Sprite Alpine 4

WE LIKED
>> super light construction
>> towable with a budget family vehicle
>> well equipped for the price

NOT SO MUCH
>> limited rough-road ability
>> unproven in Australian conditions
>> only 128kg payload (after water)

We haven’t seen too much of the Sprite brand of caravans in this country to date but you can expect that to change in the foreseeable future, following the appointment of a new official Australian distributor of the popular UK range of Swift Group caravans.

Caravans under the ‘Sprite’ name have been manufactured in the United Kingdom since post-WWII and are well entrenched in the RV culture of that country.

Purchased by the Swift Group around 20 years ago, Sprite caravans are now built alongside the Swift and Sterling brands which collectively rival Bailey for the title of top-selling UK caravan brand.

For those on the hunt for a lightweight van due to limited tow vehicle ratings this four-berth, this just-arrived 16ft Sprite deserves more than a second glance.

NO CUTTING CORNERS

The internal panelling inside the Sprite is predominantly plywood with light coloured timber external veneer, and it was a welcome discovery that there’s no particle board used in these vans; a product which is illegal to use in the country of origin on this type of product, for obvious reasons. Some manufacturers in this country could well take a lesson from this.

Walls and ceilings are clad with a laminex-type product with a fine speckled finish which should mask the scuffs and bruises from everyday use.

On entry to the van you find a dining suite on the left hard up against the front wall, which consists of two long bench seats facing each other and a small coffee table attached to the wall.

Collapsible yet robust, the dining room table is conveniently stored in a vertical slot next to the kitchen stove when not required, and can also be used as an external table.

The two lounges form another double bed after pulling a set of lattice on straps from the front wall. Open storage is found under the nearside seat while the offside has the electrical nerve centre installed.

The gas/electric hot water system is fixed here as is the electronic hub which has a kill switch that allows all appliances to be switched off simultaneously when leaving the van if you wish.

Throughout this van slats are used under cushions where possible to keep weight to a minimum, and in most cases they’re retained and fixed by plastic end caps.

EATING IN

The kitchen sink comprises a single bowl and the removable plastic drainer may be stowed in one of the cupboards when not in use. There’s a reasonable amount of bench space for food preparation and room for a microwave behind the doors of one of the overhead lockers.

The full-size stove offers three gas burners under a stained glass, lift-up bench top and a front door griller and oven.

There’s excellent ventilation throughout this end of the Sprite in the form of hopper type windows with pull up insect screens and sun and heat reflectors.

One window sits at bench level for plenty of natural light when prepping food while windows are also located at each side of the dining lounge and a large one in the front wall. The windows are of convex acrylic which is tinted and they appeared to seal snugly.

There’s around 1.95m head height when moving around the kitchen and toward the rear and at face level there are plenty of cupboards with lift up doors for the usual storage of crockery and odds and ends.

Of interest was the framework inside these cupboards that consisted of angular plastic in a variety of shapes and design. This lightweight yet strong style of construction is ostensibly similar to overhead lockers on aircraft except that the latter is usually made from lightweight alloys.

BEDDIE BYES

A dividing wall separates the main bedroom from the living area, with a slimline-material venetian blind offering privacy in the rear section when the curtain is drawn.

An overhead unit hosts a flat screen television mounted on a lockable, multi-hinged arm so you can watch it from the front lounge or the double bed.

The double bed base has a metal outside frame with slats to support the inner spring mattress. It hinges easily off the base box which looks very light in construction but was sturdy under body weight from above.

With no partitions to contend with the void in the box would be ideal to store all manner of crates and boxes. The contents closest to the offside wall are also accessible from an outside hatch.

Again, there are plenty of storage cupboards in the top corner where the walls meet the ceiling and for ventilation a large window is situated next to the bed as well as a skylight above the bed.

COMING CLEAN

In a break from what we traditionally see with homegrown caravans, the vanity basin is opposite the main bed with a shadow box-style shelf for toiletries.

Built into the near offside corner, the bathroom includes a Thetford cartridge toilet and shower with one-piece moulded floor and hand rose run from a small console-style shelf fixed to the wall.

Opening the double door robe, fitted between the vanity basin and entry door, provides access to the base of the television antennae for fine tuning. There’s also a gas/electric heater installed in its own compartment at the base of the robe.

The electronic battery monitoring panel, smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm can be found near the entry door.

SASSY CHASSIS

The walls and roof of the Sprite are marine grade aluminium clad over a hardwood internal frame with dense foam insulation, while the front and back outer walls are one-piece fibreglass shells.

The drawbar is shrouded with a fibreglass top with two tread steps armed with non slip so you can stand up and reach the top of the window for cleaning.

The hitch is Al-Ko as is the lightweight chassis and independent style suspension fitted under the Sprite. It has swinging arms inserted into a main cross beam that bolts to the chassis and internally it has offset rubber blocks that compress and spring back to facilitate the suspension.

Those not familiar with Al-Ko’s axles often baulk that they look so simple without leaf springs and shackles but believe me, they work. This author has a pair of them under his camper trailer and with 60,000km of woeful roads, beach and bush track under their belt, they still perform faultlessly.

The chassis might raise a few eyebrows as well. Pressed out of galvanised steel, its strength comes about due to the angles of the bends while its light weight is assisted by the heavy perforations along its length.

The caravan floor consists of two layers of treated and painted marine ply with a layer of insulation sandwiched in between with hardwearing vinyl over the top. Standard fit are loose fit carpet mats that press stud into place and follow the shape of the internal floor.

The front boot is wide and high for easy access and servicing of the gas bottles. The boot floor has a mesh grill over a hole that leads to the outside and this and small vents under the seats and bed inside are a legal requirement in the UK for gas leak dispersion.

These will be blocked off on caravans sold in Australia to alleviate dust ingress; something they most likely don’t have to worry about too much in the Old Country.

VERDICT

For those that want to contemplate off road caravanning; keep looking. The Sprite Alpine 4 is designed for easy towing behind small to medium vehicles on bitumen roads.

Sure, it will take some good gravel roads under its belt and most likely with ease but that’s not what it was designed for.

Light on weight and light on price with a recommended retail of just $33,000, this four-berth caravan will get some of the budget-minded where they want to be; on the road.

SPRITE ALPINE 4

Length (overall): 6.39 m
Length (internal): 4.74m             
Width (external): 2.23m       
Height (internal): 1.95 m          
Nameplate tare:  1022 kg    
Nameplate ATM: 1250 kg 
Ball weight:  75kg
Suspension:  Al-Ko independent
Brakes: mechanical override
Cooktop: Thetford gas                 
Fridge:  Thetford 90 litre              
Gas:  2 x 9 kg                             
Freshwater: 100 litres                 
Price:  $33,000
Supplied by:  Eastcoast Caravans, Tanah Merah, Qld
More info: Swift Australia