By Malcolm Street
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Unlike the caravan industry which is heavily based in Vic, motorhome manufacturers are much more spread out, primarily on the eastern side of Australia. This does lead to the occasional not-so-tough location work for MHW journos, for example this review of the Horizon Motorhomes Wattle.
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Horizon Motorhomes happens to be located in Ballina, on the north coast of NSW, which isn’t exactly a hardship for travelling journos or, more importantly, prospective purchasers. The area has a well serviced airport and is not too far from the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
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Headed up by Clayton Kearney, Horizon manufactures a range of motorhomes, mainly based on the Italian Fiat Ducato or the German twins, the Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter.
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All are fully fitted out with beds, kitchens and bathrooms of course, but an interesting departure from the norm is the Ducato-based Casuarina, which comes sans bathroom and has proved popular. We’ll be featuring that model in a forthcoming issue of MHW.
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Our 22ft 9in (7m) Wattle motorhome had a Mercedes Sprinter 315 base, but it’s also available on the VW Crafter.
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These two vehicles are proving to be a success in the motorhome world, having a slightly larger interior space than the old models, as well as being better driving and road handling vehicles.
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Extra grunt
Powered by a 2.2L 110kW turbocharged diesel engine, the Sprinter moves along well. A more powerful 120kW engine is also available, as is a 135kW V6 version.
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Of more interest to many people is the full automatic gearbox that’s available with the Sprinter. Although ours came with the slick dash-mounted six-speed manual, we are aware that many prefer the auto for easy cruising.
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One of the advantages that motorhome converters have over coach-built motorhomes is that the exterior body work is mainly complete, with the exception of holes for windows and bin doors and fitting items such as awnings.
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The Wattle is a typical example, with Seitz hopper windows, gas locker with two 4kg gas cylinders, external shower, Dometic roof-mounted air-conditioner and Fiamma F45 awning.
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Not all manufacturers put a window in the panel behind the door, but with this Wattle’s layout it’s an asset. The only caveat is to remember not to have the window open when opening the sliding door.
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MHW’s Wattle layout featured rear sideways facing lounges, bathroom behind the driver’s seat, nearside kitchen with fridge and microwave on the opposite side. One of the assets of this particular arrangement is that the rear lounges can be used as two single beds or made up easily into a double.
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The cabinetry work has the ‘in vogue’ timber look and has a slightly square look about it, offset by the chamfered corner at the front of the kitchen bench and the angled back overhead lockers in the rear.
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It’s more an appearance effect than anything, but the layout also has a fairly open feel about it – that is mainly because there are no overhead lockers along the nearside. They are an option and whether or not you need them depends undoubtedly how you travel. We suspect they’d be handy especially for long-term travellers.
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One of the features of the Wattle layout is that the driver and passenger seats swivel around and there is a small table that fits in between. That means that if you are happy to put up with a slightly cramped ‘dining area’, especially on the driver’s side, then the bed(s) in the rear can be left permanently made up.
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If a couple of camping chairs and a folding table are on board, then al fresco eating under the awning, which many people seem to like doing, is going to be a good alternative as well. 
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Good styling
In the relatively simple kitchen bench is a stainless steel sink and drainer, next to a three-burner Cramer cooktop, both with smoked glass lids. Benchtop area is not huge, but added to by a hinged flap at the front end. As we have observed before, there is more kitchen space in this size motorhome than in some 30ft designs we have seen. A Seitz marine style hatch above the kitchen supplies extra light and ceiling ventilation. 
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Kitchen storage is good and usable – two large pots and pans drawers and three smaller ones, plus two cupboards. Under the fridge there is also a small floor locker, though that area is mainly occupied by the gas cylinder compartment.
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Bringing up the rear, the lounge seats are 6ft 2in (1.88m) long, thus being a good size for single beds or, by sliding out the seat bases and relocating the cushions, making up quite a wide double bed at 5ft 9in (1.76m).
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At the rear end of the seats, locker doors give access to the under-seat storage area. If being used as a dinette, a second, single pole table fits easily between the seats. Being picky, we’d like to see a slightly larger table, with two poles to make it steadier. The front and rear tables are stored behind the front cab seats. 
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Bathrooms in motorhomes this size are by their nature not going to be particularly big. MHW overheard some comments by someone who was complaining about a small bathroom, but to our eyes it was adequate with all the necessary inclusions – flex hose shower, Thetford cassette toilet and small wash basin in the corner.
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Ventilation was courtesy of a roof hatch; a translucent door might be nice for those who think the bathroom is too cramped. 
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Electrics aren’t particularly sophisticated in the Wattle, but we did like that all the controls and switches are located in one place, the mid nearside wall. In some designs we have seen, the location seems to have more to do with the convenience of the manufacturer, rather than the user. Lighting is all 12V halogens and includes reading lights above the driver and passenger seats.
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The 12V load is supplied by a 200Ah deep cycle battery, that’s either charged by the vehicle alternator or by the 240V charger. Solar panels are an option. Behind the kitchen bench is a powerpoint, but one near the front or rear seats might be nice for the laptop users. Our Wattle came fitted with the optional roof-mounted air-conditioner. 
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Summing Up
This is one of several designs offered by Horizon in the Mercedes-Benz sized van. So even if you don’t like this one, there’s something for everyone – including a couple of fixed bed layouts. There is also an extensive options list. Although in some people’s eyes the Sprinter sized vans are a little small, we reckon they are ideal for RVers who like to travel relatively lightly and don’t want a particularly big motorhome.
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As MHW also observed at the recent CMCA Barcaldine Rally, their size is ideal for single people, especially females who are travelling on their own. In addition, Ballina isn’t exactly a hardship place for buying a motorhome – there are plenty of camping spots to get right into the spirit of things. 
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I liked

The open feel that this motorhome has
Kitchen bench that is a reasonable size
All the electrical controls are positioned in a convenient location
Driving the new model Sprinter — it’s easy to drive and park
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Now I’m being picky

Would like an extra powerpoint either at the front or back
It probably needs a slightly larger rear table
Having curtains on the rear windows — there are integrated blinds but when closed don’t allow for much air circulation
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Ballina Campervan and Leisure Centre, 29 River Street, Ballina NSW 2478, (02) 6681 1555, email: info@ballinacampers.com.au
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Horizon Wattle

Base vehicle Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI

Engine 2.2L turbodiesel

Gearbox Six-speed manual

Max power 110kW@3800rpm

Max torque 330Nm@1200-2400rpm

Brakes Four-wheel disc

Tare weight 3100kg

GVM 3550kg

External length 22ft 9in (7m)

External width 6ft 6in (2m)

Internal height 6ft 4in (1.93m)

Cooktop Cramer three-burner

Fridge Waeco Coolmatic MDC 110

Microwave LG

Gas 2 x 4kg

Lighting 12V halogen

Hot water Truma 14L

Fresh water 100L

Price $97,200 with roof a/c plus o/r 

Horizon Wattle

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