Chris Fincham•4 May 2017

REVIEW

Tested: Winnebago Mossman

Well-insulated, full composite Aussie family van stands out from the pack

What we liked:

>> Fully insulated, all composite construction

>> Spacious, user-friendly layout

>> Sharp pricing and up to 890kg payload

Not so much:

>> No privacy screen around bunks

>> Vanity mirror too high

>> You need plenty of room to park it!

Rain, wind and single digit temperatures are not your friends when camping. Especially when you're stuck in a tent or camper trailer with the canvas flapping, puddles lapping at your feet and guy ropes straining against their pegs…

However, it's less of a problem when you're nestled inside a caravan like the Winnebago Mossman C.

Cold? Just crank up the big air-con and kick back on the lounge or queen bed, with the well-sealed composite body and double glazed Euro windows blocking out any external nasties.

Bored? Flick on the 22in LED TV for the latest movie or TV show, or pump some tunes wirelessly through the four-speaker stereo from your mobile phone.

Hungry? Reach for a snack from the pantry or big 190 litre fridge, or cook up a steak and veggies on the choice of cooktop, grille, oven or microwave.

Need some space from the kids? Send them to the back ‘room’, where they can hang out on their own bunks or dinette while the grown ups enjoy some quiet time up front…

But while the Winnebago Mossman C is typical of the growing number of big, family vans available on the market, it has at least a couple of things that set it apart from many of its rivals…

American flavour, Aussie knowhow

Ignore the iconic American name, as this Winnebago caravan is very much Australian born and bred, with design and production taking place in the Brisbane factory of RV rental giant, Apollo Motorhomes.

It’s one of six, locally-built Winnebago vans now offered by Apollo, with the Mossman C the only dedicated family model with bunk beds (two or three) that convert to a two-person dinette when not in use.

Add a good-sized ensuite with separate shower and toilet, north-south walk-around queen bed, well-equipped kitchen and L-shaped lounge/dinette that converts to another double bed, and you have a 22ft 4in (body length) full-height van capable of sleeping up to seven people.

Like the Burke slide-out we looked at last year, the Mossman family van features a unique continuous rail chassis design, tandem axle Al-Ko IRS suspension and, in this case, an eye-catching white and black gelcoat fibreglass exterior.

However, dig deeper and you discover it’s built more like a motorhome than traditional Aussie caravan, with hail-resistant structural composite panels that include a single sheet for the roof and front section, one-piece floor and body sides, all slotted together with powder-coated aluminium extrusions and aeroplane-grade Sikaflex adhesive for a car-like, timber-free monocoque body structure.

The gel coat protection extends all the way through to the underside, including fibreglass body edge mouldings for easier repairs, with Winnebago Australia backing it all up with a two-year factory warranty.

Superbly sealed

The upshot of all this is one of the best insulated vans we’ve slept in, this side of an Arctic-rated British model. On one chilly night during our trip away we turned off the reverse cycle air-con at bedtime, only to wake up in the morning with the interior still pleasantly warm.

The only issue was some condensation forming where the interior walls joined the roof, causing a few drips onto the top bunk. But we put that down to not opening enough gaps in the Dometic windows to allow moisture in the air to escape.

The other thing we really like about the tandem axle Mossman, is the option for owners to upgrade the payload from the standard 440kg to as high as 890kg, from a relatively light Tare weight of 2060kg.

It’s a refreshing approach at a time when many caravan manufacturers persist with the out-dated minimum standards of 300kg payload for single axle vans and 400kg for tandem, which in most cases barely covers a full fridge and water tanks.

Loaded up to around 2400kg and with a ball weight under 200kg, the Mossman towed quite well behind our Mazda BT-50 dual-cab ute. The biggest issue was trying to back it into our caravan park site, which is understandable given an overall towing length of close to 14 metres.

Al fresco entertainment

Setting up the Mossman is a breeze, with the biggest job winding down the Al-Ko stabilisers in each corner.

Also helping speed up things was the optional Dometic 18ft powered awning fitted, which we highly recommend as it takes only a few seconds to close when the wind blows up or you leave the campsite. You also don’t have to secure it in place. Perhaps the only downside is that it's difficult to attach side walls on longer stays.

A break in the wintry weather allowed us to spend some time outdoors, enjoying some of the external accessories fitted standard on the Mossman C.

These include an outdoor entertainment locker, with adjustable arm for slotting the 22in TV and connections to the roof-mounted aerial. Externally, the Mossman also comes well equipped with a gas bayonet, drop-down picnic table, 12V/240V sockets, hot/cold shower and drawbar tap, pull-down steps, illuminated grab handle, external light and speakers as well as Dometic’s excellent security door.

Keeping with the clean, minimalist exterior look there’s no A-frame mounted toolbox (just a small mesh tray for carrying firewood or wet gear), but the full-width front tunnel locker is big enough to carry camp chairs, tables and other bulky items.

Thoughtful design

With generous 6.7m long by 2.26m wide interior dimensions, the Mossman C handles a family of four comfortably, with sufficient walkways throughout even around the foot of the queen bed with the mattress fully extended.

It's clear Apollo has drawn on its 30 years’ experience building rental vehicles in creating a user-friendly design, right down to the speed and ease of converting the L-shaped dinette and bunk beds into extra bedding or seating, whatever the case may be.

The fabric covered lounge/dinette easily seats four at mealtimes, and takes less than a minute to convert to a comfy day or night bed for a single adult or two smaller kids. We also liked how the top bunk folds out of the way with its bedding intact, when converting the bottom bunk into a table and seating for two children.

Similarly, the well-equipped kitchen offers plenty of benchspace and storage to help with preparing family-sized meals. Keeping the adults in mind there's enough room to plug in a portable coffee machine, and standard equipment extends to a pull-out pantry and built-in water filter.

USB/12V/240V powerpoints and LED lights are generously fitted both inside and out of the van, along with magazine pouches, towel and toilet roll holders. Also well laid out, if somewhat hard to reach are the electrical switches and gauges located in an overhead locker above the microwave.

We also like that the thick foam mattresses on the bunks are big enough for lanky teenagers, with the kids also getting their own, full height storage cupboard to prevent any arguments!

Bathing beauty

The ensuite located directly opposite the bunks is larger than expected, squeezing in a separate swivel toilet and fibreglass shower cubicle, and vanity with ceramic basin, shelves, cupboards and a top-loader washing machine, all without feeling cramped.

The only changes we’d make back here is to drop the height of the mirror so that shorter people can use it, and add another concertina door so the kids' bedroom area can be blocked off at night.

And while we’re whinging, bigger roof hatches in the living area (there are two fitted), would allow more natural light to filter in during the day, particularly as there's no front window.

However, it’s the solid construction and overall fit and finish, including the use of commercial-grade cabinetry as well as quality appliances, that make the Mossman really stand out.

From the long list of options available including bike racks, additional battery or TV and window curtains, we'd rate the Al-Ko ESC and Truma E2400 gas heater as most desirable, with the electric awning another good add-on if your budget allows...

Verdict

If you’re looking for a full height family van that’s solidly built, easy to tow and well equipped for the price, it’s hard to go past the Winnebago Mossman C.

The fact you can have a payload up to 890kg along with the option of sleeping up to seven people without fussing with slide outs, is icing on the cake.

Winnebago Mossman C

Travel length: 8400mm (27ft 7in)

External body length: 6815mm (22ft 4in)

External body width: 2320mm (7ft 7in)

Internal body length: 6700mm (22ft)

Travel height: 3035mm (10ft)

Interior height: 2025mm (6ft 8in)

Tare weight: 2060kg

ATM: 2500-2950kg

Ball weight (Tare): 145kg

Body: Fibreglass composite walls, floor and roof

Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised 150mm (6in) drawbar and chassis rails

Suspension: Tandem axle Al-Ko independent rubber

Brakes: 10-inch electric drum

Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC optional

Wheels: 15in alloy with 195/70-15 LT tyres

Fresh water: 2 x 82L

Battery: 1 x 100Ah deep cycle AGM and Projecta 25amp charger

Solar: 150W panel and regulator

Air-conditioner: Dometic 3.6W reverse-cycle, roof-mounted

Gas: 2 x 9kg

Hot water: Truma 14L gas/electric

Cooking: Thetford Triplex three-burner gas/electric cooktop, grill, oven & Camec rangehood

Fridge: 190-litre Dometic RMD-8551 3-way manual

Microwave: Camec 25 litre 900W

Toilet: Thetford swivel cassette with electric flush

Shower: 780 x 760mm enclosed fibreglass

Washing machine: Camec 2.5kg top-loader

Lighting: LED

TV: Axis 22in LED TV/DVD with Winegard Sensor antenna

Radio: Fusion MS-RA70 with two internal and two external speakers

Options fitted: Dometic electric awning ($1100 - wind-out awning standard), kids' dinette ($2500)

Price: From $64,804 (Vic, drive-away)

Supplied by: Apollo Caravan & RV Sales Melbourne, Campbellfield, Victoria

More info: Winnebago Australia

Tested: Winnebago Mossman

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