I’d reckon that when we think of fifth wheelers, most of us think of the big rigs – the 24+ footers with the road presence of a semi-trailer. And while fifth wheelers are easier to manoeuvre in tight van park sites, there are times when a big rig just won’t fit. That’s where the Little Ripper comes in. At 18 feet it’s not a shrimp by any means, but it has all the handling advantages of a fifth wheeler and will fit nicely in any van park site.
Barry, John and the Southern Cross crew have been building fifth wheelers for a lot of years and know just what makes a good touring rig. They have also shown in the Little Ripper that they know how to maximise space in a van. Despite being only 18 feet, there is loads of interior space in this layout.
The Southern Cross Little Ripper (love the name!) is built on a Supergal chassis and rolls on independent off road suspension with airbags and shocks. The body is built from insulated fibreglass composite panels and all windows are double glazed.
The gooseneck hitch features a 75mm ball that’s recessed into the tray of the towing ute (in this case a Mazda BT50). Behind the gooseneck are two recessed electric front legs, with drop down rear stabilisers. The lower forward face of the van is protected by chequerplate and immediately behind the gooseneck is a large storage area. Above this is a through boot accessible from both sides.
A rollout awning is fitted above the kerb side, with LED lights fitted. As this rig has a rear door configuration, an additional awning is fitted above the rear. A narrow chequerplate bar protects the rear, and a pull put entry step is fitted beneath the door. The spare wheel is fitted on a winder under the rear end.
Up top are a Winegard TV antenna, Aircommand air conditioner and Four Seasons hatch, along with a single solar panel.
One 130-litre fresh water and one 80-litre grey water tank is fitted beneath, and a pair of 4kg gas bottles is fitted within lockable storage. On-board electricity is provided via a 120A/h battery with charger, boosted by a single solar panel and regulator. This all allows a good bit of off-the-grid independent camping if required.
As mentioned, the Little Ripper has a rear door configuration, with dinette and kitchen at the rear and the bedroom and ensuite up forward.
The dinette is on the driver’s side by the entry, and features a pair of short bench seats either side of a removable rectangular table. A large window brightens up the dinette, and personal lights are fitted to each side. Above the window is a long storage shelf with a four-slot wine rack and on the rear wall is a clock, just in case you need to know when to crack a bottle! And if you are really sleepy, the dinette converts to another bed.
Opposite the dinette, the kitchen is quite spacious and features a long benchtop with a ceramic tile splashback, and with a Smev three burner gas cooktop/sink combination in the middle. Both cooktop and sink are covered by tinted glass panels, and the bench is backed by a long window. Beneath the benchtop is a collection of drawers and cupboards, with a slide out pantry at the end of the bench adjacent to the entry.
Above the benchtop is a nest of lockers, along with stereo controls and a TV mount at the forward end. This mounting allows easy viewing from the dinette. Beneath the overhead lockers is a rangehood and light.
Forward of the kitchen bench is the fridge console, with a 175 litre compressor fridge/freezer beneath a microwave oven. Forward of the fridge console adjacent to the bedroom is a full height storage/wardrobe console.
The bedroom is up forward in raised section above the ‘gooseneck’ area. A couple of easy steps on either side of the bed allow access to the queen sized bed positioned north south. Alongside the bed are bedside tables with a drawer beneath, and the bed is flanked by large, screened windows. A pair of reading lights is fitted to the overhead above the bedhead, and there is a large storage area under the bed, accessed by twin doors beneath the bed’s foot.
And then we come to the ensuite, in the corner of the bedroom on the driver’s side. And unlike many van layouts, this is an ensuite in the real sense of the word. It features a large toilet/shower combo behind a pivoting bathroom door. A vanity bowl and cabinet module is fitted, along with a flexible shower hose, and the loo is a Thetford cassette type.
The rear entry layout has proven very successful in this model, allowing the Southern Cross crew to maximise the available space, making this 18-footer a big Little Ripper.
The Southern Cross 5500 RE-D Little Ripper is genuinely a little ripper of a fifth wheeler, offering a practical, spacious and nicely finished interior, combined with the manoeuvrability of a small van and the ability to be towed easily by a ute similar to the BT50. It would make a really comfortable tourer for a couple looking for a long range hop around the block.
Specifications
Model: Little Ripper 5500 RE-D
Body Length: 5.5m
Overall Length: 6.3m
Width overall: 2.32m
Height: 2.75 + air con
Tare weight: 1780kg
Ball weight: 460kg
ATM: 2600kg
Price as shown: $88,313
Find Out More
Southern Cross Caravans
19 Nestor Drive
Meadowbrook. Qld. 4131
Ph: (07) 3200 6924
Fax: (07) 3200 8999
Email: sales@southerncrosscaravans.com.au
Website: www.southerncrosscaravans.com.au