ZoneRV Venture

High-tech caravan builder reaches out to the masses with cheaper on-road range

With a few notable exceptions, there are two main types of mainstream Australian caravans: those that began as on-road models, but have been beefed up with bling and off-the-shelf components to grab a share of the growing adventure travel market; then there’s a handful of brands, like ZoneRV, which have gone in the opposite direction and scaled down their genuine off-roaders for lighter duties.

The Coolum Beach-based composite caravan specialist opened its doors nearly three years ago with a small range of beautifully finished, high tech, timberless off-road couple and family models.

But the volume to grow the business simply wasn’t there and with ambitious future plans founders David Biggar and Matt Johns realised there’s only a finite number of Aussies prepared to outlay $120,000-$150,000 on a caravan, notwithstanding its quality or appointments.

The solution was a range of cheaper, on-road caravans, retaining many of the most important elements of ZoneRV’s off-roaders, but with reduced, or de-specced equipment, a lighter weight to accommodate a wider range of tow vehicles and a much more affordable price tag.

Quality still there

That’s not to say in any way that choosing a ZoneRV Venture is choosing second-best. Far from it. It’s just that hands on their heart the majority of caravan buyers simply don’t intend to venture far off the beaten track, despite what they may tell their stay-at-home friends.

As ZoneRV defines it, a true ‘off-road’ caravan must not only have the ability to deal with difficult terrain, but also allow its occupants to live ‘off the grid’ for at least a week at a time.

As the Venture is not designed to go to the same remote areas, or be away from a mains power supply for as long, its base spec sustainability is set at around three days at a stretch, reducing the need to carry as many batteries, solar panels and water storage.

The 18.6, 20.6 and 21.6 Venture models all sit on the same Series 2.0 galvanised steel chassis that incorporates a laser cut and folded engineered draw bar and similarly-formed cross members to reduce weight.

They’re also fitted with lighter weight but still 3300kg-rated Cruisemaster CRS tandem trailing arm suspension, instead of the heavier and stronger XT version fitted to the off-road models, but an off-road DO-35 coupling is retained.

Smooth underbody

The Venture also looks impressively uncluttered underneath, employing the same 32mm thick one-piece composite timberless flooring as its heftier brothers and with wiring and plumbing tucked away well out of stone’s harm.

Payload on the 20.6 Venture review van is an impressive 1050kg – even more than some of ZoneRV’s off-road models – so there are few realistic limits on what you can take on holiday.

We’re happy to report that there’s no discernible difference in build quality between the cheapest and most expensive ZoneRVs – something that the company’s founders were adamant about when they launched the new, lower-priced range.

The millimetre-perfect accuracy to which ZoneRVs are being built is truly impressive. Each van begins with a CAD drafting, from which all key components are CNC cut – nothing too radical there – but it’s what happens next that makes the difference.

In most caravan factories, the caravan moves along a production line, with each team adding more parts. But in the case of ZoneRV, the chassis is anchored to a rigid metal jig – just like a chassis aligner in a top-quality automobile repair facility – to ensure all key dimensions are maintained during the construction phase.

Still clears obstacles

The Venture may not be a true off-roader, but it has impressive ground clearance nevertheless, aided by its novel ‘birds’ beak’ gusset-strengthened drawbar.

Thanks to its tandem trailing arm independent suspension, it can also venture off the bitumen for short distances with ease if required. The limiting factor here is the smaller bore shock absorbers that are part of the standard Cruisemaster CRS package that may need to be rested at periods to avoid overheating on extended corrugations.

But few on-road travellers will want to take their pristine caravan – and a pricey tow car like the latest Land-Rover Discovery 5 TD6 HSE that was hitched to our review van – that far out of their comfort zone.

Typical of ZoneRV, the Venture has clean, bling-free styling, with its white full-thickness composite fibreglass walls framed by black end-cappings and a black roll-out awning.

Being designed for bitumen touring, it also lacks the grey stone-protective Raptor urethane coating that is applied to the lower front and to the waistline of off-road ZoneRV models, while the black toolbox and twin 9kg gas bottles on the A-frame also have no stone shielding.

Weight saving measures

Walking around the Venture, you can see where weight has been pared. For example, it rolls on lower profile 245/65 Highway Terrain tyres mounted on smaller diameter 17-inch alloy wheels than the 275/70-18 rubber that’s standard on ZoneRV’s off-roaders.

The Venture’s drum brakes are 10in in diameter compared with the 12inch of the off-roaders; the thinner rear bumper is supported by just two arms and the single spare wheel is suspended underneath, between the chassis rails.

Battery capacity is also reduced to a single 120AH deep cycle battery (instead of two); fresh water storage is half the capacity with a single 100-litre tank and there’s 100W of solar power on the roof, compared with 300W.

The good news is that if you want another 100 litres of fresh water storage it will only cost another $320; an extra solar panel will add $380 and another 120AH battery is $420. So, for around $1100 you could linger, longer off the grid if you like.

If all this sounds skimpy, it’s more than enough for most travellers, who might sleep two or maybe three nights a week away from 240V and mains water. On the plus side, when they do, the Venture comes standard with 100 litres of grey water capacity, so if you do free-camp, you can leave no trace.

Streamlined interior

Inside, weight has been saved in a number of ways that don’t impact on the Venture’s comfort or on-road useability. The standard fridge is a 190-litre AES model – slightly less than the 218L compressor fridge of the equivalent off-road model – but if you’re plying major highways you’ll be able to buy fresh food more often.

Both the fridge and its adjacent pantry are now housed in a new, lightweight fibreglass enclosure; there are fewer drawers and more cupboards than in off-road models; the sliding door that separates the rear separate shower, vanity and toilet bathroom from the body of the caravan is made from composite fibreglass and an automotive-style wiring harness is now used on all ZoneRV models to reduce weight and speed production.

Another key factor in the Venture’s reduced price, which starts at $85,900 for the 18ft 6in entry model, is that it takes 100 hours less to build than an equivalent sized ZoneRV off-road model and the customer gets the savings.

Bottom line

So, what’s the bottom line?

Well, at a tare weight of 2250kg, the 20ft 6in Venture is around 200kg lighter than an equivalent-size ZoneRV off-roader, but carries around the same payload.

The price is what will matter to many people that ZoneRV hopes to attract though and at $88,900 for the review van that represents a saving of about $30,000 over an equivalent off-roader.

So, here’s the question you need to answer honestly: How far and how often, do you ever want to leave the bitumen?

We liked:

>> High-tech construction

>> Quality build and finish

>> Excellent ground clearance and massive payload

Not so much:

>> Premium pricing for an on-roader of its size (but arguably worth it)

ZoneRV Venture 20ft 6in

Overall length: 8100mm
External body length: 6250mm
External body width:2400mm
Travel height: 2950mm
Interior height: 1980mm
Nameplate Tare: 2250kg
Nameplate ATM: 3300kg
Payload: 1050kg
Ball weight: 165kg

Body: Sandwich one-piece fibreglass walls and roof, ply 32mm sandwich panel floor

Chassis: 150mm x 50mm Duragal steel
Suspension: Cruisemaster CRS tandem, independent
Brakes: Dexter 10-inch drums
Stability Control: Dexter DSC standard
Wheels: Alloy with 245/65-17 tyres
Fresh water: 1 x 100L
Battery: 1 x 120Ah deep cycle
Solar: 100W roof-mounted
Air-conditioner: Truma Aventa reverse cycle, roof-mounted
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Swift 3+1 gas/electric, cooktop and grill
Fridge: Waeco 190L three-way gas/electric
Microwave: NCE
Toilet: Dometic cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle
Lighting: LED
Price: $88,900
Supplied by:

ZoneRV, Coolum Beach, Qld

ZoneRV Venture

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