Royal Flair Designer series

Value added

A company name like Royal Flair might imply that this Melbourne-based operation caters only for the extremely well-heeled. However, the caravan range offered by Royal Flair is relevant to all budgets.

The suitably named Manor model is the company's flagship luxury offering, but Royal Flair also has small pop-tops and more universally-appealing mid-range caravans such as the new Designer Series featured here. According to Royal Flair, this new range is "the ideal cost effective package with loads of standard features, offering all the comforts you would expect at a very affordable price".

Adelaide Caravan Specialists is one of SA's Royal Flair dealerships, and the company was kind enough to lend us a 6.4m (21ft) Designer Series van for review. Priced at $50,840, it represents good value, especially when considering its attractive external looks and appealing standard equipment.

After so many years in the business, you'd expect that Royal Flair knows what its customers want. The company was established back in 1991 by Peter Deralas, who had been in the caravan game since 1975, and was taken over by his son Bill in 1996.

The company produces around 200 vans per year, and according to Bill, its Designer Series is aimed very much at today's market. "People have to be more conservative with their money at the moment," he says, "and this van offers everything at a reasonable price. It has European furniture and lots of standard features, and we pride ourselves on the quality."

WELL CONSTRUCTED
At 6.4m (21ft) long and with a Tare weight of just under 2000kg, the Designer Series isn't a giant van, and is therefore suited to a larger range of tow vehicles. Scott at Adelaide Caravan Specialists hitched our test van to his mighty Toyota LandCruiser Sahara V8 Turbodiesel, and it barely felt as though we were pulling anything at all. Fortunately, you won't need something quite this hardcore to tow a Royal Flair Designer Series.

The van's construction is fairly conventional using a new lightweight SupaGal chassis, load-sharing leaf spring suspension, 2in heavy-duty axles and attractive 14in light truck alloy wheels.

Up the front, the drawbar features a pair of 4.5kg gas cylinders and a centre-mounted jockey wheel. Out the back is a good, solid, looped bumper bar with a spare wheel. All in all you're looking at a total length of 7.92m (26ft).

The Royal Flair Designer Series looks good with large poly plastic windows, classy colour scheme and full wrap-around checkerplating. An A&E awning 8300 comes as standard and is simple to use, and the external speakers are an appreciated addition for those who enjoy relaxing to some music outside.

The Designer Series has been designed with outdoor living in mind, noticed best with the Swift slid-out barbecue that is readily available in seconds. It may take up some cargo space, but with a 16in front storage boot, this shouldn't cause too many dramas. An external picnic table makes sure all those freshly cooked/burnt sausages have a place to be served up from as well.

Royal Flair's claim of providing a well-specced van for the money seems fair when you witness details such as the generous checkerplated stoneguard, external LED lights, pair of 95L water tanks and the external powerpoint.

HEADING IN
As you enter the van, you're greeted by a material-backed wall with hangers for coats and hats. A small touch, but appreciated nonetheless. The same goes for the overhead cabinets above the dinette. The leadlight style adds a more homely feel than standard timber, although you'll have to be careful not to put hard things in here that may move around and break the glass, but there is ample alternative storage space for such items.

The dinette itself features quite funky styling for the lounge material, and it is very comfy to sit on. The table is a good size and can be lowered or removed, but you'll probably need it when you're preparing food: there isn't a huge amount of benchtop unless the cooktop isn't being used and its cover is set down. The cooktop itself is a Spinflo Minigrill, providing one electric and three gas hobs. It should suffice for most meals, but some culinary experts may prefer a larger cooker.

The same can be said for the Thetford fridge. At 164L, it should be fine for a couple, but some people or families may want a larger fridge than in our test van. Bill at Royal Flair is happy to discuss custom ideas, and the Designer Series comes in four different layouts for customers to decide what may suit best.

A Sanyo microwave sits attractively flush with the wooden cabinets and is located just above the fridge. Around the kitchen area is ample storage, all at levels that are easy to access. The pushbuttons and large-size handles for the cabinets are certainly easier to use than some others on the market.

The bedroom adjoins the main living area and is a comfortable place to be. The queen-size bed is easy enough to navigate around, and the top of the bed has a handy shelf for books or a glass of water (mind your head in the night, though).

There are mirrored wardrobes and a few drawers either side of the bed, and there's a full length wardrobe with dressing table provided as well. A swivelling TV bracket is located in the bedroom to hold the included 15in LCD TV, and this can be rotated around for lounge viewing also.

The curtains around the windows are traditional fare, but do feature terylene privacy blinds that are excellent when used. To my mind, the biggest success in the Designer Series is the bathroom area. It is well separated from the rest of the van thanks to a sliding door, offers excellent space for using the toilet, and storing things is easy thanks to ample cupboard space.

The mirrors on the overhead cabinets may be a bit high for some people, but they're welcome for the taller among us. Perhaps an extra mirror beside the cup-holders behind the sink would be a good idea.

There is plenty of room for general bathroom products beside the sink, and the shower itself is of a good size and quality. For those who appreciate a good bathroom area in their van, this Designer Series has a lot to like.

THE BOTTOM LINE
This Royal Flair Designer Series won't break the bank and is great for an extended holiday or even a good few months on the road. You won't find the likes of solar panels or the finest furniture money can buy, but what you do get is a van for around $50,000 that should cater for nearly all your needs.

At under 2000kg Tare, it can be towed by a large number of vehicles, thus making it accessible to a larger market. Plus, if you like a good internal layout, especially in the bathroom area, the Designer Series is bound to please.

You may want to chat about custom ideas with Royal Flair should you need to move things around for individual requirements, and they'll be more than happy to try to incorporate them. But as it stands, this is very much a fine all-rounder with pleasingly good looks to boot.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED

Adelaide Caravan Specialists,
586 Main North Road,
Gepps Cross, SA 5094,
(08) 8349 7080,
www.adelaidecaravanspecialists.com.au

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