Franklin G2

No sooner had the recreational vehicle world become used to the Franklin name re-appearing in the Australian caravanning scene, than that never-to-be-seen-standing-still Queensland dealer Gary Kratzmann brought the Franklin name to the motorhome sector as well. His stylish new Franklin G2 C class motorhome made its debut at the Brisbane caravan and motorhome show in June this year.

Gary chose the Ford Transit as the base vehicle for his 23ft (7m) motorhome and that’s not a bad choice at all. Although a Transit doesn’t have the same exotic ring as some of its European contemporaries it does have a number of characteristics that make it a good base vehicle for a motorhome, one of them being that the Blue Oval sign is a familiar sight throughout the country.

Another is the excellent performance of the high pressure common rail turbo diesel motor. Punching out a maximum of 101kW of power and with a high torque of 375Nm, it performs very well in tandem with the six-speed gearbox. Unfortunately auto transmission lovers will have to put up with the lower rated 92kW motor.

On the road, the Transit-powered Franklin handles very well indeed, with the dual rear tyres keeping sideways rock and roll to a minimum. All-round disc brakes (ABS is an option) supply the stopping power and the power-assisted rack and pinion steering is very precise.

The bonnet latch is under the bonnet, right in the centre, which newcomers may find hard to find. But it’s operated by the ignition key. No key, no look under bonnet, no steal anything either!

Features that MHG likes about the Transit cab are the deep door pockets, the centre dash map pocket and the external flat/convex rearview mirrors. A Kratzmann addition to the cab is the rearview camera screen mounted where the rearview mirror normally is. It’s a good option for even mid-sized motorhomes.

Externally, the Franklin is a fairly standard C class motorhome with a rounded Luton peak and fairly boxy back, offset by the moulded fibreglass bumper bar with the requisite tail lights. Familiar items are the Camec triple lock security door and Seitz hopper windows with integrated blinds and flyscreens.

Behind the driver’s door is the gas compartment with one 9kg and one 4kg gas cylinder. Apart from the Thetford toilet cassette door, the only other external storage is a compartment behind the passenger door, partly occupied by the hot water heater. Other external features include the external light above the door and the A&E awning.

On the inside

Stepping in through the rear door entry reveals a motorhome that has a full width rear bathroom, central kitchen, nearside dinette, offside lounge and Luton peak bed. The internal colour scheme is mostly beige in various shades, with the cabinet work having a light timber stain effect.

Large windows plus a big Seitz hatch in the roof ensure good natural light and ventilation. When things get too warm, turn on the roof mounted air-conditioner. All windows, except the kitchen and bathroom, have curtains and the seating has leather upholstery.

On the opposite side is a Dometic 150 litre fridge, with a Technika microwave oven in the overhead locker area above. There is bench space here, partly taken by the flatscreen TV, but it’s at three quarter height, as is the wardrobe that’s alongside the fridge.

A central lounge/dining area includes a nearside dinette to seat two comfortably and four at a squeeze. On the other side, the lounge will seat three comfortably or one person stretched out!

Large windows on both sides give good views. In addition to the usual underseat storage areas, there are also overhead lockers plus a shelf, above.

Above the cab, the 6ft 2in x 4ft 2in (1.9m x 1.3m) foam mattress bed has about 2ft (600mm) of head height and is reached quite easily by the lightweight aluminium ladder. Wider steps would be nice – they are a tad hard on bare feet. Windows on both sides of the Luton ensure good ventilation and there’s an overhead light plus two halogen reading lights on the offside.

For a 23ft motorhome, the Franklin has quite a spacious bathroom. A concertina door keep things private and the bathroom comes complete with separate shower cubicle avec hinged glass door, Thetford cassette toilet and vanity sink.

There’s just one overhead locker above the loo but nothing around the vanity sink, odd given the amount of space. Extra touches include a soap dish, towel ring and rail and the mirror above the window.

Electrics are the usual mixture of 240V for the powerpoints and 12V for the lighting, which is a mixture of round fluorescent fittings and halogen reading lights. In addition to the 240/12V battery charger, a 120W solar panel keeps the house battery topped up as well.

Entertainment is provided by both a 20-inch flatscreen TV and an AM/FM radio plus CD player, with both internal and external speakers.

The bottom line

At 23ft (7m) long, the Franklin G2 motorhome has room to move inside, while still being easy to drive. The Transit certainly powers things along well enough and two people should have no trouble living the motorhome lifestyle. Cooks, even lazy ones, should find the kitchen to their liking.

Storage is generally plentiful, although there are a few places where it could be better utilised. Comfort items like the leather seats and the entertainment system will add to travelling pleasure. The Franklin is exclusive to Kratzmann’s Caravans, so visit either of the Brisbane premises to have a look at one.

Kratzmann’s Caravans: 1768 Sandgate Road, Virginia, Qld, (07) 3265 2477 and 174 Eastern Service Road, Burpengary, Qld, (07) 3888 2755; www.kratzmann.com.au.

Liked:

Spacious and light interior — no feeling of being cramped

Large windows on both sides of lounge area

Generous storage space

Would have liked:

Another cabinet or two in the bathroom

A different kitchen storage setup including a variety of drawers and maybe a slide-out pantry

A bed ladder with wider steps