I’d hazard a guess that there is no other country on the planet with an off-road caravan manufacturing base as advanced and extensive as in Australia. No doubt it’s been a case of ‘have to’ given the size of the country, the variable weather conditions and, last but not least, the condition of some of the goat tracks that pass as roads.
There was a time not too long ago when manufacturers would take their standard van models, whack a bit of chequerplate across the front and along the sides, lift it up a couple of inches and call it their “off-road” model. No doubt this easy concept was largely abandoned following complaints that some of these “off-roaders” disintegrated at the first sniff of heavy corrugations.
These days, manufacturers put more thought and more expertise into their off-road models, and the end result is a line of very capable caravans designed to handle the rough stuff.
Among the van builders there are some who take the lead in the design and manufacture of off roaders, and the Sunland team in Queensland is right up there at the top with their latest Blue Heeler model.
The Blue Heeler story began back in 2005 when I took a tough little prototype on a 10,000km test drive to Darwin and back via outback Queensland. It was a purpose-built offroader that really showed the shape of things to come in the Sunland off-road range. Today’s Bluey has come a long, long way since that prototype was christened with a stubby at the Blue Heeler hotel at Kynuna.
The Sunland boys have redesigned and re-engineered all aspects of the Bluey, from the structural to the comfort level, making it something of a benchmark in off-road caravans.
The Blue Heeler is built on a composite alloy and steel chassis, which allows a major weight saving, and rides on Cruisemaster independent coil suspension. The undersides are very clean and tidy, with all cabling and pipework secured by saddles fixed to the floor.
A DO35 hitch is mounted on the galvanised A frame, forward of a dual bicycle rack and a neat electric jack/jockey wheel, with a gusseted firewood storage rack behind. A secure storage compartment for the two 9kg gas bottles is right behind the A frame, with a pair of jerrycan holders on either side.
The Bluey’s composite panels are clad with fibreglass, providing a sleek and durable finish, and this is enhanced with Raptor coating across the front, flanks and rear for added protection. There are storage lockers up forward, with a Fiamma awning, lights and speakers along the kerb side. The rear bar supports a spare wheel, and the two pipe crossmembers of the bar also serve as pole carriers – clever. Up top are solar panels, TV antenna and air conditioner.
The new Blue Heeler has a rear door configuration, with the bathroom at rear, dinette and kitchen midships, and the bedroom up forward.
The bathroom is as good as it gets in an off road caravan. The shower recess on the kerbside corner is very roomy, plenty big enough for big blokes, with a cross floor grill-style drain and built-in shelving. The shower can be closed off from the bathroom proper via a sliding screen.
Opposite the shower is a cassette toilet with shelving alongside and a big corner locker with a curved sliding door. Between the loo and the shower is a long bench with a raised vanity basin beneath a mirror, with three drawers beneath. The flickmixer tap is fitted in the rear corner of the basin up against the wall, making the plumbing less intrusive into the storage spaces beneath the basin – good idea. Alongside the vanity the benchtop lifts up to reveal a washing machine.
The bathroom can be closed off from the van proper via a concertina door.
Forward of the entry is the lounge/dinette, a cafe-style unit with a tri-fold table between the seats. This is a spacious and comfortable area, backed by a big curtained window, with personal reading lights mounted beneath a nest of four lockers above the window.
Opposite the entry is the fridge console, a two door fridge freezer with a storage locker above. Forward of the fridge is the kitchen area, with a long bench containing a four burner (three gas and one electric) cooktop, with grill and oven beneath. This is concealed firstly by a glass cover, then a hinged section of benchtop.
The stainless steel sink is positioned at the forward end of the bench, with the flickmixer tap positioned up against the wall, providing the same benefit in space as the bathroom unit.
Beneath the bench is ample storage space in drawers, cupboards and a slide out pantry, while above is another nest of storage lockers with a microwave oven fitted forward of the fridge. A rangehood and lighting is fitted above the bench and the kitchen is backed by a screened window.
The bedroom features a queen sized bed positioned north/south, with a mirrored wardrobe and drawer on each side. Four lockers sit above the padded bedhead and personal reading lights are fitted. Curtained windows flank the bed. In the corners at the foot of the bed are angled lockers.
Throughout the Blue Heeler the finish is very good, and it’s an extremely comfortable and spacious van. Little things like the coat racks and magazine folders at the entry and the secure feel of the cupboard latches make the Bluey a bit more than just an off road caravan.
Independent camping capability is enhanced by the Blue Heeler’s two 130 a/h house batteries, two 190 watt solar panels, 18kgs of gas supply and 250 litres of on board water.
The Blue Heeler would be equally at home in a flash van park as it would camped down by a billabong, but really, with an off road caravan as capable and comfortable as this, it’s out in the back blocks where the Bluey would really shine.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Sunland Caravans
Model: Blue Heeler
Body length: 6.63m
Width (ext): 2.36m
Height: 3.05m
Tare weight: 2610kg
ATM: 3500kg
Price: $124,990 OTR (Qld)
Find Out More
Roy Wyss
Sunland Caravans
1 Strathvale Court
Caboolture Qld 4510
Tel (07) 5499 2250