Crusader Lifechanger Pathway 2024 Review

Crusader Caravans has grown in leaps and bounds since its near death experience a few years ago.

Not long ago the big-selling caravan builder moved into a large new purpose-built factory in Melbourne's north, to cope with growing demand for its ever evolving range of full fibreglass composite, large and compact caravans.

Now for 2024, the 22-year old Aussie RV manufacturer has updated its range of Lifechanger entry-level couple and family vans, with a few tweaks and enhancements to make them even more appealing to those on tighter budgets or first-time caravan shoppers.

The Lifechanger touring range has been updated inside and out for 2024, with Victorian dealer Crusader Caravans Melbourne recently taking delivery of the new 18ft 6in Lifechanger Pathway couple's and 20ft 6in Lifechanger Bunkie family models. (For a full walk-through video of both vans, check out Crusader Melbourne's Youtube channel.)

Being entry level, touring spec vans, both are sharply priced with a $66,000 RRP for the Pathway couple's van and a $71,000 RRP for bunk model.

For this review we took a closer look at the Lifechanger Pathway, which for the money comes quite nicely set up for a travelling couple who plan to spend a decent amount of time out on the road, albeit mostly in caravan parks, and not too far off the blacktop.

The Lifechanger Pathway is the cheapest full size Crusader ensuite couple's van currently available, and its bitumen-oriented spec extends to a 50mm ball coupling, AL-KO removable jockey wheel, leaf springs with beam axle suspension, 12in electric drum brakes and 15in alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres.

Combine that with limited ground clearance and lots of exposed underbody plumbing and you won't want to take it down too many rough or bumpy roads for fear of breaking something underneath, although it did handle our bushy off-road photo location without too much trouble.

There is some gal protection for the two underbody mounted poly water tanks, but the lack of any stone chip protection for its glossy fibreglass front panel would be of concern if travelling at speed on gravel or dirt roads.

It might be a budget offering but the 2024 Lifechanger Pathway gets a similiar Intelligent Engineering Duratech steel chassis and 'Ecolite' full composite body construction as you get with more expensive Crusader vans.

That means thick (32-42mm) one-piece fibreglass sandwich panels for the walls, roof and floor, which should deliver a number of benefits including fewer joins, hailstone resistance, and better insulation.

While we didn't get to test out its thermal or acoustic efficiencies during the photo-shoot, the full composite body construction should insulate its occupants better from the elements than a traditional framed van, while the lack of timber in the body should also reduce the chance of rot if there's a leak.

There are also weight benefits, with the 3500kg-tow rated Ford Ranger ute used to haul the 1977kg Tare/2500kg ATM Pathway to our photo-location barely breaking a sweat. The van also offers an excellent 523kg payload for a budget touring van.

There's a clean, minimalist, almost automotive-style finish about the Lifechanger, similar to what you get with many Euro vans, and something which should appeal to owners of more upmarket tow vehicles.

Up front, there are two drawbar-mounted 9kg gas bottles, and external storage is confined to a tunnel boot, although it's quite wide and spacious inside, so should carry a lot of gear.

However, there's no built-in light and the door opening probably isn't big enough to squeeze in a Weber BBQ that would connect to the easily accessible gas bayonet on the side wall next to the tunnel boot.

A Global wind-out awning covers most of the onside wall, and there's a picnic table to hold the TV, or you can mount it and connect it to power using the nearby 'TV locker'.

There's also an awning light and external speakers on the onside wall, plus a solid security door and single pull-out entry step (which may not be required for long-legged types).

Along the offside wall you'll find the 240V inlet, toilet cassette locker, water tank fillers, a mains water pressure inlet, water pump switches for individual tanks, and a low-slung chassis-mounted battery box for the single AGM battery.

New for 2024 is a very neat and solid-looking four-arm rear bar that runs straight off the chassis, that carries a single spare and with room to mount other items like a bike rack. There's also a wireless rear view camera to help when backing into campsites.

Free camping? Given its price-point and target buyer it's no surprise the 18ft 6in Lifechanger Pathway is one of the least off-grid camping friendly caravans we've checked out in recent times, with just a single 200W rooftop solar panel charging up the solitary 120Ah AGM battery.

That won't keep the food and drink cold for long in the 175 litre compressor fridge, outside of a caravan park, unless you're moving around a lot and powering it off the tow vehicle via the Anderson plug.

There's a good amount of onboard water storage though -- 190 litres in total -- which is arguably more important when you're camping in the middle of nowhere.

There's a lot to like and not too much to dislike inside the 18ft 6in couple's layout, with plenty of windows along both sides of the van, a large skylight/roof hatch and decent 2.0m plus interior height to give it a spacious feel.

A smart and contemporary fit-out includes marine ply cupboards with hidden handles and drawers with new push-button latches, thin square edge benchtops, and piano hinges and gas struts for the overhead lockers, which all add to a quality feel despite its entry-level status.

The north-south queen bed also gets a coil spring mattress and padded upholstered bedhead, and the frame is extendable although there's limited space at the front of the bed if you pull it all the way out.

There's good storage around the bed, including side robes, drawers, overhead cupboards, and some deep bedside nooks with twin USB and 240V sockets.

There's plenty of storage space under the bed too, with just the BMPRO ASPower power management board taking up a small amount of space, and the controls and monitors for the battery, solar and water tanks taken care of with a BMPRO Aspero control panel mounted above the entry door.

The switches for the LED downlights are controlled by a remote, with reading lights also located around the bed and dinette.

The cosy two-person cafe dinette includes your typical tri-fold table, with some storage space under one of the seats (the hot water unit is located under the other seat).

It's more of a sitting-up straight than lounging area, with very firm, flat foam seat bases covered in leatherette upholstery which Crusader says will hold their shape better over time than some of the more plush cushioning found in rival vans.

There's also a 24in Smart TV that mounts on a swivel arm to face either the dinette or bed.

The kitchen gets a four hob cooktop and grille, a latest 'plate free' microwave, a large stainless sink with drainer, rangehood, and plenty of storage including a deep pot drawer and cutlery drawers. There's also a new 170 litre compressor fridge/freezer that runs off 12V and 240V power.

Some things missing you might find in pricier vans include a filtered tap, conventional oven and a pull-out pantry, although there are two pantry-style cupboards with pocket' 'shelving' built into walls near the entry door that could hold dry food and condiments.

The Lifechanger Pathway gets more buyer 'ticks' around the rear ensuite area, with a lockable solid sliding door leading to decent space around the corner toilet, a rear vanity with ceramic basin and mirror, and large fibreglass corner shower cubicle, with a 12V fan hatch in the shower and an opening window above the toilet for ventilation.

There's also a 3.2kg top load washing machine fitted as standard, along with a toilet roll holder, a few storage cupboards, some lighting and power sockets, although only one towel rail.

It's worth noting that while reasonably well equipped with electrical appliances, we did notice a Sanjo rooftop reverse cycle air conditioner and Freucamp 175 litre compressor fridge and cassette toilet sourced from a relatively new Chinese-based company, rather than more recognised RV brands like Thetford and Dometic (although the cooktop/grille and double glazed windows are Dometic).

At a time when caravans are becoming less affordable, not to mention over-loaded at times with the latest RV tech and off-road gear, it's good to know you can still get a nicely finished, comfortably equipped, solidly constructed and relatively lightweight caravan like the Crusader Lifechanger, at óld school' pricing.

With its desirable full composite construction and good list of standard features, the 2024 Lifechanger Pathway also stands out as a worthy alternative to budget-priced fibreglass on-road models from other mainstream brands including Snowy River, Windsor and Jayco.

Price: $66,000 RRP
Travel length: TBC
Body length (internal): 5550mm (18ft 6in)
External body width: TBC
Travel height: TBC
Internal height: 2032mm
Tare weight: 1977kg
ATM: 2500kg
Ball weight (Tare): 170kg
Body: One-piece fibreglass sandwich panels for floor, walls and roof
Chassis: Duratech four-inch steel with six-inch A-frame
Suspension: Leaf springs/beam axle with 50mm ball coupling
Brakes: 12in electric drums
Stability control: Dexter, optional
Wheels: 15in alloy with LT235/75R15 all terrain tyres
Freshwater: 2 x 95L
Battery: 1 x 110Ah AGM
Solar: 1 x 200watt rooftop panel
Air-conditioner: Sanjo 240V rooftop
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Swift 28 litre gas/electric
Cooking: Mobicool 3+1 cooktop, grille
Fridge: Freucamp 170L compressor fridge/freezer
Microwave: NCE 240v
Toilet: Freucamp cassette
Shower: Separate cubicle
Washing machine: Aussie Traveller 3.2kg top load washing machine
Lighting: 12V LED
TV: Majestic 24in Smart TV
Audio: NCE Bluetooth with internal/external speakers
Supplied by: Crusader Caravans Melbourne, Campbellfield, Victoria
More info: Crusader Caravans