Win a Winnebago Holiday2 x 10-day holidays & more up for grabs!

Suncamper Southern CrossWhere did it go?

iMotorhome .com

.au

because getting there is half the fun...

Issue 4: June 16 2012

United we StandPutting United’s 6 Premier though its paces...

United we StandPutting United’s 6 Premier though its paces...

Eagle-eyed readers will pick that the review of the Suncamper

Southern Cross we said would feature in this week’s issue is mysteriously absent. Well done! In its place you’ll find the United 6 Premier: a New Zealand made-for-rental motorhome that Malcolm Street reviewed recently.

The reason we switched is to try and give our Kiwi neighbours a bit more local content and to try and broaden Australian readers’ exposure to the ways things are done overseas. Next issue, the Suncamper will make its delayed debut and all will be right with the world.

Speaking of New Zealand, I’d like to encourage anyone in the campervan/motorhome business ‘over there’ – or just interested in them – to keep us up-to-date on what’s going on. We Aussies are also very fond of New Zealand as a holiday destination, so travel tips, tours and attractions are also of great interest. Just don’t mention the rugby.

Moving on, we now have a professional designer as part of the iMotorhome team, who started last issue. I can’t tell you her name (international security issues) or show you her face (professional code of ethics), but I can tell you she is a she and she isn’t

the Stig (or the cat’s mother). What “she” does is bring a level of expertise and ability that far surpasses my initial two issues and which I hope you’ll notice and appreciate as she progressively refines and develops this publication. A round of applause please – for whoever she is!

In the News section you’ll read that the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia’s (CMCA) Founder, Don Whitworth, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) last weekend. The CMCA is the largest RV club in Australia and its impact on the Australian RV scene cannot be underestimated, so

On my mind...

Call us today

1800 252 201Check our website for special offers

www.keasales.com.au

The KEA experience is the perfect way to enjoy Australia. The joy of our self-contained motorhomes is to go wherever you like and do whatever you want. KEA makes this easy with unrivalled style and comfort of our customised vehicles purpose built for Australian conditions.

KEA ORIGIN - $109,000 drive away for first 20 orders (Save $10,000 of RRP $119,000)The ultimate in motorhome style and comfort*Photo supplied by Bill Savidan - Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations Magazine

SPECIAL LIMITED

OFFER

2

The iMotorhome Team

Richard RobertsonPublisher & Managing Editorrichard@imotorhome.com.au

Malcolm StreetConsulting Editormalcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Allan WhitingTechnical Editorallan@imotorhome.com.au

©2012 iMotorhome. All rights reserved. Published by iMotorhome. ABN 34 142 547 719. PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW. 2576. Contact us on 0414 604 368 or Email: info@imotorhome.com.au

it’s only fitting Don has been recognised for his outstanding contribution. I am surprised and a little dismayed, however, to find Don’s wife Erica wasn’t recognised in the same way – or any way – given she’s been there from the beginning and seems as integral to the Club as her husband is. Next year, perhaps?

Finally, thanks for your support and increasing feedback, which really seemed to get a kick along after the last issue. Maybe it’s Mrs Not-the-Stig’s refined design skills; perhaps our increasing readership or maybe you’re just feeling more comfortable with how this thing works and what we’re all about. Anyway, thanks for your support and please keep

the feedback coming.

Due to a quirk of the calendar we won’t see you for three weeks, which is 7 July, but don’t forget to follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imotorhome): it’s worth it just for the funny photos!

Richard

On my mind...

A long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer, Richard is a dedicated, long-term motorhome enthusiast.

He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia. Richard also has a passion for lifestyle-enhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.

Unquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.

If it’s available on either side of the Tasman, Malcolm has probably driven it, slept in it, reported on it, knows how it’s made and can tell you just how good it really is.

An experienced motoring writer when Japanese cars were a novelty, Allan’s career read’s like Australian motor writing royalty.

Highly experienced in or on everything from motorcycles to B-doubles, Allan also runs www.outbacktravelaustralia.com – an invaluable free resource for anyone into four-wheel driving or touring remote corners of Australia.

3

TRAK085-off to beach.v3.indd 2 4/04/12 10:04 PM

17

21

23

INSIDE26

1110

20

BRISBANE SHOW

LETTERS

TESTED

INSIDE

Despite space challenges the show must go on!

Readers write in and you can too

The Stig doesn’t come to work at iMotorhome. Read all about it!

• Well deserved Queen’s birthday honours

• Award-winning Trakkaway 770

• All go at AL-KO

ON MY MIND

NEWS

Six in a Row – Malcolm Street checks out an innovative Kiwi motorhome

TECHNICAL

MOTORHOME 101

NEXT ISSUE

CALENDAR

41

32

4544

Should the Diesel engine really be renamed?

Which RV suits your needs? Here’s food for thought...

A sneak peek at what’s coming up on July 7th!

What’s coming up soon on the RV show circuit

30 READERS’ RIgSFord Thinking – new life for an old friend

News...

In the Queen’s Birthday 2012 Honours List, the Campervan and Motorhome

Club of Australia’s (CMCA) Founder, Don Whitworth, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Don’s importance in changing the history of recreational vehicle (RV) tourism in Australia deserves respectful recognition. By pursuing his vision for, and love of, the motorhoming lifestyle, Don, along with his wife Erica, founded the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia more than 26 years ago.

On learning of the award, Don said, “I have participated in many different areas and given my time to a variety of clubs, but for the past 26 years CMCA has claimed most of my time. It has been

an incredibly gratifying journey and the support, enthusiasm and personal affiliations formed with members have made it a truly wonderful experience.”

Don’s concept of creating a national club for RV enthusiasts to share their passion and provide help to one another led to him establishing CMCA, in April 1986. For the first three years Don and Erica devoted most of their time to managing all CMCA operations from their Tweed Heads home. Subsequent years saw the Club expand and in 1996, the CMCA acquired its own premises and begin employing paid staff.

Today the National Headquarters is located in Newcastle, NSW and Don can be credited for establishing most of the

foundations from which the CMCA has grown, and introduced various Member Benefits such as the Club’s monthly magazine, The Wanderer, which is distributed to all CMCA Members free of charge.

CMCA is the largest and most influential RV Club in Australia, with more than 63,000 members and 97 Chapters, Australia-wide. The Club has had a significant impact on the RV industry through its involvement in and efforts towards developing social networks; boosting local economies by promoting domestic tourism; providing RV tourism infrastructure and minimising the environmental impact of RV tourists in rural and regional Australia.

CMCA Founder Honoured6

News...

T rakka is celebrating its Trakkaway 770 being awarded overall winner

of the Caravan World Motorhome Legends Series.

Against solid competition from some of the RV industry’s leading motorhome brands, the Trakkaway 770 won on 10 criteria including value for money, driveability, setting up on-site, suitability for intended touring, layout liveability, quality of finish, build quality, creature comforts, innovation and the X-Factor.

The Trakkaway 770 received an overall score of four-and-a-half stars out of five, with the judges commenting on the versatility and the ‘X-Factor’ appeal of the motorhome.

“Whether you’re cruising the

highways and van parks or heading for some free camping, this luxury motorhome has everything you could ask for. As cosy as all the other vehicles were, the comforts offered by the Trakka – without having to use a slide-out – were envied by all,” noted the judges.

Martin Poate, General Manager at Trakka, says that the win is a reflection of the company’s hallmark style, quality, craftsmanship and years of expertise in the RV industry.

“All of our motorhomes are proudly manufactured in Australia by our dedicated and passionate team of designers, engineers and builders,” he said.

“We are delighted to have the effort and detail in the Trakkaway 770 recognised with

such a prestigious title.”

“The comfort and ride of the Trakkaway 770 is also a tribute to the Fiat Ducato base with AL-KO chassis that provides a low centre of gravity for increased road holding and ride comfort,” Martin explained.

Over the years Trakka has received many other awards, including numerous ‘Business Most Committed to Training’ titles, ‘Best Manufacturer’ and ‘Best of The Best Business’ from the Caravan and Camping Industry Association Awards of Excellence. This latest award is confirmation of the company’s leading position within the Australasian motorhome industry.

For more information on the Trakkaway 770 or about Trakka, visit www.trakka.com.

Trakka now official Legends7

News...

O n May 25th, RV components manufacturer AL-

KO Pty Ltd officially opened a multi-million dollar research, development and manufacturing facility at its Dandenong South (Vic) headquarters.

AL-KO says it has earned a reputation for quality and innovation, developing leading-edge products for the caravan and motor home manufacturing industries, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and an advanced motorhome chassis.

All Go at AL-KO

Sven Mannfolk and Richard Dalla-Riva MLC cutting the ribbon to AL-KO’s new R&D Centre.

Continued...

8

View the all new Sunliner Monte Carlo M74 today. Available for immediate delivery!!

5 Melrose Dr, Wodonga 3690 • Ph: 02 6024 4222 • awrvworld.com.au

The Company holds patents for the ESC, worldwide, with huge global potential for use on new and used used caravans and

motorhomes that use AL-KO electric brakes.

The ESC and other AL-KO

products, including Sensabrake and AMC (AL-KO Motorhome Chassis) will be manufactured at the new Recreational Vehicle Technology Centre, which will also play a key role in research and development of new products and systems.

Managing Director Sven Mannfolk said, “Our new Recreational Vehicle Technology Centre will ensure manufacturing of the AL-KO RV products will stay put in Australia, and allows the highest quality product, R&D and Quality Assurance to remain a focus for AL-KO.”

For more information about AL-KO and its product range, visit www.alko.com.au.

News...

The AL-KO Motorhome Chassis (AMC) literally bolts to the rear of the front-wheel drive Fiat Ducato cab, providing a low floor height for easy entry and extra internal headroom, amongst other benefits.

...continued.9

Letters...

Basic info please!What about articles especially geared toward women and/or other solo travellers? Women, particularly first timers, need some really basic information about things like generators and solar panels, etc. It needs to be in plain talk. Why they might need them. What size powers what appliances, etc.

A woman I met at Aramak had had two small solar panels put on her roof because the bloke who sold them said they would power her air conditioner, heater and microwave. What a joke. But she didn’t know that and neither did I – then.

Regarding generators, I’d heard of them but didn’t really know what they did and couldn’t see the point or use of them, until I was free camping one night outside Mount Isa. It got down to -5C, my toothpaste even froze in its tube! I was bloody freezing, but the couple next to me were happy with a quiet little generator running their heater. Then I met another couple at Lake Dunn who had a diesel heater keeping them warm. All that really basic info

is badly needed by a lot of people out there.

Lynn, Port Adelaide.

Hi Lynn, Thanks for your thoughts and sorry to hear about some of the troubles you and others have/are experiencing out there as new travellers. I hope you’ll find our Motorhome 101 article on page 32 helpful. It’s a start and we’re already working on an ongoing series developing the theme further.

Terms of Confusions

Hi Team iMotorhome, Firstly, just a quick word to say the magazine is looking great. In issue 3, simple as ABC, Malcolm was a little frustrated that the industry can’t agree on a universal term for the van based motorhome (which Winnebago in Australia is calling campervans). This could be because Winnebago in the States only produce A and C-Class motorhomes.

At Trakka we do use the terms B and C-Class, but qualify a B-Class as a van-based motorhome and a C-Class as a Coachbuilt motorhome. We actually refer to all our campervans/motorhomes models as Motorcampers. I guess as Australia has used the American terms A, B and

C class for motorhomes here we probably should get it right and stick to the American definitions once and for all.

Americans refer to B-Class motorhomes as built using automotive manufactured van or panel-truck shells and C-Class motorhomes as built on an automotive van frame with a wider body section attached to the original cab section (the space over the cab can be an optional sleeping berth but it remains a C-Class).

The RVIA (Americas RVMAA) official web site clearly defines the different types. http://www.gorving.com/.

Keep up the good work.Dave.

G’day Dave, It’s great to get your input, from a manufacturer’s perspective, and it goes to show that while the categories we spoke about last week are broadly accepted, nothing is set in stone. It’s also good to look at how things are classified in America: the link you supplied is very interesting and well worth our readers checking out. Perhaps we should have called the story “Not as simple as ABC”?

10

Feature: Brisbane Show

Story and Images Richard Robertson

THE SHOWMUST GO ON!

Despite Brisbane steadily encroaching, the Queensland RV show rolls on…

Despite some of the challenges that faced Ron Chapman

and the Caravanning Queensland team, it seems the Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show proved to be its usual, successful self.

Small bus conversions, like these by the Motorhome Conversion Company, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

11

In regard to challenges, the major one is the considerable loss of one of the display areas in the RNA Showgrounds area, which meant the area formerly used as a car park was now a

display area, and on-site car parking was non-existent. Public transport was laid on, but in car-centric Australia this surely served as a major visitor deterrent.

Fortunately for most of the motorhome manufacturers and dealers, the area used by them in years past was still available and they took full advantage of it. From the show-goers’ point of view,

Feature: Brisbane Show

CMCA members kept the Club’s flag flying, offering plenty of advice and signing up new members.

VW’s Transporter continues to be the vehicle-of-choice for most campervan manufacturers, like Frontline and Ballina Campers.

12

having all the motorhome exhibitors (except Jayco) under the same roof was definitely an advantage. It was quite obvious to the casual observer watching prospective buyers move from stand-to-stand that there was considerable benefit in everybody being together.

For those who attended the Sydney show there were quite a few familiar faces: Winnebago, Sunliner, Trakka, Talvor, A’van, Jayco, Horizon, Frontline, Paradise,

Feature: Brisbane Show

Horizon Motor Homes’ big van conversions blur the boundaries between campervans and motorhomes.

13

Wirraway, Suncamper, Kea Campers and the Motorhome Conversion Company.

In addition to them, at the Brisbane show was Earth Cruiser with its 4WD conversions, Silversun Motorhomes, and slide-on manufacturer Ozcape Campers.

Feature: Brisbane Show

KEA Campers’ new and ex-rental vehicles are always popular, especially its Ford Transit van conversion, pictured here at the Company’s recent Sydney open day.

14

Feature: Brisbane Show

The 2012 Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show marks the end of this year’s major shows on the Australian circuit, but watch our show calendar for regional shows and what’s coming up in New Zealand. We’ll cover them where we can – even if it really is just and excuse for another hot dog and a good chinwag.

Another example of the Motorhome Conversion Company’s handiwork, this time on the ever-popular VW Transporter.

15

Feature: Brisbane Show

Up-market slide-ons, like this one from Queensland-based Ozcape Campers, provide a surprising amount of interior room and standard equipment.

16

Feature: Brisbane Show

Paradise and Talvor were both well represented, with Paradise’s full-length

slide-outs generating much interest.

17

Feature: Brisbane Show

Trakka’s mix of campervans and luxury motorhomes always attracts great interest. Their latest 4WD Sprinter-based Jabiru, which debuted at the recent Sydney Supershow, features unique ‘bubble mouldings’ at the rear that increase the east/west bed’s length without the need for a slide-out or any moving parts.

18

Feature: Brisbane Show

Winnebago’s vast model range was well displayed, with the wheel-chair accessible Esperance of particular interest.

19

Tested: United 6 Premier

SIX IN A ROWReview and Images by Malcolm Street

An innovative approach to touring with family or friends

20

A nyone who has done but a brief study of both rental and private

motorhomes will know that whilst most of the campervan and large-van layouts look the same, the larger rigs often have some differences. All, of course, come with the essentials like kitchen, dining and sleeping areas but it’s the latter two where differences occur. Whilst the rental market often caters for four or six people, motorhomes built for the private market are frequently just for two, with maybe a Luton bed for the grandchildren.

It’s been my experience that when travelling in a

motorhome with more than two people, the travellers in the back often get to ride in seats not overly comfortable and or right at the back, making conversation difficult as well.

Not so long ago in New Zealand, I borrowed a United Campervans United 6 Premier motorhome. A six-berth you’ll have noticed, but one with a very interesting approach to the aforementioned seating problem. Naturally, as with any motorhome it does come with the odd compromise, but read on.

The Vehicle

Underpinning the United 6 Premier is a Mercedes-

Benz Sprinter cab-chassis. It’s powered by the Benz 2.2-litre 120 kW, 360 Nm turbo-diesel motor driving through a five-speed full-auto gearbox. Like most other motorhomes the Sprinter comes out of the factory ready for a motorhome body to be built on the back.

Most NZ motorhomes come with either framed tinted windows, with smaller opening slides, or tinted acrylic hopper-style windows. This motorhome has sliding windows fitted to the Luton but the side windows are done coach style; i.e. flush-

Tested: United 6 Premier 21

glazed with sliders in various places. Visually, it certainly gives the motorhome a very modern look. Slightly detracted, I have to say, by the squarish-looking Luton peak but compensated for by the fibreglass mouldings at the rear that take away that boxy look, which too many motorhomes have.

Rental motorhomes don’t always come with good external storage but this one does, with a nice large bin at the rear that’s accessible from both sides. There is a bin, of course, for the toilet cassette but not for the gas cylinder. On the outside at least, the gas cylinder is located under the floor, mid-motorhome, and accessible by lifting a floor

Tested: United 6 Premier

The flush glass of the side windows gives a modern and distinctive appearance.

22

Tested: United 6 Premier

hatch inside. That little feature shows one of the differences between the Aussie and Kiwi gas regulations. In Australia, all gas cylinder bins require an external access door!

On the Road

With a length of 7.4 m and a width of 2.22 m, the

Six Premier isn’t a particularly small motorhome, but don’t let that deter you. I spent a few days around Hamilton and touring around the Coromandel, including when I mistakenly thought I was taking a short cut along Route

309 across the Coromandel Peninsula. The 120 kW turbo-diesel pushes the motorhome along well enough, as long as you aren’t trying to get around in record time, while the 5-speed auto gearbox, a very smooth performer, is certainly the best in its class. A few motorhomers that I met along the way thought that the slightly unusual looking Luton-peak design might affect forward and upward visibility when driving, but it wasn’t something I particularly noticed.

Living Inside

Stepping into the Premier reveals a layout that looks

slightly like the interior of a passenger bus, at least at the front. A couple of two-person seats, with seatbelts, sit directly behind the driver and with this arrangement, everyone travelling sits quite close together: an advantage for all. A disadvantage of this setup – isn’t there always one – is that there isn’t any table, but a redesign is underway and new vehicles will feature it later this year. I would also ponder whether having

23

swivelling cab-seats might be a possibility?

In the rear of the Premier is a more traditional dinette set-up in what I call a New Zealand Back: A club lounge with a table in the middle and windows all-round. I have to say that the table isn’t particularly large and six people might find things a bit of a squeeze. Under the seats there is plenty of storage space, part of which includes a small safe for valuable items. An idea I quite like but sadly cannot take advantage of with my camera gear (subtle dig for a pay rise ignored. Ed).

Forward-facing passenger seating makes enroute conversations easy.

Tested: United 6 Premier 24

All the windows are tinted, with openings at the back and front on both sides. Sensibly all, including the front cab-area, have curtains – except the kitchen, which has a roller blind. Touches like these, along with features like the stylish looking curved overhead locker doors do much to take away the rental motorhome look.

Time to Eat

Catering is handled by a well set up kitchen.

Behind the passenger seat, the bench contains a four-burner cooktop, grill and oven that sit alongside a stainless steel sink supplied by both a flick-mixer tap and a separate filtered drinking water outlet. Maximising the bench-top area, its curved shape has a drainage area included in the moulding. Under the bench-top, general storage

Wrap-around rear dinette provides panaramic views.

Tested: United 6 Premier 25

is maximised by the provision of five drawers of various sizes, including one with two shelves, pantry style, and one cupboard. Given this is a rental motorhome, most of the drawers a filled with cooking and eating essentials. Have to say there wasn’t anything missing that I thought I might have needed.

Quite close to the kitchen bench are the 130-litre compressor fridge on the

rear side of the doorway (and hence handy to the rear dinette) plus the microwave, fitted into the overhead locker area adjoining the front side of the bathroom cubicle. That might sound awkward to get at, being above the rear passenger seat, but it’s been installed flush with the shower cubicle and therefore does not offer a problem. Actually, that area is quite busy with the 12V switching, hot water switch and space-heater

controls as well as the radio/CD player and flat screen TV. The latter can really only be viewed from the rear dinette in comfort and whilst the radio does have a 2.5 mm socket for an iPod or equivalent, there’s not really anywhere to put the little gadget.

After Hours

Being a six berth motorhome, there are

plenty of beds. Above the cab the Luton bed, measuring

Tested: United 6 Premier

Curved worktop adds a nice touch. Kitchen is modern and comprehensively equipped.

26

Tested: United 6 Premier

2.19 m x 1.6 m, is the only one that does not have to be made up every night. Although not everyone likes sleeping in the Luton bed, that latter fact makes them a favourite with this writer. Naturally there’s a ladder needed to get to the bed and it’s clipped behind the passenger seat when not in

use, with steps that just pass the bare foot test (i.e. aren’t painful to stand on).

The passenger seats behind the driver’s cab have been designed so that both seat backs fold down to form up a 1.8 m x 1.3 m bed. It isn’t a difficult bed to make up in terms of folding the seat

backs over; just putting the sheets and blankets on takes a little while longer.

In the rear, the dinette can be used to make up another bed. Measuring 2.19 m x 1.69 m, it’s made-up by removing the table and dropping it to the floor, then rolling out an integrated slat-

Luton bed over cab has handy side storage but headroom isn’t enormous. Other sleeping options would be especially good with a gaggle of kids.

27

Tested: United 6 Premier

base from under the rear seat and covering it with the side cushions. It’s all quite simply done, actually.

Regarding the bathroom, unless a full-width one across the motorhome is desired then this one is not going to offer any difficulties. It comes with a Thetford bench-style cassette toilet, moulded-in vanity cabinet with a basin and a fixed-height shower. It and the basin share the same water outlet. Given the microwave oven location, the

shaving cabinet offers quite a good storage area!

What we Think

T here’s not much doubt that from a rental

perspective, the United 6 Premier offers a very interesting and practical solution for a family or group of people travelling in a motorhome: all forward facing seats, close to the driver’s cab and all reasonably comfortable for travel. A good idea from United!

I’m aware that often, six-berth motorhomes are sometimes hired by four people who desire a bit more space and so this setup would work well for them. There is, of course, a downside in that there isn’t a second dinette and so it would not be particularly practical to leave the rear bed made up all the time, which is what some travellers do.

Apart from the seating layout, the 6 Premier has all the necessary items and appliances that should be found in any motorhome. All-up not a bad little package at all: One that steps away from a more traditional rental motorhome layout and is good for a family or four adults to enjoy some quality motorhome travel time together.

United Campervans has depots in Auckland

and Christchurch – near the airports and excellent for fly/drive holidays. In addition to the 6 Premier there are also four and two-berth motorhomes/campervans available and all are less than three years old. For those on a tight budget, United also have its Alpha range: same models but all several years older. We have not put rental prices in because they are hugely

variable, depending on the time of year and what specials are available. Be sure to check the United website (www.unitedcampervans.co.nz) for these because we know from our own experience that there are often some good deals going if you are flexible with travel dates. Don’t be put off by travelling in the cooler off-season months, because this can be a great time to travel if you wrap up a bit.

If you would like to purchase a former United Campervans

rig then there are sales depots in both Auckland and Christchurch. One of the great advantages of this is that you can definitely try before you buy and know exactly what you want!

Rentals Buying

28

• Differentsix-berthlayout• Greatfortravelling

passengers• Goodinternalandexternal

storage• Flushwindowsthatgivea

coach-likelook• MercedesBenzfull-auto

gearbox

• Smalldinettetableinrear• Notableinfrontseatarea• RadiolacksiPodshelf

Manufacturer United Campervans

Model Premier Six

Base Vehicle Mercedes Benz Sprinter 316 CDI

Engine 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 120 kW @ 3800 rpm

Torque 360 Nm @ 1400-2400 rpm

Gearbox 5-speed full automatic

Brakes Discs with ABS

Tare Weight Unavailable

Gross Vehicle Mass 4490 kg

Licence Standard car

Passengers 6

External Length 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)

External Width 2.22 m (7 ft 3 in)

External Height 3.03 m (9 ft 11 in)

Internal Height 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)

Internal Luton Height 0.54 m max (1 ft 9 in)

Rear Bed Size 1.85 m x 1.3 m (6 ft 1 in x 4 ft 3 in)

Luton Bed Size 2.19 m x 1.6 m (7 ft 2 in x 5 ft 3 in)

Mid Bed Size 2.0 m x 1.69 m (6 ft 7 in x 5 ft 6 in)

Cooktop Smev 4-burner, grill and oven

Fridge Isotherm 12V 130-litre

Lighting 12V LED

Batteries 2 x 115 amp hour

Solar Panels Wiring provided

Heater & Hot water Truma gas space heater

Toilet Thetford Bench cassette

Shower Fixed height

Hot water heater Suburban 14-litre

Water Tank 93-litre fresh/93-litre grey

Price Ex Factory Only available ex-rental, check for pricing.

Pros

Cons

Contact

Specifications

United Campervans3 Kingsford Smith Place, Airport OaksMangere, Auckland 2022. NZT: +64 (9) 275 9969W: www.unitedcampervan.co.nz

Tested: United 6 Premier 29

Not everyone can afford, or wants, a factory-built motorhome or

campervan. Colin Harrison contacted us following a Facebook post in which we asked what sorts of vehicles readers would like to see featured, and asked if we were planning to run any DIY articles.

DIY conversions can be fraught with difficulties, especially on larger vehicles.

Add to the mix the legal implications of Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliance and Sate and Territory registration requirements, and it’s not a path we really recommend people heading down. However, as you’ll see, at a more basic level it can be a solution to an individual situation, but if you’re interested in trying it yourself be sure to seek advice from a qualified engineer first.

Here, then, is the story of Colin’s DIY Ford Transit conversion, which he hopes will inspire others to get out here and give it a go. If you’ve got an unusual motorhome, campervan, fifth-wheeler or slide-on and would like to see it featured in iMotorhome, just drop us a line to info@imotorhome.com.au. On ya, Col – you might have started something big!

Custom Motorhomes: DIY

Custom Transit camper keeps an old friendship going strong...

Ford Thinking

30

“Here is a series of photos that I have taken of the Ford Transit I converted to a camper.”

“The Transit started life as my work van, when I was an owner-driver courier, but when I found paid employment in the same field the decision was made to keep it and convert it. It has now done 370,000 km and still purrs along, with the diesel motor sitting at 2500 rpm at 100 km/h and giving 10 km/l (about 27

mpg – Ed), which considering its size and weight, is pretty good.”

“To the conversion. Before I did anything, I spent time looking at

pro fit outs, and what I didn’t like about most of them was that to do anything, like cook a meal or boil the billy, you had to

be inside the thing. As I had always been into camping and fishing, I had already acquired the gear, so it was more a matter of storing it safely and conveniently.”

“A raised floor was created to form a queen sized bed, with storage underneath, as can be seen in the pictures. Up fron

t I have used plastic drawers for regularly needed items and there’s an Autofridge and a Waeco cooler/heater, both running off a deep cycle battery with isolator. I still have the cargo barrier fitted from the courier work.”“I then started looking at an awning for outside, but found them way too expensive. Solution is a poly tarp, old tent poles, ropes, pegs, and stainless steel fittings to attach to the roof gutt

er. Simple, cheap and effective, which pretty much sums up the whole conversion.” “So that’s my conversion. Nothing flash, simple but effective, a

nd cheap. I would like to be able to think that I’ve inspired others to give it a go themselves. Now, how about some articles on the free camping sites we have, such as from Seaspray to Paradise Beach in Victoria?”Keep up the great work, Colin Harrison.

Custom Motorhomes: DIY

Nothing flash but it does the job! Awning anchor points are innovative and sturdy, too.

31

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Not all recreational vehicles (RVs) are created equal. In

Australia, the market is dominated by caravans, but it’s not so in other lands. If you’re in the market for your first RV you should carefully consider the different types available and how they suit

your budget, circumstance, abilities and travel preferences.

Essentially, you can divide the RV market into six popular categories: campervans, camper trailers, caravans, fifth-wheels, motorhomes and slide-ons. Each has its pros and cons and each suits people differently. Choose the

right one and it’s a marriage made in heaven. Choose the wrong one and, well, you can guess the rest. Think of it as the agony of choice, but be thankful if you have a choice.

Here’s a quick and by no-means exhaustive look at the pros and cons for each RV type.

Story and images by Malcolm Street

Think carefully about what kind of RV best suits your needs...

The Agony of ChoiCe No matter what you choose,

any RV is great fun!

32

CampervansPros: • Lowest-cost entry to self-

powered RV market

• Can replace a car as only transport, or serve as a second vehicle

• Manoeuvrable, easy to park and cheap(ish) to run

• Great for solo travellers

• Good security for belongings and when free-camping

• Easy to park on a suburban street or in a small driveway

• Quick set-up/pack-up, not weather affected (unless you have a free standing tent on the back!)

• Useful for day trips (roadside cuppa and/or nap)

• Useful when shopping (fridge keeps things cold, plenty of storage space)

• DIY a possibility for the enthusiast

Cons: • Need to close-up/pack-up

to move

• Can lose camp site when away

• Too big for many garages and some underground car parks

• Bed options limited

• No bathroom

• Limited storage for longer trips

• Rego, insurance and running costs if just an extra vehicle

• DIY conversions can open Pandora’s Box of rego/compliance and insurance issues

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Big campervans, like this KEA Ford Transit, are great for solo travellers and cooperative couples.

Swivelling front seats make a big difference.

33

Camper TrailersPros: • Most per-square-metre bang

for your buck

• Wide price range ‘accommodates’ even tiny budgets

• Great value family accommodation, especially with younger kids

• Makes a great base camp to go exploring from

• Easy to store in average yard

• Proper off-road units hugely capable and beautifully engineered

• Enormous range of layouts and fitouts

• Upmarket units can be quick to set-up/pack-up

• Wide range of options, including bathroom in some

• The more you can afford, the better they get

• Cheapest in terms of rego, insurance, service and parts

Cons: • Requires suitable tow vehicle

and appropriate hitch

• Heavier units need larger tow vehicles. Check ball-weight rating as well as tow rating

• Towing/hitching not for everyone, especially singles.

• Limits parking options when shopping for supplies and/or stopping enroute

• Tedious set-up/pack-up with many units – especially cheaper ones

• Lack of security when set-up but unattended

• Price-wise, you largely get what you pay for

• Potential weather-proofing issues

• Lots of canvas that requires drying out

• Cheapest units very basic

• Beware back-yard conversions with poor quality and potential rego/compliance issues

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Camper trailers are a hassle to set-up and pack away but provide a lot of room and are great for kids.

Camper trailer or caravan? Tough call...

34

CaravansPros: • Bewildering variety means

there’s something for most budgets

• Myriad layout options

• Bathrooms increasingly common

• Models to suit smaller cars available

• Good security when travelling and in camp

• Best suited to drive-and-stay-awhile touring

• Makes a great base-camp to go exploring from

• Affordable in terms of rego, insurance, service and parts

Cons:• Bewildering variety means

you can go ‘round in circles for ever trying to choose

• Requires suitable tow vehicle (sometimes very large) and appropriate hitch

• Can be difficult to park/manoeuvre at home and when travelling

• Towing/hitching not for everyone, especially singles. Towing course recommended!

• Daily hitching/un-hitching, levelling and connecting can get tedious

• Limits parking options when shopping for supplies and/or stopping enroute

• Big vans need big tow vehicles. Check ball-weight rating as well as tow rating

• Tow vehicle fuel consumption can go through roof. Check fuel range (and budget!)

• Price-wise, you largely get what you pay for

• Many caravans not suited to free-camping (no fresh/grey water tanks, water pumps or house batteries)

• Beware of off-road vans that aren’t

• Beware specialist off-road vans (especially) that weigh more than the Queen Mary 2

• Beware of overloading

• Poor load distribution can have marked effect on vehicle stability

• Adversely affected by strong winds

• Can jack-knife under emergency braking/sharp steering inputs

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Caravans come in all shapes and sizes, but big ones need equally big/capable tow vehicles.

35

Fifth-WheelerPros:• Easier to hitch/un-hitch than

a caravan (and you can see it over your shoulder/in the mirror) and better suited to daily travel and single travellers

• More stable than a caravan due to the semi-trailer style hitch/turntable, which puts weight directly over the tow vehicle’s rear suspension. Also, the long distance between the hitch and the unit’s wheels provides increased longitudinal stability

• Easier to reverse than a caravan (less sensitive to steering inputs)

• More space efficient than a caravan due to the over-tow-vehicle bedroom

• More stable in cross winds and on bad road surfaces (won’t sway like a caravan can)

• The best riding units have the axles set towards the rear, like a semi-trailer

• Far more popular in USA than caravans due to an

abundance of big tow vehicles

• Smaller, locally-produced units go well with smaller utes and are far more fuel efficient

• Makes a great base-camp to go exploring from

• Affordable in terms of rego, insurance, service and parts

Fifth-wheelers are gaining popularity in Australia as they’re safer and easier to tow than a caravan.

iMotorhome 101: The Basics 36

Cons:• Requires a ute, tray-top or

small light truck which, if not your primary driving vehicle, is an extra purchase and on-going expense

• Can still jack-knife under emergency braking/sharp steering inputs

• Like a caravan, it requires the driver to leave the accommodation to access

the tow vehicle if security threatened, say when free-camping

• Some rough-road units available but no off-road units that we’re aware of

• Big, imported American units require big tow vehicles and their suspension is not always at home on rough Australian roads

• Also, if the axles are set towards the middle of the vehicle it will develop pitching over bumps and rough roads that tries to lift the tow vehicle’s rear wheels up. Not only does this reduce stability, it’s uncomfortable and can even induce motion sickness

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Fifth wheelers come in many styles and sizes and smaller units, like these, work especially well with Japanese 4WD utes.

37

MotorhomesPros:• Wide variety of makes and

models available, most with bathrooms and many home comforts

• Smaller units quite affordable, especially compared to a caravan/fifth-wheel and tow-vehicle combo

• Surprising number of motorhomes can be driven on a normal car licence

• Raised driving height highly desirable/enjoyable

• Raised living height provides better views and reduces

chances of middle-of-the-night flooding or animal/insect visits

• A-Class vehicles with front lounge and captain’s chairs provide truly panoramic views

• Makes travelling fun because driving, parking, reversing and manoeuvring are more enjoyable than when towing

• Excellent space efficiencies make even smaller units good for couples – and excellent for singles – especially the large van conversions (aka motorcampers)

• Quick set-up/pack-up and no need to exit vehicle if weather really bad. Just stop and enjoy. Excellent for single travellers, too

• Excellent security when free-camping. Can just drive off if feeling unsafe.

• Smaller Euro-based motorhomes can be surprisingly fuel efficient, especially when driven gently

• Best for on-the-go holidays with short stays and lots of daily travel

• Excellent for remote and longer-term free-camping. Easier to make power and water independent

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Motorhomes usually have all the comforts of home

38

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Cons:• Can be expensive, especially

the larger units

• Ongoing rego, insurance and maintenance costs in addition to your day-to-day car, at home

• Bigger units, like A-Class and big bus conversions, can prove very thirsty

• Can be difficult to find suitable parking at home

• Have to pack-up to go anywhere – every time

• Can lose campsite when out and about

• Vehicle height and weight must be considered, especially with larger vehicles, as many roads and bridges have limitations.

Also need to watch tress branches, road signs, etc

• Can be difficult to manoeuvre in some caravan parks

• Secondary transport needed for go-and-stay holidays

• Special drivers’ licence required for many motorhomes

Motorhome styles and prices vary widely, so do plenty of research to find out what works for you.

39

iMotorhome 101: The Basics

Slide-OnsPros:• A tow-free alternative to a

camper trailer or tent

• Models to fit utes or tray-backs

• Basic models can be very cost-effective entry to weather-proof touring

• Tray-back models can be quite spacious

• Bigger units have bathrooms

• Over-cab beds are usually quite big

• Good for both daily travel and stop-and-stay touring

• Can leave at camp to secure your site and use vehicle for local sightseeing

• Most secure than a camper trailer when unattended

• Easy set-up/pack-up (when left on vehicle) and good for singles

• Many have powered legs for easier loading/unloading, and for levelling when on the ground

• Good remote area access on suitable 4WD

• No registration or insurance requirements

• Great views from lofty perch!

Cons:• Can be tricky to load/unload

until well practiced. Not a 5-minute job

• Requires ute or tray-back host vehicle

• Some require mods to host vehicle to attach tie-down points

• Can increase fuel consumption considerably, especially if the distance between the vehicle’s cab roof and the over-cab bed isn’t snug

• Load height detracts from vehicle stability, especially if exploring off-road. Might require supplementary suspension mods, like air-bags or heavy-duty shocks and springs

• Overall height needs to be considered when travelling

• Storage space at a premium

• Access when on-vehicle can be tricky, requiring long/tall stairs, usually without handrails, so not good for older travellers or those with

• Limited water carrying capacities

• Bigger units heavy and need serious, American-style host vehicle

• Can be difficult to store at home. Not suited to on-street parking mobility issues

Slid-ons are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Long/tall stairs aren’t for everyone.

40

Most people think the internal combustion (IC)

engine was invented in the late 1800s, but the principle of internal combustion was demonstrated by Dutch scientist Christian Huygens way back in 1673. In the Huygens engine, a piston was blown upwards in a cylinder by a gunpowder explosion.

When the resulting hot

gases in the cylinder cooled, atmospheric pressure forced the piston down again, completing its ‘working’ stroke.

Other experimenters followed in Huygens’ footsteps, using flammable gases to drive pistons. These early internal combustion engines had little practical value, but proved the IC principle that is still employed in today’s engines.

Success at last!The first successful IC engine was patented by French engineer J. J. E. Lenoir, in 1860. In this engine design the piston, for the first half of its stroke, drew in a mixture or air and flammable gas that was then ignited by a spark. The resulting expanding hot gases pushed the piston through the second half of its stroke, before escaping to the atmosphere. The flywheel

Should the ‘Diesel’ Really Be Called an ‘Akroyd’?

Technical...

Allan Whiting explores the convoluted origins of the diesel engine...

Modern diesels owe everything to early engines like this Akroyd.

41

maintained the piston’s momentum as it returned, drawing from the other end of the cylinder an air/gas mixture that was ignited by a spark.

The next major design improvement was initiated by Dr N. A. Otto, in 1876. The Otto engine compressed the air/gas mixture before ignition, greatly improving thermal

efficiency and fuel economy. This design was the first ‘four-stroke’ engine (the most common engine cycle type used today – Ed).

In Otto’s engine, the first stroke of the piston served to suck in an air/gas mixture; the second stroke compressed the mixture; the third stroke was a power stroke, following ignition, and the fourth stroke pushed the burnt gases out of the cylinder. Ignition was accomplished by exposing the air/gas charge to a flame, a heated tube or by using an electrical spark.

Fuel for Thought

At this stage of IC engine development the principal fuel

used was coal gas; it being readily available as a light and heat source for industry and homes, and all early IC engines were stationary ones.

The need for a portable fuel led to the development of petroleum spirit, but the high cost and highly dangerous nature of it sent inventors looking for engine designs that would operate on a cheaper and safer liquid fuel, such as paraffin.

The first successful oil-fired engine was built in the UK by Priestman Bros, in 1885. In this engine, oil was sprayed into a manifold vaporiser (heated by exhaust gases) where it mixed with air, before

Technical...

Herbert Akroyd Stuart and one of his earliest engines.

42

being drawn into the cylinder. An external lamp was used for starting the engine.

Compressing an inflammable air/gas mixture made the early IC engine developers only too familiar with the phenomenon of pre-ignition, when the mixture exploded before the ignition was triggered, causing severe engine damage.

A solution to the pre-ignition problem was sought by a British inventor, Herbert Akroyd Stuart, who patented his compression-ignition engine in 1890.

In this engine only air was drawn into the cylinder on the induction stroke, eliminating the risk of pre-ignition. The oil fuel was sprayed into a bulb-shaped extension of the cylinder, where it was ignited by the heat of the compressed air inside the cylinder. The bulb was heated by a blow-lamp for starting.

The Akroyd Stuart engine used a mechanical pump to spray fuel into the engine and this ‘solid injection’ system employed the principle used in subsequent automotive compression ignition injection systems.

Richard Hornsby and Sons Ltd produced several Akroyd Stuart engines in 1892-93, one of which was still operating in a Bletchley timber yard in the late 1920s.

Enter Dr DieselOver in Germany, in 1892, the man whose name would be forever associated with the compression ignition engine, Dr Rudolph Diesel, had worked out mathematically that a compression ignition engine had thermodynamic advantages over a spark-ignition one.

In his design there was no need for an external heat source, for starting.

Because pulverised coal was Rudolph Diesel’s first choice his early engine designs used air-blast injection, but the coal-fuelled engine proved cranky and one exploded, killing a laboratory assistant. Development of Diesel’s engines by MAN and Krupp saw oil-fuel injection largely adopted.

Herbert Akroyd Stuart died in 1937, having seen developments of his and Dr Rudolph Diesel’s engine designs power the modern world. Diesel wasn’t so fortunate, being lost at sea in 1913 under mysterious circumstances, largely believed to be suicide. Still, the compression ignition engine lives on in what we now all know as a diesel engine; it’s past and path to popularity as interesting, twisting and involved as the century-and-a-bit that has passed since its inception.

Technical...

Dr Rudolph Diesel and the first ‘Diesel’ engine.

43

SEPTEMBER 7-9Penrith Caravan, Camping & Holiday ExpoPenrith Panthers,Mulgoa Rd, Penrith. NSW.

• Open 9:00-5:00 daily (4:00 pm last day)

• Free parking• Free entry

• Website: http://penrith.supershow.com.au/

JULY 27-29Sydney Retirement & Lifestyle ExpoRosehill Gardens Racecourse. NSW

• Open 10:00-4:00 daily• Free parking• Adults $ Not stated• Pensioners $ Not stated

• Website: http://www.emsaust.com.au/Sydney-Retirement-Lifestyle-Ex-po.html

SEPTEMBER 14-16Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor SupershowASB Showgrounds 217 Green Lane West Greenlane (AKL). NZ.

• Open 09:00-5:00 daily• Parking $6• Entry $15

• Website: www.super-show.co.nz

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes, campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general?

Drop us a line at info@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll happily promote it in this calendar.

Show Calendar... 44

Next Issue...

Next issue we absolutely hand-on-a-stack-of-Bibles promise to bring

you the Suncamper Southern Cross review. Just to refresh your memory, the Southern Cross is a handy little B-Class motorhome based on Ford’s ubiquitous Transit that could be just what you’re looking for.

We’ll also be reviewing the Paradise Oasis: A luxury Sprinter van conversion with a slide-out bed that truly blurs

the accepted boundaries between campervans and motorhomes. Call it what you will, we believe you’ll be mighty impressed with what Paradise has done to Mercedes’ not-so-humble delivery van.

Our Motorhome 101 series continues, as do our technical articles with Allan Whiting. If you have a interesting vehicle you’d like to share with everyone, send us some photos and tell us its story

and we’ll try and make you both famous! Don’t forget to include a photo of you yourself, either.

Due to a quirk of the calendar we won’t see you for three weeks now, which is Saturday July 7th. In the mean time don’t forget to follow all the fun on Facebook (www.facebook.com/iMotorhome) and Twitter (@iMotorhomeMag)!

Drive safely!

NEXT TIME FOR SURE!45