York Avior

SEEING STARS

It's a fact that caravan designs have become more sophisticated in the last few years. One of the emerging trends has been for full size bathrooms, whereas in years gone by the caravan bathroom consisted of nothing more than a porta-potti under the bed.

A problem of the large amidships bathroom is that they occupy a chunky area of the caravan, and appear to take up more space than they actually do. Having a full width rear bathroom solves this, and that's why many van designers have chosen to go that way.

Paul Dawes, proprietor of Gold Coast Caravan Sales at Burleigh Waters, Qld, adds another reason.

"We've found, particularly with larger van designs, that the wheel arches protrude into the living/bedroom areas and it's not popular. Having a rear bathroom design, such as our 22ft 6in (6.9m) Avior, means that the kitchen bench and dinette seat are over the wheel arches, making them much less obtrusive."

This Avior is from they Gold Coast Caravan Sales York range of vans, and is part of its Star Collection. That's where 'Avior' comes from – it's a star in the False Cross (not to be confused with the Southern Cross) named during WWII to assist with aircraft navigation.

The York vans available from Gold Coast Caravan Sales are built in lengths from the 14ft (4.3m) Altair to the latest and longest in the 'constellation', our review Avior.

STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE
Like all the York caravans, the Avior is built on a hot-dipped galvanised chassis and has an aluminium frame. The van rides on load sharing leaf-spring suspension that's fitted to the tandem axles, and the corner stabiliser jacks are the traditional wind-down variety. Two 63L water tanks are fitted under the chassis.

Two 9kg gas cylinders sit between the drawbar rails, as does the centre-mounted jockey rail. That leaves the front boot, having only the house battery and charger inside, with plenty of storage space. There are no other external bins.

The aluminium cladding used for the external finish is ribbed, and varies from the traditional style. The sliding window near the door, tinted hopper windows and Camec triple-lock security door are more familiar items, though, as is the A&E awning. External lighting is of the standard we've come to expect – a grab handle light and two wall lights.

The rectangular rear bumper is more functional as a spare wheel holder than as protection for the van.

Our tow vehicle was a Toyota LandCruiser, which handled the Avior without any trouble. The van's nameplate ATM of 2377kg makes it suitable for a range of mid to large tow vehicles as well.

Pelmets, curtains, nets and insect screens are fitted to all the windows, except for in the kitchen. Additional ventilation is supplied by two Four Seasons hatches in the main part of the van, plus two vent hatches in the bathroom. A roof-mounted Aircommand Ibis air-conditioner does the cooling bit when needed.

ROOM WHERE IT COUNTS
In the rear offside corner of the bathroom is a washing machine. Once unusual, washing machines are becoming more common, and that means more space and larger water tanks are required, not to mention the additional weight.

Space isn't really a problem in this full width bathroom, though. The shower cubicle, with hinged door, occupies the nearside corner. The Thetford cassette toilet is opposite and the vanity cupboard complete with wash basin, drawer and cupboard space sits in the middle. There are also towel rails in the bathroom.

The washing machine is enclosed in a cabinet so as not to encroach on bench space. Above the vanity cabinet are two overhead lockers with mirror doors.

Just outside the bathroom is a 175L Dometic fridge – a standard item with the Gold Coast Caravan Sales Yorks. Above the fridge is an LG microwave.

On the offside is the long kitchen bench, plenty of cupboards and drawers, and a small slide-out pantry. Part of one of the forward cupboards is taken up by the Suburban hot water heater.

Kitchen appliances include the Smev four-burner cooktop and grill plus a stainless steel sink and drainer with both 12V and hand-pumped water.

Twin powerpoints are located at either end of the kitchen bench, and a flatscreen TV is located at the bed end, where it can be seen from the dinette and bedroom areas. Above the TV is an AM/FM radio/CD player.

Opposite the kitchen is an L-shaped dinette with a swivel table attached. The table is small but should suffice for two people. Above the dinette are three overhead lockers, and there is the usual under-seat storage area with a drawer in the base of the L. Unusually, though, it is opened from the back of the seat. There's another cupboard near the dinette, fitted into the bathroom wall on the other side of the entry door. It's quite large, but narrow, and with no shelving inside it's difficult to ascertain a practical use.

Up front, the main bedroom area has everything you'd expect: queen-size bed with innerspring mattress; a bedhead of overhead lockers; bedside wardrobes and cabinets.

Behind the bed under the window is a good sized shelf, reading lights and powerpoints. In the nearside corner at the foot of the bed is an extra wardrobe with four drawers beneath.

Lighting for the most part is found where it should be, all 12V and a mixture of fluorescent and halogen, both reading and downlight. A 100Ah battery, charged by a 15A three-stage charger, delivers the 12V load. The van is wired to easily accept solar panels.

THE BOTTOM LINE
At first glance, the York Avior looks much like other rear bathroom designs we have seen. But there are some differences, such as the standard 175L fridge, good sized kitchen and supplied 17in flatscreen TV, that call for a second look.

At 22ft 6in (6.9m) in length, it's quite a spacious van and certainly good for long term touring throughout this vast country.

For information about the York Star Collection, contact Gold Coast Caravan Sales, 335 Reedy Creek Road, Burleigh Waters, Qld, (07) 5520 4555, www.caravansales.com.au

Thanks to Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park, 1154 Gold Coast Highway, Qld, (07) 5581 7700, for the photo shoot location and pleasant place to relax.

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