Windsor Rapid 2025 Review

Not that long ago the Windsor Rapid was a budget-priced, Australian-built family 'expander' caravan. But now, with the Windsor brand in fresh hands, it's been re-invented as a similarly affordable, but imported off-road hybrid camper.

Like the older versions, the latest Rapid couple and family models get a pop-top roof and slide-out bed (albeit at the rear end only). They're also equipped to go further off the beaten track with off-road underpinnings and decent battery and water capacity, to go with inside/outside cooking options and other camping comforts.

However, the 'Gen2' Rapid needs to be smartly-equipped and user-friendly, not to mention competitively priced if it's going to steal sales from dozens of 'cookie cutter' Chinese-built hybrids already on the market...

The 2025 Windsor Rapid range comes in just three variants and two body lengths (13ft and 15ft), with the choice of couple and family layouts and an internal ensuite and external slide-out kitchen standard across the range.

Prices start at $59,995 drive-away for the 13ft Rapid 13, which has a basic two-berth layout including king size bed. There are also two 15ft variants, both priced at $64,995 drive-away -- the Windsor Rapid 15D (reviewed here) that offers expanded living and sleeping space for two or three people with an internal kitchen, permanent king-size bed and dinette that converts to another bed, and the Rapid 15B which can sleep a family of four with a king-size bed and bunks.

Built for rough-road travel, the Rapid 15D couple's model comes equipped with a Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling and adjustable independent coil spring suspension with twin shock absorbers per wheel, a hot-dipped galvanised chassis and underbody Raptor coating, and 16-inch alloy wheels with mud tyres, plus two full-size spares.

It's set up for some off-grid camping too, with 240 litres' fresh and 70 litres' grey water capacity, and twin 135Ah lithium batteries, a 2000W inverter, mains and DC-DC charger and six 100W rooftop solar panels; to run the lights, hot water unit, any portable appliances and a fridge or two and microwave if fitted.

The Windsor Rapid's body structure consists of an aluminium welded frame, aluminium composite side panels with polstyrene insulation, and a honeycomb composite floor.

Production takes place in a Chinese factory, with final fit-out in the same Brisbane production facility where the likes of Winnebago and Windsor-branded motorhomes and caravans are produced.

The MY25 Rapid is available through Apollo's national network of dealerships, and is backed by a three-year warranty on the draw bar, chassis and suspension; a three-year structural warranty, and a one-year warranty on the tent and canvas components.

The overall design and features list might be similar to many other hybrids on the market, but the eye-catching dark 'stealth' exterior and contrasting bright orange scrub bars, together with other unique styling touches inside and out, give the Rapid 15D a smart look up close and help it stand out in the bush.

Standard external features include a cassette-style wind out awning, external hot/cold shower, twin audio speakers, awning lights, LED grab handle, and a mains water connection, while its sleek stainless steel pull-out kitchen incorporates a four-burner gas cooker, sink and mixer tap, and various storage including a drying rack and cutlery drawers.

There's also a marine-carpeted entertainment and storage hatch on the side wall next to the kitchen, along with some shallow hatches and a pull-out drawer for your other odds and ends.

There's an onside locker with a slide-out and 12V socket, ready to plug in an optional Dometic 94L camping fridge and freezer, plus another empty locker with slide out along the offside, that's big enough for a small generator (that's also not included).

The gas bottles are stored in separate compartments in the stylish front toolbox, and also up front is a drawbar tap, gas bayonet and a cradle for the 10L tank supplying the on-board diesel space heater.

The high-mounted front 'matrix' board is not just for show; you can use it to strap on and carry up to 30kg of equipment including optional recovery planks. There's also a wood box and other toolbox compartments for miscellaneous gear.

The Rapid also gets a roof mounted TV aerial and associated connections for hooking up an (optional) 24in TV. Also on the dealer-fitted options list is a Starlink antenna and anti-flap kit, a wireless rear view camera, and an Anderson plug socket for a solar blanket with regulator.

The 15D couple's hybrid is the only Rapid with an internal kitchen, which features a Dometic twin gas burner cooktop and a sink with mixer tap -- both with glass lids -- installed in the offside benchtop.

There's also some kitchen drawers and cupboards, and controls nearby for the gas-electric water heater installed under the sink.

Buyers can either take advantage of the empty space inside the vertical cupboards near the bed for storing bulky soft-goods like clothes and towels, or get the cabinetry fitted out with a Dometic 80L compressor fridge-freezer and NCE 20L microwave. These are also extra-cost dealer-fit options, although the cabinetry comes 'pre-wired' from the factory so the appliances will easily slot in and power up.

The Renogy battery management system includes a tablet-style touchscreen monitor and controller located near the entry door, while closer to the bed is a 12 switch panel that can isolate 12V functions including external lights and water pump. There's also a Renogy panel for tracking energy usage, or a mobile phone app if you prefer to use that.

I didn't get a chance to play around with any of the Renogy kit to see how user-friendly the system is but personally, I'd prefer if all the switches and controls were located in the one, convenient location.

While the combination shower-toilet is slightly smaller than the other Rapid models, and misses out on a sink, tap and mirror, there's enough space inside for most people to move around without discomfort, and the kitchen sink isn't far away when it comes time to brush the teeth or wash the hands.

Like many imported hybrids the slide-out king bed is huge and with its innerspring mattress is a great spot for two to lounge around as well as sleep. If you need another spot to lie down, the front cafe dinette area easily converts to another bed for a child perhaps.

The review camper had a plated Tare of 2392kg, an unloaded ball weight of 147kg and a 2990kg ATM, to deliver a decent payload of 598kg. While the Tare is on the porky side for a 15ft pop-top, it's par for the course when it comes to imported off-road models, and shouldn't pose too many problems behind a 3500kg-towing rated dual-cab ute like the Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain we used.

While threading it through some tree-lined parklands, we appreciated the lower height of the pop-top roof as a way of avoiding overhanging branches. The sleeker shape when towing should also make it more stable at highway speeds and in cross-winds, so the absence of any type of anti-sway ESC trailer system isn't of great concern.

We also felt confident dragging it over some bumpy terrain, with its off-road coupling and tyres and forgiving suspension, tubular steel bush bars, side checkerplate and underbody protection. The Rapid also gets a detachable vinyl 'dust' flap for covering the gas vents on the entry door when travelling on dirt roads.

Windsor has also paid attention to high-wear points with the use of U-Dek protection on the front storage tray and marine carpet in the external lockers, while the heavy-duty ARK 750XL jockey wheel is a good choice for soggy campgrounds.

About the only things missing is some extra shielding for the drawbar tap and poly water tanks, while some exposed grey water plumbing underneath also looks vulnerable to off-road hits.

There's no electrical-assistance for the pop-top roof, nor a powered awning or entry steps, but setting up and packing down the Windsor Rapid should be a relatively pain-free job for most outdoorsy types, once you know what you're doing.

There are a few fiddly catches, clasps, pins and external locks to deal with, while heavier bits like the fold-down steel arms holding the spare wheels are manageable thanks to some gas strut-assistance. All up, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes, particularly if two people are involved (see below).

Compact hybrid campers packed with lots of inside/outside features can often feel a bit cramped inside, but Windsor has done a great job creating the illusion of an airy and spacious layout with this particular couple's layout, even if in reality there is only minimal floorspace.

Obviously, all the 'hard' and 'soft' screened and opening windows on all sides help open it up, as does the roof hatch and some LED lighting including flexible reading lights around the bed. Importantly, there are also plenty of 12V/USB/240V sockets, while eye-catching design touches like the hexagon-shape tabletop, give it a contemporary feel.

Also helping maintain a pleasant temperature inside is the 12V fan and diesel heater with its floor-mounted single vent, as well as a roof-top air conditioner for when you're plugged in at a caravan park or perhaps using a gennie.

If you decide to get the optional fridge and microwave, there are still a few decent overhead and under-bench spots in the kitchen and bed areas for storing your stuff. You can also fit a few smaller items in the open and closed shelving along the front wall, although some of it can only be accessed when the the table is dropped down. The 'second' kitchen benchtop near the door is also a good spot for a plug-in coffee machine or toaster.

The 'combination' shower cubicle also features a swivel seat cassette toilet, 12V roof hatch, hotel-style soap and shampoo dispensers and a separate holder for the showerhead, while its high solid walls and door and top-mounted shower curtain, will help keep any splashes contained.

The slide-out external kitchen looks like a quality unit, and includes some large fold-out wind shields around the cooker and an extra support leg near the pull-out prep bench at the end to keep it all stable. As the kitchen extends out rather than along the side of the camper, it also won't interfere with an externally mounted TV.

While it's a very familiar design the Rapid manages to be a bit different and special in some ways, with the inviting couple or small family layout in the Rapid 15D standing out as perhaps its biggest selling-point.

It's a pity it doesn't come standard with a fridge, microwave or TV, so we'd recommend trying to twist the dealer's arm and get one or more of these options thrown in for the price.

And in an industry still plagued by 'fly-by-nighters' there's also some peace-of-mind knowing you're buying from one of the largest, most experienced RV operators down under (THL which took over Windsor RV owner Apollo in 2022), including support from a nationwide network if something goes wrong.

Price: $64,995 (drive-away Qld)
Travel length: 6940mm
Open length: 7540mm
Overall width: 2285mm
Overall height: 3060mm
Tare weight: 2392kg
ATM: 2990kg
Ball weight (Tare): 147kg
Body: Aluminium welded frame with 3mm aluminium composite panels, 19mm polystyrene, and 12mm honeycomb composite floor
Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised steel
Suspension: Independent coil with twin shocks, Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling
Brakes: 12in electric drums
Wheels: 16in alloy with Goodride Radial mud-terrain tyres
ESC: NA
Water: 2 x 120L (fresh), 70L grey
Battery: 2 x 135Ah lithium with 2000w inverter
Solar: 6 x 100W rooftop panels
Air-conditioner: Reverse cycle roof-mounted
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: 14L gas electric
Space heater: Diesel
Cooking: External/internal gas burner cooktops
Fridge: Internal/external options available
Microwave: NCE 20L optional
Toilet: Cassette electric
Shower/toilet: Combination
Lighting: 12V LED
TV: 24in LED optional
Audio: Bluetooth radio with internal/external speakers
Supplied by: Apollo RV Super Centre Brisbane, Northgate, Brisbane
More info: Windsor RVs