Sunland Phoenix 2019 Review

It takes very little time with Sunland’s 2019 Phoenix to realise that this Caboolture Queensland caravan manufacturer really knows its stuff.

Good as its standard equipment is, this is not about the big stuff. While its 4.2 tonne-rated Cruisemaster XT self-levelling airbag suspension is top of its class, other manufacturers can spec it; lithium power is also now virtually standard on many luxury caravans, as is lots of roof-top solar and resin core fibreglass cladding.

Rather, it’s how this equipment is integrated and blended with unique and clever features that qualifies Sunland to join a select group of manufacturers when it comes to true remote area travel smarts.

Daring to be different

Amazingly in this elite company, where everyone is looking over each other’s shoulder, Sunland has managed to do some things differently.

Look at the roof of the 21ft 6in Phoenix, which is the largest of the four models in Sunland’s exclusively off-road range.

The first thing you notice is that its four 180W glass solar panels – two on each side – are angled to maximise their sunlight exposure. But it’s not just that; being angled, they gather less dirt and also cover the roof’s acrylic hatches, which otherwise would degrade faster under constant sun exposure.

Then there’s Sunland’s exclusive rainwater capture feature, which to my knowledge is unique in the caravan industry (although motorhome builders like Trakka have offered a similar system). Why waste all that run-off when you can harness some of it and the Phoenix’s water storage, which feeds the van’s between-axle 190 litre main poly-plastic fresh wash-water tank or its separate 60 litre drink-water tank.

The other feature I like it that all the van’s waste water goes into the 130 litre grey water tank that sits immediately behind the rear tandem axle line and drains when you're ready from a single easily reached outlet. Saves uncoiling metres of sullage hose when you're only over-nighting!

More handy tricks

Look at the fibreglass front panel with its Sunland logo and how it's faceted to divert air around the caravan.

Now go to the rear, remove two lock-pins that hold the rear bumper with its twin alloy pole carriers upright, and when it’s lowered you're be able to access two rear body hatches that house the van’s major plumbing and electrics for easy servicing. It beats dismantling your lounge area or searching a cabinet with a torch!

Around the sides there are custom dust covers for the entry door and fridge vents, while inside the Smart TV has its own tailor-made cover to keep it safe when travelling.

Get underneath and you can’t miss another Phoenix signature feature – its combination aluminium and steel chassis that Sunland are so proud of they warranty it for an industry-leading 20 years.

Sunland owner Roy Wyss and his team use this unique hybrid chassis construction on all their off-road vans to save weight and increase payload, while hot dipped galvanised steel is used for the underpinnings of their all-road models.

To give the drilled aluminium main frame members strength, they're duplicated and triangulated in areas before being bolted to the steel A-frame and the steel sub-frame that carries the airbag suspension, with a special compound used between the two metals to minimize corrosion.

It’s a time-consuming in-house construction that Sunland has developed to meet its own high standards.

Clean underbody

The other thing you notice underneath is how clean it is, with wiring and pipes either running through the alloy chassis rails, or attached securely directly to the one-piece, foam-core fibreglass floor.

In case you wonder how Sunland manages all that water (up to 390 litres) sloshing around underneath, one look at the custom-built rotomoulded tanks and their location tells you how.

The main water tank sits between the axles, while the grey water tank is immediately behind the suspension subframe. Oh, and the tanks all have angled lower sections so that they drain quickly via gravity.

Up front, a large, Raptor stone shield-protected, A-framed storage box has a sliding tray on one side for a portable generator, while lifting the lid reveals secure and lockable space for two 9kg gas bottles and two jerry cans in separate compartments.

Interestingly, aluminium checker-plate protects items from scuffing inside, while spray-on Raptor urethane coating is used to ward off stones outside, as it does down the Phoenix’s lower sides.

An electric jack is mounted immediately ahead of this storage box to aid unhitching, while a double-clamp jockey wheel is also provided if you want to try and manoeuvre the van manually into a tight storage space.

Dexter DSC sway control is standard, while our review Phoenix was fitted with a 4.5 tonne rated Cruisemaster DO-45 pin coupling instead of the usual DO-35 because of its elevated 3750kg ATM.

Special features inside too

With all these special features outside, you might rightly expect more of the same inside and you wouldn't be disappointed. However, as each caravan is custom-built to suit its owners’ purposes, you could also expect every Phoenix to be different.

The review Phoenix was pretty conventional inside, with a few notable exceptions.

One was the dual windows on each side of the bedroom that let in plenty of light, while also allowing them to be opened to different degrees to control ventilation.

The cafe dinette with its tri-fold table is beautifully upholstered in soft leather, but because of the caravan’s high floor, there's room for the feet and legs of four adults here, whereas most seat two at a squeeze because of the intrusion of their wheel boxes.

Slip in a couple of bolsters that store under the bed and you’ve got extra sleeping for two.

Kitchen space aplenty

The angled kitchen benchtop, finished in tough Evostone imitation stone, offers all the space you might need for serious remote area cooking, while other welcome kitchen features include a combined fresh and drinking water mixer tap and a rubbish hatch.

The twin buttons just below the left side of the benchtop, are two illuminated switches that control the Phoenix’s fresh and drinking water pumps.

You want more? Come to the rear ensuite, where you’ll find a moulded seat in the shower, a huge vanity, loads of bench space and a top-loading washing machine, tucked out of sight.

But I'd prefer a solid sliding ensuite door to the concertina one fitted to the review van. Easily done – just tick the appropriate option box!

And did I mention that the entire interior looks bright and inviting thanks to its white two-pack paint finish on the cabinetry, all of which is done in-house by Sunland.

What really impressed me about the Sunland Phoenix though was that the review caravan with all this fitted was $139,900. While that’s more than $30,000 up on the model’s base price of $108,000, thanks to all the customer-selected options, that's still decent value for a large, top-quality remote area touring caravan in a market where it’s not hard to spend up to $200,000.

Summing up

For all the good reasons listed above: build quality, true off-road capability (notwithstanding size and weight), innovative features and value for money, make sure the Sunland Phoenix is on your luxury off-road van short-list.

2019 Sunland Caravans Phoenix 21ft 6in

Travel length: 8900mm
External body length: 6550mm
External body width: 2490mm
Interior height: 1975mm
Travel height: 3050mm
Tare: 2940kg
ATM: 3750kg
Ball weight (Tare): 146kg
Body: All fibreglass cladding with machine rivetted aluminium body frame
Chassis: Aluminium with hot-dipped galvanised steel A-frame and suspension subframe
Suspension: Cruisemaster XT self-levelling airbag independent tandem axle
Brakes: 12-inch electric drums
Wheels: 17in alloy with 265/70 tyres
Fresh water: 1 x 190L and 60L drinking water, plus 130L grey water
Battery: 2 x 180Ah Lithium plus 3000W Victron inverter
Solar: 4 x 180W roof-mounted panels
Air conditioner: Aussie Traveller roof-mounted, reverse cycle
Hot water: Girard continuous gas
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Gas cooktop with grill, plus slide-out external BBQ
Microwave: Samsung
Fridge: 215L compressor
Bathroom: Separate full-height shower and Dometic cassette ceramic bowl toilet
Washing machine: NCE top-loader, cabinet mounted
TV: 24in Smart LED
Lighting: LED throughout
Price: $130,990
Supplied by: Sunland Caravans, Canboolture, Queensland