Desert Sky Storm

WE LIKED
>> All LED lighting
>> Spacious combo bathroom
>> Easy-fitting T35 Off Road Hitch

NOT SO MUCH
>> Not enough powerpoints or strorage areas
>> Internal finish not quite up to scratch

Repeat business is a strong indicator of the quality of any product, big or small. When a customer keeps coming back, you know a company is doing something right.

When I met Julie Schubert, the owner of a new Desert Sky Storm offroad van, I was introduced to one such satisfied customer.

Julie and her husband had just moved into the Storm after several happy years in a Desert Sky Tracker. When they decided it was time for a new van, they went straight to Desert Sky owners Rudi and Delores Vester and told them what they wanted.

“Rudi and Delores are such great people to deal with,” Julie said. “We had been so happy with the Tracker, we were only ever going to get another Desert Sky.”

In fact, the Schuberts are such happy customers they struck up a friendship with Rudi and Delores, with the two couples having shared an offroad adventure through Victoria's Pyrenees region. 

RUGGED GOOD LOOKS

At little more than a glance, it’s clear the Storm is built for some rough offroad action. This rugged little single-axle unit sits high off the ground and has a waist of hefty 1.6mm checkerplate all the way around.

According to Rudi, the van sits so high because of its tough Cruisemaster independent suspension, twin Gabriel shock absorbers and huge rear departure angle. It all adds up to make a van that looks like it could go anywhere.

The Storm’s meranti timber frame is glued and screwed to its 6in laser-cut galvanised chassis (with cross beams). The frame is fully-insulated and the whole lot is clad in aluminium.

Up front, the drawbar is a busy place, featuring the spare tyre, a pair of 9kg gas cylinders, and the 8in jockey wheel.

Also worth noting here, the coupling is a somewhat different T35 Off Road Hitch, which Rudi uses on all his vans. And after watching a demonstration of one of these things very easily lowering onto a tow ball, I have to say I was impressed with their relative simplicity.

Having such a packed drawbar means the front boot is left completely empty, so there's plenty of room for all travel essentials. Given this is the only exterior storage, the maximum use of the boot space is very welcome.

The roll-out awning is generous, especially given the size of the van. And while a fold-down picnic table is an available extra, the front boot should be large enough for your own table and chairs.

Given the van is built for getting off the bitumen and into some bush camping, there is plenty in terms of power. Two 100Ah sealed batteries and a 240V Projecta charger – which charges the batteries via the Anderson plug when towing – are backed up by a couple of 80W solar panels. 

A look underneath the van reveals two 90 litre water tanks, well-protected and out of harm’s way.

Weighing in with a Tare of 1840kg, the Storm is by no means a super lightweight tourer, but nor does it require a 200 Series LandCruiser. A mid-sized 4WD should do the job nicely.

INNER SANCTUARY

Give the relatively short internal length of this offroad van – 17ft 9in – the interior layout of the Storm is designed with the most practical use of space in mind. This means a front bedroom, middle dinette and rear kitchen, with the ensuite tucked into the offside corner.

In the bedroom, the first thing you notice is the amount of natural light pouring in. Huge windows on either side, as well as a generous front window, make for a very light and air-filled space. I am a fan of using natural light whenever possible, and all of the windows here were a real delight.

In addition, there are tables, drawers, cupboards and wardrobes on either side of the double bed. Somewhat surprisingly, the wardrobes have a shelf in the middle, meaning you're unable to hang anything.

There's no shelf behind the bed, but the bedside tables should do the job just fine. Under-bed storage is adequate, but you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a little on the small side.

While the space either side of the bed is a little tight, there are no wheel arches or anything else in the way, so there's definitely room to move. There are also a couple of goose-neck reading lights and downlights above.

In the middle, the dinette is a fairly straightforward affair, but when a couple is getting away for some serious offroad travel, you really don’t need anything too elaborate.

The setup consists of a two-person lounge running along the nearside wall with a small swivel table in front. It’s simple, but it works.
Directly opposite the dinette is an extra bench that's home to a swing-arm TV bracket and would come in handy given the relatively sparse table surface.

There are overhead lockers on both sides, and there's the usual under-seat storage, although a large portion of the space is taken by the two batteries (it’s a good thing the front boot is completely empty).

DOWN BACK

One of the problems with a rear kitchen, especially in a van measuring 6ft 7in in width (internal), is the lack of space. Indeed, space around the Storm’s kitchen bench, which includes a three-burner cooktop and stainless steel sink and drainer, is a little limited.

However, that's effectively offset by the flush-fitting lid of the cooktop and the aforementioned middle-offside bench.

The kitchen also has a griller, but no oven, but with an offroad van such as this it's really not essential. And the extra storage is probably more beneficial.

Speaking of storage, there's a large cupboard where the oven would be, as well as several drawers and a couple of overhead lockers, with a strip light underneath.

The other problem with a rear kitchen is the position of the refrigerator. In this case, the 130 litre fridge is on the offside wall, between the extra bench and corner bathroom. It's a little on the small side, but should be fine for a travelling couple. An easily accessible microwave is stored above.

Considering the size of this rig, the combo bathroom is a surprisingly large space. Fitting in a variable-height shower, Porta Potti toilet and moulded sink, there's everything you could need. And while there's no window, a Four Seasons hatch works to provide ventilation.

On the negative side, the finish of the van’s interior left a little to be desired in a few places. There were rough edges above the windows in the bedroom and in the kitchen drawers, and some of the buttons on the lockers around the van were sticky in their depression.

I would also liked to have seen more powerpoints throughout, with only doubles in the kitchen and behind the TV. It may just be me, but I like access to a lot of powerpoints, especially in the bedroom. However, I'm sure more can be specified at the time of purchase.

These grumbles are by no means deal breakers, just things I'd prefer to be taken care of before laying out for a new van.

VERDICT

Offroad caravanning is a funny thing. Some like to retain all the comforts of large modern vans, while others prefer to go a little more rudimentary and feel like they're really getting away from everything.

The Desert Sky Storm falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a compact, rugged, go-anywhere van with loads of protective checkerplate and tough suspension, but retains a large bed, well-appointed kitchen and combo bathroom.

There are a few things I'd like to see changed – more storage and powerpoints, better internal finish – but for the offroaders who like their comfort in a smaller package, the Storm is a great choice.

DESERT SKY STORM

Overall length: 6.78m (22ft 3in)
External body length: 5.47m (17ft 11in)
External width: 2.06m (6ft 9in)
Internal height: 1.95m (6ft 4in)
Travel height: 2.74m (9ft)
Tare: 1840kg
GVM: 2600kg
Ball weight: 210kg
Frame: Meranti timber
Chassis: 6in galvanised
Suspension: Cruisemaster independent
Cooktop: Three-burner cooktop/grill
Microwave: Yes
Fridge: Waeco 130 litre
Lighting: LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Fresh water: 2 x 90 litre
Price: $65,000 (RRP)
More info: Desert Sky Camper Trailers