REVIEW WORDS BRENDAN BATTY PHOTOGRAPHY ANTHONY WARRY THE BALANCING ACT Horizon’s Waratah is all class, but does it balance function and value too? 46 || AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV MOTORHOME | HORIZON MOTORHOMES WARATAH TIGHTROPE WALKING Taking a page out of Horizon’s book, Brendan shows his own balancing skills (we promise it’s not a Photoshop trick). I t’s a balancing act filling a small space with all the comforts the modern campervan buyer expects, without compromising on usability. The industry, for the large part, has got its head around it and it’s rare we’ll find a recreational vehicle that’s even slightly uncomfortable. The game is now about style, quality and value. The Horizon Waratah is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter based van conversion that carries the mantle of Horizon’s most expensive (when bought with the 4WD option). It’s available with two engine and transmission combinations and up to three GVM options. That variety is one of the reasons the Merc van is the best in the business. Our tester is fitted with the smaller of the two engines – a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel. It produces 120kW and 350Nm of torque. The engine is quiet and smooth and has more than enough getup to keep the campervan moving at any speed. Best of all, though, is the optional seven-speed twin clutch gearbox. Unlike the popular Fiat Ducato or Volkswagen Crafter, both which feature clunky automated manual gearboxes, the Merc’s shifting is silky smooth and almost unnoticeable. In fact, the Benz is nicer in almost every aspect than any of the large commercial vans converted into mobile homes. There’s a more solid feel to the front doors and a smoother slide action of the side one. The dash is better laid out with a superior information display, and preferred storage options and cup holders. The other vans are nice, but step from one straight into the Sprinter (we did), and the step up in quality is distinct. If the 2.2-litre diesel sounds too small, there’s also a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel that we’ve driven on other tests and which is excellent. With 140kW and 440Nm of torque, the van is enthusiastic as well as strong. In automatic form, it can even be upgraded to 4WD, complete with lowrange transfer case, which can really see you explore hard to get to places. For the driver and passenger, comfort is excellent. The seats don’t feel as high in the air as you really are and there’s a suite of modern aids we expect in cars but don’t always see in commercials. Bluetooth, cruise control, heated mirrors, power windows, air conditioning, steering wheel height and reach control and central locking are all standard. Horizon can up the comfort ante more by upholstering the seats in leather. The long wheelbase, high roof van has 14 cubic metres of usable load area that is made larger with the swivelling front seats specified by Horizon. The 316 and 319’s GVM is lifted 4495kg, although the 516 and www.caravanandrv.com.au || 47 REVIEW FOLD AWAY TABLE The Benz is nicer in almost every aspect than any of the large commercial vans converted into mobile homes KITCHEN ENSUITE OVERHEAD STORAGE SINGLE BED SINGLE BED OVERHEAD STORAGE BEDSIDE TABLE HORIZON MOTORHOMES WARATAH VERDICT + The Sprinter, the kitchen, the small details - It’s not cheap = Classy and functional tourer FAST FACTS MODEL: Waratah CHASSIS: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter POWER: 120kW TORQUE: 350Nm EXTERNAL LENGTH: 6945mm WIDTH: 1993mm HEIGHT: 2740mm BERTH: Two TARE: 3300kg GVM: 4490kg WARRANTY: Three years RRP: From $123,500 CONTACT Ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre 299 River Road, Ballina, NSW, 2478 02 6681 1555 BALLINACAMPERS.COM.AU 1 48 || AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV MOTORHOME | HORIZON MOTORHOMES WARATAH 519 are specified with 4495kg or 5000kg GVMs. As standard, Horizon upgrades the Merc fuel tank to 100 litres. All that makes for a fine motorhome base. If you love the floor plan – but want to save some money – Horizon will build this into the Volkswagen Crafter. However, you miss out on the flawless Mercedes gearbox and engine package, and lose a lot of the driver comforts and advanced safety systems. As such, not many bother. The Waratah floor plan features two single beds to the rear, separated by a narrow walkway and small bedside (more like bedcentre) drawers. Cushioned walls ensure this area is comfortable during daylight hours also. A table, big enough for two, on a swivelling base fits in here nicely, making it the most versatile area in the whole van. There is a lot of room here for just relaxing, and that’s a very attractive proposition with the back doors open allowing, perhaps, a sea-breeze to float through. Further forward, a smart kitchen runs all the way to the sliding side door and features a handy bench extension that pulls out from under the stovetop. The three-burner stove and stainless steel sink is a combined unit, saving space where it’s needed. And although the kitchen lacks a grill or oven, it still has gas hot water, a 108-litre, 12/240volt fridge and a microwave. There’s no range hood, but the hatch above the kitchen is fitted with a fly screen and an extraction fan, which is a quieter and more versatile solution, anyway. Storage around the van is good, without being extensive. There’s a small pantry in the kitchen, as well as a stack of four drawers. Overhead cupboards surround the bedroom and sit above the dinette and there’s a long, shallow drawer under the raised floor between the beds. There is also a good amount of boot space, although it’s not the largest of the Horizon range. Opposite the kitchen is the van’s impressive ensuite. It’s as big as a van this size will allow. The area houses a Dometic toilet with a remote-mounted cistern to save space, stainless steel tap wear and a small 2 SWIVEL ME TIMBERS The front driver and passenger seats (1) can be upholstered in leather as an optional extra and swivel to join the small dinette area (2) so four people can happily nosh a meal together. A narrow walkway and drawers divide two single beds at the rear (3). There’s no oven in the kitchen area (4) but a three-burner stove and microwave handle your cooking needs and there’s a nifty pull-out bench. 4 3 www.caravanandrv.com.au || 49 REVIEW MOTORHOME | HORIZON MOTORHOMES WARATAH Back in 2013, Horizon Motorhome’s owner Clayton Kearney took a Waratah all the way across Australia and through the Kimberley – with our special on the Kimberley starting on page 62 we wanted to ask him about his trip. “We had a very fast trip through the Kimberley in the Horizon Waratah 4WD. This was a vehicle that I customised with two fold down bunk beds in place of the overhead cupboards above the rear single beds. This was done to accommodate my two teenage children, 14 and 16. It cut into our storage space but was worthwhile as it gave us a lot of mobility given the limited time that we had to do the trip. This trip was a real adventure; the whole family absolutely loved it. This is a beautiful piece of our country. One of the most memorable places for us was Middle Lagoon on Dampier Peninsular. After a couple of weeks driving and desert crossing, this was an isolated little seaside paradise for us where we were able to spend a couple of days chilling out, swimming, walking and relaxing.” 50 || AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV basin with its own cupboards underneath. But there’s no curtain to screen the toilet. Forward of the ensuite is a small dinette area. Combined with the swivelling driver and passenger seats, the small space can accommodate four for dinner. The two dinette seats are also fitted with seatbelts so, with the table removed, you can pick up hitchhikers or give friends a lift into town. Some of the best aspects of the Waratah are only small – like the USB charging points, or the electric slide-out step. We’re really impressed by the large, hatch-mounted fan which draws just 0.1amp per hour on low, and the easy-to-use – but extensive – electrical system. There’s a 200amp/h battery hidden in the camper, which is managed by a 40amp, three-stage charger from the alternator or a similar one by 240V mains. The van is also solar compatible, although it’s somewhat expensive for the 160W or 200W options. The only thing it is really missing are proper shutout blinds on the rear windows, but that’s because Mercedes Benz won’t supply the van with solid rear doors that Horizon could cut out and fit regular RV windows to. Yes, it’s a balancing act fitting all the modern luxuries into a van-based package, but Horizon has managed it. This is a comfortable, well-featured van with real performance. www.caravanandrv.com.au || 51
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