Buying used: 2019 Masterpiece Optimum Off-Road review

Buying a caravan just a few years old can save you thousands (sometimes tens of thousands), allowing you to get the caravan you want at the price you can potentially afford. With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the 2019 Masterpiece Optimum Off-Road.

The Masterpiece Optimum Off-Road is ‘big lap’ worthy

Designed and built in Melbourne for Australian conditions, the Optimum is Masterpiece Caravans’ aspirational top-of-the-range off-roader that’s as comfortable as it is capable. It’s a robust and well-constructed van that wants to get to that far-flung campsite as badly as you do. And while it’s true, a van is only ever as off-road as its dimensions and weight will allow, the Optimum Off-Road is about as capable on the rough stuff as a full-size van can get.

Better still, this van is designed with total self-sufficiency in mind. Do you want to stay at that perfect campsite for a week and pretend the outside world doesn’t exist? No problem. The Optimum will allow you to do it in total comfort. In that way, a well-constructed off-road caravan becomes more than just something that can tolerate being dragged around the bush, but rather a tool to facilitate prolonged remote touring. We reckon this caravan is ‘big lap’ worthy!

Here’s a video walk-through of the 20’8” variant we did back in 2019 of the Masterpiece Optimum Off-Road.

Total self-sufficiency

Following you safely to your destination is a vital part of any off-road van’s job, but I’ll get to that shortly. For now, let’s focus on the Masterpiece Optimum’s exceptional capacity for self-sufficient living. After all, there’s no point getting way off the grid if you can’t stay there until you’re good and satisfied.

Fresh and grey water storage

To that end, there are 252 litres of fresh water storage in the five-year-old van, spread across three independent tanks with separate 12-volt pumps. These comprise two 95-litre tanks and one 62-litre dedicated drinking water tank. This multi-tank set-up allows for effective weight distribution and prevents total loss of water should a tank be damaged, although they sit high out of harm’s way on the van’s undercarriage and are shrouded in checker plate for protection.

There’s a 100-litre grey water tank on board, too, with digital displays for all tanks. An additional 40 litres of water (or fuel) can be stowed in twin jerry can holders on the rear bumper. Twin 9kg gas bottles are housed at the drawbar between two storage compartments and are plumbed to the kitchen, fridge, Truma space heater and GSWH-2 Endless tankless hot water service.

Power

The Optimum comes equipped with 300Ah of lithium batteries and four roof-mounted 110-watt flexible solar panels to back these up. In addition, there’s a dedicated Anderson plug for portable solar panels, a handy inclusion for those who prefer to park up in the shade. The van is fitted with a powerful 3000-watt Redarc inverter to power 240-volt appliances, and all internal double power points are inverted.

There’s a 30-amp Redarc battery management system, and the Masterpiece Optimum is fitted with Redarc’s Red Vision, which enables the remote monitoring and control of the van’s full electrical setup. There’s even a 4G aerial mounted to the roof to help you stay connected if that happens to be a priority.

Storage

Further to the van’s capacity for self-sufficiency, it also has plenty of storage inside and out, including a dedicated generator hatch with a slide drawer, so you’ve got somewhere for the backup if you need added peace of mind.  

Built to get you there

Masterpiece Caravans are manufactured in Melbourne and proudly wear Aussie-made status. The Masterpiece Optimum is touted as an ‘extreme off-road’ van, a claim we weren’t able to verify during our brief stint with the van, which included towing it on an easy fire trail on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. That said, it does seem to be up for the task, with some pretty solid manufacturing values.

The custom-designed and engineered, hot-dipped galvanised chassis has a 6in A-frame and box chassis, with 2in continuous raiser to the rear. There’s a four-arm rear bumper where a spare wheel and firewood cradle live, and while rated rear recovery points are handy in the scrub the van could benefit from a better departure angle; it’s very boxy.

The walls are fully insulated, high-profile stucco aluminium cladding with a front and rear aluminium composite panel; an 800mm checker plate stretches high up the sides of the van for protection from stones, branches and the like. There’s a mesh stone guard at the drawbar to protect your tow vehicle.

It all rides upon 4.1-tonne Cruisemaster XT Suspension with dual shock absorbers and 16-inch alloy wheels with Cooper ST Maxx tyres pulled up by 12-inch electric brakes. There’s a Cruisemaster DO-35 off-road coupling, a 10-inch jockey wheel and drop-down stabiliser legs on all four corners.

With that line-up of hardware, you can be pretty confident this van will tow politely in moderate off-road environments where the tracks are open enough to accommodate its sizable dimensions (8.8×2.5×3.1m) and where the tow vehicle is powerful enough to manage its considerable weight (3.5-tonne ATM).

Loads of luxury

Think going bush means roughing it? Think again. The Masterpiece Optimum is a very well-appointed van with bucketloads of luxurious niceties.

Italian leather upholstery is very plush indeed at the spacious dinette, while vinyl wood-look flooring adds warmth to the aesthetic. The queen-size bed has a pillowtop mattress, and there are loads of storage with twin bedside tables/wardrobes, bedside reading lights, plus 12V, 240V and USB outlets where you need them. The windows are double-glazed Dometic with leather pelmets and Roman blinds for privacy.

Kitchen

The kitchen is functional and well-equipped with a Swift fan-forced gas/electric oven, a four-burner stove (three gas, one electric) with a fold-down bench for added working space when it’s not in use and an overhead 12V range with inbuilt light. There’s a 25-litre microwave and a massive 216-litre Dometic compressor fridge/freezer to keep you going the distance. There’s loads of storage in the kitchen, including a space-saving pantry slide cupboard.

Temperature

Keeping the interior at the right temperature in the Masterpiece Optimum is a Truma reverse cycle air-conditioner. There are also two 12V Sirocco fans, one in the bedroom and one at the dinette. A Fusion stereo keeps the tunes flowing, with internal and external speakers adding the good vibes to cocktail hour.

Bathroom

The bathroom is spacious and comfortable with plenty of storage, a full-size shower with opaque door a ceramic sink and loo, and a beautiful vanity mirror with detailed edges and a soft makeup light running right the way around which I loved. Very ambient and luxurious. There’s a washing machine beneath the bench in the ensuite, too.

Lighting

Lighting throughout is excellent: abundant, functional and ambient. Externally, there are lights at the front, side and rear, plus the step, grab handle and storage hatches. Internally, there are roof lights, over-bench lights, and reading lights at the bed and dinette. I’m one of those people who is annoyingly anal about the level of ambience provided by lighting, and I found the Optimum most satisfactory indeed.

Pros and Cons

What’s great?

• Huge water capacity
• Excellent lithium/solar set-up
• High-quality finish throughout

What could be better?

• Departure angle isn’t great
• Big and heavy – this will affect off-road capability

Specs

Tare: 2970kg
ATM: 3500kg
Suspension: 4.1-tonne Cruisemaster XT
Brakes: 12-inch electric
Coupling: Cruisemaster DO35 off-road
Style: Full-height off-road
Length: 8800mm
Width: 2495mm
Height: 3100mm
Ball weight: 185kg
Price: These 2019 spec models are currently going for around $78,000 – $99,000 however when purchased new back in 2019, they started at $101,000. A 2025 model is significantly more expensive.

The verdict

With a price tag stretching well beyond the $100k mark for a late-model Masterpiece Optimum, there’s no doubt there is significant saving by purchasing a pre-loved caravan. If you’ve got the vehicle to tow it, what you’ll get is a capable, well-built off-roader designed for extended stays in isolated locations.

Words by Emma Ryan. Images by Harry Temple.

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