New Retreat offers best of both caravan worlds

Can't decide whether to buy one of the latest all-electric off-grid caravans, or stick with the proven formula of running many of the van's appliances with gas?

Well, big-selling Melbourne manufacturer Retreat Caravans has a solution, with the release of its latest 2022-model Daydream semi off-road caravan that combines a big lithium battery bank with 18kg LPG storage to allow around-the-clock appliance running in most camping environments.

Similar to Retreat's all-electric ERV van, the new 2022 Daydream model is fitted with a chassis-mounted OzXCorp lithium battery pack, albeit half the capacity of the ERV's at 7.1kWh.

Matched with a Victron battery management system, 3000W inverter and at least four 150W rooftop solar panels, the premium battery system is enough to run the van's rooftop air-conditioner, 224 litre compressor fridge/freezer, microwave and 3kg top load washing machine -- not to mention LED lighting and audio and TV entertainment -- for extended periods when not plugged in at a caravan park.

If the sun isn't shining, or you've depleted the batteries by leaving the air-conditioning running all night, you can still cook breakfast on the internal gas cooker, BBQ some snags, enjoy a hot shower and keep warm while toweling off, with an instant hot water service and space heater that all run off the drawbar-mounted twin 9kg gas bottles.

"It's the best of both worlds," Retreat Caravans' Tilly Rexhepi says in the Retreat promotional video below...

Retreat says the above average sized battery system means you no longer need to carry a petrol generator when free camping, but due to the external vents legally required when fitting gas appliances, the Daydream gets a Dometic dust reduction unit fitted as standard.

Otherwise, all 2022 Daydream vans are built using Retreat's latest RXP composite wall construction method, and are designed for dirt-road use with checker plate protection, a galvanised Truss chassis, independent coil suspension, 12in electric brakes and 16in alloy wheels with off-road tyres.

Fourteen different layouts -- all with ensuites -- are available, in body lengths from 19ft 4in to 22ft 6in. The standard ATM is 3500kg, but this can be upgraded to allow for bigger payloads with a 4400kg rated suspension fitted as standard.

The 2022 Retreat Daydream vans also come with 220 litre fresh water and 110 litre grey water capacity, along with Retreat's latest 'flat stick' furniture, modern tapware and platinum upholstery.

Melbourne Retreat dealer Freestyle RVs is expecting its first 2022 Daydream display model, a 19ft 9in variant to arrive around late February, priced at $116,000 or around $12,000 less than a similar sized, gas-free Retreat ERV van with the bigger 14.3kWh battery system.