Michael Browning•7 Aug 2017

REVIEW

On The Move Vortex Bullet

Looks can be deceiving, as this unique, off-road van proves

When the tracks get steep and windy and the corrugations multiply, size and weight matter in an off-road caravan. Quite simply, smaller gives you more options.

That’s why Caravancampingsales applauded when Melbourne-based On the Move unveiled its new Vortex Bullet 16.6 full-height caravan at this year’s Sydney Caravan Show.

Not only did it break the mould of a full-width caravan, slimming down to two metres wide – around 15-20cm narrower than the average caravan – but it was also promoted as ‘Prado-friendly’, with a fully loaded weight of less than 2500kg.

Certainly, On the Move have made some effort to keep the Bullet’s package size small and its empty weight down to 2080kg (as measured on a public weigh bridge), yet have managed to incorporate many of the features and creature comforts wanted by off-road travellers in a caravan priced just above the market sweet-spot at $82,900, tow-away.

SLIM WAIST

Getting the Bullet’s waistline down to two metres, while still incorporating a queen-size north-south bed, café-dinette seating, an adequate-sized interior kitchen with a Swift 500 Series 3 + 1 (gas/electric) cooktop/grill and a good-sized stainless-steel sink with large pot drawer below, a modest 12v/240v 0-litre Waeco fridge-freezer, plus a combined corner shower and toilet and a small top-loading washing machine, is a decent feat.

But the winning feature here is the Bullet’s impressive interior storage space, with a bank of drawers on ball-bearing runners and deep, top-hinged cupboards with positive catches to ensure they remain closed when the going gets rough) above the bed-head, the kitchen and lounge.

Meanwhile, the entire rear wall next to the one-piece fibreglass ensuite (with the exception of the NCE washing machine locker) is dedicated to storage.

This storage space is a feature that On the Move should be proud of, as there are bigger and heavier off-roaders around that offer much less.

On the debit side, there‘s no mirror in the shower/toilet (or outside it).

Completing the comprehensive interior specs, are windows on each side of the bed to allow for individual ventilation, two large roof skylights to expel hot air, a roof-mounted reverse-cycle air conditioner, a Fusion sound system with both interior and exterior speakers and kick-rails beneath the lower cupboards, but a curious omission in a van that’s expected to spend time away from mains power is the absence of USB charging points inside.

OFFROAD ARSENAL

Outside the features story is also impressive. Starting up front, the Bullet gets a quality Vehicle Components’ DO-35 off-road hitch as standard on its 150mm x 50mm galvanised steel A-frame, while underneath you’ll find tandem independent trailing arm coil-spring suspension with dual heavy-duty shock absorbers per wheel, AL-KO off-road drum brakes and 16-inch alloy wheels shod with 245/70 off-road tyres.

The main water tank is on the small size at just 62 litres, but there’s also a 92-litre grey water tank. Both are well protected against stray stones, as is most of the exterior plumbing and wiring.

The overall look of the Bullet, which has On the Move’s trademark dark grey Dibond aluminium wall cladding with contrasting lime green flash and logos and lower checker plate, is smart and eye-catching, without being garish.

Meanwhile up top on the one-piece fibreglass roof, you’ll find reverse-cycle air conditioning and a single 150W solar panel, which should be enough to recharge the van’s single 100AH Gel Crystal battery sufficiently for off-the-grid stays of two-three days at a time, depending on how frugal you are with power and water usage.

A THIRST FOR POWER

As a general comment, most buyers would expect dual batteries and more fresh water capacity in an off-roader at the Bullet’s price, but these would add to its weight and are optional anyway if you intend to spend longer travelling without mains power.

On the other side of the ledger, the Bullet has something that few caravans of its size can match – massive external storage space.

Extending the width of the queen bed from wall to wall, effectively creating a king bed width, has allowed room for two large full tunnel exterior lockers and a large interior drawer beneath, while instead of a front boot as such, there are two more through body lockers in its place.

Having all the exterior storage up-front is a good idea, as heavier items will add to the Bullet’s relatively light 172kg ball weight and will help it tow better and be more stable in cross-winds.

As it is, there’s only a single spare wheel and single 9kg gas bottle on the A-frame, which was extended on our review van to accommodate channels for a small trail bike. Also designed to save weight is the skimpy rear bumper supported by just two struts.

On the Move’s understanding of off-road travel is shown by the checker plate stoned shield for the standard A-frame water tap and the dual clamp for the central jockey wheel.

But if it was ours, we’d also be specifying an A-frame mounted truck-mesh stone shield, as the checker-plate on the Bullet’s blunt front could easily deflect stones back onto the vulnerable rear window of the towing 4x4.

WE LIKED:

>> Lots of storage

>> Narrow body

>> Some thoughtful details.

NOT SO MUCH:

>> Limited payload given storage space

>> No internal USB points or bathroom mirror

>> Wall-to-wall bed difficult to make.

VERDICT

The On the Move Bullet 16.6 is a reasonably well-equipped, well thought out and relatively lightweight off-road caravan that would be a good travelling companion behind a Toyota Prado.

While it offers an entry level of wanted off-road features, these can easily be upgraded by ticking the appropriate option boxes.

On the Move Vortex Bullet 16.6

Travel length: 5570mm (18ft 6in)

Internal body length: 4877mm (16ft 6in)

External body width: 2000mm (6ft 6in)

Travel height: 2900mm

Interior height: 2005mm

Tare weight: 2080kg

ATM: 2500kg

Ball weight (claimed): 172kg

Body: Dibond aluminium, checker-plate, one-piece fibreglass roof

Chassis: 150 x 50mm SupaGal steel extended A frame and 100mm x 50mm chassis

Suspension: Trailing arm coil spring suspension with dual shock absorbers per wheel

Brakes: 10-inch electric drum

Wheels: 16in alloy with 245/75/16 All Terrain tyres

Fresh water: 1 x 62-litre fresh and 1 x 92-litre grey water

Battery: 1 x 100Ah Gel Crystal battery with 25Amp battery charger

Solar: 1 x 150W panel, roof-mounted

Fridge: 110-litre 12/240v Waeco

Air conditioning: Reverse-cycle

Microwave: Standard

Toilet/Shower: Combined fibreglass shower and toilet

Washing machine: Top-loader NCE

Lighting: LED

Base price $82,900

Supplied by: On the Move Caravans, Campbellfield, Vic

On The Move Vortex Bullet

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