New Age Big Red

WE LIKED:
>> Spacious bunks
>> Bedroom privacy
>> LED lighting

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Limited bathroom bench space
>> Cramped dinette

Caravanning can be a funny kind of family holiday. On the one hand, the freedom and versatility really lend themselves to travelling with kids, especially the younger ones.

But on the other hand, by their very nature caravans are somewhat limited in space. The kids have to sleep somewhere, and you also want to maintain some privacy.

It's for this reason bunk-bed vans have been increasing in popularity in recent years. with loads of vans hitting the road catering to those little travellers.

The New Age Big Red I picked up from Adelaide’s Dave Benson Caravans is a van designed for a travelling family. With three bunk beds, as well as a full ensuite, this rig provides comfort for everyone.

EASY WIPE WALLS

Upon entering the van, the first thing you notice is the lack of timber finish anywhere other than the floor. The brightness of the white fibreglass walls and ceilings may not be to everyone’s tastes, but they offer a much easier surface to clean – something that can’t be underestimated when travelling with as many as three small children.

The van’s layout has the bedroom at the front, bunk beds and ensuite at the rear, and the kitchen and dinette in between.

At the front (or parents’) end, the bedroom is home to a comfy queen bed, and with large windows and an overhead hatch working with the white decor, this is one light and bright space.

Three downlights and a pair of reading lights keep things illuminated once the sun has gone down.

There's also plenty of storage here, with floor lockers and shelves on either side, as well as particularly deep hanging wardrobes, each with a single powerpoint inside.

There are also four overhead lockers and very welcome double shelves above the side windows. A nice, simple touch.

Under-bed storage is typically generous, with part of the space taken by the (optional) front tunnel boot.

There's a concertina door for some more privacy for mum and dad, as well as provision for a TV on a swing arm so they can watch something after going to bed.

One small complaint with the bedroom is the relatively limited space on either side of the bed. The offside sleeper becomes essentially stuck next to the bed when it is fully extended.

FAMILY DINING

In the middle of the van, the offside kitchen has all a family could want on the road: four-burner cooktop with grill and oven, stainless steel sink and drainer, fridge and microwave. There's also a very solid storage above and below.

The extra-large drawers under the sink are great for larger cooking items, and it was good to see that two of the overhead lockers came with shelves. The plumbing underneath the sink is also very neat and tidy.
On the downside, no cover for the sink means bench space is limited, but the cover for the cooktop helps a little.

Also, the fridge seems a little on the small side if the van is to be filled to its maximum occupancy – a 150 litre unit is fine for a travelling couple, but could be less than adequate with three hungry kids onboard.

The nearside dinette is also curious in that it seems designed for four, rather than five, family travellers. The L-shaped seating arrangement allows for three to sit on the nearside, with the rear end of the ‘L’ really only suited to a single (likely small) person.

Admittedly, the seating is very comfortable for those four people, but I did question if maybe the fifth family member would have to pull up a chair from elsewhere.

Similarly, the dinette table is really only just large enough for four diners. On the plus side, the table itself does fold-down to create an over-sized single bed space.

There are several overhead lockers above the nearside window and under-seat storage is accessed via the cushions and a floor-level door. Part of the space is taken by the wheel arch.

BUNK DOWN

At the rear (or kids’) end, the triple bunks on the offside are large enough for young children, and even adolescents.

Each bunk has its own window, but no shelf, and having the bottom bunk almost at floor-level will make getting out that little bit harder for whoever draws that short straw.

The bunk area also has a very generous cupboard with two shelves and hanging space, so clothing storage should be comfortably covered. And, like mum and dad, the kids have a privacy curtain so they can do their own thing.

One of the necessary compromises with bunk-bed vans, especially one like the Big Red that comes in at less than 30ft, is often a somewhat squeezy bathroom. In this case, the space is tight, but not oppressively so, especially considering what's included.

The nearside ensuite is home to a separate shower cubicle, Thetford cassette toilet and vanity. The shower has a vari-height head and a fan hatch, as well as a clever door that allows access without impeding into the bunk area.

The vanity has a floating sink, but very limited bench space, with three lockers overhead, a locker underneath and a double powerpoint. The individual towel hooks will also likely come in handy when the whole family is travelling – people don’t want to be using the wrong towel.

TOUGH LOOK

For a family van, the Big Red is a rather tough-looking unit. Checkerplate all-round, including the rear, and nifty black edging all make for a very solid appearance. The meranti timber frame is clad with aluminium, and fully-insulated.

The large front boot is home to the 100Ah battery, charger Breaksafe and a few tools.

This van also came with the aforementioned three-quarter tunnel boot, which is great for the kids’ fishing rods and the like. The 6in drawbar is home to a pair of 9kg gas cylinders, a tap and a mesh guard.

The whole lot sits on a 6in chassis, which rides on leaf-spring load-sharing suspension and 15in alloy wheels.

The external 'layout' is also great for enjoying the outdoors, with a huge awning, fold-down picnic table, two speakers and a couple of lights.

VERDICT

Few types of holidays lend themselves to a family trip more than caravanning. We know why the parents love it, but the kids will always have something to do and they get to see the county for themselves, rather than watching it on a TV show.

The New Age Big Red is designed to facilitate just such a holiday, and it makes a very good go of it. The bunk beds work well and having them as far as possible from the bedroom is a very smart idea.

There are some necessary design compromises, especially in the bathroom, but they are small complaints and every base is covered. The van also has lots of storage and would be able to handle three kids moving around inside of it.

Family caravanning was never quite this comfortable when I was a kid.

NEW AGE BIG RED

Overall length: 8.82m (28ft 11in)
External body length: 6.4m (21ft)
Internal height: 2.3m (7ft 6in)
External width: 2.36m (7ft 9in)
Travel height: 2.9m (9ft 6in)
Tare: 2340kg
ATM: 2740kg
Frame: Meranti timber
Chassis: DuraGal
Suspension: Rocker-roller
Brakes: electric
Cooktop: four burner, grill, oven
Fridge: 150 litre three-way
Microwave: Yes
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Separate cubicle
Lighting: LED
Fresh water:
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Price: $69,990
Supplied by: Dave Benson Caravans, Kilburn, South Australia
More info: New Age Caravans