Crusader readily admits that the Esperance is intended for holidaypark stays rather than extended free-camping . This is one of the reasons the manufacturer supplies a compressor fridge rather than a three-way unit – it ’ s expected that the van will always be plugged in , either into an outlet at a van park or into the tow vehicle . For similar reasons , the capacity of the supplied water tank is on the low side : 62L – the thinking being , of course , that you ’ ll usually have access to a fresh water supply .
Among the standard features , the Crusader CRV Esperance has a remote lighting system , a 24in TV , Sirocco fan , a four-burner cooktop with griller , a reverse-cycle airconditioner , double-glazed windows , and more .
Internally , the Crusader CRV Esperance is an intriguing and well put-together package – I didn ’ t notice any real fit-and-finish issues .
OUTSIDE THE ESPERANCE
The CRV range gets the full Crusader Caravans compositeconstruction treatment . The walls and roof are each a one-piece fibreglass sandwich panel .
The rig is built on a 4in chassis built by Intelligent Engineering , while an independent torsion suspension system rated to 1800kg has been fitted .
The van ’ s undercarriage is good and ‘ clean ’ – nothing appears particularly vulnerable , and the honeycomb floor system appears strong . Honestly , the comparison between this van ’ s undercarriage to some other on-road caravans is night and day .
36 \