US van gets Aussie makeover

A big new, Aussie-built fifth-wheel caravan with two slide-outs but that’s capable of being hauled by a range of dual cab utes, has hit the market.

Cardiff, NSW-based RV Specialists has being selling a range of Australian-designed but US-built fifth-wheel vans in Australia for the past 15 years.

But now it’s decided to introduce a range of locally-built versions using the latest, lightweight, interlocking fibreglass composite body panels from Cure Composites, the innovative Queensland company behind Zone RV caravans.

While the first Oz-built King of the Road Drifter 26ft model displayed at the recent Queensland Supershow rides on a sturdy, 450 grade, 150x50 steel chassis with Cruisemaster off-road suspension, the new construction has helped reduce Tare weight by up to 500kg, to 2900kg (ATM is 4000-4500kg).

This makes it towable by a number of dual cab utes including the Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-MAX, rather than an American imported pick-up truck normally required for super-sized, American-style fifth-wheel vans.

“It’s been designed specifically for this range of utes. Hooked up to the BT-50 this is the equivalent of a 21ft caravan in overall length,” said RV Specialists’ boss Jim Kaufmann.

“(We’re manufacturing locally) because of the materials now available to us. The lightweight plywoods, the composites, the suspension… America doesn’t have anything like (Cruisemaster suspension) over there. In America if you’re going to build strong you can’t build light,” he said.

The 2.5m wide by 8.4m long body features one-piece, fully insulated panels for both the roof and floor, while the bed and lounge slide-outs combined with impressive 2.5m interior height creates the sort of interior living space you can only dream about in a more conventional caravan.

“The high roofline also allows 6ft of headroom around the lounge slide-so you’re not hitting your head,” he said.

Other features on the display model, which was priced at $132,900, included a leather reclining lounge, free standing dining suite, separate shower and toilet, 3kg top load washing machine, reverse cycle ducted air conditioner, and 102cm LED TV with Blu-ray player.

RV Specialists joins a small but expanding group of local fifth-wheel manufacturers including Jayco, Cut Loose and Winjana.

While annual Australian production numbers remain in the hundreds, rather than hundreds of thousands as in the US, Kaufman says there’s increasing demand for fifth-wheel models due to more dual cab utes being offered with three tonne or more towing capabilities.