Egg-shaped Cheetah leaps into action

More than 12 months after displaying the first prototype of its eye-catching, egg-shaped caravan, Designer Vans has released a final production version, incorporating a number of minor changes.

Wangaratta, Victoria-based Designer Vans had both on- and off-road versions of its sleek, two-berth fibreglass van, now called the Desert Sands Cheetah, on display at the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow.

Following two years of testing and fine-tuning, Designer Vans’ Scott French said a number of improvements had been made, including extending the Duragal chassis, now built by G&S Chassis, so rear-mounted accessories like the spare wheel and jerry can holders can be mounted directly to the chassis rather than a separate bumper.

The drawbar has also been extended to accommodate two, 4.5kg gas bottles up front, freeing up the side storage bin for other items.

Inside, swivel lounge chairs can now be specified instead of lounge seating in the dinette area, while the shower/toilet area is slightly smaller to accommodate a bigger rear wardrobe.

The double bed also been lengthened by 100mm, to 2.0m, and pop-top roof raised 50mm for better head room.

Otherwise, the compact layout remains the same, with its small kitchen and sink, 90 litre fridge, three burner cooktop, and microwave, and a shower and cassette toilet in the rear. The cabinets are made from timber but the floor is fibreglass for easy cleaning.

Other standard features for the on-road model, which retails from around $45,000, include a hot water system, awning, DVD player, 64 litre freshwater tank, leaf spring suspension, and 100aH battery and charger.

The tougher ‘X Country’ version, priced from around $58,000, gains LED lighting, external shower, DO35 off-road hitch and coil spring suspension, as well as an extra 64 litre water tank and 100aH battery.

The fibreglass body has a tough gel-coat finish, but the off-road version has a more durable, 10mm thick fibreglass one-piece shell, compared to the on-road's lighter, thinner, two-piece skin.

The X-Country Cheetah also features black ute-tub protection around the frontal region to deter stone chips.

Although slightly heavier overall, both production version remain light weight, from a Tare weight of 940kg and 1300kg ATM (on-road), to 1000kg Tare and 1600kg ATM (off-road). Body length is 4.7m and overall length is 5.5m.

Aside from its striking looks, Mr French said one of the van’s main attractions is it’s “cheap to tow”. He claims 37 per cent less fuel use when towing an off-road version with a Nissan Patrol than towing a more conventional 16ft van. 

He says when Monash University came up with the original design around 25 years ago, the brief was to create “the most aerodynamic caravan ever built”.

“The light weight just makes them very easy to tow in heavy conditions like sand... this thing would walk across the Tanami (Track) without any problems at all,” he says.

Designer Vans has already sold "around 20" of the egg-shaped vans, with the off-road version proving most popular.