
By Malcolm Street
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It has been something of a long wait, but we can report that the next generation of Swagman motorhomes has finally arrived. Already out of the Swagman factory are the 33ft (10.06m), 36ft (10.97m) and 39ft (11.89m) models, with the 26ft (7.92m), 28ft (8.53m) and 31ft (9.45m) soon to come.
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Swagman has been working on these motorhomes for some time and, given the new technology that has been used, we presume that there has been considerable research and development, time and money involved.
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Undoubtedly, it’s the new-look bodywork that attracts attention. Despite the size of the motorhomes, all are built with a one-piece carbon fibre and Kevlar-composite construction. It’s a patented method that Swagman calls ‘Armourshell’. 
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Armourshell is somewhat different from the more usual method of individual wall construction because it is fully moulded and seamless, which Swagman claims will improve structural strength and reduce the possibility of water leaks. 
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For the all-important chassis of the next generation, Swagman has opted to use a purpose-built Roadmaster imported from the USA. Horsepower comes from a rear-pusher Cummins engine, something very familiar to current Swagman owners. 
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The Cummins in its base form (and it can be upgraded) puts out 213kW and a huge 1083Nm of torque. No worries about gear changing, the Allison six-speed auto delivers power smoothly. Given the GVM of 14 tonnes, a Medium-Rigid (MR) truck licence is required. 
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For this review, MHW was able to borrow one of the first 36-footers out of the factory. Getting behind the wheel, both driver and passenger seats are the multi-adjustable captain’s chair-style, leather-upholstered, and with integrated seatbelts. Both have arm rests and swivel easily. The wraparound Swagman dashboard does require a few moments’ familiarisation but once that is done, it’s chocks away, and you’re off. 
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Cummins horsepower is delivered smoothly to the rear wheels. Being rear engined, everything is quiet too. We can report that the steering is direct, unlike a few A class motorhomes we have driven in the past. And the air brakes did their stuff without fuss. 
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Worth a mention is the suspension, which features eight airbags, together with gas shock absorbers, which give both a smooth and stable passage. 
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Vision from the Swagman cab is good, with large panoramic windows, a rear-vision camera and decent low-mounted external mirrors. One of the little surprises was the power-operated side windows, like a normal car. Gone are the sliding windows, which never seemed to be open the right way. 
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There’s no doubt that the new body looks swish, from the back and the front. One of the more interesting features is that it has no external bin doors on the offside. Instead, the through-bins have a full-width slide-out tray, which can be accessed by opening the nearside doors. That solves both safety and accessibility problems. 
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In the dedicated bins are the diesel generator, washing machine and plumbing valves and controls. We should mention the generator bin: we couldn’t find it at first but it’s actually located between the front driving lights, integrated into the lower part of the motorhome front.
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There are a variety of layouts available with the 36-footer, indeed with any of the Swagman range. Our 36-footer came with two slide-outs but is also available with one, or none. 
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With this model, Swagman has opted for what is a fairly standard A class layout. The front area, incorporating the driver and passengers seats, is a lounge setup. That includes the sideways-facing lounge and dinette in the slide-out on the offside. To the right of the entry door is the kitchen bench and separating that from the main bedroom in the rear is a substantial bathroom. The second slide-out is fitted into the offside wall of the bedroom and effectively gives walk-around space for the bed. 
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Internal decor is timber-look and, except for the walkway around the bathroom, the layout has a spacious feel about it. The windows (not yet fitted with curtains or blinds) are tinted glass sliders. Curiously, there isn’t a window beside the dinette, a natural place for watching the world go by, and the windows generally seemed to be on the small side. 
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Up front, the lounge area has the two captain’s chairs, sideways-facing two-person lounge and behind the passenger seat, a desk with an ottoman for a seat. A flatscreen TV slides down behind the desk. An option here is to have a third captain’s chair and fold-out table. 
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Beside the lounge, the dinette will seat four people but it does have very low seat backs.
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There seems to be an unwritten rule about kitchen sizes, something along the lines of the larger the motorhome, the smaller the kitchen, (relatively speaking). We have to say that this one was larger than some we have seen. The bench is fitted with a two-burner electric cooktop and round stainless steel sink, sans drainer. 
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We were a little surprised by the 240V cooktop, given that every time you wish to boil the kettle, the generator has to be started, unless you’re in a caravan park that fits 36ft motorhomes. An option is to have a diesel-fired cooktop fitted. Along the kitchen bench was a Dometic 240L 240V/12V compressor fridge with convection microwave oven above. 
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Kitchen storage is good, with seven drawers, one cupboard and a couple of overhead lockers, and a full-height slide-out pantry behind the dinette in the wall slide-out. Lighting is by recessed downlights and there is one single powerpoint at the front end of the bench.
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Undoubtedly, the feature event of the new Swagman is the fully moulded bathroom. Occupying a fair chunk of area between the bedroom and kitchen, it features two-door entry – one on either side – and has a large glass-panel shower cubicle, marine-style Tecma vacuum flush toilet, and separate vanity cabin with glass wash basin. It has to be one of the best fitted out bathrooms we have seen in an RV.
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With the rear slide-out open, the rear bedroom is spacious. The 6ft 8in × 5ft (2m × 1.52m) bed has a stylish built-in bedhead, as well as a full wardrobe cabinet in the slide-out. There’s no shortage of drawer and cupboard space, including some of the latter along the rear wall of the bathroom, but design constraints mean some of those are narrow. 
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Also mounted on the rear wall of the bathroom is a small flatscreen TV. As we said, it’s a decent-sized bedroom, though given we are fresh-air types and the existing window is small, we’d like another window or a roof hatch. 
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As you might expect with a motorhome like this, the electrics and plumbing are sophisticated. Four 120Ah batteries supply the 12V load and, apart from the vehicle alternator, they are charged either by the 240V charger, 5.0kVA diesel generator or two 130W solar panels. A 2500W inverter supplies mains power. 
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Heating and cooling is delivered by a ducted reverse-cycle two-zone air-conditioner, for which the generator will be needed. Unusually, this Swagman is not fitted with a gas system. Given that a diversity of energy sources is a good thing in a mobile home, especially in one that isn’t going to be a caravan park too often, it’s something of a radical design call. 
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It will be interesting to see how alternatives, like diesel-powered cooktops, are taken up. (Swagman has told us that gas is indeed now an option.)
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The Bottom Line
The latest Swagman lineup is very different from its predecessors, with the carbon fibre and Kevlar-composite body construction, if nothing else. The latest evolution of the Swagman, in a range of six sizes from 27ft to 39ft, also features some innovative ideas and features long overdue in motorhome design. It will be interesting to see how one or two items will be accepted. 
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Swagman gained a reputation for being at the top end of the luxury motorhome market and it’s good to see the company back again with these new ones, ready to transport motorhomers in the style to which they have become accustomed. 
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I liked

Slide-out trays in the external bins
Driving the new Swagman: the Cummins motor has plenty of power, it steers well and the suspension ensures a comfy ride
The spacious bathroom with contemporary fittings
Effective space usage, like the generator on a front slide-out
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Now I’m being picky

Gas energy for self-contained motorhomes would have been a reasonable idea (Swagman has now added gas as an option)
More and larger window area: we like to see outside
(Swagman tells us later models have bigger windows)
A few more powerpoints around the kitchen and dinette
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Swagman Aust Pty Ltd 245 Brisbane Road, Labrador, Qld 4215, (07) 5500 9000, www.swagman.com.au



Swagman Next Generation 

Base vehicle Roadmaster rear-engine chassis

Engine Cummins 8.3L turbodiesel

Gearbox Allison six-speed auto

Max power 213kW@2000rpm

Max torque 1083Nm@2200rpm

Brakes Full air, including ABS and exhaust

Tare weight 11,560kg 

GVM 14,000kg

External length 36ft (10.97m)

External width 8ft (2.49m)

Internal height 6ft 7in (2m)

Cooktop Smeg two-burner 240V

Fridge Dometic TJ85AC 240L, 240V/12V

Microwave oven Smeg convection 

Gas No

Lighting 12V halogen

Hot water 40L diesel/electric

Fresh water 390L

Grey water 175L

Black water 325L

First stage compliance Full volume

Licence MR

Price $625,000 

Swagman Next Generation

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