THE REAL MCCOY THE TERM ‘OFFROAD’ IS ARGUABLY USED QUITE LOOSELY WHEN DESCRIBING SOME CARAVANS. LET’S SORT THE CHAMPAGNE FROM THE WARM BEER.
WORDS: MAX TAYLOR
When is an offroad caravan not an offroad caravan? According to some of Australia’s best-known offroad caravan manufacturers, a genuine offroad van will be purpose-built for such duties. And, yes, it’s only logical. But as anyone who’s shopped for a caravan before would know, the market offers a range of options and upgraded fittings for a standard blacktop tourer as part of various ‘offroad’ packages. But does this make them truly capable in tricky terrain?
DEFINE YOUR TERMS What constitutes offroad touring? Some might describe the Oodnadatta Track, SA, as offroad terrain, while others might say that a corrugated gravel road isn’t sufficiently gnarly to warrant such a designation. There is, also, no agreed standard on the definition of offroad caravanning and, therefore, no corresponding criteria to guide the make-up of offroad RVs. So what does that mean for people in the market for an offroad van? Should they believe that because a van has the word ‘offroad’ or ‘extreme’ in its model appellation, the van is fit for that purpose? Not quite. Always look at the fine print and ask lots of questions. Jayco, for example, is sensible in this respect. Australia’s largest RV manufacturer has long offered a suite of upgrades to its standard vans known as the Outback Pack. Note that it’s not called the ‘Offroad Pack’. And on its website, Jayco points out the limitations of the Outback Pack, including what isn’t covered under warranty. Fair enough. The point is, satisfy yourself in terms of what the van is, and is not, built for and whether or not its manufacturer warrants the van and ‘offroad pack’ for the kind of touring it is said to be capable of.
PACKING HEAT Standard vans that have been fitted with an optional offroad-style pack certainly have their place. These packs usually include the fitment of independent suspension and a fully articulating coupling, and sometimes an extra onboard battery, greater ground clearance and rear departure angle, a grey water tank, and other bolt-on accessories. The idea is to turn a standard blacktop-touring van into a rig that offers greater range. And there are plenty of manufacturers who do it well. A word of advice, however. If the upgrade pack has ‘offroad’ in its title, proceed with plenty of questions at the ready. For example, how has the frame and cabinetry been reinforced? Or has the manufacturer just bolted on some bigger wheels and independent suspension and called the van an offroader?
THE REAL THING True offroaders should have virtually no limitations on their warranty. And it seems many builders of such caravans agree. Russell Seebach is the founding director of Trakmaster Caravans. He has travelled around remote Australia for 55 years. “A true purpose-built, offroad caravan will have no limitations as to where it can be towed. If the tow vehicle can handle the conditions, then so can the caravan; only the size of the caravan may limit where it may be physically taken,” he told GoRV. Having built some of the most respected offroad vans in Australia since 1995 (he retired in 2016), Russell’s perspective is particularly pertinent. “Warranty should not be reduced or limited; in other words, if the manufacturer offers a two-year warranty, then it is a full warranty on the build for that period and that duty as an offroad caravan.” Granted, that’s one person’s opinion, albeit an opinion borne of more than two decades in the business, and decades more touring experience. It’s also an opinion shared by Lennie Mifsud, the owner of On the Move Caravans. “I think ‘offroad’ should mean that the van is capable of going anywhere it can fit, and the warranty should cover the van, no matter what road it goes down, and not have so many clauses that you can't go on a dirt road without voiding your warranty, as long as the owner does what is required from the manufacturer, such as maintaining correct tyre pressures, driving to road conditions, etc.” We asked Matt Johns of Queensland’s Zone RV if it was a case of ‘buyer beware’ when it came to purchasing an offroader. “The purchaser should make informed decisions based on transparent information provided by the manufacturer,” he said. “There is a huge number of options when buying an offroad caravan; be sure to read the warranty document but, more importantly, make sure you see how the caravan is built and choose a van constructed with the appropriate materials.” But how to sort the good from the mediocre? Russell Seebach’s advice: find out how long the company has been in the offroad business, and whether or not its staff have broad experience in remote travelling.