SLR Adventura 4x4

WHAT WE LIKED

• Ample ground clearance under chassis
• Excellent host vehicle for off-road work
• Robust, rot proof internal cabinet construction

NOT SO MUCH

• Bed too high for easy access
• Awesome off-road but not so great around town

SLR Caravans and Motorhomes has been making serious off-road caravans for eight years and not long after starting to build caravans, realised there was a niche market for off-road motorhomes.

SLR’s motorhomes are not the run-of-the-mill bitumen cruisers that we increasingly see populating caravan parks across the country. Rather, they are serious off-road 4WD trucks with ruggedly built bodies designed to be capable of going places where many wouldn’t dare to go.

The Adventura 4x4 reviewed here is based on an Isuzu NPS 300 4x4 single cab chassis. It’s rated to a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 6000kg with a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 9500kg.

For the mechanically minded, a 5.2-litre single overhead cam, four-cylinder, 16 valve diesel motor is fitted, producing 114kW of power at 2600rpm at which time it’s outputting 419Nm of torque.

Up in the cab both passenger and driver have airbags, while electric mirrors and power steering is fitted.

The gearbox is a fully synchronised five-speed type worked via an auto adjusting vacuum assisted clutch.

TOUGH UNDERPINNINGS

The Adventurer has an option for bogey rear wheels but this one featured single wheels all round. The rims were special heavy-duty steel rims sourced by Isuzu for these vehicles and they have a six tonne rating.

The two carried on the rear bar are lifted off via a winch inserted into a bracket when required.

The standard fuel tank is 140 litres and SLR quotes fuel consumption of 16 litres per 100km when cruising on paved surfaces and when pushing the limits, 18L/100km.

The unit is rated as a light rigid vehicle when it comes to the correct licence for the driver.

A typical problem that arises when super structures are mounted to chassis is the flexing of either component as well as stress damage at the various mounting points marrying the two. SLR has overcome this issue with the inclusion of a Kinematic independent suspension system that allows both to flex independently of each other.

ONE GIANT STEP...

Entry to the living area is via an electronically activated Omni-Step that has its activation button on the inside of the step well. It tucks up under the body when not in use.

On entering one finds the two seater dinette directly across from the doorway. It sits up on a raised platform to allow the pair of 9kg gas bottles to stand upright underneath, the latter being accessed via an offside hatch.

On the left toward the front of the vehicle is the double bed perched up on a storage module. The innerspring mattress is queen size and available in soft, medium or firm density and storage drawers slide out from the fascia of the bed base.

More storage is found at roof level around three sides here and an aperture between the accommodation and the Isuzu cabin will allow easy access for an adult to pass through should for some reason they prefer not to walk out and around to enter through the cab door.

A large screened and shuttered window is fitted in the sides of the bodywork at the foot and the head of the bed to offer maximum flow through ventilation while you sleep.

COMING CLEAN

As with most of the Adventurer, the build is custom and on this unit the bed was situated high to allow the owner to have a full-sized washing machine installed and accessible via a hatch on the offside. The rest of this storage area could be taken up with a gen-set (a Honda 2kVa is recommended to run the air-conditioner) and other equipment.

While on things electrical, the motorhome is fitted with a 3000 watt inverter running off a bank of batteries with an output of 450Ah. This is enough to run the washing machine and it will also keep the air conditioner operating for an hour and a half until you can bring the generator online.

The floor here and that inside the accommodation is lined with Novalux linoleum which is one of the most durable commercial floor coverings available on the market.

Back in the accommodation, the ablutions area is situated in the offside rear corner. It’s an all-in-one fibreglass module with adjustable Sure-Flo shower rose. The hot water here and for the kitchen sink comes from the Webasto diesel hot water service installed under one of the dinette seats.

The water supply is from two, 100 litre tanks for general water and there’s a drinking water reservoir of another 100 litres that is run through a filtration system to the sink.

The Dometic toilet features a porcelain bowl and flushes to a cassette system that’s removable from an external wall hatch.

WHAT’S COOKING?

The kitchen is built into the opposite corner and this motorhome featured a Smev two-burner cooktop and a Webasto diesel fired hotplate which is required by international regulations. This unit was set to travel through Asia in the near future and gas supplies as we know them are not available.

Big windows feature on two sides of the kitchen as well as plenty of overhead and below bench cupboard space.
The quality of the cabinet making thoughout the Adventurer was top notch. The panels are of a high grade plastic structural board, glued and screwed for maximum possible rigidity and the draw slides high quality too.

Forward of the sink a floor to ceiling module hosted a Vitrigo fridge and microwave and on the forward end of the module a Fusion television/DVD player was installed on a swing arm system. Above the door Fusion’s radio and Ipod dock is installed on the main switch panel.

Here, circuit breakers are installed for all electrical components rather than fuses and each component runs off its own power wire rather than having multiple components or appliances looped together. The latter situation will have a number of lights or components shutting down if just one should fail.

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

On the near outside a full awning creates plenty of shade for an outdoor dining area and a slide-out stainless steel gas BBQ is located toward the rear of the body.

The main storage is via large doors opposite each other so gear can be pushed and pulled through with ease.

Further storage is found in an 1800mm x 700mm roof rack on top of the cabin. It’s mounted into production line anchorage points in the frame of the cabin and the load rating of the rack is 100kg.

The rack space on top of the accommodation is taken up with three, Kyocera 135W solar panels and access to both racks is via sturdy ladders.

BUSH BASHER

Leaving SLR’s factory at Molendinar, Queensland, I drove my own Pajero and followed the Adventurer through the traffic. It was pretty smart off the mark at traffic lights and performed well in corners showing very little body roll; surprising considering the weight on the chassis.

Taking a turn off through the grass we headed into the forest on a private two-wheel track down into gullies that were steep, cut out with erosion and damp to boot.

Squeezing between the upright tree trunks the Adventurer sauntered up hill and down dale, performing effortlessly. It was amazing to see; a big heavy rig, crawling up muddy and chopped out tracks without any over-revving or second tries.

There was enough opposing undulation in the track to put the Kinematic suspension to work and chassis and body could be clearly seen to be flexing independently.

VERDICT

One could have faith in this impressive two-berth rig out in the harshest 4WD environments. At close to quarter of a million bucks in this configuration, it has a hold-no-prisoners approach when it comes to getting out there... and back, in one piece.

It’s sheer bulk while initially daunting to some becomes a minor issue when you see its capabilities off road; and that’s where it will perform with a high degree of comfort for its passengers.

SLR ADVENTURER 4X4

Overall length: 6.5m
External width: 2.22m
Internal height: 1.95m
GVM: 6000kg
GCM: 9500kg
Suspension: Kinematic installed between body and chassis
Cooktop: Smev 2-burner gas, Webasto diesel hotplate
Fridge: Vitrigo
Microwave: Yes
Shower: Sure-Flo, hot/cold
Toilet: Dometic cartridge with porcelain bowl
Lighting: LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg bottles
Freshwater: 300 litres
Priced from: $178,990
As reviewed: $248,399
More info: SLR Caravans & Motorhomes