How one true off-road caravan brand goes above and beyond

Even though an attractive decor and lots of features are appealing in a caravan, it’s not enough to just have the sizzle when you need tough substance to tour in a caravan deep in the bush. The core engineering has to be fit for purpose too, and that’s where the Melbourne-based Masterpiece Caravans comes in.

This company is all about engineering a tough, off-road caravan, and then testing it in the field to ensure that the concepts are right – with plenty of luxury features to go with it. It’s a rare blend in the caravan industry, and Masterpiece Caravans excels at it – it’s the company’s speciality.

Masterpiece Caravans offers three models; the compact, luxurious and robust single-axle XTM; the tough off-road all-rounder tandem-axle Performance; and the engineered-for-off-road excellence tandem-axle Extreme. You can take these caravans almost anywhere, and Masterpiece has done its own testing to prove it.

Masterpiece Caravans uses its own R-TECH construction method, which involves key components such as the Fibroplast framing material, Aircell insulation and a 24mm one-piece floor.

The ingenious Fibroplast frame material is a fibreglass and polyurethane composite that is 30 per cent lighter than a traditional Meranti timber frame construction. Its structure allows for components to be screwed to it without concern, it does not absorb water or moisture at all and cannot rot like timber framing can. Fibroplast also has high thermal properties and does not transfer heat. Not only that, but it is also non-conductive – meaning that any electrical wiring can be passed through without risk – and it won’t deform.

The Aircell insulation uses a water-resistant material that encases specially designed air pockets and is fitted to offer maximum coverage within the wall and roof cavities. Electrical wiring can be run over the Aircell insulation, and the insulation has the highest thermal rating.

The 24mm one-piece floor has no joins and has a reinforced top layer for improved rigidity, plus a protective bottom layer to avoid water ingress and stone damage. The floor also has thermal insulation properties to help keep out the heat or cold.

Topping off the excellent bespoke R-TECH body technology is the 3mm composite panel on front, back and sides, assisted by custom Ravencoat aluminium checkerplate for additional protection.

The chassis is built by Road King, a well-known and respected Australian chassis manufacturer. Using 450-grade zinc galvanised Australian steel, each chassis is built specifically to Masterpiece Caravans’ exacting requirements. Those requirements include a unique construction that focuses on additional strengthening and durability. Naturally, a tough D035 off-road coupling is fitted to every Masterpiece.

The TerraGlide trailing arm independent suspension – rated to 3000kg for XTM, 4500kg for Performance and Optimum – is a relatively new design. Running coil springs on XTM and Performance and fully height-adjustable air springs on Optimum, the brakes are large 12-inch electric drums while the wheels are light, durable alloys shod with Cooper off-road tyres. The TerraGlide suspension is supplied by renowned second-tier Melbourne automotive manufacturer, Premcar. With OEM auto manufacturer clients such as Nissan, Premcar is perhaps one of the best-known firms in the automotive field for its engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

While there might be just three models to choose from, you can choose from multiple layouts available for each. The XTM has six internal layouts on offer, from the two-berth 15ft 3in centre door model with east-west bed, to the two-berth 18ft 6in rear door with north-south island bed.

The Performance offers an incredible 20 layout choices, from the two-berth 19ft 6in centre door island bed layout to the family six-berth 25ft centre door option. The Extreme also has a rich variety of 20 layout choices, from the 19ft 6in centre door island bed to the family six-berth 25ft centre door layout.

Within those multiple layout choices there are also variations of centre door or rear door; L-shaped lounge, cafe dinette or rear club lounge; roadside or kerbside kitchen, and so on. You name it, Masterpiece is likely to offer it. All layouts offer a bathroom with separate shower cubicle, as you’d expect.

It’s tough trying to list the standard luxury equipment on a Masterpiece Caravan because each comes fully loaded with just about everything you need to head out to a remote bush camp for a long stay.

External highlights include skid rails and rear recovery points, mesh stone guard and tool boxes, jerry can holders and a firewood cradle. Large water tanks, including grey water and even separate drinking water tanks on some models, is a given.

On-board electrical technology is right up there with the best, with each Masterpiece Caravan offering battery management systems supervising solar panels, lithium batteries and AC and DC chargers. There’s reverse-cycle air conditioning, 12-volt fans, a compressor fridge, entertainment systems and a TV that can be set up inside or outside the van, and even a yellow annexe light feature to avoid attracting insects. Masterpiece has thought of everything.

Each Masterpiece model comes with the peace of mind of a two-year general warranty and five-year structural warranty. Clearly Masterpiece has a high degree of confidence in its products, as these caravans are truly engineered and built to last.

In fact, examples of the latest 2024 models of XTM, Performance and Extreme have all just been thoroughly field-tested at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) in Victoria, to ensure that the company’s high standards of engineering are verified at a proving ground that will push a caravan to its limits.

It’s the results of this exacting, automotive-level of engineering research and development that you get in each and every one of Masterpiece’s boutique luxury off-road caravans.

There are many caravans to choose from on the Australian RV market, but if you are looking for a premium off-road caravan that does exactly what it says it can, then the Masterpiece Caravans range is sure to have a model to suit your exacting needs.

To learn more about the Masterpiece Caravans range, or to find you nearest dealership, head to the Masterpiece Caravans website.