WE’VE ARRIVED
After challenging that extreme mountain
climb, long corrugated road or even just
the highway bitumen it’s nice to know that
you will be set right up and comfortable
in a matter of minutes. Simply secure your
position for a stopover, or perhaps just
leave it connected to the car for a lunch
break or quick overnighter. All you need
to do is hit the button on the remote and
the roof automatically pops open allowing
great ventilation from the soft sides and
fly-screened windows as well as terrific
insulation from the fibreglass composite roof.
Note: the remote is optional.
I was pleased to see that Altitude has stuck
with the simplicity of a portable side step as
the inbuilt models usually hang that low they
are wiped out on the first bit of disagreeable
terrain. It only takes a minute to wind out the
overhead awning. Access to the kitchen and
fridge is simple. The stainless steel kitchen
slides out then pivots parallel to the van
sides and the fridge slide pulls straight out
revealing the optional 85 litre EvaKool dual
zone fridge/freezer. It’s all done in a jiffy. All
that’s left is to fold out a chair and grab a
bevvy, and you’re camping!
All of that took less than three minutes!LET’S COOK
The kitchen’s a wee ripper! It pulls out on
premium quality slides and then easily
pivots 90 degrees in line with the van itself.
It features a 3-burner Smev stove complete
with wok burner, a stainless steel sink with
hot/cold running water, a pair of utensil
drawers and a fold out stainless bench either
side. Our demonstration unit was a prototype
model and with that one of the benches
actually precluded the door, but that will
change for full production.
In the same compartment as the kitchen,
we also find a pullout pantry drawer. It’s
quite large but not in the huge proportions
we are now seeing on some campers. All of
the external hatches are premium quality
with strong dust and water proof automotive
seals and lockable compression locks. You
will need to carry a fold out table and chairs
as there’s not much bench space to prepare
a meal.
Out in front of the trailer is a large “tool
box”. It houses the diesel hot water systemOffroad couplingif selected over the Truma gas unit fitted
as standard, plus there’s twin jerry can
and 4.5kg gas bottle mounts plus the fire
extinguisher. It’s an aluminium box with
a black “rhinocoat” style finish that is
protecting it, and the van, from stone chips
and road scars.
There’s a nice big “Euro-style” tinted
window either side of the Alpine 1400 that
opens outwardly and includes sliding internal
flyscreen and block out awning options.
It adds to the ventilation aspect as well as
providing a view out over your picturesque
campsite from your bedside.
On the driver’s side of the van we find a
matching pair of hatches that open to a large