GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #21 | Page 32

The Explorer 1760 has a decent storage system mounted to the A-frame. Made of black checkerplate, it also incorporates a couple of jerry can holders and an offside slide-out tray to house a small portable generator. Given the location of the dual water tanks, it’d pay to keep an eye on the ball weight when loading heavy items to the front if those tanks are also full – much depends on the capabilities of the tow vehicle. Just behind the drawbar is a full-width tunnel boot, with a nearby gas bayonet mounted to the chassis on the nearside. The rear of the van sports a reversing camera and dual spare wheels fitted to the four-stay bumper bar, while a full-length awning is fitted to the nearside, along with a 12V point for charging phones and tablets, etc. With its high waist of protective black checkerplate and composite aluminium cladding (over an aluminium frame), the Explorer 1760 certainly looks the part. The roof pops up in the usual way – simply undo four over-centre external catches. It’s then just a matter of lifting the roof from the inside. Because Oz Cruiser has opted to fit an under-bed air- conditioner, rather than a roof-mounted unit, the roof is quite easy to lift. INSIDE THE OZ CRUISER Inside, the van somehow feels larger than it actually is. In the nose of the van is the queen-size bed with wardrobes either side; however, due to the tunnel boot and the aforementioned air-con, storage space beneath the bed is limited. The kitchen, meanwhile, is quite well set-up. It has a four-burner cooktop with a microwave below, a sink with flick-mixer tap, some overhead lockers and cupboards beneath the bench, not to mention a swivel arm for the supplied flatscreen TV. Bench space is, admittedly, limited to the hinged bench section above the cooktop and the adjacent SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE 32 gorv.com.au