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RV & Motorhome Lifestlye - Hi ho silver: RoadCraft L4

At RoadCraft, redefining the future of RV design is as much about getting back to the fundamentals of motorhomes and their Kombi roots as it is preserving the Kiwi lifestyle.

The latest member of their growing family of OCV's (Overland Camping Vehicles,) the BaseJumper L4 not only references the early days of campervanning, it employs the latest VW Crafter technology for a ride you can take the whole clan on.

The family focused four-berth, slid into the Continental Cars showroom in Auckland on the 19^th August 2009, on a cloud of dry ice and blue light in a double celebration, where a new champion of the company's go-for-it-attitude, tri-athlete, Hamish Carter, was announced as Roadcraft's brand-ambassador.

Built on the sleek 6.9m Crafter van with the reliability and cruising capabilities of a 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder common rail Turbo Diesel Injected engine, the L4 is pitched at adventurous kin who like to go wild and stay clear of the road for extended periods.

With the inclusion of a drivers-side rear passenger seat, the L4 allows the troop to travel together at the front of the vehicle. The visibility is great with a large side window on the right, while those along for the ride on the left get a centre stage windscreen view. If the scenery is not enough then there is a DVD player and seven-inch screen above the rear vision mirror. The front swivel seats complete the scene for a kind of mini lounge for the kids, while mum and dad can rest up on the ample wrap round lounge.

Perhaps the key design feature in the new maximized layout is the gas shock assisted, drop down forward bunk that stows as a false ceiling behind the cab. A bottom bunk is created beneath where hydraulic pullouts-for width and length- lift from the side of the passenger seat.

It's just one of the ways RoadCraft are changing the way people embrace the world of motorhomes. As Hamish Carter says, I wouldn't call it a campervan, it's more a tool."  It's a mobile base from which a tribe can launch all manner of outdoor pursuits.

The L4 comes complete with chef-quality knives and utensils and top of the line leisure appliances including the Spinflo four-burner gas stove with grill and Dometic rangehood.  A Truma hotwater heater runs off both mains power at the campground or gas out amongst nature, has a 14L capacity and goes from 0 to 100 Cº within half an hour.

The slick 110L Waeco fridge with separate freezer is engineered to run while on angles up to 30º and over rough corrugated tracks without compromising its efficiency.

Base Jumper L4s have a four year/200,000 kilometres full-vehicle warranty and 24 hour assistance for 3 years. There is a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty on the platinum silver paintwork, which with its trademark topo-graphic decal is a guaranteed head turner.

Words/photos Jason Burgess