Franklin Micro pop-top 2005 Review

Brisbane caravan dealer Gary Kratzmann is never a man to sit on his laurels for long. Always looking for something else to offer his customers, Gary has re-introduced Franklin to the caravan world.

Once a well known name in the caravan industry, Franklin RV caravans are now available exclusively from Kratzmann Caravans in two distinct ranges: larger and more luxurious vans are available in the G2 range, while the aptly-named Micro model is clearly pitched at owners of medium-sized tow vehicles.

Such is Gary's excitement at the advent of his new Franklin RV range that he has made a very special Micro exclusively available to Caravan World magazine for our April to July subscription competition (see details at the end of this review).

Gary told CW that he designed the Micro especially for people who like to camp with four solid walls around them - compared to the canvas walls of a camper trailer - but either don't have a large enough tow vehicle or simply don't wish to tow a big van.

At 12ft (3.7m) and with a nameplate ATM of just 1200kg, the Micro certainly suits the smaller tow vehicle criteria very well.

On the road, the light weight of the Micro makes it a very easy van to tow. CW had an empty van to try out and it was almost too light, but with 100kg or so of load on board, it should prove to be a stable proposition. When parked, it is light enough to push around single-handedly.

Micro scope
Being a small pop-top the Micro, with the roof down, has a slightly squat but purposeful appearance. In order to accommodate the two 4kg gas cylinders and an optional alloy front boot, the lower front has been cut back, giving it a very distinctive look, especially with the checkerplate aluminium stoneguard. Around at the rear is more conventional, with the spare wheel mounted on the 3 x 2in steel bumper bar.

All the familiar inclusions come with the Micro: Galaxy tinted hopper windows, Camec triple-lock security door, jacking point behind the wheels, large rear tail lights and a stone shield for the front window.

Instead of a standard front boot, the Micro's is a right-through rear version. Measuring 20 x 12in (500 x 300mm), it will take a reasonable bit of hardware. Being a short van and fitted with the optional Sunburst awning, this means a little extra care when setting up. There is no problem with the awning out, but when it is closed up, the front arm blocks the front window and the rear arm blocks the boot - with the latter, it is a simple matter of unhooking the arm and lifting it out of the way. Apart from the rear boot, the only other external locker at the offside front contains the 12V battery pack.

The Micro is at a relatively low height, so unclipping the pop-top roof is easy, and as long as one remembers to set the awning to copen", pushing up the roof is no problem at all.

Plenty in store
One thing the pop-top does have is a fairly tall vinyl gusset. At 21in (533mm) and with six large screened windows, it adds a good light and space dimension to the Micro interior. The light-coloured timber stain and large windows make up the rest. All the van windows and the door are screened and have full curtains. In addition each window has a wooden pelmet thus giving extra little storage areas.

When a caravan has an external length of just over 12ft, you might expect a cramped interior, but even with a fixed double bed there is still a reasonable amount of room. To achieve this the bed has been set across the rear, the dinette fitted across the front and the kitchen area fits in between the two.

The split kitchen has most of the hardware on the offside. Atop the bench sits a combination three-burner Smev cooktop and stainless steel sink. Both have smoked glass hinged lids and the hot/cold water supply comes from a Flick Mixer tap. Under the cooktop sits the 90 litre Dometic fridge, while under the sink is the all-essential microwave oven. All this doesn't leave much room for cupboard space, but there is one floor locker underneath the microwave oven.

Being a pop-top, there isn't much that can fit into the air space above the kitchen bench, but there is a rangehood above the cooktop and a small shelf above the sink. Power points abound, with one at the front end of the kitchen bench and another set below mattress-level on the bed base - this is convenient for both the kitchen and the electric blanket, should you need one.

On the opposite side of the van, between the bed and the door is the rest of the kitchen, with a cabinet containing a Smev grill, two drawers and a floor locker. Above the grill is benchtop space, convenient for a TV, given there is both a power point and antenna connection. With this particular kitchen setup on both sides, it is possible to make breakfast in bed... literally!

Occupying the entire rear of the van, the 6ft 5in (2m) x 4ft (1.2m) innerspring mattress sits on a ply timber base. It's been designed to sit off the floor a little higher than usual, to provide adequate storage underneath. Windows on either side give good cross flow ventilation and two halogen reading lights are fitted to the offside end of the bed.

The wall area behind has been used very effectively, and the offside rear features a small bedside shelf with a couple of small lockers above.

Just in case you think it's impossible to get a hanging cupboard into a van this size, there is one - albeit a small one. Behind two mirrored doors on the rear wall is a 9in (230mm) deep hanging space - it actually drops below bed-level to fit clothing.

At the front of the Micro, the two-person dinette, complete with flat foam cushions and seats, occupies most of the forward area. Windows on two sides give a decent view of the surrounding countryside.

Like the double bed, the dinette is cleverly surrounded by storage space. There are the usual underseat storage compartments with hinged ply timber lids. In addition, at the front side of the table are three storage lockers about 12in (30mm) deep - the hinged lids make a good shelf area when not open. Behind the offside seat, the cupboard has a couple of shelves as well, plus the 240V circuit breaker and 12V fuses.

The bottom line
If you are looking for a small van, rather than a camper trailer or folding caravan, the Franklin Micro should be high on your shopping list. Owners of Toyota Camrys and similar cars will certainly be happy to have the option of the Micro for easy towing, as it is a good size to tow without too much trouble, yet still comfortable to live in and certainly fitted with all those caravan lifestyle "essentials".

There are a couple of ways to get your hands on a Micro. One is to visit the premises of Kratzmann's Caravans at 1768 Sandgate Road, Virginia Qld 2477, (07) 3265 2477, http://www.kratzmann.com.au/; visit the Franklin RV website: http://www.franklinrv.com.au/