Phoenix Scorpion

WE LIKED:
>> Chassis design using a different approach
>> Interior construction and decor
>> Bathroom mirrored fridge

NOT SO MUCH
>> minimalist kitchen may not suit master chefs
>> time spent cleaning the shiny black exterior!

Black caravans are fairly rare so they certainly stand out in the crowd. When the new all-black Phoenix Scorpion first caught my eye, I asked Roy Wyss, proprietor of Sunland Caravans and now also Phoenix Caravans, ‘Why black?’ and he said: ‘Well, you noticed it didn’t you!’

Phoenix Caravans built offroad caravans but had to close its doors not long ago because of financial difficulties. Sunland Caravans purchased some of the remnants of the company, including its name, and is now producing a new range of Phoenix vans, including this black Scorpion.

Being black, it’s not particularly suitable to dusty roads or the hot sun, so there are more practical colours available.

NOT TOO LIGHT, NOT TOO HEAVY

Building a van suitable for rugged offroad travel, but not excessively heavy to tow can be a challenge, but Phoenix has achieved this with the Scorpion.

In designing the Phoenix, Roy started with the chassis, and it’s an interesting mix of technologies, but without the traditional steel box section structure.

It has aluminium chassis rails that are bolted to a steel drawbar (100 x 50mm) and a steel sub frame for the suspension, both of which are hot dipped galvanised. 

The aluminium chassis rails are not the standard RHS structure but are a triangular design with flanges and pressed holes that double as weight saving and conduit openings.

Even the water tanks (1 x 60 and 1 x 80 litre) are custom-made to fit above the axles and are neatly protected by alloy checkerplate.

This is a radical but well-engineered approach to chassis design, though the Cruisemaster suspension is a fairly standard independent set-up with trailing arms, coil springs and twin shock absorbers per wheel. 

Above the chassis, the Scorpion body has composite fibreglass walls and a fibreglass front, rear and roof.  The floor also is a hefty 60mm composite structure.

I can’t tell you everything about the design structure – that would be revealing industrial secrets! – except that it has been designed for both strength and weight reduction. 

MORE DESIGN TRICKS

Another interesting design feature in the Scorpion is the new Camec flush windows which are black framed, tinted and mesh well with the rest of the van.

Instead of a conventional front boot, there’s tunnel storage, a pole holder and a moulded front cover that can be used for a something like a generator.

Two gas cylinders are stored in a bin halfway along the offside and the two caravan batteries are on the rear wall. There are also compartments for the external 240V socket and 12V/TV antenna connections near the mid-nearside TV bracket. Naturally both they and the external speakers are black.

It’s a bit hard to hide the white Dometic awning but the protective covers on the awning arms do a reasonable job. Like the power outlets, the water inlet is also recessed but on the other side of the van.

MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL...

The inside of the Scorpion is refreshing change from the norm. What looks like a big mirror to the right as you step in the rear entry door is actually the two-door 175 litre Waeco fridge which has reflective doors.

The van has a front bedroom, mid-nearside dinette, rear-offside corner bathroom and a kitchen split across the offside and rear walls.

Full walls of Seitz hopper windows on both sides give panoramic views and the general décor is an interesting mix of Tasmanian Oak framed doors and drawers, with contemporary white Perspex inlays.

It might sound a bit odd but it looks good, and the interior is very bright and has really good cross flow ventilation. Overhead lockers run down both side of the van.

Our review van had single beds which, in many ways, offer a more practical layout but an island queen bed is also available.

Both beds have inner spring mattresses on posture slat bed bases which can be easily lifted to get to the storage space underneath.

A two-door wardrobe between the beds provides a generous hanging space area, a small bedside shelf and one drawer.

FEATHERWEIGHT KITCHEN

The kitchen bench in this van looks a bit basic, but it’s been designed that way on purpose. There’s no microwave oven and just a combo stainless steel cooktop and sink, both with smoked glass lids, for cooking.

According to Roy, the minimal kitchen was created after some research about what the customers wanted and as part of a continuing effort to keep the van’s weight down. That doesn’t mean extra appliances can’t be fitted if required, they just add more weight.

The result is that there’s plenty of benchtop and storage space, including a good range of cupboards and drawers. 

At first glance there doesn’t appear to be any powerpoints, but they’re on a purpose built pop-up pedestal at the back of the bench.

The 22in flatscreen TV is mounted at the forward end of the kitchen bench and can be seen from either the bed or the dinette opposite.

That L-shaped dinette comes with a single pole-mounted table opposite the kitchen bench. It’s separated from the bed by a small cabinet which contains a cupboard and a shelf with a pop-top powerpoint similar to the kitchen.

If you’re used to a full-width bathroom, then the Scorpion’s corner one might seem to be a bit small but there’s actually plenty of room for the bench-style cassette toilet, variable height flexible hose shower and corner wash basin and moulded shelves.

A window above the loo aids the perception of space and ventilation and there is also a ceiling fan hatch.

Two 120Ah lithium batteries supply the 12V load for the Scorpion and can be charged by the 180W solar panel.

The Scorpion also comes with a Fusion radio with an iPod/iPhone interface, as well as some very good energy-efficient LED lights, including the low profile external ones.

VERDICT

The unique engineering approach taken with the Phoenix’s chassis and body design makes it lightweight yet suitable for some great offroad travel. 

Black may not be the most practical colour, but the Phoenix certainly presents an interesting alternative to the Sunland range.

PHOENIX SCORPION

Overall length: 7.95m (26ft)
External length: 5.79m (19ft)
External width: 2.49m (8ft 2in)
External height: 3.2m (10ft 6in)
Interior height: 1.9m (6ft 3in
Nameplate ATM: 2900kg
Nameplate Tare: 1940kg
Ball weight (advised): 120kg
Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised steel & aluminium
Suspension: Cruisemaster independent
Cooktop: Dometic three burner cooktop
Fridge : Waeco 175 litre
Microwave oven: No
Shower: Flex hose, variable height
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas: 2 x 4.5kg
Hot water: Truma 14L
Fresh water: 1 x 80L, 1 x 60L
Price: $94,990.00 (on road, Qld)
Supplied by: Phoenix Caravans, Caboolture, Qld