Horizon Wattle

There are only a small number of motorhome manufacturers in Australia which specialise in large van conversions (rather than coach built) and Ballina-based Horizon Motorhomes is one of the largest.

And for us Euro snobs, there’s nothing quite like a Horizon Wattle motorhome built from a Mercedes Benz Sprinter CDI 316 van, powered by a 2.2-litre 120kW/360Nm turbo-diesel engine.

There’s bit of cachet about running around in a Mercedes and, for those who want a little more oomph under the right foot, a larger 3.0-litre 149kW/440Nm engine is available as an option. A 7G-Tronic (seven-speed) auto gearbox is normally supplied with both, but a six-speed manual shift is available for those who like to drive rather than just turn the steering wheel.

Unlike a coach-built conversion, which requires a frame and/or wall panels to be constructed, a van conversion like the Wattle instead requires a number of holes to be cut into the van body.

In this case, they’re for the Seitz windows, gas cylinder bin, toilet cassette compartment, fridge vents, roof vents and external shower. The Fiamma F65 awning doesn’t need large holes, just small ones for the mounting points.

Given the length and weight of the motorhome, the 120kW engine is certainly a very capable performer and the Benz will maintain most traffic and highway speeds without too much problem. Its best drivetrain feature is the super smooth seven-speed gearbox which slides effortlessly through the gears without a drama.

The Wattle’s external length of just under 7m (22ft 9in) gave the interior designer a good deal of latitude regarding the layout, and that's important in a van conversion with a finite interior space.

Two single beds, suitable for tall people, double as sideways-facing lounges and, in keeping with many van conversions, the kitchen bench occupies the nearside wall with the fridge opposite, leaving space behind the driver's seat for a bathroom cubicle and a wardrobe.

Using light tones in van conversions is a great idea, given the confined space, and the Horizon makes the most of illusion with a light timber look with a grey surround for the cupboards, grey for the marine carpet style wall coverings and white for the ceiling.

Insect screens for the rear and side doors are optional on all Horizon vans and, while they were not fitted to this van, I think they’re almost a non-negotiable, especially since the rear door’s windows are the original (non-opening) style.

Up front, both cab seats swivel around. There isn't a great deal of room behind the driver's seat, given the proximity of the shower/toilet cubicle but there's just enough space to fit a small single pole-mounted table between the seats. It’s handy for drinks and snacks but it’s not really big enough for a full meal unless you are very neat and tidy.

On the subject of eating or, rather, cooking, the kitchen bench is mostly taken up by a three-burner cooktop and a stainless steel sink/drainer, both with smoked glass lids. One very marked feature is the amount of drawer space – there are seven in all but one might have to be sacrificed if you want a grill with the cooktop.

In many RVs, the air space above the kitchen is used for overhead lockers but, in this case, the wall panel has many of the Wattle’s gauges, switches and controls. It also comes with a flatscreen TV on a swiveling arm and a 12V socket.

Facing the kitchen bench and located between the wardrobe and bed, the 136 litre fridge sits above a floor level cupboard (which hides the rear wheel arch) and has the microwave oven above. This arrangement puts both items at a reasonably user-friendly height.

There are a couple of options for bed layout in the Wattle but the one I looked at has two single beds, both of which measure 2.03 x 0.64m (6ft 8in x 2ft 1in). 

At the rear, the storage space blocks access through the rear doors but it does give create bedside storage compartments and a rear seat. Both beds have reading lights and they can be used from either direction– the cabinets provide a back rest for relaxing during the day.

There’s no shortage of storage space in the rear with overhead lockers, under-seat storage, a rear compartment (accessible from both sides) and even a drawer under the raised floor.

Storage is definitely a winner in the Wattle. I suspect I have mentioned this before but given that most van conversions have no external storage compartments, a roll-out plastic bin would be good for wet hoses and the like.

One of the things the Horizon team has tried to achieve over the years is to create a usable bathroom space. Bathrooms in van conversions generally have to be quite small but there’s still room to turn around without scraping your elbows. That’s been achieved without too much difficulty in this bathroom which contains the expected Dometic cassette toilet, complete with SOG vent, variable height flexible hose shower and a small corner wash basin with mirror above.

VERDICT

I’ve made this observation concerning Horizon before and I’ll make it again – although Clayton Kearney and his team do produce new models from time to time, one of Wattle’s strengths is its policy of continually improving existing models.

That’s certainly the case with the Wattle which is a very practical and comfortable small motorhome, available in single or double bed layouts.

WE LIKED:
>> Good rear bed setup
>> Decent sized bathroom
>> Removable table between the cab seats
>> All round windows

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Insect screens not standard, given non opening rear door windows
>> Nothing else of note

HORIZON WATTLE

External length: 6.945m (22ft 9in) 
External width : 1.993m (6ft 6in) 
Internal height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
Tare weight: 2986kg 
GVM: 3550kg 
Base vehicle: Mercedes Benz CDI 316 
Engine : 2.2L turbodiesel 
Gearbox: Seven-speed auto
Power/torque: 120kW at 3800rpm/369Nm at 1400-2400rpm 
Brakes: ABS Disc
Gas: 2x4kg 
Fresh water: 100L 
Grey water: 95L
Cooking: Dometic three-burner 
Fridge: Waeco 136L 12V compressor 
Microwave: Sharp carousel 
Lighting: 12V LED
Toilet: Dometic cassette with SOG vent
Shower: Flexible hose 
Hot water: Truma 14L 
Second stage compliance: Yes 
Price as tested: $120,500 (on road, NSW)
Supplied by: Ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre, Ballina, NSW
More info: Horizon Motorhomes

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