! n i W
the r o f 0 $5 ter! t e l t s be
AUGUST 2018
MAGAZINE
In Their Element Ben and Michael MacLean enter the luxury coachbuilt market‌ Tested
Auto-Sleepers Nuevo
Reader Report Folding electric bikes
Carthago chic c-line I 5.0 S
Travel
Escorted Motorhome Tours
2 | About iMotorhome
iMotorhome Magazine is published monthly and available by subscription from www.imotorhome.com.au. Your letters and contributions are always welcome!
Editorial
Design & Production
Richard Robertson
Agnes Nielsen
Publisher/Managing Editor
Manager/Lead Designer
(+61) 0414 604 368
agnes@imotorhome.com.au
richard@imotorhome.com.au Christopher O’Hare Malcolm Street
Designer
Road Test Editor
chris@imotorhome.com.au
(+61) 0418 256 126 malcolm@imotorhome.com.au
Published by iMotorhome PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW 2776. Australia.
Contributors
ABN: 34 142 547 719
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E: info@imotorhome.com.au W: www.imotorhome.com.au
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4 | On My Mind
Seize The Carp… I like fishing. Well, I did when I was a kid. Actually, I haven’t fished for decades, but the concept still appeals – apart from the bit where you have to kill the fish. And gut it. Truth be known, that’s probably why I haven’t fished for decades, but I still like the idea. I think it’s the serenity of sitting there and the hopetinged expectation of reward for your patience that is the lure (pardon the pun). It’s also just relaxing… I mention this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, with the launch of our app and the move to paid subscriptions, plus keeping #RV Magazine in America going, it’s been a long time since life was relaxing. Well, apart from last weekend, when Mrs IM and I – plus our good friends Jan and Andrew, who some of you met on our Route 66 and Taste of New Zealand tours – ‘escaped’ to Tasmania for a three night break. The purpose of the trip was a long Friday lunch at Fat Pig Farm, the restaurant opened by former Sydney food critic, Matthew Evans, and subject of the TV show Gourmet Farmer (but that’s another story). We spent two nights in a B&B and the final night in a Hobart dockside hotel, and apart from email there wasn’t a business thing associated with the trip nor a motorhome in sight (actually, there was a motorhome parked right outside the hotel in Hobart, and I’m sure somebody put it there for fun!). Including a pre-departure night at a Sydney Airport hotel it was the most relaxing thing we’ve done in ages and it made me remember the importance of stopping to smell the roses, as they say. The second reason for I mention the concept of taking time out is due to the sudden and unexpected downward spiral of my 87 year old Father-In-Law’s health. As they say, 87 is a good innings, but both in-laws have enjoyed
‘robust’ health and until now have largely managed to navigate a trouble-free course through later life while many around them fall by the wayside. For years, every winter they have escaped Australia and cruised to or from (or both) Europe and the UK. Unfortunately, this year the old fella had a fall that led to an undetected brain bleed and turned a six week holiday into a four month ordeal. Both are now (just) back in Australia, although he’s still in hospital and appears to have months of rehab ahead before returning home – if that ever happens. The bottom line to all this is we never know what tomorrow will bring and carpe diem – seize the day – seems an entirely appropriate cliché. Which brings me back to fishing, and the notion of casting a line into the Murray River and perhaps seizing some pesky carp from its murky waters. I’m sure you don’t need reminding how precious is good health and how short life is. Just be sure to appreciate both and take the time to enjoy them. Finally, if you’re reading this it means you’ve either bought a copy of iMotorhome Magazine or taken a subscription, and for that I – we, the team – thank you. It’s a brave new world (for want of a better cliché) and without you we can’t keep the lights on. Please spread the word and encourage your motorhoming friends to join us. Of course, while doing that don’t forget to stop and smell those roses, or catch some fish…
Richard
ISSUE 5 ! NOW OUT e
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6 | Contents
4
On my Mind
10
On Your Mind
Seize the carp
Share your thoughts for the chance to win $50!
8 16
Street View Haera Mai!
News What’s happening in the wider RV world and beyond
30 Tested: Latitude Motorhomes Element 27 40
Tested: Carthago chic c-line I 5.0S
54
Tested: Auto-Sleepers Nuevo
66
Product Review
74
Travel
84
Wanda
94
MobileTech
Nitro Maxx LED Light Bar
Escorted Motorhome Tours
24 Hours
Blogging Apps!
68
Reader Review
80
Travel
90
Travel
98
Next Issue
Folding e-Bikes
Grandvewe Cheese
Three more RV Friendly Towns
What’s coming up!
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8 | Street View
Haera Mai!
W
ell winter time is certainly with us and I am looking forward to a week or so buzzing around the slopes of Treble Cone and Cardrona (on skis I’d like to point out, not in a motorhome). Consequently, I’m hoping for blizzard like conditions in the week prior and sunny skies when I am there. Weather and temperatures are very much in the eye of the beholder, are they not? Earlier last month I was heading for the NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan and Leisure Show at Christchurch and some of the good folk in Auckland said something like, “Good luck, it’s freezing down there!”. Actually it wasn’t; just a bit windy and I had a pleasant look around the show. I didn’t see anything particularly new on the larger scale but a few smaller but effective items caught my eye. Here’s a snapshot look:
Floor Hatches Quite a few European motorhomes, especially anything with a double floor (in contrast to NZ and Australian motorhomes), often have a floor hatch giving easy access to the water tanks. It does make inspection and cleaning incredibly easy, especially the grey water tank.
on the lip of the door frame. This made it much easier to get things in and out, and significantly reduced the risk of damage to the lower edge of the door frame. Such a simple idea, so why isn’t it common?
Concealed Shelves In many a motorhome with an island bed, there are wardrobes on either side of the bed. Depending on the depth of the wardrobe, there are either minimal or no bedside shelves. What this manufacturer did was to move the wardrobes forward, off the wall, and fit
Well Placed Angle In a French-built motorhome – a Le Voyageur – both the large rear garage and the battery compartment had a piece of stainless steel
continued...
Street View | 9
continued...
some shelves behind, between the back of the wardrobes and the wall. It’s a simple idea meaning the shelves are close to hand rather than and arm stretch away. In the same pic you’ll note some concealed but very effective LED lighting too.
Peugeot Power Peugeot motorhomes aren’t exactly common in NZ and I have never had the opportunity for a test drive. The RV Leisure Centre imports Elddis motorhomes, which are Peugeot powered and I had the opportunity for a test drive in a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Boxer with a manual six speed gearbox. The Peugeot is really a Fiat Ducato by another name and looks somewhat familiar. The turbo diesel is a spirited performer and much better I reckon with the manual gearbox, than the more hesitant AMT boxes. Something the motorhome owner whom I had a chat with was also happy with.
That’s the show from my viewpoint. Safe travels!
Haere ra!
Malcolm
10 | On your mind
WIN $50 FOR THE BEST LETTER!
It’s only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind, you should be able to have yours too. letters@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll If you have anything to say – or ask – just drop a line to share it with our readers. We’ll also reward the most interesting, useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way.
Off Ya Bike! Dear Richard. I belong to the legions of readers who enjoy your heartfelt editorials which frequently share your work and life challenges. My sympathy to Mrs iMotorhome for her wrist injury, caused by engaging in that most frightening of activities - bike riding. When I purchased a motorhome, I paid extra for a double bike rack to be installed, but due to my fear of all things dangerous, I have never used it for its intended purpose. My reasons are these:1. Many picturesque free camps with facilities are provided in the centre of towns or nearby, so walking is a pleasure once the motorhome is parked. Examples of central free camps include Goondiwindi, Kilcoy, Wondai, Grenfell, Ararat, St Arnaud and Maryborough, Queensland. 2. I don’t need a ‘treadly’ to go shopping. I never run out of the proverbial milk, because I plan ahead and shop at the supermarket before parking for the night.
Skin cancers are a major issue for us active retirees. 5. W hile walking, I seem to be more available for a chat with the locals. 6. I t is a bit time-consuming and awkward to prepare for a bike ride, e.g. getting the bike off its frame, checking and pumping the tyres, wiping the dust, grime and rainwater off and putting on the Lycra. In this time span I have ordered my cappuccino at the nearest cafe! 7. A bike needs to be propped up and secured on arrival somewhere. The rider needs to return to that location to collect it, whereas a walker can go on a spontaneous route and not have to carry a cumbersome helmet under their arm.
3. S ome RSLs and other entertainment venues provide a free courtesy bus service to collect and return patrons, even from free camps within a certain radius of the venue.
8. I had a lip and knee-splitting fall from my stationary bike when my shoe slipped on a pedal as I was mounting. The bike and I went sprawling, and I landed heavily on my face. I always feared suffering broken front teeth through a bike accident. A broken limb from a bike accident would be very inconvenient while travelling away from home (or even at home!)
4. W hile walking, I can wear a large-brimmed hat or put up an umbrella to protect me from the fierce sun, but a helmet is much less shady.
9. W e are supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day. I have learnt to seek and embrace opportunities to walk, rather than sit on a
On your mind | 11 bicycle seat. Walking counteracts being seated during the day’s journey in a motorhome. 10. B ike riding, unless for competition or long distance riding, is surprisingly less effective for exercise compared to walking. My walking companion, who had only previously ridden a bike for exercise, would get puffed when walking alongside me. 11. A t times I have been offered a car ride or local tour by friendly caravan campers or others with a car who want company, so I don’t seem to miss out on a quick trip or scenic tour. 12. I don’t want to battle a biking setback such as a flat or punctured tyre, especially on a remote track. These misadventures always occur during a heavy rain storm! Pot holes are a hazard too, especially when encountered at speed.
of us have ridden since then. Apart from making me reassess the risk vis-a-vis the business, I’ve also been dealing with a skin cancer on my nose (more likely related to a misspent youth and Scottish skin than more recent cycling activities, but certainly not helped). However, I am about to embark on my two wheels adventures, although in a more circumspect way. While you raise some valid points I disagree with your assertion that walking is better exercise than cycling. It has been proven that running, swimming and cycling are better aerobic exercises than walking and I’d suggest your friend was simply less fit than you or had other issues causing them to be ‘puffed’ when walking beside you. Having said that, walking is better for bone density than cycling as it’s load bearing, and so doing both is a great idea!
Regardless of your preferred method of motion, the main thing is to be moving. Sitting all day, be it in a motorhome, on the lounge or behind a desk, 13. S ome country roads are very narrow and doesn’t do anyone any good. For Grey Nomads, have steep embankments. Bike riders are add in the temptation to overindulge in the the obliged to ride on the left, but consequently ‘treats’ along the way, plus happy hour, and it’s do not see upcoming vehicles (or silent heartno wonder there’s an epidemic of obesity in our stopping other cyclists) from behind. Walkers society, especially in older people. Interestingly, walk on the right side of the road facing since late January Mrs IM and I have been oncoming vehicles, and can easily move off following Dr Michael Mosley’s 5:2 diet (five days the road if necessary. of normal eating and any two non-consecutive days of fasting, per week), which reportedly For all these reasons, it is now Shank’s Pony has been proven to not only reduce weight, but for me and my ‘You Beaut’ bike rack has been repurposed as a convenient fold-down clothesline also improve cardiovascular fitness and in many ways mimic the effects of regular exercise. It has when travelling on the road! I want you to stay certainly worked for us physically – I’ve lost the safe, so you can keep writing those great best part of 10 kg – while mentally, it has helped editorials. . keep me ‘sane’ during this protracted period of Yours sincerely (with two feet on the physical inactivity. I think it’s the discipline of the ground), Di fast – actually a 75% reduction in kilojoule intake for each day (usually Tuesdays and Thursdays Dear Di, thanks for your kind words and wishes, for us) rather than not eating at all – that helps. and your many insights into the perils of the Anyway, please accept this issue’s $50 prize for dreaded ‘treadly’. Mrs iM is now back at work and sharing your insights, it should go some way to fully recovered from her ‘tragic dismount’ on April buying a good pair of walking shoes! Fools Day (no correlation I’m sure!), but neither
12 | On your mind
Back To Front? Thanks for a great on-line magazine and am happy to pay for access to it in the future. I read with interest the article on Project Polly “In Contact” as tyres are so often just an afterthought for many people. But tyres are the only things that allow steering, braking and acceleration of the vehicle to actually occur.
If one wants a good simple explanation of how tyres work and why the best ones must go on the rear, I suggest reading Ben Collins (better known as Top Gear’s ‘The Stig’) book on How to Drive.
BUT, I was dismayed to see that the words, “Decided on a new pair of tyres, which would go on the front”, appear and amazed that the tyre fitters did not advise against this. This is the worst decision that one can make as it means that there is more grip on the front than the rear and as a consequence will induce oversteer. Oversteer means that the vehicle is unstable (doing a spin tail first) and the vehicle is far more likely to roll than the safer fail mode of understeer. That is why all vehicles are designed to understeer. In a motorhome with a relatively high centre of gravity it is even more important to not induce oversteer to reduce the potential for roll over. Although placing the best tyres on the front does minimise one’s braking distance, this is less important than keeping the vehicle stable and under control. Roll-over type crashes are far more likely to result in a critical or fatal injury than a rear end crash where property damage is the most likely result.
Thanks for your letter and interesting comments. I’ve never fitted new tyres to the back, nor been advised to by any tyre dealer, given that wet weather steering and braking are of such importance. I have to say that in many years of driving heavy vehicles, including motorhomes, trucks and coaches, I’ve never encountered an oversteer situation.
Cheers, Tom.
I should point out that the tread on Polly’s rear tyres is perfectly sound – the tyres are at about half life I’d estimate – and so there’s no likelihood of an unexpected loss of grip should it ever rain again (which seems unlikely in our part of the world these days!) While Polly is rear-wheel drive, she has traction and stability controls that would help keep her in check in marginal situations. In a front-wheel drive machine I’d think – just my opinion – that fitting new tyres to the steering and driving wheels would be even more important. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts, which I’ll share with readers next issue and see what they say.
Or Similar! Your piece in the latest edition of iMotorhome about your 25-foot Minnie Winnie becoming a 28’10” Winnebago Outlook reminded me of my research before buying my Toyota HiAce camper. I had planned to hire a Toyota HiAce for a week to see if it was the right vehicle for me, when a
relocation offer lobbed into my email inbox. The 2012 solar eclipse in Northern Australia was coming up and they needed vans relocated from Melbourne to Cairns. What I was offered was effectively a free holiday if I drove a camper to Cairns in time for it to be rented out during the eclipse. I rang to check the details and they continued..
14 | On your mind continued..
confirmed I could have a Toyota HiAce with two single beds for $, refundable on delivery to Cairns in good order and condition within 10 days. The company even offered to pay for the fuel and my return airfare. How could I refuse? My brother in-law was coming with me to share the driving and the adventure, which was going to be a good test of the vehicle I was considering buying. Unfortunately, the night before we were due to depart my brother in-law came down with the flu, but I decided to go ahead in any event. When I fronted up to collect the vehicle the next morning I was told the Toyota had been booked the day before by a paying customer so my vehicle was to be a six berth Mercedes Benz diesel (see photo). I really rattled around on my own in such a big vehicle, but thoroughly enjoyed
the trip and it did help me clarify a few things about what I wanted in a camper. We still laugh about me driving that big Mercedes all the way to Cairns back in 2012. Kind regards, Colin. Good to hear it’s not just me the auto-rental industry seems to target! If Mrs iM hadn’t been with me I’d certainly have been rattling around in the big Outlook, but for the two of us it was fine. I have to say my ‘perfect’ motorhome is either a larger van conversion or a smaller, Euro-style B-class. Rental relocations can be great value and good fun – it’s how we’ve often travelled in the U.S. – and probably will again at some stage. You should try one over there, it really is another world…
INTR
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16 | News
READER WEEKEND
R
egrettably, the next iMotorhome Reader Weekend, tentatively pencilled in for 9 to 12 November, has been postponed until a date to be advised in 2019. We’ve simply run out of time to organise something interesting and involving, and don’t want to
do something half-baked ‘just because’. The good news is we will be back in 2019 and you can be assured of a terrific experience wherever we go and whatever we do. Stay tuned!
TRAKKA’S NEW TRAKKAWAY 720 New features for the Trakkaway 720 include: • Single beds with 0.8m width, offering an undisturbed sleep and easy access to the bathroom • Centre bedside table with drawer
T
rakka says it is excited to announce it has finished the design of its new Trakkaway 720, which is essentially a Trakkaway 700 with two single beds. It comes with approved seating for four and the option of an Aero4 Luton with over-cab bed, to sleep four. The Trakkaway 720 is almost identical in dimensions and specifications to the Trakkaway 700, and priced identically at $180,000 drive away in NSW. The popular Alfresco pack option is also available for an additional $5000. Both models are built on the latest topspec Fiat Ducato, but with a custom AL-KO chassis. AL-KO suspension is also a feature at both ends, and in standard trim both Trakkaways feature an impressive 900 kg payload and can be driven on a standard car licence.
• Passenger side wardrobe with table storage and bench underneath for access to 240 V outlets, USBs and 12 V socket • Overhead lockers that go along both the beds, with signature roller shutter doors • Large side windows in the bedroom (same size as 700), but the back window is significantly larger, for more natural ventilation and a light/open feeling • Twin drawers under both beds, with soft close function • Table floor-mount between the beds, so dining table can also be used at the rear of the vehicle like the Torino motorhome, and you can use the single beds as day lounges Trakka says it will officially launch the new layout at the Homebush Lifestyle Expo from 20-23 September and iMotorhome Magazine is hoping to include a full review in the October issue.
Calling All Wilderness Explorers
trakka.com.au
18 | News
SUZUKI’S NEW JIMNY 4X4 CONFIRMED front and rear, but has been restyled inside and outside and looks somewhat like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.
S
uzuki Australia has confirmed arrival of the all-new Jimny 4x4 in Australia in late 2018. The diminutive-but-capable off-roader is popular as a motorhome ‘toad’, but the new version takes the Jimny to a new level of sophistication – and safety. The new vehicle retains its proven coil-sprung live axles
New Jimny will have a four cylinder 1.5-litre engine, with ample torque at low rev to maintain off-road driving performance as well as enhance fuel economy. Other confirmed specifications include high beam assist, daytime running lights and multimedia satellite navigation featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the next generation Jimny will also feature hill hold and hill decent controls as standard, plus the likelihood of cruise control. Safety has been put at the forefront of the design, with front dual, side and curtain airbags, Dual Sensor Brake Support and Electronic Stability Control.
The Wirraway 260 SL
With it’s Full Length Slideout Room & Apartment Styled Layout !
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Phone / Fax: (03) 50 230 230 - New Email: info@wirraway.com.au & New Website: www.wirraway.com.au On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 © Rex Willmer
News | 19
MERCEDES-BENZ’S DIVERSE ELECTRIC FUTURE concerned this will cover many, but not all possible scenarios. For this reason, Mercedes is enhancing its eDrive@VANs strategy with fuel-cell drive, which offers substantial medium-term opportunities, especially in longdistance operation.
M
ercedes-Benz Vans is set to enhance what it calls its eDrive@VANs (eDrive@VANs) strategy with the fuel cell. Using the example of a coachbuilt motorhome, the Concept Sprinter F-CELL illustrates the benefits of a fuel cell for both long range and local operations, with zero emissions. When it comes to selecting the right powertrain concept, Mercedes-Benz Vans is focusing even more on the individual application, making it more customer dependent than ever. A comprehensive evaluation takes into account system weight, charging or refuelling time, range and economy. So, is the future the internal combustion engine, a battery-electric drive or fuel cell? The Daimler strategy does not provide a dogmatic, ideological answer to this question, but instead makes it dependent upon the best possible customer benefits. Volker Mornhinweg, head of MercedesBenz Vans, said the company will offer every commercial range with an electric drive – starting this year with the eVito and in 2019 with the eSprinter. As far as motorhomes are
The combination battery and fuel cell drives in the Concept Sprinter F-CELL deliver an electric output of around 147 kW and torque of 350 Nm. The three tanks in the substructure can store a total of 4.5 kg of hydrogen, which is enough for a range of about 300 kilometres, while an extra tank can be installed in the rear substructure to lift range to as much as 500 km. The Concept Sprinter F-CELL also combines innovative fuel cell and battery technology to create a plugin hybrid. Alongside hydrogen, it can also be ‘refuelled’ with electricity, raising the range by up to 30 kilometres. The structure has a reasonably low system weight and creates the greatest possible flexibility for additional bodies and conversions. Meanwhile, the modular drive system means the fuel cell can establish itself as an alternative to conventional and batteryelectric drives in the short to mid-term future.
20 | News
TOOT SWEET?
C
laims Grey Nomads have launched a ‘tooting’ campaign over the $10-a-night fee at a beachside rest area in Far North Queensland have caused a stir online. They triggered an astonishing avalanche of reaction, with most people slamming the idea. It was claimed on a major
online caravanners’ forum that Grey Nomads in, “RVs of all sorts” were tooting their horns as they drove through the nearby township of Carmila Beach to make locals aware of just how many travellers are now driving on by.
COLLYN RIVERS’ NEW WEBSITE
R
espected RV author and sometime iMotorhome magazine contributor, Collyn Rivers, has launched a new website. His new site, RV Books, includes a wealth of free articles and information on
general subjects including buying a new RV, and solar, battery and fridge basics. It also carries a range of technical articles of interest to RV owners. Collyn founded the worldwide electronics publication Electronics Today International, plus more than 20 other publications in electronics, computing, music and telecommunications. He was technology editor of The Bulletin and wrote the Federal Government’s Guide to Information Technology. He is also a leading authority on caravan stability, RV suspension and electrical systems.
22 | News
NEW NSW SPEEDING FINE
F
rom 1 September there will be a new road rule in NSW that could land you with a $448 fine and the loss of 3 demerit points if ignored. From that date, all drivers must reduce speed to 40 km/h when passing stationary police, ambulance and fire vehicles with flashing red and blue lights. The new rule will be trialled for 12 months. It is being introduced as extra protection for all emergency workers and volunteers attending crashes and other incidents. Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia already have a similar rule, although SA requires drivers to reduce speed to 25 km/h.
CRUISIN MOTORHOMES FINED MasterCard customers a 2 percent surcharge, despite processing costs ranging from 0.41 to 1.48 percent. The ban on excessive surcharges came into effect for all businesses on September 1 last year. Cruisin Motorhomes cooperated with the ACCC’s investigation and has taken steps to review and reduce its surcharges.
R
V rental business, Cruisin Motorhomes, has been fined $12,600 after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an infringement notice for an alleged breach of the excessive payment surcharge laws. The ACCC claimed the company, which has branches in Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns, charged Visa and
ACCC deputy chairman Mick Keogh warned that overcharging was prohibited by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. “If businesses choose to impose a surcharge, they can only charge customers what it costs them to process a payment. Businesses need to ensure the credit and debit card surcharges they impose comply with the law or they risk facing ACCC action.”
SEE US AT Fraser Coast Expo 17 – 19 August, 2018 Maryborough Showgrounds
24 | News
HOBART FREE CAMPING PUSH parking at historic Macquarie Point, a nine hectare area adjoining the City’s docks and waterfront. The Lord Mayor has written to the State Government seeking support for his idea, while people surveyed have welcomed the plan, describing it as, “A great idea”. One respondent thought free camping would help enormously, pointing out, “It already costs enough getting there on the ferry”.
H
obart’s Lord Mayor, Ron Christie, is continuing his battle to get a fairer deal for Grey Nomads. He is anxious to turn the Apple Isle’s capital into an RVfriendly destination by providing RVers with overnight camping facilities and daytime
Submissions to Hobart’s draft transport strategy, designed to address current and future transport needs, have now closed. However, the strategy suggests Council could better manage all types of RVs arriving in the city.
SUPPORT STRUGGLING FARMERS live music on the Woolshed stage. Secretary Sharyn Mills says there is plenty of room for RVs big and small. Grey Nomads are welcome to sell any items from their site for free, but can reserve a market stall for $15.
R
Vers are being asked to support farmers struggling to survive drought conditions in NSW. The two-day Inverell Wyoming Round-Up will be staged at Wyoming Lavender Estate, Mount Russell, from September 30 to Oct 1 and features
“There are no powered sites, only bush camping ones,” Sharyn explained. “Toilets and water are available, but no showers, which is great for self-sufficient campers.” Camping fees for the two days are $10 per person and free for children 12 years and under. “We are a not-for-profit association and every dollar raised will be going to the farmers via the Buy a Bale program through Rural Aid”.
continued..
SEE US AT Fraser Coast Expo 17 – 19 August, 2018 Maryborough Showgrounds
26 | iMotorhome Marketplace
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28 | iMotorhome Marketplace
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An official Avida motorhome dealer, with more than 50 new motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the Southern Hemisphere. Our service department is here for all your needs too.
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An Authorised Repco Service Centre just off the Hume Highway at Mittagong. Auto electrical and mechanical service specialists happy to look after your motorhome or campervan! Call Mark or Sharon and tell them iMotorhome sent you!
T: (02) 4872 2822 E: mwauto@hinet.net.au
iMotorhome Marketplace | 29
Our vehicle-specific insulation screens are Australian made from specially designed and tested material to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. As featured in iMotorhome’s Project Polly!
T: (07) 3398 5500 W: solarscreen.com.au
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To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email mje240@adam.com.au www.e-twow.com 1
Airbag Man
Battery Traders Super Store
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes. Easy to install they let you ‘level up’ for stability and safety.
Batteries, solar panels, inverters, alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome! We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V power specialists.
Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary, home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth. Explore by foot, bike, electric cart or in your motorhome!
T: 1800 AIRBAG W: airbagman.com.au
T: (07) 3209 3144 W: batterytraders.com.au
T: (02) 6881 1400 W: taronga.org.au
Nomadic Solutions
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hitches fully ADR compliant no swaying increased towing safety easy reversing offroad vans available
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T: (02) 9011 8144 W: nomadicsolutions.com.au
America’s favourite motorhome is now available in Australia! Tiffin Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the Australian market. Click through to find out why they’re fast becoming Australia’s favourite too!
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30 | Tested: Latitude Motorhomes Element 27
In Their Element Latitude Motorhomes’ luxurious new Element 27 brings Ben and Michael MacLean full circle‌ by Malcolm Street
Tested | 31
The Element is the first foray into coachbuilt motorhomes for Latitude founders Ben and Michael MacLean. However, it’s familiar territory for the former Paradise duo, who are now free to bring fresh ideas into the luxury segment.
I
n Australia, the motorhome market share when compared to the caravan market, is very small: a situation quite unique when compared to the likes of New Zealand, America, Canada, Britain and just about all of Europe. There are various reasons for it, but one of the problems is that if just one manufacturer drops out of a particular sector, it leaves a gap. For instance we have no local manufacturers of A-class motorhomes, while the luxury end of the market is relatively thin.
something fresh out of the factory – like their brand new Element 27.
Base Vehicle
F
or good reason, like load capacity, Latitude has opted for an Iveco Daily 70C17 cab-chassis for its 8.5 m (27’ 11”) Element. Quite a few manufacturers try to get under the 4500 kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) limit for driving on a car licence, but that often introduces design compromises. I reckon Latitude has been smart not doing that, instead taking full advantage of the Iveco Daily’s 7200 kg GVM and minimising the engineering compromises.
Ben and Michael MacLean – the crew at Latitude Motorhomes – having had some considerable success with their Titanium Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversion, have obviously seen the need and decided there is a On weighty matters, mathematicians might gap in the luxury segment that can be filled with note the advised payload of a very generous
32 | Tested 1550 kg does not agree with the subtraction of the tare weight (5150 kg) from the GVM (7200 kg). However, that’s because the payload is calculated with all the water tanks and gas cylinders filled: A slightly unusual (for the RV industry) but probably more realistic method of figuring out the available payload. Included in Latitude’s Iveco Daily specification is self-levelling rear air bag suspension. It’s a great idea in a vehicle this size, because the conventional steel suspension is designed for much heavier loads and in a normal commercial vehicle situation, ride quality isn’t a priority.
Body Building
L
ike many motorhomes these days the Element 27 uses a composite body structure, with the roof measuring 80 mm thick and the walls 30 mm. A syncropulse welded aluminium frame gives the motorhome body the necessary strength, something essential since much of the driver’s-side wall area is taken up by a slideout. Despite a length of 4.5 m (14’ 9”), the slide-out is a very smoothly operating piece of machinery and although the extension of 0.6m (2’) might not sound much, it offers a considerable amount of interior space.
A near-full-length driver’s-side slide-out houses the head of the east-west queen bed, plus the cafe style dinette. Storage lockers are built into the slide-out and are high enough to avoid stooping while being accessed.
Tested | 33 Given the length of the Element 27 it’s not surprising it has a considerable amount of exterior locker space. A great feature is that all the storage lockers have electronic locking, including the lockers built into the lower wall of the slide-out. The latter item is an interesting and welcome development because quite a few motorhomes have lockers built into the motorhome body, below the extended slideout. They are therefore awkward to get, but building them into the actual slide-out solves that problem nicely. Another couple of items that are often difficult to lift in and out are the gas cylinders. In this case, their kerb-side locker has a slide-out tray
on which both 4.5 kg cylinders are mounted, making things easy. Also easy, in the adjoining locker where triple 120 AH deep-cycle batteries and assorted electrics are fitted, is the fuse panel, which is actually labelled. This is rather a novel approach in the RV industry and certainly a welcome one! Built into the body work of the Element 27 are quite a few extras, like the satellite dish, rear wall folding ladder and a Fiamma bike rack. There is also a mounting for the spare wheel. That might sound a slightly odd place, but it’s certainly easier to get at than some I have seen.
Gas cylinders are mounted on a handy slide-out tray in their own sealed locker. In the adjoining sealed locker are 3 x 120 AH deep-cycle house batteries. Backed by 600 W of solar panels and an on-board generator, electrical capacity will never be an issue in this motorhome!
34 | Tested Welcome Aboard
S
tepping onto the Element 27 reveals a layout that looks a bit familiar (from the Latitude team’s previous experience), but also has a few differences. Filling the slide-out is a traverse queen bed at the rear, a café style dinette in the middle and the fridge up front. Across the rear wall is a full width bathroom, while a kitchen bench fills the kerb-side side wall area. Both cab seats swivel, but having the fridge behind the driver’s seat and a full height cabinet behind the passenger’s seat does seem to detract from the potential full lounge/ dining area. However the reason for that is the
Above: Cab seats swivel but don’t ‘mesh’ in with the dinette, although this really only becomes an issue if you have a group of people over for drinks. Top: The unusual fridge location, between the cab and dinette, is in response to customer input that a compressor fridge by the bed is too noisy at night.
Tested | 35
Above: Open plan living is the order of the day, but it would be good to have some kind of partition or curtain to provide bedroom privacy when desired. The angled white door at the end of the aisle is for the shower, and also swings across to close off the full-width rear bathroom. Below: Kitchen bench space is generous and it’s good to have a full cooker on board. The TV is also well-positioned for viewing from bed or the dinette. alternative position for the fridge is beside the bed and apparently user feedback suggests the compressor is too noisy during the night. All cabinetry is interlocked, bonded and screwed together. To ensure everything stays where it should when travelling, Blum Legrabox drawer and hinge systems, and minimal-butstrong stainless steel door handles are used. The matt finish high pressure laminate on all cupboards and drawers is the type that doesn’t leave finger prints, which is often a problem with some finishes.
Kitchen
T
here’s a bit of the conventional and unconventional in the kitchen. Certainly quite usual is the three-burner cooker with grill/oven alongside the stainless sink/ drainer. The microwave, oft found in the overhead locker area, is fitted below bench level, between the main kitchen bench and the
36 | Tested rear wardrobe. The has the double effect of reducing OH&S issues and increasing bench space. It’s not kitchen use, but where the microwave might be in the overhead locker space, there’s a flat screen TV instead that can easily be seen from the bed, and with a little bit of effort, from most of the seats at the front. Overall there is a generous amount of overhead locker space and drawer capacity – something further enhanced by the half-width cabinet on the other side of the entry door, behind the passenger seat. Beside drawer and cupboard space there is also a slide-out shelf that comes with a coffee maker and all the necessary components for drinking it!
Dinette
T
his motorhome is a customer order and has a café style dinette complete with four seat belts because the owner wants to have passenger carrying capability. It doesn’t really detract from the seating comfort, which is very good for just two people. Alternatively, an L-shaped lounge/dinette is available and it might work better with the swivelled cab seats, which at present don’t really ‘mesh’ with the dinette.
Overnight
A
benefit of having an east-west bed in a slide-out is that there are less restriction on the length. In this case the bed measures 1.92 m (6’ 4”) by 1.52 m (5’). There is, of course, storage space under the bed and it can be accessed when the slideout is retracted. If requested, the bed can be made to lift to get to the bathroom in the rear, although a different kitchen shelf has to be fitted (I’d be ordering that - Ed). Occupying the wall space at the base of the bed is a good sized wardrobe with hanging space and decent sized drawers.
Tested | 37
The shower is generous and even has a moulded seat in the corner, while the bathroom is nicely appointed and has plenty of storage.
Bathroom
M
ost of kerb-side rear corner of the bathroom is taken up by the shower cubicle. It’s not square – the door being set at an angle – but it’s part space saver and the door can also be used to close off the bathroom from the bedroom. In the main bathroom a vanity cabinet occupies the rear wall, leaving space in the driver’s-side corner for a Thetford cassette toilet, complete with an SOG fume extractor on the tank. Naturally, the bathroom is fully kitted out with towel rail, wall mirror and handy shelf space.
Off Grid
D
eep-cycle house battery capacity is an impressive 360 amp-hours, backed by a whopping 600 watts of solar panels, ensuring the ability to live sans mains power for a considerable period of time. For mains power requirements a 1600-watt inverter can power
the essentials, like the hair dryer and laptop computer chargers (not forgetting the coffee machine, of course – Ed). That’s with noise restrictions of course, otherwise the Dometic Tec29 generator could be fired up! The only real limitation to long-term off-grid living would be the 310 litre water tank, although it’s not that limiting!
What I Think
T
he Element 27 has a remarkable list of standard features, many more than mentioned here, making it an impressive motorhome to say the least. It seems to be very well put together and combines high end materials and inclusions with Ben and Michael’s previous years of luxury motorhome manufacturing experience. It’s a breath of fresh air at the premium end of the market and one that will doubtless find a ready market. You could say the pair are now in their element. Soon, it’s likely many customers will be too…
38 | Tested
Specs GENERAL Make
Latitude
Model
Element 27
Type
B-Class
Berths
2
Approved Seating
2 (option for 4 extra in rear)
Licence
Light Rigid
VEHICLE Make/Model
Iveco Daily 70C210
Engine
3.0 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power
150 kW @ 3100 - 3500 rpm
Torque
470 Nm @ 1400 - 3000 rpm
Gearbox
8 speed automatic
Safety
ABS, ESP, EBD, Hill Hold, dual air bags
Fuel
100 L
WEIGHTS Tare Weight
5150 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass
7200 kg
Max Payload (with full water and gas)
1550 kg
Braked Towing Capacity
3500 kg
DIMENSIONS Overall Length
8.50 m (27' 11")
Overall Width
2.47 m (8' 1")
Overall Height
3.25 m (10' 8")
Internal Height
2.02 m (6' 7")
Bed
1.92 m x 1.52 m (6 ' 4" x 5')
Tested | 39
Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out
4.5 m (14' 9") long and 0.6 m (2') wide
Awning
Electric
Entry Steps
Electric
Cooktop
3 burner Thetford Triplexz, grill & oven
Rangehood
Yes
Sink
Stainless steel with drainer
Fridge
216 L Dometic RUC 8408X 240V/12V compressor
Microwave
LG
Lighting
12 V LED
12 V Sockets/USB Outlets
2
Air Conditioner
Air Command Ibis 3
Space Heater
Eberspacher diesel
Hot Water System
Aqua Go instantaneous
Toilet
Thetford cassette
Shower
Separate cubicle
CAPACITIES Batteries
3 x 120 AH AGM
Solar
600 W
LPG
2 x 4.5kg
Fresh Water
310 L
Grey Water
95 L
Hot Water
Instantaneous
Toilet
19 L (cassette)
Pros… • Quality • Standard equipment • Off-grid power capability • Iveco Daily load capacity • Air bag suspension • External lockers in slide-out • All round electrical capacity
CONs… • Requires LR licence • Cab seats don’t mesh with dinette • Batteries awkward if needing removal
PRICE ON ROAD QLD As Tested
$269,900
Warranty - Vehicle
3 years/200,000 km
Warranty - Motorhome
3 years/200,000 km
Warranty - Appliances
As per manufacturers
CONTACTS: Click for Google Maps
Latitude Motorhomes 13/14 Rothcote Court Burleigh Heads, Qld. 4220. T: (07) 5606-8000 E: info@latitudemotorhomes.com.au W: latitudemotorhomes.com.au
40 | Tested: Carthago chic c-line I 5.0 S
Chic Indeed!
Carthago’s chic c-line certainly lives up to its name‌ By Malcolm Street
Tested | 41
Cathago one of the few independent motorhome manufacturers left in Europe. German based, it specialises in the luxury end of the market and the impressive chic c-line is a prime example of its offerings.
T
o the uninitiated, in Europe there appears to be a considerable number of motorhome manufacturers. However, many of them – including some recent acquisitions from Britain – are part of two large manufacturing groups: The Erwin Hymer Group from Germany or the Trigano Group from France. The good news is there remain some independent manufactures, like Carthago Das Reisemobile, a German manufacturer established in 1979 and still managed by the founder. It’s an up-market company and one that produces an impressive range of quality motorhomes. In fact Cathago’s products are so impressive that despite there already being a fair bit of competition in NZ, RnRV proprietor Paul Cook decided to bring the brand into his motorhome stable. The subject of this review is the chic c-line I 5.0 S – S for Suite – which for brevity we’ll just
call the chic c-line (and yes, it’s all lower case). Whilst on language, the full title of the company is Carthago, Das Reisemobi, which when translated means Carthago, The Motorhome. Very apt, as I think you’ll see… The chic c-line is an Integrated motorhome, which is an A-class in NZ and Aussie speak. As with so many Euro manufacturers it has quite a stylish body, which apart from anything else, always invites stepping aboard for a closer look.
Underpinnings
A
-class motorhomes often don’t provide much of a clue as to what the motive power is. However, given this one comes from Europe, an odds-on bet would be a Fiat, and in this case it’s a Ducato Multijet 150. Actually there isn’t much Fiat to it because the ‘cab’ (or what there is of it) is bolted to an AL-KO chassis, which gives the chic c-line
42 | Tested
it’s impressive 4500 kg GVM and payload of 667kg.
Overpinnings
O
n the road one of the noticeably absent features of the chic c-line is noise, both from the road and bodywork. As someone who gets around in a fair few motorhomes I get used to the assorted rattles and squeaks that are frequently present. Of course some are readily identifiable and fixed with a cushion or towel in the right place. Others, though, are much more difficult to pinpoint and rectify. Which is why, when driving along in the Carthago, the relative lack of noise is noticeable and makes normal conversation easy.
The chic c-line is built on a Fiat Ducato with AL-KO chassis, but you’d be hard pressed to pick that from outside.
Mostly, the lack of noise is due to the way the motorhome is built. In this case, aluminium composite panel is used for the walls and fibreglass composite is used for the roof and floor. That might sound similar to the way a number of motorhomes are built, but both the
Tested | 43
floor/wall joints and the roof rounded edges are done in a way that maximises the strength factor and minimises the possibility of water leaks. Some manufacturers seem to keep their manufacturing process a bit of a secret, but Carthago has quite extensive detail in its website, which tells you something. With a length of 7.7 m (25’ 3”), the Carthago design team has been able to pack in a fair few features, with one of the more obvious being the surprisingly large rear garage. I’ve come to the conclusion after having looked over a number of European-built motorhomes that quite a few travellers must carry their bikes (pedal or motorised), golf clubs, folding boats or whatever, inside the vehicle. This garage comes fully equipped with interior lighting, its own cupboard, external shower, tie downs and even ducted heating. That latter item might seem odd, but it also makes a great place for hanging wet clothing, either freshly washed or from some activity like skiing.
Typically European, the big tunnel boot across the rear provides plenty of storage and includes tie down points and even an outdoor shower.
44 | Tested
Along both sides are plenty of what appear to be external locker doors, but most are dedicated for items like the gas cylinders, house batteries and toilet cassette. It’s a minor point, but all are easily accessible with minimal bending over, which makes it easier for getting items like gas cylinders in and out. Being a German motorhome the entry door is on the driver’s side. However, there is also a cab door by the passenger’s seat that makes access easy on the kerb side. Both doors have that feature we have come to accept as normal in cars for the last 20 years – remote central locking – yet which is but a dream with most motorhome manufacturers.
Utilities
C
learly, not much money was spared in the appointment level in the chic c-line. A pair of 80 AH deep-cycle batteries supply the 12-volt load while the solar panels have a combined capacity of 200 watts. I was sort of expecting an inverter when I read
Top: This is about all you see of the chic c-line’s Fiat heritage. Above: Plenty of roof hatches provide an abundance of natural light and ventilation, while satellite TV is a nice inclusion.
Tested | 45
quickly through the specs, but it turned out to be a capsule-style coffee machine with an built-in 1800 W inverter, so no need for mains supply. Hmm, I’ll have to think about that – a conventional inverter for a laptop computer or a dedicated one for a coffee machine? To more essentials; the water tanks come in at 170 litres (fresh) and 140 litres (grey), while 2 x 9 kg gas cylinder deliver the LPG – the latter being essential for not only cooking but also the Truma Combi water/space heater.
Stepping Aboard
F
irst impressions count for much and whilst I understand that personal preference is very relevant, it’s interesting what effect a colour scheme has on the mental process of choosing a motorhome. For instance, I don’t particularly like US RV interior colour schemes and I’m not a big fan of darker timber hues often used in European motorhomes (not the least reason being that it makes photography more difficult!). For this particular motorhome, Carthago has opted for a ‘timber look’ in the
Dark finishes don’t do much for any motorhome’s feeling of spaciousness, but this one is so nicely done the designers can be forgiven. Note the flowing curves of the design and the abundance of LED lighting.
46 | Tested cabinetry finish, but in a burnt orange colour. I have to say it works quite well and it invites you to get on board for a closer look, while adding a touch of class to the overall look. What is also interesting in recent years has been the trend for LED lighting, not only to aid night time living but as very effective ‘mood’ lighting, even by day. That effect is certainly achieved well in the chic c-line. Also done well is the cabinetry work. All the doors, drawers and slide-outs operated as they should and the finger test around the inside of cupboards and overhead lockers revealed not much wrong at all. On the subject of doors and drawers, just like the exterior there is no shortage of general storage, which includes a full rack of overhead lockers around the cab area, several under floor compartments and even a drawer built into the rear of the dinette seat. About the only problem I’d reckon would be the temptation to overload!
Layout
T
here aren’t any real surprises in the layout, which consists of a front lounge/dining area, mid kitchen, split bathroom and an island bed at the rear. It’s all nicely proportioned without any major compromises and all meshes together well. A partition that divides the bed from the rest of the motorhome has a full height mirror on the forward-facing side, which is slightly confusing when you first walk in and also difficult to get a photo of, but really handy for making sure you look your best before stepping out! Upfront, the seat area is quite generous and I particularly like the rounded end to the rear seat, which is both practical and attractive. Of very generous proportions is the table, around which four or five people can fit without much trouble at all. It’s a bit hard to define, but I reckon there’s a bit of an art to designing a
Europeans are the masters of clever storage and the chic c-line doesn’t disappoint.
Tested | 47
lounge/dining area that achieves the effect of saying, “Come in, sit down and relax”. For space reasons practicality often wins out, but this one scores quite well on the ‘invite’ rating. An alternative arrangement in the front is to have a drop down bed. That would be instead of all the front overhead lockers and extra head room, so it really depends on how you like to travel.
Rounding Off
C
urves are clearly the theme in the chic c-line and include overhead lockers, shelving, cupboard doors and bench edges. It’s not only for looks either; rounded corners are easier to walk around and in the kitchen, the wavy bench edge not only improves the bench area but adds more space for the multiple drawers underneath. Even though the kitchen looks relatively small it offers a surprising amount of storage space,
48 | Tested
yet has the expected washing up bowl and three-burner hob. In the overhead locker area between the kitchen and lounge, a transparent curved-door wine glass holder sticks out somewhat. That’s not only for looks – it’s quite practical for getting wine glasses out – but the space behind is occupied by the aforementioned coffee maker, which drops down when needed. Separately, on the other side of the aisle, is a 160-litre Dometic fridge with a grill/oven above. There are RV kitchen layouts and RV kitchen layouts, but I reckon this one ticks quite a few boxes.
Washroom
W
ith split bathrooms, a little design trick to maximise space usage is to have both the shower and toilet cubicle doors open when not being used and thus give walkway room to the rear area. Because of a partition at the foot of the bed, sliding doors on both sides can closeoff the bedroom from the split bathroom as well as the living area. Meanwhile, a folding door can close off the bathroom from the living area, giving it total privacy or allowing it to become a private ensuite to the bedroom. Nice.
Tested | 49
Bed Time
L
ike the rest of the chic c-line, the bedroom is well appointed and definitely has a touch of class about it. Because of the garage underneath, the 1.95 m x 1.45 m (6’ 4” x 4’ 9”) bed does sit off the floor, but it’s not difficult to get in and out of. Also because of the garage underneath, both sides get a bedside shelf as well as wardrobes and overhead lockers. There’s even a narrow cupboard built into the partition, which could also be used as a mounting point for a flat screen TV. All the comforts of home indeed!
What I Think
I
t’s hard not to be impressed with the chic c-line because it is very chic indeed, and with a very high level of appointment. It’s also a relatively quiet driving machine. Costing the best part of $250,000 that is to be expected (or hoped for – Ed), but having looked at a couple of other motorhomes priced well above that figure in recent times, I reckon you get a considerable amount of bang for your buck with the Carthago.
Left: Behind the wine glass cabinet lives a coffee machine that pops down for use and back up to store out of sight. Of course!
50 | Tested
Specs GENERAL Make
Carthago
Model
chic c-line I 5.0 S
Type
A-class
Berths
2 (4 opt)
Approved Seating
4
Licence
Car
VEHICLE Make/Model
Fiat Ducato Multijet 150
Engine
2.3 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power
109 kW@ 3500 rpm
Torque
350 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Gearbox
6 speed automated manual (AMT)
Safety
ABS, Hill Hold, ESC, Traction Control
Fuel tank
90 L
WEIGHTS Tare Weight
3833 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass
4500 kg
Max Payload
667 kg
Braked Towing Capacity
2000 kg
DIMENSIONS Overall Length
7.70 m (25' 3")
Overall Width
2.27 m (7' 5")
Overall Height
2.89 m (9' 6")
Internal Height
1.98 m (6' 6")
Main Bed
1.95 m x 1.45 m (6' 4" x 4' 9")
Drop down Bed (available option)
1.95 m x 1.6 m (6' 4" x 5' 3")
Tested | 51
Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out
No
Awning
Fiamma F 65
Entry Steps
Electric
Hob
3 burner LPG
Rangehood
No
Sink
Stainless steel round
Fridge
160 L Dometic 3-way (LPG/12V/240V)
Grill/Oven
Dometic
Lighting
12V LED
12 V Sockets/USB Outlets
Yes
Air Conditioner
N/A
Space Heater
Truma Combi 6E (LPG/Electric)
Hot Water System
Truma Combi 6E (LPG/Electric)
Toilet
Thetford cassette
Shower
Separate cubicle
CAPACITIES Batteries
2 x 80 AH
Solar
200 W
LPG
2 x 9 kg
Fresh Water
170 L
Grey Water
140 L
Hot Water
10 L
Toilet
17 L
Pros… • Build quality • Swish looking inside and out • Overall cabinetry design • Kitchen layout and design • Quiet on road • Utilities bin access • Load capacity and general storage space • AL-KO chassis
CONs… • Speedo with more prominent MPH markings • Bathroom arrangement a bit fiddly • TV location behind seat a bit awkward
PRICE ON-ROAD NEW ZEALAND As Tested
NZ$242,990
CONTACT: RnRV 66 Small Road Silverdale, Auckland. 0992 T: 098 426 7679 E: sales@RnRV.co.nz W: www.RnRV.co.nz
Click for Google Maps
52 | Tested
Go wherever the road takes you. Literally.
Lake Pukaki, South Island
No road restrictions, modern self-contained motorhomes and outstanding customer service. Experience New Zealand your way in a premium rental motorhome from Wilderness. Find out more at wilderness.co.nz
54 | Tested: Auto-Sleepers Nuevo
Short & Sweet Auto-Sleepers’ short Nuevo is a sweet little machine… by Malcolm Street
Tested | 55
I
get that most people probably don’t study this, but it’s sort of interesting to learn that there are particular motorhome layouts that seem to define the nationality of the vehicle. It’s something quite easily done by a quick tour of dealers and importers around New Zealand. For instance, German manufacturers frequently seem to use a layout that features a front dinette/lounge that has seating for four people, along with a mid-station L-shaped kitchen, sans a microwave oven. Australian manufacturers aren’t quite as predictable, but often have an island bed and a kitchen with microwave, while US manufacturers just build large amounts of space, whether it’s usable or not. NZ’s own manufacturers are not so easily pinned down these days, mostly because there are fewer of them, but a defining characteristic from the past was the club lounge in the rear with large windows all around. Then there are the British, who often have two sideways facing lounges directly behind the
cab. These can either be just for seating or as part of a lounge/bed arrangement. In case you’re wondering why I am rambling on about national design characteristics, may I present the case in point: The Auto-Sleepers Nuevo, a British-built motorhome that does indeed have two sideways facing seats behind the cab. It does of course have other features, like a kitchen and bathroom, but you get my drift that it follows the now almost ‘traditional’ British layout. Auto-Sleepers motorhomes are imported into New Zealand by local manufacturer TrailLite. Just like its other imported motorhome range – Benimar, from Spain – Auto-Sleepers is an excellent complement to TrailLite’s own range of motorhomes. In case you are wondering about the Nuevo name, I was too, given the rest of the AutoSleepers range of motorhomes are named after towns in the Cotswolds region of the UK (no coincidence as the factory is in the Cotswold’s
The Nuevo is compact and its rear-set entry door is relatively unusual. However, because you enter through the kitchen and bathroom area, it leaves the front of the body and the cab as an open plan living area that also doubles as the bedroom.
56 | Tested
Top: Measuring just 5.71 m long, the Nuevo makes easy work of accessing small camping areas and can be parked in a single car space. Below: Typically European, the entry door comes complete with a rubbish bin, double glazed window and privacy blind. village of Willersey). The closest I could get for Nuevo is that it’s a Spanish word meaning “new”.
Motive Power
A
uto-Sleepers motorhomes come on either of two cab-chassis: the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Fiat Ducato. The Nuevo rides on Ducato Multijet 150 underpinnings and it’s nice to see the mid-range 109 kW turbo-diesel rather than the 96 kW engine often used by other manufacturers. From chatting with the TrailLite staff there appears to be a bit of customer resistance to the front-wheel drive Fiat, but given Fiat has the giant’s share of the European motorhome market, it has to be doing something right. I reckon the Ducato works quite well in the small
Tested | 57
The Nuevo has a slightly ‘toy’ look to it but is a serious motorhome in every respect. Auto-Sleepers has done a nice job of styling to avoid the Nuevo looking like a small white box. The compact body reduces rear overhang and provides decent ground clearance for limited off-bitumen adventures. to medium sized motorhome category, which the Nuevo, at 5.71 m (18’ 8” in) and a tare mass of 2824 kg, fits into quite well. Interestingly, the Brits get a choice of either ‘Benz or Peugeot Boxer underpinnings, but not the Ducato. However, given the Italian manufacturer is very well represented in NZ and the Boxer/Ducato cabs are the same, TrailLite opted for the Ducato.
Motorhome Build
T
here’s quite a bit packed into the eye catching fibreglass body. Certainly, the front body mouldings and big Skyview hatch give the Nuevo a rakish appearance and overall it’s quite a stylish little package. One result of the relatively
58 | Tested short body is minimal external storage, and what there is takes the form of two nondedicated lockers on the kerb side. The upper one provides internal access to the underlounge seat area, while the lower one is smaller and probably best for wet hoses, but not much else. On the subject of hoses, include in the hose and power lead package is a Whale Watermaster High Flow pump, presumably for use when mains pressure water isn’t available but water in a container is. Interesting… Other little essential body fittings are the Dometic Seitz top-hinged windows, a Hartal door complete with rubbish bin, and a Thule Omnistor awning that just about fits into the roof length.
On the Road
T
here are a few motorhomes that are difficult to drive, many that are easy and some, if you like driving, that are fun – and the Nuevo is certainly in the fun External storage is limited, which isn’t surprising given the Nuevo’s compact dimensions, but should be sufficient for most users.
Tested | 59 category. It’s relatively short length makes it highly manoeuvrable and easy to park. On the performance front, whilst the 109 kW turbodiesel isn’t going to be neck snapping, it’s still lively in motorhome terms, especially given the Nuevo’s relatively light weight.
Inside
A
s you might have gathered from my earlier comments, the Nuevo has cab seats that turn to face the sideways facing lounge seats. The latter are multipurpose of course, either converting to a transverse 2.08 m x 1.35 m (6’ 10” x 4’ 5”) double bed, or lengthways single beds measuring 1.9 m x 0.7 m (6’ 3” x 2’ 4”). The difference in sizing is because oddly, the cab seats have to be used as bed extensions, which involves a bit of fiddling around. And before eagle-eyed readers write in, this unusual layout isn’t represented in the floorplan diagram, which is equally odd. Further back, there is a wardrobe aft of the The upholstery style is a bit fussier than we’re used to from Europe, but does give the interior a distinctive look and feel.
60 | Tested
Above: The swivelled cab seats combine nicely with the pair of inwards-facing lounges to provide a comfortable, open and inviting living area. Below: The rear corner kitchen has decent storage but lacks much in the way of bench space. driver’s-side seat and a kitchen cabinet between the kerb-side seat and entry door. The rear wall is all taken up by a rear corner bathroom and the all-essential kitchen bench. Not having a fixed bed might have its downside, but it’s a very neat design trick for giving the impression of a great deal of space in a small interior. That impression is enhanced greatly by two large roof hatches and good sized windows behind both lounge seats.
Lounging Around
T
here is certainly plenty of space in the Nuevo for kicking back and relaxing. Two people have the choice of the lounges or swivelled cab seats, or both. Auto-Sleepers supply two tables: a small pedestal mounted one that slots in between the cab seats and a larger freestanding one that stands between the lounge seats, and both can be stored in the wardrobe. Lockers are fitted on both sides above the seating and there is also under-seat storage,
Tested | 61 but much of the driver’s-side seat under-area is taken by the gas cylinder bin, house battery and water piping. Care with storage in this area is definitely essential.
Bed Time
M
aking up the beds is a fairly simple process of pulling out the seat base from the driver’s-side and adding the infill cushions. Of course, sheets and cushions are needed as well, but for those who prefer a quick way to make up a bed, something like a Duvalay or two is going to work well. Once the bed is made up, seating is limited to the now slightly cramped front seats. For anyone who wants a decent length pair of single beds, the longer Bourton (‘Benz powered) and Broadway (Fiat powered) Auto-Sleepers models are available.
Catering
E
ven though the kitchen bench is quite short it still scores well in the space department. It comes with a full stove – four burner hob, grill and oven – plus a small stainless steel sink with a plastic drainer. Four drawers, two overhead lockers and a cupboard supply the storage space. Across the way, a cabinet not only offers a moderate amount of benchtop space, but also houses the 96-litre Thetford fridge and a Daewoo microwave. Above it is a wine glass holder and an overhead locker, while the cabinetry is the mounting point for various electrical facilities, like the touch-screen control panel on the entry door side and 240V/12V/5V USB/TV antenna connection points on the other. I’m not quite sure where the TV goes, but a small one would certainly sit above the fridge when camping.
Bathroom
C
ertainly the combo ablution facilities are compact, but there’s just enough space for the shower cubicle to be separate from the cassette toilet: A feat achieved by having the moulded wall, complete with mirror and wash basin, swing out into the toilet area when the shower is being used. It’s a good little space saver.
Top to bottom: The main drawback to the Nuevo is having to convert the lounges to either single beds or a double every evening; You could always set up the freestanding dining table near the kitchen for extra preparation room at mealtimes; Shoehorning a separate shower cubicle into a compact bathroom is no mean feat, but it’s there and will be welcomed by owners.
62 | Tested
Wardrobe Space
B
etween the bathroom and lounge seat, the wardrobe offers both hanging space and a drawer below. It might be a design thing, but the main power supply unit, hot water main switch and the individual gas valves are fitted right at the back of the cupboard, making them just a tad awkward to get at if the wardrobe if full. Occupying the space underneath the wardrobe is the Truma Combi water/space heater, which does mean the drawer above might make a good drying space for wet socks or something!
Electrics
I
t might be an availability issue, but the 240V power points are all un-switched single outlets. I must admit being colour coordinated they do look better than the stark white standard domestic power points that I have seen used in some imported motorhomes, but I suspect that the lack of switching might be a problem for those who like to turn everything off at night.
What I Think
I
t seems to me that the saying, “Good things come in small packages” applies to the Nuevo. I get that having to make the bed up every night might be an issue for some, but it does result in a smaller sized motorhome with a relatively spacious interior and room to move. There are few major compromises as a result and the end effect is a comfortable motorhome that isn’t oversize yet still offers extensive touring ability. And that’s the long and the short of it, really…
Clockwise from the top left: Externally accessed storage under the passenger side lounge; Both pole-mounted and freestanding dining tables store in the wardrobe; Easily accessed and understood fuses are a rarity in modern RVs.
Tested | 63
64 | Tested
Specs GENERAL Make
Auto-Sleeper
Model
Nuevo
Type
B-class
Berths
2
Approved Seating
2
Licence
Car
VEHICLE Make/Model
Fiat Ducato Multijet 150
Engine
2.3 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power
109 kW @ 3600 rpm
Torque
350 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Gearbox
6-speed automated manual (AMT)
Safety
ABS, ESP, Hill Hold, Dual airbags
Fuel
90 L
WEIGHTS Tare Weight
2824 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass
3500 kg
Max Payload
676 kg
Braked Towing Capacity
1500 kg
DIMENSIONS Overall Length
5.71 m (18' 8")
Overall Width
2.22 m (7' 3")
Overall Height
2.86 m (9' 5")
Internal Height
1.96 m (6' 5"
Bed – as double
2.08 m x 1.35 m (6' 10" x 4' 5")
Beds - as singles
1.90 m x 0.7 m (6' 3" x 2' 4")
Tested | 65
Pros…
Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out
No
Awning
No
Entry Steps
Pull out
Cooker
4-burner Thetford Caprice with grill & oven
Rangehood
Yes
Sink
Stainless steel
Fridge
96 L Thetford N3097 3-way (12V/240V/LPG)
Microwave
Daewoo
Lighting
12 V LED
12 V Sockets/USB Outlets
2 x 12 V plus 4 x 240 V sockets
Air Conditioner
No
Space Heater
Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric)
Hot Water System
Truma Combi 4E (LPG/electric)
Toilet
Thetford Cassette
Shower
Separate cubicle
• Easy driving • Spacious interior • Good looking bodywork • Relatively good kitchen space • Table choices • Dry bathroom
CONs… • Bed has to be made up every night • Limited external storage • Single beds not really practical • Electrical switch panel location • Un-switched power points
CAPACITIES Batteries
2 x 100 AH
Solar
80 W
LPG
2 x 9 kg
Fresh Water
102 L
Grey Water
71 L
Hot Water
10 L
Toilet
19 L
PRICE ON-ROAD NEW ZEALAND As Tested
$145,000
Warranty - Fiat
3 years
Warranty - Motorhome
2 years
Warranty - Appliances
1-year
CONTACT:
Click for Google Maps
North Island TrailLite Auckland 77 Paerata Road Pukekohe. 2120 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz Click for Google Maps
South Island TrailLite Christchurch 61 Hayton Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8042 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz
66 | Product Review
Best. Bar None? Ultra Vision’s 155 model LED light bar provides great auxiliary lighting for most needs. by Allan Whiting of outbacktravelaustralia.com.au
L
ED light bars continue to grow in popularity, and for good reasons. More compact and less visually and physically intrusive than traditional driving lights, they are also more streamlined. The 155 Nitro Maxx from Ultra Vision Lighting is one of a range of LED light bars that offer 6 different lengths and outputs.
Product Review | 67 All have extruded aluminium housings and polycarbonate lenses. The LEDs are arranged in two rows, with the upper ones and some of the lower ones in long-distance reflectors, supplemented by oval spread beam reflectors. In the case of the 155 test light bar, there were 21 distance beams and 3 spreads. The combination works extremely well for this 465 mm/150-watt unit, which fits most nudge bars. We verified Ultra Vision’s claim of 650 metres distance and around 60 metres of spread at one lux. A current draw of only 12 amps shouldn’t stress most alternators. The Nitro Maxx range is said to meet IP68 ratings for water entry resistance and comes with a short lead, which we fitted with a Deutsch connector. Our test light bar came with a pair of mounting feet and eight millimetre attachment bolts, plus lock nuts. Since our test started Ultra Vision has increased lead length for the 150-200 W models to 3 feet, and 4 feet for the longer 250-300 W bars. The bolts looked a tad underdone in comparison with the larger diameter bolts supplied with most driving lights and bars. However, additional feet and bolts could easily be fitted, if required. Ultra Vision assured us they’ve had no failures of the mountings, even following kangaroo strikes,
but we’re conducting a durability assessment during 2018. Pricing at the time of our July 2018 test was a little over $500, which is excellent value for money we reckon. To find out more visit the Ultra Vision Lighting website here.
68 | Reader Review: E-Bikes
IN THE FOLD!
Readers Alan and Val Price report on their folding electric bicycles‌
Reader Review | 69
A
s keen gym goers we do find that after a few weeks travelling in our motorhome that our fitness levels suffer and we need more than walking and a few exercises to counter the happy hour excesses! Bike riding certainly helps fill that gap and electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular. However, there are a couple of misconceptions about electric bikes I’d like to address:
1. They are only for lazy people and won’t assist you getting fit. You can ad- just the degree of assistance to suit the amount of effort you actually put in. For some motorhomers, medical or fitness issues make riding a traditional bike impractical, so being able to get back on the bike again is a positive thing.
70 | Reader Review 2. E lectric bikes may present a danger to others on bikeways and footpaths! Actually the opposite is true: Electric bikes are about comfort not speed and need to conform to Australian Standards, which specify a motor cutoff speed of 25 kph and maximum motor power of 250 watts.
cyclist and he suggested that maybe a mobility scooter might be more appropriate – however, even he changed his tune after a test ride on our new bikes!
With all that in mind, at the 2018 Brisbane caravan & Camping Show we saw a number of folding electric bikes on display. My wife (Val) and I already had folding mountain bikes that we carried in the lightweight trailer we pull behind our Horizon Grevillea Motorhome. However after heart surgery, I have really struggled on hills and Val leaves me lagging well behind!
Quality: Most aluminium electric bikes are made in China, however the cheaper ones don’t look like they will last. Whilst I buy numerous items on the internet, I would be very careful about buying an unassembled electric bike unless I had previously viewed it or had seen it independently reviewed.
So after a couple of weeks of research, we decided to purchase two folding 20-inch electric pedal-assisted bikes and sell our mountain bikes. Our eldest son is a keen
Here’s what we looked for in 20-inch folding electric bikes:
Weight: Typically the weight range is 22 to 24 kg, with the battery weighing in at 3.5 kg. Our bikes each weigh 22 kg, which is about the same as my kayak. Battery: Only go for lithium-ion. Ours are
Reader Review | 71 36-volt and 10 amp-hours, feature a security lock and have a range up to 50 kilometres. Full recharge time is approximately six hours, although a top-up after most rides takes only about an hour on mains power (240 volts). A 12-volt charger is also available, but recharging time increases noticeably. We like the fact that the battery is actually hidden in the frame of the bike rather than being visible to potential thieves. Speed: We can ride our bikes as regular bikes using the seven Shimano gears. However, on hills (or if you are feeling a bit tired/lazy) you engage the 250-watt rear-hub motor by pressing a button on the digital display and it gives five levels of power assistance to the pedals. Folded-up size: Ours measure 88 cm long by 70 cm high by 47 cm wide, which seems fairly typical of such bikes on the market. We wanted folding bikes we could carry inside our motorhome or the trailer, and at other times fit inside our four wheel drive. We did look at folding 16-inch electric bikes, but
felt they were not suitable for longer rides even though their folded size was more compact. Of course, non-folding electric pedal assisted mountain bikes are an option for some people. Accessories & Standard Equipment: Front and rear baskets are the only options offered. Standard equipment includes LED lights, front and rear suspension, a real rack and front and rear disc brakes. Servicing: There is not much that can go wrong with the fully sealed electric motor or battery. Any bike shop should be able to service the rest of the bike if you can’t/don’t want to do it yourself. Cost and Availability: Ours cost $1375 each, while typically good quality folding bikes like these range from $1000 upwards. We purchased ours from UT Electric Bikes who have a show- room at Paddington in Brisbane and sell direct all over Australia. We have been most impressed with their knowledge and responsiveness.
13,500
$
13,000
$
AUD per person twin share
13,000
$
AUD per person twin share
www.motorhometours.com.au
AUD per person twin share
74 | Travel
Motorhome Touring The Easy Way
Malcolm explores the benefits and advantages of escorted motorhome tours‌
Travel | 75
I
have to confess to be being something of a fly-drive motorhome traveller and there are some good reasons for that. Both Mrs Malcolm and I are still working, therefore our holiday time is limited. Also, we like to travel by motorhome and I don’t have to tell you the benefits of that. However, because of vast distances in Australia we have mastered the limited-time method of flying in to a chosen location and picking up a rental motorhome. That of course works equally well for overseas travel and it’s something we have done quite regularly in both America and Canada. On quite a few of our overseas trips we have chosen our destinations and done our planning accordingly. However, we have also done it another way and whilst choosing our starting and finishing point, have left someone else to do the minutiae planning, in the form of an escorted motorhome tour. There are considerable advantages to this, and apart from anything else, if you are a bit nervous about overseas motorhome travel it’s great
knowing there is a bit of local knowledge and advice close to hand.
Travel Agent or Not?
W
hen considering an overseas motorhome trip a trip to your local travel agent might not always be informative. Whilst travel agents might be good at luxury travel destinations, budget flights and great hotels, asking about motorhome tours sometimes results in a slight glazing of the eyes. In one memorable example of our own some years ago, the travel agent thought we were moving “downmarket” in our motorhome travel plans and told us so. We moved all right, out of the door of said agency… However, there are experienced motorhome people around who know their stuff: One being Graeme Smyth, formerly of the Harvey World Travel franchise at Menai, NSW, who now runs America and Canada Motorhome Tours (ACMT). Way back in 2003 Graeme started to organise motorhome tours through Canada
76 | Travel
and Alaska. To say the least, they were and still are hugely successful and I know quite a few people who have enjoyed them.
Modus Operandi
T
he MO of ACMT is quite simple: Organise a group of motorhomes to cover a designated route, pre-book the RVs and RV parks, hotels and additional trips along the way, and if necessary give assistance to those who are not familiar with motorhome travel, especially in the early days of the tour. Finally let all the RV travellers move along at their own pace during the day, just meeting up at the booked RV park in the afternoon.
Destination – the ALCAN
A
CMT offer a number of tours and about the only problem I can see is choosing which one. I have travelled some of the available routes, but the one that Graeme
Smyth first started with and by coincidence, the one at the top of my bucket list is Alaska – specifically, Seattle to Anchorage via British Columbia in Canada – or the reverse. The tour travels up the Alaska Canada Highway (ALCAN) and included is a cruise along the fabled Inside Passage. For those who have a bit more time, there’s the Chicago to Anchorage tour, which includes all of the above plus the northern states of the USA.
Destination – Country, Rhythm & Blues, Rock n’ Roll and Jazz
T
hose musically inclined might prefer the Nashville to the Caribbean tour, which takes-in Miami, Disney World, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans and more, plus a Caribbean cruise. It’s not only music of course but certainly a very upbeat tour on a number of levels.
Travel | 77 Destination – Anne of Green Gables
I
jest of course, but this Eastern Canadian tour does indeed take in Prince Edward Island, home of the legendary Anne of Green gables, but much more also. Starting and finishing in New York, the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec are all on the itinerary, as are cities like Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa. Not to be missed is the 1000 Islands cruise nor the magnificent Niagara Falls, best seen from the Canadian side of course!
Destination – Route 66
A
nyone wishing to see a side of American life away from many of the major tourist areas just has to travel along
the fabled Route 66. Not only are there some great sights to be seen but travelling the various sections of the old road gives some fascinating insights into not only American history, but contemporary life as well. Naturally, destinations like Sante Fe, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas are all included.
What I think
A
s noted above, a motorhome tour is a great way to go. It is not convoy travel, which I personally find tiring, but travelling at your own pace, enjoying diversions along the way. Some might find the prospect of driving on the other side of the road a bit daunting, but it’s not really. And while the motorhomes might be bigger, so are the highways and roadside facilities. A little tip if not
78 | Travel experienced in left hand driving: If possible, have a few day’s car hire prior to moving on to a larger vehicle. Even for the not so nervous, a motorhome tour can save a considerable amount of time both prior to the trip and once on the ground. On a trip to Canada a few years ago we had been unable to get a good travel plan together prior to flying and more or less did it from day to day. It worked, but possibly not as efficiently nor stress-free as it might have been. One other good reason for a motorhome tour is the fun and camaraderie of traveling loosely with a group of like-minded people. A little surprise for us on our Route 66 tour last year was that our group of Australians became a subject of fascination in more than one RV park. That’s because we met each afternoon for happy hour, something of a fixed event for many an Aussie RV traveller, but not so apparent in the US. Indeed, in one park the owner joined us because he was so pleased to see us enjoying his excellent facilities. That’s just one of the many little surprises waiting to be discovered on a North American motorhome tour, so what are you waiting for?
Contact: Graeme Smyth America & Canada Motorhomes Tours T: 0412 692 101 W: www.motorhometours.com.au
Travel | 79
www.motorhometours.com.au
80 | Travel
Ewes With A View!
A in fact…
Travel | 81
P
erched on a hillside up a dirt road some 40 km south of Hobart is award-winning Grandvewe Cheeses. It’s a sheep dairy (for want of a better description) and its cheeses have won some of the biggest awards in Tassie, but there’s much more to this unusual place and that’s what makes a visit essential.
Grandvewe is home to a range of sophisticated cheeses including Brebichon, Primavera, Sapphire Blue and Halloumi, plus a range of gourmet specialties like Pinot Paste, Smoked Mutton Sausage and Wild Pear Chutney. But that’s still only part of the story.
Grandvewe is also home to the Hartshorn Firstly, it’s one of the few places in Australia Distillery, a true micro distillery that produces where you can see the whole sheep’s milkjust 80 bottles at a time and specialises to-cheese process – from milking to maturing in Vodka – and what vodka it is: In 2018, – under one roof. You can also help make Hartshorn’s Sheep Whey Vodka won World’s cheese on Grandvewe’s special Affinage Best Vodka at the World Vodka Awards in Experience, a 30 minute session that gives you London! The distillery is unique in fermenting the opportunity to work alongside the head the whey from the cheese-making process cheese maker on whatever tasks are required to produce its alcohol – a process that took that day – jobs like turning in wiping the open founder and head distiller Ryan Hartshorn two mature cheeses, inoculating fresh curd or years to perfect. Along with his Mother, Diane salting the cheese by hand. It’s followed by a Rae, and Sister, Nicole Gulliver, Ryan is the tasting (of course!) and is also your opportunity other third of the team that owns and runs to ‘talk shop’ with the cheesemaker about any Grandvewe, making a true family affair. of your own cheesemaking questions.
82 | Travel
The final major string to the Grandvewe bow is the cafe, which sprawls across a massive second-story verandah and offers stunning views across to Bruny Island. Coffee is obviously a big part of Grandvewe life and the barista serves up some of the best brew in Tassie, while also doubling as the cheese and spirit tasting and sales person. Cafe fare is hearty but simple – think toasties and the like – and of course there is sheep’s milk ice-cream for dessert! The gift shop is also home to some fabulously ‘punny’ T-shirts that will appeal to Monty Python fans, including ‘Blessed are the cheesemakers’ and other irreverent messages.
Fast Facts
While winter might not be the best time of year to head to the Apple Isle, spring and summer are just around the corner, so be sure to add Grandvewe Cheeses to your itinerary. Ewe won’t regret it…
T: (03) 6267-4099
Who: Grandvewe Cheeses. What: Cheesery, sheep dairy, distillery, cafe, gift shop. Cheese making Affinage Experience $50/30 mins (min 2 people) most days by appointment. When: Open daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (4:00 pm Jun-Aug), except Christmas Day. Sheep milking demonstration daily at 3:00 pm Oct-May. Where: 59 Devlyns Rd, Birches Bay, Tasmania. 7162.
E: info@grandvewe.com W: grandvewe.com.au Why: Simply a great place and experience, with views and coffee to die for.
Travel | 83 Sheep Milk – ‘Fats’ & Figures, according to Grandvewe… All statements below can be viewed in detail here • Reduces Cholesterol: Medium chain triglyceride has been proven to reduce cholesterol and found in sheep milk • Dairy Intolerant Friendly: 98% of dairy intolerant people can consume sheep milk • Healthy Fats: Sheep milk has high levels of mono and poly unsaturated fats • High Calcium: Sheep milk has twice the minerals of cow and goat like calcium, phosphorus, zinc and B group vitamins.
But Wait There’s More… • S heep milk is naturally homogenised with smaller fat globules, making it easier to digest than other milks. • Sheep milk cheeses have anywhere from 32-34% fat. • If you are worried about cholesterol – remember that the level of fat does not necessarily relate to the level of cholesterol. • Very rich in vitamins and minerals, containing up to twice as much calcium as cows milk. • I t takes only a small amount of sheep milk cheese to satisfy the palate, this also results in the intake of less fat and fewer calories. • A llergy sufferers can also benefit from using sheep’s milk and sheep’s milk products. Conditions such as eczema, asthma and dietary problems can be relieved by introducing sheep milk to one’s diet. • 4 5% of the fatty acids in sheep cheese are Monounsaturated • S heep milk yogurt every morning for breakfast over your cereal gives you a good start to the day and the high calcium helps to counteract the danger of phytic acid in a high fibre diet.
• France alone has almost one million ewes in dairy production. Roquefort, the blue cheese from France, is entirely produced from sheep milk. They produce 90,000,000 litres of sheep milk, from 2700 farmers into 7,500,000 rounds of cheese. • Most sheep milk is processed into cheese, with a strong ethnic bias on type (Feta, Romano, etc). Some yogurt and ice cream is also made. • Sheep dairying is suitable for smaller farms, because the capital investment isn’t as much as for a cow dairy. • Sheep’s milk can yield some delicious specialty cheeses. These cheeses are rich and flavourful. • Finally, Grandvewe sells ‘retiring’ dairy sheep to good homes and they make excellent pets and lawn mowers!
84 | Wanda
24 Hours in Western Australia It seems W.A. is full of 24-hour rest stops and they’re taking their toll‌
By Sharon Hollamby
Wanda | 85
L
ife on the road is not always as easy as some might think, especially when you’re travelling alone and have to do everything by yourself. It can also be disappointing when you arrive at a campsite and find that others have ruined it for you.
visited in 2010. He not only remembered me, but the car I had been driving and that I had been in a tent. What an amazing memory! He had been so helpful the last time I was there, that I wrote a letter to Council commending him and the work that he does.
Such was the case at Lake Indoon when I was looking forward to having a nice hot shower, only to find that because someone had stolen all the solar equipment there were only cold showers. However, the Shire now offers camping on the oval at Eneabba for $5.00 a night and hot showers are available there, so I decided to make the move.
We had a great time catching up and when he told me about the all-you-can-eat meals at the Miners’ Mess, for $12.50, I decided to treat myself. They had soup, a hot/cold mains buffet, a hot/cold dessert buffet, plus hot/cold drinks and cakes. I was so full, but everything was so yummy and fresh. As my mum used to say, “My eyes were bigger than my belly”, and I left there feeling like I could roll back down the hill. It was definitely worth the money, while not having to cook or clean was a bonus!
I’m so glad I did, because the ranger (Rob) who came to collect the money was the same young man who was there when I
I am finding that 24-hour stops are just not long enough for me. By the time I pack up, drive, then unpack and cook tea, I am exhausted.
86 | Wanda
The local supermarket is a hidden gem tucked away in the back streets of town, but it is only a short walk from the oval. It is a one-stop shop with a post office, hardware and liquor store, as well as all the usual grocery items and some giftware. Like any small-town supermarket it can be a little expensive, but the owners are so nice that it’s a pleasure to support them.
Heading On
W
cramped, but there were lovely views and it’s only a short walk to the shops and a laundry. A lady from the local bakery even came around that night with cakes and rolls to give away! I managed to get everything done except my washing, but planned to stop at Oakabella Homestead because the Camps app told me it had washing machines. Unfortunately it doesn’t, but it was still a pleasant place to stop for a couple of nights and it did have hot showers.
anda and I got to Geraldton early and parked up at the free overnight It was only a short drive then into rest stop right on the pier. The bays are close together so it does feel a little Northampton, where we stayed at the
Wanda | 87 golf course. This was a free camp with no facilities, but it gave me the opportunity to catch up with another Facebook friend, Allen Morris. Unfortunately, his wife was working so I didn’t get to meet her. Northampton was having its, Meet the Ewe’s Festival the next day, so I went for a look on our way out of town. It was perfect weather and a huge array of stalls and displays dominated the parks on both sides of the main street. I had to laugh at the St. Johns stall, because it had a skeleton as part of the display and I figured he was beyond the help of even the most dedicated medical professional! The sheep were colourful and it was a pleasure to meet them, but it was time for us to move on. I am finding that 24-hour stops are just not long enough for me. By the time I pack up, drive, then unpack and cook tea, I am exhausted. So, just doing 24-hour stops can be a little overwhelming. There has also been an air of despondency at these stops and I’m not sure whether it is because most of the travellers I have met are heading home to the cold weather, or if everyone is feeling as tired as I am and connecting with others is not a priority.
Ticking Bomb?
W
anda had been going really well, but I know all of her creaks and groans now, so when I heard a strange ticking noise I knew something was wrong. We pulled up and I checked everything out, but couldn’t spot the problem and so we continued on, but the ticking persisted. We pulled up again at a little stop about two kilometres from the Billabong Roadhouse. There were no facilities, but we could get back off the road
88 | Wanda into some bushland and it was then I discovered a split in the front tyre. Changing it was tough as the nuts were hard to crack, but I got there in the end and headed into Carnarvon for another new tyre. The guys at Beaurepairs were great. We got straight in and Wanda had her new tyre in no time, but I was beat. At $25 a night the Carnarvon caravan park looked like a great option. It would have been great to just park, plug in and rest, but it just isn’t that easy. I put some washing on while I unpacked, filled up with water and changed the gas bottle over. After hanging the washing out I was able to have a well-earned shower, cook some tea and finally relax. All too soon it was morning and the thought of packing up filled me with dread. The fact that my washing wasn’t dry gave me the excuse I needed to stay for another night and chill out for the day. Carnarvon has a nice feel about it and with wide, straightforward roads, getting around was effortless. There is a great RV parking area near the main street, so the next day I did some shopping and went for a quick look around before heading off. It is a pretty place and with friendly locals saying hello I felt very welcome there.
Wanda | 89
Refreshed At Last!
F
eeling refreshed, we drove just over 200 km to Minilaya, which has a nice rest area by a very dry river. It is a large area with facilities and it’s just a short walk to the roadhouse. Alas, it is only a 24-hour stop, but there were other Coaster owners there and we enjoyed a pleasant chat before resting up for the night. We are currently at Barradale, which is a spacious 24hour area with facilities. It is on the river, but once again the river is dry. It certainly gives you some idea of the hardships the locals face when you see those long, dry riverbeds and it has put my problems in perspective. Sure, there are some pitfalls to this lifestyle and it’s not always easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Safe Travels!
90 | Travel Events: 32nd Illawarra Folk Festival
CMCA
RV Friendly Towns
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he RV Friendly program is a Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited (CMCA) initiative aimed at assisting RV travellers as they journey throughout this wonderful country. An RV Friendly Town™ (RVFT) is one that provides a certain number of amenities and a certain level of services for these travellers. When
RV tourists enter a town displaying the RVFT sign they know they will be welcome. Certain services will be provided for them that may not be available in other centres, and they will have access to a safe place to stay overnight and possibly for a longer period. This month’s featured RV Friendly Towns are:
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Kerang, Victoria
T
he town of Kerang is 25 kilometres inland from the Murray River and just south of the New South Wales border, between historic Swan Hill and the agricultural community of Cohuna. The area around Kerang is dotted with lagoons and lakes and is believed to have the most populous ibis rookeries in the world, with an estimated 200,000 birds using the area for breeding each year. The town has a number
Tourist/Visitor Information Centre
of specialty shops, two supermarkets and a variety of eateries, giving visitors plenty to see and do. Kerang Turf Club on Park Rd offers short-term parking to RV tourists at no cost. Parking is available for up to 72 hours for self-contained vehicles only, and pets on leads are permitted. The dump point and potable water are both located at Kerang Saleyards on Markets Rd.
Dump Point
Sir John Gorton Library & Information Centre Corner Murray Valley Highway & Shadforth Street, Kerang Phone: 03 5452 1546 library@gls.vic.gov.au www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au Atkinson Park & Kerang Memorial Hall/RSL rest area on Murray Valley Highway, Kerang Kerang Turf Club, Park Road 72 hours, nil charge, self-contained vehicles only, pets on lead, mobile coverage, water Kerang Saleyards, Markets Road Lat: -35.7372 Long: 143.9277
Potable Water
Kerang Saleyards, Markets Road and at the Turf Club, Park Road
Casual Parking (near retail centre) Short Term Parking
92 | Travel
Port Victoria, South Australia
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ort Victoria is a small town on the western coast of the Yorke Peninsula, some 200 kilometres from Adelaide. Like many other coastal towns it used to be a thriving port for the export of grain to England. However, population today is just 345 and it is now primarily a fishing town. Port Victoria is a wonderful place to visit, offering pristine waters, white sandy swimming beaches and a relaxed laid-back holiday
experience. Some of the other major attractions in town include the Barley Stacks Winery, several art galleries and walking trails. Short and long-term parking is available at Port Victoria Oval on Kuhn Terrace. Parking is available for up to 96 hours for a rate of just $7 per vehicle per night. A dump point and potable water are also located at the oval, along with toilets and bins. Pets on a lead are also permitted at this site.
Tourist/Visitor Information Centre
Port Victoria Kiosk/Post Office Foreshore, Port Victoria Phone: 08 8834 2098
Casual Parking (near retail centre)
Dump Point
Carpark opposite Port Victoria Hotel, Victoria Terrace and the town oval off Kuhn Terrace. Port Victoria Oval, Kuhn Terrace 96hrs, $7 per vehicle per night payable to PV Kiosk/PO, pets on lead, mobile coverage, bins, toilets, water Port Victoria Oval, Kuhn Terrace Lat: -34.4940, Long: 137.4889
Potable Water
Port Victoria Oval, Kuhn Terrace
Short & Long Term Parking
Travel | 93
Narembeen, Western Australia
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arembeen is 286 kilometres east of Perth, in the heart of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. In 1968 the town was declared as Narembeen, meaning ‘place of female emus’ in the Aboriginal language. The major industries of the area are cereal and wheat crops, plus cattle and sheep farming. Today, Narembeen still provides a true rural experience and is the perfect base to explore Tourist/Visitor Information Centre
Casual Parking (near retail centre) Short & Long Term Parking
Dump Point
Potable Water
the surround Wheatbelt region. It’s prime location allows for easy day trips to unique and iconic sights, including Wave Rock. Short and long-term parking is available at Narembeen Caravan Park & Cabins for up to 72 hours at no charge. Parking is only available for self-contained vehicles and pets on leads are permitted at this site. Potable water, a dump point, toilets and barbecue facilities are also available for use at the park. Narembeen Community Resource Centre Unit 2, 19 Churchill Street, Narembeen Phone: 08 9064 7055 www.narembeen.wa.gov.au Adjacent to Apex Park on Currall Street Narembeen Caravan Park & Cabins 11 Currall Street, Narembeen 72 hours, self-contained vehicles only, bins, toilets, covered seating, barbecue, water, pets on lead, mobile coverage, nil charge Narembeen Caravan Park & Cabins 11 Currall Street, Narembeen Lat: 32.0636, Long: 118.3959 Narembeen Caravan Park & Cabins 11 Currall Street, Narembeen
94 | Mobile Tech
Experience, Capture, Share
Travel Blogging on the fly‌ By Emily Barker
Mobile Tech | 95
I
t’s one thing to live that incredible road trip, but what happens when you want to re-live it? How do you share it with friends and family or even document it for the whole world to see?
T
he last decade has seen a full range of travelogue apps come and go; each offering valuable tools to assist travellers capture, document and share their individual journeys. Many still exist and they are not without merit, but if the closure of TravelPod taught us anything it’s that we cannot rely on such sites to host our content forever. Where busy websites once existed, 404 error messages now inform readers that content is no longer available. The solution many experienced travellers have turned to for journaling is simply larger platforms such as Wordpress, Blogger or Weebly. They might not be as specialised and lack certain features such as geotagged auto-mapping, but you can certainly aggregate all of your travel content, including images and videos, and share it across various platforms. Blogs can be private or publicly shared and these
networks provide not only a place to store memories, but also an active audience to consume content if desired. Wordpress Size 112.9 MB Cost: Free (Paid plans available) For: iOS & Android When it comes to blogging, WordPress is king. Bloggers love it, readers love it – even Google loves it – and that is always handy! Available now for iOS and Android devices, the WordPress app makes producing beautiful and professional blog posts easy, anywhere, anytime. While it obviously doesn’t offer the entire range of WordPress’s webbased features, it does an incredible job; some say this condensed format is more user-friendly. For those new to the world of blogging it can seem a little daunting at first. It’s also important to know that you can make a WordPress blog completely private and accessible only by you and those you directly share it with. You can also have a ‘hidden’
96 | Mobile Tech
blog: One that’s public but will not be indexed by search engines, so won’t appear in any search results. The reasons why these apps make such great travelogues or journaling tools is their functionality. Work offline, publish in the background, draft at your leisure, edit and manage published posts, view your stats and control your audience. If you do publish publicly you can manage comments – approving, deleting, editing and replying – from within the app. You can even view your blog’s performance over time. The interface is clean and uncluttered, easy to navigate and broken into logical categories. Designing and publishing are one touch selections; pages can be completely customized or you can chose from one of the many free templates, editing the layout to suit as you go. When you begin the app will walk you through the initial setup of creating a new
site. There are a range of options and plans available, from the free Wordpress. com site to a hosted setup with your own domain. Each plan offers increasing features, customisable options and storage space. You can also choose what you would like to create – a simple blog, a website or an image portfolio. Whatever you decide, your creativity is rarely limited. Importing media is simple or can be captured directly from your device, while ext options are abundant and easy to manage, with customisable themes. The WordPress platform is vast and still spreading, and it’s easy to see why it’s the chosen travel companion for so many! Adobe Spark Pages Size 155.8 MB Cost: Free (Premium version available) For: iOS only If a ‘page’ is all you need, then this app may be all you require. If WordPress is the king of
Mobile Tech | 97
Blogging, then Adobe Spark Pages might be considered next in-line for the throne. Adobe is a huge player in the world of design and editing, and its new online publishing tools are not to be ignored. Part of a range of new iPad apps including Spark Post and Spark Video, Adobe Spark Pages allows users to create stunning and professional websites quickly and easily, without any coding or design experience. It’s also free. Projects are automatically synced across the web and apps, so you can work whenever inspiration strikes, wherever in the world you are. Spark is not your traditional platform as it’s designed for constructing smaller projects that only feature one scroll-through page. In an age where we have become accustomed to the ‘front page scroll’, this simplicity of visibility is possibly a natural progression. Pages excels at creating online magazine-style ‘stories’ that you scroll through, so it’s perfect for capturing and sharing your travels with a custom audience – or the world if you wish. Add photos, videos and text to curated designs and customisable
templates, and watch your creation come alive. In addition, Adobe hosts all of the websites built through Spark, making it secure, affordable and uncomplicated. Sharing your page is as easy as sharing a link via email or to your selected social media pages. Currently only available for iOS devices, it’s only a matter of time before Pages is released for Android. Adobe has an entire suite of creative apps, all renowned for their superior quality, support and functionality. The features and tools offered are simple, but the results are breathtakingly professional. For those looking for an easy, elegant and modern platform to digitally showcase or store memories, Spark Pages delivers the goods. Each Adobe Spark Page is completely free and the Spark logo will appear at the bottom of your page. Purchasing an Adobe Spark plan or the Creative Cloud plan provides the option to remove the logo or replace it with your own if you wish. Naturally, upgrading to a plan brings a host of extra added features to personalise your creations.
Next Issue | 98
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW… very different markets and it will be especially interesting to read Malcolm’s take on the stylish Italian. Locally, what will feature is a mystery at this stage, but that just ads to the excitement!
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pring is upon us and although none of the Team is getting married, we have something old and something new for you: An ex-rental Bürstner Argos Time A650 and a new CI Riviera 66P. The Bürstner is a five-berth C-class that Malcolm spent time travelling in, while the Riviera is a B-class from Italian manufacturer CI and the first of its brand to grace our pages. The two appeal to SEP
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Richard is off to Düsseldorf to cover the World’s biggest RV show while Agnes takes a break to visit family in Germany, so the next issue will be out a week later, on Sunday 9 September. Apologies, but it will be worth the wait! Until then why not join our more Friends and than 32,000 Facebook followers on Twitter , Pinterest ? and Instagram
Sept 20-23
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Gold Coast Caravan & Camping Expo
2018 Caravan Camping Outdoor Lifestyle Expo
Wodonga Racecourse Hamilton Smith Dr, Wodonga. Vic. 3690
Sydney Showground Sydney Olympic Park. NSW. 2127.
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Open 9:30-5:00 (4pm Sunday) Adults: $13 Concession: $11 Kids Under 15 free with adult
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Open 9:00-4:00 Adults: $22.50 Concession: $18 Kids - U16 free with adult
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Melbourne Leisurefest Sandown Racecourse, Springvale. Vic. 3171 • Open 9:30-5:00 (4pm Sunday) • Adults: $16 • Concession: $13 • Kids - Not advised.
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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.
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