A compact campervan designed for comfortable off-grid adventures.
New Age Caravans isn't a total stranger to motorhome builds. The manufacturer is part of JB Caravans, a group that not only produces its Touring coach-built range but also has in its stable the upmarket Paradise Motor Homes brand.
The New Age Campervan – simply called Campervan – is at the lower end of that range, but there's nothing to suggest it's a basic model. For a start, it uses the latest generation (Series 2) Fiat Ducato van as a conversion base – the Extra Long Wheelbase (XLWB) model – so there's no shortage of internal space. When I took the Campervan for a spin, events in the Middle East had caused diesel prices to skyrocket, and so the economic performance of Euro-turbo diesels can’t be ignored.
THE NEW AGE STAMP
For van-based campers, there’s not much that Australian motorhome manufacturers do to put their own stamp on a conversion. I've seen a few Euro designs where the entire roofline is replaced, but for the most part (except for a few with a rising roof), motorhome manufacturers stick with the original body shape and add a few eye-catching decals.
This is what New Age has done with its Campervan, which makes it stand out in the crowd. Also setting it apart from a regular van are the external giveaways, such as the roof-mounted air conditioner, Fiamma awning and double-glazed windows. Other external features include the Thetford toilet cassette hatch, electric step, external shower and the Swift water heater vent. Like most van conversions, there are no external storage bins.
ON THE ROAD
The Ducato has all the latest features, including keyless entry and push-button start. I like the 10in touchscreen colour display with its wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability and TomTom 3D map navigation. In addition, there are the usual features, like the wireless phone charger and USB-A and USB-C ports, which should keep everyone happy.
Visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent, both out in front and through the side mirrors. I did find the internal rear-view camera mirror a bit odd, but I got used to it.
The Ducato-based Campervan has to be one of the easiest motorhomes to drive. Its compact length of 6.37m (20ft 11in) and width of 2.1m (6ft 11in) makes it great for handling and manoeuvring either on the road or in the supermarket carpark. On the road, the turbo diesel is a very willing performer, and the Ducato's updated eight-speed gearbox (replacing the old nine-speed) is smooth.
I know some people have found the Ducato cab seats a bit uncomfortable on long drives, but I suspect that depends on how tall you are and how long (or short) your legs are, because even my arthritic hip didn't seem to have a problem. I reckon that a vehicle the size of the Campervan is, for many people, a very manageable driving proposition.
INTERNAL COMFORTS
In the interior, New Age has opted for the tried-and-tested two-person layout.
Both the cab seats swivel around, and there are a table and seat on the driver's side. Although my review vehicle didn’t have them, seat belts can be fitted to the rear seat for extra passengers.
On the nearside is the mid-area kitchen bench, which protrudes about halfway into the side door space, but leaves enough room for clambering in and out.
The shower/toilet cubicle is opposite the kitchen, leaving the rear area for an east-west queen bed. There is an alternative design available with two single beds in the rear, offering a slightly more flexible layout, particularly for those who don't like the middle-of-the-night scramble over a bed partner.
The indoor colour scheme is mostly white, giving the interior a bright, breezy feel. This is complemented by the generous windows. By night, there's ample illumination, including reading lights for the rear bed and the front seat.
LIVING FEATURES
Two people can dine in comfort at the front of the camper. But while the table can be moved backwards and forwards, it lacks any extension to the swivelled passenger seat. New Age has retained the original cab roof, adding a small shelf area that effectively reduces the headroom when moving to and from the driver's cab. Below the table, there’s a power point and a USB hub, while above are two overhead lockers.
For meal preparation, New Age has made compromises. The kitchen is reasonably sized with better-than-average benchtop space, and features a simple two-burner hob and a square, powder-coated sink. Fitted under the bench are both the microwave oven and the Thetford 105-litre compressor fridge. There's no grill for ham-and-cheese toasty lovers, but that leaves a reasonable amount of cupboard and drawer space. The kitchen also lacks a ventilation window behind the cooktop, but there is a rangehood built into the overhead lockers.
I've seen only a few creative takes on the traditional combo bathroom design, and this isn’t one of them. It’s a standard layout with a Thetford cassette toilet, shower and corner wash basin. Built into the rear wall is a small shaving cabinet. There’s enough room to turn around without bumping elbows and the fan hatch succeeds in extracting steam and odours.
REMOTE STAYS
For a relatively small motorhome, the Campervan is well equipped for off-grid living. A pair of lithium LiFePO4 batteries has a 200Ah capacity, fed by two 200W solar panels and a Redarc DC to DC charger. For 240V power, there’s a 2,000W Enerdrive inverter.
The main limitation to off-grid camping is water; there’s only one 95-litre freshwater tank, otherwise the camper is good to go for extended free camping.
IN THE REAR
Measuring 1.85m x 1.4m (6ft x 4ft 7in), the bed naturally occupies the entire rear space. It's set just below window height and, with all four windows open, ensures a good crossflow of ventilation. Reading lights are fitted to the offside wall and there’s a Sirocco fan in the rear nearside corner. Adjacent to the kitchen bench, the 24in TV can be comfortably seen from the bed and, with a bit of fiddling, from the swivelled cab seats.
Under the bed, there is middle storage space, accessible from either side – including through the open rear doors. A few plastic boxes on roller wheels would be handy for keeping items like power leads and water hoses stored neatly.
Much of the side space is taken up by the gas cylinders, house batteries and accompanying electrical control gear. The gas cylinder bin is accessed from inside the rear doors, and the batteries are hidden in the sealed space between the gas cylinders and the van wall.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Having the option of a double or single bed layout is always a good idea, particularly for travellers wanting to bring sporting equipment along, and the gap between the single beds offers that flexibility. There’s also the workability of a motorhome that can double as a daily drive vehicle. Like all large van conversions, the New Age Campervan is a bit of a compromise between internal space and ease of manoeuvring. It's a happy compromise though, and the van is a welcome addition to the JB range.
SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE
MANUFACTURER NEW AGE
MODEL CAMPERVAN
BASE VEHICLE FIAT DUCATO
TARE WEIGHT 3,060KG
GVM 4,250KG
LICENCE CAR
PASSENGERS 2
MECHANICAL
ENGINE 2.2 LITRE TURBO DIESEL
POWER 2.2 LITRE TURBO DIESEL
TORQUE 450NM @ 1500RPM
GEARBOX 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
BRAKES ABS DISC
DIMENSIONS
EXTERNAL LENGTH 6.37M
EXTERNAL WIDTH (INCL AWNING) 2.1M
EXTERNAL HEIGHT 2.75M
INTERNAL HEIGHT 1.88M
BED SIZE 1.85M X 1.4M
EQUIPMENT
COOKTOP THETFORD 2 BURNER HOB
FRIDGE 105L THETFORD DC105 COMPRESSOR FRIDGE
MICROWAVE OVEN NCE 23L
LIGHTING 12V LED
BATTERIES 1 X 200AH ENERDRIVE LITHIUM
INVERTER 2,000W ENERDRIVE
SOLAR PANELS 2 X 200W
AIR CONDITIONER GREE 2.5KW INVERTER
TOILET THETFORD CASSETTE
SHOWER COMBINED INTERNAL SHOWER, PLUS EXTERNAL SHOWER
HOT WATER HEATER SWIFT 28L GAS/ELECTRIC
FRESH WATER 95L
GREY WATER 95L
GAS CYLINDERS 2 X 4KG
PRICE: $139,990 + ORC
