Galaxy Fulcher Starion Mk II

WE LIKED:

>> fresh, interior acrylic panel finish
>> plentiful external storage
>> good kitchen layout
>> energy-efficient LED lighting

NOT SO MUCH:

>> rough edges inside some of the cupboards
>> bed walk space an issue for taller folk
>> poorly located electronic devices and lack of fuse labelling

Long-time residents of Sydney will recall the time prior to the completion of the M5 Freeway when, to travel south west from outer Sydney, you had to hit the old Hume Highway.

This meant travelling through Liverpool and Camden before struggling up Razorback Mountain and on through the historic town of Picton.

All that has changed with the F5/M5 but, in a little burst of nostalgia, I decided to take a short journey back to the past when reviewing this Galaxy Starion Mk 2 caravan from Fulcher’s Caravans.

Fulcher’s is located just outside Camden, not far from the old Hume Highway and just a short drive to Razorback Mountain, which was the scene of the 1979 nine day truck blockade which captivated the nation. You can stop and have a look at the memorial site on the mountain.

These days, a trip up and over Razorback Mountain is a pleasant drive with little other traffic and my Toyota LandCruiser had no trouble handling the 6.4m (20ft 10in) van.

After a coffee and a look around Picton, it was time to follow the old railway line to Thirlmere and its Rail Heritage Centre, before heading out to Thirlmere Lakes.

The lakes were once a water supply for the passing steam trains but they are a nature reserve these days, and not a bad stopping point for a caravan traveller or, in this case, for me to look over the van.

TASTY TRIMMINGS

For quite a few years now, the interior décor of many Aussie caravans has been done in what I call the ‘timber look’ with cabinetry finished in wood and, occasionally, a little over-the-top with timber walls as well.

Recently, there's been a move towards a more contemporary finish and this was evident in the review Starion MkII.

This van’s internal doors, overhead lockers and splashbacks are finished in acrylic paneling, with white polyester walls and post-form Laminex benchtops.

Chocolate brown panels add a nice contrast, and the van also has flush-fit Dometic tinted acrylic windows which look good from both inside and out.

The deep ones at the front provide a considerable amount of interior light.

The interior layout is familiar and conventional with a front bedroom, full-width rear bathroom, and a mid-section kitchen and dinette.

The kitchen fills all of the mid-offside area and there are three overhead lockers, three drawers and three cupboards.

Everything else comes singly, you’ll be pleased to know – one small slide-out wire basket pantry, one stainless steel sink, one four-burner cookop/grill/oven, one 186 litre three-way fridge, and one microwave oven above.

Since the fridge is at floor level, the microwave oven above is at a nice, user-friendly height.  

Above the rangehood is a variety of devices including water tank gauges, radio/CD player, hot water tank switch and solar panel regulator. 

Call me obsessive-compulsive, but I'm never sure about fitting electronic devices in a location close to concentrated steam flow. Also, there really isn’t anywhere to park an iPod/MP3 player.

COSY FOR COUPLES

Opposite the kitchen bench, the leather-upholstered L-shaped lounge looks quite classy with its contoured cushions.

The 1.1m x 0.5m (3ft 6in x 1ft 8in) table should suit a couple quite well and can be swiveled around for easy access.

While LED reading lights and the nearby powerpoint will make any evening computer chores a breeze.

Up front, the bedroom has all you need: a full bedhead of overhead lockers and side wardrobes, cupboards on both sides at the foot of the bed, and under-bed storage with one large drawer.

Fitted to a posture slat bed base, the 1.83m x 1.58m (6ft x 5ft 2in) innerspring mattress can be extended to 1.98m (6ft 6in) by using a bolster.

The downside is that walking space becomes limited and the bed must be partially made each night.

The Starion’s bathroom is equipped with a nearside shower cubicle, offside Dometic cassette toilet and a vanity cabinet that takes up the rest of the the rear wall.

This still allows space for a wash basin, large wall mirror, cabinet for the top loading Lemair washing machine and a corner linen cupboard.

Two ceiling fan hatches and a window above the toilet supply the necessary ventilation and the other usual requirements like towel rails and rings and a power point are also installed.

SMOOTH RIDIN'

Externally, the Starion Mk II has a hot-dipped galvanised, 100 x 50mm (6x4in) railed chassis.

Most Galaxy vans come with a DuraGal chassis but the HDG is specially ordered for Fulcher’s.

Starion rides on load sharing Simplicity independent suspension in order to give a smooth ride through rough conditions,  and two 80 litre galvanised sheet protected water tanks sit between the chassis rails, forward of the axles.

All the usual items are fitted to the chassis – spare wheel on the looped rear bumper bar, two 9kg gas cylinders above a mesh rack on the drawbar rails, along with the essential handbrake/jockey wheel and ball coupling.

Above the chassis, the body is timber framed, insulated and aluminium clad.

It comes with both a front boot and tunnel storage which is accessible from both sides.

Midway along the nearside of the van is a third storage compartment, mainly for the TV swiveling bracket and associated connections.

Batteries (two x 105Ah), charger, 12V socket and 12V fuses take up the offside area of the front boot.

Galaxy isn’t the only one which doesn’t do this but, for some reason, too many manufactures seem to think that labelling fuse circuits is unnecessary.

Labelling fuses is always handy for finding faults, even when the electrical wiring is as neat as it is in this case. 

One 120W solar panel is fitted to the roof and, in tandem with the three-way fridge and LED lighting, makes the Starion a good prospect for short stay bush camping.

VERDICT

One of the best features of this new Starion is the eye-catching interior finish.

But the van also comes fully-equipped with items like Simplicity suspension, solar panels, twin gas cylinders and house batteries; making it reasonable value for money for a van ready for travel throughout much of Australia.

GALAXY FULCHER STARION MK II

Overall length: 7.8m (25ft 7in) 
External body length: 6.4m (20ft 9.5in)
External width (incl awning): 2.4m (7ft 11in)   
Travel height: 2.84m (9ft 4in)
Interior height: 1.96m (6ft 5in)
Tare: 2152kg
ATM: 2552kg
Ball weight (advised): 182kg
Frame: timber
Chassis: hot dipped galvanised
Suspension: Simplicity tandem load sharing
Cooktop: Stoves 4-burner/grill/oven
Fridge: Dometic 175 litre
Microwave: Daewoo
Shower: separate cubicle
Toilet: Dometic cassette
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Freshwater: 2 x 80 litre
Price: $73,995 (on road, NSW)
Supplied by: Fulcher’s Caravans, Camden South, NSW
More info: Galaxy Caravans