Jurgens Jindabyne

WE LIKED: 
>> Value for money
>> Exterior styling
>> Great interior living and storage space

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Small water tank and fridge and no hot water service
>> Squeezy around the end of the bed
>> No supporting stay for the front boot lid

Appearance is a very subjective thing. Most mothers love their babies and people wait for months to own caravans styled like house bricks.

But to my eyes Jurgens makes some smart looking caravans and pop-tops and the Jindabyne PT2210 we’ve just sampled is one of them.

Jurgens is South Africa’s largest RV maker, with its origins dating back to 1952, since when it has built more than 100,000 caravans and motorhomes. 

In contrast, Jurgens Australia established in 2008 as a partnership with Jurgens SA, is one of our newest RV makers, but by leveraging its parent’s experience and manufacturing might, it’s on the way to becoming a major player in the Aussie market.

Jurgens products are designed and built locally to a unique Australian specification in Pakenham, a Melbourne satellite town that’s rapidly becoming a hub for Victorian RV manufacturers.

There, galvanised steel chassis components, aluminium-skinned sandwich panel walls, front and rear fibreglass clips and one-piece fibreglass (pop-top) or aluminium skinned roofs (caravans) arrive pre-cut and packed from Jurgens in South Africa, ready to be assembled.

An unusual feature of the chassis is that it’s bolted together, rather than welded, as is the industry norm, but with extra cross-members added to withstand our unforgiving roads, there seems little doubt as to its strength.

As the vehicles take shape, many Australian-sourced components and CNC-cut and assembled furniture are added, with the finished vehicles successfully blending the economies of South African sourcing, European style and Australian know-how.

In its six years of manufacturing, Jurgens Australia’s output has grown from around 350 a year to the 700 a year it now builds in its new $5 million Pakenham, Victoria plant that opened in early 2013.

But that’s just the start. The new facility has the ability to produce up to 2000 units a year, taking it into the major league of Australian manufacturers if current market demand for Jurgens products continues its upward spiral.

PRICED TO PLEASE

Certainly if the Jindabyne PT2210 pop-top we reviewed is an example, the future is bright.

For a starting price of $31,990, buyers get a relatively roomy and beautifully finished pop-top with a north-south island double bed, a separate L-shaped dinette, a separate two seater lounge and a large and well-equipped rear kitchen, all comfortably contained within its 4.92m (16ft 2in) internal length.

There’s no ensuite – although there's surely room for one – and Jurgens asks you to step up to their entry-level Sungazer caravan if you want to be fully self-contained.

But for those planning to stay in caravan parks, the absence of an ensuite is really no problem at this price.

The PT22 Series is available with a choice of two layouts – the PT2230 is a four-berth family pop-top, in which the front dinette converts to a second double bed, while the PT2210 we tested is primarily designed for couples who might like to invite friends over for dinner or ‘sundowners’.

‘Our’ Jindabyne was also supplied in ‘Deluxe’ spec, which is chosen by the majority of buyers, who get a roll-out awning, front travel blanket (bra), reverse cycle air conditioning and curtains for a further $3000, taking the price to around $35,000 – still excellent value.

Both pop-tops have a similar 1350kg tare weight and are designed to be hauled by mid-to-large size two-wheel-drive Australian family cars and wagons, or by compact all-wheel-drive vehicles with a tow rating of up to 1650kg. This covers a wide choice of vehicles and many buyers will not need to upgrade their existing vehicle.

LOOKS THE PART

The Jindabyne looks very smart, with its raked front panel and curved cut-away rear end linked by the two-toned white over mid-grey textured paint effectively to accent its lines.

The nose is dominated by a large opening (and unprotected) window, with a medium-sized boot below where the PT2210’s twin 4.5kg gas bottles and vertically-mounted spare wheel will need to share space with things like hoses, power leads, the jockey wheel and the like.

However, inexplicably, there’s no supporting stay – or better, gas struts – for the fibreglass lid, which swings on a long piano hinge.

Fortunately, there’s additional half tunnel storage in a locker on the near side front that can also be accessed from inside beneath the bed.

You step into the van via a removable plastic step and there’s enough headroom to get around during lunchtime stops without raising the roof. However if you do, it’s a fairly easy process that takes place internally, with no external latches to undo (something you can well do without if you are vertically-challenged, or it’s raining).

However after praising the Jindabyne’s exterior styling, the van’s interior to my eyes, was less attractive, mainly because of the material chosen for the seating. However with 10 different fabrics to choose from, buyers will surely find a pattern to suit.

Erected, there’s an excellent 2.03 metres (6ft 8in) of headroom, although this is negated somewhat by the reduced headspace under the dinette and lounge.

VERSATILE DESIGN

Working from the nose, the hinged island double bed is nicely ventilated by large opening windows, while three-quarter robes on either side and twin large cupboards above provide good clothes storage.

Curiously they are separated by the rather awkwardly placed sound system head unit directly above the bed centre, but the adjacent analogue wall clock (no bright blinking LED!) is a welcome step back in time.

In fact storage is a feature of the Jindabyne, and we counted no fewer than 18 separate opening cupboards and drawers, plus extra storage space under the dinette, lounge and bed, so owners can take full advantage of the pop-top’s 300kg load-carrying capacity.

Admittedly, this will shrink to around 240kg if the small 60-litre underslung water tank is full, but with no ensuite and most owners expected to stay in caravan parks, rather than roadside and hence connecting to park water, this isn’t really an issue.

The kitchen is a great space to cook up a storm for a couple and up to four of their friends who can be seated inside the pop-top. There’s excellent bench space, a Thetford three gas plus electric hotplate cooker and grill, while the van’s standard Daewoo microwave is located at a safe and sensible height above the bench.

And when you’re dining in hot weather you’ll also be comfortable. The large Dometic awning fitted to the test van provided excellent external shade while the standard Aircommand Heron reverse cycle air conditioner positioned on the wall opposite the dinette, combined with the excellent air extraction afforded by the zip-down ‘windows’ in the pop-top should easily deal with the hottest days.

So, what’s not to like? Not much really. It’s a bit of a squeeze to get past the end of the bed, you can bump your head on the cupboards above the seats if you’re not careful and the standard 93-litre fridge is pretty marginal.

However you need to remind yourself that Jurgens has designed this pop-top for caravan park travellers, where an ensuite, a large fridge, a big water tank and other ‘free-camping’ necessities don’t apply.

VERDICT

The Australian-built Jurgens Jindabyne is a stylish and exceptionally roomy pop-top that can be towed by a wide range of fuel-efficient Australian family cars, wagons and light all-wheel-drive vehicles.

It particularly hits the sweet spot for couples upgrading from pull-out and fold-out camper trailers.

While a bargain at its starting price of $31,990, we’d recommend that buyers tick the box for the optional hot water service ($700), add the (also optional) outdoor shower ($400) and pack a portable toilet.

Then, for a total outlay of around $36,000 all-up you’ll able to take advantage of the Jindabyne’s many other great features either within, or outside, the boundaries of a caravan park.

JURGENS JINDABYNE PT2210

Overall length: 6.34m
Internal body length: 4.92m
External body length: 5.52m
External body width: 2.35m
Travel height: 2.26m
Internal height: 2.03m
Tare: 1350kg
ATM: 1.65m
Ball weight: 136kg
Frame: Composite sandwich
Cladding: Sandwich Duratherm walls with aluminium outer layer, one-piece moulded fibreglass ends and roof
Chassis: Optima galvanised steel
Suspension: Al-Ko independent
Brakes: 10in ALKO electric
ESC: No
Wheels: 15in alloy with light truck tyres
Fresh water: 1 x 60L
Solar: None fitted
Air-conditioner: Aircommand Heron
Gas: 2 x 4.5kg
Cooking: Thetford Minigrill three gas/electric hot plate and grill
Fridge: 93 litre Thetford three-way
Microwave: Daewoo
Toilet: No
Lighting: LED
Options fitted: Deluxe pack (approx. $3000)
Price (on road, Vic): $31,990. As reviewed with Deluxe pack, $35,000
Supplied by: Jurgens Caravans, Pakenham, Vic