Chris Fincham•1 Jul 2016

REVIEW

Little Caravan 12ft X-scape

Fixed roof, off-road van is small in size but big on features

Are caravans getting too big, too heavy and too expensive?

It’s something I often wonder when strolling around caravan shows these days, where there are more and more super-sized vans weighing close to three tonnes, with more gizmos than your average apartment and six figure price tags to match.

Of course, more buyers desiring a ‘burger with the lot’ is helping drive demand, but not all caravanners need or want the hassle and expense that goes with an extra-large van…

For these people there's a growing number of micro-van options popping up, from the likes of Silversun, Jive, Euro Caravans and now the aptly named, The Little Caravan Company (TLCC)

Located in a tiny factory in Melbourne’s north, TLCC is catering to those buyers who prefer the comforts and convenience of a full-height caravan but want it in a smaller and lighter package.

With a model line-up that finishes off where many caravan manufacturers start, the TLCC’s range of nine to 11 feet (2.7-3.3m body length) vans are aimed at those moving on from camper trailers, as well those down-sizing from larger caravans.

With Tare weights from 1140kg to 1480kg, along with 300-400kg payloads, the single axle vans are also aimed at those with smaller tow vehicles. With many features of larger vans, including air-con, internal kitchen and hot water service, they also cater for those on tighter budgets with prices starting from $30,000.

As TLCC boss Graham Gniel puts it, “We’re trying to offer the full services of a caravan in a cheap to tow and easy to manipulate package”.

BIGGER LITTLE VAN

But now TLCC has released its biggest ‘little’ van to date, a 12ft off-road model that is the first with an internal combination shower/toilet, along with a permanent east/west queen bed, drop-down table and kitchenette.

For a bit more interior space the 12ft X-scape also has a slightly wider body at 2100mm, but retains the distinct stubby profile and appealing ‘cut-down’ big van look of its shorter cousins.

Designed for off-road tracks, the X-scape also has bigger 16in wheels with all-terrain tyres, a three-inch riser on the beefed up galvanised chassis and upswept rear for more road clearance. Adding to the aggressive look is checker plate armour under the wheel arches and along the sides as well as protecting the two underslung poly water tanks.

The X-scape also comes with a DO35 off-road hitch, two 4.5kg gas bottles, removable jockey wheel, front toolbox (with slide-out for a generator on one side), two jerry can holders, tap and mains connector on the drawbar and a rear bar holding a spare wheel.

Almost as tall as it’s long, with 130W solar panels, Air Command air-conditioner and Winegard antenna on the roof, the X-scape towed quite well thanks partly to a light ball weight, although our petrol-powered Nissan X-Trail did struggle at times with the 1.5 tonne-plus weight.

Like all TLCC vans, the X-scape’s body is a blend of Meranti timber frame, foam insulation and smooth 3mm aluminium composite panels.

Externally, it has pretty much everything you’d expect on a bigger van, including Dometic roll-out awning, exterior light and two speakers, keyless drop-down picnic table, front and rear grab handles, security door, drop-down entry steps, wind-down stabiliser legs and a connection point on the offside for an external shower.

Given its diminutive stature, exterior storage space is at a premium, with the checker plate tool box the best option for ‘outside’ gear. The only storage locker on the onside is taken up by a Thetford slide-out stainless steel kitchen with two gas burner cooker that connects via hose to the nearby gas bayonet, and a sink and mixer tap.

But with another gas cooker inside, we’d prefer to use this space as a storage area for camp chairs and tables, and for a small portable BBQ that could be used instead for outside cooking.

COSY QUARTERS

Given the 3.5m x 2.0m internal dimensions, TLCC has done a good job of squeezing in a decent-sized kitchen, combination shower/toilet, fold-down dining table/desk and large double bed, which can also double as a day bed.

Even with all these features a couple could still move around inside without clobbing each other, although access to the bed is restricted with the table down.

The airy feel is also enhanced by a large roof hatch, four hopper windows with built-in screens and blinds, and the 1860mm interior height (less under the air-con) that almost matches a larger van. If you’re really tall, it's possible for the roof to be raised highter.

There are also plenty of LED lights to brighten things up (eight downlights plus two bed reading lights) plus cheery décor with splashes of bright blue on the two kitchen splashbacks, contrasting with the gloss black cabinetry and benchtops and white walls.

With six 240V sockets in total and the odd 12V/USB plug-in, there are sufficient spots to power portable appliances. There’s also just enough space to position a small TV in the corner of the kitchen near the entry door, close to 240V and antenna sockets.

The kitchen is divided between the front section, which includes a stainless steel sink and mixer tap, and another small section running along the wall between the bed and shower which houses a Dometic two gas burner cooktop, Engel 80 litre fridge/freezer and rangehood.

The ‘powerboard’ located in an overhead locker contains a Finch CD/audio unit, water level indicators, fusebox, and a ProStar 30 solar charge controller.

There’s limited benchspace but it’s all quite workable, although it misses out on a microwave and grille/oven you often find on bigger vans. There’s room to fit a microwave into an adjoining cupboard but at the expense of valuable storage space.

Otherwise, there are pretty good storage options throughout the van, including four drawers and two big cupboards in the kitchen areas, and 10 overhead cabinets in total.

There’s another cabinet opposite the cooker which offers more benchtop space and incorporates the fold-out table that extends across the foot of the bed.

Our only real issue here (apart from spilling crumbs on the bed when using it at meal times!) is that the table isn’t able to be secured properly in transit, although TLCC is working on a rubber floor mount that will stop the table from banging around.

Taking up almost half the interior, and rear section of the van, is the 1350mm x 2050mm bed with innerspring mattress. Most of the storage compartments under the bed are taken up with the battery and charger and hot water system, with a couple of small slots available for storage.

You’ll need some muscle to lift the mattress though, as there’s no strut-assisted base as you find in bigger vans.

But perhaps the biggest bonus in this compact van is the decent-sized combination shower/toilet located in the front, offside corner. The moulded fibreglass module incorporates a dark tinted glass door, 12V fan hatch, fixed Thetford toilet, and shelving for your soap and shampoo.

As one of Australia's newest caravan manufacturers, it was also good to see build quality appeared up to scratch, with quality fittings used and no rough edges to speak of.

VERDICT

While it's no surprise The Little Caravan Company is pretty excited about its new range-topping 12ft off-road ensuite model, it’s not really typical of the company's range or what sets it apart from most other local caravan manufacturers.

Fitted with bulky off-road gear, it’s a lot heavier than the smaller 10-11ft on-road models, making it less suited to smaller tow vehicles. It’s also more expensive at close to $50,000 on the road.

Starting at around $40,000, we reckon the on-road version of the X-scape will prove most appealing to the masses, and help put this clever little company on the map.

WE LIKED:

>> Looks and feels like a ‘proper’ van

>> Inside shower/toilet

>> Big bed

NOT SO MUCH:

>> Heavy in off-road trim

>> Hard to access under-bed storage

>> No microwave or oven/grille

THE LITTLE CARAVAN COMPANY X-SCAPE TLCC 12F

Travel length: 6050mm

External body length: 3600mm

External body width: 2100mm

Travel height (excl. air-con): 2600mm

Interior height: 1860mm

Tare weight: 1540kg (est.)

ATM: 1840kg (est.)

Ball weight (Tare): 85kg (est.)

Body: Meranti frame/3mm aluminium composite panels

Chassis: G&S hot-dipped galvanised

Suspension: G&S Control Rider coil spring independent with two shocks per arm

Brakes: 10in electric drum

Stability control: Al-Ko ESC optional

Wheels: 16in alloy with 245/75 A/T tyres

Fresh water: 95L & 60L

Battery: 1 x 105Ah AGM

Solar: 130W panel and regulator

Air-conditioner: Air Command Sparrow

Gas: 2 x 4.5kg

Hot water: Truma 14L gas/electric

Cooking: Dometic two gas cooker, rangehood

Fridge: Engel 80 litre 12/240V fridge/freezer

Microwave: Optional

Shower/toilet: Combination fibreglass

Lighting: LED

TV: Optional

Price: $48,900

Supplied by: The Little Caravan Company, Campbellfield, Vic

Little Caravan 12ft X-scape

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