Regal Caravans Pathfinder Exclusive

Offroad Oasis

"It works well for us," Queensland Regal's Ryan Hodges says. "Being where we are in Qld means that quite a few people are after an offroad caravan and that's what we have been able to develop - our own custom offroad van that has many Regal underpinnings.

"The Pathfinder is designed for offroad travel, yet also enables vanners to travel in a luxury style."

Like many a caravan, the Pathfinder is built on a DuraGal chassis. This consists of 100mm x 50mm (4in x 2in) lower rails which are laminated to an upper set of similarly sized rails which are built in a box section arrangement with smaller cross section members. The drawbar is made from 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) and welded to the lower rails.

In the all-important ride department, Simplicity independent loadsharing suspension is fitted to the tandem wheels, which are shod with 16in offroad alloy wheels and tyres. Fitted to the chassis are three 80L water tanks, which are protected against stone damage by galvanised sheeting.

On the business end is a Hyland offroad hitch, along with a centre-mounted jockey wheel and wire mesh rack underneath the two 9kg gas cylinders. At the rear are two spare wheels mounted on a substantial looking bumper bar.

STORAGE GALORE
One thing there isn't a shortage of is external storage. In addition to the front boot, there are tunnel boots at the front and rear. The nearside access to the front tunnel boot is blocked, though, by a slide-out barbecue which has an adjacent hinged picnic table built into the van body. In the front boot are a few electrical items - two 120Ah deep-cycle batteries, a battery charger and a control panel with the 12V fuses.

The van body is a standard Regal arrangement with timber frame and aluminium cladding. Pink batts are used for insulation. The windows are generally quite large tinted hoppers and the door a Camec triple-locker.

For the campsite, an A&E awning covers the nearside, which is fitted with two wall lights and a grab handle light plus a mounting point for a flatscreen TV and two external speakers. A wall light and external shower provision are located on the offside. Mostly out of sight, on the roof, are a Saturn TV mobile phone antenna and two 65W solar panels.

Being a 23ft (7m) van, the Regal Pathfinder's interior is quite spacious. Undoubtedly, the feature item is the rear club lounge, but it also has a front bedroom with adjoining bathroom and a mid-section kitchen. Timber panelling on both walls and cabinetry is very much the dominant look for the decor. All windows have nets and full curtains.

LUXURY INTERIOR
The leather-upholstered club lounge at the rear looks very inviting. It's almost the first thing seen when you step in the door, and is surrounded by windows on three sides, so it's easy to watch the world go by. The table can be moved out of the way if not being used.

Overhead lockers are fitted above the lounge and there are also underseat doors for the tunnel boot. In addition to the ceiling fluorescent, there are two halogen reading lights. A powerpoint is fitted to the nearside corner.

In a van of this size, you'd expect a decent-sized kitchen, and that's what you get. Fitted into the nearside bench are the usual items - Swift four-burner (three gas, one electric) cooktop with grill and oven, and a stainless steel sink. Water supply to the sink is both mains tank and filtered. Fitted into the overhead lockers above the sink is the microwave, but I feel it's not at a particularly user-friendly height. Storage space is quite generous with four cupboards, four drawers, a floor locker, two overhead lockers and a multi-shelved full-height pantry. Bench lighting consists of an under-locker fluorescent and there are powerpoints fitted at either end of the bench.

On the opposite side is that other essential of modern caravanning, a decent-sized Waeco 190L fridge, beside a waist-high cabinet under which hides a frontloading washing machine. Above that is the entertainment centre (it's a very multifunctional area) with a swivel arm-mounted flatscreen TV with DVD player, plus an AM/FM radio/CD player. Water tank gauges and battery condition monitor are also fitted nearby.

Between the kitchen and front bedroom, the bathroom area is split, with the shower cubicle on the offside and the toilet/washbasin cubicle opposite. The shower has both a hatch and small window for ventilation and comes with a variable-height shower rose, soap dish and flick-mixer tap.

"Well-appointed" sums up the toilet cubicle. In addition to the Thetford bench-style cassette toilet, it comes with a contemporary washbasin, large wall mirror and storage cabinet with two cupboards and a drawer. Like the shower, ventilation and light is supplied by a roof hatch and a small window. A towel rail is fitted to the door.

Up front, the queen-size bed has an innerspring mattress that sits on a timber base, which can be lifted to get to the storage area underneath. The latter is shortened slightly due to the forward tunnel boot.

Around the bedhead are the usual side wardrobes, drawers and overhead lockers. Both wardrobe doors have mirrors and there are even small bedside shelves with powerpoints. At the foot of the bed, in the nearside corner, is a half-height diagonal cupboard with powerpoint and antenna connections for a flatscreen TV above. In the opposite corner is a full-height multishelved diagonal cupboard. Generally speaking, there is a fair bit of storage in the bedroom area. Windows on three sides plus a Four Seasons hatch provide good natural light and ventilation.

THE BOTTOM LINE
With a Tare of 2500kg and an ATM of 3000kg, the Pathfinder is no lightweight and definitely in heavy-duty 4WD towing territory.

On the road, with a weight distribution hitch fitted, it certainly behaved well, without any problems experienced.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED

For more information, including your nearest dealer, visit www.regalcaravans.com.au