Marvel Runamuk pushes off-road boundaries

Hybrid campers may be the fastest-growing segment of the Australian RV market, but Caloundra’s Sunseeker Caravans is enticing adventurous travellers to ‘get lost’ in more comfort with its new 15ft x 6ft 6in Marvel Runamuk compact caravan, which debuts this week at the Brisbane Pre-Christmas Caravan and Camping Sale (October 25-28).

Built in Campbellfield, Victoria to Sunseeker’s specifications, the innovatively-named Runamuk offers greater travelling comfort than a typical hybrid thanks to its full separate shower and toilet rear bathroom that's included in its $69,990 price tag.

At a tare weight of 2045kg, and with a payload of 455kg, the single axle Runamuk is around 10 per cent heavier than the average hybrid, but its skinny 6ft 6in width and 15ft overall length allow it to follow the wheel-tracks of a large SUV to access remote areas.

Highlight features of the Meranti timber-framed and 3mm aluminium clad Runamuk are its one-piece fibreglass roof, extra-large front and side double-glazed windows, metal-sided drawers, piano hinges on cabinets,  a solid sliding door to the bathroom and large interior storage.

A 208-litre EvaKool two-door upside-down fridge-freezer and a 214-inch HD LED TV are standard.

The Runamuk offers buyers two cooking options – inside, via a Swift 3 gas + single electric hob cooktop and outside with a slide-out BBQ and a plumbed sink, while an A-frame mounted checker-plate tool box is fitted rather than a conventional front boot to maximise interior length.

However, there's excellent storage available for long items in the full-width tunnel boot that extends under the front-mounted transverse queen bed.

Power for off-the-grid living comes from twin 100AH deep cycle batteries, fed by 300 Watts of roof-mounted monocrystalline solar panels, while a 12-volt Sirocco fan and a reverse-cycle air conditioner are other standard features.

Underneath the Runamuk’s 100mm Supagal chassis with its 100mm raiser is an AL-KO Enduro Outback coil spring suspension set-up with twin shock absorbers, while braking is via AL-KO’s premium off-road ventilated discs, supported by an AL-KO iQ7 power booster.

A Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling sits on the 150mm A-frame, ahead of a robust truckmesh stone shield.

A total of 124 litres of fresh water storage is supplied by twin 62-litre tanks, while a separate 50-litre grey water tank is standard, making the Runamuk an appealing value ckage for remote area travellers wanting a little more comfort than a Hybrid pop-top that can still be towed by a medium-sized 4WD.