Lotus Off-Grid 2019 Review

You don’t have to look very hard to see that the pressure is on holiday parks and camp grounds especially during peak season. More and more caravanners are cutting the umbilical cord of caravan parks in favour of free camping, with its often more authentic bush atmosphere and peace and quiet not afforded by a busy holiday-season campground.

That’s where a caravan like the Melbourne-built Lotus Off-Grid comes in -- a full-height van that's been designed with off-road remote country camping in mind.

Range of Off-Grid options

The Lotus Off-Grid range starts with the 14ft OG-1 model reviewed here, and goes through another seven progressively longer models, topping out with the 21ft 3in OG-6 three-bunk tandem axle model. Two Off-Grid variants offer two-berth floorplans like the entry-level 14ft OG-1, with the other four featuring bunks to accommodate a family.

Our 14ft Off-Grid review van certainly looks the part with its bright decals, grey aluminium composite cladding (over a Meranti timber frame) and dark grey checkerplate protection running about halfway up the sides and front and rear of the van.

The G&S galvanised chassis runs 150mmx50mm longitudinal beams to the wheelset, where it thins to 100mmx50mm. There’s also a 100mmx50mm riser above that with extensive gusseting, so it appears to be a very solid chassis.

G&S also supplies the Control Rider independent suspension, backed up by 17in alloys and decent off-road rubber, all of which make off-road forays look very promising with the Off-Grid.

Underbody protection

If you’re keen to tow the Off-Grid deep into the bush, you’ll appreciate the excellent protection underneath the van, including the three water tanks enveloped in aluminium checkerplate.

Plumbing and wiring doesn't appear at much risk of off-road damage either; it’s all tucked-up out of harm’s way. If you do get hopelessly bogged, there are two substantial recovery points with large shackles on the end of the chassis' longitudinal beams.

Up at the A-frame, there’s a  trusty Cruisemaster off-road coupling, a netted stone guard, centre-mount jockey wheel, two 9kg gas bottles, a brass water tap (neatly tucked in behind the stone guard and the checkerplate toolbox).

The front toolbox has a fridge slide in the nearside locker and open storage in the offside.

No after-dark fumbling

Fumbling around after dark in front of the van shouldn't be an issue with the Off-Grid, which has an LED light bar, bolted high up on the front panel. Neat laser-cut grab handles with the Lotus graphic adorn each side of the front panel.

Up the back there’s a steel rear bumper, which supports the alloy spare wheel and two jerry can enclosures; again neatly laser-cut with the Lotus graphic. However, the edges of the aluminium jerry holders could be better rounded off, as they were rather sharp on the review van.

Also attached to the rear is an outdoor shower box, while high up on the rear panel there’s another LED light bar.

The offside wall panel houses a coach light, two lockable water fill points, a 240v inlet, 12v aux port and 240v breaker switch, and also provides access to the Thetford toilet cassette. There’s also a hatch that reveals one of the largest tunnel boots in the business, and the boot has a matching hatch-opening on the nearside.

Also on the awning side are two coach lights, two external speakers, and a 240v outlet, and there's an outside entertainment unit (to set-up the 24in TV) that's accessible via a lockable hatch.

The stainless steel external kitchen slides out of a hatch and provides a sink with mixer tap, a two-burner gas cooker and a fold-out extension, which you can use as a table or for food prep -- or to perch a Weber Baby Q. A gas bayonet to connect it up to is conveniently located just under the kitchen’s hatch opening.

Bright and modern interior

The Off-Grid’s interior fit-out is bright and modern, with more natural light coming through than you’d expect through the three small windows (each with a mesh-screen and blind), a curtained window on the two-piece security door,, and a large roof hatch above the bed.

On darker days the abundance of LED lighting and stark white cabinetry should make it a bright yet cosy place to be.

The relatively compact layout consists of an east-west double bed, with the kitchen on the mid-offside wall, a two-person dinette on the nearside wall and a combined shower/toilet on the offside rear corner. Almost the entire rear wall is filled with wardrobe and drawers.

In fact, this is one of the most appealing things about the fit-out -- not only the numerous storage options, but the variety of shapes and sizes to squeeze all your supplies and belongings in.

While the Lotus lacks the traditional caravan layout’s under-bed storage (in this particular Off-Grid that space is taken by the tunnel boot) it makes up for it with the large rear cupboard spaces.

There are also hatches above the kitchen and dinette and above the bed on the front wall, while the kitchen features under-bench storage, including a small slide-out pantry.

The only thing missing, storage wise, is some space for knick knacks around the bedhead area.

Kitchen benchspace limited

The kitchen is also a bit light-on for bench space, so for food prep you’d have to either lower the sink and/or cooker lids or use the dinette table. For many the appeal of cooking on the outside kitchen -- where there’s more food prep space -- will make the small inside kitchen less of an issue.

Lighting is controlled by multiple switches conveniently located on the cupboard bulkhead adjacent to the entrance door, and while you’d grow accustomed to knowing which switch operates which light, it would be handy if they were marked.

The fuse panel and power switches for the reverse-cycle air-conditioning, 12v water pump, fridge, and hot water service, along with the water level gauges, are contained in a locker above the sink.

There’s a USB charging port and a two-pole 240v outlet adjacent to the kitchen bench and another USB outlet on the dinette seatbase.

Summing up

The Lotus has a very strong features list for remote camping which includes two 120A/h batteries, 340watts of solar panels, 190 litres of on-board water and two 9kg gas bottles.

Combined with tough underpinnings and one of the best multiple storage options for a 14-foot caravan, it's tempting buying for those seeking an Australian-built, multi-purpose caravan.

Specs: 2019 Lotus Off-Grid 14ft OG-1

Travel length: 6770mm (22ft 2in)
Body length (open): 4360mm (14ft 3in)
External body width: 2311mm (7ft 7in)
Travel height: 3040mm (9ft 11in)
Interior height: 1880mm (6ft 2 in)
Tare weight: 2040kg
ATM: 2660kg
Ball weight: (Tare): 160kg
Body: Meranti timber frame, aluminium composite cladding
Chassis: G&S galvanised steel, 150mm x 50mm with 100mm x 50mm risers
Suspension: G&S Control Rider independent trailing arms, coil springs, shocks
Brakes: 12in electric drums
Stability Control: n/a
Wheels: 17-inch alloys with LT 265/70R17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tyres
Water: 2 x 95L fresh, 1 x 50L grey
Battery: 2 x 120Ah AGM
Solar: 2 x 170W
Air-conditioner: Dometic AirCommand Sparrow
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Dometic 22.7L gas/electric
Cooking: 2 x gas cooktop and sink (external), 2 x gas cooktop and sink (internal)
Fridge/freezer: Dometic CRX80 78L 12v/240v
Microwave: n/a
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Combination shower toilet
Lighting: 12v LED
TV: NCE 24in LED HD
Price: $76,500 (NSW, drive away)
Options fitted: External fridge slide (in front toolbox)
Supplied by: Chapman Caravans Nowra, NSW 
More info: Lotus Caravans