Crusader Chameleon 2019 Review

Why would you struggle with a fold out camper when you can set up in seconds and sleep securely, oblivious to the elements, in a composite-bodied caravan for a similar price?

That’s the question Crusader Caravans is asking potential customers to consider with its new four metre-long and lightweight entry-model Chameleon that broke cover at the Melbourne Supershow in in early-2019.

It’s a valid question in these time-poor times, when couples would rather pack experiences into their busy days than deal with possibly wet canvas, guy ropes and pegs.

True to its name, the Chameleon can fit into most holiday plans and budget, with six models in the range, from budget weekenders to family and semi off-road models, priced from $29,000-$40,000 tow-away.

We tried the range-topping $39,990 Liberty SV model with its off-road hitch and trailing arm, coil spring Tuff-ride independent suspension to get you to remote areas, as well as enough fresh water capacity and off-grid energy to allow you to enjoy the isolation for several days running.

Light to tow

Weighing just 1269kg Tare, with a ball weight of 114kg and a mighty payload of more than 1400kg, the top-spec Chameleon with its four metre-long body, two metre width and a height of 2.45 metres, is small enough to mix it with most campers, but big enough to hang out with caravanners, if desired, and light enough to be towed there by most compact SUVs.

At the budget end of the Chameleon range, the $28,990 Action model with its smaller diameter 40mm chassis, leaf spring suspension, 15-inch wheel and less solar and battery power, would be well suited to an inner city couple wanting to escape to a weekend holiday hot spot, with the option of a night or two unplugged.

Crusader sees the Chameleon appealing to a wide range of people with varying lifestyles, but with one thing in common: the desire to go caravanning fuss-free without breaking the bank.

The Chameleon’s clever packaging, with its wedge-shaped, aerodynamic roofline, full 32mm composite wall, floor and roof construction and rear entry door, contributes to its versatility.

Singles or double bed inside

One of the keys to its versatility is its clever interior layout with slide-together single beds that allow it to be a mates’ or couples’ caravan.  Slide the two single foam mattresses together – either to one side of the Chameleon, or centre them, to form a large double bed -- and you have plenty of bedside space for overnight clothes, phones, iPads, etcetera, and with room to store soft bags out of the way underneath.

Alternatively, if you push them to opposite sides, the space between them serves as easy access.

Whatever your sleeping arrangements, you’ll probably need that floor space for clothes storage, as there’s precious little inside otherwise. This is a soft bag casual weekender rather than a caravan for extended off-grid living.

Otherwise, you can live quite comfortably inside, with a twin burner gas cooktop and shallow stainless steel washbowl with a hot/cold mixer tap to the left  of the rear entry door, with a 110-litre Dometic compressor fridge opposite, just after the Liberty SV’s combined shower and cassette toilet ensuite bathroom.

Add a standard Sirocco 12v fan, a long couch on the left hand side wall and enough kitchen cupboards to house pots, pans and provisions and you can live quite happily indoors while it pours outside.

Outside living

However, Crusader obviously expects most Chameleon owners to focus on outdoor living and here the Chameleon is better equipped.

There’s a skinny checker-plate tool box on the A-frame, behind the single 9kg gas bottles and vertically-mounted spare wheel for the dirty stuff, like hoses and cables, leaving the front through-body boot free to house the Liberty SV’s standard slide-out stainless steel BBQ and sink on the left, while there’s more storage room on its opposing side. Additionally, there’s a square storage locker on to the rear of the  kitchen.

In the right hand side, there’s an external hot/cold shower, but no privacy, as the Chameleon lacks a drop-down or fold-out shower screen.

Looking underneath at the Chameleon’s trailing arm, coil spring independent suspension and its good ground clearance thanks to its standard 16-inch wheels and tyres, there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to go bush with ease, while the Liberty SV’s twin 65-litre fresh water tanks are protected from stone strike by shields, and there's provision for a grey water tank.

The plumbing underneath is tucked well up into the full length chassis, but still remains more vulnerable than the underbody of serious off-road campers, emphasising that while this is a compact caravan designed to handle rough roads, it isn’t and doesn’t pretend to be, a serious off-roader.

The real limitation here is the caravan’s sharp, rather than tapered, rear overhang,  which allows the bodywork and drop jacks to scrape on steep inclines.

However, with its camper trailer weight, the Chameleon tows confidently and easily – albeit a little jiggly when unladen – behind any medium-sized SUV, meaning that potential buyers won’t have to compromise their day-to-day motoring to enjoy the getaway opportunities that this small Crusader offers.

Summing up

The new entry-model Crusader is an ideal compact caravan for many of today’s time-poor travellers, requiring little set-up and thus maximising enjoyment for its users, whether at weekend hot-spots or remote area camping.

2019 Crusader Chameleon Liberty SV

Travel length: 5500mm
External body length: 4000mm
External body width: 2000mm
Travel height: 2450-2600mm depending on model
Internal height: 1920mm
Tare: 1269kg
ATM: 2700kg
Ball weight (Tare): 114kg
Body: 32mm full composite walls, roof and floor
Chassis: Galvanised 150mm x 50mm steel chassis with Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling
Suspension: Tuff-ride independent trailing arm independent with twin telescopic shock absorbers per wheel
Brakes: 12in electric drum
Wheels: 16in alloy with 245-16 tyres
Freshwater: 2 x 65 litre
Battery: 1 x 120AH deep cycle AGM
Solar: Roof-mounted 2 x 160W glass panel
Gas: 1 x 9kg
Hot water: Gas HWS
Cooking: Dometic 2-burner gas internal cooktop, plus microwave and slide-out Swift stainless stainless steel kitchen with sink and BBQ
Fridge: 110-litre Waeco compressor
Shower: Internal and external hot/cold
Lighting: LED inside, plus exterior lighting on all sides.
Price: $39,990 drive away (Victoria)
Supplied by: Crusader Caravans, Campbellfield, Victoria
More info: Crusader Caravans