Seachange 640 Elite

WE LIKED

• Straight forward heavy duty chassis with running gear to suit
• Lots of storage space
• Fixings inside anchored well to the frame.

NOT SO MUCH

• Would like to see a mesh stone guard on the draw bar
• Gas struts on front boot require changing to prevent creep

The Haines Group of Companies has a history steeped in marine fabrication. The founders built and raced boats some 50 years ago and since that time there have been Haines branded boats on many Australian waterways in some form or another.

In fact at last count the number of models Haines has moulds for numbers over 60!

In recent years the company has had a hand in the manufacture of mining equipment, built ostensibly around fibreglass construction, so it was no real surprise to find Haines had also branched out into caravan manufacturing.

Haines boats have always been up there with the best when it comes to quality of build and finish, and first impressions suggest a range of caravans, kicking off with the Seachange 640 elite reviewed here, will be no different.

SPACIOUS INTERIOR

First impressions of the internal space are that it’s surprising expansive considering the overall length of 21 feet or 6.4 metres.

The aisle down the centre is wide and uncluttered and there’s no shortage of cupboard space throughout. The van we looked at is about the sixth to come off the production line and while previous models featured a dark timber in the furniture, lighter coloured wood has been used here.

The light timber and the shape of the overhead cupboards further opens up the internal space. The fascias also slope in towards their bottoms, which means you can stand over the bench space and kitchen area rather than having to stand back due to your head contacting them.

Whilst not touted as being ‘off road’, the van looks capable of some rough stuff looking at the suspension which has the body jacked up high off the ground. Entering the caravan would be an effort for the infirmed though, due to this height but an optional Double Omni Electric Step fitted to the entrance made passage easy.

On entering, a sliding lockable from the inside door leads into the bathroom which is fitted with a Thetford cartridge toilet. Cupboards feature floor to ceiling next to the loo and a stylish vanity basin is installed against the central back wall. Both toilet bowl and basin are porcelain.

The overhead cupboard here has a mirror and another is recessed against the back wall behind the basin.

A hopper style window opens behind the lift-up bench top under which a top loading Lemair washing machine is fitted.

One of the most cramped places in a caravan is the shower recess but we were pleasantly surprised with the Seachange’s. The standing area on the hob is larger than normal and there’s a large seat moulded into the cubicle liner against the back wall.

If one of your family is oversize, they will be more than comfortable in here. The fibreglass finish in the bathroom is faultless.

EATING IN

Walking straight in from outside, you’ll find the Dometic refrigerator/freezer (137/47 litre) located against the offside wall. The microwave convection oven is overhead with a short cupboard above it.

The dining seating is located about mid-van and consists of two modules opposite each other, both capable of seating two people. The seat covers are finished in ‘leatherette’ material and the cushions remove to expose a hatch in the base top that opens to storage inside.

A nice addition is the drawer that slides out of the front of each seat module into the passageway. It’s the actual storage bin you can load from the top, so two way access is a bonus.

The table is a tri-fold leaf style that is full size when extended and tucks away to a coffee table to open up the area for relaxation.

The kitchen bench features a single bowl sink and drainer as well as a three gas burner and one electric element cooktop. The cooktop has its own lid but is recessed low enough so another finished in the same laminex material as the rest of the bench can close flush to give true bench space without fear of damaging the glass cover of the appliance.

The kitchen module is loaded with cupboard space and drawers for cutlery and pans and a vertical pantry slides out of the end closest to the door.

A large hopper window interrupts the fibreglass splashback behind the sink and a flatscreen television swings on its arm toward the dining seating or the queen size bed. This unit is removable and attaches to a bracket and cabling behind a door on the near outside of the caravan.

Large hopper style windows are installed each side of the bed to allow ventilation flow across, while a four sided vent is installed in the ceiling above just behind the reverse cycle air conditioner.

The bed head is recessed well into the front of the van and each side has a cupboard top and bottom with a small ledge for use as a bedside table. Another hopper window opens in the wall at the bed head.

And just in case you’re running out of cupboard space, bulk stores may be secreted away under the bed; the mattress base lifts on gas struts for easy access.

All of the windows in the Seachange are double skinned acrylic which provides some insulation against the elements, and there are pull up and pull down sun and insect screens on each to add to interior comforts.

SASSY CHASSIS

The chassis is where it all starts on any caravan, and the Seachange features an Alko off-road hitch on a 150 x 50mm draw bar which extends as one piece all the way to the rear of the body.

A pair of 9kg gas bottles are mounted here but missing was a mesh stone guard that would be needed to protect the gelcoat of the fibreglass front. It won’t be any big deal though as there is ample room for one plus perhaps a tool box if you desire.

The front boot is spacious and holds a 2kVa Honda generator and a pair of 120Ah batteries with plenty of free space for other gear. We found the gas struts wanting and the boot cover crept shut of its own accord. We’ve been assured this is currently being addressed.

The suspension is a Cruisemaster tandem system with a coil spring and a pair of Gabriel Ultra shock absorbers on each wheel. Brakes are electronic drum with 16 inch alloy wheels featuring Landcruiser stud pattern.

Wind down stabilising struts are fitted to each external corner and the rear tyre carrier has the external plumbing for outside shower and hose, fitted to its inside edge. The poly tanks total 250 litres of water storage and they tuck up neatly inside the chassis rails.

The outer shell is fibreglass construction with the lower section dressed in aluminium checker plate to protect against abrasions from things rubbing too close.

We managed to have a look at the manufacturing process in the factory. The walls and roof are constructed from 25mm square welded alloy box section which is foam filled between the rails then sandwiched between marine ply and the outer fibreglass skin.

VERDICT

The Seachange looks the part and a closer inspection of the build strength and quality reveals that it has the potential to do some remote kilometres. But, time will tell.

The finish is impeccable and having been in and out of this company’s various boats for the past dozen years I have come to expect no less.

The base price of the Seachange is $95,000 but optional extras including electric step, washing machine, deep cycle batteries, Sovereign Marine BBQ, and twin 134 Watt solar panels and Dingo Controller, pushes this van into six figure territory.

This is by no means the top end of the market, price wise, so when you factor in perceived build quality, strength and practicality, The Haines Group might well be on the money with the Seachange...

SEACHANGE CARAVANS 640 ELITE

Overall length: 8.35m including spare wheel              
External width: 2.495m           
Internal height: 2.0m          
Nameplate tare: 2400kg        
Nameplate ATM: 3000kg      
Ball weight: 120kg approx                 
Cooktop:  Camec 3 gas/1 electric element                       
Fridge: Dometic 137l fridge/ 47l freezer                        
Gas: 2 x 9kg                              
Freshwater: 250 litre               
Suspension: Cruisemaster coil tandem independent
Price as tested: $103,118
Supplied by: Ipswich Lifestyle Centre, Bundamba Qld
More info: Seachange Caravans