Heading Off Delatite

FIT FOR A KING

I love the entrepreneurial spirit that runs through the Aussie caravan industry. There's no shortage of people who came up through the ranks in one of the bigger manufacturers, or was even involved in an area other than manufacturing, and then decided to make a go of building their own vans using the knowledge they'd accumulated over the years.

Peter May is one of those people. Peter had worked for some of the big boys, and founded May West Caravans back in 1990. The company started life as a commercial caravan towing business, but later expanded into caravan hire and then retail - before being swept towards manufacturing, which came to fruition with the release of the Heading Off line in 2006.

The word "swept" is an apt one here, as now Peter and his wife, Sharleen, not only look after the towing and the retail side of things, but the manufacturing of Heading Off's five-strong range of vans - each of which is named after a Victorian river.

There's the Snowy, a compact lightweight; the Howqua, a standard pop-top; the Kiewa, a dedicated off-road model; the Cumberland, a tandem axle non-shower family model and now the latest addition to the range, the Delatite - a tandem with a separate shower and toilet.

Manufactured in Werribee, in Melbourne's west, the vans are sold direct through Heading Off's nearby retail yard in Hoppers Crossing. It's not a volume manufacturer, but Peter is quick to point out that Heading Off vans are open to a very high level of customisation - Peter and his team will build any van to your requirements.

Peter says the Delatite has been created with the highly discerning customer in mind. "This model's not about compromise; we're aiming at the second or third tier buyer - people who know what they want in a caravan, and just as importantly know what they don't want," he says.

The Delatite is available in a range of sizes from 20ft (6.1m) onwards, and there are six different basic floorplans you can use as a starting point, accommodating two or three-berth formats.

HIGH STANDARDS
Our 21ft (6.4m) test model came in a rear kitchen, mid lounge, forward bedroom floorplan, the latter featuring a double island bed: it gave CW a good idea of the general standard to which these relative newcomers to the market are made.

Thankfully I can report that this standard is high, and certainly befitting a van in this price range. It's reflected not just in the fit and finish but also the specification of appliances used throughout.

This tandem-axle van sits on a sturdy 6in DuraGal chassis, with the 14in alloy wheels mated to 10in electric brakes all round, the whole shebang riding on leaf spring suspension.

A 17mm DuraGal floor has been utilised with tongue-in-groove joins for extra strength, while our test model had a meranti timber frame with a traditional aluminium-clad exterior.

The rear Camec triple-locker door opens into the rear kitchen on your right, with the dinette/lounge area on your left. A quality feel pervades here - all the poly finish cabinetry is lined with timber, and the large Galaxy wind-out windows feature venetian blinds and full timber pelmets. Poly finish trim features on the ceiling around the overhead lockers - LED downlights are set into it, and the rounded arcs, when combined with the fairly neutral fabric tones, give the van quite a modern feel.

It also has some leadlight-style overhead locker covers, but Peter has said that for 2008 models he'll be using more modern, Euro-style cabinets - it's horses for courses.

Large Galaxy windows let the light flood in, as does a large Seitz hatch. Just forward of the hatch is a Dometic air-conditioner, fitted as standard.

GET COOKING
The kitchen has everything a caravan cook could ever need, from a full Smev four-burner cooktop (one electric, three gas), grill and oven, to a Swift rangehood and heaps of storage space - roll out drawers, a roll-out pantry, and plenty of overhead lockers. The Laminex benchtops are easy to access, and together with the dinette table, which has a hinged and spring-loaded 6in extension, you won't be left wanting in terms of food preparation space.

There's also a Panasonic microwave located next to the overhead lockers on the offside, which I thought was just an inch or two too high, although those of average height or above shouldn't have any troubles.

The dinette is a comfortable, inviting space. The well-cushioned seating will seat three in comfort or four if pressed, while the couch opposite will seat two to three. A 17in LCD television is mounted on an articulated arm fixed just aft of the couch, and the quality of sound piped through the Kenwood surround sound system is truly impressive. There's also a JVC entertainment system found just on the left as you come through the door, which handles DVDs, MP3, CDs or radio.

Rounding out the living space is the massive 186L Dometic three-way fridge/freezer, which can hold enough food and drink to keep you away from supermarkets for some time.

ROOM TO MOVE
That leaves the bedroom, which can be sealed off entirely with a solid sliding door, the back of which features a full length vanity mirror. The bedroom is an inviting room indeed - there's a good space at the foot of the bed to get dressed, while again there's ample storage space, from cupboards off the foot of the bed to hanging wardrobes either side, overhead lockers above and, of course, plenty of room under the bed itself.

A second 17in LCD television is found in the bedroom, this one with an inbuilt DVD player. The bedroom is nice and light care of the three windows and overhead hatch, but I was surprised to see there were no reading lights, just a couple of LED downlights.

This was quite a contrast to the rest of the van, with its plentiful mix of standard downlights, LED downlights, halogens and large fluoros, but undoubtedly this could be addressed when specifying your needs.

A Thetford toilet is found on the offside, complete with basin, flick-mix tap, window, 12V hatch and a second mirror. There's also a powerpoint in here, along with another cupboard.

The shower is opposite, and features an adjustable shower head, a light and a 12V hatch. It's not a sealed unit as found in many vans, so be warned that any renditions of Phantom of the Opera will be shared in full.

Outside you'll find a massive Dometic A&E 8500 awning, a fold-down picnic table, two external lights and an illuminated grab handle. The first step is covered in checkerplate, which is also found in a strip down the sides and up the front, along with a soft pebble guard.

There are two 9kg gas cylinders on the drawbar, along with a tap and a Breaksafe Breakaway switch. Quick drop stabilisers are found at each corner, and down the back you'll find LED tail lights and a loop steel bumper, fitted with two spare wheels.

There's a tunnel boot up the front that offers a significant amount of storage. The single deep-cycle battery and Smart Charger system are located in a dedicated recess at the rear of the van, and there's a voltmeter located just inside the doorway. Peter says the Delatite has been pre-wired for a solar panel, which will extend its applications even further.

And for those who want to upgrade the Delatite for some rougher terrain, no problem - Peter says an offroad pack for the model is available.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Despite the fact the Heading Off name has only been around for a short period of time, the proof that the team behind it have been in the industry for years shows through.

The Delatite attracts a significant price tag, but as Peter says it also attracts a high level of specification for experienced caravanners. With a separate shower and toilet, good storage space and an excellent kitchen, buyers of the Delatite will be able to spend extended periods on the road in supreme comfort.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED:

May West Caravans
344-366 Old Geelong Road
Hoppers Crossing, Vic 3029
(03) 9369 3300

For more information on Heading Off, visit http://www.maywest.com.au/