Michael Browning•12 Apr 2017

REVIEW

NeXtgen Hybrid X

New rugged and compact 15ft caravan ticks most of the ‘off-road’ boxes

There are now many more ‘off-road’ caravans being built in Australia than the number of people who will ever get their wheels dirty.

Like the checker-plate most of them wear, or butch ‘scrub bars’ down the side, it’s often more a fashion statement for their owners than a necessity where these caravans travel.

However, while dressed to thrill, with everything you’d expect to see in a caravan with the title of ‘Hybrid X Off-Road’, the 15ft (internal length) Nextgen ticks most of the boxes for the adventurous traveller and for $69,990 represents pretty good value considering its extensive standard spec list.

New home brand

If the ‘NeXtgen’ name is new to you that’s because it’s a relatively recent brand for Green RV, a family-owned company based in Queensland that has been in the caravan business now for more than 15 years.

Its three dealerships in Brisbane, Gympie and Melbourne are Regent retail outlets, but Nextgen is GreenRV’s ‘home brand’, with the caravans bearing its brand built along conventional lines by one of Campbellfield’s many specialist manufacturers.

Being their own line, Nextgen caravans are often built to specific customer requirements, but the 4.8m(16ft) by 2.44m wide model we looked at was typical of what most people ordering one of their off-road caravans want.

The review caravan was built on a robust Road King galvanised chassis with a 150mm X 50mm draw bar terminating with a Hitchmaster DO-35 coupling, with the body supported by equally sturdy steel members. However future Nextgen off-road chassis will be made by another respected local manufacturer, Austrail.

Prominent ‘scrub bars’ are bolted to the main chassis rails and protect the lower body sides of the Hybrid X in tight off-road conditions, however the galvanised fold-down rear step is left exposed and was inadvertently crushed in one of our manoeuvres in some deep off-road ruts.

These steps are always a problem on an off-road caravan and should be removed and replaced by a portable plastic step by anyone contemplating travel off the bitumen.

Underbody goodies

Otherwise the Hybrid X has all the goods underneath, with top-quality Cruisemaster XT trailing arm and coil spring and telescopic shock absorber independent suspension fitted as standard, along with robust 12-inch brakes, while knobbly 16-inch light truck 245/17R tyres are mounted on five-spoke alloy wheels,

Despite twin 80-litre fresh and a separate 80-litre grey water tank between the chassis rails, everything including their plumbing is and tucked up high under the floor and well-shielded from stone strike.

The van’s extensive exterior off-road spec includes a broad A-frame-mounted stone shield covered with replaceable truck mesh, plus large mud flaps below, while the A-frame tap is also well-shielded.

The good thing about this stone shield, which is the same as fitted to Jayco’s new off-road Adventurer models, is that it can be lifted off quickly and easily for cleaning by removing two spring clips. But if the caravan was mine, those clips would be tied to the chassis by fishing wire, as otherwise they could easily be lost or misplaced.

At the rear, the Hybrid X has two galvanised jerry can holders and a single spare wheel on its rear bumper, which is supported by four arms. On first glance we thought the spare wheel could have been mounted a little higher for serious off-road work, but we had no clearance issues on our test.

A front spotlight bar that makes unhitching at night easier and a standard reversing camera are other thoughtful standard inclusions.

Joining the composite crowd

Like an increasing number of caravans these days, the Nextgen Hybrid X has 3mm Alucobond aluminum composite cladding, over a Meranti timber frame. As there’s no front window, the checker plate stone shielding extends three quarters of the way up the wall, while at the rear a hard cover folds down to protect the opening rear window – something we rarely see on caravans these days, although they were common many years ago.

In other examples of thoughtful thinking, the Hybrid X has an entry door with a very solid fly mesh for added security when remote area camping, while a Thule wind-out awning is used instead of a conventional roll-out job. Why?

Because it doesn’t have arms that would otherwise stop the front bedroom window from opening when folded and it would limit access to the van’s cavernous front tunnel locker.

Talking about this locker, it deserves a special mention, as it’s huge, through the body and completely unencumbered – large enough to sleep in, although this is certainly not recommended!

To its left near the front of the body is a pull-out checker plate kitchen that instead of a BBQ has a platform for a Weber Baby Q on its leading edge and a full sink with a mixer tap behind it.

On the other side of this locker, a drop-down picnic table is a handy platform for plating-up, or for holding drinks and nuts for ‘sundowners’. A small exterior hatch between this table and the rear door reveals an articulated arm and the right connections for watching the van’s TV outdoors.

A checker plate box with a generator slide on the A-frame sits ahead of the van’s front boot that completes its impressive storage areas, although the two AGM batteries, which are fed by a 150W roof-mounted solar panel and the uncovered electrics, which include a three-stage battery charger and a BP-400 battery protector, limit the boot’s usefulness.

Space-saving layout

Inside it’s immediately obvious where all the huge under-body storage comes from, as rather than a longitudinal bed, the 15ft Hybrid X has a large transverse double bed, with a useful drop-down hatch underneath that allows you to access any small items that might have migrated to the centre of that tunnel boot.

Removable panels at the foot of the bed reveal two large storage bins that would be ideal for clothes or linen in this compact but wide caravan.

Otherwise it’s a good, spaced-saving layout, although the long table that stretches along the door side makes it difficult to access the four-seater leatherette lounge. The single pedestal the table sits on also makes it a bit wobbly – for example if you’re sawing away at a tough steak on one end!

On the plus side, there’s a storage locker on the door-side of the lounge, while the upper walls of the Hybrid X are lined with cupboards, all swinging on full width piano hinges. It would have been nice if all these cupboard doors opened to the same height though – a simple adjustment to their telescopic struts.

Opposite the lounge, there’s a large, 186-litre three-way Dometic HPC fridge, although given the remote area intentions of the Hybrid X, we expected to find a 12-volt compressor fridge here.

Next to the fridge in the rear corner of the van, a combined shower and toilet bathroom provides adequate rather than exceptional space for ablutions in a caravan of this compact size, while the galley next to it across the remaining rear wall takes care of essential cooking on the fly.

The three gas and one electric hob Swift 500 Series cooktop and grille is flanked by a deep stainless steel sink with mixer tap. The stainless-steel drainage board on the door side provides further plating-up space, if desired, while the rear opening window gives those at the galley a good view of their surroundings while supplying good cross-flow interior ventilation.

If this isn’t enough, there’s an Ibis 3 reverse cycle air conditioner and two roof hatches in this model, or you can simply open one off its four double-glazed windows.

We liked:

>> Extensive standard equipment

>> Many thoughtful features
>> 'Fit for purpose’ footprint

>> Value pricing

Not so much:

>> Lounge difficult to access

>> Bracing needed on tunnel boot hatch doors

>> Vulnerable folding step
>> Limited 300kg payload

Verdict

The Nextgen Hybrid X caravan is conventional in most respects, but it’s very complete equipment list and thoughtful features help it stand out from the off-road crowd, helped by its keen $67,990 (Victorian) pricing.

In short, it’s well worth adding to your short-list if shopping for a compact off-roader.

NeXtgen Hybrid X

Travel length: 7450mm

External body length: 4900mm

External body width: 2440mm

Travel height: 3100mm

Interior height: 1980mm

Tare weight: 2258kg

ATM: 2558kg

Ball weight: 157kg

Body: 3mm Alucubond aluminium cladding over Meranti timber frame

Chassis: 150mm x 50mm galvanised A-frame and chassis

Suspension: Single axle Cruisemaster XT coil spring independent trailing arm

Brakes: 12-inch electric drum

Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC standard

Wheels: 16in alloy with LT245/75-16 off-road tyres

Fresh water: 2 x 80L

Grey water: 1 x 80L

Battery: 1 x 100Ah deep cycle

Solar: 1 x 150W roof-mounted

Air-conditioner: Ibis 3 reverse cycle, roof-mounted

Gas: 2 x 9.0kg

Cooking: Swift 500-series 4 burner gas/electric, cooktop and grill

Fridge: 186-litre Dometic three-way HPC

Microwave: dLux

Toilet/Shower: Combined shower and cassette toilet

Lighting: LED

Price: $67,990 (ex-Victoria)

Options fitted: None

Supplied by: Green RV, Somerton, Victoria 3062

NeXtgen Hybrid X

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