iMotorhome .com

.au

because getting there is half the fun...

Issue 2: May 19 2012

Reflecting ChangeSuncamper’s compact-but-fun Sherwood

Interactive LinksTouch/select here to find out more!

The iMotorhome Team

Richard RobertsonPublisher & Managing Editorrichard@imotorhome.com.au

Malcolm StreetConsulting Editormalcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Allan WhitingTechnical Editorallan@imotorhome.com.au

Welcome to the second issue of iMotorhome

eMagazine and welcome back if you’ve been with us since issue number one.

Digital publishing allows us to do things traditional print publishers can only dream of. For example (and in case you haven’t realised it by now), every e-mail and web-

On my mind...

A long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer,

Richard is a dedicated, long-term motorhome enthusiast.

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

Unquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best

known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.

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

site address in this magazine is interactive. This means that if you’re reading iMoto-rhome eMagazine on an iPad or other touch-screen device, simply pressing your finger to the screen will either open a new e-mail already addressed to the subject, or open your web browser and take you straight to the website. On the other hand, if you’re

An experienced motoring writer when Japanese

cars were a novelty, Allan’s career read’s like Australian motor writing royalty.

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

using a laptop or desktop computer, simply moving the cursor over an interactive link will change it from an arrow-head to a hand. Click on the link and you’re in business.

In addition to e-mail and website addresses, any phys-ical address you see in an ar-ticle is also interactive and by

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

Continued on page 31...

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INSIDE

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TESTED

INNOVATION

NEXT ISSUE!

INSIDE

The Next Big Small Thing – taking a fresh look at Suncamper’s Sherwood

ON MY MIND

NEWS

What’s the Big Teal? – An innovative modular camper concept

SHOWTIME31 A look at RV shows coming up in the next few months

21TESTEDBrunner Pass – Giving UCC Motorhomes’ Brunner the thumbs up

A look at happenings in the local motorhome and campervan world...

Saint Matthew of Wodonga - read it to find out•

Inmarsat satphone deal drawing to a close•

KEA Open Day - Malcolm Street was there and tells all!•

KEA autumn deals - grab a rental bargain while the leaves are falling•

Ed rambles on about interactive links and stuff. Best you read it.

News...

At the recent Sydney Super Show we came

across an enthusiastic young man who turned out to be Matthew Sears, the general manager of Albury Wodonga RV World. In case you’ve never attended the Sydney Super Show, it’s a marathon 10-day pilgrim-age for RV devotees that would test the patience of any saint assigned to work on a stand, there.

When we met, Matthew ap-peared as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as if it was his first day and impressed with a genuinely helpful, can-do attitude.

Intrigued by the concept of Albury Wodonga hav-ing an RV World, we were impressed to find the busi-ness is a locally owned and

Saint Matthew of Wodonga?family operated company that operates across Aus-tralia and has been involved in the vehicle industry for more than 30 years. Albury Wodonga RV World is a dealer for Avan, Sun-liner and Talvor. Additionally – and most interestingly – is that they have what appears to be a thriving motorhome rental business, which has been operating since 2006.

The rental business has a diverse fleet of new two-to-six berth vehicles from the aforementioned manufac-turers and Matthew assures me every one comes fully equipped.

Matt (we’re all mates now) also says Albury Wodonga RV World is ideally posi-

tioned as a jumping-off point for touring the Snowy Mountains, Victoria’s de-lightful wine region and for heading west to the Riveri-na and beyond.

Apart from all that, Albury Wodonga RV World is an impressive looking deal-ership that also stocks caravans (what? –Ed) and would probably be a good place to head for a vehicle service and/or spare parts and service for most makes of motorhomes.

Check them out at www.awrvworld.com.au or visit them at 5 Melrose Drive, Wodonga. They also have a telephone, which will ring if you call (02) 6024-4222.

Inmarsat satphone prepaid credits deal ends May 31stCampersat, which spe-

cialises in satellite TV systems, is advising anyone thinking of buying a satel-lite phone that a special in-troductory offer by Inmar-sat is ending on May 31st.

Not as expensive as you might think, Inmarsat hand-held satellite phones retail around $900 and are supposedly guaranteed to

work anywhere in the word. Also, people living on-the-road can claim a 50% Fed-eral Government purchase price subsidy, while an 85% subsidy is available to any-one living where there is no Telstra Next G mobile phone coverage.

The deal coming rapidly to an end relates to the validity of prepaid phone

credits. At present you can prepay 100 credits, which last for two years. From June 1st that drops to just six months. A credit costs ‘about’ $1 and is equal to 1 minute, in 15-second increments. Unlike mobile phones, however, there is no flag fall with the Inmar-sat system. For full details visit www.campersat.com.au soon.

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News... 5

Last Saturday (May 12th), Kea Campers held its an-

nual Open Day at the Com-pany’s premises in Milperra, in Sydney’s South West. On display were a number of its new and used motor-homes; everything from the six-berth Ford Transit-based Endeavour to the two-berth VW Traveller. For the 4WD enthusiast there were also a couple of Land Cruiser Conquerors on display.

Undoubtedly the bargain of the day were the low km (circa 40,000km) Travellers which are ideal for folk who still have a city job but love to have a weekend escape machine that can also dou-ble as a daily driver

The iMotorhome team ar-rived early on the some-

Sale of the Century...

Fancy a late autumn motorhome break at a

very special rate? In tan-dem with the Open Day, the rental division of Kea is of-fering savings of around the 50 percent mark for two, four and six-berth rentals paid for and taken during May and June. Available from Perth, Sydney, Bris-

what coolish morning, because we wanted a chat with Norman Roe and his team and there weren’t too many people around. By

the time we left, however, there were quite a few keen potential motorhome buyers having a good look around.

KEA offers huge Autumn Discounts bane and Cairns, we reckon

the latter two are the pick if warmer weather is desired. Included in these specials are full excess insurance reduction (a real bargain, we have to say) plus camp chairs and table. Further Details:Phone: 1800 252 555Email: reservationsau@keacampers.com.auWebsite: www.keacampers.com.au

KEA sell new and ex-rental vehicles year-round from its Sydney HQ

The next

smallthing?

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

Review by Richard Robertson. Images by Malcolm Street

big

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

Suncamper’s entry-level Sherwood is small in size, not appeal...

From its earliest days the motorhome industry as

a whole has sought to pro-duce bigger, fancier and more expensive vehicles crammed with all the com-forts of home, and then some. Indeed, there are new motorhomes that seem to have more interior space than flats I lived in as a (much!) younger man and more high-tech gadgets than my house has today.

The ongoing uncertain-ties on both domestic and global financial markets,

however, coupled with lacklustre or diminishing returns through superan-nuation in recent years have forced many new motor home buyers to seriously reconsider their priorities. Some have de-ferred purchase plans, hoping for an improvement in their finances, but age and circumstances wait for no one and there comes a time when the buyer has to do what a buyer has to do. So it should come as no surprise that manufactur-ers like Suncamper, who

have always produced more compact (read: affordable) motorhomes are seeing a resurgence of interest, par-ticularly in their entry-level machines.

Enter the Sherwood

Small it might be, but Suncamper’s Sherwood

is deceptively spacious, ca-pable and well worth con-sidering – especially as an alternative to a van conver-sion. If there’s one prob-lem common to most van-conversion motorhomes it’s

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

tunnel vision: the view you get when sitting down the back, looking up the front (or vice-versa).

Step inside the Sherwood, however, and it feels like a real motorhome – even though it’s shorter than many van conversions. This is because the Sherwood is a ‘proper’ C-class mo-torhome; meaning it has a separate, purpose-built motorhome body mounted on an independent cab-chassis, which in this case is Toyota’s venerable HiLux one-tonner.

Host vehicle

When Adam and Eve left the Garden of

Eden they probably threw their swags and a crate of apples into the back of an old HiLux. Suncamper has been building Sherwood’s on HiLux cab-chassis for about the same length of time and while it’s basically a sound unit perhaps a change would make for an even better holiday.

The HiLux’s attraction lies in its relative simplic-ity, proven strength and

Toyota-quality engineering. The Sherwood we tested rode on a HiLux Work Mate single-cab cab-chassis pow-ered by a 2.7-litre four-cyl-inder petrol engine driving through a four-speed auto-matic. Transmission aside, it’s the entry-level model of the HiLux range – and it shows.

Work Mate is Toyota-speak for “most convenient equip-ment removed.” Think of it as an inconvenience pack. It’s inconvenient because the Work Mate lacks cen-tral locking (key or remote

The HiLux Work Mate comes with a 2.7-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that’s unexpectedly strong, smooth and willing. It’s peak torque of 240 Nm is developed at a relatively low 3800 rpm and it moves

the Sherwood along well, but expect a work mate’s thirst when pushed. A turbo-diesel is optional.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

operated), adjustable side mirrors (manual or electric) or even fabric upholstery. It goes without saying, then, it also lacks electric windows, cruise control or steering wheel-mounted audio or cruise controls. It also lacks air-condition-ing, although thankfully Suncamper includes it as standard equipment.

Given this is essentially a basic Tradies’ truck it’s interesting to see what Toyota does include as standard. Apparently Tradies’ want Bluetooth and iPod/USB connectivity plus (thankfully) dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and power steering.

The good news is Suncamp-er will build you a Sher-wood on any model HiLux and a turbo-diesel powered SR 4x4 would be the one to choose. Of course this would add to the purchase price, but you’d probably reap considerable fuel con-sumption and pleasure-of-ownership benefits, plus find it easier to sell when it’s time to move up/on. Better still would be if Sun-camper offered the Sher-wood on Ford’s excellent new Ranger, or similar new-generation light commercial cab-chassis.

The driving experience

What the HiLux Work Mate lacks in equip-

ment and convenience it makes up for in driving refinement and it’s actually quite enjoyable. The ‘little’

The Sherwood is very much at home nosing around small towns, like sleepy Brooklyn, pictured here, on the banks of the

Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney. Work Mate’s vinyl seats are a turn-off but they’re comfortable and the driving position is good. Thru-cab access is limited unless you’re a gymnast.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

2.7-litre four-cylinder pet-rol engine acquitted itself surprisingly well and the test vehicle had no trouble keeping up with the cut-and-thrust of suburban traffic or whisking us up to the freeway speed limit.

Producing 116 kW at 5200 rpm, its main attraction is a substantial 240 Nm of torque at a relatively low 3800 rpm, which matches very nicely to the smooth shifting four-speed auto-matic transmission. We didn’t cover enough dis-tance to have the opportu-nity to check fuel consump-tion, but if anything was going to be this drivetrain’s Achilles heel, this would

be it. The official combined fuel figure for the five-speed manual cab-chassis is 11L/100km, so I’d es-timate mid-teens to mid-twenties for a loaded Sher-wood in general running.

As said, the HiLux is sur-prisingly refined and enjoy-able to drive and although it’s capable of quite re-spectable point-to-point speeds, with the motor-home body on its back you want to take it quite easy. The reason? Body roll. The test Sherwood had air-bag ‘helper’ springs on the rear suspension but I’m think-ing these weren’t inflated, given the degree of body roll in non-freeway driving.

Where the HiLux/Sherwood combination really shines is exploring towns and cities, where you can basically park in a single car spot, do a U-turn anywhere and not worry about length and/or weight restrictions. Just watch the height. It would shine more brightly, how-ever, with side-mirror ex-tensions to clear the motor-home body and convex spot mirrors to clear the usual side blind spots.

A reversing camera and rear parking sensors would be an invaluable addition – as they are to any mo-torhome – and it would be good to see these included in the standard spec list.

A Sherwood will get you to many places a full-size motorhome can’t – just watch the height.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

Body and soul

There are some moto-rhome manufacturers

that won’t tell you how they construct their vehicles or allow you to see the manu-facturing process. Fortu-nately, Suncamper isn’t one of them. The company uses a proven, rugged and straightforward construc-tion method that has been tried and tested over de-cades. To quote from the Suncamper’s website:

“All motorhome models boast a steel frame base and aluminium, fully weld-ed framework for the walls, rear, nose and single-piece roof. Walls and roof are fully insulated with fire-re-tardant foam and pressed.

Framework is extensive so every fitting is screwed into a solid spot, not into insu-lation. The walls are more than 30-mm thick and the roof is more than 45-mm. This is more than double (and in some cases triple) other manufacturers. A rust-proofing and sound deaden-

ing agent is applied under the floor to protect from noise and road damage.”

Inside story

Step inside the Sherwood and the advantages of

a full-size motorhome body are immediately obvious.

Suncamper builds a wide variety of models at its Thornleigh factory in Sydney’s north

Bright, modern and spacious for its size, the Sherwood’s just the place to relax by the sea...

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

What it lacks in outright space it makes up for in space efficiency and for one or two people the Sherwood is surprisingly liveable. Stepping inside the Sher-wood is something you’ll only be doing through the side entry-door, however. Unless you’re a particularly agile contortionist, clam-bering between the cab and motorhome, over the centre console and between the front seats, is for emer-gencies only.

Suncamper interiors have always been functional if not particularly stylish. So it’s good to see the company has made considerable ef-forts to lift the interior ap-peal of all its vehicles and the Sherwood benefits from the latest high-gloss timber veneers and contemporary leather/fabric upholstery combinations. This gives it a bright, modern and airy feel inside, whilst the rear lounge-come-dinette has you ‘sitting in the view’, thanks to a large (non-opening) rear window and equally large opening side windows. It’s also good to know that cabinetry is solid plywood that’s ‘glued-and-screwed’ together, not just stapled like some.

Throw in touch-operated white/blue LED saloon lighting, LED reading lights on flexible wands, a small flat screen TV/DVD that can be watched from the lounge or bed, ceiling-mounted air-conditioning/heating, glass-topped flush-mounted cooker and sink units and a

The floorplan shows Sherwood’s compact layout, yet it feels spacious due to plenty of natural light. The new gloss cabinetry looks good, too.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

slimline rangehood, plus a lift-up-and-out dining table that leaves a handy small shelf when stowed away and you have an attractive, practical and highly live-able, compact motorhome.

Cooking, washing, sleep-ing and all that stuff

As you’d expect, the Sher-wood’s kitchen is com-

pact but comprehensively equipped. It includes a three burner gas cook-er, microwave, 93-litre LPG/12v/240v under-bench fridge, single-bowl sink and just enough bench space and cupboard space to get by with.

The Sherwood carries 72-litres of fresh water, has a 45-litre grey water tank

and a single 9-kg gas bottle to keep you cooking and power the 14-litre Truma hot water system.

The bathroom is suitably compact if basic, but has almost everything you need to keep clean, warm and happy. This includes a Thet-ford cassette toilet, corner hand-basin with mixer-tap and flexible shower hose

A lot of thought and years of design refinement have made the Sherwood’s interior highly

functional and very livable.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

with a wall-mount, foldout drying rack and roof hatch with extractor fan. What it doesn’t have, annoyingly, is any sort of medicine cabi-net for toothbrushes, tooth-paste, shampoo and the like. Bugger.

The defining feature of a C-class motorhome is its over-cab bed and on some vehicles this can require prior experience as a mountain climber/goat to reach. This can be particu-

larly perilous in the dead of night when nature calls, but the good news with the Sherwood is that the rela-tively small distance from the floor to the bed means that by using the single built-in step by the bath-room door you avoid the need for a ladder (or abseil-ing equipment).

The ‘bedroom’ area is un-expectedly spacious, with good head-height and it lacks the sense of claustro-

phobia you often find in this sort of arrangement. The bed itself is comfortable and at just a whisker under two-metres long will easily accommodate most people. There’s good cross ventila-tion, too, courtesy of large opening windows at the bed head and foot, whilst LED reading lights on flexible wands make catching up on a good book easy without disturbing your partner too much.

Over-cab bed is comfortable and

quite easily accessible. Note wand-style LED

reading lights and large window.

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Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

Suncamper’s Sherwood surprises in many ways

and is a ‘serious’ and ca-pable motorhome despite its modest dimensions. It’s well built, well finished, looks good (in a girl-next-door kind of way) and pro-vides one or two people with enough features and living space for even ex-tended touring. It’s afford-able, reasonably economi-cal, easy to drive and park and allows you to explore out-of-the-way places or

bustling towns and cities with comparative ease.

Toyota’s HiLux is an accept-able host vehicle and al-though the Work Mate model disappoints, better equipped and more capable/economi-cal versions are available to order. It would be good, however, to see Suncamper experimenting with different cab-chassis manufacturers to give buyers a wider choice of comfort, power and safety options.

The bottom line is I would jump in a Suncamper Sher-wood tomorrow and head off around Australia, confi-dent it would make the trip with a minimum of fuss and bother.

So if you’re in the market for a fully-featured moto-rhome you can drive on a standard car licence, take a serious look at the Sun-camper Sherwood. It could just be the Next Big Thing in small things...

Sherwood packs a lot into a compact package. Unlike some...

The bottom line

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SpecificationsManufacturer... Suncamper Model ... SherwoodBerths... 2 Base vehicle... Toyota HiluxEngine... 2.7-litre, 4-cylinderFuel type... Petrol Gearbox... 4-speed full automaticMax power... 116 kW @ 5200 rpm Max torque... 240 Nm @ 3800 rpmBrakes... ABS with front discs Airbags... Driver and passengerTare weight ... 2284 kg GVM... 2780 kg External length... 5.646 m (18 ft 6 in) External width... 2.060 m (7 ft 9 in incl awning)External height... 3.033 m (9 ft 11 in) Internal height... 1.925 m (6 ft 4in) Cooktop... 3-burner Fridge... Thetford 93 litre 3 way Microwave... LG LPG capacity... 1 x 9.0 kg Lighting... 12V LEDToilet... Thetford cassetteShower... Flex-hose/wall-mountHouse battery... 1 x 120 amp hourSolar panels... OptionalHeater... OptionalAir conditioner... OptionalHot water... Truma 14-litres Fresh water ... 72-litres Grey water... 45-litres 2nd stage compliance Yes Price... $95,000 + ORC

Pros...Only requires standard •car licenceCompact size a bonus •for parking, exploring and campingQualityfitandfinish•Good-sized bed•Good equipment levels •in motorhome

Cons...Toyota HiLux Work Mate •cab-chassis equipment levels disappointPetrol engine thirsty •when pushedBody roll on non-freeway •roadsBathroom lacks knick-•knack storage Limited bulky storage•

Tested: Suncamper Sherwood

ContactSuncamper Pty LtdUnit 3, 9 Sefton RdThornleigh. NSW. 2120T: (02) 9484 3952E: freedom@suncamper.com.auW: www.suncamper.com.au

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We know this looks suspiciously like a

caravan but before you cry “Heretic!”, read on. This story has exciting possibili-ties for lovers of slide-ons and anyone with a little imagination: Especially if you’re looking for a new business opportunity...

From the USA (where else?), the Teal Camper provides an interesting way of combining the sturdy, hard-sided living quarters of a camping trailer with the easy storage of a small-er pop-up or tent. The thing is shipped to your door as a series of panels and as-sembles into a two-person dwelling within about 90 minutes (so they claim). And when you’re finished with it for a while you can dismantle it and store it neatly away.

Innovation...

Inventor Lawrence Drake was inspired by a combina-tion of family camping and daily cargo hauling. When

his daughter suggested a camping trip in 2009, Drake decided his days of tent camping were in the

What’s the big

TEAL?

The Teal Camper would make an interesting slide-on project.

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Innovation...

past. He realised a pop-up camper would be a much better route but didn’t want to have to go out and buy a big pick-up to haul it.

The towing capacity on his Chevy HHR was 1000 lbs.

(455 kg), so what he re-ally wanted was a compact trailer less than that.

When Drake had bought his little Chevy he purchased a 4 x 8 foot (1.2 x 2.4 m) utility trailer for hauling

tools, gear and the like. He realised what would really work in terms of a camper was something he could assemble within the utility trailer for trips away and then take apart when not in use. In that way, he’d have both a camping trailer and a utility trailer in one.

The solution Drake came up with is a modular, as-sembly-required camper that consists of a series of foam-insulated polyethyl-ene panels.

The panels fit together with nothing more than a Phillips head screwdriver and the provided supply of hard-ware and waterproof seal-ing, to create the camper shell. Certain panels are equipped with doors and windows, while a pop-top roof kit expands head room to around 6 feet (1.8 m).

The camper body attaches to a plywood floor in the utility trailer by way of straps or angle brackets.

The camper can be pur-chased in several sizes for use in different utility trail-ers and pickup truck beds. Thanks to its bevelled base it fits neatly in the trailer while offering more interior room than it would with straight walls. Because it’s made-up of individual pan-els it’s easy to customise, with things like extra win-dows. You can even expand to a larger sized trailer by adding extra panels.

Inside, the standard Teal camper kit limits you to

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the basics in order to keep weight below the magic number of 1000 lbs (455 kg). Bench seating, a table and a double bed are in-cluded in the full camper. From there, it’s really up to you. Teal offers some add-on equipment like a canvas sink cabinet (lighter and easier to break down than wood) and the camper’s open, minimalistic fram-ing leaves the door open for you to customise it with your own equipment and accessories.

Drake’s idea is that you stick with light, camping hardware rather than built-in fixtures to keep things light and easy to dismantle. So instead of an integrated cooking range and bath-room, you would use a propane camping stove and portable toilet.

Drake has gone so far as to build several prototypes of the camper. Along with the trailer he had to tow it, his original empty camper prototype weighed in at a very lightweight 630 lbs (286 kg).

Currently, Drake is finding out that it takes more than a great idea to get a prod-uct off the ground. Despite having some background in the manufacturing realm from a career in the home heating industry, he’s run into difficulty finding a manufacturing partner to get the project up and run-ning. He’s currently looking for partners and investors to help him make that big next step.

“I’ve pretty much gotten to the point, to be honest with you, where I’ve put every-

thing I’ve got into it and I’m looking for someone to pick it up and help me take it to the next level,” Drake said.

“The opportunity is definite-ly there. I’ve got over 600 people who have expressed interest in purchasing; I’ve got 150 people that are interested in being a dealer. The interest I get on it is pretty high.”

Since manufacturing costs remain up in the air there’s no solid pricing on the Teal Camper. However, Drake has published some pro-jected prices. For the most basic shell, which includes exterior panels, a fixed roof and doors, but no interior equipment, the listed estimate is just un-der US$3000. Full campers, which include more

Innovation...

And speaking of interesting slide-on projects, here’s one they prepared earlier...

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windows, a cabinet with sink, bed, dining area and pop-up roof are projected at a starting price of just under US$5000.

Beyond the camper, Drake sees some potential for his panel system to be applied to other lightweight shelter solutions. He cites things like emergency shelters as projects that the Teal pan-els would be well-suited for.

“The camper is a great little product, but my sense is that that’s not going to be the biggest use for this,” Drake predicted. “The ideas and the uses that have come up for the panel system – everything from hot tub surrounds to eas-ily transported emergency shelters could end up being a much bigger market.”

To find out more visit: www.tealcamper.com.

Innovation...

Easily assembled with just a screwdriver, the Teal panel system has po-tential for a range of transportable buildings, inc emergency shelters.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

BRUNNERPass...

Review and images by Malcolm Street

The UCC Brunner gets Malcolm Street’s tick of approval

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Tested: UCC Brunner

UCC Motorhomes is based in Christchurch,

NZ. Previously known as Universal Caravan and Coachbuilder (in case you were wondering), the com-pany – under the direc-tion of Rob Floris – makes a range of motorhomes named after New Zealand lakes that are based on ei-ther Mercedes Benz Sprint-er or Mitsubishi Fuso cab-chassis. Whilst both are not difficult to drive, the former is more car like and the latter more truck like. For those new to motorhoming, UCC offers a try-before-you-buy arrangement – and there’s nothing like a few days across Arthurs Pass or in the southern lakes area to get to know a prospec-tive new vehicle.

The Vehicle

Under the UCC Brun-ner is a Mercedes Benz

Sprinter 516CDI cab chas-sis. Translated that means a 2.2-litre, 120 kW, 360 Nm turbo-diesel motor with a five-speed auto-matic gearbox and stopping power provided by ABS disc brakes and the Benz Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which this writer can testify works very well, having driven Sprinters on a closed test circuit. Addi-

tionally, from a safety point of view, the Benz does come with all the safety features that are expected in a normal passenger car, including air bags as stan-dard for both passenger and driver.

The Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) – maximum legal loaded weight – is 4490 kg, making it legal to be driven on a New Zealand drivers’ licence and the tare weight

“UCC makes a range of motorhomes named after New Zealand lakes”

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Tested: UCC Brunnercomes in at 3600 kg, giv-ing it a load capacity of nearly 900 kg depending on the accessories fitted. Something to be kept in mind is that the water tank has a capacity of 150-litres (which equals 150 kg) kg and the grey tank another 200-litres.

Like many a motorhome construction process, the Benz has its roof and rear cut-out to accommodate internal cab access. That’s actually how the Sprinter leaves the Mercedes facto-ry, as a motorhome-spec’d model. That even includes

a bleed off the main diesel tank for the motorhome diesel-fired heater. About the only modification that UCC does is an extension to the chassis at the rear.

Construction wise, the exterior of the motorhome body is fibreglass. The wall sheeting sheet sits over aluminium framing (with insulation inserted) and a plywood interior lining, all of which is then vacuum bonded together. On top, the roof is a full compos-ite structure. Entry is via a Camec security screen triple-lock door, while tinted

sliding glass windows are used all round. An asset of glass windows is that they don’t scratch easily but they are not usually available these days in the hopper-style, which can be left open in the rain. There are three external storage bins: one at the offside rear and two on the opposite side. One 9-kg gas cylinder sits in the gas locker and it depends how much gas is used, but there’s an argu-ment for using two smaller cylinders (i.e. always hav-ing a spare) rather than a single that can run out.

“The exterior of the motorhome body is fibreglass. The wall sheeting sheet sits over aluminium framing (with insula-tion inserted) and a plywood interior lining; all of which is then vacuum bonded together”

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Tested: UCC Brunner

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter is the most

expensive of its contem-poraries but it does come with a couple of things that the others do not. One is the Mercedes Benz cachet – you can put what value you like on that – but the other is that it comes with a full automatic gearbox. Everyone else’s self-shifting gearboxes are the Automat-ed Manual Transmissions (AMTs), which work fine, mostly, but are wanting for some drivers who desire

smooth, snappy shifts ev-ery time. Personally, I’m happier with a manual shift.

Although 2.2-litres might sound small to many ears, the common-rail turbo-diesel motor delivers sur-prising (and relatively eco-nomical) punch. It performs as well as or better than its contemporaries, but anyone desiring a bit more grunt for mountain country should opt for the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel

All that said, the Sprinter is a fine driving machine

that handles as well as any light commercial vehicle with a big white box on the back. For the novice that is not meant to be a scary comment – driving most modern motorhomes is just like driving a car in many respects – they are just a little larger. Inside, whilst there were a few squeaks and rattles that come with any motorhome, they weren’t excessive. An as-set of motorhome driving is that the driver and pas-senger sit above most cars and can see the road ahead quite clearly.

On the Road

Mercedes Benz’ Sprinter delivers a car-like driving experience and has good fuel economy, performance and standard safety equipment. It’s also very manoeuvrable.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

Living Inside

One thing about a 7.4-metre motorhome

is that it provides plenty of interior space. I make that point because often in shorter motorhomes, it’s difficult to get in an island bed without cramp-ing everything else. In this layout, the island bed has been fitted into the rear bedroom area, but that still leaves space for an offside kitchen, nearside com-bined bathroom and a front lounge area.

The general décor is quite simple and whilst the tim-ber look is prevalent, it doesn’t dominate and there are some tasteful touches

like the curved locker doors and the timber partitions at either end of the kitchen bench. Roman blinds are fitted to all the windows. LED light appliances are fitted in all the relevant places and the 240V power

points are mostly distrib-uted quite well.

Out-of-sight but definitely an asset is the diesel-fired Eberspacher space heater: experience has shown these work very well indeed!

Spacious lounge makes entertaining a real possibility, but swivel-ling front seats shouldn’t be options. Walk-through cab provides

easy access and almost-A-Class motorhome visibility.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

Lounging Around

Up front, quite a com-fortable area has been

achieved, with both driver and passenger seats swiv-elling around (an option) and working in well with the sideways-facing lounges on both sides. Because there is no roof in the Sprinter cab, getting to-and-from the cab seats is quite easy. A Lagun swivel-mounted table is fitted to the front of the offside lounge seat and can therefore be utilised in several different ways or simply kept out of the way altogether. Naturally, there

are storage areas under the seats. The flat screen TV, which is mounted on the front wall of the bathroom, can be seen quite easily from the front seats and in our review motorhome, the TV came connected to the optional roof-mounted satellite receiver.

Time to Eat

Getting together a de-cent sort of meal in the

Brunner kitchen shouldn’t be too difficult. Along the benchtops sits a stainless steel sink (sans drainer) and a four-burner Smev

cooktop with grill and oven underneath. Having the latter two does mean that even without mains power for the microwave, a good variety of cooking can be achieved. On that very subject – the microwave oven – it is located in the overhead locker area but set lower, so that it is at a

The Brunner’s 7.4-metres provides real ‘living’ room, while plenty of windows and roof hatches makes for a bright and ap-pealing interior. Power controls and radio are in a cupboard to the right of the microwave. Mini wine-rack is a nice touch, too.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

more user-friendly height. Above the microwave is a small compartment whilst alongside are two wine bottle holders. In the ad-joining locker is the usual storage space plus the elec-trical panel with 12V switch-

es, water-tank gauges and battery monitor. Also handy, but out of sight, is the ra-dio/CD player.

Under the bench a Dometic 117-litre three-way fridge takes up most of the space,

but alongside it are four drawers of different sizes, including a deep saucepan drawer for larger utensils.The bench-top area can be enlarged, too, courtesy of a slide-out shelf that sits above the fridge.

Although bench space is a little limited, a pull-out extension above the fridge provides valuable additional working space when required. Deep bottom drawers are handy for pots, too.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

After Hours

In the rear, the island bed measures 1.8 m x 1.35

m which is long enough for most people, but anyone taller than average might need to request a longer bed length. Overhead lock-ers run along both walls and across the back wall. They are supplemented by two side wardrobes and bedside cabinets, with a gap in between for shelf space, plus an under-bed drawer.

Unless a large bathroom area is desired then this one certainly is of adequate size – room to move with-out taking up excessive space. Fitted in is a vari-able-height flexible hose shower, Dometic cassette

toilet and a corner wash basin with cupboard under-neath. A frosted window supplies both natural light and ventilation. A towel rail

and internal wall-mirror complete the bathroom fit-tings, but handily, there is also a mirror on the outside wall of the bathroom.

The island bed provides easy access and means no climbing over each other in the dead of night when Nature calls. The bathroom’s functional and adequate for the Brunner’s size.

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Tested: UCC Brunner

What we Think

The Brunner is certainly a well appointed motor-

home but I should point out that this particular vehicle was fitted with quite a few options like the awning, swivel seats, solar panels and satellite TV, plus the oven. Indeed, I consider one or two of these items should be “non-option” op-tions. With this design, UCC has achieved what many desire in a motorhome lay-out: an island bed. It, along with a good sized front lounge area that incorpo-rates the cab seats does mean a slightly squeezed bathroom and kitchen, but that’s a compromise to be expected in 7.4-metre motorhome. It’s not a bad compromise I should point out, just what the user has to be happy to living with.

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Pros...Island bed layout that •isn’t squashyFlexible front lounge •area, especially with op-tional front swivel-seatsCurtains that go right •around the front cab areaBright and breezy inte-•rior aided by two large roof hatchesGood sized bathroom •(unless a separate toilet is really a must)Generally good storage •inside and out

Cons...A few too many options, • especially with essentials like swivel seats and the awningNo power point handy to • the front lounge areaStorage compartment • above the microwave a bit hard to reach for shorter people

SpecificationsManufacturer... UCC MotorhomesModel... Brunner Base Vehicle... Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516Engine... 2.2-litre turbo-dieselPower... 120 kW @ 3800 rpmTorque... 360 Nm @ 1400-2400 rpmGearbox... 5 speed full automaticBrakes... ABS DiscTare Weight... 3600 kgGross Vehicle Mass... 4490 kgLicence... Standard NZ Driver’sPassengers... 6External Length... 7.4 m (24 ft 4 in)External Width... 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in inc awning)External Height... 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)Internal Height... 2.2 m (7 ft 2 in)Cooktop... Smev 4 burner, grill & ovenFridge... Dometic 117-litre 3-wayMicrowave... Sharp CarouselLighting... 12V LEDBatteries... 2 x 105 amp hourSolar Panels... OptionalAir Conditioner... OptionalHeater... Eberspacher 2.2 kW dieselToilet... Dometic cassetteShower... Flex-hose/wall-mount Hot Water Heater... Truma 14-litre gas/electricWater Tank... 150-litreGrey Tank... 200-litreGas Cylinders.... 9.0kgPrice... NZ$179,995

Tested: UCC Brunner

ContactUCC Motorhomes238 Main South RdSockburn. Christchurch. NZT: (03) 348-2247E: info@uccmotorhomes.co.nzW: www.uccmotorhomes.co.nz

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...continued from page 2

touching/selecting it Google Maps will open in your web browser, a pin will fall into place and highlight the ad-dress. Then by touching/selecting the pin you can get turn-by-turn directions from whereever you are to that exact location. But wait, there’s more.

The Index page is also in-teractive and each heading will take you directly to the appropriate article, as do the story headings in the red banner at the bottom of the front cover.

On my mind...

From this issue onwards we’re highlighting all e-mail, website and physical addresses in blue, where possible, throughout the articles in the magazine to make finding out interactive links as easy as possible.

So what are you waiting for? Get touching/selecting and exploring! See you for Issue three on June 2, but in the meantime you can follow all the iMotorhome eMagazine action (and Like us) on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/iMotorhome

(which as you will note is an interactive link).

Thanks again and please feel free to contact me, personally, with any feed-back and/or comments. You’ll always find me at richard@imotorhome.com.au. Go on, try it. You know you want to...

ON THIS WEEKEND!MAY 18-20Canberra Retirement & Lifestyle ExpoExhibition Park,Flemington Road, Mitchell ACT.

Open 10:00-4:00 daily• Free parking• Adults $12• Pensioner/Seniors $10• Website: • www.emsau-st.com.au/Canberra-Retirement-Lifestyle-Expo.html

Show Calendar: What’s on or coming up soon...

JUNE 6-12Brisbane Caravan, Camping & Touring Holiday ShowRNA Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane.

Open 10:00-6:00 daily • (4:00 pm last day)Litttle parking. Free trains • from Roma St, Central or Fortitude Valley Adults $15• Pensioner/Seniors $10• Website:• www.caravanqld.com.au/showsevents/cara-van-camping--touring-holiday-show/show-details.aspx

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

Open 9:00-5:00 daily • (4:00 pm last day)Free parking• Free entry• Website:• http://pen-rith.supershow.com.au/

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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Richard

Next Issue...

4WDFEAST!Next issue, our off-road

guru Allan Whiting takes us well and truly off the beaten track.

He’ll be reporting on two very different machines: Trakka’s nimble and ver-satile Trakkadu, and the EarthCruiser – a highly specialised go-anywhere motorhome of enormous capability. Don’t miss them both in iMotorhome eMaga-zine issue 3, out Saturday June 2nd.

Speaking of out-of-the-way travel, visit Allan’s website for a vast and free resource of free 4WD travel and technical information.

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