Kea Six-Berth

WE LIKED:
>> Generally flexible layout
>> Excellent kitchen area
>> Solid handling
>> Luton bed setup

NOT SO MUCH
>> No radio/CD player in the rear
>> No ‘any-which-way’ table, such as a Lagun table
>> Lack of opening windows

One of the problems with travel in Australia is that distances between destinations are often long, with time sometimes measured in days. That’s not such a problem for retirees but for time-poor workers it’s a different story.

That’s one reason why fly/drive-type holidays are popular. In this context, most people think car and hotel/motel/cabin, but it can be done equally well in a rental motorhome from at least all capital cities and some regional centres.

It’s a system I often use, sometimes in a work-related scenario, as was the case when I visited a Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia rally in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Getting there meant a three or four-day drive from the east coast, but instead I opted for a flight to Perth in order to collect a six-berth Kea motorhome, before heading west to Kalgoorlie.

It would have been possible to complete the entire journey in a day, but in the interests of safety, I took a little longer and enjoyed the countryside along the way.

RENT OR BUY?

Kea has a good range of rental motorhomes, with everything from a two-berth VW-based flip-top camper to a LandCruiser conversion for offroad enthusiasts.

I’d actually asked for a motorhome in which I wouldn’t need to make a bed up every night… and ended up with a six-berth. Being on my own, there was no shortage of space!

With any rental motorhome, the first stop on any journey is for provisions. One thing I like about the Kea setup is that all the non-consumable basics are provided, including the all-important coffee plunger and there are items such as loo paper and detergent included as well.

Powered by a 103kW Ford Transit and with a Tare of 3372kg, the Kea Six certainly handled the Great Eastern Highway without difficulty.

The Ford only comes with a smooth, six-speed manual gearbox, but that didn’t worry me as it’s my preference.

My diesel fuel consumption came in about 14.5L/100km, but if you are happy to drive at a cruisy 80-90km/h, then I’d think you are going to get better than that.

Being a rental motorhome, the Kea Six’s layout is naturally pitched at rental users and more obviously so in the six-berth than any other model.

That said, it’s still very user-friendly and in my case having a rear lounge/bed, a front dinette/bed and the Luton peak bed offered a considerable flexibility of use.

I used the Luton bed and therefore had one table for eating and the other for a mobile office. The kitchen bench along the nearside and the bathroom, located mid-offside, fills the rest of the interior.

Beige and brown are the main colours for the interior – they’re not going to get interior decorators overly excited but are winners in the hire-motorhome practicality department.

I should point out that new Kea motorhomes are also available for the private market but those come with different colour schemes inside and out. The Roman blinds look a bit fiddly but actually work quite well.

SLEEPING AND COOKING

Luton beds are always a bit of a challenge for motorhome designers, with ceiling heights and ladder being just two of the difficulties. Kea has done a nice job here.

For a start, it’s a good size at 2.05 x 1.68m (6ft 7in x 5ft 6in), with a ceiling height of 0.66m (2ft 2in).

Also included are two moulded-in bedside shelves, two gooseneck reading lights and two storage nets on the front wall.

With plenty of working space, the kitchen bench moulding includes both the sink (with both tank and drinking water outlets) and drainer.

The Smev four burner cooktop/grill fits neatly, as does the Vitrifrigo 133 litre fridge beneath the bench.

Because the fridge is driven by a 12V compressor, independent camping time is a bit limited, but the two roof-mounted 34W solar panels help to keep the 100Ah battery up to speed.

Set below the overhead lockers, the Sharp microwave is at a user-friendly height.

Storage space is quite plentiful. Plates, cups and glasses are all stashed in the lower drawer, which has custom-made slots and holes to ensure a minimum of breakages. This setup does take up a little bit of space but for fast, secure packing, it’s great.

An advantage of Kea supplying all the essentials (kettles, toasters, etc.) is that the cupboard space can be designed exactly to fit everything in very neatly.

In the six-berth unit, all the passengers travel in the dinette behind the driver’s seat. Undoubtedly passengers seated in the forward-facing lounge have the advantage, but all can communicate without shouting to those in the front cab.

The front table will only accommodate four for dinner, so with six on board the rear area is going to have to be utilised.

Above the dinette are a couple of small lockers and compartments, which are a little hard to reach but great for stashing small items.

In the rear, the club lounge is good for stretching out and the table can easily be moved in and out without a problem.

Overhead lockers and under-seat areas provide good storage and the nearside area can be accessed from both inside and out.

Mounting a TV for easy viewing in a layout such as this was always going to be tricky, but its end-of-kitchen-bench location is the best possible for both front and rear dinettes.

Being a rental, the bathroom isn’t oversized, but it is still fine. It comes with a moulded-in Thetford cassette toilet, fold-out washbasin and shaving cabinet.

The shower faucet can either be used at the basin or as a conventional shower. The fold-out drying rack and mirror on the outside wall are handy for travellers.

The electrics are quite simple but functional with a neat little 12V control panel behind the driver’s seat, and fluorescent and halogen lights in appropriate positions throughout.

For trans-Tasman folk, one little difference I noted between countries is that the New Zealand models came with a second radio/CD unit in the rear. Very handy, I have to say, when playing CDs or plugging in the iPod.

VERDICT

One of Kea’s strengths over the last few years has been to design rental motorhomes that don’t disgrace themselves in the private market. That is certainly the case with my test unit, although for two people the same length four-bed motorhome is more likely to be a better proposition.

Similarly, this motorhome, although with six beds, is certainly going to be more comfortable for four travelling together – two beds can be left made up yet the table can still be used. 

Although it was for work purposes, I enjoyed my fly/drive motorhome trip. Should you decide to do something similar, a Kea Six wouldn’t let you down.

KEA CAMPERS SIX-BERTH (ENDEAVOUR)

Base vehicle: Ford Transit    
Engine: 2.4 litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel  
Gearbox: six-speed manual   
Power/torque: 103kW/375Nm   
Brakes: Disc   
Tare: 3372kg   
GVM: 4490kg   
External length: 6.76m (22ft 6in)  
External width: 2.29m (7ft 6in)  
Internal height: 2.01m (6ft 7in)  
Cooktop: Smev four-burner and grill  
Fridge: Vitrifrigo 133 litre  
Microwave: Sharp carousel  
Gas: 2 x 4.5kg  
Lighting: 12V
Toilet: Thetford bench cassette
Shower: Flexible-hose with basin  
Hot water: Truma 14 litre
Fresh water: 150 litre
Grey water: 150 litre 
Second stage compliance: Yes 
Price: $134,000 RRP
Supplied by:
Kea Campers, Milperra, NSW