Many readers will remember Regent Caravans as a long established builder that embodied quality of finish and well-engineered construction. So when Caravans Australia took over the ailing business a year or so back it realised a boost to local manufacturing and the continuation of a brand that saw over 10,000 models roll out the door over the years.
Caravans Australia is well established in the industry and is the builder of Austrail RV Chassis and the importer of the Bailey range. MD, Adrian Van Geelen, has said that he wanted to introduce some modern manufacturing techniques while maintaining quality and value.
So when I had a chance to inspect the Cruiser 20’6” version my hopes were high and it didn’t take long to confirm that the new van lives up to its reputation with some modern touches thrown into the mix.
Our test Cruiser fits into the Regent range along with an even more luxurious Monarch and a single axle Weekender.
Although called a 20’6” in reality the internal measurement is close to 21” but it’s still a medium sized van in today’s terms and its 2360kg tare weight means it can be towed by moderately powerful vehicles.
Externally its bright white exterior and black checkerplate make a striking statement that is emphasized by modern black splashes along the side and cool looking black alloy wheels and windows.
Naturally the Cruiser sits on a robot built Austrail RV chassis and its gal finish and neat welds are a credit to the builder.
The 150x50mm drawbar leads back to the spring hangers where a 100×50 with 50×50 risers are supported by a tandem roller-rocker, leaf spring suspension and 15” alloy wheels on 235R truck tyres. This setup gives a gross weight of 2520kg for a 300kg payload meaning care would need to be taken in loading the van not to go over weight.
Those contemplating spending extended time on the road might consider the heavy duty upgrade using either Cruisemaster or Simplicity suspension for a 600kg payload and all up weight around 2900kg, still within the capacity of most 4wd twin cabs.
Up front at the drawbar I noted a 3500kg ball coupling, stainless steel mesh carry frame, a water tap and a pair of 9kg gas bottles. At the front of the van are great storage options with a well-sized boot with gas struts and a generous full-width tunnel boot. The black checkerplate continues high at the front and a curved fibreglass cover, again with gas strut, can be closed when travelling to protect the large front window.
Midway along the sides is a fold-down picnic table and power points for 12 and 240v as well as the television. At the back is a neat protection bar with rounded black tube ends and a sturdy mount for the spare with room for a second.
In keeping with the traditional style of the Cruiser, cladding is a raised profile aluminium, which has proven a strong material especially when, attached to the hand built meranti timber frame.
A fold down step and an illuminated clear acrylic grab handle assist entry through the three way door that is towards the rear where I found that once inside it’s a very pleasant environment.
Traditional warm tone timber cabinetry with hand made picture frame doors and rounded edges give a homely feel and mix well with modern colours and textures of the upholstery.
Big windows and a large roof hatch light up the interior in the day and at night as many as 14 recessed LEDs in the ceiling provide ample light for cooking or can be doused for dining and relaxing.
White walls and ceiling colours are reflected in the light grey Cement dinette that is accentuated by a silver panel of soft touch snakeskin vinyl. And while this might sound a bit avant-garde for what is supposed to be a traditional finish, it builds an ambience that I found very inviting.
Layout follows the now familiar trend of including a generous sized ensuite and an open living area and the Cruiser executed this well. The ensuite runs across the back of the van with the bed up front and the living space central.
Big windows either side of the bed have curtains sliding behind pelmets while insect screens keep the creepy crawlies at bay when open. Plenty of width allows easy access around the Pillow Top bed and to a pair of hanging wardrobes with long mirrors.
Storage space includes a pair of overhead cupboards and under the bed where I liked the idea that it is partitioned to keep contents sliding around on rough roads.
The galley has kicker plates at floor level and runs along the driver side. It is impressively well equipped to include a 190L Dometic three way fridge with automatic selection, Thetford oven and four burner cooktop (three gas, one electric), 12v range hood and a stainless steel sink with flick mixer and draining board. There is a 240v microwave set at eye height and although that is quite low in comparison to some vans, I would prefer to see it lower for safety reasons.
A glass cover over the stove and a second bench at the doorway adds to a quite usable food preparation area. A slide out pantry at one end of the kitchen bench and four drawers at the other as well as cupboards overhead of the sink and the fridge add up to a good amount of food and utensils storage.
Full height splash backs should make things easy to clean but it was a shame that a larger kitchen window couldn’t be included to help cheer the task of the dishwasher. Maybe it designed to speed them up?
A 22” television rotates for vision to the bedroom or the dinette and a sound system is set up for CDs, DVDs or USB input. TV reception is improved with a roof mounted sure-lock attenuator aerial that makes finding available stations much easier than turning the older style system by hand.
Entry to the ensuite is through a sliding timber door and the theme inside follows the main body of the van with lots of cupboards around a vanity with ceramic bowl, a large mirror and a top load washer. The fibreglass-moulded shower has plenty of room to move and a window over the ceramic toilet, as well as roof-mounted vents, provides good ventilation.
In line with the demand for free camping, the Cruiser comes with two 95L water tanks and a 100ah deep cycle battery, Ctek charger and an Anderson plug for topping up from the tow vehicle. An advanced Drifter monitoring system at the entranceway not only shows charging rates and battery condition, but also water tank levels, outside temperature and the time.
At the end of our review, I walked away with the feeling that the Regent name was in the hands of a company that knew how to build quality vans and were faithful to the quality name. Well done Caravans Australia.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Caravans Australia
Model: Regent Cruiser
Body length: 6.943
Travel length: 8.743
Width: 2.289
Tare weight: 2360kg
ATM: 2626kg
Ball weight: 120kg
Travel height: 2.67m
Price as tested: $61,990