9 February 2011
Motorhome review; Spacious Crafter
New Zealand must surely be a world leader in the number of motorhomes per capita. Throughout the summer months and in ski season they can be seen throughout the land, on our roads and at our tourist destinations.
Many are huge, cumbersome rigs, comfortable and spacious inside, but try getting to a remote beach down a long, narrow, twisty gravel road off the beaten track and you might be wishing you had stayed at home.
Thanks to the team at Roadcraft, "spacious and comfortable" doesn't have to be "huge and cumbersome."
Built by Kiwis for Kiwis, Roadcraft's new Base Jumper L4 is aimed at the active, outdoor adventure-loving family wanting to get to our most remote destinations.
Roadcraft claims to have invented a new segment with the Base Jumper L4, the OCV, or Overland Camping Vehicle. Their aim, they say is to provide Kiwis with a new means of making the most of what it is to be a Kiwi - out there and getting into it.
John Managh and his sister Mary Hamilton have outdoor adventure running through their veins. Having grown up in a family that was into exploring, fishing, diving, sailing and anything involving the outdoors, it is only natural for them to be in this business.
So their OCV concept is a reflection of themselves. From the moment you arrive at their premises near Auckland Airport, you get the feeling this is an outfit that does things a little bit differently from the rest; friendly, welcoming, relaxed and passionate about what they do.
They'll make sure that your adventure in the great outdoors is an enjoyable experience.
From providing CD's and DVD's from their large audio/video library to recommending adventures at your destination, such as sea kayaking at Cathedral Cove or guided bush walks in the Coromandel Ranges, nothing's too much trouble.
Based on the new 6.9 metre Volkswagen Crafter, the Base Jumper L4 is powered by an 85kW turbo diesel engine mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox.
The Crafter's safety package includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) teamed with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) and traction control.
The guys and girls at Roadcraft tell us that future models will be fitted with a more powerful 100kW engine, however we didn't find our test vehicle short on power even on the steep and twisty roads around the Coromandel Peninsular.
The layout of the Base Jumper L4 has been designed with practicality and comfort in mind, with a clever use of available space.
The lounge/dining area at the rear is made up of a U shaped seating arrangement, with a table that stows away neatly under the floor.
Thanks to ingenious sliding mechanisms, the seats easily convert into a comfortable King size double berth, or can be used as two good sized singles. And for the kids, two cleverly thought out single berths are provided at the front that stow away neatly into the roof with the aid of gas stays.
With the family in mind, forward facing seating is provided immediately behind the driver's seat, allowing for all passengers to see the road ahead and converse while on the move.
Behind the second row of seats is the fully equipped bathroom with hot and cold running water available from the 140 litre fresh water tank. Water pressure from the nice hot shower is as good as that in any hotel.
Rearward of the bathroom, a good sized storage cupboard is located above a 110 litre Waeco fridge/freezer, with the main galley being located opposite.
There's plenty of kitchen bench space between a glass top 4 burner gas hob and grille and the sink with hot and cold running water.
Entertainment is provided in the form of a Majestic home theatre system with a 15 inch LCD screen TV/DVD/MP3/MP4 player and radio with iPod auxiliary input. An efficient Eberspacher 2.2kW diesel heater keeps the interior cosy in cold climates.
Available for hire through the rental arm of the company, Wilderness Motorhomes or for sale direct from Roadcraft's manufacturing facility for $149,000, the Base Jumper L4 provides accommodation for a family of four with all the mod-cons of a luxury hotel even if you choose to go bush.