Sky-Deck inventor takes rearguard action

The innovative Sky-Deck fold-out caravan balcony was the star of the 2012 Melbourne Caravan Show, bringing apartment-style indoor-outdoor living to the towable RV market for the first time.

Now 18 months later, Sky-Deck inventor Brett Bell of Melbourne Caravan Repairs has come up with a rear-mounted version.

The first example was recently fitted to a custom-built SLR Expedition off-road motorhome (pictured), with some minor modifications required to ensure a tighter seal where the lid closes against the motorhome body.

“The lid needs to seal better on the rear than when it does on the front, because on the front it’s positive air pressure against it; it’s not wanting to suck dirt in,” explained Bell. “Whereas on the back it wants to suck dirt in where the venturi is.”

Supporting up to 400kg, the original, front-mounted Sky-Deck has a ready-made, safety 'back-up' in the form of the caravan’s A-frame.

But without something similar at the rear, Queensland-based SLR Caravans & Motorhomes devised a simple, fold-down leg support. Bell is also working on a neater solution in the form of a modified rear bumper that slides out under the deck and acts as a cradle.

Whereas the Sky-Deck front balcony increases the caravan’s living space by up to 30 per cent, Bell said the rear verandah on the 14ft SLR motorhome boosts floorspace by a whopping 50 per cent.

He said SLR Motorhomes is gearing up to supply SkyDeck-equipped motorhomes on a regular basis, and that production caravans fitted with both front and rear Sky-Decks are a distinct possibility. A dual balcony ‘promotional’ van that would function as a mobile sales office at caravan shows is also being considered.

Bell said he’s currently averaging about one Sky-Deck a month, with 22 so far fitted to new caravans. The 100kg balcony provides all-weather cover but adds about $10,000 to the price.

It's currently only available on Royal Flair, New Home and Kingston Bell caravan models, all built in the same Melbourne factory.