Jurgens G1601 Rascal

Lightweight champion

Jurgens is a name that won't mean a whole lot to the average Australian caravan fan - at least, not yet. It will, however, ring a bell with RVers in South Africa, where it has dominated the caravan market for over 70 years.

There are plenty of similarities between the two nations' harsh landscapes, and so it makes sense that a product which works well in one will perform well in the other. That idea was firmly in mind when Terry Steel, Eddie Wills and Ian Jow got together to form Jurgens Australia Caravans, with Jurgens Caravans (South Africa) effectively serving as a fourth partner.

Terry, Eddie and Ian bring a wealth of caravan and leisure industry experience to Jurgens Australia, while Jurgens Caravans (South Africa) - where Eddie worked for eight years - provides components, the name, and the hard-won design expertise.

"We're an Australian-owned company, all our vans are made here in Vic, and we're RVMAA members with full ADR approval," says Terry, as he takes CW on a quick tour of Jurgens Australia's new premises. The factory is located in Tooradin, south-east of Melbourne, and there's plenty of room here to expand if required.

Jurgens Australia opened its doors for business in April this year, and presently its range comprises two pop-tops of 4.1m (13ft 6in) and 5.3m (17ft 4in); two caravans of 5.2m (18ft 2in) and 6.3m (20ft 9in); and a lightweight, enclosed trailer. Terry says an offroad caravan is due to hit Australia before the end of the year, while Jurgens Australia will also be importing and distributing the Howling Moon range of South African-made roof-top tents.

CHEEKY RASCALS
While in Tooradin, CW took the opportunity to make a closer inspection of the smaller of Jurgens' two pop-top models, the 4.1m G1601 Rascal. "Here at Jurgens, we like to refer to the Rascal as the lightweight champion of the world," says Terry.

"Some caravans are heavy, over-engineered things," he adds. "We build a lightweight but sturdy galvanised chassis - it's all about designing lightweight caravans to meet today's needs."

Terry is also quick to point out that while the Jurgens Australia range harnesses the designs of its South African namesake, the vans themselves are modified to suit Australian conditions. All the internal furniture is built and designed here in Australia, and all the electrical and plumbing work is carried out here to Australian standards.

CLEAN LINES
The three-berth Rascal is pitched as an entry level van for couples or couples with one child, but despite the compact format and the $25,900 price tag, it comes with sleek, modern lines and some innovative features that are sure to impress.

The moulded fibreglass front and rear sections lend the Rascal a smart appearance, as does the moulded fibreglass cover over the drawbar. Speaking of the drawbar, it has an easy-to-use, auto-style handbrake, and a jockey wheel that lifts up and under the fibreglass cover for storage while under tow - a neat feature.

A single 9kg gas cylinder is securely stored out of the elements in the lockable front boot, which further aids the van's clean appearance. There's room for a second cylinder in the boot too, which would sit alongside the van's spare wheel.

CLEVER THINKING
The Dometic A&E rollout awning comes as standard, and there's an external light and powerpoint. The door is made by Jurgens, and while our review Rascal didn't offer a security grill, Terry says there's one in the pipeline. There is, however, a concertina-style sliding flyscreen from Dutch company Horrex to keep the nasties out.

There's no grab handle as such, but then it's really not necessary because the Rascal sits relatively low, and it's only a small step up into the van itself. However, the door does come with a heavy-duty seal, which certainly looks up to the job of preventing dust ingress while under tow.

The galvanised steel chassis is tapered, so it's thick where you need it most - around the axle - and thinner (and therefore lighter) at either end. It's a big factor in achieving a Tare weight of just 980kg, which places it firmly in family sedan territory.

That's bound to be a big part of the appeal of the Jurgens range - when Terry says they're designed to meet today's needs, in part he's referring to fuel economy and the expense of a tow vehicle. If a big, heavy van requires a big, heavy tow vehicle, you're looking at big overheads - and that's certainly not the case here.

The Rascal rides on 14in steel wheels and Al-Ko independent suspension (another big plus for a 'budget' van), while braking is handled by an Al-Ko coupling with a mechanical override.

With the pop-top up there's plenty of headroom - the specs say 1.9m (6ft 4in) of internal height, but to be honest, to me it felt like more. You won't find any internal latches on the pop-top either, which only adds to its neat and tidy appearance.

The interior cabinetry is finished in a pine-look vinyl wrap, which is complemented by a parquetry-look vinyl floor. Combined with the darker dinette cushions and textured walls, the interior has an earthy but modern feel.

The dinette is comfortable enough, given its modest dimensions, and the table folds away and drops down in seconds to form the base of the third berth, the dinette cushions then slotting into place to form the mattress.

It really makes for quite a decent bed too - certainly it was long enough to accommodate my 6ft 2in frame - while underneath the seat bases you'll find additional storage space on the nearside, the single deep-cycle battery on the offside, and a small tunnel boot running from one to the other to accommodate longer items such as a broom or fishing rod.

The kitchen is basic, as you'd expect. A small glass splashback lifts up to reveal a Dometic two-burner gas hob, a small sink with cold water tap (there's a 12V water pump), and a Dometic AES 90L three-way fridge freezer. But it's got all the basics covered, and there's a double powerpoint nearby, along with adequate cupboard space.

The cabinetry has been done to a budget nicely - the overhead locker doors swing up on plastic rails, but they work well and the general fit and finish is really good - better than I've seen on some appreciably dearer vans.

In the rear offside corner you'll find a sizeable hanging wardrobe, a small cupboard, another double powerpoint and the double bed. The mattress is fairly basic but it should still deliver a decent night's sleep, and its base lifts up on gas struts to reveal a compartmentalised storage area, with room for a portable loo and plenty more.

Another clever aspect is the fact that the bed slides across from the wall towards the centre of the van on a rail, turning it into an island bed - this makes it easier to construct and improves access all round. Overhead lockers and a clock complete the package.

THE BOTTOM LINE
At a shade under $26,000, the Rascal represents excellent value and packs in some clever features for those making a first foray into caravans, or those looking to downsize. It's nicely put together, looks the business and it's got over 70 years of experience and knowledge behind it, which can't be a bad thing.

There's a Jurgens Australia dealer in each Australian state, and as CW went to press, the first of Jurgens' range of full caravans was about to roll off the production line.

With a proven track record in South Africa, Jurgens and its dedicated Aussie team now look set to make a big impact here in Oz too.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED:

Jurgens Caravans
6/99 Tooradin Station Road, Tooradin, Vic 3980
(03) 5998 3555.

For more information, including your nearest dealer, visit www.jurgensaustralia.com.au