Olympic Javelin XL

WE LIKED:
>> Good kitchen design including storage space
>> Comfortable dinette
>> 12V fusing inside van

NOT SO MUCH:
>> No power sockets around the dinette
>> Venetian blinds don’t accommodate window winders
>> Tardy finish on some out of sight spaces

In my opinion, Melbourne-based Olympic Caravans has a slightly lower profile than it deserves but that wasn’t the only reason I borrowed one of its latest Javelin XL models from Ipswich Lifestyle Centre in Queensland. It’s always worth taking a closer look at vans that originate in Melbourne to check out the many features on offer.

A peek under the Javelin reveals a Preston SupaGal chassis, built in the standard box section style using 100x50mm RHS rails. While the drawbar rails are the same dimensions and laminated to the main chassis running right back to the front suspension mounts.

A 50mm (2in) riser is used for the tandem axle AL-KO leaf spring suspension.

Both 90 litre water tanks, with galvanised sheet protection, are mounted forward of the axles between the drawbar rails. Plastic ties are used to strap up some of the water pipe work but I thought that something a little more permanent could have been used.

On the drawbar itself, in addition to the ball coupling, handbrake and centre mounted jockey wheel, are two 9kg gas cylinders and a mesh rack between the rails. A looped end rear bumper bar also acts as the bracket for the spare wheel.

Like many vans, the Javelin is built using a timber frame which is insulated and covered in aluminium cladding.

Camec fittings are used for the triple-locker security door and the tinted hopper acrylic windows.

In the front boot, which is fairly standard with galvanised sheet lining, are the battery and charger – the 12V fuses are inside – which leaves space for all those travelling essentials like hoses, power leads and wheel chocks.

Along the nearside are all the essential outdoor living items such as a Dometic awning, wall light, door light and external speakers.

STRIKING FINISH

Our review Javelin was a rear door van with a front bedroom and full-width rear bathroom, but the most striking feature of the van was the Rosewood cabinetry work. It certainly looks elegant and is offset by the lighter colours of the walls and roof.

Slim-line blinds are fitted and these help control the light and shade very easily. But the individual blinds that were level with the window winders were not cut shorter to accommodate the winder, which was slightly irritating. However, fore and aft Four Seasons hatches provide good ventilation.

The rear bathroom has everything expected in a contemporary caravan, including a washing machine, while filling the nearside corner is a shower cubicle that comes with a variable height shower rose and fan assisted hatch.

Facing that is a Thetford cassette toilet which fits in between the front wall of the bathroom and the cabinet that fills the rear wall. A small cupboard which sits in the offside corner could be used for all the dirty laundry.

The wash basin sits centre stage with two cupboards underneath and two overhead lockers (slightly offset) above, and filling the space directly above the wash basin is a good-sized wall mirror.

Generally speaking, the bathroom is fairly user-friendly but does take up a fair bit of space. There was only one roof exhaust fan but a small window above the loo gives the cross-flow effect.

DINE IN STYLE

Relaxation is clearly the theme with the mid-nearside café style dinette. It might fit two-and-a-half people, but is clearly designed for two with the wrap around back cushions and seat end foot rests.

Between the seats, the tri-fold table offers the convenience of full meal dining or just a drink stand, and storage around the dinette is quite generous with three overhead lockers, two facing inwards under-seat drawers and a narrow cupboard under the table.

Naturally there are two halogen reading lights but strangely no power sockets, either 240V or 12V.

Filling most of the central offside area of the Javelin is the lengthy kitchen bench in which storage and bench top working space feature quite prominently. Five drawers, two cupboards, two floor lockers, a small wire basket slide-out pantry and three overhead lockers should be able to handle most kitchen storage needs without difficulty.

That still leaves room for items like the stainless steel sink and drainer, four-burner Swift cooktop with grill and oven and a microwave oven above the adjoining Dometic 186 litre fridge.

The forward section of the kitchen also doubles as the entertainment and/or electrical control section. Fitted into the overhead lockers cabinetry are the radio/CD player with 3.5mm socket, hot water and water pump switches and water tank gauges.

The adjoining corner shelf is quite handy for items like an iPod/MP3 player and CDs, while underneath and mounted to the wall is the swivelling flatscreen TV which can be easily seen from either the bed or the dinette.

COUNTING SHEEP

Measuring 1.91 x 1.52m (6ft 3in x 5ft), the innerspring mattress bed fills front centre stage. Supporting the mattress, the posture slat bed base can be lifted to give access to the storage space underneath – which is quite bare, except for the Suburban water heater tucked under the offside wardrobe.

Included in the bedhead cabinet are side wardrobes, overhead lockers and a shelf under the window at the back of the bed, and two diagonal cupboards fill the corners at the foot of the bed.

The nearside cupboard is full height and the offside is half height and contains the 12V fuses – so at least they’re reasonably accessible once you know where they are!

In the technical department, a 100Ah deep-cycle battery supplies the 12V load, including the LED lights that are fitted throughout.

The battery is conventionally charged by a mains charger but the van is pre-wired to easily accept solar panels – something to consider if you’re planning any long-term bush camping. A roof mounted Dometic unit delivers cooling air when needed.

All this adds up to a van with a tare weight of 2080kg and an ATM of 2480kg. Slightly lighter than usual is the empty ball weight of 165kg but that would certainly change if both water tanks were full.

On the road, our Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0-litre turbo-diesel tow vehicle handled the Javelin in the manner expected with no major dramas – we even tried a bit of dirt road work just to see how the van would handle.

One item of interest were the Outback Vision towing mirrors on the tow vehicle. Replacing the standard Pajero external mirrors, they proved quite effective and look neat.

VERDICT

There’s no doubt the Olympic Javelin XL caravan has a touch of class about it. From the outside it might look a bit like one of the herd but inside there are a number of features that will satisfy more than a few personal preferences.

Although it’s not technically a tough off-road caravan, the Javelin XL is built with rough road touring in mind and is therefore an eminent candidate for quite a few round Australia trips.

OLYMPIC CARAVANS JAVELIN XL

Overall length: 7.92m (26ft)
External length: 6.57m (21ft 7in)
External width: 2.41m (7ft 11in)
External height: 2.85m (9ft 4in)
Interior height: 1.95m (6ft 5in)
Nameplate ATM: 2480kg
Nameplate Tare Weight: 2080kg
Frame: Timber
Chassis: SupaGal
Suspension: AL-KO tandem axle
Cooktop: Swift four-burner/grill/oven
Fridge: Dometic RM4601 186 litre
Microwave oven: Sharp
Shower: Separate cubicle
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas supply: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Suburban 23 litre
Fresh water tank: 2 x 90 litre
Price (on road, Qld): $59,900
Supplied by: Ipswich Lifestyle, 20 Brisbane Road, Bundamba, Qld