RV REVIEW
Have you ever asked yourself
if the person attempting to sell
you a caravan actually owns
a caravan, or has ever been
caravanning? More to the
point, does that salesperson
own one of the caravans that
they want you to also own?
Believe it or not, such
salespeople are out there.
Scott Grant, of the highly
regarded dealership Ian
Grant’s Caravans in Traralgon,
Vic, an Essential Caravans
dealer, is one of them. His
‘ride’ of choice: a Grant
Cruiser Family van built by
Essential Caravans.
Our review Grant Cruiser
was fresh off the factory floor.
It had just arrived in Traralgon
and Scott had barely taken
possession of it when we
swung past, hitched it up, and
nicked off with it.
ENTRY: GRANTED
There are four layout and size
options in the Family range,
each a foot longer than the
last. Ours was the 2-5 Family
Cruiser, a 22-footer with a
heart of gold.
The main bedroom has a
queen-size bed surrounded
by wardrobes, drawers and
overhead lockers. The bed
lifts on gas struts in the usual
way; however, Scott has fitted
‘his and hers’ drawers to this
space for access without
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having to raise the bed base.
Some might say this is an
inefficient use of space,
but I beg to differ.
There’s a TV on the offside,
at the foot of the bed, but
because it’s on a swivel arm,
it can also be viewed from the
welcoming club lounge.
The kitchen, meanwhile,
doesn’t lack for storage or
appliances, but bench space
is on the small side. Sensibly,
all switches and controls are
centralised in a locker above
the kitchen bench, alongside
the BMPRO Genius battery
management system and
the regulator for the roof-
mounted 150W solar panel.
And that leaves the rear
bathroom/kids’ bedroom.
Two nearside bunks, a sturdy
ladder, drawer storage under
the bottom bunk (optioned
in by Scott – a hinged flap
is standard) and a large
wardrobe come together to
make the bedroom particularly
functional. Oh, and that same
wardrobe houses a front-
loading Dometic washing
machine. Nice.
The bathroom has its
own cubicle within the van.
It contains a cassette toilet,
separate washbasin/vanity,
and a separate shower,
with room left over to
towel off and get dressed
in complete privacy.
Naturally, there are other
appliances and features, but
suffice to say that the Grant
Cruiser Family van ticks many
boxes. What’s more, it does
it in style.
VALUE CRUISER
In the value-for-money stakes,
our review Cruiser Family
hits the sweet spot. Scott
Grant had some extra gear
fitted to the van, nudging
gorv.com.au
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