Trakka Sandpiper 2005 Review

The recreational vehicle industry is moving ahead in leaps and bounds, with many a varied design and layout innovation - this is indeed a bonus for any potential campervan or motorhome owner.

Motorhome builders are constantly refining their existing models or bringing something new to the market. Trakka is one such company, having been associated for many years with the conversion of vans and 4WDs into an excellent range of campervans and motorcampers. In many ways it has set the benchmark for the campervan and motorhome market, with notions that have been quickly accepted by Trakka's clientele.

A couple of years ago Trakka surprised the motorhome world by announcing the first of its C class motorhomes. The Sandpiper caused something of a sensation when it first appeared in the marketplace: all the customary Trakka features were utilised, along with some new concepts that didn't take long to catch on.

The Sandpiper was initially produced on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis, but in more recent times it has been given Volkswagen underpinnings - following what appears to be a very European style of badge engineering, it has a Sprinter body shape but with VW muscle.

Following the trend of its generation, the VW is almost car-like to drive. Its 2.8 litre turbodiesel and five-speed gearbox work well in tandem with each other and the Sandpiper handles just like a motorhome, really: it's neither a car nor a truck, with a little bit of sideways 'rock and roll', but nothing more than might be expected.

Like most other Euro-derived turbodiesels, the VW powers things along well enough and won't hold up traffic. At just over 23ft (7m) long, the Sandpiper is a good size for people who like their comforts, but don't want to drive around in a leviathan.

If map reading causes you and your partner some angst, the Trakka-fitted Garmin Pilot 111 satellite navigation system might be ideal. Mind you, I turned it off once or twice when I got tired of being electronically told I was going the wrong way!

Euro style
Construction of the Sandpiper starts with the hot dipped galvanised VW chassis. This is covered by a waterproof sealed floor that is enclosed in heavy-duty vinyl. An aluminium frame is housed in moulded fibreglass panels and the walls and roof are fully insulated.

Like most of its contemporaries, the Sandpiper body is white but does have a lower waist area in black, with black, lined windows and (for our motorhome) a metallic grey driver's cab.

Above the cab, the Luton sits slightly higher than the rest of the motorhome body but it still retains a fairly streamlined European look, indeed the whole vehicle does. The Sandpiper has a relatively long, low overhang behind the rear wheels, which is something to keep in mind when reversing or travelling through rough undulations, but it's not really a problem for most highway driving, as I discovered.

In keeping with the Euro theme, all windows are double glazed Seitz hoppers and the door has a screened and hinged window.

For external storage, there are two lockers along the rear nearside, which give access to the storage area underneath the bed - it's not huge but will certainly take items such as deckchairs, hoses and a toolbox (even the overloaded kind, like mine!). One Trakka option that does take up some storage space is a slide-out barbecue, but if you are someone who spends many a pleasant evening under the awning, then it's an essential addition. Along the offside are the Thetford cassette door and the gas compartment for the two 4kg gas cylinders. Additional features along the nearside are an external shower and a rail for Trakka's signature clip-on external table.

Open for inspection
CW has a soft spot for Trakka interiors and the Sandpiper is no exception. With the entry door set at about mid-unit, the dining and lounging area is in the front half and there's the usual double bed in the Luton Peak.

Directly opposite the entry door is the kitchen bench and the rear is occupied by the nearside double bed, with the bathroom tucked into the opposite corner. Generally the layout conveys a nice, open feel, especially as the only 'boxy' item - the bathroom - is tucked neatly away in the rear.

Light grey and maple stained Euro ply form the interior colour scheme and there's certainly light aplenty due to large windows and a Heki hatch above the dining/lounge area. With integrated blinds and insect screens, all windows have curtains, except for the kitchen and driver's cab. Reflective Thermomat covers are provided for the latter and they work fine, except the area is a little fiddly to install quickly.

There's no doubt that Trakka has made full use of the VW flat floor design. Both driver and passenger seats swivel around, which together with the nearside and offside lounge gives room for five people (and more than enough for two).

At the dinette, a CW favourite is the swivelling Zwaardvis (manufactured in Holland) table. It is rock-solid when clamped up, but will swivel and slide every-which-way when required - so much so that when not in use it can be pushed up against the offside seat, thus giving easy access to the lounge and driver's cab seats.

Above each lounge are storage lockers and there are the usual underseat areas, although the offside is partially taken by the deep-cycle batteries. There is also a little door that gives access to the rear corner of the kitchen bench, but that is a tad awkward to get at because of the seat cushions - good for keeping seldom-used items. Both lounges have halogen reading lights at each end and there's an overhead light as well.

In terms of benchtop space, there isn't a great deal, with the exception of a handy hinged flap beside the cooktop. Four different-sized drawers plus a small slide-out pantry provide a good selection of underbench storage. In addition there's a roomy overhead locker plus a hanging cupboard between the kitchen and lounge areas; this has wooden shutter doors and is conveniently accessible from either side.

With this particular design, if there are just two people, you get a choice of two beds - one above the driver's cab and the other in the rear nearside corner. I suspect most couples will opt for the latter, because although it is fitted into the corner the bed really isn't difficult to make, especially with fitted sheets.

Windows on two sides offer plenty of ventilation and in addition to the natural light there are also two halogens. Overhead lockers are fitted above both walls and the small shelf in the corner at the foot of the bed comes with a 12V and TV antenna connection, although only a flat screen TV will fit. I'd be looking for a couple of hinged shelves at the bed head end; fixed shelving wouldn't work because the bed base lifts up to get to the storage area underneath.

Above the driver's cab, the double bed is well suited to visitors or grandchildren and Trakka has included the usual aluminium ladder for climbing in and out. Windows at either end of the bed give some cross flow ventilation and reading lights are fitted at both ends.

Trakka bathrooms have a certain amount of style about them, mainly because they are not the typical all-white of many RV bathrooms. Compact this area might be, but it does have a moulded fibreglass shower unit, swivelling Thetford cassette toilet and separate vanity sink. In the shower, the variable-height, flexible hose shower will be well-appreciated. Trakka gets a big tick for such additional fittings as the two mirrors, small shelf, soap holder and two towel rails.

The bathroom door caused some discussion: as you face the bathroom, the door is hinged on the left. This proved to be a hit with motorhome owners: their doors are usually hinged on the right and the door butts up to the bed when opened. In our Sandpiper, there wasn't quite enough clearance of the bedclothes and the bed had to be slightly remade every time the door opened - all it probably needs is a shift of 20mm to the left with the door fitting.

Powering up
There's no shortage of modern technology in the Sandpiper: 12V power is supplied by two 200 amp hour deep-cycle batteries. These are charged, either from a multitude of sources - the vehicle motor, a 25 amp 240/12V battery charger - or from four roof-mounted 80W solar panels. Trakka has also installed its emergency start feature, that is, if the vehicle motor battery is flat, the house batteries can be put in circuit to get the motor running.

All lighting is 12V, with downlights and reading lights just about everywhere you might want them. Trakka has developed quite a sophisticated system, whereby lights can be switched on and off at more than one point - it works well.

Also fitting into the technology category are the flat screen TV that can be used in either the lounge or bedroom, and the DVD/CD entertainment system that is conveniently located in the locker above the kitchen bench, along with the solar panel regulator.

The Trakka Sandpiper is a very classy motorhome, with just about everything you might want for comfortable touring.

Contact Trakka Pty Ltd at 9 Beaumont Road, Mt Kuring-gai, NSW 2080, (02) 9472 9000, fax (02) 9472 9090, email info@trakka.com.au or visit http://www.trakka.com.au/

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