Traveller Penthouse

Words and Pics lloyd junor

POWER HOUSE

Two years ago when I was in Echuca, Vic, a new caravan yard beckoned me, so I entered and had a look around. There were a dozen or so used vans, a fifth wheeler, and a coterie of new vans - new to me, that is. The moment I entered these custom vans, by Traveller, I was impressed. The layouts were unlike many others. The entry doors was forward of the axles, and that's a great idea. Why? Time travelling dusty outback roads reveals that having the door in front of the van's wheels subjects it to much less dust - and that's desirable. A re-acquaintance of the Traveller at Caravans R Us, near Geelong Vic, revived the memories, and I remain impressed.

PURPOSE-BUILT CHASSIS
The Penthouse is a large van targeted at those determined to live comfortably on the move. It's not a lightweight, and doesn't pretend to be. You'll need a substantial vehicle to haul it around: the weighbridge put the ball weight of the empty van at around 230kg, and the Tare 2250kg (with some water in the tanks), while the manufacturer allocates an ATM of 2600kg to the van.

To carry the weight, Traveller builds its own 150mm chassis, equips it with a seven-leaf tandem greasable bushes, loadshare beam axle suspension and adds 15in spoked alloy wheels with 235/75 R15 tyres, each rated at 925kg load capacity. The chassis carries two 80L shielded water tanks, which have gauges inside the cabin, drop-down corner jacks and a slide-out entry step. A pair of 9kg gas cylinders is mounted on the A-frame.

STORAGE GALORE
In this van, the island bedroom is at the front, the kitchen is located on the nearside with the dining/lounge area opposite, and the bathroom/laundry is full width at the rear. Being a full height van, Traveller has taken advantage of the high walls, and fitted cupboards extensively both high and low. The lead-light glass-fronted windows over the dining area cupboards are striking.

Cabin construction of the Penthouse is conventional timber framing with coated aluminium external sheeting and panel interior sheets. Try as I might, I couldn't fault the cabinetwork for fit or finish.

When I saw my first Travellers at Echuca, one of them seemed to have every colour of the rainbow. It wasn't my cup of tea. But the review van was very different, with muted pastels throughout the length of the unit in a most appealing way. All fittings are complementary and easy on the eye.

Living in this van would be no chore. The benchtop is long - it stretches 2.2m and who would complain about that? Along its length are the deep bowl sink and drainer plus a full stove with oven and griller. For rapid cooking a Samsung microwave is installed. A Dometic 2553 150L three-way refrigerator is opposite the sink on an elevated base for user convenience.

Plenty of under-bench cupboard space is offered, and the cupboards are about as uncluttered as is possible. I'd prefer some of the shelf space to drawers, which don't require getting onto the floor to see what's at the back.

The dining table folds up out of the way and leaves the two seats uncluttered for relaxation. For outside food preparation a drop-down table and a pull-out barbecue have been installed.

The bedroom, which has a privacy curtain, boasts a full-size island bed that will accommodate a tall person. The bed can be compacted if needs be as it has an adjustable base and a bolster section as part of the pillow-top innerspring mattress. A bedcover with identical pattern to the van upholstery is part of the package.

The shower, toilet and vanity are sectioned off from the main cabin by a sliding solid door. A Dometic front-load washer installed in the wet area provides close to complete independence.

IN CHARGE
Entertainment comes in the form of a CD/stereo AM/FM with four ceiling speakers as well as a pair of weatherproof external speakers under the awning. A Conia LCD TV with inbuilt DVD player on a wall bracket is standard. Some additional support for the TV might be advantageous over bumpy roads. A Winegard roof antenna feeds signal to the TV.

Climate control is afforded through wind-out Galaxy windows, a ceiling Four Seasons hatch plus a Seitz hatch with inbuilt shade curtain and a 3.3kW Aircommand rooftop reverse cycle air-conditioner.

More airflow for hot weather comfort is available through the screen section of the two-piece TriLock door, and it's shady under the full-length awning (included). Electricals are generous - there are 13 user-accessible powerpoints inside the van plus the outlet under the awning, 15 low-voltage halogen lamps and a fluorescent light in the shower, and three incandescent awning lights.

The low voltage circuit is fed by a 25A charger and a pair of batteries. Provision for solar power adaptation is included.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Instead of a front boot Traveller elected to provide a front tunnel, accessible from both sides, in this particular van. The tunnel gives more internal space for the same overall length. A front boot is available if desired, but that will change internal dimensions.

If I have conveyed a sense of approval, that's inevitable. It's a van that impresses.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED:

Caravans R Us
176 Bellarine Highway
Newcomb, Vic, http://www.usedcaravans.com.au/
(03) 5248 5115

For more information, including your nearest dealer, visit http://www.travellercaravans.com.au/