Jurgens Sungazer

WHAT WE LIKED:

• Full ensuite in a small van
• Cleverly designed layout
• Light airy interior
• Build quality and attention to detail

NOT SO MUCH:

• Minimal food preparation areas
• Cramped bathroom with no window
• Premium priced, especially with option boxes ticked

At a time when caravans seem to be getting bigger and are increasingly loaded up with more and more of the comforts of home, Jurgens has taken a ‘slimmers’ approach by offering a cleverly designed compact van not lacking in creature comforts but light enough to be towed by a wide range of vehicles.

As Jurgens Australia marketing manager John Hughes explains, “the Sungazer is a fairly unique van because it has an ensuite and a lot of features not often found in a van of this size and price”.

The 16ft (5.04m) long van has a tare weight of 1240kg and ATM of 1600kg, which makes it towable by a number of compact SUVs and family sedans.

With a starting price of $38,900, it’s an appealing option for couples wanting a few luxuries but not necessarily wanting to upgrade the family runabout to something with more towing grunt when buying a van.

The new Sungazer is the smallest, entry-level model in Jurgens Australia’s three caravan model range, with one of its main selling points being it has the same sized ensuite as its larger siblings.

BRIGHT AND BREEZY

Step through the Camec triple-locker door and you’re confronted by a fairly compact layout comprising ensuite at the rear, kitchen and storage areas in the middle and a lounge/dinette/bedroom configuration at the front.

Despite the compact dimensions, you don’t feel claustrophobic with enough windows and skylights, including a massive front window, to allow plenty of daylight even on gloomy days. The 6ft3in (1.91m) internal height also prevents stooping for most bar NBA athletes.

The Jurgens’ tinted windows are an excellent design, with gas-strut openings and retractable flyscreens and blinds for easy adjustability.

Together with the light brown/beige colour scheme, this is an interior you wouldn’t mind being confined to for a couple of hours on a wet and windy day.

There’s a reason most vans of this size don’t offer a full ensuite, but Jurgens’ solution is a clever compromise that should work for most couples.

In ‘daytime’ mode, the front of the van comprises two facing lounges that provide comfortable seating for up to four adults, or feet-up lounging space for two.

A small cabinet offers storage space as well as a two-piece tabletop, which unlatches, slides and folds out to form a larger surface between the seats. Great for an intimate dinner for two or tackling the Sudoku puzzle.

Converting to sleeping arrangements is a quick job. The two lounges can serve as single beds (measuring 1.9 x 0.8m each) or a slat base slides out from the cabinet to fill the gap and provide a base for a double bed (2.2 x 1.3m) after re-arrangement of the cushions.

When set up there’s enough of the thick, high-density foam cushions remaining to allow sitting up in bed for some late night reading.

Storage options in this area include overhead lockers, which flank a centrally-mounted analogue clock and detachable CD/radio unit which outputs to two internal speakers.

There are also some good storage areas accessible underneath the lounges on both sides, although taking up some of the room on our test van was a Gel 80Ah deep cycle battery, Truma hot water heater and 12V Shurflo water pump.

The nearside, under-seat storage area can also be accessed via an external lockable door.

COMPACT KITCHEN

Not surprisingly, the kitchen area is small but contains all the ‘essentials’ including Spinflo four-burner cooktop with griller and rangehood, 93-litre three-way Thetford fridge/freezer, and a Sanyo 20-litre microwave positioned awkwardly at around knee height.

The stainless steel sink and drainer with hot/cold flick mixer tap takes up most of the bench space, so food preparation is mostly limited to the glass cover on the stovetop when not in use, the dinette table and a small benchspace opposite the kitchen.

Storage options in the kitchen area include overhead lockers, two cupboards and a drawer - enough for a limited range of utensils, pots, etc.

On the near side and opposite the kitchen are more storage options including a height-restricted wardrobe, small shelf with 240V and 12V outlets and antenna outlets for a TV when fitted.

'Our' Sungazer was fitted with the optional rollout awning, 12V rangehood and Dometic B2200 reverse-cycle air conditioner, which fits snugly in the roof for minimal impact on space or aesthetics.

BATHTIME

The ensuite at the rear of the van has its own door and includes a separate bathroom/toilet and shower.

The bathroom is a tight fit and really only suitable for one person at a time, but is well fitted out with Thetford cassette toilet, vanity with stainless steel sink and mixer tap, towel hooks, two mirrors and cupboard and racks for bathroom items.

Lighting is taken care of with a combination of halogens, which are needed as the bathroom has no window.

The adjoining shower has its own frosted plastic door and is serviced by a flexible shower hose and extractor fan. It also has a built-in, moulded seat, a definite plus for the elderly or disabled.

SOLID FOUNDATIONS

The Sungazer sits on a Jurgens-design, laser-cut galvanised chassis with a criss-cross formation for reduced weight and increased strength. It rides on Al-Ko independent rubber suspension.

The drawbar has a fibreglass nose cone and is fitted with a mains water tap, Al-Ko stabiliser coupling and a beefy jockey wheel.

A vacuum pressed sandwich construction for the walls combines alumimium sheeting, timber, polystyrene, plywood and PVC ‘wallpaper’ for increased durability and insulation properties.

The roof is made from impact-resistant aluminium while the front and rear of the van sports stylish moulded fibreglass cladding.

Opening the front boot reveals one 9kg gas bottle with provision for another, a spare wheel and limited space for odds and ends.

Externally, there’s a 240V inlet and lockable bins on either side for further storage options.

BOTTOM LINE

There’s a lot to like about the Sungazer, from the computer-cut fit and finish, quality materials used and equipment fitted, and clever layout which somehow manages to squeeze in a separate bathroom and toilet.

It’s a good-looking van, of the clean, European style and the ability to tow a caravan with your existing daily runabout, is also appealing.

It’s not perfect –  having to set up the bed each night may put off some buyers, and the kitchen is small – but it’s a good compromise for couples looking for something a bit different.

JURGENS SUNGAZER J1901

Overall length: 5.9m (19ft 4in)
External body length: 5.04m (16ft 6in)
Internal height: 1.91m (6ft 3in)
Overall width: 2.35m (7ft 9in)
Tare: 1360kg
ATM: 1600kg
Ball weight: 100kg (approx.)
Frame: Timber
Chassis: hot-dipped galvanised
Suspension: Al-Ko independent
Cooktop: four-burner Spinflo Minigrill MkIII
Microwave: Sanyo 20-litre
Gas: 1 x 9kg
Fresh water: 1 x 60-litre
Brakes: electric
Price as reviewed: $44,800
Website: Jurgens.com.au
Supplied by: Springvale Caravans