GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #31 | Page 32

OUTSIDE THE FEATHERTOP The dinette, opposite the kitchen, had optional leather upholstery. The best part, though, is the fact the table can easily be lowered to convert the dinette into a second bed. Simply use your foot to press the button at the base of the table leg and apply gentle downward pressure to the table. The table will lower into place, and then you can fit the supplied infill. Perhaps the biggest trade-off with this Feathertop’s layout is the bathroom. It is very stylish and the fitout is of a high standard; however, it is small. This is, of course, a function of the compact nature of the van. And since you’ll only spend minutes of the day in the bathroom, it makes sense that the living quarters are prioritised over the bathroom in terms of space. 32 \ The Feathertop rides on a 4in chassis with 2in raiser and a 4in drawbar; however, our review van had an optional 6in drawbar. It uses conventional meranti timber for its frame, which is clad with ribbed aluminium on the sides and smooth composite aluminium cladding at the front and rear, not to mention a smattering of black checkerplate all around. Safety features include a reversing camera and optional Dexter sway control (which was fitted to our van). Interestingly, Hilltop has used Dexter Torflex independent suspension on this Feathertop, though it’s not really an offroad van. A gal-lined tunnel boot, with internal light, is fitted at the front in lieu of a front boot, which makes sense since a front boot would only add to the overall length of the van.