A'van Cruiseliner 1D

A noticeable trend in the RV industry is that caravans are getting longer and heavier and, as a result, tow vehicles have to increase in size.

An RV company that has resisted this trend (at least in part) is A'van. Its range of A-shaped folding caravans or campers created a sensation when first introduced, and the fact that the basic design hasn't really changed since suggests that A'van is onto a
good thing.

The A design not only appeals to caravanners who want something small to tow that's also comfortable to live in, it also attracts another segment of RVers - those who desire the camper trailer lifestyle, without the canvas or plastic walls.

With this in mind, we headed to Qld A'van dealer Gary Kratzmann, of Kratzmann Caravans and Marine, to borrow the A'van Cruiseliner 1D. Gary has the full range of A'van folding campers and full-size vans at his Virginia and Burpengary sales yards.

There are a variety of Cruiseliner layouts in double and single-bed configurations, but the 1D comes with a double bed in the rear and a dinette/single bed in the front.

STOW AND GO
The Cruiseliner is characterised in part by its length and the large storage bin on the drawbar. The total “garage” length of the Cruiseliner, including the drawbar, is 18ft 11in (5.8m). This will please people with limited storage facilities. Other measurements of interest to small tow vehicle owners are the towing height, a mere 5ft 10in (1.8m) and the 1200kg ATM. To complete the picture, the Cruiseliner's width - 6ft 8in (2m) - suits most mid size sedans.

So it was with great confidence that we hitched up the Cruiseliner to our Toyota Aurion and headed out of the Kratzmann yard. As you might expect, towing wasn't difficult at all, and the experience was enhanced with the independent leaf suspension with shock absorbers.

In some ways the Cruiseliner is conventionally constructed - it has a hot dipped galvanized chassis - but A'van says its Centurion Chassis is purpose built. Maintaining its strength, it has pressed hole cross members to keep weight down and a design that resists torsion and compression.

The A'van being a relatively light weight in the first place means that the chassis has less mechanical stress.

For its body construction, the Cruiseliner is built of bonded panels that have 25mm of styrene foam insulation, two layers of ply and fibreglass for the outer panels.

At the front, the drawbar is a relatively streamlined affair with usual features - jockey wheel, ball hitch and handbrake. Two 4kg gas cylinders are mounted just in front of the large storage bin. It's easily accessible and quite deep. A small door at the nearside rear provides access to the under bed area. At the rear, the bumper bar doubles as a pole storage container and a spare wheel carrier.

At the campsite, the Cruiseliner is easy to set up. Once the corner stabiliser jacks are wound down (probably the most time consuming job) the two roof clips on either side can be undone and the roof halves lifted into position - elevating one lifts the other into position. With the roof in position, it's a matter of stepping inside, lifting the walls up, and performing a tricky little manoeuvre with the split door to make that fully functional. When all that's in place, the Cruiseliner is ready for use.

LIGHT AND BREEZY
The Cruiseliner is quite compact on the inside, as you might expect. The apex is 8ft (2.4m), so low ceiling height is not a problem. Opening the glass windows on the side walls will let in plenty of light, assisted by polycarbonate roof hatches (not so easy to reach if you are short) and domes. The Cruiseliner reviewed was installed with two domes at the front and a large one at the rear, each with winders.

The interior layout is reasonably uncomplicated. It features a double bed across the rear, a two-person dinette across the front, and a kitchen bench along the nearside. All the windows have curtains or blinds and are screened.

Like the chassis, the cabinetry has been designed with weight and strength in mind, using what A'van calls its Euro Construction process.

The kitchen has a two-burner Smev cooktop, stainless steel sink, 90L Dometic fridge and an optional microwave, leaving enough space for a floor locker under the microwave. Both cooktop and sink have useful smoked glass lids. There is also a waist high cabinet opposite, complete with three drawers.

Up front, the dinette, which converts to a single bed, will seat two people comfortably. There is the usual under-seat storage and across the front is a wall height storage compartment with three hinged lids - the middle one can be used as a hanging wardrobe.

The rest of the Cruiseliner's interior space is occupied by the 6ft 2in x 4ft 2in (1.9m x 1.3m) rear bed. The factory standard mattress is foam, but Cruiseliners purchased through Gary Kratzmann have mattresses that are innerspring.

With the roof dome fitted, it has opening windows all round. Underneath is a general storage area.

Electrics are quite simple. The Cruiseliner is wired for 240V (of course) and 12V power is supplied by a standard battery when the camper isn't plugged to the mains.

The 12V lights are fitted to the fore and aft ceilings but there isn't a direct light on the kitchen bench. Solar panels are an option and ideally suited for the angled tops of the Cruiseliner.

THE BOTTOM LINE
They might have been around for a few years without many radical changes, but there is nothing wrong with the fundamental concept of the A'van.

It is a lightweight folding caravan or camper that can be erected in very short order, and one that can be towed by a large variety of tow vehicles, and stored in a relatively small area.

Undoubtedly, the Cruiseliner is one of the best of the bunch, being the largest and offering the most living and storage areas.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED:

Kratzmann Caravans and Marine
1768 Sandgate Road
Virginia, Qld
(07) 3265 2477;

174 Eastern Services Road
Burpengary, Qld
(07) 3888 2755
http://www.kratzmann.com.au/

For more information about A'van, including your nearest dealer, visit http://www.avan.com.au/

Words and pics Malcolm Street