Philip Lord•11 Feb 2016

REVIEW

Euro Sunseeker

Polish van offers Oz-first combo of 12ft fibreglass body, bathroom, 750kg ATM and sub-$25K pricetag

The Australian caravan industry is overflowing with heavyweights -- literally. You can take your pick of 2000kg-plus vans and 4WDs with which to tow them.

But for some, living the dream can turn into a nightmare as the cost of fuel, maintenance and driving and parking such a rig becomes too much to bear.

There hasn’t been a full-height caravan in Australia that gives caravanners all the gear in a compact lightweight package -- until now.

Sydney-based Euro Caravans has just rolled out its Polish-built Glider and SunSeeker models that start out at just 550kg Tare and with a body length of just over 9ft (2820mm), so we couldn’t resist taking a closer look…

SHRINK WRAPPED

While both the entry-level Glider and top-spec SunSeeker are three-berth (with the optional children’s hammock, they become a four-berth) here we’re looking at the SunSeeker with the optional $2800 bathroom package.

The bathroom option requires a re-jigged layout (done at the factory), and is only available as a two-berth van.

Outside, the fibreglass body is a mix of retro and contemporary design. There’s an exterior light and a sail track on the nearside for the optional annexe.

Underneath, the spare wheel is secured in a steel cradle at the rear, and the chassis, of galvanised C-channel steel construction, supports a torsion beam axle with oscillations quelled by a damper each side.

The brakes are 6in drums activated by cables linked to an override coupling. The coupling is spring-loaded, to eliminate shunting and making reversing easier (so there’s no reversing collar needed).

The coupling is the AL-KO friction type, which requires a unique towball with a retaining collar, and has a ratchet-style push-button release handbrake.

The trailer plug is a standard seven-pin unit, in this case encased in a strong diecast metal enclosure. The removable jockey wheel is secured to the left of the A-frame.

External storage is limited to a front box, which is secured with a lock on each side. The lid opens to reveal retainers to secure two 9kg gas bottles (one is supplied with the van, with the option for a second bottle).

There’s some space to pack gear around and on top of two bottles, and of course plenty of space in the second bottle space if you elect to have only one.

At the rear, large, clear tail-lights dominate the lower corners on the extended bumper section (with a centre brake light one third of the way up the rear panel) and then there’s the optional Thule Omni-bike bicycle carrier.

On the offside, there’s a lockable access door to the Thetford toilet cassette. On each corner of the SunSeeker, there’s also a grab handle – this is one caravan that’s actually light enough that you can use handles to move it around!

On each side panel of the van, on the upper front sections, is a shielded vent to aid cross-through ventilation.

COSY INTERIOR

Getting into the van requires a fair step up, so Euro Caravans supply a small folding step with each van (or you can get the optional folding electric step, which is fixed to the caravan).

Opening up the caravan via the lockable door (which, unfortunately has no window or screening) you’re presented with a fairly conservative decor typical of caravans and RVs from Europe. The timber veneer panelling is contrasted by light-coloured benchtops and light brown seat cushions.

The fit and finish is very good. Everything is screwed together well, all the panels align properly and there’s no glue oozing out of joins.

The four, double-glazed windows are large and allow a lot of natural light into the van. The two side windows are fixed and are curtained, while the front and rear screened and meshed windows open up to a wide angle.

These windows also have interior curtains, and there’s also a mesh-screened roof hatch for increased ventilation.

As you’d expect, this is not a large caravan interior, but it’s surprising to see how much room there is to move around, for a couple at least.

The walkway to the front cafe dinette is reasonably wide and when sitting at the dinette you don’t feel squeezed in.

The dinette converts to a double bed by releasing the two securing latches at the fixing rail at the front wall and folding back the table leg 90 degrees into its locked position.

Then you simply lift the table off the rail, and drop it down onto the lower rail (with the sides supported by the seat bases). The backrest cushions are fitted over the table to make a bed.

Under the seats are storage areas, accessed by removing the cushions and lifting the hinged seat bases. On the nearside, the battery is fitted in a secured box with the inverter and 240v circuit breaker alongside.

On the offside the under-seat storage compartment houses the Truma five litre hot water service.

The kitchen at the rear of the SunSeeker has adequate bench space, especially if you don’t need to use the cooker or the stainless-steel sink (which is fitted with a mixer tap) when prepping food. Both have folding glass lids, and reveal quite compact units, both in stainless steel construction.

Adding to bench space is the surface above the three-way fridge, located on the nearside, all adjacent to the door.

There’s quite a lot of storage in this small van: above and below the kitchen there’s a variety of cupboards and lockers, and lockers also adorn the sides and front upper sections of the layout.

On the offside there’s also a large hanging wardrobe, with a locker beneath (there’s also a locker below the fridge).

The larger cupboards are secured with push-button latches but the upper lockers rely on spring-loaded hinges, which may not be strong enough to stop items from ejecting when travelling on rough roads.

Speaking of storage, the payload is a little limited; you’ve got just 200kg to play with. Then again, you could carry heavier stuff in the tow vehicle. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s something to be aware of.

BATHROOM MAGIC

The piece de resistance in this caravan is its bathroom. A 12ft van with a bathroom is pretty unusual.

You open the bathroom door - on the offside, opposite the entrance door - to discover a surprisingly roomy shower/toilet.

There’s a fold-down basin with taps and mirror above on the back wall above the cassette toilet and near the offside wall at the front of the bathroom is the shower rose and mixer tap.

A shower curtain track is fitted on the ceiling, and a light is secured to the rear wall. An opaque opening widow on the offside allows ventilation, but isn’t screened.

Behind the toilet is a hinged door that reveals a recess that houses the two 10 litre water containers and plumbing. A 12v pump is wired up ready to be dropped into one of the containers to supply water to the tap or shower.

Lighting in the main area of the van is covered off with downlights in the living/bedroom area and a fixed light above the kitchen.

There are two accessory ports on the front side of the fridge cupboard, as well as a 240v two-pole outlet.

With a Tare of just 550kg, the SunSeeker can be legally towed by almost any car in Australia so to test this, we hitched up the SunSeeker behind a tiny Fiat Panda TwinAir.

The 63kW/145Nm Panda has a 800kg (braked) towing capacity and 70kg towball download, so legally is up to the job. While there won’t be many owners of such a tiny car intending to tow a Euro Caravan, we thought if the Panda can tow it, then just about anything would.

Towing the SunSeeker was easy; while it definitely blunted the Panda’s performance, it was still able to keep up with the traffic.

While the SunSeeker didn’t feel as planted as a heavier van would -- it was bobbing around behind, like any light trailer does -- it was stable and of course you’ve got the friction coupling to help quell any snaking movements.

VERDICT

The Euro SunSeeker is a really interesting addition to the Australian caravan market. There just isn’t anything quite like it.

If you’re after all the comforts of home -- without feeling as though you’re towing your home behind you -- this caravan ticks all the boxes.

WE LIKED:

>> Shower/toilet in a 12ft van

>> Super-light and compact

>> Fit and finish

NOT SO MUCH:

>> No mesh screen on bathroom window

>> Doesn't feel planted when towing at Tare weight

>> Upper lockers need better latches

EURO CARAVANS SUNSEEKER

Travel length: 4740mm (incl bike rack)

Body length: 3200mm

External body width: 2000mm

Travel height: 2460mm

Interior height: 1820mm

Bed size: 1310mm x 1960mm

Tare: 550kg

ATM: 750kg

Ball weight: 40kg

Body: GRP fibreglass

Chassis: 90mm x 40mm C-channel galvanised steel

Suspension: AL-KO torsion beam with AL-KO shock absorbers

Brakes: 6in drums, override

Stability Control: N/a (friction coupling)

Wheels: 13in steel, 165/7013 tyres

Fresh water: 2x10L

Battery: 80Ah deep-cycle

Solar: N/a

Air-conditioner: Opt ($2300)

Gas: 1x 9kg

Hot water: Truma 5L

Cooking: Dometic two-burner stove

Fridge: Dometic RM5310 60L three-way

Microwave: N/a

Toilet: Thetford cassette

Shower: Shared cubicle

Lighting: 12v LED/incandescent

TV: N/a

Price: $21,990 ($25,180 as tested)

Options fitted: Bathroom package (Shower, toilet, hot water system, 12v battery and box) $2800; Omnibike bicycle holder $480

Supplied by: Euro Caravans, Denham Court NSW

Euro Sunseeker

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