iMotorhome
6: July 21 2012
.com.au
Issue
because getting there is half the fun...
A LONG TRACK AWAY On the road with one of Trakka’s Trakka's biggest and best... Winning Adventurer?
Testing Frontline’s popular HiAce campervan
Win a Winnebago Holiday 2 x 10-day holidays & more up for grabs!
On my mind...
T
echnology is all pervasive and you can either fight it or make it your friend.
Malcolm Street did some research a little while ago and discovered that in the broader motorhoming community, about one third of people are technological Luddites, another third are okay with computers but aren’t really fussed, whilst the final third embraces technology with open arms. I made a conscious decision more than a decade ago to keep up with technology, because at that stage I felt I was at the point where if I wasn't careful the pace of technological change was going to leave me floundering in its wake. And the last
thing I wanted to become was a bah-humbug old man scoffing at every new thing and bemoaning the lost good-olddays. An example of keeping upto-date has been embracing the smartphone and tablet revolution. So much more than just mobile telephones, so-called smartphones (think iPhone or Galaxy) are a hybrid telephone/computer with capabilities straight out of sci-fi for those of us of the Baby Boomer generation. Tablets, too, are a revolution and the more you use them the more seamlessly they integrate into daily life. Incidentally, I'm dictating this into the notepad on my iPad.
2
It's a nice break from typing and although the iPad's inbuilt voice recognition software is fairly basic it does a decent job and gets about 95% of what I say, correct. When I'm done I simply email the note to myself, copy and paste into a Word document, fix-up any (often humorous) errors and Boop’s you’re Uncle! Because the pace of technological change is accelerating, if you don't want to be left behind, now might be the time to change. The thing is, technology affects everything we do and it's invading the RV market relentlessly, so why resist? To quote the Borg Collective from Star Trek, "Resistance is futile."
Continued...
View the all new Sunliner Monte Carlo M74 today. Available for immediate delivery!!
5 Melrose Dr, Wodonga 3690 • Ph: 02 6024 4222 • awrvworld.com.au
3
On my mind... ...Continued
So in this issue we start to review Apps that have a motorhome, travel or lifestyle benefits. If you've already embraced technology and have favourite Apps that help you along the way, please drop me a line so we can "spread the love." Moving on, since the last issue I've been jumping in and out of the three most popular
motorhome base-vehicles: the VW Crafter, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Fiat Ducato. It's been a great experience driving them back-to-back and this has really highlighted their differences. Perhaps the most obvious is that both the VW and Fiat go down the automated-manual transmission (ATM) road for their ‘automatics’, while Benz –
The iMotorhome Team
which had an ATM originally in the Sprinter – has reverted to a ‘normal’ or ‘torque converter’ automatic. Both systems have pros and cons but all are great vehicles. Seems the age of the manual transmission is nearly dead. Bloody technology...
d r a h c Ri
Richard Robertson
Malcolm Street
Allan Whiting
Publisher & Managing Editor
Consulting Editor
Technical Editor
A long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer, Richard is a dedicated, longterm motorhome enthusiast.
Unquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.
An experienced motoring writer when Japanese cars were a novelty, Allan’s career read’s like Australian motor writing royalty.
richard@imotorhome.com.au
He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia. Richard also has a passion for lifestyleenhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.
malcolm@imotorhome.com.au
If it’s available on either side of the Tasman, Malcolm has probably driven it, slept in it, reported on it, knows how it’s made and can tell you just how good it really is.
allan@imotorhome.com.au
Highly experienced in or on everything from motorcycles to B-doubles, Allan also runs www.outbacktravelaustralia. com – an invaluable free resource for anyone into four-wheel driving or touring remote corners of Australia.
©2012 iMotorhome. All rights reserved. Published by iMotorhome. ABN 34 142 547 719. PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW. 2576. Contact us on 0414 604 368 or Email: info@imotorhome.com.au
INSIDE EDISNI
2 ON MY MIND Ed’s latest musings...
7 NEWS Chinese takeaways!
10 TESTED
A Long Track Away – Allan Whiting tests the Trakkaway 790
22 MOTORHOME 101 Pre-Loved, Anyone? – How to buy used...
30 TESTED
17
Winning Adventurer? Malcolm Street reviews Frontline’s HiAce camper
40 CUSTOM RV
21 44 MOBILE TECH Pedal to the Metal – the ultimate eco-camper...
Looking at Apps for your mobile lifestyle...
23 48 CALENDAR There’s a lot on – including right now!
49 NEXT ISSUE
Scooping the pool – two iMotorhome exclusives!
7
News...
CHINESE TAKEAWAYS...
Cheers! JAC is celebrating its first success in the highly competitive motorhome market.
N
ew Zealand’s UCC Motorhomes has become the first Australasian motorhome manufacturer to base a motorhome on a Chinese-made JAC HFC 1048 light-duty truck chassis. The company says the conversion delivers a fully built C-Class motorhome for around 20 percent less than equivalent vehicles based on rival Japanese chassis. The news has direct implications for Australian manufacturers and buyers, too, with the JAC light-
duty truck range due to launch here next month. Rob Floris, managing director of Christchurch-based UCC Motorhomes, is reported to have looked at the JAC alternative following a rise of more than 50 percent over the past four years in the base-price of the Japanese chassis he had been using. The JAC cab-chassis are being used on UCC’s popular Benmore and Coleridge models, enabling the company to build motorhomes at a more
competitive price for both the retail and rental markets. With its 5999 kg GVM, similar cab dimensions to the Japanese trucks the company had been using and a chassis and wheelbase measuring to within a couple of millimetres, the transition has reportedly been easy.
Back to the Future The lower entry cost for the JAC chassis means UCC is offering a new motorhome for around the same price it was selling them at in 2008.
News... ...Continued
“It means we can offer our Benmore model for a base price that is lower than many five or six year old motorhomes,” Rob said. “It not only makes the motorhome more cost effective for private buyers but also makes it far more competitive for rental companies, too.”
The UCC Benmore based on the JAC HFC 1048 features a lightweight GRP body. To create the motorhome, UCC removes the back wall of the truck's cabin to allow free access directly into the motorhome’s interior. The JAC is powered by a 2.8-litre Cummins engine that
MORE CHINESE
TAKEAWAYS...
A
ustralian automotive distributor, WMC, has decided to change the name of its new range of European-designed, Chinesemanufactured vans to LDV, to avoid a clash of trademarks with an Australian component company that uses the intended
name of ‘Maxus’ for some of its products. According to Jason Pecotic, CEO of WMC Group, while it is disappointing that the range will not be marketed in Australia under its global name, he is confident the LDV brand will be well received as it is the name
8
produces 110 kW and 360 Nm while meeting Euro 5 emissions standards. It’s mated to a five-speed manual ZF ecolite transmission. Australian models will have an automatic variant available as an option. Watch for the August launch.
originally used for the range when it was manufactured and marketed in Europe, prior to SAIC acquiring the brand. The company purchased the British commercial vehicle operation and intellectual rights to the van in 2009 and has invested in further R&D and engineering to ensure it meets the latest European standards. “The vans are manufactured by SAIC in China and sold around the world under the Maxus name. Whilst we didn't believe there would have been any confusion, we are excited to be using the LDV name with the new range in Australia,” Jason said. “LDV reflects the European heritage and design of the vans and we believe Australian buyers will embrace the brand because of the excellent value, engineering quality and equipment levels they will offer."
Who will be the first manufacturer to convert LDV’s good looking vans?
The new generation LDV V80 vans are based on a front-drive platform developed in Britain as the LDV, using the latest generation common-rail turbodiesel engines from Italian maker VM Motori. Continued...
9
News... ...Continued
WMC is planning to launch a seven-model range of LDV V80 vans from the fourth quarter of 2012, with three cargo versions and four passenger models. The line-up will include both short and long wheelbase cargo vans with a standard roof height as well as a high roof version of the long wheelbase model. The range will feature a load capacity between 9 and 14 cubic metres and a payload of up to 1.8 tonnes. The four passenger van variants will include an 11-passenger short wheelbase with standard roof as well as a 15-passenger long wheelbase variant in
either standard or highroof configuration, plus an 11-passenger long wheelbase luxury model. The LDVs will also come with a high level of standard features, which WMC claims are not available or are options on other brands. These standard features include rear barn doors, tyre pressure monitoring, 16" alloy wheels, dual sliding doors and door-integrated electric entry steps. The vans meet European crash and safety standards while the 2.5-litre 100 kW/300 Nm VM Motori diesel will reportedly
deliver Euro 5 emission standards. Van suspension and handling has also been tuned by MIRA, one of the leading automotive design and engineering consultants in Europe. Watch for further details of this interesting van range that could well usher-in a new wave of more keenly priced campervans.
Did you Know? Any month that starts on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th.
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
THE LONG TRAKKAWAY The latest Trakkaway rides on VW’s Crafter, providing economical travel with all the mod-cons. Review by Allan Whiting, images by Allan Whiting and Trakka.
10
11
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
The VW Crafter-based Trakkaway 790 certainly cuts a distinctive figure.
T
rakka’s Trakkaway motorhome series has been based on the Fiat Ducato front-wheel drive chassis, but now there’s a dual-tyred rear-wheel drive model, built on the VW Crafter 50 chassis. The Trakkaway 790 can accommodate four adults with ADR-approved seatbelts and is plated at five-tonnes gross vehicle
mass (GVM), which requires the driver to have a light truck licence. Smaller Trakkaway models have 4495 kg GVM and can be driven on a car licence. Inside its 7.8-metre overall length the Trakkaway packs a dinette that can seat 7 for a quiet little drink and nibblies while comfortably
accommodating 4 around the set table for dinner; a large L-shaped galley with slideout pantry, servery-shelf and drop-side bench extension; water filtration; a three-burner stove and oven; range hood; microwave, 190-litre threeway fridge/freezer; separate shower and toilet cubicles; an island double bed or two singles; and a ‘Luton’
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
12
peak over the cabin with an optional double bed and side windows. The aft-bed raises electrically, if required, to increase volume in the huge rear ‘boot’.
The Trakkaway has brushedaluminium roller-door lidded storage compartments in every conceivable space and even the full-height wardrobes in the bedroom are fitted with these space-saving roller doors. There’s a concertina privacy curtain across the bedroom doorway; variable-height screens, privacy blinds and
Quality inclusions and elegant solutions, like roller-shutter cupboard doors, are a Trakka hallmark.
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
13
Expansive front lounge and swivelling chairs provides ample entertaining or relaxing space. The optional outdoor gas BBQ is a worthwhile addition, too. curtains on the opening body windows and the Crafter cabin glasses are fitted with Remi concertina blinds that are custom-designed for the VW. The interior colour scheme of the test vehicle was optional cream leather and soft silver – very tasteful. A reversing
camera was fitted; the two skylights were powered and the nine windows were double glazed. There was also an optional outdoor BBQ, a highdef DVD/TV, LED and halogen lights (most with dimmers), 240V ducted air conditioning (standard) and diesel heating (optional).
Trakka receives the VW Crafter as a rolling motorhome cab-chassis and fits the Trakkaway bodywork at its Mt Kuring-gai factory, on Sydney’s northern outskirts. The finished vehicle packs in a 180-amp alternator; a 100 AH starting battery; two 100 AH house batteries; a
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790 25-amp automatic charging system (optional 135-watt solar panel); electronic monitoring of battery and all fluid levels; 165-litres of fresh and grey water, a 17.5-litre toilet cassette, 14-litre hot water and 100-litre diesel tanks; 2 x 4kg LPG bottles (a third bottle comes with the BBQ option) and a TV antenna. Living with the 790 The Crafter cabin offers an excellent driving station, with Euro ergonomics that include single armrests, steering wheel control buttons and a trip computer. A stubby
During the day the lounge is light, bright and airy.
14
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
15
VW’s Crafter is no ball of fire but it sips lightly at the bowser. It also has a good turning circle, making manoeuvring easy. lever that pokes out of the dashboard controls a transmission that can be driven two-pedal style, like an automatic, or can be manually selected. The other Trakkaway models are powered by Fiat 3.0-litre turbo-diesels with 132 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque, but the 790 model has a smaller VW 2.5-litre turbodiesel with only 100 kW and 300 Nm.
The VW Crafter felt somewhat underpowered hauling the five-tonne GVM weight around and its relative lack of grunt showed in the fact that the motorhome Crafter chassis needed to be fitted with a relatively short final-drive ratio. Engine speed at 100 km/h was a heady 3100 rpm and at this speed the combination of mechanical and tyre noise was quite intrusive. At 8090 km/h engine speed was nearer 2000 rpm and noise
levels were much lower. We were pleasantly surprised to see fuel consumption around the 16L/100 km mark when cruising at 100 km/h and it dropped to a very respectable 14.5-15.5 L/100km when running 10 km/h slower. VW loves its automated manual transmissions, but we don't share their affection for them. Shift quality in this admittedly 'green' vehicle wasn't very good in traffic
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
16
conditions, with noticeable delays during gear changes. On the open road the shift quality was much better, but still nowhere as smooth as that of a torque converter, fully-automatic transmission.
Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz, which makes the Crafter for VW as part of its Sprinter van and light truck line-up (but incorporating VW engines and transmissions in Crafter versions) uses a torque converter auto box. 'Benz moved back to real autos after some years of playing around with automated manuals. The latest full-autos have downshift programs incorporated into the enginetransmission computers, providing engine braking when decelerating, without driver intervention, but with the Crafter's automated
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
Kitchen servery bench is a nice touch while the over-cab bed (bottom) makes a great storage area if just two people are travelling. manual shift the driver has to downshift manually. Apart from these gripes we found the Trakkaway very pleasant to drive, with excellent ergonomics and controls, powerful braking and excellent ride and handling characteristics, given its considerable body volume and weight. We drove it on different road surfaces, from freeway concrete to potholed dirt and it didn't put a foot wrong. We also encountered strong side-winds, up to 30 knots at times, and were impressed with its stability and resistance to yawing in gusty conditions. Wipers and headlights coped
17
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
18
The kitchen is compact but space efficient and well thought out. The integrated swivelling TV mount is a stylish and practical touch, too. rattles or squeaks from the fittings and furniture – even the roller-shutter cupboard doors – when on the run and everything functioned well when we camped.
with Australian conditions; the mirrors were excellent and the reversing camera gave a perfect view to the big machine's rear. Living room rakka's interior layouts are justifiable award winners and the Trakkaway is no exception. There were no
T
Obviously it would be a squeeze with four aboard, but for two of us the Trakkaway felt like a bed-sit apartment. The luxury of separate shower and toilet/vanity rooms was a nice touch and very practical (The distinguished actress, Googie Withers, was once asked the secret of her long and happy marriage to equally distinguished actor, John McCallum. She replied,
with a laugh: “Separate bathrooms!”). Setting up the motor home for an overnight stay was simple: awning and access step electrically powered out; gas bottle valve opened and blinds closed and we were ready for the night. I’m not as keen about the VW-Trakkaway 790 as I am about the more powerful Fiat Ducato-based, front-wheeldrive models. If it were my money on the table I’d have the three-axle Trakkaway 860, but chassis aside, it’s a Trakka and you simply can’t lose.
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
There’s room for a small pony (moreor-less) in the through-boot, while the separate shower and loo arrangement is a clear winner.
Ed’s Note The VW Crafter/Fiat Ducato question is a good one and both have their relative merits. Firstly, the Crafter is scheduled for a range of new engine options, the best of which will match Fiat’s 3.0-litre for power and torque (I believe) from a twin-turbo 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Also, the Crafter is rear-wheel drive, which many people prefer – particularly for towing. And finally, VW has a far more extensive service network around Australia than Fiat, which is something well worth considering.
Regarding the automatedmanual v full automatic gearbox question, while the VW’s ‘box does dither and can leave new driver’s frustrated, the more experience you get with it the less of an issue it becomes. Given the rest of the Crafter’s attributes it wouldn’t be a big deterrent for me in the final decision making process – and you could always choose the manual.
19
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 790
20
Pros Specifications Manufacturer
Trakka
Model
Trakkaway 790
Base Vehicle
VW Crafter
Engine
2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power
100 kW @ 3500 rpm
Torque
300 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Gearbox
6-speed automated manual (ATM)
Brakes
ABS Discs all wheels
Tare Weight
4200 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass
5000 kg
Licence
Standard car
Passengers
4
External Length
7.92 m (26 ft 0 in)
External Width
2.39 m (7 ft 910 in) including awning
External Height
3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Berths
4
Cooktop
3-burner
Fridge
190-litre 3-way
Microwave
800-watts xxxxx
Gas
2 x 4.0 kg
Lighting
12V LED & halogen
Batteries
2 x 100 amp hour
Solar panels
Optional
Air conditioner
Standard - cool/heat
Hot water
14-litres
Toilet
Thetford cassette
Shower
Separate cubicle
Heater
Optional
Fresh water tank
165-litres
Grey water tank
165-litre
Price
$189,500 (drive away, NSW)
• Innovative design • Quality construction • True living space • Long-term tourer • Long standard equipment list • Separate toilet/shower a winner • Good fuel economy • VW quality engineering
Cons • VW Crafter somewhat underpowered • Automated-manual gearbox can dither
Contact Click for Google Maps
Trakka 9 Beaumont Road, Mt-Kuring-gai, NSW. 2080. Ph: (02) 1800 872 552 E: trakka@trakka.com.au W: www.trakka.com.au
looking for a legends winner? take a trakka. >> TRAKKA’s Trakkaway 770 has just been awarded the
>> If you would like to find out more information
winner of the Caravan World Motorhome Legends Series.
about the award winning Trakkaway 770, as well as
>> Amoungst a strong field made up of the best RV’s in the
have a look at our impressive full range of Motorhomes
industry, the impressive Trakkaway 770 won by excelling
and Campervans, simply visit us at www.trakka.com
in a number of areas including •Value for money;
or call 1800 TRAKKA (872 552).
• Setting up on site; • Driveability; • Suitability for intended touring; • Layout liveability; • Quality of finish; •Build quality; • Creature comforts; • Innovation and •The X-Factor.
trakkabout australia