Talvor 750D

WHAT WE LIKED
>> Extra space from slide-out
>> Towed like a dream
>> Sleek, wipe down exterior

NOT SO MUCH
>> Bathroom inaccessible with slide-out closed
>> Screws on fittings not snug in countersinks and kitchen drawers fell out when fully extended
>> Limited rough road capability

Those of us in the caravan scene are quite used to seeing plenty of home-grown product, as well as a few models from the UK and Europe.

In fact, lately there has been a gentle ramping up of imports to compete with Australian-built caravans and joining that surge are some from Talvor, a Queensland-based manufacturer that has recently been adding US-built models to its range.

The biggest and most expensive of these is the 24ft 11in, tandem axle 750D; a two-berth fibreglass caravan with single slide-out and ATM of almost three tonnes, meaning it will need a heavy-duty tow vehicle...

ROOM TO MOVE

The 750D’s contemporary layout is fairly typical of a van of these dimensions, including a north-south queen bed up front, slide-out dinette, lounge and kitchen area amidships, and a full width ensuite at the rear.

Aiding a good night’s rest, the master bed is fitted with an inner spring mattress, while the head is surrounded by built in robes and side tables. The lower section of the bed base easily lifts up on hinges and gas struts to expose a storage box underneath.

There’s also a large opening window at the front and another each side of the bed for flow through ventilation.

Another robe and drawer set near the foot of the bed forms a partition from the kitchen and dining area, whilst a draw curtain opposite provides privacy to the main bedroom. When not extended, the curtain also hides the machinations of the rack system that operates the slide-out wall.

A 18.5in (47cm) flat screen TV/DVD mounts on a multi-elbowed arm attached to the partition module, and swings around for bed and lounge viewing.
Also in this module is a 186 litre three-way Dometic fridge/freezer with a 23 litre microwave oven mounted above.

Incorporating the lounge and dining suite, the slide-out section measures 3.9m in length and has 60 cm of travel. The swinging, fold down-style lounge seconds as a bed and has storage compartments in the box base. Overhead cupboards above compliment further overheads above the kitchen sink.

The dining suite is ‘cafe’ style with high back rests which are nicely upholstered, and there’s storage available in their box bases. A tri-fold table folds out of the way for a more relaxed setting when in the right company but it wouldn’t fold flat due to one of the table panels clashing with the wall.

Opposite the dinette is a large kitchen sink with drainer, flick mixer tap and retractable pull-out spray rose. It and the shower are serviced by a 22.6 litre capacity gas/240 volt hot water service while a water filter is also fitted inside the sink cabinet.

Keen cooks will be pleased to see three large drawers under the food preparation bench, suitable for bulky pots and pans. However, when the drawers were fully opened they fell off the mating tracks fitted to the inside of the cupboards.

In the cooking department there’s a four-burner gas cooker as well as a grill, oven and a range hood with light.

ACCESS ISSUES

Another issue was encountered around the rear bathroom area. When in the retracted position the slide-out blocked access to the bathroom due to the door clashing with the slider floor that imposes into the passageway. It opened only about 10cm at this point.

But with slide-out extended and door opened, we discovered a swivel bowl cassette toilet with the catchment accessed via an external hatch. However, the toilet’s tight position between the wall and the cabinet housing the washing machine, restricted the swivel function of the bowl.

Still in the bathroom, the stainless steel vanity basin sits in its own cupboard while the overhead cupboard has a vanity mirror mounted on the inside.

The shower is a moulded ABS unit mounted in the corner but short of the wall dividing the bathroom from the kitchen. It features a deep recessed hob with a tempered glass door but with the towel rail mounted on the dividing wall and the door opening from the inside, right to left, the towel rail was only accessible with the shower empty and the door closed; a design aspect many will find annoying.

The light-coloured timber used for the 750D’s furniture is maple with maple veneered panelling on cupboard fascias. Fittings are fixed using square head screws which although from the US are apparently available here.

Unfortunately, many were not sitting snug in the countersunk holes of hinges which detracted from the overall neatness of the internals of the van.

SHINY AND NEW

Externally, the 750D caravan is finished in high sheen, gel coat fibreglass, and the smart, smooth surface should make for easy cleaning.

The superstructure fits to an aluminium RHS frame and the cavity between the inner and outer walls is filled with a styrene core.

The roof is a one piece panel with continuous waterproof membrane and this along with seamless wall panels should go some way to alleviating concerns about water ingress.

A checker plate alloy panel is fitted to the lower half of the front wall to deter any stone damage incurred when towing and a skirt of the same material is fitted down each side at the bottom for the same reason.

Our review van also featured an external shower fitted behind a hatch in the back wall, and other optional items fitted included a draw bar water tap, electric roll out awning, water filter, washing machine and a conversion kit to turn the dinette into a bed.

Standard fit was a 147 litre freshwater tank, two 4.5kg gas bottles mounted on the drawbar and single 75Ah battery (with option to fit another).

Given the power requirements of the awning, push-button slide out wall and other equipment, ticking the optional battery box is highly recommended.

The unladen 750D towed like a dream behind a four-cylinder turbodiesel Nissan Patrol, but you’d need something with more towing grunt to cope with the van’s substantial 2900kg ATM.

The drawbar length to wheel base ratio was spot on and manoeuvrability was not an issue when reversing to park on site.

However, the chassis and suspension grade dictates this van to be purely a sealed road proposition; the roller rocker suspension utilises four leaf springs while the hot dip galvanised chassis is made predominately from pressed galvanised C-section.

VERDICT

Less than two years after launching its first caravan models, Talvor (the manufacturing arm of rental giant Apollo Campers) is taking an aggressive approach, so far rolling out five model ranges including 15 layouts, with more to come.

With the launch of any new product, especially one sourced from an overseas factory, teething problems are not unusual, and the 750D is no exception.

While the big Talvor 'van has all the right gear and is aimed clearly at touring couples who like to stretch out, some of the finer points are left wanting.

Obviously closer scrutiny needs to be taken in the quality control department during manufacture.

TALVOR 750D

Overall length:  9.18m (30ft 1in)
Body length: 7.6m (24ft 11in)            
External width:   2.37m (7ft 9in)          
Internal height: 1.98m  (6ft 6in)            
Nameplate tare: 2450 kg          
Nameplate ATM:  2900 kg       
Ball weight:  260 kg
Body: Fibreglass sandwich
Frame: Aluminium    
Chassis: Galvanised steel        
Suspension: Tandem axle roller rocker, leaf springs
Cooktop:  Smev four-burner
Fridge:  Dometic 186 litre                         
Gas: 2 x 45 kg                             
Freshwater: 147 litre
Battery: 75Ah
Price: from $75,890
Supplied by: Talvor, Northgate Queensland