If you were not a motorhome devotee you may well have an unusual impression of these homes on wheels. A regular highway driver might see them as slow Toyota Coasters of indeterminate age billowing gusts of diesel behind them. Or perhaps a latter day Priscilla-style bus conversion with blanked out windows and an old Suzuki 4wd strapped to the back. Maybe more common are the rentals with the big Luton peak hanging over the crew like a Neanderthal brow.
The slick Horizon Banksia, built on the ever reliable Fiat Ducato, certainly makes a better impression than those older clunkers dotting our highways.
Van-style motorhomes have a lot going for them. They are roomy and have good driving characteristics, and perhaps more importantly, since they are essentially based on commercial vehicles, they are designed for plenty of hard work.
The Fiat Ducato is a very popular base vehicle for Aussie motorhome builders, with good reason. They are an easy to drive rig, with good range and fuel economy, and they just lend themselves to a classy interior fitout.
This Horizon Banksia is built on the extra long wheelbase Ducato model with the high roof. It’s powered by a 3.0 litre direct injection intercooled turbo diesel engine with features like ESP traction control, cruise control, and driver and passenger airbags. The transmission is Comformatic, which is a fully auto or gear selectable. In the auto mode the gear shifts seemed a bit sudden, but that’s only a matter of getting used to it. I drive manuals, after all.
All round vision is pretty good on the Banksia, with big rear view mirrors and good forward visibility from a reasonably high driving position. The driver and passenger seats are comfortable and swivel round to face into the cabin when required.
A 4 metre wind out awning is fitted on the kerb side, along with external lights, and an electric entry step.
Access into Banksia is via a big sliding door, with access to the rear via a pair of van-style doors. The basic layout is a dinette behind the driver’s seat, bathroom behind the dinette opposite the kitchen and the bed at the rear.
As mentioned, the driver and passenger seats swivel to face the dining area. The two fixed dining seats are fitted with seatbelts so a couple of passengers can be taken along (legally). The dining table is removable and fits in a slot underneath a big side window. The dining area is raised a little off the main floor, and within this section there is some sneaky extra storage space. Above the dinette is a pair of lockers with a light fitted beneath, and there is also storage space beneath the fixed passenger chairs. In fact, there is a lot of storage space cleverly designed into the Banksia.
The kitchen is positioned on the kerb side adjacent to the entry, and features a reasonably good sized benchtop with a combination gas cooktop (three burner) and sink recessed beneath glass covers. A hinged extension by the entry expands the available bench space. Beneath the bench is a 110 litre 12-volt compressor fridge, along with a microwave oven and plenty of storage drawers. A long shelf and TV is positioned above the kitchen area, along with a full control panel for the electrics and other systems.
The toilet/shower console is positioned immediately behind the dinette, with a cassette toilet, flexible shower nozzle and a corner vanity console with shelves beneath, concealed behind curved locker doors.
A two-door floor to roof wardrobe is positioned to the rear of the bathroom, providing plenty of storage for clothing, easily accessible from the bedroom or bathroom.
The east west double bed occupies the rear of the Banksia, with side and rear-door windows providing plenty of light and air. Three big overhead lockers are fitted around the bed at the roof line. A roof hatch and lights are fitted above the bed, along with reading lights and a swivelling electric fan.
Beneath the bed is an enormous storage area, accessed via the rear doors. this area can also be accessed from inside the cabin through doors at the edge of the bed.
Throughout the Banksia LED lighting is fitted, and all windows are fitted with screens, and blinds. Its diesel hot water and heater system makes life comfortable even in the high country, and its independent camping capability is enhanced by two 4kg gas bottles, a 150-litre water tank, 55-litre waste water holding tank and an on board 200a/h agm battery.
The Horizon Banksia +2 is a comfortable yet compact motorhome, easy to drive and relatively easy to park, even in some of the skinny supermarket carparks, and it would be a good choice for a couple looking for some comfortable blacktop touring.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Horizon Motorhomes
Model: Banksia +2
Length: 6.36m
Width: 2.05m
Height: 2.63m
GVM: 4005kg
Prices start at $111,500
Find Out More
Clayton Kearney
Ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre
299 River Street,
Ballina NSW 2478
Tel (02) 6681 1555
info@ballinacampers.com.au