Royal Flair Aussiemate DLX

Apart from the odd exception, caravan exteriors have been predominantly white for decades. While that has a number of advantages – it helps keep prices down and reduces heat build-up in summer – it does limit opportunities for those who want their vans to stand out from the crowd.

However, times are changing, with both local and overseas manufacturers starting to offer a range of exterior colours and patterns designed to appeal not only to first time, younger buyers but more adventurous grey nomads. 

With the recent adoption of pre-painted, aluminium composite panels from the commercial and building industries, Aussie manufacturers including New Age and Van Cruiser are trying hard to add a bit of colour and pizazz to caravan parks around the country.

One of the latest to adopt the striking Alucobond panels is respected Melbourne builder Royal Flair, which is offering a special DLX off-road and exterior make-over package for its popular Aussiemate model, which we

last looked at in 2012.

However, unlike some of the other retina-scorching Alucobond examples available from rivals, Royal Flair is currently offering just the one, crowd-pleasing colour scheme, when it comes to the glossy, auto-style exterior finish.

BLENDING INTO THE BUSH

Our review van, a tandem axle 19ft 4in model on display at May West Caravans in Epping, Victora, is the first DLX off the production line and retails for $73,440 tow-away.

For that you get on top of all the usual Aussiemate features, off-road extras including the 3500kg tandem axle Control Rider independent suspension, and skid plates and brush bars to further protect the sides and underbody.

You also get some ‘bling’ in the form of brown and black gloss Alucobond body panels, 'personalized' laser-cut Dibond polished alloy strips along the sides, and orange pin-stripes to match the 16in G&S black and orange alloy wheels.

All up, the DLX option adds about 90kg to overall weight and around $10,000 to the price of a ‘standard’ Aussiemate.

While the chrome and orange highlights might be a bit much for some, the otherwise natural colour scheme and reflective panels actually allow the van to blend into the bush, as we discovered during our photo-shoot in Woodend, Victoria.

The downside of the mirror-like finish is it tends to highlight the dust and grime, and seems at odds with the type of rough road treatment this van is designed for. Although the thick, clear coat finish should resist minor scratching, and the panels come with a 20 year structural warranty, only time will tell how well they stand up to prolonged abuse.

Up front, the Aussiemate DLX has an off-road Hyland coupling, with two 9kg gas bottles, two jerry can holders and a big, black checker plate toolbox on the A-frame for storing ‘wet’ items that won’t fit in the gal lined and illuminated, three quarter front tunnel boot.

It’s good to see full galvanized protection for the wheel arches and underbody, and a stone shield for the drawbar-mounted tap (with mains connection). There’s also protection for the grey water outlet at the rear, although it means the drop-down stabilizer at this corner folds away ‘outside’ the body rather than tucking away neatly underneath.

A bumper bar with skid bars and spare wheel is also fitted out back, protecting the otherwise vulnerable looking black Alucobond rear panel. Hardier checker plate is used for stone protection up front..

Also accessible from outside is the slide-out Sovereign RV Explorer BBQ (which takes up about a third of the tunnel boot), an external hot/cold shower, drop-down picnic table, roll-out awning, outside light and two speakers (complementing the two inside) for the kitchen-mounted CD/radio/MP3 player.

INTERIOR APPEAL

The Aussiemate DLX is less confronting, but no less appealing inside, with modern décor and an open-plan layout (one of six available) that’s makes the most of its mid-sized floorplan.

Stepping through the Aussie Traveller security door via the manual pull-out step, you'll find a typical ‘grey nomad’ floorplan of north-south queen sized bed at the front, small dinette/lounge opposite a centrally-located kitchen and full width rear ensuite.

A welcome departure (in my opinion) from the all white gloss look of recent years (although the white walls remain), the Aussiemate’s décor is an earthy blend of light browns and greys, with plenty of sharp-edged, gloss and Laminex coated furniture that’s all the rage right now.

As well as looking the part, it’s very usable, with the bed frame extending slightly to provide plenty of stretch out room on the two-part innerspring mattress. Unlike some caravans, the double bed lifts easily on gas struts to reveal storage compartments, although around half the space is taken by the tunnel boot.

There are all the usual storage options around the bed, including overhead lockers, side drawers and a half-wardrobe for each side. Another vertical cabinet is located near the foot of the bed, with one shelf occupied by the Breaksafe 6000 breakway unit and wiring.

There’s plenty of natural light too, thanks to large, double glazed windows with inbuilt screens/blinds as well as curtains. Not to mention two main skylights and something you don’t see everyday: a hatch with 12V fan above the bed, perhaps to provide some relief on hot nights.

Nearby is a pressure hatch in the roof for keeping the dust out along dirt roads.

There’s also plenty of LED illumination in the form of downlights and reading lamps; we counted 18 lights in total, but I’m sure there were more. And seven 240V points for plugging in all your appliances, along with two 12V and USB sockets.

Also impressive is the size and scope of the kitchen galley, which offers ample benchspace, and enough pot drawers, cutlery compartments and slide-out pantries, to ensure you won’t have to leave too many kitchen items at home.

For cooking (and drinking) there’s a separate filtered tap for the stainless steel sink, a Thetford cooktop with four burner gas/electric hobs and grille, rangehood, and a Thetford 184 litre three-way fridge/freezer.

We’d only take off some points for the Sphere microwave positioned a tad high for shorter cooks.

Another minor letdown is the café dinette. While it offers comfortable cushioning and attractive upholstery, it can really only squeeze in two adults around the tri-fold table, limiting the opportunity for card nights with fellow travellers.

There’s some compensation in the form of a couple of sturdy, fold-out foot-rests at each end, creating de facto lounge chairs that conveniently face the LED/DVD TV that mounts on an adjustable arm above the door.

BATHING BEAUTY

Storage (and space) is also a highlight of the rear bathroom/laundry, which feels roomier (with the concertina flexi-door ajar) than some two bedroom apartment bathrooms I’ve frequented.

Here you’ll find a large, moulded fibreglass shower with extractor fan/hatch and LED light, Thetford swivel seat toilet, Sphere 2.5kg washing machine, ceramic basin and mixer tap, toilet roll holder, towel rails and a massive mirror.

The Aussiemate DLX is also equipped with a decent 12V set-up, including two 130W solar panels on the roof, and two 100Ah deep cycle batteries with charger, all controlled by a Genius battery management system. There’s also a handy digital gauge for the water tanks.

But all these standard and extra features add up. The Alucobond panels alone, are heavier than standard ribbed aluminium cladding, and the Aussiemate DLX tips the scales at a hefty 2745kg (Tare), with an ATM of 3145kg.

Ball weight is a maximum 350kg, so you’ll need something like a LandCruiser, Discovery or Grand Cherokee to haul it.

We used an Isuzu D-Max ute with 3.5 tonne towing capacity and it handled the big beast well, tracking confidently behind the dual-cab ute at speeds up to 95km/h.

Al-Ko ESC is fitted as a standard safety feature, but as our tow vehicle didn’t have the required 12 pin plug to make it work, we were lucky it wasn’t needed.

VERDICT

It’s hard not to like the Aussiemate DLX. It has an appealing design and finish inside and out, appears solidly built, and blends off-road capability with a long list of luxury features.

It's questionable whether items like the weighty scrub bars are really necessary, when many owners will be reluctant getting the shiny panels anywhere close to potentially damaging terrain.

But for couples who dare to be different, the Aussiemate DLX is a compelling rough-road touring package.

 WE LIKED:
>> Attractive colour scheme inside and out
>> Practical, stylish layout
>> Quality construction and finish
>> Bush-bash ability

NOT SO MUCH
>> Glossy panels show dirt
>> Heavier and much pricier than standard model
>> Cramped dinette
>> Steel scrub bars are over-kill

ROYAL FLAIR AUSSIEMATE DLX 

Travel length: 7300mm
External body length: 5800mm
External body width: 2325mm
Travel height: 2950mm
Interior height: 1925mm
Tare weight: 2745kg
ATM: 3145kg
Ball weight: 350kg (maximum)
Body: Meranti timber frame with 3mm aluminium flat composite panels and polystyrene foam insulation
Chassis/A-frame: G&S hot dipped galvanised 150mm x 50mm
Suspension: Tandem axle Control Rider independent
Brakes: 12-inch electric
Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC standard
Wheels: 16in alloys with 265/75-16 tyres
Freshwater: 2 x 95L
Battery: 2 x 105Ah AGM
Solar: 2 x 120W roof-mounted panels
Air-conditioner: Air Command Ibis 3
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Thetford Minigrill MkIII three gas burner plus electric hob cooktop with grill
Fridge: 184-litre Thetford three-way
Microwave: Sphere
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle
Washing machine: Sphere 2.5kg top-loader
Lighting: LED throughout
Price (Ex Melb): $73,443 driveaway
Supplied by: May West Caravans, Epping, Victoria
More info: Royal Flair Caravans