Nova Terra Sportz

WE LIKED:
>> Genuine off-road spec
>> Solid construction
>> Great layout

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Would prefer more robust drawer locks
>> A sturdier step, or even better, no step
>> Al-Ko coupling can be fiddly to release

Many travellers harbour ambitions to get off the beaten tracks; to spend nights under the stars rather than under a caravan park neon and to hear nature’s night moves rather than those of their RV neighbours.

But when push comes to shove, the thought of subjecting a shiny new (and costly) caravan to the rigours of the red dirt and the chassis abuse of a badly corrugated road sends most would-be offroaders back down the bitumen.

However Melbourne caravan manufacturer Nova, better known for its luxurious Pride range, is making a solid pitch for this growing ‘all-roads’ market with its tough, full-featured caravan at the other end of its model spectrum: the Terra Sportz.

Introduced in 2011, the TS immediately hit a sweet spot in the market, despite almost every manufacturer these days offering an ‘extreme’ or ‘outback’ upgrade on models in their range.

The detail that Nova builds into the Terra Sportz makes the difference. While not claiming to be a fully-fledged off-road caravan like a Bushtracker, a Trakmaster, or a Kedron (and not in the same price league), close examination shows an understanding of what is necessary for a caravan to survive sustained travel off the bitumen –¬ things that many ‘pretenders’ to the tough tag lack.

TOUGHENED UP

Now, some 50-60 vans down the line later, the Terra Sportz range of 16ft-21ft 6in off-roaders has been cosmetically refreshed for 2013 and given more ‘bushability’, thanks to included extras and a new and ground-breaking option.

While the new checkerplate wheel spats and taillight housing are obvious visual changes, an 80W roof-mounted solar panel is now standard.

However the biggest talking point is the optional bottle gas-powered 2.5kVa generator that sits under a checker plate cover on the caravan’s A-frame – a first, Nova believes, for the caravan industry.

While at 39kg it weighs almost twice that of a regular 2.0kVa petrol-powered generator, it produces 0.5kVa more and feeds from the caravan’s twin 9kg gas bottles, ensuring the ability to run air conditioning and other comforts well away from civilization.

GREY THE NEW WHITE

On first acquaintance most people agree that the Terra Sportz is a good-looking caravan.

Grey is now becoming the new ‘white’ for many makers, but the smooth finish of the Durabond 3mm aluminium composite panel walls of the TS, with black-finished checkerplate cladding on the stone-vulnerable areas below, has a lot going for it.

But it’s not all for show. In addition to being lightweight and fire resistant, these walls have good insulation properties, while underneath them the gusseted Meranti frame adds to the van’s strength and off-road flexibility. ?

In this respect it shares the same philosophy of Melbourne’s Trakmaster, which is that the structure of an off-road caravan should be flexible enough to absorb some shocks rather than so rigid that they are transferred to unyielding items such as its fittings and fixtures.

But you really need to crawl under the Terra Sportz to appreciate the devil in its detail.

The dual axle Simplicity load sharing independent suspension is a similar type to that fitted to the big Bushtrackers that are acknowledged as amongst the most accomplished off-road caravans.

The various gas pipes and electric wires likely to snag or suffer stone damage are tucked up high in the chassis wells, while the twin 80-litre water tanks are shielded by more checkerplate steel.

There’s also additional stone shielding for the waste water pipes that get shot-blasted off lesser vans in the first few unmade km.

Working from north to south, other features include an Al-Ko off-road ball coupling, protective stone mesh under the A-frame, sturdy Al-Ko corner drop jacks, 12-inch off-road electric brakes, cut-away rear bodywork to give a better departure angle and rear corner steel tubular bumpers to take care of trees that jump in your path.

A reversing camera is optional.

But, as with its frame, it’s the things you can’t see that give the Terra Sportz it’s true off-road credentials, like its 12mm highly water-resistant polyurethane-coated ply floor, the ‘scupper’ roof hatch that pressurises the interior to keep dust out on unmade roads and its Polyplastic double-glazed windows.

Inside you’ll also find some rough-road thinking, with metal drawer runners in the kitchen and dinette and security latches on both the sliding wet area door and the showscreen door to keep them shut over body-shaking corrugations.
It all adds up to a pretty impressive spec for a van with a starting price from the mid-$70,000 range.

TAME IN TOW

As you would expect for a caravan designed to take a pounding from corrugations, the Terra Sportz unladen has a jiggly ride that softens once the water tanks and its plentiful cupboards and storage bins are full.

However empty or laden, the van also followed our tow car impressively on winding dirt roads despite its broad 2440mm (8ft) beam.

We have met owners who have spoken glowingly of its ability to track securely over severe corrugations that you might find in places like the Merrini Loop in the West MacDonnell Ranges, although we also got reports of minor teething problems, like broken drawer catches.

Setting up is as easy as any bitumen-burning caravan, but I believe the swing-down aluminium Techno Step is too flimsy and too vulnerable to damage for long-term off-road use. It would be better removed and replaced with a portable moulded plastic step.

The standard Dometic awning provides plenty of shade and with the drop-down picnic table you’re soon set up and ready to enjoy the outdoors. The only thing missing is a slide-out BBQ, but not everyone likes them. 

My preference in an off-roader is for a stand-alone BBQ or Weber Mini Q that can spit and splatter well away from the caravan and not trigger its smoke alarm!

VOGUE INTERIOR

Interior style is a very subjective thing and like the Terra Sportz’s ‘Nova Pewter’ exterior, the test van’s stark white décor and black-flecked marble-look bench and tabletops is a vogue look these days.

I think it’s out of sync and too easy to soil for the places the Terra Sportz can go and lighter timber tones would be my preference. Fortunately Nova offers a huge palette of finishes and fabrics to cater for the whims of individual customers.

However I particularly liked the layout, with the rear entry giving access to the full ensuite with its separate toilet and fibreglass shower cubicle to the right, separated by the laundry with its optional top-loader washing machine.

The large galley-style kitchen, with its extensive bench-tops is located in the middle of the van, opposite a four-seater café-style dinette that leads to the north-south queen-size bed with its ‘Back Care’ innerspring mattress in the van’s nose.

It’s a logical layout that works well most of the time and gives the van a spacious, open feel. But if you’d prefer something different, there are seven others floorplans to choose from, depending on the van length chosen. And if none suits you, Nova will customise an existing design.

The same is true of the available options, where the limit is your wallet, however the most popular are an additional 80W roof-mounted solar panel, a top-loading washing machine and a reversing camera.

SPACE TO STASH

The one thing that everyone will appreciate is Terra Sportz’s extensive storage space.

It begins underneath the lift-up bed and the twin wardrobes on either side, with their twin lower storage cupboards and extends rearward with endless lower and overhead cupboards and drawers through the kitchen to the laundry-cum-linen press. You’ll have to be inventive to fill them!

Outside the tunnel boot of the previous Terra Sportz now houses a convenient large slide-out drawer that eliminates the need to disappear up to your ankles to retrieve all the things that inevitably are drawn to the middle of the tunnel.

Then for the dirty things like hoses, tools, an awning mat and the jockey wheel, there’s the front boot, which now also houses the twin 9kg gas bottles when the gas-generator is optioned. If it’s not, then they go back on the A-frame (albeit with no stone protection), next to the twin jerrycan holders, freeing more boot space.

The generator is an industry ‘first’ and an interesting outback option, but I am in two minds about it.

It’s relatively noisy in operation and mounted on the A-frame just behind the bed head, the noise travels throughout the van. But as Nova’s General Manager Paul Golding points out, most people turn off their generators when they go to sleep anyway.

On the plus side, you don’t need to carry a can of flammable petrol with you when you go bush. The jury is out. We need to live with it.

VERDICT

The Nova Terra Sportz is well equipped to deal with all major Australian arterial roads, whether sealed or unsealed.

It will take its owners far off the normal caravan routes in comfort, safe in the knowledge that their investment is likely to remain in one piece by journey’s end.

NOVA TERRA SPORTZ

Overall length: 8.12m (26ft 6in)
External body length: 6.44m (21ft)
External body width: 2.44m (8ft)
Travel height: 2.94m (9ft 8in)
Interior height: 1.95m (6ft 5in)
Nameplate Tare: 2522kg
Nameplate ATM: 3022kg
Ball weight: 227kg
Frame: Meranti timber, glued, screwed, stapled and bolted
Cladding: Durabond 3mm aluminium composite
Chassis: 150mm x 50mm Preston Supergal
Suspension: Simplicity independent load-sharing
Brake: Al-Ko 12in electric
Wheels: 15in alloy with off-road tyres
Freshwater: 2 x 80 litres
Battery: 2 x 100A/h deep cycle with 30 Amp battery charger
Solar: 80W Panel (optional 2.5kVa LP Gas-powered generator)
Air-conditioner: Aircommand Ibis roof-mounted reverse cycle
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Spinflo four burner (3 gas, 1 electric) plus griller
Fridge: Thetford 3 way 184 litre (12v/240v/gas)
Microwave: Standard
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle
Lighting: LED throughout
Hot water: 240v or gas with 12v ignition
Price: from $76,000 delivered in Victoria
Supplied by:  Nova Caravans, Somerton, Victoria