Sunland Caravans Longreach Series II

The aptly named Sunland Caravans (as it is based in Qld) has made something of a name for itself over the last few years.

A relative newcomer to the industry, Sunland now produces a wide range of caravans - the Blue Heeler, the Winton, the Spirit, and the subject of this review, the 19ft (5.8m) Longreach (Series II). All have Aussie-orientated names and all of them are designed for touring this wide brown land.

The Longreach is one of Sunland's earlier designs and the Series II comes with quite a few refinements, rather than major changes. Sunland has chosen (wisely, in CW's opinion) not to describe its van as 'offroad' as, according to Sunland principal Roy Wyss, "it's a term that is too widely used and abused".

What Sunland offers, though, is a van that is built to handle most road conditions that Australia has to offer - so it might well be described as a 'dirt roader'.

It's quite a big van at just over 2100kg Tare, so it's not a lightweight, but on the road behind a LandCruiser, it behaved very nicely.

On the steep gravel tracks where we were doing our photography, CW's driving assistant was a little nervous about moving the Longreach around, but the LandCruiser had both plenty of engine and braking power and all the angles were easily accommodated - engine braking rather than foot braking was the better approach.

Built in the well tried timber frame/aluminium cladding combination (though aluminium framing is an option), the Longreach might well be described as your typical Aussie van.

At the base of the Longreach is a hot dipped box section galvanised chassis. The drawbar forms a second layer for the chassis and runs right back to the rear suspension mount. Suspension is the independent load sharing tandem leaf spring variety fitted with shock absorbers.

Drop-down corner stabiliser jacks are a standard feature, as is the 60L polyethylene water tank. Optional are either a larger 80L tank or a second 60L unit but using the polyethylene gives both a strong tank and one that does not require any extra damage protection. Up front, between the rails are two 9kg gas cylinders and a mains pressure tap.

The Longreach has a very traditional look about its aluminium clad appearance - front boot, tinted hopper windows (except for the slider by the entry door), Camec triple locker door, rear bumper bar with spare wheel and moulded fibreglass fairing for the tail lights.

It's nice to see that there are wall lights on both sides plus a grab handle light by the door.

Other nearside features included the A&E awning and external powerpoint. Along the offside are the Suburban hot water heater, TV antenna connection and Thetford cassette door.

Like a few other players, Sunland is now fitting energy-efficient LEDs for the running lights.

Naturally there are a variety of Longreach layouts available but CW's van came with two single beds up front, a split kitchen (offside and rear) and a nearside dinette.

A slightly different approach has been taken with the bathroom design in that most rear corner bathrooms tend to be partly along the offside, whereas this one is across the rear making it quite a small kitchen bench area.

Internal decor is mostly the stained timber look with a matching colour shade of upholstery.

General ventilation is courtesy of the windows, Four Seasons hatch above the kitchen/dinette area and a roof-mounted air-conditioner.

Starting with the all-important kitchen area, a side bench comes with a Spinflo four-burner cooktop and grill. There's a great amount of benchtop space to the right with overhead lockers above and cupboards and drawers, including a large pots and pans cupboard below.

All drawers in the Longreach are on rollers and open and close very smoothly, as do the cupboard doors. A large window above the worktop gives a good view of the surrounding countryside and there's both a double powerpoint and TV antenna socket on the splash panel behind the bench.

Between the kitchen bench and the bathroom is the 160L compressor fridge with microwave above.

There's a gap between the top of the fridge and the microwave, presumably to accommodate a larger fridge, but a lower microwave would be something many shorter persons will appreciate.

On the other side of the rear corner bathroom is the rest of the kitchen area: the stainless steel sink and drainer without much room for anything else in the benchtop.

The design of the bathroom means a slightly cramped feel to the sink area, with only one person able to wash and dry at the sink at any time, but it does mean more benchtop area at the other bench. Like many things in caravan design, it's a matter of compromise.

Overhead lockers above and cupboards, slide-out pantry and drawers below provide storage space. It's nice to see the light switches as convenient to the door as possible, whether coming or going.

Contoured foam seats provide comfortable seating for two around the fairly conventional dinette with overhead lockers above and halogen reading lights at either end.

Drawers at both ends of the dinette supply under-seat storage. Drawers might give less storage room but they are definitely easier to use than trying to lift the seat cushions.

While single beds are not always the popular choice among caravan owners, they do give more flexibility to the caravan designer, and they provide extra seating and a better use of space.

The foam mattress beds measure 6ft x 2ft 6in (1.8m x 0.75m) and have a cabinet between them, a shelf behind, a halogen reading light each and a floor-level powerpoint each.

Overhead lockers provide extra storage space and windows on three sides provide light and ventilation.

CW noted with interest that the framed and hinged ply timber bases can easily be lifted up (something you don't see in every van) to get to the storage area underneath and there are also large drawers as well.

Adding to the general storage area was a small wardrobe between the kitchen bench and bedroom. It also had three drawers underneath.

The fibreglass bathroom does look curiously bare but all the essentials are there - flexible hose shower, Thetford cassette toilet and a small wash basin. The latter has its own cold water tap; hot water comes from the shower hose.

On the technical side of things, throughout the van there were lights, both fluorescent and halogen, everywhere they should be, as were the powerpoints.

The water heater was internal start with controls above the stove.

The Bottom Line
With a price tag of around $55,500, the Longreach Series II offers plenty of features for a mid-range caravan.

Generally speaking the interior finish is very neatly done and the layout is pleasing to the eye.

The build quality looked all that it should be, and the fit and finish was more than acceptable.
The Longreach is quite a heavy van to tow but something like a LandCruiser is certainly up to the task.

The Longreach might be a 'dirt road' van but it's certainly one which can be used for travel in style and comfort.

Sunland Caravans, 31-37 Lear Jet Drive, Caboolture, Qld 4510, (07) 5499 2250, fax: (07) 5499 2276, email: roy@sunlandcaravans.com.au, www.sunlandcaravans.com.au

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