Titanium Ti23 S3 2024 Review

There have been some really impressive family bunk caravans roll out of Australian RV factories in recent times, that pander as much to the young ones as the grown-ups when it comes to comfort and convenience features.

One of the latest family 'glamour-vans' to hit the tracks is this very special, eye-catching 23ft six-berth off-road van from Melbourne's Titanium Caravans.

Aside from the outstanding external storage solutions offered, the big custom-built Titanium tandem axle family van stands out from the crowd with some exceptional on-board visual entertainment features, including an external large screen TV 'hub', a kids' 'home theatre room', plus a standard 28in Smart TV for the 'master bedroom'.

Netflix movies on the Gibb River Road, anyone?

Related: Another AFL star joins Titanium team

Like many Titanium off-road caravans, this latest customised 23 footer boasts an S&M galvanised and powdercoated 6in chassis, poly honeycomb flooring and one-piece fibreglass composite roof, and an aluminium frame with smooth aluminium composite side panels and black checker plate side protection (although Titanium is planning to replace the checker plate with a Raptor coating for 2024).

The Titanium 'Untamed' prototype reviewed here blends a mix of range-topping Hardcore and ATX spec, although Titanium is also rolling out a name change across the range, with the 23ft Hardcore model, for example, to be renamed Ti23 S3.

For this particular van the owners opted for Cruisemaster 4500kg-rated XT airbag suspension with twin G35 shocks, a D0-45 coupling, Bos jockey wheel, disc brakes and 17in alloy wheels with mud terrain tyres.

Externally, it also gets a very wide Global roll-out awning and front and rear STEDI spotlights to go with other external LED lighting, not to mention some recovery hooks and skid plates on the rear section of the chassis for when the going gets rough.

For off-grid camping, it's been optioned up with five heavy-duty rotomolded water tanks (340L fresh and 85L grey), to go with the brass mains pressure inlet and drawbar tap.

Two 200Ah lithium batteries are located under the dinette seating, with a big vertical locker on the offside wall housing other Enerdrive components including the 2600W inverter, two 40A solar controllers, a 40A AC charger and 40A DC-DC charger. This is all fed by six 200W glass solar panels on the roof.

This size Titanium van normally comes with a Tare of around 2800kg and a 3500kg ATM, but the optioned-up review rig weighs in closer to 3200kg unloaded. So budget for a big American truck or uprated LandCruiser as a tow vehicle, for a similar 4500kg ATM rated set-up.

Pricing? Base 'Hardcore S3' spec Titanium vans kick off at $157,025 for a 22ft 6in model, so the larger, more lavishly equipped review van is getting closer to $200K once you add up all the ATX features, plus options and customisations added.

One of the features that sets Titanium Caravans apart is the beautifully designed and finished, aluminium storage solutions, and other laser-cut enhancements available across the range.

While black powdercoated multi-purpose front toolboxes and rear platform bars are becoming a common sight on large Australian caravans, the Melbourne-made Wolf Fabrication hard-core products fitted to Titanium vans have been leading the way in innovation, style and functionality.

On the 23ft 'Untamed' review van, there's the top-spec Wolf Super toolbox on the A-frame, with its twin replaceable metal stone deflectors that unclasp and swing out to provide access to the two 9kg gas bottles. The bottles sit on aluminium plates with big drain holes, so this is also a good spot for storing wet gear.

There's also a full-length aluminium storage tub that slides out at either end (after lifting up the top-hinged gullwing doors) via a sturdy roller mechanism, plus two smaller slide-outs (one fitted with a Weber Baby Q), and various other shelving and compartments for chairs, tables, etc.

And in case you were wondering, the Wolf Super toolbox is big and strong enough so it can be configured to transport two electric bikes, if that's your thing...

There's also a smaller offside storage locker, and a narrow tunnel boot for carrying even more gear.

You'll find more Wolf creations on the onside wall, including a storage 'box/picnic table that sits out from the wall and also houses the controls for the airbag suspension. Right next to that is a very-large recessed lockable compartment that's big enough to hold a Samsung 240V 55in TV and sound bar, along with two drawers and shelving, with space for a Travel Buddy 12V oven.

The Wolf premium rear bar is another heavy-duty work of art, with slots for two jerries, the spare wheel, integrated taillights, a woodbox and a pull out drawer for hoses. Then there are other 'Wolf pack' additions including external flashing, capping and hatch trim, and the Premium rear spoiler with its integrated LED light that allows extra solar panels to be mounted on the roof.

To make things easier with so many external locks on the van, the 'Untamed' prototype has been converted to the '1 key' system.

Making the big step up inside via the twin pull-out entry steps and security door, you're greeted by a very appealing and somewhat personalised layout that blends the best of Titanium's furniture fittings and decor options with the owner's unique preferences.

The stylish fit-out includes distressed Italian style leather upholstery for the bedheads, wall pouches and seating, matte olive-green furniture fascias, raw timber-look decorative shelving and tabletops, and marble-look laminate 'waterfall' benchtops and splashbacks to go with black sinks and tapware in the kitchen and bathroom.

The owner has also added some black lattice panels, also made by Wolf Fabrication, around the main bed and bunks, while there's also a Wolf motorised dust reduction system mounted above the queen bed, to keep everything nice and clean inside.

As far as the layout goes, it's a modified version of Titanium's 22ft 6in quad-bunk floorplan, with an east-west coil spring queen mattress up front, with a storage shelf down one end and four large underbed drawers instead of side robes for storing clothes.

The spacious central kitchen gets a Thetford cooktop, grille and oven, a rangehood, plus a Dometic 224 litre compressor fridge, but no microwave.

You'll find more electrical bits including switches, fuses, water monitors and the Fusion Bluetooth audio unit in one of the overhead cupboards above the bench-style lounge-dinette. While some other handy features for when travelling in variable climates include a Truma heater, Dometic reverse cycle air-conditioner, 12V fans in both bed areas, two large roof hatches, and plenty of double glazed windows along both sides.

Given the owner has also opted not to fit either a top-load or wall mounted washing machine, there's copious bathroom storage including a large corner cupboard and open nook for toilet rolls, a vanity with mirrored 'medicine cabinet', and more cupboards under the bowl sink with mixer tap.

The large fibreless shower cubicle gets more stylish black tapware and a 12V fan hatch, with a window above the cassette toilet also taking care of ventilation.

Instead of four standard bunk beds in the kids sleeping area towards the back, the owner has opted to retain the upper bunks and replace the two lower bunks with a wall unit with drawers, to make room for a Samsung 65in TV and JBL sound bar. There's another very nice, low-lying leather lounge directly opposite that could be used as another bed.

Two solid sliding doors can be used to close off the kids' bedroom, although we're not sure how sound proof they'd be when cranking up the latest Disney blockbuster!

There's also the option to convert the main lounge/dinette into another sleeping area, by lowering the telescopic leg and using the tabletop as a base for a cushion insert.

There's also some stylish mood lighting, and portable ladders to help climb up into the bunk beds. But if it was our van we'd be tempted to kick the little ones outside to play and let the 'big kids' enjoy the home movie experience until it was time for bedtime!

While extremely impressive as a long-range, all-terrain touring package, the sheer weight and final pricing on this Titanium optioned-up van will put it out of reach of many family caravanners.

But if you can resist the urge to tick the 'three TV' option and go easy on the desirable Wolf add-ons, the 'entry-level' 23ft Titanium family off-road van comes with more than enough gear and luxuries for a very pleasant Big Lap with the family.

Price: From $157,025 (base 22ft 6in S3 Hardcore spec)
Travel length: 10,011mm
Internal body length: 7011mm
External body width: 2450mm
Travel height: 3200mm
Interior height: 1980mm
Tare: From 2800kg (approx.)
ATM: 3500-4500kg
Body: Aluminium frame, aluminium composite panels, honeycomb floor, fibreglass roof
Chassis: S&M galvanised and powdercoated, 6in chassis
Suspension: 4.5T Cruisemaster XT Airbag
Brakes: Disc
Wheels: 17in alloys with LT285/70R17 MT tyres
Water: 4 x 85L (fresh), 85L (grey)
Battery: 2 x 200Ah lithium with 2600W inverter
Solar: 6 x 200W total, roof-mounted
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Gas-electric
Cooking: Thetford cooktop, grille, oven
Microwave: Not fitted
Fridge: Dometic 224L compressor fridge/freezer
TV: 28in, 65in (internal), 55in (external)
Air conditioner: Dometic reverse-cycle, roof-mounted
Space heater: Truma gas
Bathroom: Separate shower and toilet
Washing machine: Not fitted
Lighting: LED throughout
Supplied by: Titanium Caravans, Epping, Vic