Sunliner Monte Carlo

By Malcolm Street

The name Monte Carlo conjures images of a rich and exotic lifestyle; casinos, large power boats and waterfront al fresco dining.

Sunliner has chosen to name its top line motorhome after that famous principality, but owning a Sunliner Monte Carlo won’t be a gamble and it certainly won’t float, but you can definitely enjoy al fresco dining just about anywhere.

Outside

At 28ft (8.5m) the Monte Carlo has a lean looking shape. At the front, the Luton Peak curves over nicely and around at the rear, the boxy look broken up by the air spoiler and the neatly shaped tail light fairing.

Seitz hopper windows are fitted all round with a conventional Camec triple lock security door. Two external lights operated by an external sensor and speaker from the sound system are under the longer than usual Aussie Traveller awning.

Nearside external lockers are access for engine components with two waist height doors hiding the all-important slideout barbecue and Waeco Coolmatic ice box. Underneath is the ventilated compartment for two motor batteries and four deep cycle house batteries.

There are two general storage compartments plus the Thetford cassette door, with a rear boot with three 9kg gas cylinders.

An Onan 3.6KVA generator, external shower and Dometic front loading washing machine is on the offside

Inside

The interior decor has Sunliner’s trademark light stained curved timber finish and neatly done leather upholstery. Bench and table tops are all laminated with timber edging and the entire kitchen wall is a brushed stainless steel laminate look-a-like. All windows have built in fly screens and blinds as do the big marine-style hatches above both the lounge area and the bedroom. There’s also a roof mounted air-conditioner.

The comfortable lounge/dinette area is in the front third of the Monte Carlo — any princess would be happy here. The lounge faces the dinette and also the flat screen TV neatly fitted above the two-seater dinette. Underseat storage is hinged for easy access and large windows guarantee a good view. There’s multiple halogen reading lights and a similar number of sound system speakers.

Occupying the mid third is the kitchen bench along the offside and the bathroom along the nearside, with the main bedroom at rear.

There is also a single bed above the driver’s cab. Vinyl flooring is used throughout with carpet in the bedroom.

The big kitchen has the usual hardware: Spinflo four-burner hob with a separate grill and oven, Swift rangehood, a 186 litre Dometic fridge and stainless steel sink. There’s also a Dometic dishwasher. A convenient Technika microwave is above the sink, although it may be a tad too high. There’s also no shortage of storage space.

There’s room to walk around the queen-sized bed and inner spring mattress and there’s a step up. Hanging wardrobes and two small corner shelves are on either side and two lockers are above. There’s a second flat screen TV and a concertina blind can close off the bedroom area.

The royal bathroom has separate moulded fibreglass shower, vanity sink and swivelling Thetford cassette toilet.

Little extras include two small cupboards, several strategically placed towel rails and a mirror on the door.

Both steps on the entry door have hinged lids for keeping shoes and the like, and by the top step there’s a hand-held UHF radio battery charger. Above the door are two little shelves for items like keys and torches.

Lighting throughout is all 12V and a mixture of halogen reading lights and overhead fluorescent fittings. Solar panels also top up the batteries up and a 1700W inverter supplies 240V when needed.

For creature comfort there’s a full surround-sound DVD entertainment system.

On the road

Because of its length and GVM of 7000kg the Monte Carlo can only be built on either an Isuzu NPR 350 cab chassis or a Mercedes Benz 616 Sprinter.

Our review Monte Carlo used an Isuzu chassis with a 4.8 litre turbodiesel motor and a four speed auto gearbox. This seemed to work reasonably well in tandem with the turbodiesel.

The Isuzu is certainly more truck-like than its European contemporaries but the Sunliner team has added a few touches, including leather driver and passenger seats to make things more comfortable. Although the rear view mirrors do an effective job, the rear view camera mounted where the internal mirror usually fits is definitely a bonus. Having the motor underneath the cab means limited access to and from the driver’s cab.

Towards the rear on both sides are extra reversing lights set to angle outwards – useful for night reversing.

Summing up

This is a very luxurious C class motorhome. Sunliner has produced a very classy unit by adding all the little ‘Sunliner touches’.

For a couple, or even a princess dare I say, looking to do some luxury touring, the Monte Carlo should be on the potential short list.

We liked

General finish and timber work

Multi shelved pantry

Front “lounge” area

Good kitchen area

We would have liked

Easier ‘walk through’ from cab but more a truck availability problem