iMotorhome eMagazine issue 34 - 05 Oct 2013

iMotorhome

34 : October 05 2013

magazine

Issue

because getting there is half the fun...

Swift&Sure Win!

$50 Caltex Fuel Card!

Swift’s well priced Sundance is sure to create a lot of interest...

New Model Preview!

EarthCruiser’s impressive Iveco 4x4...

Covi Show Report...

Malcolm’s report on NZ’s biggest show

LOVE YOUR FREEDOM. LOVE YOUR HORIZON.

What’s not to love about the Horizon Motorhomes range.

Inspired layouts with excellent living, sleeping and storage spaces.

Choose from six Horizon models, all passionately built by master craftsman using only the finest fixtures and fittings.

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On my mind

3

Taking Stockade...

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he last two weeks have been busy, what with Mrs iMotorhome and I taking off for points south in a Suncamper Sherwood and reviewing a Talvor Adventure Camper and a Sunliner Holiday G53 in the process.

While we were away we decided to free camp – our preferred way to travel – if water and power requirements allowed. Our Suncamper Sherwood had limited water and power reserves, but due to daily driving for battery recharging and a water top-up each day from the good folks at Albury Wodonga RV World, we were able to achieve our goal.

Free camping is much in the news these days, but there is still an awful lot of Australia out there where a sensible and cautious RV owner can pull up and stay the night without being hassled and without blighting the Public’s sensibilities.

The first night away we turned off the freeway just north of Albury and headed down a dirt road. The Sherwood is small and this one was 4WD; both of which gave us extra options.

Within about 15 minutes we’d found a safe parking area by the side of the road and set up camp for the night. A couple of cars went past in the early

evening, but we were well out of anyone’s way. Nobody stopped to try and move us on or see what we were doing and we spent a quite and comfortable night 15 km from the centre of Albury, with full TV and telephone reception.

Night two was in a semisecluded setting on the banks of the Wodonga Creek, about 100 metres from a noisy motocross track. Fortunately, the bike riders went home with the sun and we again had a quiet and restful night by ourselves.

Our final night, on the way home, was planned for Barbour Park on the banks of the tiny Continued...

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Onmy my mind... mind On

4

...Continued

creek in the middle of Gunning, about 40 km north of Yass.

It’s a popular spot and when we arrived, just on dusk, it was jammed solid with free campers. We don’t free camp to save money so much, we free camp to enjoy the serenity.

So we turned tail and drove out of town, north along the Old Hume Highway, until we found a place all to ourselves: Two

kilometres from town and a million kilometres from care...

True, there is security in numbers and true, we couldn’t just have walked in to town for a drink or meal, but the sense of freedom and the peace was worth the tradeoff.

A self-contained motorhome is a powerful weapon in an age of increasing regulation and Nanny Statism. It’s no wonder

more people are getting away and it’s no wonder the right to free camp is worth fighting for. Think of this as our Eureka Stockade moment. Australia is a lucky country – let’s keep it that way!

d r a h c i R

The iMotorhome Team

Richard Robertson

Malcolm Street

Agnes Nielsen-Connolly

Publisher & Managing Editor

Consulting Editor

Design & Production Manager

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

Unquestionably 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.

Agnes is an experienced and talented graphic designer with extensive experience across a wide range of disciplines, including travel and advertising.

richard@imotorhome.com.au

He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia. Richard also has a passion for lifestyleenhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.

malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

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.

agnes@imotorhome.com.au

Designing and producing iMotorhome issues since June 2012, Agnes does much of the behind-the scenes work to ensure every issue looks great and is easy to read.

©2013 iMotorhome. All rights reserved. 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 IDESIN 3 ON MY MIND 7 ON YOUR MIND 10 NEWS Taking Stockade...

Have your say for a chance to win a $50 Caltex fuel card!

What’s happening in the RV world

14 TESTED 27 CLASSIFIEDS 29 SHOW FEATURE 42 PREVIEW

Sundance Kid – Malcolm tests the first Swift motorhome in Australia

This week’s featured iMotorhome Classifieds

Supershow NZ Style – a round-up from this year’s Covi RV Show

4 X More! – EarthCruiser’s highly desirable Iveco 4X4

46 PRODUCT REVIEWS 50 FUTURE TECH 54 FEATURE 62 COOK-UPS 66 SHOW CALENDAR Duvalays & Glaglas – putting them to the test!

Now You’re Cooking – Harnessing the Sun for even more

Freedom of Choice – A rallying call to preserve our free camping rights!

More from the Jess’ on-road kitchen...

What’s coming up, plus our show calendar

6

On your mind

7 It’s only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind, you should be able to have yours too. If you have anything to say – or ask – just drop a line to letters@imotorhome. com.au and we’ll share it with

Hi Richard, for all the coffee lovers out there who use a Nespresso machine here’s a tip I got from a Nespresso person on how to make the perfect Nespresso coffee.

When you put your coffee pod in and press the button you should hear a slight ‘pop’ just before or as the coffee starts to flow. That’s when the pod is broken and as soon as you hear it, or within a second of the coffee starting to flow if

you don’t, stop the machine and count to 4. Then start it again and finish making the coffee. I’m not sure exactly what happens (I think the hot waters infuses the coffee in the pod or something), but it makes the coffee much richer and smoother and produces a better ‘crema.’

Hi Richard, Great mag! In Issue 33 you have a photo and caption that read, “The Bimobil EX 345 is an interesting use of the new Iveco 4X4 cab-chassis.

Expect to see similar things appearing from local manufacturers in 2014.”

Can you tell me which local manufacturers?

Regards, Brad via email

Cheers, Charlie via email Hi Charlie, well as you’ll see in this issue EarthCruiser has beaten everyone else to the market with its new model, as

our readers. We’ll also reward the most interesting, useful or thoughtful letter each issue with a $50 Caltex fuel card to help you on your way.

Hi Brad, as avid Nespresso drinkers we’ve given it a go and you’re right, it really works!

It’s especially good for us because we both drink our coffee black and it takes most of the bitterness away, too.

Enjoy your $50 Caltex Fuel card, but try not to spend it on bad coffee when filling up!

previewed in this issue. I’m thinking other manufacturers will follow suit, especially those already offering Ivecobased models. As the Iveco 4X4 is such a unique and capable vehicle, don’t be surprised to see others rolling out a version too.

On your mind

G’day Richard, thank you so much for altering the title of the iMotorhome Magazine (PDF file). By wording it as Issue 33 iMotorhome, etc, it makes it so much easier to find on my ‘Tabby.’ Before this change I found it necessary to manually alter it so I could find the current edition. Thank you.

Overall, I think the magazine is improving in ‘leaps and

8 bounds’ and is, even now, a fabulous read. I enjoy it and I read it verbatim.

magazine, please spread the word amongst all your RVing friends!

Michael, Sylvia, Monnie and Terios (the Toad) via email Hi Folks, thanks for the suggestion in the first place.

I’ve also introduced a contents list under the new issues (and will add it to the old ones – eventually). Glad you enjoy the

01 | February 2013 timetoroam.com.au

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Also available at Caravan & RV Dealerships & Accessory stores.

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Visit www.timetoroam.com.au for the current and recent editions.

Subscription, advertising & editorial enquiries Ph 02 9695 7749 or info@timetoroam.com.au

On your mind

Thank you very much for the two Longreach reviews in Issue 33 – you have a fantastic magazine. We have owned a 2003 28 ft Alpine and now a 2008 31 ft Longreach. While we were very happy with the Alpine, there were a number of things that were missing from it. Winnebago obviously listened to their owners and made sure that the Longreach had everything that you could possibly need in it. With all the quality luxury appointments it is really an A-Class RV with a C-Class cabin and we are very comfortable when travelling around Oz.

9 Negatives? It does have a few – by staying with the Isuzu chassis (which is great) it does mean you have to crawl into the cabin from the lounge area. The main bed has an envirofoam mattress which retains a lot of heat – great in winter but it feels like you left the electric blanket on in summer! The two 9 kg gas bottles are behind one another, which means that you have to take both of them out when you want to change the back bottle.

We also don't like the cassette toilet and much preferred the large holding tank for black

water in the Alpine (but that is a personal preference).

Overall we really like the Longreach and are glad we got one. While the 31 ft is a bit longer than the 27 ft we think it has a much better layout.

Cheers, Peter and Heater via email Thanks Peter and Heather, glad you enjoy the magazine and liked the two Longreach reviews last issue. I’m also glad to hear you’re happy secondtime Winnebago (now Avida) customers; it seems Longreach owners are a happy lot and I wish you well on your travels.

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News

10 Y FAST TRAKKA Z

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rakka has unveiled a sporty and strictly on-road version of its popular VW-based Trakkadu campervan. According to a press release, “A turbocharged engine, seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, all-wheel drive, lowered sports suspension from a championshipwinning motorsport team, 19 inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres, German body kit and deep black pearl paint is not the equipment list you would expect for a campervan. But the Trakka Trakkadu ABT is no ordinary campervan and it’s giving campervans a couple of features they’ve lacked in the past: sex appeal and sporty performance.”

“The Trakkadu ABT is designed for a new type of Recreational Vehicle (RV) customer and it is an indication of the changes in the RV market as a whole,” explained Trakka CEO Dave Berry. “Traditional campervan owners use their vehicle to explore Australia and to have weekends away, usually staying in camp sites. But we are seeing a new group of RV owners for whom the Trakkadu ABT is the

perfect vehicle. They want to use their RV as a normal vehicle, typically replacing an SUV or even a car, during the week, while at the weekend they use it for lifestyle activities such as surfing, yachting, fishing, scuba diving, skiing – on snow or water – or whatever. It provides them with the added benefits of being able to have a hot shower, a cold drink, cook a meal and even take a nap on the double bed in the back. To fulfill this dual role, the Trakkadu ABT looks great from the outside while the sports suspension, wheels and tyres; combined with the turbocharged 132 kW turb-diesel engine, all-wheel drive and seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox means it drives like no other. Yet at the same time it has everything inside expected of a contemporary Trakka campervan.”

“For the driver, the Trakkadu ABT has all the equipment of a luxury car, from a multimedia SatNav and entertainment system to rain sensing wipers, cruise control, power windows and locks, adjustable armrests and leather trimmed steering wheel with fingertip controls.”

“In the back it comes complete with an elevating roof providing plenty of head room and ventilation with a comfortable double bed, which converts into a two passenger seat with child safety seat attachments,

an efficient 80-litre fridge, dual zone ceramic top stove, sink with hot and cold water, soft action drawers, roller shutter cupboards and a moveable table. At the back there is access to additional storage space and a shower that is provided with hot and cold water.”

“We are seeing the biggest changes to the RV industry since I started 40 years ago as a new generation of owners enter the market for the first time,” said Dave Berry. “They are bringing with them a range of new expectations and desires for a lifestyle that is more active, filled with passions that they had throughout their lives and a yearning to travel to new places and continue expanding their life time experiences. Trakka is ready for this challenge with ingenious designs and state-of-the-art technology in a new range of Trakkas which, as shown by the Trakkadu ABT, are ready for this new generation of customers.”

The Trakkadu family of campervans starts at $87,500 driveaway, while the Trakkadu ABT is priced at $135,500 driveaway.

Visit www.trakka.com.au for full details

News

11

Y WANDERER TO THE TAMWORTH Z COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

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amworth Country Music Festival 2014 will be held from January 10th to 26th. The first week is called the Pre-festival, where generally there is not a lot happening, although it gives visitors the opportunity to feel their way around Tamworth, see what shows are on during the two weeks of the festival proper and make any bookings necessary.

24th and are payable on entry to the Park. The Council assumes it does not matter when you arrive, you’ll leave on the last day and all vehicles must vacate the sites by 7 am Monday 27th January.

Although the price might seem high, if you consider this is Tamworth’s peak time and you are so handy to the CBD, it is quite reasonable.

CMCA Chapter the Central Coast Wanderers has been allocated an area on Riverside Park, on the southwestern side of Carter St. It’s about 10 minutes walk to the CBD and only 5 minutes to a shopping centre for supplies.

Tamworth Regional Council has set fees for camping at Riverside Park, which are $200 for entry from the 10th $130 from the 17th and $80 for entry from the

Plenty of sites are available available but the Central Coast Wanderers charge $2 per vehicle per night admin fee, payable at our office next to the Tamworth netball complex. Although there’s no power a generator can be run, but you must be there when it is running and hours are set; possibly 8am-9pm. Water is available and toilets are nearby, as is a dump point, while the local sporting

clubs provide shower facilities at $2 a visit. Dogs are allowed, but be aware CMCA and Tamworth regional Council rules apply. If you are booking please supply your surname/s, first name/s, CMCA No, date of arrival and mobile phone number.

For bookings or further information call Alan on 0429 480 604 or email him at ajsccw@gmail.com.

News

12 f Blazing Good WORK... f

M

ore than 3500 people volunteered to help farmers rebuild fences after fires and floods on Australia's east coast last summer.

The BlazeAid organisation has released the numbers of all those who've assisted since the fires in Tasmania, New South Wales

and Victoria, and the floods in Queensland.

BlazeAid's Mary Howarth says 75 per cent of volunteers were grey nomads. "So altogether they did 29,670 volunteer days and that's absolutely incredible," she said. "The number of properties worked on was 810, the fencing

cleared was 1350 kilometres and rebuilt was 1460 kilometres, so that's a lot of work."

Congratulations to all involved!

To find out more about BlazAid visit www.blazeaid.com.au

For information about volunteering click here

News

13

Y VOTE NOW ON COFFS FREE CAMPING! Z

H

ere's an interesting story on free camping at Coffs Harbour and you get the chance to express your opinion by casting your vote at the end of the article. People Power! http://www.coffscoastadvocate. com.au/news/should-we-allowthis-seasonal-rv-city/2037423/

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Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

14

Sundance

No need to be butch or rob a bank to own this little beauty...

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

15

Moulded fibreglass Luton give the Sundance a streamlined look.

I

’ve not long had a brief visit to New Zealand, in particular to visit the Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor Supershow held at Auckland. Unlike Australia, there were considerably more motorhomes than caravans on display and also unlike Australia, there were a considerable number of overseas manufacturers that do not currently have a presence in Aussie: companies like Dethleffs, Carado, Tribute, Buccaneer, Auto Sleeper, Benimar and Bürstner.

However, there were two – Auto Trail and Swift – both of which are British and have had an assortment of models in NZ for a while, but have more

recently arrived in Australia.

There are reasons for that, mostly to do with compliance and warranty matters, which I’ll get to later. For this review I was able to spend a bit of time looking over one of the two Swift models available in Australia, the Sundance 636L C-class.

The Vehicle he Fiat Ducato is the base vehicle for the Sundance, but in this case it’s the 130 Multijet model.

Most of us in Australia are used to the more powerful 180 Multijet, but the British and Europeans seem to favour the smaller engines. Also a little surprising was the six speed manual gearbox. I don’t mind,

T

that but most motorhomers seem to prefer the Ducato’s six-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).

The body is built with one piece composite walls that have a marine grade aluminium exterior and the front, rear and roof are made from moulded Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) – that’s moulded fibreglass to you and I. Like the walls, the floor too is a composite sandwich structure with 40 mm of plywood and Styrofoam insulation. Being a motorhome of European origin, all the windows are double glazed Polyplastic acrylics and the door is a typical Euro style with top half window and moulded inside garbage bin below. It

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

16

beats the plastic bag hanging on a door handle, that’s for sure!

Apart from the gas cylinder bin and Thetford cassette bin, there’s only one external storage bin at the rear nearside.

It’s actually a storage area under the bed rather than a sealed bin. An interesting addition is the folding ladder on the back that gives access not only to the roof storage area but also for cleaning roof hatches and solar panels (if fitted).

In the weight department, the Sundance has a tare weight of 3365 kg and a GVM of 4250 kg, which does give a respectable load capacity of 885 kg but it’s even better than that because the tare is measured as a wet weight – 75kg for the driver plus 90% for fuel, water and gas.

On the Road his is the first time I have had the opportunity to drive the 96 kW / 320 Nm 130 Multijet. For the most part I have driven the 130 kW / 400Nm 3.0-litre Multijet and on a few occasions the mid-sized 109 kW / 350 Nm 150 Multijet, so I did wonder how the lowest powered of the Ducato diesels might perform on a C-class coach-built motorhome.

T

The short answer is okay, especially with a manual gearbox, but I’m fairly sure that for long hauls and/or hilly

The door fitting includes the garbage bin. country the larger engines are going to make for a more relaxed drive. The AMT gearbox can be a bit dithery at low engine revs, which might make the manual gearbox the better way to go with this small engine.

In this case the motorhome has the potential to carry six people and their gear, so it might not be lightly loaded. I know that the Euros fit the smaller engines for fuel economy reasons, but I often think that a smaller

motor working hard is going to use more diesel than a larger motor idling along. It would be interesting to get three of the same height/weight motorhomes together one each having a different size/powered Ducato engine and do a few tests.

For the passengers there are the two cab seats, of course, but the rest are going to be sitting at the dinette behind the

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

17

Manual gearbox slightly unusual these day but I like ‘em. of that is a bathroom/wardrobe area that nicely separates the rear area from the kitchen and dinette. Right up front, the overcab bed can be lifted out of the way if not needed, which opens up the cab area very nicely.

Luton bed lifts out of way for easy cab access.

Note the neatly stored but easily accessible cab ladder. driver’s seat: two facing forward than a private one, but the and two facing the rear. appointment level and general fit out is certainly not the usual Living Inside rental decor that Aussies and little surprisingly this is Kiwis are used to. a six berth motorhome; well maybe four and two Layout wise, in the rear there are two sideways facing halves. In many ways it’s more lounges/single beds. Forward a rental motorhome layout

A

Mali Acacia is the name of the woodgrain finish on all the cabinet work. It does dominate somewhat, but the windows and multiple roof hatches offset that by providing a good level of interior light. A look inside the overhead lockers reveals not only that they are fitted with a second shelf but also a slightly different method of construction to that I am familiar with – moulded plastic frames that support both the locker and the shelf. All

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L the windows have curtains, except the kitchen, but all have integrated blinds in the window frames as well.

In terms of relaxing in the Sundance there are two choices. The rear lounges, if not made up into an eastwest double bed, are quite comfortable for kicking back on, with the added bonus of a central waist-high cabinet.

There is also the dinette, if things get a bit more formal. It’s very roomy for two and okay for four, but if there are six people then two are going to have to dine down the rear using the clever slide-out table that’s fitted to the centre cabinet.

Flexible use rear lounges great for stretching out.

Like the dinette, the rear area has lockers above the seats and under-cushion storage.

Offering a considerable amount of storage area is the cabinet that sits between the entry door and the nearside bed: the top half being all hanging space and the lower section being a generously sized cupboard area.

Front and rear dinette seats have seat belts.

Time to Eat t’s very typically British/ European in size, but it seems to me that the kitchen might be on the small size for family catering. It’s certainly okay for two and does come with all the expected features, including a four burner cooktop/grill/oven, moulded sink with detachable drainer and a below-bench 110-litre Dometic fridge.

Electrical control panel handily located above door.

I

18

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

It might look small but the Sundance is packed with features.

19

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

Sink drainer is detachable.

Note British style but Australian fitting 240V sockets.

20 Additionally, the microwave oven is mounted in the overhead locker space, leaving space for two drawers, a small wire basket pantry and one overhead locker. That means the overhead lockers above the dinette are certainly going to be useful for extra kitchen storage.

It depends very much on how much you like to cook and in any motorhome I’d suggest going through all the cooking/ cleaning-up motions to ensure you are happy with it.

After Hours hilst this motorhome layout does not have a fixed island bed, it has just about everything else and the choices are almost endless. In the rear it’s either two north-south singles 1.8 m x 0.63 m (6 ft 2 in x 2 ft 1 in) or an east-west double 2.04 m x 1.39 m (6 ft 8 in x 4 ft 7 in).

Above the cab, the Luton bed measures 1.9 m x 1.24 m (6 ft 3 in x 4 ft 1 in). As usual, this bed requires a ladder to get to it and in many motorhome designs I have seen the ladder is just tossed up on to the bed, meaning a ladder is frequently needed to get to the ladder!

However in this case, the ladder is fitted into a moulding that is on top of the front of the driver’s cab, but under the bed and accessible by simply lifting the bed. What a simple but effective idea not seen on too many (any - Ed?) locally produced motorhomes!

W

Kitchen is definitely compact!

The third bed (the dinette) is

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

21 sort of the last choice, mainly because it’s the mostly fiddly to put together. Unlike the rear bed, putting the cushions together is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. It’s also the narrowest of the double beds, measuring 1.9 m x 1.24 m (6 ft 3 in x 3 ft).

A

Dinette bed is a bit of cushion jjgsaw!

Anti condensation panel behind seat cushions often a feature of British/Euro RVs.

Ready for bed; ladder in place, Luton bed down and cab blinds closed.

Keeping Clean lthough all the bathroom features are within the one moulded cubicle, the Thetford cassette toilet, fold-down wash basin and shaving cabinet can all be closed off from the flexible hose shower by a simple but effective folding screen.

It’s a neat little arrangement that gives a reasonably sized shower cubicle without everything else either in the way or wet. A large hatch above the shower supplies ventilation.

Fancy a hot snack in bed – microwave close to hand!

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

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Folding screen can close off toilet and wash basin from the shower What we Think lthough this layout is designed for six people it shouldn’t be discounted for two who like a bit of flexibility with the way they live in a motorhome. For example, on work trips when I am staying put for a few days it’s a layout that works quite well: The front dinette is my office and the rear acts as a lounge/dining area, leaving the over-cab bed able to be left made up. That’s not the way everyone lives, but there are several variations that can be utilised and it’s certainly a great layout for a family of four.

A

This Sundance is one of the first British motorhomes to arrive via Swift-approved distributors in Australia (they have been available in New Zealand for some years) and certainly the first to appear in iMotorhome.

It is certainly built differently (particularly on the inside) compared to Antipodean products, but certain familiar features do suggest the local manufacturers might have been to the famed Düsseldorf RV show more than once!

It will be interesting to see how the Swift Sundance fares in

Australia, given it is very newly available. Certainly anyone interested in the British/Euro built units will be having a good look. As far as imported motorhomes go, one of the assets is that the entry door is on the correct side.

Although there have been a few European motorhomes filter into Australia and certainly more so in New Zealand, the entry door has frequently been on the ‘wrong side.’

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

Swift motorhomes are a big name in Britain. It will certainly be interesting to see how their market develops here!

23

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L Hiring in New Zealand always reckon anyone new to motorhoming should do a little try before you buy trip.

In New Zealand a company called Iconic Motorhomes has quite a few Swift motorhomes for rent, from depots in both Auckland and Christchurch.

The models available are not going to be the same as the Sundance, but the basics will be. So if you live there then give them a call, but if across the Tasman then why not have a holiday in the Land of the Long White Cloud and try out your prospective purchase at the same time?

See iconicmotorhomes.com

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Compliance and Warranty in Australia ith imported Recreational Vehicles of any sort, ADR compliance with the relevant Federal regulations is always going to be a consideration. Motorhomes have an extra complication because of the cab-chassis component.

Normally the cab-chassis is required to have the necessary ADR approval in order to be registered, but when the motorhome bit is added, then what is known as Second Stage Compliance is required. However, with fully imported motorhomes, the Second Stage Compliance is not needed and either Full or Low Volume compliance applies. In this case the Certification Unit ID is 45327 and that can be found listed on the Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) website.

Australian warranty is another issue, not so much on the motorhome body but on the cab-chassis. It is not covered by Fiwat Australia, but I understand the two year warranty will be covered by Fiat (UK) via the Swift Group. The motorhome body is different, being covered by a Swift 10 year warranty. As with any new RV, I'd be suggesting that the practical implications of a warranty are clearly understood before purchase.

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Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

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A very familiar looking cab chassis! The radiator grille badge might have changed but it’s still a Fiat Ducato underneath!

Day Test: Swift Sundance 636L

Specifications Manufacturer

Swift Motorhomes

Model

Sundance 636L

Base Vehicle

Fiat Ducato Multijet 130

Engine

2.3-litre

Power

96 kW @ 360 rpm

Torque

320 Nm @ 1800 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed manual

Brakes

ABS Disc

Tare Weight

3365 kg (wet weight)

Gross Vehicle Mass

4250 kg

Licence

Car

Approved Seating

6

External Length

7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)

External Width

2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)

External Height

3.05 m (10 ft)

Internal Height

1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)

Rear Bed Size (single)

1.89 m x 0.63m (6 ft 2 in x 2 ft 1 in)

Rear Bed Size (double)

2.04 m x 1.39m (6 ft 8 in x 4 ft 7 in)

Luton Bed Size

1.91 m x 1.37m (6 ft 3 in x 4 ft 6 in)

Dinette Bed Size

1.9 m x 1.24 m (6 ft 3 in x 4 ft 1in)

Cooktop

Thetford 4 burner cooktop/grill/oven

Fridge

Dometic 110 litre three way

Microwave

available

Lighting

12 V LED

Batteries

1 x 95 Amp Hour

Gas

2 x 4.5 kg

Heater

Truma Combi with HWS

Solar Panels

60 W (option for more)

Air Conditioner

Option Air Command Ibis or Truma Aventa

Hot Water Heater

Tuma Combi 4

Toilet

Thetford bench cassette

Shower

Flex-hose, variable height

Fresh Water Tank

90-litre

Grey Water Tank

68-litre

Price

$119,990 on-road QLD

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Pros

• Flexible bed layout • Reasonably sized bathroom • Passenger seats near the driver’s cab • Similar Swifts available to rent in NZ • Good level of internal storage • Extra shelves in overhead lockers

Cons • Uses least powerful Ducato engine • Smallish kitchen • Dinette bed fiddly to make up quickly • Small water capacity

Contact East Coast Caravans 3777 Pacific Highway Tanah Merah QLD 4218 Ph: 07 3806 1544 W: swiftrv.com.au

Click for Google Maps

East Coast Caravans Auckland and Christchurch Ph: +64 3366 4364 (International) Ph: 03 366 4364 (Local) Web: iconicmotorhomes.com

Classifieds: Snapshots

iMotorhome Featured Classifieds

27

magazine

iMotorhome

because getting there is half the fun...

iMotorhome Classifieds are for private sellers and dealers alike, and are now FREE for private sellers!

• Motorhomes and campervans only • unlimited words • Up to 12 photos per ad • New slideshow feature!

• Unlimited edits and updates • Selected ads appear in iMotorhome eMagazine • Advertise until sold

Visit www.imotorhome.com.au today

Feature: Covi Show

29

Supershow – Kiwi Style

The Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor Supershow

by Malcolm Street

Feature: Covi Show

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s a more than occasional visitor to Kiwi Land I always like to take in the recreational vehicle shows. Certainly, they are nothing like any of the Australian capital city shows in terms of numbers, but there is always a good selection of motorhomes available in NZ. This was the case with the Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor Supershow, held in Auckland from September 20 to 22.

On display were all the local motorhome manufacturers; Kea/United/Motek, Traillite, UCC, Diamond, Explorer and Coastal. Given the competition from overseas products, I was interested to note the

"Made In New Zealand" stand with a selection from all the manufacturers.

There was also a considerable selection of imported motorhomes, mostly from Europe – Auto Trail, Auto Sleeper, Bürstner, Carado, Dethleffs and Swift, but also from Australia – Avida and Jayco. I know it's definitely unpatriotic, but it's hard not to be impressed by some of the gear coming out of Europe, in particular the very impressive Bürstner Grand Panorama, aptly named given its front windscreen. I have no idea whether this particular design will make its way to Australia, but it seemed to me that a stone chip in the wrong place

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on that windscreen would definitely be an insurance job!

Most major NZ shows have an accompanying NZ Motor Caravan Association rally on site. In this case it was on the very unexciting showground car park, but I always enjoy a walk around, because you never know just what you might see!

One of the locals commented that the NZ shows might be small beer compared to the big city shows in Australia, but I replied that I quite liked them, mostly because it's possible to get around in a day and actually remember what you have looked at. Can’t wait for next year now!

Feature: Covi Show

B端rstner Grand Panorama is Euro chic in right-hand drive, but the door is still on the wrong side!

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Feature: Covi Show

The RV Super Centre had plenty of Kea, United and Motek motorhomes on display.

Ever wondered how a motorhome is constructed?

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Feature: Covi Show

33

Kea’s Steve Lane on the job.

Feature: Covi Show

As usual, Traillite had an impressive stand with coachbuilts and van conversions.

Also to be seen was their new Auto Sleeper range.

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Feature: Covi Show

This NZMCA member obviously needed a bit more boot space.

Rob Florris’ UCC stand had a good range of their motorhomes available.

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Feature: Covi Show

German manufacturer Carado were the new kids on the block.

Explorer’s HiLux-based Navigator seems a good size for New Zealand.

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Feature: Covi Show

Gotta love this restored motorhome on its Chevrolet base.

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Feature: Covi Show

Plenty of oldies but goodies around here.

Not sure who owned this but this motorhome is for sale? Be different that is for sure.

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Feature: Covi Show

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NZ has plenty of classic vehicles, like this Chevrolet (Bel Air? - Ed) and caravan combination belonging to the Lilliput Caravan Club. I’m thinking the satellite dish is a little out of place, though...

Feature: Covi Show

Diamond might be a small manufacturer but they produce a mighty good motorhome.

Jayco had big display of its popular motorhome range.

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com.au

iMotorhome

iMotorhome Rentals lets you browse or book campervan or motorhome holidays live online, almost anywhere in the World!

• Campervans and Motorhomes • Worldwide coverage • Huge vehicle range • Highly competitive rates • Instant pricing • Regular special offers • Book with confidence!

Visit www.imotorhome.com.au today

Preview: EarthCruiser Iveco 4X4

4X

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!

E R MO Iveco’s new 4X4 provides EarthCruiser customers with a new level of off-road performance...

Preview: EarthCruiser Iveco 4X4

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great potential in the off-road motorhome market. Available in single or dual-cab models it features ‘proper’ parabolic spring suspension for off-road performance and ride comfort; live axles front and rear; front, centre and rear differential One-metre LED light bar is, apparently, a ripper and floods the locks and permanent fourroad with light while keeping out of the way of tree branches. wheel drive split 32%/68% front/rear. Power is 125 kW / 400 Nm from a 3.0-litre arthCruiser – to Helensburgh, just south of turbo-diesel, but the Iveco’s manufacturer of highSydney, the ‘new’ EarthCruiser end expedition vehicles operation has been revitalised real party piece is a 6-speed manual gearbox with 4 built on Japanese 4X4 light and is aggressively bringing reduction options, providing trucks chassis – premiered new chassis and body 24 forward and 4 reverse it’s all-new Iveco 4X4-based designs to the market. gears! motorhome in Sydney last The Iveco Daily 4X4 cabGiven the true off-road nature weekend. chassis is a particularly of the suspension, the use of Under new ownership and interesting vehicle not long single wheels all-round and a super-low first gear with a released in Australia that has relocated from Queensland

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EarthCruisers’ very happy Mark Fawcett with his new model Iveco 4X4.

Preview: EarthCruiser Iveco 4X4

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Dash is Euro-neat. Note row of three diff locks (top left) on the centre panel. reduction of 101:1 (a good 4WD is around 40:1), the Iveco ought to be able to drive casually up the sides of tall buildings without the need for even a single bound!

Green lever is high/low for normal driving. Red lever is high/low for off-road. Low low ratio is 101:1!

This prototype EarthCruiser was built using the dual-cab version of the Iveco 4X4, but I’m told only single cab versions will be produced from now on. This is because a redesigned body with a 150 mm lower floor, which will provide level walkthrough access between the cab and body, is about to be released.

It will have it’s dual inwardfacing seats at the front of the camper body seatbelt equipped, thus providing approved seating for four without the need for the bulk or added expense of the dualcab body.

Preview: EarthCruiser Iveco 4X4

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Factory parabolic-spring suspension should be excellent. Note over-slung spring-pack position (above axles) for increased ground clearance.

EarthCruiser lists10 body variants, but the reality is they will pretty much build whatever you want. They even provide design software you can use to make 3D drawings of your perfect motorhome.

Proprietors Mark and Susan Fawcett are almost fanatically enthusiastic about their business, its products and their customers. When asked by someone on the day about building a lower-cost version for people who don’t want all the bells and whistles, Mark explained the business is flatout meeting current demand and his goal is to build the best-of-the-best for the very upper end of the market.

The display vehicle was priced around $260,000 and judging by the reportedly burgeoning

Interior is clean and no-nonsense. New interior will have belts on inward facing seats, touch screens for everything (with manual backup) and a new layout. order books (and hints of even more exotic 4WD base vehicles) I think it’s safe to say EarthCruiser will remain a niche operation – albeit one most of us can only aspire to.

Let’s hope they can spare a

machine for a day or two so iMotorhome can bring you a full report. In the mean time you can find them at www.earthcruiser.com.au

Product Update: Duvalay

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Sweet Dreams

Our Duvalays prove their, um, fabric...

Product Update: Duvalay

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Combining a duvet top and a memory foam underlay, Duvalays are much more luxurious and comfortable than sleeping bags

N

o sooner had our two Duvalays arrived and been unpacked (see Issue 33 for details) than we were off on our first road trip: Three nights in a Suncamper Sherwood with single beds.

The thing with the Sherwood we were testing was that both beds were in the over-cab ‘Luton Peak’ of the diminutive motorhome, and over-cab beds can be a real bugger to make up. But not with the Duvalay.

If you remember, a Duvalay is sort-of a luxury sleeping bag that is, in truth, more like an envelope than a bag.

Sealed down one edge and across the foot; the base has

a memory foam sleeping pad and the top, which is twice as wide as the base, has a duvet. Both are secured inside zippered compartments made of cotton that can be removed and washed, and you can buy foam bases and duvets of varying thicknesses and warmth ratings, respectively.

a conventional sleeping bag is that because the duvet section is twice as wide as the base, and open on one side, there is no sense of claustrophobia. Indeed, because the duvet is so wide you can easily roll over and snuggle it in around your neck if it’s cool, or stick a leg or arm (or two) out if too warm.

For our three night road trip, making up each bed was as easy as unrolling each Duvalay and adding a pillow.

The cotton covers – ours are finished in an attractive shade of ‘Plum’ – act as sheets, so when it’s bed time you just hop in and snooze. What makes them so different to

Measuring 190 cm x 66 cm, our Duvalays fitted the Sherwood’s 190 cm x 70 cm single beds perfectly. The 4 cm memory foam base provided a welcome addition to the motorhome’s thick-butfirm foam mattresses, too.

Product Update: Duvalay

Verdict

S

o far nothing but praise.

In fact Mrs iMotorhome is so impressed by her Duvalay she intends removing the duvet and rolling the base up extra tight so she can stow one in her suitcase for when she stays in Asian hotels with her ‘other’ job. Our duvalays will also see usage at home when guests stay and we

make up the sofa bed. As a tall person who has always found sleeping bags restrictive and unsatisfactory, my Duvalay is a revelation.

Although not cheap you get what you pay for. Like anything of quality you soon forget the price but will always appreciate the benefits. If you’re after a good night’s sleep while on the road (and isn’t that priceless?) check

48 out www.duvalay.net, email info@duvalay.com or call Neil Hobbs on (08) 9336 7714 for further information.

Don’t forget, mention iMotorhome and receive $10 off 1 Duvalay or $35 off 2, plus free delivery Australiawide (except for remote location). Sweet dreams!

Duvalays make making up a bed quick and easy. Although they are singles they can easily be joined as a double.

Duvalays roll-up easily for storage and/or transport.

Product Update: Glaglas

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Lightweight mesh construction and ventilated soles makes Glaglas light, cool and quick to dry.

One Step at a Time Our Glaglas haven’t put a foot wrong...

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ur bright and cheery Glagla sports shoes are doing stirling service and have become a firm footwear favourite.

Mrs iMotorhome, in the course of her ‘real’ job, has so far explored Honolulu, Singapore, Perth and Tokyo in them and has nothing but praise for their comfort and coolness. Their super light weight is a welcome bonus when packing to travel, too.

Closer to home, it’s hard to

get her out of them now that the weather is warming.

Mr iMotorhome has just started wearing them and is discovering their many benefits. Their light weight is a welcome change to traditional trainers while the option of wearing them with or without socks is proving advantageous.

From a motorhoming perspective they are a worthwhile inclusion for any travelling wardrobe; especially

their mesh uppers and ventilated soles, which means they’ll drain water and dry out easily should you go exploring along the sea shore – or get caught in a downpour. It’s also worth noting Glagla makes various styles, including clogs, which would be great as easy on-and-off shoes for wearing around the campsite.

For more information and online ordering visit glaglashoes.com.au

Future Tech: Solar Cooking Technology

Now you're

50

Cooking

Portable solar hot water and cooking now a reality...

From Gizmag

Future Tech: Solar Cooking Technology

F

ancy harnessing the Sun’s free energy to boil a cuppa, your breakfast hard boiled eggs and even cook dinner? Read on...

D

Solar Kettle eveloped by British engineer James Bentham, the Solar Kettle is a portable thermoslike product that uses special thermal technology to boil water. It features a thermal vacuum tube that absorbs and converts the sun’s rays into heat, with exterior reflectors

that open out to maximise solar energy input. The kettle also comes with a built-in stand so it can be positioned facing the sun and has a thermometer on the lid so you can monitor the water’s temperature.

Similar to other insulated products, the Solar Kettle’s exterior remains cool to touch, even when the contents are at the boiling point. It can also be used as a thermos to store hot water for long periods.

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Weighing 1.2 kg empty, the Solar Kettle can hold 500 ml of water, which will take approximately two hours to boil from cold (so maybe a late breakfast? - Ed). However, this timing can vary considerably depending on the amount of sun available and initial water temperature (it’s also good for reheating).

In survival situations, the kettle can be used to sterilize river water or snow and purify it for drinking. It can also desalinate sea water to produced clean water that is safe to drink.

Future Tech: Solar Cooking Technology

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The GoSun Stove’s central cooking tube can handle more than just basic meat dishes...

Contemporary Energy in the UK is currently taking online orders for the Solar Kettle, which is priced at ÂŁ53 (about $90) plus postage. More details at http://contemporaryenergy. co.uk/solarkettle.htm#details.

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GoSun Stove he GoSun Stove is a portable, tube-shaped solar oven billed as powerful enough to cook a full meal, even on cloudy days. Like the Solar Kettle it uses parabolic mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a glass cylinder and cook the contents, but it sports a slightly larger set of mirrors and a stainless steel tray for food; allowing it to act as a portable convection oven for baking, frying, boiling and more.

The central cooking tube is made from borosilicate glass, which is resistant to thermal shock and has a vacuum beneath the surface to insulate the interior. The inside of the tube is lined with copper, stainless steel and aluminum nitrile to better absorb and conduct heat from the sun's rays. Altogether, the tube measure 600 mm in length and 57 mm in diameter, giving it enough room for about 1.5 kg of food or 1.6 L of liquid. A set

of aluminum stands holds the stove firmly in place and can be tilted downward, making it easier to dispense hot water, coffee, soup, etc.

Once unfolded and aligned with the sun the mirrors are designed to concentrate light on the center tube for hours, even as the sun moves across the sky. After taking about 10 minutes to preheat, the stove's cooking time depends on the type of food being

Future Tech: Solar Cooking Technology

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Portable solar cooking has great potential in a sun soaked land like Australia. prepared and the intensity of the sunlight at the moment.

On a clear, sunny day, it's said to be capable of cooking six hot dogs in about ten minutes and it's still effective in cloudy conditions, taking about two hours to bake a tray of muffins.

The developers claim to have recorded temperatures as high as 371°C inside the oven, but say it tends to cook best between 93º and 288°C. The stove also includes a sliding tray with a heat-resistant handle, allowing cooks to add or remove food at any time.

Both the metal stands and parabolic mirrors fold together around the glass tube to form a compact bundle just 20 cm tall and 13 cm wide. Without food inside the whole oven weighs just 1.5 kg and can

easily slip into a backpack or be carried using the stands as a handle. According to the developers, it also remains cool enough on the outside while cooking for anyone to pack it up at a moment's notice without getting burned.

The development team is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to begin massproducing the GoSun Stove.

A pledge of $219 puts you on the list for one, plus a user guide explaining how to

cook different types of food, a cleaning brush, and a twoyear warranty. The full retail price is expected to be $279.

Alternatively, the developers are offering a $79 model called the GoSun MINI, which is shorter than its big brother and uses a non-folding wooden frame.

Please note all prices are in US dollars and excludes delivery. Stoves are expected to begin shipping in December and for more details visit www.gosunstove.com.

Feature: Free Camping

Consulting Psychologist Robert Davis’ view on the issues surrounding free camping.

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Feature: Free Camping

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Free camping isn’t necessarily stopping for the night. It can be a simple as a place to spend the day and stop for a meal while exploring the local sights by foot, bike or car.

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omething undeniably priceless is dying in Australia – something fundamental to our sense of well-being. Its called ‘freedom’ and it’s something many in our history have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for.

entity wants to take it from us, especially when our loss is their benefit. We’re talking about local councils and the caravan park lobby. You and I and they know we are infrequent users of their services, because being self-contained says it all, but still they are waging For us self-contained a relentless war against our motorhomers and caravanners, freedom. I for one am bloody freedom is synonymous with furious that this significant antifree camping and choice Australian imposition upon our and being released from the lifestyle appears to be gaining scrutiny and controls our ground. Let’s take a brief look over-regulated world imposes beyond the obvious, as to why upon us. We don’t like it when we object so strongly. someone or some corporate

W

Freedom’s Need here did our desire and indeed our need for freedom start and when, where and by whom was it compromised?

Well, we need to go back to those experimental childhood years when as a kid you just did and said what came naturally. You knew the feeling of being controlled, criticised, regulated, restricted and punished for non-compliance.

We all grew up with those feelings in a highly rational, legal, politically correct and

Feature: Free Camping

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Free camping – be it in Australia, New Zealand or wherever – is one of the great pleasures of campervan and motorhome travel and needs to be fought hard for to preserve.

became complicit in taking control of our spontaneous drives and feelings. They told us to do it their way. They made it crystal clear that if we didn’t comply we would face the consequences. They were probably right, because we were only kids and they did know better, but the process didn’t always feel that way.

bureaucratic world where rules ruled. Mum and Dad told you from the start to behave or face the consequences and in most

cases we needed, though not always heeded, that advice.

Then we got packed off to school and our teachers

At your very first job interview you got the distinct impression you had better meet your future employer’s expectations or be shown the door – fit in or else. The first copper who pulled you over for speeding reminded you yet again this is a world of rules: Break them at your financial and

Feature: Free Camping

57

personal cost. It seems our social development right from childhood necessarily involved being threatened, sanctioned and punished for just being wantonly, freely and impulsively ourselves. Is it any wonder that after a lifetime of forced compliance we find ourselves irresistibly attracted to getting away from it all? Well, most of it, anyway.

When camping in any of Australia’s vast and various domains; be it desert country, rainforest, wilderness or coastal regions, we just want to be left alone to enjoy the scenery and the company of like-minded others. Don’t tell us what to do, we already know about keeping campsites clean, fire safe and quiet for all to enjoy. Mostly, we don’t want or need to be plugged into the corporate utilities that we depend upon at home: that’s why we are self-contained!

In fact we’re so keen to preserve our environment and our freedom to stay where we choose that many of us we will gladly clean up after others who disregard our values. One lovely lady camper described how she routinely cleaned the amenities blocks, sinks and toilets because she didn’t think it fair to use them and leave them dirty for someone else.

I admire her. Though not in her illustrious category I purchased and carry one of those ‘grab tins off a high shelf’ extension devices that works brilliantly

for picking up other’s rubbish – and felt good doing it. Councils aren’t the only ones who abhor human disregard for their local environment. When there is only one paper cup on the ground in an otherwise pristine site I will pick it up and dispose of it properly.

C

Freedoms at Stake aravan parks invite us to come and commune with nature, for $40 or so a night in their mostly fenced-off, grass-groomed, mosaic-manicured and sectioned bit of land full of all the comforts of home that we don’t need. That’s fine if we can choose to accept or

Feature: Free Camping

refuse the invitation. It’s what freedom, the Constitution and our democratic principles are about, isn’t it?

The stark and harsh reality is our freedom to experience

nature in its marvellous, natural and un-manipulated form is being denied and restricted daily by vested interests.

Even roadside rest areas are under the ‘you can’t stop here’ microscope. Drivers and

58

passengers of self-contained motorhomes and caravans are at risk of being constantly moved on and made to feel unwelcome in their own country after, for many, a lifetime of paying taxes and nurturing a dream. The caravan park lobby continue to push for the closure of all and any ‘noncompliant’ sites where free camping is presently available.

Why are they doing this? It’s not a hard question to answer: It’s called profit. It’s called protectionism. I call it unfair and unAustralian.

Councils intimidated by caravan park owners, who might or might not hold official roles, are closing showgrounds

Feature: Free Camping

59

Tasmania's beautiful Bay of Fires

to St Helens, a town wholly dependent on the tourist dollar.

and free campsites to prevent ‘unfair competition.’ In so doing they are actively denying their business community the not-insubstantial revenue that welcomed self-contained travellers provide. Why? Because many of us bypass those unfriendly towns until we find the freedom and appreciation RV-savvy towns provide.

I

Case in Point n my local State of Tasmania, the Bay of Fires area – a long-term free camping location of stunning

The critics of free-camping, including those I suspect of being just a little green at our lifestyle, are fond of using ‘guilt-tripping’ statements like ‘user pays’ to shame us into accepting fees that were previously absent. According to this doctrine we are just a bunch of freeloaders who don’t or wont pay. What they don’t seem to get is that that’s beauty – is now threatened exactly what we do in the local with impending fees. I have and surrounding business frequented this free camping communities: We pay. In fact location, with others, for many we spend on average of $600 years and have spent many per week. Or do these critics thousands of dollars in the local think ‘self-contained’ means town. I have been impressed we grow all our own veggies and proud to see the values in our recently installed minimotorhomers and caravanners hydroponic set up next to extend in preserving this the loo? God knows how we beautiful place, where it is source our gas and desalinate truly rare to see litter (there are sea-water, while I’m not sure no bins provided). When we where the meat-eaters among needed water, LPG, laundry, us find space for their abattoirs, groceries, bait, fuel, pharmacy let alone the holding pens! products, medical services, refuse disposal sites, vehicle servicing and so on we drove

Feature: Free Camping

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There is a time and place for staying in caravan parks and every RVer does at some stage. But being forced into them is like being forced into a cafe because you can’t eat your picnic in a park...

W Shout!

e do have clout!

States are in serious competition for the ‘drive tourism’ dollar. They know we are an important financial source of tourism revenue for their cities and towns. They don’t want to offend us, but if we don’t shout loud enough they won’t hear.

You know it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil!

When farmers and truckies have had enough of Government or corporate bullying and exploitation they drive into town in all manner

of rigs to make their presence felt. The Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) is building a member donated fighting fund under the ‘MoTOURing Australia’ banner, called the ‘RV Lifestyle Support Fund.’ They claim it has more than 400,000 potentially interested parties.

That’s an army, which, when legally mobilised can’t be ignored. Complacency is our worst enemy. We are fighting for our liberty; our right to feel the sun on our backs and breathe the fresh unregulated air in a world far from all the organised compliance and

punitive pressures that have characterised most of out working lifetimes.

As a practising psychologist of some 20 years experience I have spent much time listening to the thoughts and feelings of my patients. People think, feel and act – it’s all we do. If this increasingly popular topic has engaged your ire then you’ve done your thinking and you know how it feels: Now it’s time for all of us to act!

Feature: Free Camping

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Complacency is our worst enemy. We are fighting for our liberty; our right to feel the sun on our backs and breathe the fresh unregulated air.

Cook-up: Marinade

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pa

iam

by Jess C

Tough Choices

A natural marinade to help tackle the toughest meats...

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he other night we won a beautiful meat tray in a raffle from the club.

The meat was rump steak and there were 2 pieces the size of a A4 sheet of paper and about 25 mm (1 in) thick.

We got home from the club at 6:30 pm and cut off a piece of steak for a steak sandwich.

We only cut off 1 piece for the

2 of us and because of the thickness of the steak we cut it in half so we had 2 slices of meat about 12.5 mm (1/2 in) thick. I lit the Baby Q (a small Webber, not a typo!), got it hot and cooked the meat for three minutes each side. Well, the disappointment! It would have been better to sole my shoes with it! We ended up having salad sandwiches...

Then I remembered my childhood days, when we could only afford tough cuts of meat. Mum use to get a pineapple and chop off about the top three inches, then do the same with a pawpaw.

She’d put those into a blender skin and all and blend it all up, then put it through a strainer to get as much of the juice as possible before discarding the

Cook-up: Marinade

pulp. She would then marinate the meat (about two kilos) in the juice for three to four hours in the fridge.

When she wanted to cook it she would remove it from the fridge and leave it to bring it up to room temperature, pat dry some of the marinade off and then cook the meat. This tenderised the meat, but if left

too long would send the meat dry because the enzymes break down the meat. If using the meat for a stew, she would only marinate it for only one hour or it would disintegrate.

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I then put the steaks, cut into pieces about the size of the palm of my hand, but still 25mm (1 in) thick, on the Baby Q for 4 minutes each side and they were cooked medium to well done and as tender as So having done all that with the veal. Thanks Mum! other piece, after I removed it from the marinade I marinated it again for 10 minutes in olive oil, fresh oregano and garlic.

Cook-up: Casserole on Mash

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Casserole on Mash by Jess Campia A cold weather favourite you can enjoy year-round...

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pring has sprung but there are still a few cool nights ahead. When the temperature drops and you need a hearty dinner try this delicious sausage casserole on mash. It’s another onepot wonder from our resident chef-de-travels – Jess Ciampa – who recommends you make it in the morning (or the night before) and then let it sit, for even more flavour. Enjoy!

Cook-up: Casserole on Mash

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You’ll need...

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

4 Thick sausages of your choice 2 Carrots 2 Sticks of celery 1 Large brown onion 8 Sage leaves Tablespoon chopped thyme ½ Teaspoon cracked black pepper ¼ Teaspoon salt and ½ Tablespoon sugar ½ Cup peas ½ Cup beans 700 gm Bottle pasta sauce (tomato) 1 Tablespoon olive oil ½ Cup red wine (don’t waste the rest!)

4 Large potatoes for the mash

Then ...

Chop up all your vegetables and put them in a bowl together with all the herbs and spices.

In a heavy cast iron pot, slightly brown all the sausages in the oil. When brown, remove and allow to cool.

Put in all your veggies, herbs and spices and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. Next, while on high heat, pour in the wine and cook for another 3 minutes to burn off the alcohol.

With a flat wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pot while cooking out the wine.

Chop the sausages into bitesize pieces and put them back into the pot with the veggies.

Pour in the sauce. Now, halffill the sauce bottle with water and pour that in as well.

Keep stirring together until it comes to the boil, and then put on simmer with the lid on for about 45 minutes. Turn off the stove and leave it so the flavours can blend together.

The sauce should be thick not runny.

Note: If too watery, cook with the lid off to thicken it up.

Finally ...

Prepare your mash potatoes, re-heat the casserole and serve it on top of the mash.

Do not make the mash too runny. I only use butter for this dish, no milk, to avoid it being too soft because of the sauce in the casserole.

This casserole can also be served on a bed of rice instead of the potatoes.

Any leftovers can be put into a pie dish and sprinkled with tasty cheese. Put a filo pastry lid on and bake at 180 till the filo goes brown. The filling is already cooked so it won’t take long!

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Sandown RV & Camping Leisurefest

Sunshine Coast Home & Caravan Show

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Sandown Racecourse, Princes Highway, Springvale. VIC. • Open 10:00-5:00 daily • Parking free • Adults $13 • Seniors $8 • Kids U15 free

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melbourneleisurefest.com.au/details.aspx

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