Red Centre unveils off-grid glamper-van

After teasing show-goers with a bespoke off-grid ready caravan chassis at this year's Melbourne Supershow, Victoria's Red Centre Caravans has ripped the covers of its first full composite, full off-grid caravan at this year's Melbourne Leisurefest.

Priced at $179,990, the new range-topping Red Centre Seisia tandem axle caravan is produced on a new Red Centre designed and built, hot dipped galvanised chassis with airbag suspension, 12in ventilated disc brakes, alloy wheels and chunky TerraFirma tyres, along with a Raptor coated, angled stone-deflecting front toolbox.

Instead of the chassis-mounted 14.3kWh OzXCorp-developed NCE DCX Power Platform displayed at the Melbourne Supershow, the Leisurefest display van boasted a slightly less capable but still substantial off-grid system including five 120Ah ItechWorld lithium batteries fed by 1000 watts rooftop solar panels, along with a 3000W Redarc inverter and Redvision smart management system.

Also helping to keep you away from caravan parks is 320 litres of fresh water and 130 litres grey water capacity, with the option to add another 85 litre fresh tank. Twin 12V water pumps, an external shower, and a three-way valve to draw water from an external source, are also part of the hydration package.

As the first Red Centre van to be built with full composite construction, the body is made up of various thickness Creative Composites fibreglass sandwich panels for the floor, walls and roof (similar to that used for the latest Cub Caravan), with some additional Raptor protection along the sides of the van.

To help keep the luxury interior fit-out dust free there's an in-built 12v positive pressure 'dust buster' pump, while the CNC furniture is held together with aluminium framing, similar to that used in the latest Mountain Trail and Vision RV off-road vans.

To justify the big six-figure pricetag, the Red Centre Seisia also comes loaded up with upmarket items like an electric awning, marine carpeted tunnel boot, pillowtop innerspring queen mattress, and a ceramic toilet bowl and hand basin in the spacious rear ensuite.

Being an all-electric caravan (bar the diesel air heater and hot water unit), plug-in appliances include a 190 litre compressor fridge/freezer, rooftop air-conditioner, dual induction cooktop, microwave and top-load washing machine.

A full package Fusion sound system covers off audio entertainment inside and out, with a 24in Smart TV and reversing camera also part of the standard package.

The spacious 8.7m long, 3.1m high, 2848kg Tare weight and up to 4500kg (ATM) couple's van will be available as a low-volume custom-build from Red Centre's Shepparton factory, with other body sizes and layouts also on the drawing board.

Red Centre Caravan owner Dean Goudie said the Seisia full composite caravan is designed to sit above the Victorian manufacturers' more conventional caravan range, and compete with Australia's best-known all-terrain vans.

"It's out there to compete with Zone RV and other top-end manufacturers with its full 'timber free' composite construction which we'll also be offering on a range of campervans and motorhomes," Goudie explained.

The top-spec caravan is named after the small islander community in Queensland's northern Cape York.

"Saisia is a little Aboriginal community up on the tip of Australia that we visited and we loved it... fishing with the local kids; it's a brilliant little place, with lovely people. Can't wait to get back there, it's a special spot for me and my family..." he said.

Related: Red Centre pulls out all stops