New off-road van is a Tuff Nut

Premium off-road caravan builder Seachange has introduced its most hardcore model to date, a beefed up, single axle 14ft van aptly named Tuff Nut.

Boosting the Queensland manufacturer’s range to five models, the 420 Tuff Nut – the 420 refers to the 4.2m body length – is a full-height but compact, 2-4 berth fibreglass van that Seachange describes as “the gutsiest caravan Australia has produced”.

Not unlike a Jayco Expanda, the rear end can be fitted with an optional fold-out section to create two extra bunk beds, in addition to the east-west Queen bed up front. ??

In between is a lounge/dinette and small kitchen with three-burner cooktop and sink, rangehood, 190 litre three-way fridge/freezer and microwave.

While built to the same rugged standards as other Seachange vans, including aluminium chassis and frame and composite fibreglass body, the Tuff Nut has increased road clearance to make it better suited to “those wanting to experience serious offroad travel”.

“We believe the Tuff Nut will enable customers to enjoy the comforts of home in the most remote locations and is ideally suited to the avid fisherman who likes to get away to those more remote beach and island fishing spots,” said Seachange general manager of manufacturing, Peter Russell.

Priced from $75,000, the 420 Tuff Nut also comes standard with Cruisemaster independent suspension, roll-out awning, leatherette trim, two 9kg gas bottles, 125 litre water tank, DO35 coupling, 120Ah battery, 25 amp battery charger, gas/240V hot water and LED lighting.

A long list of options are available, and the example on display at last month’s Queensland Caravan Show (pictured) had almost $35,000 worth of extras fitted including the rear bunks slide-out, additional 65 litre water tank and battery, external fold-down fibreglass shower unit, 1800 watt inverter, 135 watt solar panels, external slide-out kitchen, extra large roof hatch and mud tyres.

Suitable for many off-road tow vehicles, it had a ball weight of 140kg, Tare weight of 2080kg and 2500kg ATM.

Seachange Caravans was established in 2011 by The Haines Group, and are built at the same Queensland factory as Signature, Traveller, and Seafarer fibreglass boats.