One of the things that interested me at the Sydney Caravan show yesterday was the "retreat caravans" ERV all electric caravan. It uses no gas so it has no vents and lets in no dust. It uses only solar power stored in a large lithium battery to power all of its devices. It is fully insulated and therefore is easy to heat or cool. A couple took it on the Big Loop for 6 months, did some off road drives around Kalgoorlie and along the Gibb River Road, and only used the solar cells the whole time. Some of the display model's vital statistics are:
strong off road chassis, suspension and pin hitch
2400 Watt solar panel
14.3 kW (1200 Ah?) lithium battery integrated into the chassis
5000 watt smart inverter
electric steps
two induction cooktops
relatively large fibreglass shower room
double glazed windows
274 litre fridge
Reverse cycle air conditioner under the bed - which put out a LOT of cooling yesterday
28 litre electric hot water service
top loader 3kg washing machine
2 x 110 litre fresh water tanks and 1 x 110 litre grey water tank (they can also install another 110 litre tank if desired)
Along with all the other modern bells and whistles and furnishings, lights etc., found in modern caravans.
The only downside is the cost which is approx $130000 for the 22 foot ? long display caravan. Also available in other sizes down to 19 1/2 foot model.
Looks great if you want to lose yourself in the outback for a while.
Clarky 1 said
08:58 AM Apr 15, 2021
Hi Derek,
That certainly sounds like a good initiative being taken up by a manufacturer. Certainly a great option for those who want to be off the grid for most of the time.
I was wondering were there any manufacturers there, that have taken up 5th wheeler design.
With the current hoo haa with regards to weights and the availability of so many mid sized utes in Australia and this coupled with the increasing numbers of those choosing the caravan life, I would hope that this might generate better interest in the 5th wheeler design.
gdayjr said
10:56 AM Apr 15, 2021
Derek Barnes wrote:
One of the things that interested me at the Sydney Caravan show yesterday was the "retreat caravans" ERV all electric caravan. It uses no gas so it has no vents and lets in no dust. It uses only solar power stored in a large lithium battery to power all of its devices. It is fully insulated and therefore is easy to heat or cool. A couple took it on the Big Loop for 6 months, did some off road drives around Kalgoorlie and along the Gibb River Road, and only used the solar cells the whole time. Some of the display model's vital statistics are:
strong off road chassis, suspension and pin hitch
2400 Watt solar panel
14.3 kW (1200 Ah?) lithium battery integrated into the chassis
5000 watt smart inverter
electric steps
two induction cooktops
relatively large fibreglass shower room
double glazed windows
274 litre fridge
Reverse cycle air conditioner under the bed - which put out a LOT of cooling yesterday
28 litre electric hot water service
top loader 3kg washing machine
2 x 110 litre fresh water tanks and 1 x 110 litre grey water tank (they can also install another 110 litre tank if desired)
Along with all the other modern bells and whistles and furnishings, lights etc., found in modern caravans.
The only downside is the cost which is approx $130000 for the 22 foot ? long display caravan. Also available in other sizes down to 19 1/2 foot model.
Looks great if you want to lose yourself in the outback for a while.
I did have a look at that one, it may be the way of the future, but like all electric products at the moment, the price is a bit of an issue.
I also had a look at the E bikes, $7K put opff pretty quick
gdayjr said
10:58 AM Apr 15, 2021
Clarky 1 wrote:
Hi Derek,
That certainly sounds like a good initiative being taken up by a manufacturer. Certainly a great option for those who want to be off the grid for most of the time.
I was wondering were there any manufacturers there, that have taken up 5th wheeler design. With the current hoo haa with regards to weights and the availability of so many mid sized utes in Australia and this coupled with the increasing numbers of those choosing the caravan life, I would hope that this might generate better interest in the 5th wheeler design.
I don't recall seeing any 5th wheel units, but then again i wasn't exactly looking for them either.
I did find this though.
https://www.sunliner.com.au/5th-wheelers
-- Edited by gdayjr on Thursday 15th of April 2021 11:03:46 AM
diggerop said
02:05 PM Apr 15, 2021
Our van is all electric, solar and lithium battery, no gas, 24ft, 5th wheeler. 7 years old. Were we ahead of the times.
Buzz Lightbulb said
02:56 PM Apr 15, 2021
That sounds like a great initiative. My only concern is that I already have a van with mixed gas, battery and mains. Could I swap for the all electric one?
Clarky 1 said
03:06 PM Apr 15, 2021
gdayjr wrote:
Clarky 1 wrote:
Hi Derek,
That certainly sounds like a good initiative being taken up by a manufacturer. Certainly a great option for those who want to be off the grid for most of the time.
I was wondering were there any manufacturers there, that have taken up 5th wheeler design. With the current hoo haa with regards to weights and the availability of so many mid sized utes in Australia and this coupled with the increasing numbers of those choosing the caravan life, I would hope that this might generate better interest in the 5th wheeler design.
I don't recall seeing any 5th wheel units, but then again i wasn't exactly looking for them either.
I did find this though.
https://www.sunliner.com.au/5th-wheelers
-- Edited by gdayjr on Thursday 15th of April 2021 11:03:46 AM
One of the things that interested me at the Sydney Caravan show yesterday was the "retreat caravans" ERV all electric caravan. It uses no gas so it has no vents and lets in no dust. It uses only solar power stored in a large lithium battery to power all of its devices. It is fully insulated and therefore is easy to heat or cool. A couple took it on the Big Loop for 6 months, did some off road drives around Kalgoorlie and along the Gibb River Road, and only used the solar cells the whole time. Some of the display model's vital statistics are:
strong off road chassis, suspension and pin hitch
2400 Watt solar panel
14.3 kW (1200 Ah?) lithium battery integrated into the chassis
5000 watt smart inverter
electric steps
two induction cooktops
relatively large fibreglass shower room
double glazed windows
274 litre fridge
Reverse cycle air conditioner under the bed - which put out a LOT of cooling yesterday
28 litre electric hot water service
top loader 3kg washing machine
2 x 110 litre fresh water tanks and 1 x 110 litre grey water tank (they can also install another 110 litre tank if desired)
Along with all the other modern bells and whistles and furnishings, lights etc., found in modern caravans.
The only downside is the cost which is approx $130000 for the 22 foot ? long display caravan. Also available in other sizes down to 19 1/2 foot model.
Looks great if you want to lose yourself in the outback for a while.
That certainly sounds like a good initiative being taken up by a manufacturer. Certainly a great option for those who want to be off the grid for most of the time.
I was wondering were there any manufacturers there, that have taken up 5th wheeler design.
With the current hoo haa with regards to weights and the availability of so many mid sized utes in Australia and this coupled with the increasing numbers of those choosing the caravan life, I would hope that this might generate better interest in the 5th wheeler design.
I did have a look at that one, it may be the way of the future, but like all electric products at the moment, the price is a bit of an issue.
I also had a look at the E bikes, $7K put opff pretty quick
I don't recall seeing any 5th wheel units, but then again i wasn't exactly looking for them either.
I did find this though.
https://www.sunliner.com.au/5th-wheelers
-- Edited by gdayjr on Thursday 15th of April 2021 11:03:46 AM
That sounds like a great initiative. My only concern is that I already have a van with mixed gas, battery and mains. Could I swap for the all electric one?
Thank you.