Fantasy F5S 2019 Review

The first wave of Chinese RVs in Australia consisted primarily of entry-level tent trailers. Now the second wave is well and truly upon us, in the form of hybrid hard-wall campers ‘with the lot’ which, like the cut-price canvas campers, are aimed firmly at younger families and couples on tight budgets.

Big-selling imported brands like MDC, EzyTrail, Mars and Black Series all offer (often eerily similar) hybrid off-road campers, and now there’s a new player in Melbourne-based Fantasy Caravan.

Opening its RV shopfront in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin around two years ago, Fantasy is run by the same business people behind Big Man Trailers, one of Australia’s biggest retailers of imported galvanized work trailers.

Although it’s now dabbling in lightweight Euro-style vans, Fantasy focuses largely on off-road hybrid caravans from 13ft to 19ft body lengths, with the four-berth 15ft F5S slide-out reviewed here one of its most popular models.

Familiar recipe

If the 15ft F5S Fantasy looks familiar, it probably is. The exterior design including rear fold-out bed extension is a ‘cookie cutter’ approach adopted by many of its rivals, but after spending a night in the Fantasy, we can say it’s a design that actually works.

Unlike the canvas-walled bed extensions on Australian-built expander caravans from Jayco and New Age, the Fantasy’s rear extension is made almost entirely of steel, folding out like some origami artwork to magically create solid walls on all sides.

Although a bit fiddly and cumbersome in sections, setting it up is relatively easy. First step is to pull out the bolts securing the spare wheels holders before swinging them down towards the ground via their gas-strut assisted lifters.

The top-hinged rear wall panel then swings up and is held in place by two fold-out side walls followed by the bed base that unlatches and folds out, before the rear wall with its caravan-style window flips up to seal it all off from the elements.

Other set-up tasks include unlatching the four roof catches and using some muscle to push up the roof at both ends from inside, then flipping over the two-section coil spring mattress before making the bed.

All up it takes a bit longer than an Aussie expander, but the advantages are the solid walls on all sides for noise and temperature insulation plus the additional security of a caravan window at the rear.

Loaded with features

The other big attraction of Chinese hybrids like the F5S is how much equipment you get for the price. The Fantasy F5S starts at $43,990, but our review van came with the $5000-extra ‘Fantastic’ pack, which added a Truma hot water unit, under-bed air-conditioner, three 100Ah batteries, 2000W invertor, 30amp battery charger, two 150W flexible roof-top solar panels, two spare wheels, full enclosed annexe, 80L dual zone fridge, ‘rock rails’ side body protection, Ark off-road jockey wheel, electric awning and a D0-35 coupling.

There's no doubt the F5S is solidly built for off-road conditions, but the downside is a Tare weight that seems on the porky side, even when compared to some of its battle-ready Australian-built rivals.

Adding to the overall bulk are the all-steel slide-out and internal aluminum furniture construction, plus extensive aluminium sheeting used along the sides, front and underbody, tubular steel 'rock sliders' and the super heavy-duty holders for the spare wheels.

Even at a claimed two tonnes unloaded, our Holden Trailblazer tow vehicle struggled a bit up the hills, so bargain on really hard going with all the holiday gear and water tanks full.

However, with its travel dimensions not much wider and higher than the Holden, the Fantasy pop-top did squeeze through tree-lined gaps that bigger off-road vans would struggle to get through, while the off-road hitch and rugged coil spring suspension, mud terrain tyres, stone shield and plenty of ground clearance provided plenty of confidence when tackling some muddy dips and ruts.

Made for the outdoors

Walking around the camper, there's no lack of fixtures and fittings on the Fantasy either, starting with a  busy front drawbar area that includes two small toolboxes alongside twin 9kg gas bottles, in front of a big tunnel boot where the battery system components, fridge slide-out and fold-out picnic table are located.

Walking around the opposite side reveals another locker with two handy drawer slides plus a slide for a generator, and another locker above it for storing the canvas for the annexe and external shower tent.

The main electrics panel is found under one of the front lockers, and includes various switches for external lights, gauges, 240V sockets and a solar charger controller.

Somewhat confusingly, there are more light switches located on an inner cavity near the fridge, but we couldn't complain about the number of external lights: we counted seven in total around the outside of the camper, including a work light that illuminates the hitch and one near the external shower hatch.

The slide-out stainless kitchen is well-equipped with a sink with drainer and hot/cold tap, plus flip-up drying and spice racks, next to a four-burner gas cooktop with fold-out windshields. There’s also a slide-out prep bench at the end and a cutlery drawer, while another locker close by could be used to store dry foods or other small cooking-related items.

You do need to attach the hoses for the hot and cold water and the gas cooker every time you open the kitchen, and plug in the cord for the flexible stork light (although there’s another kitchen light mounted on the body).

There’s also a 240V socket near the drop-down picnic table, which you could use to plug in a frypan.

There are two inlets on the offside for filling the water tanks but no mains pressure connection, although there is a gas bayonet on the onside for hooking up a portable bbq plus two rear recovery hooks.

The F5S is also missing a tap on the drawbar but it shouldn’t be an issue with two external water outlets (outside shower and kitchen sink) as well as another sink with tap inside.

The Fantasy camper also comes with a powered entry step and electric awning, although it’s very slow to roll out and you’ll need to drop down the leg supports if you don’t want it snagging the entry door.

It’s also worth mentioning that Fantasy has since updated the F5S to include an outside ‘entertainment’ panel including TV arm and aerial and power connections, although you’ll need to pay extra to get a TV aerial installed.

Cosy interior

Fantasy has made good use of a relatively compact interior space, packing in all the essentials for a family of four, albeit to the detriment of available walking and standing room.

After opening the caravan-style security door and taking a big step up, there’s a bench immediately the left, which partly flips up to reveal a small mirror and stainless sink and dryer with hot/cold tap. The basin is conveniently located next to the combination shower/toilet that features a shower rose and fixed-seat cassette toilet.

A solid shower door and three fibreglass walls combined with built-in vinyl roof flaps (some with zips) should ensure water doesn’t get splashed around outside the shower, although it’s a bit of a squeeze in there for larger folk.

The two-person café dinette doubles as a sleeping area for two young kids with a lower bunk bed (once the table top is removed and used as a mattress base, and extra cushion slotted in place) and top bunk permanently in place, although it tilts up via struts to provide more headroom around the dinette.

Access to the top bunk is via built-in steps at both ends, and there’s a fold-up safety barrier to stop any night-time roll-overs.

While the bunks are quite short, the main parent’s double bed is quite large and inviting, with a comfy queen size mattress, caravan windows on three sides, a set of reading lights, book pouch and side ledges to place wallets and phones. Sitting up in bed could be a problem with limited headroom towards the top, although the ‘ceiling’ is carpeted so you won't hurt your head.

There's plenty of natural light and ventilation available from the caravan-style windows with their built-in blinds and screens, and mesh windows all-round in the pop-top roof. Also facing the bed are a couple of 12V fans and a bracket for the LED TV.

Strong storage

There's also plenty of storage options inside, including a cupboard with shelves under the front bench plus a smaller cupboard with key hooks, and two doors above the bench that provide access to some decent storage space in the nose cone.

There’s also a decent-sized cupboard opposite the dinette with a wardrobe and shelving for all the family clothes, which is a good thing as much of the underbed storage space is taken up by the gas water heater and air-conditioner.

While handy in summer while staying at a caravan park, we’d prefer a diesel or gas heater in lieu of air-con, particularly when remote bush camping in colder weather.

Overall, build quality was better than we've come to expect from a budget-oriented imported RV, with our main concerns during our two day test around some rust on an exposed spring on the pop-top roof mechanism and some sticky catches on some of the external slide mechanisms.

Summing up

There’s no doubt the Fantasy F5S packs in plenty of gear for the money. It’s also a true off-road hybrid, in the sense that if delivers all the benefits of outside camper living with many of the inside comforts of a modern caravan.

The build quality isn’t perfect, set up is slightly clunky and it could shed a few kilos to make it easier to tow, but you can live with that considering how much you get for under $50,000.

We reckon it’d be a perfect match for a youngish couple with one or two primary school or younger kids who want to enjoy some bush camping and have the option of a few days off-the-grid without worrying too much about water or power.

Specs: 2019 Fantasy F5S

Travel length: 6500mm
Body length: 4500mm
External body width: 2125mm
Travel height: 2350mm
Interior height: 1950mm
Tare weight: 2000kg (approx.).
ATM: 3000kg
Ball weight: (Tare): 190kg
Body: Aluminium composite walls, fibreglass roof
Chassis: 150mm x 50mm x 4mm hot-dip gal
Suspension: Independent trailing arms, coil springs, twin shocks
Brakes: 12in electric drums
Stability Control: n/a
Wheels: 16-inch alloys with LT 265/75R16 Goodride Radial MT tyres
Water: 2 x 100L fresh, 1 x 80L grey
Battery: 3 x 100Ah AGM with 30A charger and 2000W invertor
Solar: 2 x 150W
Air-conditioner: 2500W underbed
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Truma UltraRapid gas
Cooking: 4 x gas cooktop and sink (external)
Fridge/freezer: 89L fridge/freezer 12v/240v
Microwave: n/a
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Combination shower toilet
Lighting: 12v LED
TV: 24in LED HD
Price: $43,900 (as tested $48,990)
Options fitted: Fantastic package
Supplied by: Fantasy Caravan, Moorabbin, Victoria