By Greg Williams
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It’s small, and it doesn’t have a shower or toilet but it’s definitely not a no-frills, or even a basic caravan. Melbourne manufacturer Supreme has come up with a product that’s designed to meet a need in the market. 
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With the high price of fuel, a lot of people are looking at smaller caravans – something they can tow with a sedan and without the need to upgrade to a larger car or 4WD.
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But, according to Frank Prosenik from Supreme, the price of fuel wasn’t a large part of the thought process when coming up with the design for the Spirit. It was more about building a 12ft (3.7m) tourer that people can tow with their existing car.
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The reason it can’t be called a no-frills van is that it comes with a quite a few extras, including a battery pack and rollout awning, but at $31,990, it could easily be called a budget caravan.
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A tough compact
On the outside the Spirit has a pronounced wedge shape, (which should help lower fuel consumption) an aluminium exterior covering the wool and polyester insulation, all of which sits on a Meranti frame. The chassis and A-frame are made of 100mm Permagal square-section steel.
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Up front there is a vinyl padded stoneguard that extends to the top of the boot and there are drop-down stabilisers at each corner as well as jacking points at the wheel arches.
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While we’re looking at the outside, it should be mentioned that the Spirit has a fold-down picnic table for outdoor drinks and snacks. On the other side of the door is a Bargman handle with light, and there is a grab handle at each corner.
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At the rear of the van is the bumper-mounted spare with vinyl cover, which sits on a 14in alloy wheel.
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Also at the front end is a mains-pressure inlet and tap mounted on the A-frame, and the van has an 80L water tank with lockable inlet. On the driver’s side of the Spirit are two storage access doors. 
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Underneath, the Spirit’s floor is made of 12mm plywood and under that is a 50mm straight axle on slipper springs, with a drop axle available as an option. The wheel arches are fully sealed and galvanised.
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There is a 150mm jockey wheel on the A-frame and drop-down stabilisers at each corner.
The wedge shape of the van means that the awning, an 8ft 6in (2.6m) Omnistor, doesn’t quite run the full length of the van.
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There is an exterior light under the awning, at the top right of the door, and the boot also has a light and is galvanised.
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Come in and relax
The door is a triple-lock Camec, which opens to a chrome checkerplate step at the nearside rear of the Spirit, where the kitchen and dinette are.
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The dinette set against the back wall of the caravan is a two-seater, just the right size to accommodate the two people the Spirit is intended for. Supreme could have set the dinette up to convert into a single bed, but that doesn’t seem to be the idea here – the Spirit is a true two-person tourer. 
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There is plenty of floor space in the kitchen area to avoid bumping into someone, and on the nearside is a half-height pantry with bench space on top.
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On the offside, next to the dinette, is the fridge, a three-way 90L Dometic, and a fridge fan comes standard.
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Above the dinette are three overhead lockers, the centre one with a clock, and there are four more lockers above the kitchen as well as a 20L Samsung microwave directly above the fridge.
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The sink and draining area come with two extras – a chrome basket and a wooden chopping board, with the basket fitting neatly into the sink and the board making a snug cover for the sink. 
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A mixer tap and soap container are standard, as is a full-depth splashback behind the kitchen.
The Dometic four-burner stove (three gas burners and one hotplate) has a stainless steel lift-up cover and a grill. Above the stove is a Swift rangehood.
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There is ample storage space in the kitchen, with a large drawer for pots and pans under the grill, and a cupboard between the grill and the fridge.
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On the other side of the kitchen next to the pantry is a wardrobe with drawers beneath it. 
There are more drawers under the dinette seats, and all the drawers are on rollers.
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Mounted on the nearside wall of the wardrobe is a 17in LCD TV, which is connected to a DVD/CD/MP3 player and radio above the bed on the kitchen side. Two speakers are mounted in the ceiling.&nbsp;
Also in the ceiling is a Four Seasons hatch above the kitchen, a Dometic air-conditioner at the rear and a Winegard antenna at the front.
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The double bed with innerspring mattress lies across the front and lifts up on struts to reveal more storage. 
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While the Spirit doesn’t have a toilet, there is the option for a Porta-Potti which can be tucked away under the bed.
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The wood panelling on the walls is matched throughout by the cupboards, the fabric used on the curtains and the upholstery, while the floors have an imitation floorboard vinyl over a plywood base.
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A lot of light comes in through the Galaxy windows, especially the long one located above the bed. There are also side windows at either end of the bed, another huge window above the stove and sink, as well as one above the dinette.
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Lighting in the Spirit comes from the battery pack in the boot, which also has a charging unit. 
On the ceiling are 12V fluorescent lights, plus halogen lights above the dinette, above the bed (although one of them can be aimed at the cooktop) and another in the rangehood. There is also a fluorescent above the sink.
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There are two powerpoints inside the Spirit – a double above the fridge and a single for the TV above the antenna socket – and there is one outside, just in front of the door, along with a 12V outlet.
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While the 12V outlet would come in very handy, there could be a need for at least one more 240V socket inside.
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The bottom line
This is an honest caravan that is ideally suited to the job it was designed for. Frank Prosenik says the Spirit proved popular at the 2006 Melbourne Caravan Camping &amp; Touring Supershow.
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One of the major advantages the 12-footer offers is that if you decide to buy the Spirit to go touring, there’s a good chance you won’t have to buy a new car in order to do it. 
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Frank Prosenik says the Spirit wasn’t specifically designed with the high cost of fuel in mind, but that’s definitely a bonus either way.
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“It can be towed by any vehicle with a towing capacity of over 1500kg, by the time people throw a bit of gear into it,” Frank said. 
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“It has all the features fitted into a smaller size. Not everyone’s got big LandCruisers and trucks.” 
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And for those who do want a shower and toilet in their Spirit caravan, longer versions are available, up to 21ft (6.4m).
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For more information and dealers contact Supreme Caravans, 1289 Sydney Road, Fawkner, 
Vic 3060, (03) 9357 3555, fax: (03) 9357 3115 or visit www.supremecaravans.com.au
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We liked
• The shape and appearance
• No-fuss design
• Thoughtful extras such as the tap on the A-frame
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We would have liked
• A powerpoint near the bed
• The picnic table under the awning
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Supreme Spirit

External length: 12ft (3.7m)

External width: 7ft (2.1m)

ATM: 1530kg

GTM: 1450kg

Tare weight: 1230kg

Ball weight: 80kg

Chassis: Permagal

Wheels: 14in alloys

Fridge: Dometic RM2350

Microwave: Samsung 20L

Gas: 1 x 9kg

Stove: Electrolux four-burner

Shower: Yes

Lighting: 12V halogen/fluorescent

Battery: 100A

Awning: Omnistor

Price as shown: $31,990

Supreme Spirit

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