Kedron Cross Country XC3

WE LIKED

• Lower weight makes it easier to tow than other Kedrons
• General construction
• Bright interior with pleasant colour scheme

NOT SO MUCH

• Radio mounted above cooktop
• No individual reading lights at dinette

I know this isn’t a health forum, but questions of weight are always a pertinent issue in the caravan world. Manufacturers have been fitting more and more appliances and accessories into caravans, while at the same time engineering them so they can go more places.

As one industry source mentioned to me a while ago, “At this rate we’re all going to need LandCruisers to tow them.”

However, all is not lost amid the issue of increased features. Several caravan manufacturers have been taking a hard look at the weight issue and, more importantly, doing something about it.

It was at the 2011 Queensland caravan show that Kedron’s Glen Gall excitedly pointed me in the direction of his company’s new Cross Country XC3.

“We’ve recognised the need for an offroad caravan that’s not going to be used to extremes and can be towed by a mid-sized 4WD, like a Prado,” he said.

“We’ve redesigned the chassis, used lighter timber for the cabinetry and lowered the height. We also installed a three-way fridge to cut down on the solar panels and batteries required.”

Glen was also keen to point out that strengthening features, such as V-nailing the cabinets and positive locking marine-grade catches, had been retained.

OFF WE GO

To prove his point, Glen hitched a new van up to a Toyota Prado and I was off on my travels. I don’t think it’s a coincidence the ATM of the XC3 just happens to match the Prado’s towing capacity of 2500kg.

The 127kW/410Nm, 3.0-litre turbodiesel delivered the goods in terms of power output, while the five-speed auto gearbox meant towing the van was anything but a hardship.

Like the rest of the Kedron fleet, the XC3 is built on a hot-dipped galvanised 150mm-railed chassis.

It rides on trailing arm coil spring suspension fitted with dual shock absorbers while up front, a 3500kg McHitch coupling well and truly keeps the van on the towball.

Two water tanks are fitted between the chassis rails: 100 litre for everyday use and 60 litre for drinking. 

To keep the body rigid, an aluminium interlocked frame with high tensile steel rivets is used everywhere except the roof, where the frame is welded. And in case you’re wondering, the eye-catching colour of the aluminium cladding is called ‘Jasper’.

All of the usual features, such as Camec security doors and tinted acrylic hopper windows (except for the slider beside the door), are fitted, as are two 9kg gas cylinders, jerry can holder and mesh stone protector for the drawbar.

Additional stone protection is provided by alloy checkerplate three-quarters of the way up the front wall, plus a zippered vinyl protector across the front window.

Weight is kept down by removing the conventional front boot. Instead, a three-quarter tunnel boot houses the 120Ah battery, as well as the 240V and 12V electrical controls.

SPLIT KITCHEN

The XC3’s 5.7m (18ft 8in) external length means a layout featuring a rear entry with a split rear kitchen, bathroom cubicle in the rear offside corner, nearside cafe-style dinette and front bedroom.

There is definitely something interesting about the words used to officially describe the decor in this van: the laminate is “Classic Rock”, the curtains are “Nutmeg” and the cushions and pelmets are “Latté”. Sounds a bit like a rolling cafe. Either way, the result is attractive.

Having the kitchen either side of the bathroom may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it does mean a decent area for food preparation.

A Smev four-burner cooktop, grill and oven, and a stainless steel sink avec drainer are fitted into the rear bench, while two overhead lockers, two cupboards and a couple of drawers supply the storage space.

A clock and radio/CD player are mounted above the cooktop fume extractor – while this may be a convenient location, I’m never sure about radios and cooking steam.

A raised Thetford 184 litre fridge, with a small floor locker underneath, adjoins the bathroom cubicle, leaving enough room for good offside bench space, plus two drawers and several cupboards.

Part of the larger cupboard space is taken up by the 23 litre Suburban water heater. Two lockers and the microwave are located above.

The forward end of the bench is the mounting point for a 19in flatscreen TV, which can be seen from the bed and the dinette.

The cafe-style dinette is quite a simple item, designed in the contemporary style with two seats and a tri-fold table, plus a cupboard underneath. There are the usual under-seat storage doors and overhead lockers. 

Mounted on a posture slat bed base that allows storage underneath, the innerspring mattress is surrounded by wardrobes, lockers and bedside cabinets. Given the tunnel boot, the cabinets are a little further out than usual.

Walk-around space should be more than adequate for most people, while windows all-round and a ceiling-mounted Fiamma fan ensure good natural light and ventilation.

VERDICT

The Kedron team clearly did their homework when designing the XC3. Anyone familiar with the Gall Boys DVDs will know their practical experience is often learned the hard way.

The highlight of the Cross Country XC3 is that it’s built with all the usual offroad features but designed for those who don’t want to travel only on 4WD tracks.
And it’s designed to be easily towed by a Toyota Prado – an excellent tow vehicle.

KEDRON CARAVANS CROSS COUNTRY XC3

Overall length: 7.72m (25ft 4in)
External body length: 5.7m (18ft 8in)
External width 2.29m: (7ft 6in)
Internal height 1.97m: (6ft 5in) 
Travel height 3.23m: (10ft 7in)
Tare: 2055kg
ATM: 2500kg
Ball weight (advised): 160kg
Frame: Aluminium
Chassis: Hot-dipped galvanised
Suspension: Independent trailing arm
Cooktop: Smev four-burner/grill/oven
Fridge: Thetford 184 litre
Microwave: Sanyo Carousel
Shower: Separate cubicle
Toilet: Thetford bench cassette
Lighting: 12V fluorescent/LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Fresh water: 1 x 100 litre
Drinking water: 1 x 60 litre
Price: $69,890 (tow-away, Qld)
More info: Kedron Caravans