Australian all Electric Family Off Road Caravan

[RobertRyan]

No expense spared on full off-grid, family composite caravan loaded with creature comforts
Melbourne luxury caravan specialist Royal Flair has built the most off-grid capable, technology-packed and priciest off-road caravan in its 46 year history.

Completed this week for a Queensland buyer after an extended 12 month build, the new 22ft 6in Royal Flair Eco Mate off-road family van is purpose-built for off-the-grid living, fitted with an OzXCorp-developed NCE DCX Power Platform that sees 1600 watts of domestic-grade glass solar panels on the roof feeding into a 14.3kWh chassis-mounted lithium battery pack with a 5000watt smart inverter.


Royal Flair Eco Mate was custom built for Queensland family
As well as providing enough power to run all the appliances including the roof-top air-conditioner, microwave and 175 litre compressor fridge (sunshine permitting!), the Eco Mate caravan is fitted with four fresh water tanks, for 314 litres in total.

The gas-free Eco Mate also boasts a lightweight AL-KO aluminium chassis and adjustable airbag suspension, along with a fully insulated, timber-free composite body including 28mm thick fibreglass sandwich panels for the walls and roof and an 18mm honeycomb floor.


Lithium battery bank mounted in the chassis
Charcoal checker plate side protection and a matching full vinyl wrap with unique graphics hides the glossy white exterior panels, while a 12V Carafan rooftop pressuriser unit helps keeps the dust out when cruising on dirt roads.

The very stylish and comfortable family layout includes a big club lounge/dinette with drop-down electric queen bed at the rear, while up front are three spacious pentagon-shaped bunk beds, each with a 12V fan, light and storage cupboard, alongside the ensuite with separate shower and toilet.


Stylish interior includes drop down queen bed
There are bespoke luxury interior finishes throughout, including a Caesarstone kitchen benchtop, copper tapware and suede-look seat upholstery. The custom fit-out also includes a composting toilet and -- oddly for an Australian-built caravan -- no TV is fitted to encourage the kids to make the most of the great outdoors.

The kitchen also gets an induction cooktop, while other whizzbang technology includes a CZone smart management touchscreen, Cel-Fi mobile phone booster and Wi-Ti security system.


Eco Mate is gas free, right down to electric BBQ-1. Mate also gets 17in alloy wheels with mud terrain tyres, adjustable airbag suspension, disc brakes, stability control and a Cruisemaster DO-45 coupling.

Externally, there's also a locker for the Rockgate sound system and airbag switches, with another hatch with a slide-out for the electric Weber BBQ

[Grit_dog]

RobertRyan wrote:

No, this is a custom design built for apecific customers, nothing to do with an imaginary marketing department

That statement is priceless. The lengths that some won’t go to protect their position!
So not a production unit and there is no “marketing” involved whatsoever in a high $ custom build? Mmmmmkay.

[Reisender]

Nice. Thanks for posting.

[GrandpaKip]

Skibane wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

I would guess that the Australian engineers know just a bit more about their trailer than you do. Just a guess, but I could be worng.

The "engineer" (if there even is one) puts in whatever the marketing department wants.

The marketing department has absolutely no idea what actually works in the real world - only what they think they can sell.

The RV industry is rife with examples of bad ideas, and bad implementations of mediocre ideas.

If you think the mere act of introducing a product automatically makes it a good design, I've got some Chevy Vegas I'd like to sell you.

Ha, ha, ha. Whatever you say, sir.

[RobertRyan]

Lwiddis wrote:
That TT sure looks good...tuff!

Pretty well

[RobertRyan]

GrandpaKip wrote:

Skibane wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Too bad some folks can’t just appreciate some things without trying to tear them apart.

Pointing out obvious flaws isn't "trying to tear them apart".

What's really too bad is the way some folks overlook major problems with solar systems, simply because they want solar to work as well as the alternatives.

The emperor has no clothes.

I would guess that the Australian engineers know just a bit more about their trailer than you do. Just a guess, but I could be worng.

Pretty well spot on. Do not know what he is talking about

[RobertRyan]

Skibane wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:

I would guess that the Australian engineers know just a bit more about their trailer than you do. Just a guess, but I could be worng.

The "engineer" (if there even is one) puts in whatever the marketing department wants.

The marketing department has absolutely no idea what actually works in the real world - only what they think they can sell.

The RV industry is rife with examples of bad ideas, and bad implementations of mediocre ideas.

If you think the mere act of introducing a product automatically makes it a good design, I've got some Chevy Vegas I'd like to sell you.

No, this is a custom design built for apecific customers, nothing to do with an imaginary marketing department

[Skibane]

GrandpaKip wrote:

I would guess that the Australian engineers know just a bit more about their trailer than you do. Just a guess, but I could be worng.

The "engineer" (if there even is one) puts in whatever the marketing department wants.

The marketing department has absolutely no idea what actually works in the real world - only what they think they can sell.

The RV industry is rife with examples of bad ideas, and bad implementations of mediocre ideas.

If you think the mere act of introducing a product automatically makes it a good design, I've got some Chevy Vegas I'd like to sell you.

[GrandpaKip]

Skibane wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Too bad some folks can’t just appreciate some things without trying to tear them apart.

Pointing out obvious flaws isn't "trying to tear them apart".

What's really too bad is the way some folks overlook major problems with solar systems, simply because they want solar to work as well as the alternatives.

The emperor has no clothes.

I would guess that the Australian engineers know just a bit more about their trailer than you do. Just a guess, but I could be worng.

[RobertRyan]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

Yes it is in the factory. Like an extreme 4x4 Pickup is usually on the showroom rather than the outdoors

As the person who photographs the cars we sell on our used-vehicle lot: things always photograph the best, in shade. More detail comes through - and if I was selling something this interesting, I would park it in the shade too 😉

I LOVE the idea of an all-electric RV. Thanks for posting that.

They the 48V Caravans are starting to appear. As well the chassis can help the tow vehicle move the Caravan as well

[RobertRyan]

profdant139 wrote:
No one has yet answered the perennial and obvious question: why does Australia have such a wide variety of "boondockable" trailers, while the USA does not? One would think that our much larger population would justify a variety of niche manufacturers.

Someday soon, some smart person is going to figure out how to import those wonderful caravans in bulk and will make a lot of money.

It appears manufacturers in Australia are starting to produce and export them to the US

[RobertRyan]

time2roll wrote:
Not sure I would paint it black if mostly parked in the summer sun.

Interesting comment, yes agree

[RobertRyan]

GrandpaKip wrote:
Very cool. As usual, the Aussies produce another outstanding RV.
Too bad some folks can’t just appreciate some things without trying to tear them apart.
Same thing happened on here with the Bolus.
I hope Robert keeps posting new and interesting stuff from down there.

Yes, it is the " tall poppy" syndrome

[profdant139]

No one has yet answered the perennial and obvious question: why does Australia have such a wide variety of "boondockable" trailers, while the USA does not? One would think that our much larger population would justify a variety of niche manufacturers.

Someday soon, some smart person is going to figure out how to import those wonderful caravans in bulk and will make a lot of money.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

RobertRyan wrote:

Yes it is in the factory. Like an extreme 4x4 Pickup is usually on the showroom rather than the outdoors

As the person who photographs the cars we sell on our used-vehicle lot: things always photograph the best, in shade. More detail comes through - and if I was selling something this interesting, I would park it in the shade too 😉

I LOVE the idea of an all-electric RV. Thanks for posting that.