Regent Monarch MkII Slide-Out

It’s easy to understand why the rapidly-growing Chinese RV manufacturer Daide settled on Regent Caravans when it went shopping mid-2014 for an Australian caravan manufacturer to teach them the tricks of the trade.

Regent has been a respected local manufacturer since the 1990s and in the hands of Caravans Australia, which rescued it from receivership in 2012, was dusted off, cleaned and comprehensively modernised for economical low to mid-volume production.

Then along came Daide and the iconic Aussie brand is now 100 per cent Chinese owned, but Regent’s factory floor workforce remains the same and its reputation for quality will remain its greatest asset if the latest Monarch Mk II Slide-out model we’ve just reviewed is representative of the brand’s future.

Sitting at the top of the current Regent range, this is a high quality caravan that showcases the best our industry can produce.

Like most slide-outs, which are becoming increasingly popular in locally built vans, expanding a caravan sideways keeps it wieldy on the road and able to fit into most existing caravan parks – things that many big fifth wheelers and large triple-axle vans struggle with.

Most ‘Sliders’ push the lounge out from the right side; some gain their extra space by pushing the bedroom out; others (

like Universal) opt to extend both areas from the same side, while America’s Cell, pushes the lounge and kitchen out from opposite sides.

Regent uses an American-designed, above-floor Lippert slide-out mechanism to push the Monarch’s U-shaped and leather clad club lounge out from the right side of the van, freeing up great space in front of the van’s well-equipped kitchen that runs across the left hand wall to the right of the front entry door.

It takes less than 30 seconds for the module to glide out, which is just as well, as when packed away access to the kitchen, fridge or rear ensuite during roadside stops is nigh impossible.

It’s a small price to pay for the new dimension the slide-out adds to the Monarch and because it projects just 870mm from the van’s side, you’re less likely to invade your neighbour’s living space in the average caravan park.

Once out, the ‘slide’ turns the Monarch intro a great entertainer, delivering much more interior space than you’d be entitled to expect in a caravan with a relatively modest internal length of 21ft 6in (6550mm).

Six people can sit comfortably on the caravan’s plush curved and embossed leather lounge with its central table providing ample space for drinks, cards or even dinner.

And unlike some slides, the extended space has opening windows with fly screen and blockout blinds on all three sides, so you can really welcome the outside in and enjoy a cross-flow breeze on a balmy night.

There’s a word of warning here though – do not attempt to retract the lounge while the two side windows are open!

Once the slide is out, the rest of the Monarch, from its inviting front island queen-size bedroom to its full separate shower, vanity and toilet rear ensuite, become all the more usable.

The bedroom, which is surrounded by large windows and a rooftop hatch to let in plenty of light, is attractive and practical, with large hanging robes with drawers below on either side of the bed-head and two deep, separate cupboards above.

There’s also huge and largely unencumbered storage space under the bed, save for the intrusion in one corner of the Monarch’s single AGM battery box.

The kitchen is also designed for entertaining. Excellent bench space is augmented by a large pot drawer, a slide-out pantry, and roomy cupboards above and below. The microwave is located next to the Dometic cooktop, grill and oven beneath the benchtop, where it can be reached, easily and safely.

The review Monarch also had an optional Waeco six-bottle drinks fridge built into the bench area conveniently near the door.

A large opening window sheds plenty of natural light on the kitchen area while at night a profusion of dimmable ceiling, roof hatch and wall-mounted LED lights, supplemented by footlights cleverly located under the kitchen’s recessed kick-board, allows you to create just the right mood for any occasion.

The standard JVC entertainment system features a touch-screen in the kitchen area that allows you to control where and how loud your music streams via Bluetooth and can connect to your mobile phone and its contacts for hands-free phone calls.

Finally, the entire interior is tastefully finished in high gloss CNC furniture, which features metal runners and soft-close drawers.

The only break with Regent tradition I could see was that piano hinges – a long-time and traditional feature of Regent caravans – were not present in the cupboards of the Monarch review van.

The large ensuite in the Monarch Slide-out also contains some surprises. As well as the separate Thetford cassette toilet and central vanity unit, with its recessed basin and frameless mirror, there’s a 2.5kg top-loading washing machine located conveniently below a hinged section of the vanity bench top, while a laundry bag that swings out from the adjacent cabinet is a welcome touch.

There’s also extra hanging and drawer space next to the mirror-fronted shower cubicle to the right, indicative of careful thought in this van’s design. However the absence of an exterior handle for the sliding privacy door is a missing feature that Regent has promised to add.

While many slide-out caravans are a liability of the road because of their sheer size, the Monarch remains a versatile ‘grand tourer’ that will be equally at home in a roadside free-camp as in a Top Tourist park.

Its compact dimensions, standard roof-mounted solar panel and single 105Ah battery, and combined 190 litres of fresh water storage in twin 95-litre tanks, provides a comforting degree of self-sufficiency.

But while a gas or diesel space heater is on the options list, I think one should be standard in a caravan of its stature.

A solid six-inch (150mm) main chassis and draw bar provides the necessary strength for a long life on the road and while the roller-rocker leaf spring suspension is essentially designed for bitumen use, single telescopic shock absorbers per wheel provide extra body and ride control on rough surfaces.

Independent trailing arm off-road suspension, 16-inch wheels and 12-inch brakes are available optionally for those who want to leave the blacktop on a regular basis.

Meanwhile the generous front, galvanised boot and the large full tunnel boot behind it offer plenty of space to take full advantage of the van’s realistic 500kg-plus payload.

There’s little not to like in the Monarch Mk II Slide-out. I think the Chinese will learn a lot from Regent on how to build top-quality touring caravans and let’s hope they leave a good thing alone!

WE LIKED:
>> Lots of space courtesy of stylish slide-out lounge
>> All wanted comfort features
>> Quality construction and finish
>> Appealing decor

NOT SO MUCH:
>> No handle on ensuite sliding door
>> Space heater should be standard
>> Only one battery
>> Where are the piano hinges?

VERDICT

The latest 21ft 6in Regent Monarch Mk II Slide-out remains a pinnacle Aussie caravan that sets an envied standard in the $90,000 price range. 

It’s compact dimensions, solid underpinnings and 500kg-plus payload make it a very usable and practical grand tourer, albeit one requiring a suitably qualified, heavy-duty tow vehicle.

REGENT MONARCH Mk II 21ft 6in SLIDE-OUT 

Travel length: 9000mm
External body length: 7230mm
External body width: 2330mm
Travel height: 3040mm
Interior height: 1995mm
Tare weight: 2893kg
ATM: 3400kg
Ball weight: 350kg (maximum)
Body: Aluminium ribbed cladding over CNC-cut 5-ply composite timber wall framing with polystyrene foam insulation and ply inner lining
Chassis: 150mm x 50mm Austrail galvanised steel main beam and A-frame
Suspension: Tandem leaf springs with single telescopic shock absorbers per wheel
Brakes: Al-Ko 10-inch electric (12in optional)
Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC standard
 Wheels: 15in alloys with 235/75-15 tyres
Fresh water: 2 x 95L
Battery: Single 105Ah AGM
Solar: Single 120W roof-mounted panel
Air-conditioner: Air Command Ibis 3
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Dometic three gas burner plus electric hob cooktop with grill and oven
Fridge: 190-litre Dometic AES three-way plus optional Waeco 6-bottle wine cooler
Microwave: Sphere
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Separate fiberglass cubicle
Washing machine: Sphere 2.5kg top-loader
Lighting: LED throughout, including footlights
Price (Ex Melb): from $87,233. As reviewed approx. $96,000
Supplied by: Regent RV, Campbellfield, Victoria