Frontline Adventurer

WE LIKED:
>> Easy to set up bed
>> Awning for all weather
>> Given van size, good storage
>> great to drive

NOT SO MUCH:
>> fixed mount table; swivel would be better
>> hot water for shower and sink an option
>> no sink drainer
>> no iPod connection on standard radio

Campervans aren’t for everyone, that’s for sure, but they're great for those who love lightweight travel or who still work and need around-town transport as well.

Also, as Frontline proprietor Peter Farrugia pointed out with a smile, there are those who owned a VW Kombi in the '70s and want to re-live their youth again… or something like that.

There are still plenty of reasons for owning a campervan and even this writer who, being the lazy type, prefers not to make up a bed every night, will, on occasion, take a campervan when a fast and lightweight trip is desired.

21ST CENTURY HIPPY-VAN

All these profound thoughts passed through my mind as I looked over the latest version of the Volkswagen T5-based Adventurer campervan from Frontline Camper Conversions.

The Adventurer conversion is available for either a Toyota Hiace or a Volkswagen T5 van. While the Hiace is certainly cheaper, there are several reasons, principally the flat floor design, which makes the VW T5 a better option.

There are several turbo-diesel engine variants available in the T5 range and although the 103kW/340Nm is Frontline’s standard, along with a six-speed manual gearbox, the more powerful 132kW/400Nm motor and seven-speed DSG automatic are available.

Our review Adventurer came with the 103kW motor with auto gearbox, which is a good combination for most drivers. But if you want a little more response or the 4Motion AWD van is used, then the 132kW motor would be a better choice.

The VW cab comes with all the usual features and safety items that are expected in a modern vehicle. The only slight disappointment is that the standard VW radio/CD player doesn’t include a 3.5mm socket for an iPod/iPhone/MP3 player connection (a radio with that facility is an $890 option from Volkswagen).

From the outside, the Fiamma awning, fridge vents and water fillers are some clues that the VW T5 is a converted van. The pop-top roof is integrated very well into the van profile, especially as the van is white.

An option for non-white vans is to have the roof colour matched to the body. The optional tinted windows are included with this vehicle.

EASY SET-UP

Setting up the Adventurer for day use doesn’t take long at all.

It’s just a matter of opening the sliding door and releasing the four pop-top roof straps and pushing up the roof, which is made quite easy by the gas struts.

There are various styles of pop-top roof, either hinged at the rear or the full roof. Front-hinged or even side-hinged, which are used in Europe, are rarely seen here.

An advantage of the rising full roof is that air circulation is most effective in warmer weather.

As mentioned earlier, the VW has a flat floor which makes access to and from the driver’s cab quite easy as well as being able to incorporate a swiveling passenger seat into the design.

The layout is quite simple, with a kitchen/storage cabinet along the offside and a day/night lounge taking up the mid-section.

The lounge can be used for passengers, with two optional seat belts fitted; sat on when stopped by day, or folded down into a bed by night. 

A single pole-mounted table, normally stored behind the driver’s seat, can be used in conjunction with the rear seat. The rear area has a platform and large cushion for that purpose.

GAS FREE

Directly behind the passenger seat is a swivel-mounted cabinet that has a cupboard below and an Origo two-burner cooktop above. It uses methylated spirits for fuel, making the Adventurer LPG free.

The metho-fired cooktop might be a little slower but does save on the space needed for a gas cylinder, and having the cooktop on a swivel mount means it can be used inside or out.

It's definitely easier to use outside which minimises cooking odours inside. The swiveled cab seat can only be used when the cooktop cabinet is swung out.
Unless the weather is really cold, the optional Fiamma awning does a good job of protecting the side of the van from both sun and rain.

Many people only think of awnings in terms of the sun but a partially-open awning is very effective in keeping the rain away from an open sliding door.

Fitting out the kitchen in a van conversion can be challenging but the Adventurer arrangement shows years of experience.

On the benchtop is a stainless steel washing up bowl with a flick-mixer tap which leaves room for a bit of bench space.

An 80 litre Engel fridge is fitted under a good-sized drawer behind the driver’s seat. Next to the fridge is a small wire basket pantry with a shelf above, leaving room for the optional microwave oven with drawer above and cupboard below.

The 12V fuse and switch panel is also located here. It might sound a bit cramped but old hands will recognise that it’s quite a workable arrangement.

NO SPACE WASTED

Filling the rest of the offside rear is a sliding door cabinet with shelves and a small hanging space. Right in the rear corner is a small shelf which, on this van, held the optional external shower hose.

Setting up the bed is relatively simple – release the catches on either side of the rear seat and lay it flat.

The bed measures 1.88 x 1.29m (6ft 2in x 4ft 3in) which narrows down to 1.17m (3ft 10in), but the width can be expanded by not having the offside rear cabinet. However, that does mean a substantial reduction in storage area.

Making up the bed can be easily done by two people, one at the rear door and one inside.

LED reading lights are fitted on both sides of the bed and it has a good storage area, accessible from both the rear and a hatch on the inside, underneath.

Part of this area is taken up by the house battery and the charger, but the rest can be used for the bits and pieces required for travel.

VERDICT

The base Adventurer conversion is certainly very livable and there's a lengthy options list for fitting out the van to both taste and budget.

Although campervans are a relatively small part of the motorhome industry, it’s not hard to see the attraction when looking over something like this Frontline conversion. It’s built with many years of experience and is fully-equipped ready to go.

There’s no doubt the Adventurer is built for lightweight travel but, for many, that’s just part of the attraction.

FRONTLINE ADVENTURER

Base vehicle: Volkswagen T5 Transporter    
Engine: 2.0 litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel   
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic   
Power/torque: 103kW at 3500rpm/340Nm at 1750-2500rpm 
Brakes: ABS disc
Tare: 2200kg 
GVM: 2850kg 
External length: 5.29m (17ft 4in) 
External width: 1.9m (6ft 3in)
Travel height: 2.06m (6ft 9in)
Internal height: 2.03m (6ft 8in)
Cooktop: Origo 3000 two-burner metho    
Fridge: Engel 80 litre 
Microwave: Sharp Carousel
Gas: n/a  
Lighting: 12V LED/fluorescent
Toilet: no
Shower: external 
Hot water: optional
Freshwater: 55 litre 
Price (as reviewed): $71,500 (on road, NSW)  
Supplied by: Frontline Campers, Brookvale, NSW