The Caravan Club – September 2019

http://www.camc.com September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine 85

NIGHT-TIME

Like nearly every fixed-bed four-berth, the 3X

is most likely to be used by couples – but the

lo u n ge t r a n s fo r m s i nto a go o d - s i z e d d o u ble to

e n s u r e t h at g u e s t s wo n’t fe e l s ho r t- c h a n ge d.

The bedroom (it takes quite an effort to avoid

r efe r r i n g to i t a s t h e ‘r e a r’ b e d r o o m ; ‘ T h e E a s t

Wing’ is more accurate) is unlike any other I’ve

experienced, largely due to the odd sensation

that comes from lying in what looks like an

oversized torpedo tube.

The mattress – slightly smaller than the one

t h at’ l l b e i n U K ve r s io n s – i s a g r e e a bly

comfortable, although the curved walls mean

you’ll have your work cut out if you harbour any

notions of sitting up in bed to enjoy a morning

c up p a o r h av i n g a r e a d b efo r e l i g ht s o u t. A nd o n

that note, there’s only one reading light, so one of

yo u p r o b a bly wo u ld n’t e ve n b o t h e r t r y i n g a ny w ay.

Storage space is largely taken care of by the

a fo r e m e nt io ne d b a n k of s h a r e d lo c ke r s; a nd t h e

is accessible either from the main body of

the caravan or from the bedroom – a neat

touch. One of them can give a home to a TV

wall bracket, enabling viewing from lounge

or bedroom.

Our test van had an electric heater bolted

to the edge of the kitchen cabinet, but UK

models will get a Truma Combi heating/hot

water unit, which will be placed in a front

external locker (alongside two gas bottles)

and will be controlled from inside by a

seven-inch touchscreen.

The two internal doors can be configured

several ways, including to close off the

bedroom and the lounge/kitchen area – which

also results in a fully-enclosed loo/shower

space. Or you can leave the bedroom door

open, tucked against the wall, and close off the

lo o d o o r to g i ve a n op e n ‘co r r id o r’ f r o m f r o nt to

back. This format is probably the one to use

during the day.

TECHNICAL RATINGS

Price as tested

£37,995 OTR

(enhanced

UK-spec price)

Beds

Front double:

6ft10in × 4ft 3in

Rear fixed

double: 6ft 7in ×

5ft 3in

Heating

Truma C ombi 4 e

Fridge/freezer

Dometic 70l

fridge-freezer

Toilet

Thetford

cassette

MRO

950kg (18.7cwt)

MTPLM

1,30 0kg

(25.6cwt)

User payload

350kg (6.9cwt)

Overall length

12ft 8in (3.85m)

Overall width

Closed: 6ft

5in (1.95m);

Extended: 15ft 1in

(4.6m)

Overall height

8ft 6in (2.6m)

Caravan and

Motorhome Club

Cover

See ’Did you

know?’ roundel

below for quote*

90 % 94 % 80 % 85 %

BUILD QUALITY TOWING DAYTIME NIGHT-TIME

88 % 74 % 80 % 84 %

KITCHEN WASHROOM LIGHTING VERDICT

DAYTIME
The lounge area requires a leap of imagination
from all of us, because the UK model will be
much plusher than this rather spartan example
(which, interestingly, is destined for life with
a new owner in California). The not-altogether-
very-cosseting red leatherette seating will make
way for deeper squabs finished in a luxurious
fabric, with scatter cushions to add a more
homely touch.
That big table, which sits flush against the
kitchen unit when not in use, will have a
wood-grain finish to help counter the rather
clinical, shiny whiteness of this example’s
interior; the same goes for the kitchen
furniture, and for both sides of the wall that
separates the bedroom/washroom from the
rest of the cabin.
The bank of opaque-fronted storage cabinets
by the entrance door is not only a practical
fe at u r e, i t i s a l s o r at h e r at t r a c t i ve. E a c h u n i t

Figures from

manufacturer’s

literature.

Above: UK table will have a woodgrain finish

Left: handy bank of storage cabinets

Below: decent-sized double bed

Bottom: abracadabra!