More Room Narooma
Family Friendly
Figures released by the industry recently indicate that the largest demographic of people buying new caravans and campers is the young family with children.
By the look of the number of grey nomads I see on the road, I would have assumed it would have been older folk nearing retirement, so it was news to me. (However, as Mark Twain said- there’s lies, damned lies and statistics in ascending order of inaccuracy.)
If these young families are looking for a new van they might find the picking fairly slim if the offerings in most yards are anything to go by, as most seem to cater for the travelling couple with only room on a fold down dinette for children. While this can work, it’s not an ideal situation for parents who might like to sit up longer and have some quiet time to themselves.
And while there might be options in a van with foldout ends, some might not feel they offer the level of security and warmth of a fully enclosed model.
Jurgens has recognised this gap in the market and recently introduced a new van to their range specifically targeted to young families. The Narooma is based on the well established Tooradin platform, and includes a queen at the front and the choice of either double or triple bunks down the back in a room that can be screened off from the living area.
The Jurgens story just seems to grow and grow as travellers see the advantages of these well-constructed but lightweight vans that still have dirt road ability.
Even so, when I met company representative, John Hughes, at the Jurgens factory I was surprised to learn that the company was already starting to outgrow its recently built $5m facility in Pakenham and that plans were underway to expand into the adjacent block so that they had more storage space.
Construction of the Narooma follows the Jurgens principle of setting a lightweight composite body on an engineered chassis of C-section galvanised steel supported by Al-Ko independent rubber torsion suspension. All these elements combine for a long lasting caravan that has been tested over thousands of miles in hundreds of vans already on the road in Australia.
For our test we meandered our way from the Jurgens factory in Pakenham through the hills to the picturesque village of Emerald. Less than ideal country roads and some sections of dirt gave a good impression of the soft ride from the suspension while the van towed steadily behind with a feeling of being well balanced and stable.
From the outside the van looks like the Tooradin models with the only hint of the new interior being a set of narrow windows on the driver’s side where the bunks are located.
At the front, a 3500kg ball hitch connects to the tow vehicle and an Al-Ko Electronic Stability Control system adds a welcome element of safety. The ESC is standard on the van and works by applying limited braking force to the trailer to keep it steady over various terrain and when braking.
The front boot is partitioned to store twin 4.5kg gas bottles and often-used items, while a caravan jack and handle have their own dedicated section for easy access.
Along the near side is a number of features to add extra enjoyment to the family holiday. I particularly liked the slide-out stainless steel Bushman RV Explorer BBQ, a fold-down picnic table and the addition of a bike rack at the back. Meanwhile, a full length Dometic awning covers the kerb side, offering a good area of shade during the day.
Composite flat sides with large tinted windows have a modern appeal while a wedge shaped fibreglass front section adds a streamlined and contemporary look. Tandem alloy wheels add a touch of bling and come shod with 235/65/16 tyres.
One of the ways Jurgens keeps cost down is to standardise on the interior wall and joinery colours. That’s not a concern to me as the rich timber fitout and durable laminate benchtops look great. These colours are conservatively themed to stand the test of time and owners can individualise the van by choosing from a range of soft furnishing colours to suit their liking.
Our test van was finished in subtle green and beige hues on the lounges, curtains, bedhead and scatter cushions, which worked well against the standard two tone timber and a dark grey granite colour of the benchtops.
Layout has the main bed area at the front, with the living area central and the ensuite and bunks towards the back on either side of a walkway that goes right to the back of the van. This arrangement has a remarkable feeling of space due to sight lines extending past what would be an ensuite wall in most vans.
The extendable queen bed (1.9mx 1.5m) has a plush innerspring mattress and lifts on gas struts to access storage. Either side of the bed are the usual complement of a small table and hanging wardrobe while overhead is a set of three cupboards.
A remote control stereo system has speakers set into the bedhead and, as well as CD and MP3 sound, they connect to a TV on a swivelling arm that can be viewed from the bed or the lounge area.
Tinted Dometic double-glazed windows surround the bedroom from the sides and at the front and with overhead hatches and more windows at the galley and lounge there is an abundance of light through the van.
It’s important with a family to have a decent kitchen and the Narooma packs in a lot of storage and cooking facilities. A full sized Dometic 186L fridge-freezer should hold enough for the most ravenous of children and still leave some space for a couple of coldies. I liked how the matching timber fridge door blended in with the rest of the interior.
LED lights in the roof brighten the van at night but the area can be blacked out with window and hatch blockouts to try and get a bit more sleep out of the children in the morning.
Past the fridge the galley extends along the driver side and while preparation space isn’t huge, the rectangular dining table opposite could be brought into play for more ambitious meals.
The bench wraps around a circular stainless steel sink and some cupboards have rolling shutters that add to the van’s well-finished appeal.
Along with the outside BBQ, cooking facilities include a Thetford Caprice oven with griller and four burners (3 gas +1 electric) as well as a Camec microwave. Twin 80L water tanks are slung under the van so there should be enough on hand for some independent camping.
A single battery comes as standard and can be charged from an Anderson plug from the tow vehicle on the move, from a 240v outlet or from optional solar panels and there’s a National Luna battery charger that also monitors battery power and usage.
A long L-shaped dinette/lounge on the kerb side is both a practical solution to seating everyone and makes an additional bed or a great spot for an afternoon nap.
Our test van was equipped with double bunks that children of all ages will find delightful. A ladder built into the frame makes it an easy task to access the top bunk and a guard has been fitted along the side to prevent occupants rolling out. Each bunk has its own window and a small storage hatch at the head of the bed for personal items.
Setting out the bathroom with a separate toilet and shower is a masterstroke for a family van where teenagers seem to want to spend half the day in the shower, restricting access to the toilet. There isn’t as much room as a full width ensuite but there was enough space for my largish frame. Both rooms have good overhead ventilation fans while a seat and two shelves moulded into the fibreglass shower will come in handy.
My feeling is that this is a van many families will embrace for its style and practicality. It will comfortably sleep a family of four with the two-bunk layout, with room for another occasional guest on the lounge. Go for the three bunks if you want a bit more versatility.
While sitting in the van writing up the notes for this review it occurred to me that the layout would also be suitable for an office if the bunks were swapped for a desk and some shelves, and I learned later that the Jurgens design team has already started drawing one up. It would make a good option for a couple who still need to keep in contact with work when away from home.
Because of the lightweight construction methods its loaded weight of 2650kg is pretty conservative for a van of its size but it will need a medium size four wheel drive to tow it to your destination. Carrying capacity is 400kg, which includes any water and gas, but still leaves a good 200kg for your gear.
Pricing starts at $64,950. As tested with the options of alloy wheels and outside BBQ it came to $66,965, so with a long list of standard features it’s good value. After all, what price can you put on giving the young ones a room to themselves?
Specifications
Manufacturer: Jurgens
Model: Narooma
Country of manufacture: Australia
Overall length: (includes drawbar) 8.1m
Body length: 6.95m
Width: 2.45m
Travel height: 2.8m
Tare weight: 2250kg
Gross weight: 2650kg
Ball weight: 210kg
Price from: $64,950
Price as reviewed: (where applicable) $66,965 incl 16” wheel upgrade & slide-out BBQ
Find Out More
Jurgens Caravans
13 Sharnet Ct Pakenham Vic, 3810
03 5943 7700