Oz's cheapest shower/toilet van?

A Queensland company is offering a well-equipped, compact fibreglass touring van with separate shower and toilet and that’s towable by a four-cylinder family hatch, for less than $33,000 drive-away -- and it's not built in China!

Advertised as “the cheapest, most compact, Australian-designed and built caravan,” the Silversun Neptune is the brainchild of ex-cabinet maker Bojan Matviko, who has been operating campervan and motorhome conversion business

Silversun Motorhomes since 2010.

“We do a bit of camping with the family so I built myself a little caravan that we could take away at week-ends with our family, so we didn’t have to set a tent up but also had a shower and toilet and everything you need inside a van,” he explained.

The end result is like a cross between the all-fibreglass Karakampa and the smallest and lightest Euro-built van, but with the trump card of a separate shower and toilet.

And with a Tare of just 1080kg, 1290kg ATM and 100kg ball weight, the 5.7m long (overall) Neptune is towable by a range of small, four-cylinder SUVs and passenger cars.

Utilising the company's motorhome construction knowhow, the 'frameless' Neptune is built with fibreglass composite panels for the walls and one-piece roof, together with a marine ply floor, galvanized steel chassis, and single axle leaf spring suspension and alloy wheels.

To keep weight down, the cabinetry comprises laminated balsa core ply that’s “extremely durable and super light weight,” according to Matviko.

The 13ft (3.96m) long body is available with three, two-berth layouts, including twin single and double bed options that convert to dinette or lounge seating, all with a small kitchen and surprisingly given its compact size, separate toilet and shower at the rear.

The corner shower incorporates a moulded waterproof base with two drains, and a sliding screen to prevent water splashing into the living area.

Priced from $32,990 drive-away, the Neptune comes standard with double glazed windows with inbuilt blinds and screens, 9kg gas bottle, LED lighting, 125Ah AGM battery and 240V battery charger, electric water pump, 100 litre fresh water tank, Smev two-burner gas cooker and sink, Waeco 140 litre two-way fridge, Thetford cassette toilet, and external light and awning.

Interior height is a basketballer friendly 1.95m, while external storage is limited to a small hatch also accessible from under the front bed.

Customers can choose from a variety of interior finishes and fabrics, and can add a range of options including a microwave, TV, extra battery and air-conditioning.

Unusual for an Australian caravan, and making it less daunting for first-time caravanners, is the standard mechanical brake package, so an electric brake controller does not have to be fitted to the tow vehicle.

An ‘all terrain’ version with beefed-up underpinnings including electric brakes, bigger wheels and tyres and a slightly heavier 1500kg ATM, is also available for $35,990 drive-away.

Silversun Caravans is currently working on an even smaller 3.0m van with a combination shower/toilet and ATM of just 1100kg, as well as a larger 5.0m version.

“I could go and build a big 21ft caravan tomorrow, like everyone else, but we’ve gone the other way,” Matviko said. “Some of our customers have downgraded their vans to one of ours, because their old van was so big and heavy.

“We’re in a niche market between a camper trailer and a big caravan, and we’re built in Australia; we don’t import any parts from China.

“A small Australian-built caravan with three layouts and a shower and toilet; no-one else does it,” he said.

The company has made a few sales since launching at the Queensland Caravan Supershow in mid-2015, with production currently around 25 per year at its Meadowbrook, Queensland factory.