Paradise Liberation

By Malcolm Street

Paradise Motor Homes is a relatively new player in the motorhome business. But it’s obvious its latest release, the Liberation, was not designed by a novice. Paradise managing director and motorhome designer Colin MacLean, and at least one other staff member, have been in the motorhome business a number of years.

Based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416 CDI chassis, the Liberation is a very intriguing vehicle. It has not one, but two slideouts — something usually seen on larger motorhomes.

It is designed as a luxury unit and lives up to its claims. More notable is its size; it’s small enough at 24ft (7.3m) and light enough at 3937kg (wet weight) to be driven on a normal car licence. And it’s surprising the difference two slideouts make to internal dimensions of a Sprinter-based vehicle.

Outside

The driver’s cab has been widened by 400mm for more room. The Liberation’s body is therefore more aerodynamic and the seats can be swivelled without opening the doors. Thus a C class vehicle effectively becomes an A class, with the Mercedes Benz warranty and service work.

The Liberation is built on a galvanised steel, alloy and stainless steel chassis. The walls and roof are made from a laminated composite of fibreglass, structural foam and marine ply bonded around a steel and alloy frame. Everything is designed for maximum strength and minimal weight.

A composite material is used for flooring to keep water out and weight down. External storage bins are polyurethane and bin doors are alloy. In an unusual twist the weatherproof seals are on the door, rather than around the bin.

The hopper windows look like tinted acrylic, but are actually scratch-resistant double-glazed glass, and come with neat slide-up/slide-down blinds and fly screens.

Inside

Even when the slideouts are closed the Liberation’s interior is an eye opener. The lounge and part of the kitchen, with stove and sink, are in one slideout behind the driver’s door. The other slideout occupies the entire rear section and holds the north-south double bed and cabinets.

Both driver and passenger seats swivel around. The fold-out dinette table sits directly behind the passenger seat with wine rack and glasses within easy reach: underneath the table. There are storage lockers above both the table and lounge.

When it’s swivelled toward the table, the passenger seat becomes a part of the dinette setup. A second seat has been installed on the opposite side.

The decor is eye-catching: purple laminated trimmings and purple curtains, ‘metallic wave’ laminated doors and drawers and comfortable cream leather seats.

The kitchen features a Cramer three-burner stove, Samsung convection microwave with grill, stainless steel sink, Dometic dishwasher and slideout pantry.

Benchtop working space is minimal, but both stove and sink have smoked-glass lids.

The whole kitchenette fits into the cabinetwork within the slideout except for the 109 litre fridge, the top of which is partially occupied by a swivelling flat-screen TV.

The roomy bedroom area fits partly into the slideout. Its purple trim and angled mirrored bedside cabinets appear somewhat futuristic. The island double bed has an innerspring mattress and good walk-around space. The bedside cabinets hold a couple of drawers and a slideout breakfast table.

The innovative bathroom at mid station features mirrored walls made from opaque glass, allowing light in but retaining privacy. The door has a tricky auto lock which operates when the motor is running and there’s also a towel rack and clothes airer.

The Liberation is mostly lit by halogen, down or reading lights. Fittings are either brass or stainless steel – Colin imports a special brand for maximum heat resistance.

The main 240V switchboard is Ingress Protection (IP) rated and heavy duty 20-amp cable is used for the wiring.

The control panel uses circuit breakers rather than fuses and Liberation’s 12V power comes from four six-volt deep-cycle batteries, wired up in a series/parallel arrangement.

There are two roof-mounted air-conditioners, one above the lounge area and the other above the bedroom. Two 4kg gas cylinders supply the stove and water heater, and the latter also has a 240V element.

On the road

The Liberation handles just like any other Mercedes Sprinter – with ease. Power steering, power brakes and Sprintshift transmission all contribute to make it very car-like. In the driver’s cab Colin has wired up the power windows so they can be closed with the motor off. Clever idea.

Summing up

Although the Paradise Liberation may seem relatively expensive, when you look closer it is immediately obvious there are some very clever design ideas at play – some also applied to cheaper Paradise models – the Castaway, Oasis and Inspiration.

If you want the luxury of a larger A class motorhome but don’t particularly want to drive a large vehicle, the Liberation offers an interesting alternative.

For more details about the Liberation contact Paradise Motor Homes, 3/46 Olympic Circuit, Southport, Qld 4215, (07) 5532 1442, or visit <a href="http://www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au/"><span><u><font color="#0000ff">www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au.</font></u></span></a>

We liked

Two slideouts

A class luxury

Roomy dinette

Eye-catching decor

We would have liked

More benchtop space