Jurgens gets dirty

Jurgens has released its heaviest, most expensive, and arguably most off-road ready caravan to date.

Unveiled at the 2015 NSW Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, the Travado (means locked in Portugese) is the first Jurgens van in Australia to be fitted with Cruisemaster CRS independent coil suspension, making it suitable for rough-road travel.

While sharing similar construction and styling cues with Jurgen's touring models, the Travado also stands apart with a more rugged, purposeful design including increased road clearance, checkerplate body protection, rear steel bumper, and chunky moulds over panel joins.

Other ‘off-road’ features include an external BBQ slide-out, two 80 litre water tanks, 16in alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres, heavy-duty external hinges on the front locker and window cover. ??

Al-Ko electronic stability control is standard, as is a regular 50mm Al-Ko coupling.

Inside, the cabinetry and quality interior finishes are similar to other Jurgen vans, although as the new flagship model the Travado gets soft leather upholstery for the café dinette.

Designed for couples, the layout includes a north/south, queen sized bed up front, large galley kitchen including microwave and 185 litre fridge/freezer, lounge/dinette with flip-up foot rests, and full width rear ensuite with separate shower and toilet and washing machine.

Other standard features include two, 9kg gas bottles, roll-out awning, two large roof hatches, gas/240V hot water, battery system, LED lighting, reverse cycle air conditioner, TV/DVD with antenna/booster, and radio/CD player.

Only one Travado variant is currently available, the tandem axle TR2505, which has a 2380kg Tare, 3000kg ATM and 250kg ball weight.

Body length is 6925mm (22ft 8in) and overall it measures 8030mm (26ft 4in) long and 2495mm (8ft 2in) wide.

The display model in Sydney was advertised at $74,990.

Like the rest of the Jurgens Australia range, the Travado is built at the company’s Pakenham factory from both local and overseas components, including composite body panels and a bolted chassis sourced from Jurgens in South Africa.