Zone Base 2020 Review

Many people want a roomy, well-built, all-roads caravan to follow their wanderlust around Australia. But unless you’re retired, or planning to call it ‘home’ for an extended period, fewer want to have $100,000 upwards tied up in a fully-optioned luxury off-road caravan.

That’s part of the thinking behind the latest Zone RV Base range, which sits below the Queensland manufacturer’s established Off-Road, Venture, Family and Summit caravan models.

In essence, for less money you get all the signature features that in just five years has made Zone RV one of the most desirable Australian caravan brands: innovative bonded composite monocoque bodies proven in luxury ocean-going boat building; full timberless construction for longevity in tropical conditions; precision engineering to ensure optimum fit and a suite of associated frontline components to match.

Bling and non-essentials? They’re extra-cost options on the Base three body-length range, which many buyers will happily do without. After coming down from our personal, more lavishly-equipped off-road caravan and living in the new Base 20ft 6in couples’ off-roader, there were a few small changes we would have made.

However there was only one ‘must have’ option we would have added to its RRP of $89,900 in these COVID-careful  times – the extra $2950 for a roof-mounted Truma Aventa reverse cycle air conditioner.

To be honest, it was rather strange to see air-con on the option list, as we’ve become accustomed to it being included in even budget caravans priced from the high $40,000s. But given that Zone’s premium Summit caravan of the same size retails from $189,900, but shares the same rugged hot galvanised steel chassis, 12-inch electric brakes, full high-tech closed cell composite body and one-piece composite floor, it’s a relative bargain.

Sure, the Zone Base is missing a few top-shelf trimmings.  For example, it has proven Cruisemaster XT Coil trailing arm tandem suspension instead of the Summit’s height adjustable Cruisemaster XT Airbag suspension with manual control and it misses the Summit’s Raptor-coated rear pole carrier, rear recovery points, rear bike carrier, two spare wheels, etc. All nice to have, but non-essentials.

What you still get though is Zone RV’s expertise in building light, strong and smart caravans that has given them their well-deserved reputations of being the ‘disruptor’ of the Australian caravan industry.

The first clue that you have a high-tech caravan is when you first tow the Base. A tare weight of just over 2400kg is light for a proper off-road caravan of this size, but it comes from tech, not by teasing its toughness. And as it also has an ATM of 3500kg, it has a massive payload of 1100kg.

It’s a big beast to behold, standing 3100mm tall on its Cruisemaster coil suspension, with a travel length of 8550mm and a width of 2500mm. But it’s as easy to tow as a much smaller tandem axle van, with the proviso that you need to be conscious of low-hanging branches.

If height is an issue, either for your travels or storage, you can always specify the optional height-adjustable Cruisemaster Airbag suspension, but the steel coil springs still do a great job on corrugations.

A positive feature of the Base’s height is its massive ground clearance, with the chassis needing an extended gooseneck to allow its DO-35 off-road coupling to meet off-road tow bar height, while its extensive drawbar gusseting also adds strength.

A central flat-pad jack that slides up out of the way for travelling is an easier and more effective device than a removable jockey wheel.

The Base’s only other height compromise is that its two-tier fold-down aluminium entry step has had to be located lower that usual to make entry easier, but it’s still well out of the way of any bumpy terrain or rocks you’re likely to encounter.

Other than its height, the van - like other Zone RV models - is relatively plain outside, with predominantly black graphics breaking up the white composite bodywork. ‘Look-at-me’ rainbow colour schemes are not offered and why would you want them, when white walls keep a caravan much cooler?

The front and rear walls are both windowless on the Zone Base 20.6, which is something I also like on an off-road van, as it eliminates two more potential places for dust to enter. However the rear end, with just a single, centrally-mounted spare wheel and small Zone RV graphics, looks a tad plain. A pair of wall-mounted MaxTrax, or similar, would work well here.

Another good thing for off-road travel is the large truck-mesh front stone shield on the A-frame that can easily be removed for cleaning via two chassis-mounted circlips that hold it in place. Massive mudflaps astride the A-frame and ahead of the tandem suspension and entry step, provide excellent underbody protection and the drawbar-mounted water tap also has its own stone-shield.

A large steel toolbox behind the A-frame shield incorporates twin slides for a separate portable fridge-freezer on one side and a generator on the other, while the top is designed to be a large firewood carrier.

Water and dust-proof exterior hatches on both sides of the Base 20.6 reveal a large and unencumbered full tunnel boot up front, while a wall hatch further rearward on the same side houses all the connections you need to relocate the large 24in TV outside, while its drop-down lid doubles as a picnic table.

On the other side, a smaller top-hinged hatch should be left open behind the fridge when camped to allow the fridge to breathe better in hot temperatures.

Step inside and the ambiance of the Zone Base 20.6 is clearly focussed on function, rather than luxury living. The format is familiar and well-proven: a central north-south queen bed tucked well up into the nose, flanked by twin, long hanging robes, while three large storage cupboard sit above the bedhead.

As the bed is set high to allow for the cavernous storage in the tunnel-boot and lift-up bed, it can mean a leap up for shorter people. Perhaps a built-up footwell on each side could double as shoe storage here?

In the middle of the van, an L-shaped, light grey leather clad lounge with a small-diameter seat cushion wraps around a height-adjustable rectangular table. Set at its lowest level, this table with the addition of the optional infill cushion, could serve as a spare bed for overnight visitors or children.

Opposite is the van’s long galley kitchen, which houses a three-hob gas stove and a deep sink along with loads of bench-space. Sadly, the chosen curved mixer tap doesn’t extend to the centre of the sink, so some spillage is hard to avoid. A longer tap neck please.

The van’s 24in TV/DVD sits at the right hand edge of the galley on a wall-mounted articulated arm, ahead of the Base’s Fusion AM/FM/Bluetooth sound panel. A roof-mounted digital King TV antenna is standard, along with the wiring for the van’s optional satellite dish.

The cabin colours used here are unlikely to offend – or inspire – anyone and consist of the buyer’s choice between dark grey Manhattan, or the warmer-toned Scandinavian-inspired Oslo. The walls throughout the Base 20.6 are finished in gloss white fibreglass, but with the absence of handles on the 10 cupboards that line the caravan’s upper walls, finger marks are inevitable. A matte finish would be more workable.

Great pot/plate storage is provided under the galley bench, while twin slide-out wire pantries – one on the extreme left side of the galley next to the microwave oven and a larger full-height, four-shelf one next to the fridge – should handle all your long-term grocery needs.

Similarly, the commodious dual Bushman 190-litre twin compressor fridge-freezer opposite the Dometic entry door, is large enough for extended off-grid travel and has a simple but effective latching handle to keep it closed on the bumpiest of roads.

All cupboards also have positive locking latches for spill-free off-road travel, but my head hates the sharp corners on the cupboards near the entry door and above the lounge!

If you’re planning to live off-grid in the remote areas the Base will take you to, it’s well equipped, with a pair of 120ah AGM batteries and a pair of 180W rooftop mounted glass solar panels, with the energy flow controlled by a Redarc Manager 30 system.

Optional upgrades for longer off-grid living include 200ah and 400ah Enerdrive BTEC lithium batteries and a 2000W Enerdrive ePRO inverter that would allow you to run an induction cooktop off-grid.

Standard water storage is 90 litres fresh and 100 litres grey, but up to two additional stone-shielded fresh water tanks can be optioned.

While the Base 20.6 misses out on standard air-con, it makes up for this with a Truma 4E combined gas water and ducted cabin heating system, controlled by a RedVision wall-mounted panel, plus a 12-volt Sirocco wall-mounted fan and two ceiling-mounted roof vents, each with automatic fan speeds and rain sensors.

The full ensuite which occupies the rear of the Base 20.6 is a little slimmer than the van’s overall size would suggest, but everything is there, including a very large central vanity mirror – just as well, as there’s no full length dressing mirror in the Base 20.6.

The shower cubicle is quite small and its floor is slippery smooth when wet, with no nooks to house soap or shampoo. A non-slip floor finish is a must.

Bar a few relatively minor things here and there, the Zone RV Base 20.6 is the complete all-roads caravan.

Well-engineered, well-built  and equipped with just about everything a couple might need for extended off-grid remote area travel, it lacks for little, making it an excellent choice for these tough budget-focused times.

Price: From $89,990
Travel length: 8550mm
Body width: 2500mm
Travel height: 3100mm
Tare weight: 2400kg
ATM: 3500kg
Ball weight (Tare): 185kg
Body: Composite walls, roof and floor
Chassis: Hot dipped galvanized steel
Suspension: Cruisemaster XT coil independent tandem trailing arm
Brakes: 12-inch electric drums
Wheels: Black 16-inch steel with 265/75-16 Cooper AT3 tyres
Water tanks: 90L fresh and 100L grey
Batteries: 2 x 120Ah AGM
Solar: 2 x 180W rooftop panels
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Truma 4E gas water/air heater
Cooking: Dometic three gas burner
Fridge/freezer:  Bushman 190L dual compressor
Shower: Separate internal
Toilet: Separate cassette
Lighting: LED throughout
Supplied by: Zone RV, Coolum Beach, Queensland