REVIEW CAMPERVAN | FRONTLINE T5 ADVENTURER
Saw that
coming
WORDSAND PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDAN BATTY
The new Frontline T5 has some
welcome improvements – even
a few that AC+RV suggested
www.caravanandrv.com.au || 53
REVIEW No cabinet rattles, no doors
squeaking – just the normal
road noises we expect
54 || AUSTRALIAN CARAVAN+RV
STORAGE
WARDROBE
STORAGE
REAR BENCH
CONVERTS TO BED
REMOVABLE
TABLE
ROLL
OUT
STOVE
SWIVEL
SEAT
A
bout a year ago, we took
Frontline’s VW Adventurer
camper across the NSW
outback and down the
Cobb Highway. Fitted
with Volkswagen’s most
powerful van engine and
its most sophisticated
off-road, all-wheeldrive transmission, it was an exercise in
excellence – even if the van was boring
white. Frontline has traditionally fitted
its specified off-road models with the
biggest engine and opted for the 4Motion
transmission – but it does get rather pricey.
Could a less powerful, less able, two-wheeldrive van still offer as much freedom? What
if it was bright orange?
Turns out, it doesn’t much matter what
colour it is – the Frontline is still a good
van – even with the less powerful 103kW
diesel engine and limited off-road ability.
Packed up for a week at the Campervan and
Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) Rally
in Port Stephens, we also got a chance to see
if our suggestions to Frontline after our last
review had actually been helpful.
One of those was rewiring the Baintech
battery meter so that its infuriatingly bright
backlight on the LCD screen didn’t stay on all
night like some distant supernova. Another
was updating the fluoro lights with LEDs to
maximise battery efficiency. We thought
that our ideas were splendid and are very
pleased that Frontline agreed.
As always, though, we are continually
impressed by the fit of the Frontline
conversion. The Adventurer Pack layout
features a small kitchen with 90-litre
12/240V compressor fridge (Engel ST90F)
which is, if we’re honest, an overly noisy
appliance. There’s a metho stove that
slides out from under the bench, plenty of
storage (including a wardrobe), an external,
tailgate-mounted cold shower and a second
row of seats and seatbelts that when folded
down make a flat bed. It’s cosy, convenient
and comfortable.
The best thing about it, though, is that
there is very little noise as a result – no
cabinet rattles, no doors squeaking – just
the normal road noises we expect in a van,
and occasionally the clatters of the mug we
left unwashed in the sink. We think this is the
result of the CNC-cut cabinetry that’s so well
put together, combined with just how solid
the small vans are.
We really can’t fault the Frontline product.
It continues to combine comfort and value
in very attractive packages. You’ll be sure to
see us travelling in one again.
FRONT AND BACK
The fit of the Frontline
is exemplary and allows
generous storage space.
FRONTLINE T5
ADVENTURER
VERDICT
+ Orange paint job,
noiseless cabinets,
updated features
- Noisy fridge
= The van for those who
like attention
FAST FACTS
1
MANUFACTURER: Frontline
Camper Conversions
MODEL: Frontline T5
Adventure Pack
CHASSIS: Volkswagen
Transporter T5
ENGINE: 2.0 TDI103,
turbo diesel
POWER: 103kW
EXTERNAL LENGTH: 5290mm
WIDTH: 1904mm
HEIGHT: 2060mm
BERTH: 2
TARE: 2200kg
GVM: 2850kg
TOW CAPACITY: 2000kg
WARRANTY: 12 months
PRICE: $79,200 as tested,
drive away
MOD CONS TOUR
A dinky kitchen
with metho stove
(1) impresses us
and the van’s
poptop (2) gives
ample head room
inside, but the
Engel fridge (3) is
a little too rowdy
for our liking, even
if it is very well
stocked.
2
CONTACT
Frontline Camper
Conversions
36 Cross Street,
Brookvale, NSW
02 9939 0600
FRONTLINECAMPER.COM.AU
3
CAMPERVAN | FRONTLINE T5 ADVENTURER
www.caravanandrv.com.au || 55