Universal Hollywood

When I first saw Universal’s new 7.5 metre Hollywood caravan at Melbourne’s Leisurefest, I thought it was simply a ‘show special’.

While its huge five metre long slide-out lounge and bedroom was a great way to gain huge additional interior space at the push of a single button, I wondered about its four separate LED televisions, ranging in size from a monster 60-inch Samsung in the lounge to a 24-inch TEAC TV/DVD player in the toilet. 

Then there was the Bose 5+1 home theatre-grade surround sound system. Clearly a Hollywood owner would need either compliant or tone-deaf friends in a tourist park.

But now I’ve changed my mind somewhat about the Hollywood after spending time with it for this review. Yes, four TVs is over the top, but look beyond them and there’s a very roomy and relatively practical cruising caravan in the Hollywood.

The big slide-out is a game-changer. For some years Universal has prided itself on being a slide-out specialist and the Melbourne manufacturer’s expertise shows here.

Having the Hollywood’s huge eight-seater U-shaped club lounge and its king-size bed both slide out from the right side creates a spacious feeling that smaller slide-outs can’t match, although why each of these adjacent areas needs its own TV (60-inch in the lounge and 32-inch in the bedroom), is not clear. 

Clearly with the dominating Bose surround sound System there’s only room for one viewing choice – and one remote control – here. The big sub-woofer under the lounge is certain to dictate program selection– particularly if you convert it to a second bed for slumber night friends, as is the option!

Beneath that monster TV in the lounge is a cabinet with room for the home theatre system, DVDs or Blue Ray discs, etc, while the adjacent bedroom is all class too, with a good-sized window set in between large hanging robes, above a double set of drawers.

The real benefit of the slide-out lounge is in the kitchen, which stretches across the entire front of the van but increases in size dramatically with the lounge back and out of the way.

There’s room to really cook up a storm here, with a full suite of top-level Swift cook top/grill/oven on the left, with a microwave above a great serving bench with a central stainless steel sink, drainer and chrome flick-mixer tap, plus a very roomy 220 litre Waeco fridge-freezer on the right.

And if you want to plug in your capsule coffee machine, or hair dryer when you’re away from mains power the Hollywood’s 1000-watt inverter gives you that option.

The combination of the Glacier acrylic splash back extending to ceiling height above the kitchen bench top, matching panels on the fridge-freezer doors and high gloss black cabinetry with chrome furniture below, looks very classy to this reviewer’s eye.

At the other end of the Hollywood, the full-width ensuite exudes the same sense of style and luxury, with a huge, frameless mirror creating the illusion of even more space inside the Hollywood with its reflection.

The large glass vanity basin and its designer flick mixer is offset to the left side, allowing the Hollywood’s top-loading Sphere 3kg washing machine to be stored, out of sight, beneath a hinged bench-top section, while the quality Thetford ceramic toilet has plenty of elbow room.

A separate fibreglass shower cubicle with an obscure glass door is on the right, while glossy grey upper and black lower cabinetry and quality chrome door furniture completes the picture – that’s if you ignore the 24-inch TEAC TV/DVD player on a swivel arm above the vanity bench top.

A bit much? We thought so. As a rule, caravan ensuites aren’t the place where people we know want to hang in for too long.

On the plus side, the ensuite boasts plenty of cupboard space above and to the left of the vanity.

Finally, patterned black flooring throughout the Hollywood rounds off a very smart interior that will impress many and offend few, and the standard 3hp Ibis air conditioner allows everyone to keep their cool no matter how hot the on-screen action.

It’s outside where the Hollywood comes back to the pack in its relatively conventional appearance – that’s until you extend the five-metre slide-out or drop the large checker plate covered hatch next to the entry door hiding the van’s exterior 32-inch TV and Bose sound system – flanked by a pair of Fusion speakers.

Otherwise it’s typical of many large Aussie vans in its appearance, with white stucco ribbed aluminium wall cladding, a simple rear bumper with a single spare wheel and twin unprotected 9kg gas bottles on its 150mm A-frame.

There’s no front boot as such, but the dog-leg tunnel through the front bodywork makes a good substitute. As well as the TV hatch, silver checker plate protects the lower section of the van’s raked nose and its bodywork to the height of the wheel arms, while the same material is used for the covers of the two vertical rear storage hatches to the rear awning support, where bulky things like a generator can be stored.

Nothing fancy underneath either, with roller-rocker leaf springs supporting its tandem beam axles and little stone protection for its plumbing.

But despite the limited self-sufficiency offered by its twin 130-litre water tanks, 140 watts of roof-mounted solar power and that 1000 watt inverter, the Hollywood is unlikely to be used as a remote area home away from home.

That’s unless you feel like throwing in a 2KVa generator, heading bush with your partner, mates and a couple of slabs and really letting that Bose surround sound system rip while watching the latest blockbuster or the summer Test Series.

Very tempting!

WE LIKED:
>> Serious living space
>> Luxurious comfort
>> Great TV watching experience
>> Wow factor

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Two TVs too many?
>> Relatively small payload
>> Skimpy rear bumper
>> Needs dual batteries

VERDICT

The Universal Hollywood is not a caravan for shrinking violets, or crowded caravan parks.

It’s a big, boofy entertainer with quality fittings and a surprising degree of sophistication that will delight those who like to share all the comforts of home with friends.

But with just a single battery and solar panel and a limited payload, you’d better not stray too far from a mains electricity supply if you plan to use all its power-sucking features to the max.

UNIVERSAL HOLLYWOOD 240 SLIDE-OUT

Travel length: 9148mm
External body length: 7278mm
External body width (incl. awning): 2450mm
Travel height (incl. air con): 2960mm
Interior height: 1990mm
Tare weight: 3140kg
ATM: 3500kg
Ball weight: 160kg (maximum)
Body: Aluminium stucco cladding over timber frame
Chassis: Supagal with 150mm x 50mm A-frame and 100mm main chassis rails with 50mm raiser
Suspension: Roller-rocker leaf springs and tandem beam axles
Brakes: Al-Ko 12-inch electric
Stability Control: Al-Ko ESC standard
 Wheels: 16in alloys with 245/75-16 tyres
Fresh water: 2 x 130l
Battery: Single 105Amp/hr AGM with 1000 Watt inverter
Solar: 1 x 140W roof-mounted panel
Air-conditioner: 3hp Air Command Ibis 3
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Three gas burner plus electric hob Swift 500 Series cook top with grill and oven
Microwave: Yes
Fridge: 220-litre Waeco three-way
Toilet: Thetford ceramic cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle
Washing machine: Sphere 3kg top-loader
Lighting: LED throughout
Price (as reviewed, ex Melb): $134,990
Supplied by: Universal Caravans, Campbellfield, Vic