Achtung Camper Motorhome 2023 Review

When the zombie apocalypse arrives you’ll have an escape vehicle that looks the part in this Achtung Camper Motorhome, which is kitted out for off-road exploration and off-grid living.

Made by boutique campervan conversion specialist, Achtung Camper, the Volkswagen Crafter-based Motorhome is the largest RV offered by the Geelong, Victoria-based, family-owned company, which was established by Ronny Probandt and Tania Differding around 10 years ago.

Over the years the company has made a name for itself with its funky and functional campervans, with the Volkswagen Transporter the prime focus.

In recent years, however, the business has spread its wings with this larger, van-based motorhome – larger, says Tania, but not too large.

“We only do the six-metre-long medium-wheelbase Crafter motorhome as it’s the longest-size vehicle that allows you to still park in standard car spaces, giving you the same mobility as you’d have with your everyday car,” she explains.

“We don’t do anything bigger for this reason, and because it’s against our values. We wanted to offer clients a real ‘hotel room on wheels’ that allows them to be self-sufficient and travel Australia completely off grid but in five-star style.”

To ‘off-grid’ add ‘off-road’ in the case of our test vehicle, which boasts VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, along with a locking rear differential, hill descent control, alloys with BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres – even a snorkel! Having said that, we suspect most will baulk at the thought of river crossings, in a glossy, stylish alloy wheeled rig priced $189,950 (drive away, as tested).

Yes, it’s pricey, but when you consider its off-road and off-grid potential, its hand-built construction, and its stylish exterior and comfy and functional interior, maybe it’s not so pricey after all. In any case, pricing starts from about $93,000 for a front-drive model with the bare basics, with an average build costing around $163,000.

Thanks to Achtung’s slick online ordering system, you can easily add or subtract features to suit your needs, wants, and budget. And there’s plenty of flexibility in each build, from the choice of fabrics, wall and floor coverings, to the appliances and more.

Even sourcing the base vehicle is simple, because Achtung Camper works with a local VW dealership to purchase and supply the Crafter. Achtung says wait times on this model are currently sitting at around nine months.

The Achtung VW Motorhome can be specified to carry up to five occupants and sleep up to three; those upper figures achieved through the use of a three-seater bench front seat which converts to an additional berth (for a child). Our test van, however, sports twin pedestal seats up front, with a further two lap seat belts in the rear.

In any case, to my mind this motorhome as presented here is ideal for intrepid couples looking to head bush, or for digital nomads who have taken their online work on the road – more on that in a bit.

Keen to get a feel for this head-turning rig, I slept in it for a few nights and took it to Lerderderg State Park, north of Melbourne, covering around 350 kilometres (both on- and off-road) in the process.

The Achtung Camper Motorhome is a dream to drive. The quoted turning circle for this medium-wheelbase is 13.6m, but it feels even tighter than that – certainly it’s easy to park and manoeuvre, aided by a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

It’s quiet on the road, too. There’s a little bit of noise from the all-terrain tyres and some engine noise under acceleration, but it’s all nicely muted on a steady throttle and there’s very few squeaks and rattle emanating from behind the cab – testament to its quality construction.

Off-road it feels planted and secure, and it soaks up corrugations nicely. I didn’t tackle anything gnarly when out bush but it’s nice to know you have a sophisticated all-wheel drive system at your disposal, and a locking rear diff if things get tricky. Its 230mm of ground clearance is generous too, although off-road ability is restricted somewhat by its modest approach and departure angles.

I recorded 13.6L/100km over 350km but that included extensive use of the diesel heater, which feeds from the main fuel tank. The long-term economy figure was 12.1L/100km which isn’t bad given its size and weight. On that note, this van incorporates a 3880kg factory GVM upgrade to accommodate the fit-out and extras like the nudge bar and rear carrier, while still affording a very healthy 1060kg payload.

After pulling up at the campsite in Lerderderg, I had a chance to fully appreciate the Achtung Motorhome’s design and features. I love the paint scheme, and with those alloys, the chunky rubber and that snorkel, it looks like it’s ready for anything.

Externally, there’s a 3.2m awning plus an LED outside light. There’s also an external power point, a plug for mains power, and a plug for additional solar power (beyond the 290W panel on the roof).

At the rear is a spare wheel and a custom carrier made by Achtung Camper, to which you can fit all manner of accessories. This van has a two-bike rack fitted over a storage compartment, but it could just as easily carry jerry can holders instead.

Step up through the side sliding door (a fold-out step is available) and you’re greeted with a smart and functional layout. The driver’s and front passenger’s pedestal seats (with double arm rests) swivel to face the living area, with a compact kitchen near the side door opposite a bathroom with full-size toilet, sink, and shower.

The rear of the van has bench seating down each side – spacious room for four adults, but up to six if need be.

The bed? Look up! It’s stowed in the ceiling and lowers into place via cords and an electric motor. The seat backs, meanwhile, slot into place at the foot of the bed and down the nearside, producing a bed measuring 1950mm long by 1700mm wide.

A manual lowering/raising system is also available, saving $1500. It’s a neat system, but it does preclude a second lot of overhead cabinets down the offside, reducing storage space.

There’s a mix of LED strip lights and downlights with a dimming function to set the mood, along with a hatch and windows with full blockout blinds and insect screens.

Meticulously cut and assembled marine-grade birch ply gives a lovely, natural tone inside, complemented by beige marine-carpet-lined walls. The orange fabric upholstery is done by TrimTech, a specialist automotive upholsterer with which Achtung Camper shares floorspace in its Geelong factory.

The flooring also has a natural tone – it resembles straw matting or hessian fabric – but it's in fact a woven vinyl material which should prove hardwearing and relatively easy to clean.

Achtung Camper worked with a Melbourne-based tiny home specialist, Winter Architecture, to produce this layout, and the expertise shows. There’s a simplicity to the interior’s look and feel, yet it’s interwoven with sophisticated technology and numerous smart features. It’s clever and full of character.

Self-sufficiency is a big theme here, and to that end there's no LPG. Instead, we have a diesel cooker, hot-water system, and heater, all from Webasto, plus 290W of solar and a 110Ah lithium battery.

All the controls for the Webasto products are located over the sliding door, along with a button for a Wi-Fi range extender and another for the 2000W inverter. So you can run a wide range of appliances, including laptops, and there are two centrally located double power points.

Chefs will be relying solely on that diesel cooker because there’s no grill and no microwave, but you do get an 80 litre Waeco fridge/freezer and our test van had an additional 20 litre fridge drawer towards the rear – ideal for cold drinks.

The sink is of a reasonable size and its cover doubles as food preparation space. You could also use the portable table, stowed just behind the driver’s seat and which slots into a bracket in the rear seating area (with a separate base and stand supplied for outdoor use).

There’s a drawer for cutlery just under the sink, a utensils drawer over the fridge, some open slots for odds and ends, and a larger drawer at floor level. And I love the little bin which pops out from below the cooker – another neat Achtung touch.

The bathroom has a full-size composting toilet from Nature’s Head, and the manufacturer claims it can go for up to 80 uses before needing to be emptied, while being eco-friendly and odour free in the process. It doesn’t empty to an underfloor tank; you have to remove and empty its integrated tank yourself – you can check out our review from a few year's ago to see if it’s a good solution for you.

The tap for the small basin also doubles as the shower head and there’s a fan and a window. A Tambour roller-shutter-style door matches those on the overhead nearside cabinets, but I found it to be a bit flimsy and fiddly to use.

When it’s time to turf out the guests and turn in for the night, setting up the bed is simple. Just unclip the four straps securing the bed, drop the seat-back cushions into place, and press the button in the ceiling. The electric motor whirrs and down it goes. When it’s in place, simply unclip the four cords and you’re ready for a restful night’s sleep.

On that note, I have to say I loved the diesel heater, which warms the place right up in just a few minutes. It has a handy timer function too and it effectively tamed a few near-freezing southern winter nights.

There’s no TV (another option) and no audio system, although our van did come with a neat little Bluetooth speaker, secured next to a twin USB outlet over the kitchen. It’s adjacent to a little ledge to place your phone when charging.

And just nearby is a BMPro touchscreen that monitors battery charge and status, tank status, and much more. It’s an easy-to-use interface, while the lithium battery, inverter, and battery management system is located underneath the offside seating.

There’s storage under the rest of the offside seating too, but it accommodates a long drawer that opens from the rear of the van. Here you’ll find your 15A power lead, thermal blankets to fit to the cab windows, and the stand and base for the portable table, along with two folding chairs secured to the inside of each barn door, and the outlet for the rear shower.

Oh, and there’s a custom-made, zip-in insect screen here at the back (there’s one for the sliding door too).

There are a couple of large drawers under the nearside seating and there’s cabinetry overhead, but once you’ve filled the van with cooking implements, food, and clothing, there won’t be much room left to spare. Storage space will be a limiting factor for those eyeing extended trips.

I love the book/magazine/table racks, but the two at the rear of the van could do with a USB outlet to keep your phone close by at night.

Other gripes? Apart from that bathroom door, I found the ceiling height was just a bit too low for my lanky (188cm/6ft 2in) self. This is more an issue in the 4MOTION Crafter models than front-drive models, and in any case anyone of average height or below will be fine.

This is one very cool, very nicely done motorhome. There’s a high level of craftsmanship found throughout, and the off-grid amenity is impressive – and backed up by some appreciable off-road capability.

It’s comfortable, stylish, and functional, even if the storage capacity is modest. I’d say it would easily be one of the most eye-catching motorhomes in the caravan park, except you won’t be in a caravan park – you’ll be miles from anywhere, enjoying the best our natural environment has to offer, in complete comfort and splendid isolation.

Price: $189,950 drive-away (as tested)
Model: Volkswagen Crafter 35 MWB High Roof
Engine: 130kW/410Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic with VW 4MOTION all-wheel drive
Body length: 5986mm (excl. nudge bar, spare wheel and bike rack)
Body width: 2040mm (excl. mirrors)
Travel height: 2680mm
Tare: 2820kg
GVM: 3880kg
Payload: 1060kg
Wheels/tyres: CSA alloys, with 235/65R17 BFGoodrich tyres
Brakes: Discs on all wheels
Fresh water: 130L fresh plus grey tank
Battery: 1 x 110Ah lithium
Solar: Single 290W rooftop panel
Air conditioner: Truma a/c: $3300 option
Space heater and hot water: Webasto diesel
Gas: N/A
Cooking: Webasto diesel twin element cooker with Ceran field glass surface
Fridge: 80L Waeco CR-80 fridge/freezer
Ensuite: Internal shower and Nature’s Head composting toilet (also outdoor shower at rear of van)
Lighting: Dimmable LED downlights and strip lights, plus three LED reading lights
TV: N/A
Audio: Ultimate Ears WonderBoom 2 Bluetooth speaker
Supplied by: Achtung Camper, Geelong, Victoria