Toy hauler for tough nuts

It looks as mean as a Pit Bull Terrier, but when it breaks cover in July the new shrink-wrapped ‘SUV’ off road caravan designed by Melbourne custom caravan builder Van Cruiser is designed for loving the Outback, not fighting it.

With its body measuring just 1500mm wide (2100mm with its running-board style mudguards) and built on a narrow ladder-frame G & S chassis fitted with a long and very sturdy drawbar, the SUV is designed to carry a range of bolt-on, bolt-off ‘toys’ from tinnies to trail bikes to playgrounds well off the beaten track.

In this respect it differs in concept from other ‘toy haulers’, where the toys are usually carried within the trailer when travelling and are either replaced, or joined, by their jockeys overnight.

Because of its compact size, the aluminium Alucobond-skinned and Meranti timber-framed SUV has space inside for not much more than double bed mattress and storage cupboards – think 1970s panel van.

“I’m building it for people who simply want somewhere to sleep at night in remote places, but otherwise want to spend thee rest of their days outdoors,” explained SUV creator Enzo Gnocato, who heads the small family-owned Van Cruiser company.

“It’s really an untapped segment for the fishing, hunting and 4x4 market.”

As the SUV is not a pop-top, but a low, fixed roof caravan, other toys can be carried on its roof, with Gnoacto allowing a generous payload for the 150mm x 50mm chassis with its Control Rider independent trailing arm coil spring suspension.

A boat carrier will be part of its spec for those who want to carry a tinnie and an outboard motor.

This means that a rooftop tent, or an upmarket ‘pod’, like a James Baroud sleeping capsule, could be fitted if the customer wanted.

Rooftop panels delivering 200 watts of solar power, twin AGM batteries, a hot water service with an external shower, a slide out kitchen, a VitriFrigo 60L compressor fridge, two water tanks, an awning and lots of exterior of storage space are expected to be standard features.

And, true to Van Cruiser’s ‘out there’ persona, you can have your SUV in a wide range of bright Alucobond colours, from Ferrari red to eye blistering orange, vibrant blue, or even plain white or silver. The first off the line is finished in lime green.

Because if its ‘pit bull’ construction, the Van Cruiser will not be light, with Gnoacto estimating that a finished SUV will top the scales at around 1500-1600kg, depending on equipment.

“It has to be this heavy to be this tough,” he said.

But the big surprise is expected to be the price, with Gnocato hoping to sell a version complete with tinnie, motor and boat rack for around $40,000, while a base SUV could cost as little as $25,000.

He also has plans to produce a semi off-road version for mountain bike enthusiasts that could easily be towed behind a light compact four-wheel drive, such as a Toyota RAV4 at a lower base price.