When the caravan comes from a company called Ideal and the van is called Idyllic, it’s time to look beyond looks and comfort. It’s time to see if what’s on offer amounts to a substantial RV or not. This meant hitching Ideal’s Idyllic Premier MkII up to a Land Rover Discovery tow vehicle and taking it for a ride.

There’s no doubt that when it comes to tow vehicles, the Land Rover Discovery is a worthy choice. It certainly looked good and performed well up against the Idyllic Caravan when I took it to a nearby Sunshine Coast location.

In fact, the Discovery’s ability to perform was never in doubt. Since 1948, the Land Rover brand has been synonymous with tough, solid and capable four-wheel drives.

Simply put, the Discovery’s V6 turbo-diesel engine places it easily into any collection of acceptable tow vehicles.

As for Ideal, this is an up-and-coming Queensland-based caravan company that claims to have an eye on the quality of its engineering. Now here’s the thing – Ideal doesn’t manufacture caravans. Instead, it contracts Victorian-based manufacturers to build to Ideal specifications.

Ideal has now placed a permanent company engineer with a degree in aerospace engineering in Melbourne. That’s so he can check the quality of the build of each and every van manufactured with an Ideal or Idyllic badge.

This suggests that what the customer orders will come from an established Victorian builder while meeting the client’s specifications together with the quality build of which Ideal insists. Not a bad recipe really.

EXTERNAL

Take a look at the Ideal product and you can see the quality. The Idyllic Premier MkII looks sturdy with a Supa Galvanised chassis and Meranti timber frame. While other manufacturers of timber-framed caravans put together strong and well-constructed vans, Ideal says it has the edge over most manufacturers.

That’s because it insists on tapering the top rails of the wall frames so that the framework follows the proper contours of the roofline.

It sounds obvious, but this single consideration does make a difference. It means that the caravan has a much better chance of being weatherproof. It’s simple but effective engineering.

Although the Idyllic caravan does not pretend to be an off-road caravan, construction-wise it looks ready to rumble down a less than perfect byway, blacktop or bulldust. That’s because it boasts trusses under the drawbar, galvanised water tank covers, off-road clearance, and heavy-duty suspension.

When it comes time to rattle along the corrugated roads, don’t worry, as the Idyllic has propeller guard and rubber protecting the caravan from the occasional wayward rock that might fly up as you drive by.

Storage is always important when A stylish and comfortable layout caravanning and Ideal has looked at the problem and provided very convenient heavy-duty drawers in the front tunnel-boot. This means you can slide your bits and bobs out to you rather than having to fossick around like a mole in its burrow. It’s easier on your back as well.

The Idyllic Premier MkII also comes with a sizable storage bin large enough for most generators. There’s just one small quip here. Considering the thoughtful provision of drawers in the tunnel-boot, a slide-on that the generator could roll out on might have better kept with the ergonomic theme.

As many caravanners like to experience a combination of free camping and holiday park accommodation, it’s good to see the review van came equipped with two 80W solar panels to keep the power supply going.

In terms of energy, the Idyllic Premier MkII boasted two 4.9kg gas cylinders. While some might worry that this is a small supply, the truth is it is ample for most travellers – gas is a very efficient fuel.

EXTERNAL FEATURES

Chassis: Supa Galvanised chassis
Frame construction: Meranti timber frame
Windows: Galaxy wind-out windows
Insulation: Polystyrene
Corner jacks: Four
Waste water common outlet: Yes
Water tanks: 90L x 2
Water tank covers: Yes, galvanised
Coupling: 15mm 3500k fixed coupling
Suspension: Standard rocker heavy-duty shock absorbers
Clearance: Off-road
Brakes: 4 x 12in drum brakes with engager break-away box
Wheels: 15in mags
Tyres: Goodyear Highway pattern
Awning: Pull-out Dometic vinyl roof
Boot(s): Tunnel boot with two slide-out drawers
Stone guard: Combination propeller plate and rubber
Gas cylinder size/s: 2 x 4.9kg
Hot water: Standard suburban gas electric
Battery: 2 x 120A gel batteries
Battery charger: Prostar 30A
Solar panels: 2 x 80W
Solar provision: Yes
Entrance door: Yes
Tap on A-Frame: Yes

INTERNAL

On the inside, the Idyllic van looks tidy and well laid out. However, it is the attention to detail that is often the difference between a comfortable caravan and one that hits the right mark in terms of liveability.

Among features like a separate shower and toilet, and the quality array of appliances that include reversecycle air conditioning, a front-loader washing machine neatly stowed in the bathroom, and a stove top that includes one electric and three gas burners, are two nice details.

The most obvious is found wrapped in leather upholstery. While there is no doubt about the comfort and durability of a leather lounge, and the café dinette certainly looked good and was comfy, the addition of a fold-up footrest turned comfy into ‘pass me my book, I’m here to stay’ territory.

To appreciate the other thoughtful design touch, you have to wait until the sun goes down. Ideal has placed a combination of mood lighting and convenient LED strip lighting throughout the interior. You find them lighting up the entrance steps, providing soft lighting in the bedroom and kitchenlounge, and helping you find the baked beans when you slide out the pantry.

Of course, when you do find the beans, you need not worry because your can opener is secure in a well-constructed kitchen drawer that won’t leave your fi ngers full of splinters. In fact, all of the cupboards and drawers, and there are plenty, are well constructed.

INTERNAL FEATURES

Fridge: Dometic 184L two-door, three-way
Television: LCD 19in TCL
Antenna: Saturn
Music system: CD/DVD/radio/MP3 + aerial
Cooking equipment: Three-burner gas + one electric grill
Microwave: LG convection microwave oven
Heating: Ibis reverse cycle
Cooling: Ibis reverse cycle
Rangehood: 12V rangehood
Lighting: 240/12V with the addition of specially fitted LED lighting
Smoke alarms: One
Cupboard finishes: Plywood (wood effect)
Latches: Push button
Lounge configuration: Café lounge
Seating capacity: Four
Upholstery: Leather
Sink: Square bowl stainless steel
Sleeping configuration: Queen
Berths: Two
Bed size(s): One queen size
Mattress: Inner-spring
Under bed storage: Yes, gas-operated struts
Privacy screens: N/A
Bathroom configuration: Separate shower, toilet and vanity (fully mirrored shower door)
Privacy door: Yes
Toilet: Thetford ceramic cassette, holding tank capacity of 17L
Toilet roll holder: Yes
Shower head: 44in x 19in fully lined
Washing machine: Dometic front loader 2.5kg
Clothes dryer: No
Towel racks: Two

RATINGS

Exterior: 4/5
Interior: 4/5
Layout: 4/5
Kitchen: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

TECHNICAL SPECS

Make/model: Ideal/Idyllic Premier MkII
Chassis number: BSC 0866
External body length: 6.9m (21ft 6in)
External width: 2.44m (8ft)
VIN Tare Weight: 2280kg
Ball Weight: 182kg
NB: length and width are external measurements of the vehicle shell (and awning) only

CONTACT/THANKS

Contact person: Robert Shulz
Name: Ideal Caravan Centre
Address: 3/47 Learjet Drive, Caboolture, QLD 4510
Phone: (07) 5495 5867
Fax: (07) 5495 5897
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.idealcaravans.com.au

Please Note: Prices were correct at time of review.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID GILCHRIST