By Tim Scott,
April 30, 2020
Is your mission to improve payload and get the most bang for your buck? Then you’ll love these five lightweight caravan options.
If we all wanted the same thing life would be dull and there wouldn’t be so many caravan models. Having one size and style of caravan would ease the choice headache for some people. But the prevailing trend, being for large off-road designs, also disappoints a selection of caravanners who do not want or need to take an apartment camping. If it works for you, that’s all that matters.
However, the dollars…
We’re in a new dimension at the moment, and while it feels like the Twilight Zone right now, let’s examine the new reality some people face. And, let’s all face it, budget is the controlling factor in all decisions (if it’s not, brother, can you spare a dime?).
Caravanning is a major ‘participation sport’ in Australia. Given the soaring prices of a new tow vehicle, many buyers may be looking for the most lightweight and user-friendly caravans they can find. The lightweight caravan speaks volumes to this purchaser, in terms of being able to retain the family car.
We have gathered five lightweight caravans to give inspiration for your next adventure. Real adventure doesn’t depend on how you get there, just that you do.
Adria Altea 402 PH Sport
Price: From $65,700
The Adria range retails in Australia through Apollo RV Sales. These Slovenian-built caravans and motorhomes offer a very European alternative in terms of material design and pursue a lightweight ethic common in Euro RVs where towball weight is nowhere near Aussie standards.
Within the compact body length of the Altea 402PH Sport, Adria has made a four-berth option and added creature comforts such as a 190-litre fridge, separate toilet/shower ensuite and 130-litre fresh water tank.
Given the smaller dimensions, it’s a nice touch to have LED internal lighting that’s adjustable, and the Adria kitchen designs make the best use of doubling-up prep and cooking space.
The four berths are provided by converting the dinette to a small double, and the full-size double bed up front.
The 402PH is an on-road van but has been given an AL-KO semi-off-road hot-dip galvanised chassis and uses AL-KO’s IRS suspension. What’s technically great in terms of the body is the use of smooth composite panels for strength and longevity; the sleek lines are modern and fresh. In an interesting trade-off, the Euro trend of making comfy lounges for inclement weather up north, is that window and roof hatch light provision make for well-lit and airy spaces. Plus, Truma looks after keeping the space warm too.
In terms of lightweight caravans, the weight comes in at 1600kg ATM with a 320kg payload so the Altea 402PH can be towed by smaller family cars.
Plus points:
- Four-berth but compact style
- A club lounge dinette
- Stylish interior, with ensuite
New Age Road Owl 16-foot
Price: from $48,990
Not quite the smallest in the New Age van range, the Road Owl (odd name) provides a multi-option platform on a 16-foot (7.01m) package.
The Road Owl is also an ensuite van which is at the rear, a mid-mounted galley and a bedroom up front. The 16-foot Road Owl is a two-berth.
As an on-road model, the Road Owl packs a Duragal chassis and BMPRO Sway Control and a standard 50mm ball hitch with shackle suspension. The Road Owl range runs up to 21-foot models, but the 16-foot isn’t light on when it comes to options. New Age has added a Comfort and Comfort Plus Packs and Adventurer (and Plus) Packs that can add most of anything you’d want, without getting too far away from the simple-yet-essential theme of lightweight caravans we’re pursuing here.
In base-spec the Road Owl has a 110-litre water tank (hot water on board, too), a 164-litre three-way fridge, a microwave, cooktop and mini grill. Comfort Pack adds the aircon, 100 AH battery, TV and more.
Depending on what you choose to outfit your Owl with, the average ATM is 1665kg, so like the other lightweight caravans here it can be towed by a large range of vehicles. With the recent acquisition by the Walkinshaw Group there looks likely to be further innovation at New Age too.
Plus points:
- Rear door option
- Three-year warranty
- Custom option packs
- Easy to tow (and sway control standard)
Sunland Blue Heeler Pup
Price: from $64,900
Sunland has taken its nameplate from the large Blue Heeler and scaled things down to produce the Pup, an 11-foot, 6-inch lightweight caravan. You might think this would be a couples-only van but it’s a bunk option as standard, with a three-berth offering; ideal for a young family. You can opt to change that if it’s just the double you’re after.
Select your construction options from either an aluminium frame or a composite construction to house an internal kitchenette with microwave and an onboard toilet and shower. If you opt to not have the bunk (or you can add another) then a larger fridge can be built in. There is an external slide-out barbecue and sink so you can specify your interior preferences although, the design execution of the beds is pretty trick and in a style that’s clean, bright and modern.
The Pup is off-road designated and rides on independent coil suspension. There’s ample storage on the drawbar including twin gas cylinders, and you can ask for two spares; one front, one rear-mounted.
The Pup at maximum specification (all options) has a tare weight of 1,500kg with an ATM of 2250kg. This gives a whopping 700kg payload! There is a huge options list that you can throw at the Pup to make it yours but the base-spec van is a great lightweight caravan on which to build and that’s towable by a broad range of lighter-duty vehicles.
Plus points:
- Design application
- Super compact size and weight
- Five + 20 Warranty (5 years van, 20 chassis)
- Custom options
Jayco Journey 16.51 – 3
Price: from: $66,990
The Jayco Journey is a lightweight caravan for couples to tackle on-road adventures. It’s a single-axle, leaf-sprung 16-footer, with the option for a third bed.
The Journey in this guise starts at a Tare of 1763kg. It’s an ensuite model, with aircon as standard, a 171-litre fridge, Sway Command tow control, and a great kitchen with a full oven. As you’d expect, there’s a hot-dipped galvanised chassis, but also a slightly rarer Euro styling from the Aussie giant, which means some curved edges for the interior styling. Huge bedroom windows make an attractive space here while at the other end the shower has a great splash of chrome fittings to keep things bright.
The Journey features a one-piece roof and Toughframe composite walls that are all designed as hail-resistant. Standard power comes from a single 100 AH battery (with option for two). The Journey has a WiFi system with built-in GPS, TV, of course, and Bluetooth for the App that monitors power and water. Plus you can option Google Alexa voice control. Jayco offers a long options list but the Journey range offers a great base for a lightweight entry-level caravan.
Plus points:
- Interior style
- Tech applications
- Tow vehicle options
- Dealer network
Avan Aspire Hardtop 555
Price: from approx. $52,000
Avan offers a huge range of Aspire caravans and here we have the 555 Hardtop Double. As the name suggests, it’s a couple’s van in modern composite construction, with single axle, primarily on-road designation. Avan has a range of exterior paint protection treatments and colour schemes to make their vans stand out. Plus, in among attractive wood-effect cupboard panelling that you can select, you will find a very comfortably appointed van with standard aircon, a three-way fridge, gas/electric hot water, microwave and ensuite.
With a Tare weight of 1455kg the Aspire fits our lightweight caravan criteria of being able to be towed by a wider range of vehicles. According to Avan, payload is around 300kg.
Also convenient are the anti-jam blinds for the double-glazed windows and the two-piece door with retractable screen. Neat! The full-length Thule awning is a standard feature too. In terms of supply for facilities, there’s a single fresh water tank and twin 4kg gas bottles.
Plus points:
- Pleasing interior design touches
- Large Aspire range
- Towability
- Dealer network
