, he’s run into difficulty finding a manufacturing partner to get the project up and running. He’s currently looking for partners and investors to help him make that big next step.

“I’ve pretty much gotten to the point, to be honest with you, where I’ve put every-

thing I’ve got into it and I’m looking for someone to pick it up and help me take it to the next level,” Drake said.

“The opportunity is definitely there. I’ve got over 600 people who have expressed interest in purchasing; I’ve got 150 people that are interested in being a dealer.

The interest I get on it is pretty high.”

Since manufacturing costs remain up in the air there’s no solid pricing on the Teal Camper. However, Drake has published some projected prices. For the most basic shell, which includes exterior panels, a fixed roof and doors, but no interior equipment, the listed estimate is just under US$3000. Full campers, which include more

Innovation... windows, a cabinet with sink, bed, dining area and pop-up roof are projected at a starting price of just under US$5000.

Beyond the camper, Drake sees some potential for his panel system to be applied to other lightweight shelter solutions. He cites things like emergency shelters as projects that the Teal panels would be well-suited for.

“The camper is a great little product, but my sense is that that’s not going to be the biggest use for this,” Drake predicted. “The ideas and the uses that have come up for the panel system – everything from hot tub surrounds to easily transported emergency shelters could end up being a much bigger market.”

Easily assembled with just a screwdriver, the Teal panel system has potential for a range of transportable buildings, inc emergency shelters.

To find out more visit: www.tealcamper.com.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

BRUNNER Pass...

The UCC Brunner gets Malcolm Street’s tick of approval

Review and images by Malcolm Street

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Tested: UCC Brunner

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CC Motorhomes is based in Christchurch, NZ. Previously known as Universal Caravan and Coachbuilder (in case you were wondering), the company – under the direction of Rob Floris – makes a range of motorhomes named after New Zealand lakes that are based on either Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Mitsubishi Fuso cabchassis. Whilst both are not difficult to drive, the former is more car like and the latter more truck like. For those new to motorhoming, UCC offers a try-beforeyou-buy arrangement – and there’s nothing like a few days across Arthurs Pass or in the southern lakes area to get to know a prospective new vehicle.

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“UCC makes a range of motorhomes named after New Zealand lakes” The Vehicle

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nder the UCC Brunner is a Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516CDI cab chassis. Translated that means a 2.2-litre, 120 kW, 360 Nm turbo-diesel motor with a five-speed automatic gearbox and stopping power provided by ABS disc brakes and the Benz Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which this writer can testify works very well, having driven Sprinters on a closed test circuit. Addi-

tionally, from a safety point of view, the Benz does come with all the safety features that are expected in a normal passenger car, including air bags as standard for both passenger and driver.

The Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) – maximum legal loaded weight – is 4490 kg, making it legal to be driven on a New Zealand drivers’ licence and the tare weight

Tested: UCC Brunner comes in at 3600 kg, giving it a load capacity of nearly 900 kg depending on the accessories fitted.

Something to be kept in mind is that the water tank has a capacity of 150-litres (which equals 150 kg) kg and the grey tank another 200-litres.

Like many a motorhome construction process, the Benz has its roof and rear cut-out to accommodate internal cab access. That’s actually how the Sprinter leaves the Mercedes factory, as a motorhome-spec’d model. That even includes

a bleed off the main diesel tank for the motorhome diesel-fired heater. About the only modification that UCC does is an extension to the chassis at the rear.

Construction wise, the exterior of the motorhome body is fibreglass. The wall sheeting sheet sits over aluminium framing (with insulation inserted) and a plywood interior lining, all of which is then vacuum bonded together. On top, the roof is a full composite structure. Entry is via a Camec security screen triple-lock door, while tinted

sliding glass windows are used all round. An asset of glass windows is that they don’t scratch easily but they are not usually available these days in the hopper-style, which can be left open in the rain. There are three external storage bins: one at the offside rear and two on the opposite side. One 9-kg gas cylinder sits in the gas locker and it depends how much gas is used, but there’s an argument for using two smaller cylinders (i.e. always having a spare) rather than a single that can run out.

“The exterior of the motorhome body is fibreglass. The wall sheeting sheet sits over aluminium framing (with insulation inserted) and a plywood interior lining; all of which is then vacuum bonded together”

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Tested: UCC Brunner

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Mercedes Benz’ Sprinter delivers a car-like driving experience and has good fuel economy, performance and standard safety equipment. It’s also very manoeuvrable.

On the Road

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he Mercedes Benz Sprinter is the most expensive of its contemporaries but it does come with a couple of things that the others do not. One is the Mercedes Benz cachet – you can put what value you like on that – but the other is that it comes with a full automatic gearbox.

Everyone else’s self-shifting gearboxes are the Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs), which work fine, mostly, but are wanting for some drivers who desire

smooth, snappy shifts every time. Personally, I’m happier with a manual shift.

Although 2.2-litres might sound small to many ears, the common-rail turbodiesel motor delivers surprising (and relatively economical) punch. It performs as well as or better than its contemporaries, but anyone desiring a bit more grunt for mountain country should opt for the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel All that said, the Sprinter is a fine driving machine

that handles as well as any light commercial vehicle with a big white box on the back. For the novice that is not meant to be a scary comment – driving most modern motorhomes is just like driving a car in many respects – they are just a little larger. Inside, whilst there were a few squeaks and rattles that come with any motorhome, they weren’t excessive. An asset of motorhome driving is that the driver and passenger sit above most cars and can see the road ahead quite clearly.

Tested: UCC Brunner

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Living Inside

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ne thing about a 7.4-metre motorhome is that it provides plenty of interior space. I make that point because often in shorter motorhomes, it’s difficult to get in an island bed without cramping everything else. In this layout, the island bed has been fitted into the rear bedroom area, but that still leaves space for an offside kitchen, nearside combined bathroom and a front lounge area.

The general décor is quite simple and whilst the timber look is prevalent, it doesn’t dominate and there are some tasteful touches

Spacious lounge makes entertaining a real possibility, but swivelling front seats shouldn’t be options. Walk-through cab provides easy access and almost-A-Class motorhome visibility. like the curved locker doors and the timber partitions at either end of the kitchen bench. Roman blinds are fitted to all the windows.

LED light appliances are fitted in all the relevant places and the 240V power

points are mostly distributed quite well.

Out-of-sight but definitely an asset is the diesel-fired Eberspacher space heater: experience has shown these work very well indeed!

Tested: UCC Brunner

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The Brunner’s 7.4-metres provides real ‘living’ room, while plenty of windows and roof hatches makes for a bright and appealing interior. Power controls and radio are in a cupboard to the right of the microwave. Mini wine-rack is a nice touch, too.

Lounging Around

U

p front, quite a comfortable area has been achieved, with both driver and passenger seats swivelling around (an option) and working in well with the sideways-facing lounges on both sides. Because there is no roof in the Sprinter cab, getting to-and-from the cab seats is quite easy.

A Lagun swivel-mounted table is fitted to the front of the offside lounge seat and can therefore be utilised in several different ways or simply kept out of the way altogether. Naturally, there

are storage areas under the seats. The flat screen TV, which is mounted on the front wall of the bathroom, can be seen quite easily from the front seats and in our review motorhome, the TV came connected to the optional roof-mounted satellite receiver.

Time to Eat

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etting together a decent sort of meal in the Brunner kitchen shouldn’t be too difficult. Along the benchtops sits a stainless steel sink (sans drainer) and a four-burner Smev

cooktop with grill and oven underneath. Having the latter two does mean that even without mains power for the microwave, a good variety of cooking can be achieved. On that very subject – the microwave oven – it is located in the overhead locker area but set lower, so that it is at a

Tested: UCC Brunner

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Although bench space is a little limited, a pull-out extension above the fridge provides valuable additional working space when required. Deep bottom drawers are handy for pots, too. more user-friendly height.

Above the microwave is a small compartment whilst alongside are two wine bottle holders. In the adjoining locker is the usual storage space plus the electrical panel with 12V switch-

es, water-tank gauges and battery monitor. Also handy, but out of sight, is the radio/CD player.

Under the bench a Dometic 117-litre three-way fridge takes up most of the space,

but alongside it are four drawers of different sizes, including a deep saucepan drawer for larger utensils.

The bench-top area can be enlarged, too, courtesy of a slide-out shelf that sits above the fridge.

Tested: UCC Brunner After Hours

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n the rear, the island bed measures 1.8 m x 1.35 m which is long enough for most people, but anyone taller than average might need to request a longer bed length. Overhead lockers run along both walls and across the back wall.

They are supplemented by two side wardrobes and bedside cabinets, with a gap in between for shelf space, plus an under-bed drawer.

Unless a large bathroom area is desired then this one certainly is of adequate size – room to move without taking up excessive space. Fitted in is a variable-height flexible hose shower, Dometic cassette

toilet and a corner wash basin with cupboard underneath. A frosted window supplies both natural light and ventilation. A towel rail

28 and internal wall-mirror complete the bathroom fittings, but handily, there is also a mirror on the outside wall of the bathroom.

The island bed provides easy access and means no climbing over each other in the dead of night when Nature calls. The bathroom’s functional and adequate for the Brunner’s size.

Tested: UCC Brunner What we Think

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he Brunner is certainly a well appointed motorhome but I should point out that this particular vehicle was fitted with quite a few options like the awning, swivel seats, solar panels and satellite TV, plus the oven. Indeed, I consider one or two of these items should be “non-option” options. With this design, UCC has achieved what many desire in a motorhome layout: an island bed. It, along with a good sized front lounge area that incorporates the cab seats does mean a slightly squeezed bathroom and kitchen, but that’s a compromise to be expected in 7.4-metre motorhome. It’s not a bad compromise I should point out, just what the user has to be happy to living with.

Tested: UCC Brunner

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Pros...

Specifications Manufacturer...

Model...

Base Vehicle...

Engine...

Power...

Torque...

Gearbox...

Brakes...

Tare Weight...

Gross Vehicle Mass...

Licence...

Passengers...

External Length...

External Width...

External Height...

Internal Height...

Cooktop...

Fridge...

Microwave...

Lighting...

Batteries...

Solar Panels...

Air Conditioner...

Heater...

Toilet...

Shower...

Hot Water Heater...

Water Tank...

Grey Tank...

Gas Cylinders....

Price...

UCC Motorhomes Brunner Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516 2.2-litre turbo-diesel 120 kW @ 3800 rpm 360 Nm @ 1400-2400 rpm 5 speed full automatic ABS Disc 3600 kg 4490 kg Standard NZ Driver’s 6 7.4 m (24 ft 4 in) 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in inc awning) 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) 2.2 m (7 ft 2 in) Smev 4 burner, grill & oven Dometic 117-litre 3-way Sharp Carousel 12V LED 2 x 105 amp hour Optional Optional Eberspacher 2.2 kW diesel Dometic cassette Flex-hose/wall-mount Truma 14-litre gas/electric 150-litre 200-litre 9.0kg NZ$179,995

• Island bed layout that isn’t squashy • Flexible front lounge area, especially with optional front swivel-seats • Curtains that go right around the front cab area • Bright and breezy interior aided by two large roof hatches • Good sized bathroom (unless a separate toilet is really a must) • Generally good storage inside and out

Cons...

• A few too many options, especially with essentials like swivel seats and the awning • No power point handy to the front lounge area • Storage compartment above the microwave a bit hard to reach for shorter people

Contact UCC Motorhomes 238 Main South Rd Sockburn. Christchurch. NZ T: (03) 348-2247 E: info@uccmotorhomes.co.nz W: www.uccmotorhomes.co.nz

On my mind... ...continued from page 2

touching/selecting it Google Maps will open in your web browser, a pin will fall into place and highlight the address. Then by touching/ selecting the pin you can get turn-by-turn directions from whereever you are to that exact location. But wait, there’s more.

The Index page is also interactive and each heading will take you directly to the appropriate article, as do the story headings in the red banner at the bottom of the front cover.

From this issue onwards we’re highlighting all email, website and physical addresses in blue, where possible, throughout the articles in the magazine to make finding out interactive links as easy as possible.

So what are you waiting for? Get touching/selecting and exploring! See you for Issue three on June 2, but in the meantime you can follow all the iMotorhome eMagazine action (and Like us) on Facebook at www.

Facebook.com/iMotorhome

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(which as you will note is an interactive link).

Thanks again and please feel free to contact me, personally, with any feedback and/or comments.

You’ll always find me at richard@imotorhome.com. au. Go on, try it. You know you want to...

d r a h Ric

Show Calendar: What’s on or coming up soon...

ON THIS WEEKEND! MAY 18-20 Canberra Retirement & Lifestyle Expo

Exhibition Park, Flemington Road, Mitchell ACT. • Open 10:00-4:00 daily • Free parking • Adults $12 • Pensioner/Seniors $10 • Website: www.emsaust.com.au/CanberraRetirement-LifestyleExpo.html

JUNE 6-12 Brisbane Caravan, Camping & Touring Holiday Show

RNA Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane.

• Open 10:00-6:00 daily (4:00 pm last day) • Litttle parking. Free trains from Roma St, Central or Fortitude Valley • Adults $15 • Pensioner/Seniors $10 • Website: www. caravanqld.com.au/ showsevents/caravan-camping--touringholiday-show/showdetails.aspx

SEPTEMBER 7-9 Penrith Caravan, Camping & Holiday Expo

Penrith Panthers, Mulgoa Rd, Penrith. NSW. • Open 9:00-5:00 daily (4:00 pm last day) • Free parking • Free entry • Website: http://penrith.supershow.com. au/

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes, campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general? Drop us a line at info@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll happily promote it in this calendar.

Next Issue...

4WD FEAST!

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ext issue, our off-road guru Allan Whiting takes us well and truly off the beaten track.

He’ll be reporting on two very different machines: Trakka’s nimble and versatile Trakkadu, and the EarthCruiser – a highly specialised go-anywhere motorhome of enormous capability. Don’t miss them both in iMotorhome eMagazine issue 3, out Saturday June 2nd.

Speaking of out-of-the-way travel, visit Allan’s website for a vast and free resource of free 4WD travel and technical information.

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