This company used to have parts partially built in the U.S., now fully built here
It is a Lightweight 10,000lb 26ft unit that can be easily towed by Global Midsize Pickups
It is a Lightweight 10,000lb 26ft unit that can be easily towed by Global Midsize Pickups
US van gets Aussie makeover
US-style fifth-wheel caravan gets cutting edge makeover including new composite body manufactured in Australia
A big new, Aussie-built fifth-wheel caravan with two slide-outs but thatโs capable of being hauled by a range of dual cab utes, has hit the market.
Cardiff, NSW-based RV Specialists has being selling a range of Australian-designed but US-built fifth-wheel vans in Australia for the past 15 years.
But now itโs decided to introduce a range of locally-built versions using the latest, lightweight, interlocking fibreglass composite body panels from Cure Composites, the innovative Queensland company behind Zone RV caravans.
While the first Oz-built King of the Road Drifter 26ft model displayed at the recent Queensland Supershow rides on a sturdy, 450 grade, 150x50 steel chassis with Cruisemaster off-road suspension, the new construction has helped reduce Tare weight by up to 500kg, to 2900kg (ATM is 4000-4500kg).
This makes it towable by a number of dual cab utes including the Mazda BT-50, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-MAX, rather than an American imported pick-up truck normally required for super-sized, American-style fifth-wheel vans.
โItโs been designed specifically for this range of utes. Hooked up to the BT-50 this is the equivalent of a 21ft caravan in overall length,โ said RV Specialistsโ boss Jim Kaufmann.
โ(Weโre manufacturing locally) because of the materials now available to us. The lightweight plywoods, the composites, the suspensionโฆ America doesnโt have anything like (Cruisemaster suspension) over there. In America if youโre going to build strong you canโt build light,โ he said.
The 2.5m wide by 8.4m long body features one-piece, fully insulated panels for both the roof and floor, while the bed and lounge slide-outs combined with impressive 2.5m interior height creates the sort of interior living space you can only dream about in a more conventional caravan.
โThe high roofline also allows 6ft of headroom around the lounge slide-so youโre not hitting your head,โ he said.
Other features on the display model, which was priced at $132,900, included a leather reclining lounge, free standing dining suite, separate shower and toilet, 3kg top load washing machine, reverse cycle ducted air conditioner, and 102cm LED TV with Blu-ray player.
RV Specialists joins a small but expanding group of local fifth-wheel manufacturers including Jayco, Cut Loose and Winjana.
While annual Australian production numbers remain in the hundreds, rather than hundreds of thousands as in the US, Kaufman says thereโs increasing demand for fifth-wheel models due to more dual cab utes being offered with three tonne or more towing capabilities.
transferred wrote:RobertRyan wrote:
Not keen about the RAM 3500 comes in a more fuel efficient IVECO Daily
A friend of mine has an Iveco RCFB in europe. Amazing space and payload capacity so it's a great hauler but towing not so much as, while power is ok, it has fairly low curb weight so can get pushed around a bit compared to the US 1-tons.
I do not know about RCFB? Seems to refer to a brake part? But the 70C version comes in at 15,300lb GVWR, 23,000lb GCVWR
Their is a 35C version which is relatively lightweight.. What owners do do is resort to LPG chemical supercharging to keep up with Super Duties
IVECO Daily 35ss has a GVWR of 7,600lb
IVECO 70c 28ft Class C with twin slides
RobertRyan wrote:
Not keen about the RAM 3500 comes in a more fuel efficient IVECO Daily
A friend of mine has an Iveco RCFB in europe. Amazing space and payload capacity so it's a great hauler but towing not so much as, while power is ok, it has fairly low curb weight so can get pushed around a bit compared to the US 1-tons.
