Chris Fincham•22 Mar 2017

REVIEW

Coromal Pioneer XC

Coromal heads down off-road path with new, tough Pioneer XC models

Coromal celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, but for most of the past four decades the Perth manufacturer has concentrated on a range of on-road (touring) caravans, pop-tops and camper trailers.

However, with a restructure of both Coromal and sister brand Windsor Caravans following a post-GFC slowdown in sales, parent company Fleetwood Corporation has introduced some dedicated off-road models for both caravans as well as camper trailers.

Following on from the range-topping, composite-bodied X4 Pioneer, it’s now rolled out a more traditional range of rugged Pioneer XC models, with 11 layouts mirroring Coromal’s entry-level Element caravan range.

Buyers of Element and Appeal on-road vans can still tick the ‘RTV Pack’ option, which adds features like checker plate protection, tougher A-frame, raised chassis, and bigger 16in alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres. However, the XC Pioneer models includes these rugged features and many more as standard, raising in the process prices as well as Tare weights in some cases by more than 500kg.

Tough exterior

Here we’re looking at the Pioneer XC 612, which is a 20ft 6in tandem axle van loaded to the gills with all the familiar attributes you often associate with a big Aussie off-road caravan.

These include trailing arm, independent coil and shock suspension, two spare wheels, mesh stone guard, A-frame mounted toolbox and extensive checker plate body protection, not to mention a DO35 hitch, steel scrub bars, slide-out compartments for external kitchens and generators, jerry can holders, fresh and grey water tanks, external shower, 16in wheels and chunky tyres, and a fully-equipped 12V system including two batteries and 150W solar panels with regulator.

While items like the scrub bars might be more for aesthetics than protection, unless you like bashing a three tonne van through tight, overgrown bush tracks, we did discover they act as excellent supports if you need to climb up and reach something high at the front or rear of the van, considering the van’s overall height is more than three metres.

Body construction of this XC Pioneer is a mix of old and new, with Coromal’s latest fibreglass sandwich panels at the front and rear, complemented by traditional aluminium ribbed cladding along the roof and sides, over Coromal’s trademark aluminium frame.

Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to see that other standard features fitted include a gas bayonet, outside picnic table, roll-out awning, external shower and external light and speakers.

Front loading compartments

There are also plenty of external storage options, although apart from a rear platform for two jerry cans, most are located fore of the tandem axle, presumably to push more weight onto the ball (at Tare) given the axles are located further forward than ideal due to the position of the rear entry door.

There’s a front tunnel boot, half of which is taken up by an optional slide-out aluminium drawer (another option here is a slide-out kitchen). Then there are two elongated lockers, sitting fore of the axles under the body, one on each side and measuring approximately 100cm x 30cm x 15cm.

The A-frame is jam-packed, with the two spare wheels, toolbox with separate compartments for the two gas bottles and optional fridge or generator slide, and stone mesh guard. Our only concern here, apart from putting too much weight on the ball (it was 264kg at Tare) is the short distance between the hitch and front compartments, which might clash with the rear of a ute tray when doing a jack-knife reversing manoeuvre.

The front-weight bias might have been a reason for some instability when towing behind the Ford F-150 tow vehicle, and we would assume it would be better balanced once the van is loaded up.

But overall, everything looks like it could withstand some punishment, except perhaps for the exposed grey water piping underneath and flimsy, gloss black plastic trim around the wheel guards.

Luxury layout

No matter where you end up in your travels with this Coromal van -- a busy Big4 holiday park or remote, national park campground -- there will be no slumming it when ensconced inside for the night.

Step up inside and you’re greeted by Coromal’s new look interior furniture and finishes, which matches current Australian trends when it comes to caravan décor, right down to a choice of dozens of ‘natural’ tones and patterns for the flooring, splashbacks, laminated benchtops, cabinets, upholstery and soft furnishings.

Based on one of Coromal’s most popular Element caravans, this particular layout has ‘grey nomad’ written all over it, with a walk-around queen bed at one end, kitchen and café dinette in the middle and full width ensuite with separate shower and toilet at the rear, behind the entrance area.

Highlights include the two large roof hatches and big windows with built-in blinds and screens throughout, and the amount of storage throughout the living areas including countless overhead lockers, twin half-wardrobes and drawers in the bedroom, and underbed storage.

Full marks to Coromal too, for fitting a memory foam mattress instead of the usual coil spring bed. Not only is it lighter, so you can lift the bed up easier, but also promises a better sleeping surface with many RV coil mattresses leaving a lot to be desired when it comes to comfort.

We also like the neat and easily accessible location for all the electrical panels and switches, in a cupboard at the foot of the bed near the adjustable arm for the 22in TV/DVD. The two person dinette with tri-fold table also offers comfy and supportive, cloth covered seating, with neat, slide-out cushion footrests at each end.

There's little to complain about the kitchen or bathroom either, with a four-burner cooker, grille and oven, 190 litre fridge, microwave, rangehood and stainless sink taking care of cooking, and a ceramic cassette toilet and basin, big mirror, 2.5kg washing machine and large separate shower taking care of personal hygiene.

Verdict

Coromal has certainly lifted its game as far as interior and exterior presentation is concerned, and the overall look and finish of the new Pioneer XC series, appears to be on par with top-selling rivals including Jayco, New Age and Supreme.

Priced just under $80,000, this 21ft 6in van is certainly specced up for some off-the-bitumen adventures, although we’re not entirely sure if it’s cut out for serious off-road work. While more than some tandem axle vans, the 500kg payload is also arguably underdone, considering filling the water tanks and fridge leaves little to spare...

It’s also worth noting that the factory warranty, according to the owner’s manual that comes with the van, doesn’t cover travel over many of the rough-and-ready surfaces you’re likely to encounter when heading off the tar...

We liked:

>> Smart interior presentation

>> External storage options

>> Strong underpinnings

Not so much:

>> It’s big and bulky

>> Weight distribution could be an issue when loading up van

>> Warranty doesn’t cover many off-road tracks

Coromal Pioneer PXC 612S

Travel length: 8215mm

External body length: 6150mm

External body width: 2480mm

Travel height: 3050mm

Interior height: 1980mm

Tare weight: 2755kg

ATM: 3255Kg

Ball weight (Tare): 264kg

Body: Sandwich one-piece fibreglass (front and rear), aluminium cladding (sides and roof), aluminium frame

Chassis: 150mm x 50mm galvanised

Suspension: independent trailing arm coil suspension, twin shocks per wheel

Brakes: Al-Ko 10-inch electric

Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC optional

Wheels: 16in steel with 265/75R16 AT tyres

Fresh water: 2 x 80L

Grey water: 2 x 43L

Water heating: Atwood 23 litre

Battery: 2 x 100Ah deep cycle

Solar: 2 x 150W roof-mounted

Air-conditioner: Dometic Freshjet roof-mounted

Gas: 2 x 9kg

Cooking: Camec four-burner gas/electric cooktop, grill and oven

Fridge: 190-litre Dometic three-way RMD 8555

Microwave: Camec

Toilet: Dometic porcelain cassette

Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle

Washing machine: Camec 2.5kg top loader

Lighting: LED

Price: $77,380

Supplied by: Camperagent, Adelaide, South Australia

More info: Coromal Caravans

Coromal Pioneer XC

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