The return of the KEA
Since the demise of the Australian arm of KEA Campers, there’s been something of a gap in that part of the market with no new KEA motorhomes being available either for rent or purchase. Certainly there have been a considerable number of ex KEA rental motorhomes available for sale but they have moved fairly quickly and new purchasers have had to look elsewhere.
If you happen to be a KEA Campers fan, then the good news is that they’re back. Although there have been a number of new KEA motorhomes available in New Zealand (see KEA Campers – a Slightly Complicated Story) for a while there have not been any available in Australia. Until now that is, with the arrival of a new six berth 6KQ motorhome. Although my review motorhome was in a rental livery, it’s my understanding that new vehicles will also be available in a different colour scheme.
One change that is noticeable from previous KEA motorhomes is that the venerable Ford Transit chassis has gone, instead being replaced by either a Volkswagen Crafter or a Mercedes Benz Sprinter. In this case, my 6KQ was based on a Volkswagen Crafter cab chassis with a 2.0 litre 100kW turbo diesel driving through a six speed AMT gearbox. It has an external length of 7.1m (23ft 3in) and a tare weight of 3645kg, the ATM of 4490kg giving it a very good load capacity. It’s built very much in KEA fashion with fibreglass composite walls and moulded front and rear. The windows are very much NZ style, tinted and with slider openings – quite large in some cases. Entry is via a Hartal style door that is fitted with a simple concertina style insect screen.
An item of interest was the new style Cvana awning. Rental motorhomes frequently don’t have awnings because of mechanical damage issues but the Cvana is obviously designed to be a little more rugged and has support arms at two thirds intervals, instead of at each end. It’s also quite simple to operate. Certainly important for any rental user.
Many an Australian motorhome user has been bemused by the fishing rod, pole holder, ski storage locker that has been built into many NZ motorhomes. Personally I have always found them useful for snow skis but the 6KQ doesn’t have one! Instead a much more practical external bin is located at the nearside rear. It’s actually the storage area under the rear lounge seats but since many a rental motorhome doesn’t have any sort of decent external storage, I reckon it’s a winner!
On the Road
There weren’t any real surprises in the road handling of the VW based motorhome. Certainly the 100kW engine delivers the goods as needed - it doesn’t deliver quite as much grunt as the more powerful 120kW but should suit most people. A slightly different matter is the automated six speed gearbox which mostly kicks up and down as needed but shows some of the usual hesitation in the lower ranges. I understand that this is the last of these AMT gearboxes – Crafters will be manual from now on, until VW deliver with a new gearbox. General road handling was very much as expected, with a little rock and roll around corners and along undulating road surfaces. Driver’s cab fittings include a GPS but sadly the AM/FM radio/CD player is the bog standard item without anything like a 2.5mm socket for plugging in something like an iPod. One feature I did like was that the luton bed can be lifted up if not being used – does save some head banging when moving to and from the cab seats.
Department of the Interior
Stepping inside reveals a layout slightly different to the usual six berth layout. There are some familiar items too, like the ‘NZ Back’, that is a club style lounge surrounded by windows in the rear, although this one has been compressed slightly by the shower/toilet cubicle along the offside and the kitchen bench along the nearside. That leaves room for a sort of café style dinette behind the driver’s cab. I say sort of because it has forward facing two person seat and one rear facing seat with a fold out table in between. Another seat, also forward facing, is located behind the front passenger seat. That arrangement might sound slightly odd but it does allow for all the passengers to sit close to the driver’s cab (instead of right back in the rear) and everybody, except one, to be forward facing.
The internal décor has not changed much; KEA is obviously thinking that when you are on a good thing... The company has retained the light coloured hue for the timber work and the familiar looking brown ‘velour’ for the upholstery. Lighting, a mixture of LED ceiling down lights and LED strip lights under the overhead lockers is all well-appointed.
Above the entry door is where all the 12V switches, water tank gauges and radio/CD player are to be found. Additionally, that’s where the flat screen TV is located. In a layout like this the TV location is going to be something of a compromise, but that’s a reasonable location for a rental user.
Getting any sort of wardrobe into six berth design is going to be tricky and in this case a shallow curved unit has been fitted to the outside wall of the bathroom. In addition to moderate hanging space, it also offers shelf area and storage for the front table leg.
Sitting Back
Given the prolific number of seats, there are plenty of places to sit around, including the swivelled passenger seat. Most are a bit square for laying back, although the passenger seat can certainly be used for that and it’s possible in the rear seat to put the feet up and relax. Both front and rear seats have a table, the front one is able to be mounted on either side and is more or less able to be used by three people - four at a pinch.
Catering and Dining
Like many a rental motorhome kitchen, this one is a tad on the small side for multiple occupants but it does come fully equipped and has a few redeeming features not found in most motorhomes. For a start, the four burner cooktop (one electric, three gas) and grill sit alongside a stainless steel sink avec drainer. Both cooktop and sink have smoked glass lids which do add to the moderate amount of bench top area above the 140 litre fridge. Set below the overhead locker level, and thus at a user friendly height, is the microwave oven. Being a rental rig, much of the drawer space is taken up by compartmented and purpose built cut outs for the cups, glasses, bowls and plates. In some ways that does take up space but it’s a terrific way of holding everything securely and a winner I reckon. Additional kitchen storage is provided by the overhead lockers and the slide-out wire basket pantry.
Depending on how many people are travelling there are two choices for eating - around the rear table or at the front table, but certainly if four or more people are eating, then both tables are going to be used.
Sleeping Hours
Well it’s certainly multiple choice in the 6KQ - rear bed, mid bed or luton bed - your choice if there’s only two of you. In terms of usage, the luton bed can be left made up but is the most awkward to get into, the rear bed is the longest and has to be made up and the mid bed is the smallest and the most complicated to put together. For privacy, all the windows have Roman blinds and the driver’s cab has an internal curtain.
Keeping Clean
One of the surprises in this motorhome is the size of the bathroom. Normally in a rig like this the shower/toilet area is quite compact but this design allowsfor a separate shower cubicle, a Thetford cassette toilet, a small wash basin, and several cupboards. It all fits together quite neatly.
Verdict
Undoubtedly, the arrival of a new KEA motorhome is going to be most welcome – there has been a bit of a drought over the last couple of years. It’s my understanding that new motorhomes for the private market will be available in the near future.
Although principally a motorhome rental company, previous KEA products have always been able to hold their head up in the private market – not something that could be said about all rental companies. This new 6KQ has maintained that essential tradition. Although this is a six berth motorhome, being mainly for rental use, that fact should not be discounted for a touring couple. In particular when travelling for work, I can use the luton bed for sleeping, one table for eating, and one table for spreading work around on. Bottom line; this is a very versatile motorhome.
Pros and Cons
Good thinking
- Six berth layout with all passengers close to driver’s cab
- Good sized bathroom
- External and internal storage
- Racked kitchen storage
- Microwave oven height
- New style awning
- LED lighting fittings
Could have been better
- Upgraded cab radio
- Solar panel capacity - limited for remote stays
- Diesel heater as standard item
Specifications
Manufacturer THL – Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Group Ltd, Auckland, NZ.
Model 6KQ
Base vehicle Volkswagen Crafter
Engine 2.0 litre turbo diesel
Power 105kW@3500rpm
Torque 340Nm@1575-2250rpm
Gearbox 6 speed AMT
Brakes ABS Disc
Tare weight 3645kg
GVM 4490kg
Licence Car
Passengers 6
External length 7.1m (23ft 3in)
External width 2.25m (7ft 5in)
External height 3.25m (10ft 8in)
Internal height 2.16m (7ft)
Luton bed size 1.96m x 1.53m (6ft 5in x 5ft)
Mid bed size 2.0m x 1.3m (6ft 7in x 4ft 3in)
Rear bed size 2.2m x 1.45m (7ft 3in x 4ft 9in)
Cooktop Smev 4 burner & grill
Fridge Waeco 12V compressor 140 litre
Microwave oven Tiffany
Lighting 12V LED
Batteries 110 AH deep cycle
Solar panels 64kW
Air conditioner Air Command Sparrow
Heater Diesel - opt
Toilet Thetford cassette
Shower Separate cubicle
Hot water heater Suburban 23 litre
Water tank 90 litre
Grey tank 90 litre
Gas cylinders 1 x 9.0kg
Price (new) $150,000 plus on roads (depending on state)
Contact
KEA Campers
Rental Ph: 1800 705 174
Web: www.keacampers.com
Motorhome supplied by:
Wallaby Motorhomes
35 Parramatta Road
Granville NSW 2142
Ph: (02) 9682 4443
