My Dream RV Dream Catcher 2023 Review

Apartment-on wheels, off-grid caravans are getting all the headlines these days, but they're a far cry from what most caravan buyers really need, or what they they can afford and realistically tow.

It's the busy sub-$100,000 market where most caravan sales take place, and a good example of what you can get these days with a high five-figure budget is the new 17ft 6in Dream Catcher semi off-road couple's caravan reviewed here.

Like that memorable TV commercial from the 1990s advertising a sugar-laden breakfast cereal, this 3000kg ATM, single axle, full height ensuite van from My Dream RV is "not too heavy, not too light", and probably just right for many caravanning couples who want something modern and well-equipped but not too big or bulky for towing or parking.

While it won't power all the appliances for days on end like the latest 'gas free' vans, you'll still be able to enjoy a very comfortable holiday whether in caravan parks or free camps, for its $89,990 recommended pricing.

Up and comer

If you haven't heard of My Dream RV before, they're one of Melbourne's newest caravan builders, launching in late-2022 with a five-model range of family and couple's caravans; all built in a small factory in the Melbourne industrial suburb of Epping.

With a production line run by an experienced caravan factory manager and the financial backing of a successful businessman, the My Dream RV vans are currently sold through four Caravan HQ retail outlets located in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The My Dream RV range includes five Dream Catcher models, from single axle 17ft 6in and tandem axle 19ft 6in couple's ensuite caravans, to larger 21ft and 22ft family models with a north-south queen bed, bunks and a separate bathroom.

Topping the line-up is a tandem axle 23ft couple's caravan with apartment-style layout incorporating a front bedroom, central ensuite, kitchen and rear club lounge.

All My Dream RV vans are equipped for some rough-road travel with checker plate aluminium and galvanised steel exterior protection, to go with extra ground clearance, all terrain tyres, a Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling and Teko Tuff Ride independent trailing arm coil suspension.

Pricing kicks off at $89,990 for the 17ft 6in couples van and tops out at $107,990 for the 23ft club lounge model, although if you shop around you might save a few thousand dollars off the RRP on some stock display vans currently advertised, if you're quick.

Stand-out features

You need to do things a bit differently to stand out and get noticed in Australia's crowded caravan market, particularly when you've just arrived on the scene, and My Dream RV's 17ft 6in rough road caravan bucks the trend in at least one noticeable way.

Instead of the flatter, more upright front sections you find on most Melbourne-built caravans, My Dream RV has given its vans a distinctive curved front panel designed to deliver both aerodynamic as well as interior-space benefits.

It's not the first time an Aussie manufacturer has gone down this route, although in our view the cascading effect of the smooth curved blue panel on the Dream Catcher is easier on the eye than other more bulbous, bullnose designs of the past.

While we didn't get to test out any fuel economy efficiencies of the wind-cheating design, it did tow pretty well on the bitumen behind our 2700kg tow-rated Nissan Pathfinder, at least at the van's unladen weight of 2261kg.

It's worth noting the van's roofline has also been raised to deliver more interior space than some of its rivals (interior height is just over 2.0m) to go with the extra space generated around the front bed area (more on that later).

The 3.0m-plus overall height for a relatively compact single axle van might have an adverse affect on its handling in severe cross-winds, although we didn't get the chance to test that out either.

Otherwise, the 17ft 6in Dream Catcher van is pieced together like most of its Melbourne-built rivals, with an insulated Meranti timber frame clad in smooth aluminium composite panels and a one-piece ply floor, along with some black checker plate for the lower body sections.

My Dream RV claims that build quality has been enhanced by the implementation of Lean manufacturing processes at the Melbourne factory, and it also applies a waterproof sealant to the timber frame around the shower area during the construction process, to prevent rot if there's a water leak.

Outside attractions

With its compact couple's caravan, My Dream RV has firmly adopted the popular 'stealth' trend of recent years, with its black painted Proline chassis and matching checker plate, suspension and other componentry, contrasted with light blue and grey panels and some classy gold decals. Throw in the blue LED strips that light up the lower body sides (not shown in the photos), and it all looks quite stylish and spick, at least until you barrel down that dusty Outback track.

It certainly matched up well in the looks department with our grey metallic 2023 Nissan Pathfinder tow vehicle, although you'll want to hitch up to something with a higher tow rating like the Ford Everest to take advantage of the Dream Catcher's 3000kg maximum rating.

While not a full off-road van (there's no internal dust suppression unit or mesh stone guard fitted as standard for example), the van should still be fine for some gravel and dirt road adventures with its off-road coupling, coil suspension, high ground clearance, checker plate front protection, shielded underbody water tanks and protected A-frame tap.

You can easily add a mesh stone guard in between the twin 9kg gas bottles and removable AL-KO jockey wheel on the extended A-frame, as we noticed on another 17ft 6in Dream Catcher at the Melbourne dealership.

Also fitted up front on the Proline 6in chassis is a specially shaped checker plate toolbox with two individual lockers that could provide storage for a generator or small fridge.

There are more external storage options within the spacious gal-lined and LED-lit tunnel boot, while you'll also find along the onside wall a gas bayonet, Aussie Traveller roll-out awning, patio and grab handle lights, external speakers and a drop-down picnic table close to connections for the 24in TV.

The 17ft 6in Dream Catcher also comes standard with Dexter electronic stability control and front and rear LED work lights, along with a hot/cold external shower, reversing camera and a spare wheel on the three arm bar fitted at the rear.

We noticed some exposed plastic plumbing around the rear underbody although it's mostly tucked up out of harm's way, while the twin batteries are protected by checker plate boxes mounted to the offside chassis.

Also on the offside is a mains pressure water inlet with sturdy brass fitting, a locker for the toilet cassette with SOG ventilation system, and a separate inlets for the fresh water tanks.

There's no space for a slide-out kitchen along the onside wall but you could easily fit a small gas BBQ or cooker in one of the outside lockers.

Stylish interior

The 17ft 6in Dream Catcher also comes standard with a pull-out double entry step and an Aussie Traveller security screen door, with an interior blind for privacy at night.

The front door is located towards the front of the van, so you enter near the base of the north-south queen bed, with the small kitchen, cafe dinette and the full width rear ensuite to your right.

It's a familiar layout but with a pleasant colour scheme and some nice finishing touches in the review van, like the embossed and stitched leatherette upholstery for the lounge seating, wall pouches and padding for the bedhead and entrance wall, along with mood lighting around the handle-free overhead cabinetry.

The flat-floor chassis design adds to the feeling of spaciousness in what is a relatively compact van, as does the extra room around the lift-up coil spring mattress and around-bed cabinetry which includes large bedside nooks with electrical sockets and a novel decorative recess with in-built shelf directly above the pillows.

As well as side robes and various cupboards, there are reading lights with built-in USB points and bedside wireless phone charging points, along with a larger than normal storage space under the bed.

With the bed pushed back deep into the wall cavity, there's also room to prop up in bed and watch the 24in TV that mounts on an adjustable arm on the kitchen wall partition opposite.

The two-person cafe dinette is equally inviting, with plush and supportive seat cushioning, a tri-fold table and flip-out foot rests for when kicking back in 'lounge' mode.

The central kitchen along the offside wall gets a rangehood, a three gas/one electric cooktop with both a glass and benchtop lid, and a grille, alongside a big square sink with both mixer and filtered water outlets. The NCE microwave is located around head-height above the 188 litre, three way upright fridge-freezer.

There's a solid sliding door for the rear ensuite where you'll find to the left a wall-mounted washing machine, cassette toilet, towel racks and toilet roll holder, along with a central vanity with square sink and a big wall mirror to go with the full length mirror fixed to the shower door to the right.

The large shower cubicle includes a 12V roof hatch and black shower rose to match the black sinks and tapware in the ensuite and kitchen. Like other parts of the van there are some decent storage options in the bathroom including some good-size cupboards and shelving, above and below the benchtop.

The 17ft 6in Dream Catcher comes standard with two 130Ah lithium batteries fed by twin 190W rooftop solar panels. Add in the two 95 litre water tanks and a grey water tank, and it should keep some of the smaller appliances running and hot showers going for a couple of days at least when not plugged in at a caravan park.

To keep up to date with power and water usage there's a BMPRO Trek3 touchscreen display located conveniently near the entry door, along with various switches and a basic audio unit with internal and external speakers.

For climate control there's a roof-top air-conditioner and a 12V van above the bed, while a couple of skylight roof hatches and some large Aussie Traveller windows running along each side of the van help with natural light and ventilation.

My Dream RV sources the pre-assembled furniture for its vans from local supplier The Wren Group, and it's also worth mentioning the kitchen gets a pull-out pantry and metal runners are used for the kitchen drawers for additional strength.

Summing up

There's a lot of competition in the entry-level semi off-road caravan market, and on first impressions My Dream RV has done a great job with its 17ft 6in Dream Catcher by offering not only a unique and appealing design but managing to pack in plenty of features in a relatively compact and reasonably priced couple's ensuite van.

How much is the My Dream RV Dream Catcher MD17E couple's caravan?

Price: RRP $89,990
Travel length: 7900mm
External body length: 5250mm (17ft 6in)
External body width: 2300mm
Travel height: 3100mm
Interior height: 2030mm
Tare: 2261kg
ATM: 3000kg
Payload: 739kg
Ball weight (Tare): 212kg
Body: Meranti timber frame, aluminium composite wall panels
Chassis: Proline 6in with extended A-frame, Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling and Dexter ESC
Suspension: Teko Tuff Ride trailing arm coil suspension with 12in drum brakes
Wheels: Primal 16in alloy, LT265/75R16 Trazano Radial SL369 A/T tyres
Water: 2 x 95L fresh water plus grey tank
Battery: 2 x 130Ah lithium with 2 x 190W rooftop solar panels
Hot water: Instant gas
Cooking: Dometic Mobicool 3+1 cooktop and grille, NCE microwave
Fridge: Dometic 188L three-way
TV: 24in Smart TV/DVD, Winegard antenna
Audio: Radio/Bluetooth player with internal/external speakers
Air conditioner: Telair reverse-cycle, roof-mounted
Bathroom: Separate shower and Dometic cassette toilet
Washing machine: 2.5kg Camec wall-mounted
Lighting: LED throughout
Supplied by: Caravan HQ, Carrum Downs, Victoria
More info: My Dream RV, Epping, Victoria