Kedron builds $200,000-plus caravan

It’s official! One of Australia’s oldest caravan companies can now lay claim to building one of the most expensive caravans ever sold down under.

Kedron Caravans, which dates back to the early-1960s and currently sells a range of upmarket off-road caravans directly from its Brendale, Qld factory,  has sold a very special 26ft off-road caravan for what is believed to be close to $220,000.

“It’s the first van that has rolled through the Kedron production line that is over $200K, so it’s quite an investment but there’s so much in the way of features inside,” Kedron’s Glenn Gall said about the custom built, triple axle TopEnder TE’7 off-road couple's van.

The hefty price tag beats other big-ticket vans in recent years, including the  yacht-like Soul 22 ($185,689), and a specced-up 20ft Bushtracker  ($171,935).

Built for an experienced caravanner who has already owned two, non-Kedron vans, the 26ft show-stopper is jam-packed with the latest Kedron features as well as a few Australian caravan ‘firsts’.

Here’s what we know so far…

SASSY CHASSIS

It’s the first TopEnder model fitted with Kedron’s new ‘ALS’ auto-levelling airbag suspension. Twelve months in development and designed with the Airbag Man, the ALS system includes a dedicated external locker containing a German-made pump, air inflation tank and hand-held control offering three ‘auto’ modes: off-road, highway and parked, along with manual adjustment.

There’s a speed sensor located on the rearmost axle, that will automatically flick over to highway mode if accidentally left in ‘parked’, at speeds over 20km/h. Likewise, it will default to highway mode from off-road, at speeds over 80km/h.

There's also a second pump fitted, for inflating tyres on both the caravan and tow vehicle.

All six wheels are stopped by disc brakes, and feature KRS removable stub axles.

EXTERNAL EXTRAS

Most Aussie caravans have a drop-down picnic table, but the Kedron 26 footer has four – two on each side!

Externally, there’s also a Dometic slide-out kitchen, bike rack, TV locker, outside shower (with soap dispenser), jam-packed 'power box' and Kedrons' latest CAD-designed alloy front tool box incorporating a generator slide, Webasto diesel heater and tap.

Filling almost the entire roof is an auto tracking satellite dish, plus eight solar panels (not including Kedron’s new lift-up, padded and insulated ‘solar’ awning over the front window) for more than 1000W solar power.

It’s also the first Kedron van fitted with ‘Kooltherm’ roof insulation and ‘Air-Cell’ wall insulation, sourced from building insulation specialist Kingspan.

The two spare wheels fit in a recessed compartment at the rear of the van; an American-style electric front jack takes the hard work out of hitching up, and there are six fresh water tanks for a total of 480 litres, plus one for grey water.

DOMESTIC STYLE KITCHEN

The extra-long 3.2m long kitchen bench features two sinks plus a drainer, a separate tap delivering instant chilled, filtered or boiling water, a domestic-style pull-out dishwasher, a combination convection microwave/oven, a three burner (two gas/one induction) cooktop, a six-bottle wine chiller, and a compressor 95L fridge/freezer drawer along with a full-height 218L compressor fridge freezer.

HOME THEATRE

The large café-dinette gets the “full genuine hide leather” treatment, not to mention in-built seat heaters (another first for Kedron) and a foot-operated pedestal table. It also converts to another bed with the supplied leather insert.

There's a BOSE sound system and an LED TV built into a wall recess, along with another TV for the bedroom.

ELECTRICAL STORM

Designed to run the appliances including the air-conditioning when free camping, the big-ticket 12V system includes the 1000W-plus solar panels that top up a 900Ah Enerdrive lithium battery system, (three 300amp lithium power packs), backed by two 1800W-plus inverters that slot under the bed.

The electrics are controlled from an overhead locker with more switches than an aeroplane cockpit, including gauges and switches for the grey water tank, battery charger, and hot water system. The Kedron also boasts a new “booster and repeater station” set-up to enhance out-of-town mobile reception.

DÉCOR DELIGHTS

Extensive LED lighting includes reading lamps, in-cabinet courtesy lights, ‘runway’ strip lighting and multi-coloured shower lighting, while other design touches borrowed from the domestic and luxury hotel industries include a full-height door mirror, magnetic interior door catches, and a smoked black glass bathroom sink.

COSY ENSUITE 

There's no slumming it in the full width rear bathroom either, which is packed with features including a ceramic cassette toilet, wall-mounted Mini washing machine, heated towel rack, and custom shower with soap/shampoo dispenser, foot rest and Kedron’s trademark powdercoated, alloy shower base.

SLUMBER LAND

Closed off from the rest of the van with a solid door, the main bedroom gets a custom-made bamboo mattress, full wraparound leather bedhead, blue LED-lit side recesses, 12V fans and plenty of storage including dual, full-height robes.

About the only items missing on the custom Kedron are a gun safe and bidet --- options  that have been fitted on some Kedron vans in the past!

HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER

Kedron was yet to run the van over a weigh bridge, but fitted with a five tonne rated Hitch-Ezy coupling and to be towed by its new owner with an American RAM pick-up, the 26ft show-stopper is expected to easily exceed four tonnes fully-loaded.

The triple axle TopEnder was one of 15 lithium-equipped Kedron vans on display at the Queensland Supershow, at the Brisbane Showgrounds from June 6-11.