Karakampa

WE LIKED:

>> Spacious, sensible layout
>> Huge kitchen bench space
>> Lightweight tow-ability

WE WOULD HAVE LIKED:

>> More optional features included in base price
>> Easier access to stabiliser legs
>> Rear hinged front roof hatch

You’ll pick it as you accelerate away from the lights – there’s a little bit of V8 Supercar in every Karakampa caravan.

Centaur Products Australia, which builds the Karakampa in Kilsyth, Melbourne, also runs the Hiflex #3 Commodore driven by Tony D’Alberto in the 2013 Championship and supplies a range of lightweight composite materials to other V8 Supercar race teams.

So it’s not surprising that the all-composite (no wood) Karakampa is both strong and light, tipping the scales at less than 1400kg, which is low for a fully-featured en-suite caravan with north-south island double bed measuring 4.1 metres internally.

But in case you’re a little enthusiastic off the mark, there’s also a bit of Police vehicle in the Karakampa too.

Centaur has been building Prisoner Capsules (known as Police Pods) to fit on Commodore Utes for the Victoria Police since 2009 and has recently begun supplying similar all-composite structures to the West Australian Police. A ‘civvy’ version, known as the Sportsvan Body, is also available for non-Police Commodore Utes.

BUILT TOUGH

So if it can handle knocks from ‘crims’ and V8 Supercars, it gives you confidence that Centaur knows what it is doing when it comes to fibreglass structures and the first class finish of the novel Karakampa bears this out.

Finished in cheery high gloss white gelcoat over (optional) canary yellow and black accented lower bodywork, the Karakampa turned heads at last year’s Leisurefest and still commands attention on the road and in caravan parks today.

You’re certain to see one soon. According to Centaur, there are around 50 Karakampas on Australian roads today since production began in the hands of its original creator four years ago – half of these since Centaur bought the company in May last year.

We towed it with a Series II Holden Captiva, which proved to be an ideal and perfectly-matched tow vehicle thanks to the healthy 400Nm of torque punched out by its 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and we were never embarrassed, or held anyone up, on hills or at the lights.

Apart from its good looks, the first thing that strikes you about the Karakampa is its welcoming interior, with a user-friendly layout and sense of space.

Despite exterior impressions suggesting otherwise, this is a proper caravan and you don’t need to erect either of the two external awnings (side awning optional) to gain entry via the rear door and use the en-suite, cook a meal, or head straight to bed on a long trip.

MASTERCHEF WORTHY

Being a total fibreglass structure, everything is built in, and by being bonded to the walls and roof, the cupboards, bed base and even the en-suite contribute to the caravan’s rigidity.

The en-suite, immediately to the left after you pass through the rear door, is roomier than you find in most combined shower/toilet models and can be accessed quickly while dining outdoors, or for roadside emergencies.

The huge bench top opposite, which leads to the three-burner gas cook top and separate sink bowl – both with hinged glass covers to increase serving space – is of Masterchef proportions, with the only fly in the soup being the high-mounted microwave, just inside the door.

The L-shaped dinette opposite with its (composite) table is large enough to seat four cosily and if you are prepared to sit on the end of the bed, six people could crowd around the table – something many larger caravans can’t claim.

With everything built-in, the Karakampa has enormous interior storage space and you keep finding cupboards to open. These include storage cupboards on each side of the island double bed – which lifts up to reveal further storage underneath – and a hanging robe on the right hand side.

However with its relatively skimpy 300kg load carrying capacity, you probably won’t be filling them all.

WHITE SPACE

The other standout feature of the interior is its large, airy feel.

All interior walls and the padded ceiling are white and take full advantage of the Dometic double-glazed windows, large front roof hatch and rear door to flood the interior with light.  And at night, a profusion of LEDs take over.

All windows open to 90 degrees and are fitted with two way flyscreens and block-out blinds, including the large hatch over the double bed that inexplicably is front-hinged, so that even when opened just a fraction it funnels rain onto the bed. If it was hinged at the rear this would be far less of an issue.

Outside, the Karakampa’s cleverness continues. The massive front (fibreglass) boot sits on the 80mm x 50mm A-frame behind the vertically-mounted spare wheel and single 9kg gas bottle, while further rearwards there’s a full tunnel boot under the bed and space in the separate battery compartment for a second deep-cycle unit.

The only problem outside is that all four Al-Ko corner drop jacks are attached to the galvanised chassis, which places them well inwards from the Karakampa’s body sides and lowering them is a potentially dirty, two-handed affair as you lean under the van. You need to use a groundsheet or knee-mat.

LESS OPTIONS PLEASE!

The Karakampa’s list of standard features is good, if not outstanding and includes the choice of either double bed or twin single bed innerspring mattress layouts, Truma hot water service and small rooftop reverse cycle air conditioner.

However there’s a l-o-n-g list of options which added $6323 to our test van’s $49,990 bottom line, including the additional side awning, Dometic under-seat heating, timber-look flooring, the van’s sound system and an external gas outlet – many of these items that other manufacturers include in this price-bracket.

However few offer the personalisation of colour customised decals to match your tow vehicle as was the case with our Karakampa, which some buyers will believe is worth the extra $1400 asking price.

Regardless, at a price of more than $56,000 as our review van presented, many potential buyers will start to shop the Karakampa against more conventional vans in this price range. Whether they will be able to tow the alternatives behind their light front wheel drive SUV is another story.

The Karakampa is currently Centaur’s only caravan, but that will change in the near future. Currently on the drawing board are a cheaper non en-suite model with a side door and a larger model with side door and a complete en-suite with separate shower and toilet across the back.

VERDICT

Centaur is to be applauded for its innovation and quality built into the Karakampa, which with its light all-fibreglass body brings the pleasure and convenience of a full-size caravan within range of many couples with smaller SUVs.

Owner feedback to date suggests there is a ready market of potential caravanners out there for whom this is the good news they need to hitch up.

KARAKAMPA

Overall length:  5.9m
External body length:  4.6m
External body width:  2.4m
Interior body length:  4.1m
Travel height:  2.85m
Interior height:  2.0m
Nameplate Tare:  1340kg
Nameplate ATM: 1700kg
Ball weight: 100kg
Frame: Fibreglass/Composite Material
Cladding:  Fibreglass sandwich panel
Chassis size:  Full box galvanised chassis
Suspension: Alko rubber suspension
Brakes:  Electric drum
Wheels/tyres: 14 inch alloy, radial tyres
Price: $49,990 ex-factory Victoria ($56,313 as reviewed)
Supplied by: Centaur Products Australia, Kilsyth, Vic
More info: karakampa.com.au