Cut Loose RV makes fifth-wheelers that boss Nick Oliver says are sure to have you crowing ‘c’mon, c’mon let’s go touring’. Considering this company’s name, there is a chance Nick and his crew know how to lose your blues on the open highway.

The Cut Loose solution is simple. Take one of its RVs, for me it was the Cut Loose Sirius RB, and hook it up to a suitable tow vehicle, then head for the open highway and a beautiful destination.

I headed to Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast, just 30 minutes or so from the Gold Coast home of Cut Loose RV. This sleepy little village has a range of cafes, north-facing beaches and an estuary that anglers can’t ignore.

By the river, the Sirius fifth-wheeler looked just right. There is no doubt, Cut Loose makes a handsome RV. So it should. After all, this company has evolved over the last four years to manufacture only fifth-wheelers from imported American shells. The company’s goal is to hit the market with competitive prices and flexible layouts.

As for the tow vehicle, first impressions suggested that the Mazda BT-50 freestyle cab I used was better suited for the work site rather than relaxing by the seaside. There’s no hint of plush furnishings and luxury extras in this vehicle, but I gather the other test drive vehicle – the new Isuzu D Max – is much better in this regard and is an auto too.

Talk to Nick at Cut Loose because it’s a real bonus to be able to go for a test drive and experience the fifth-wheeler benefits for yourself.

Despite its workaday interior, the Mazda had all the essentials including a quiet but gutsy 3L, four-cylinder double overhead cam turbo-diesel producing sufficient power and torque to accommodate a towing capacity of around three tonnes.

EXTERNAL

The Sirius’s welded aluminium frame means Cut Loose has opted for strength while endeavouring to keep tabs on weight. A VIN tare weight or unladen weight of 2900kg suggests that this 8m RV is not carrying too much by way of unnecessary bulk. That said, the review RV is a little heavier than it could have been as the manufacturer included real timber cupboard doors and a weighty porcelain rather than plastic toilet. Weight aside, it’s reassuring that fire-retardant insulation keeps the RV cool and safer.

Looking around the outside, Equaflex suspension meant the Cut Loose fifth-wheeler took to the twists and turns of the road well, absorbing road shock like a sponge. As I was out for a daytrip only, Cut Loose didn’t fit the review van with gas bottles.

Nonetheless, had they been there, two 9kg bottles would have provided plenty of gas.

When it comes to power, a 150A AGM deep-cycle maintenance-free battery should keep the lights and other 12V gadgets blazing for some days when you’re not plugged into a 240V outlet.

The review RV had plenty of water. In total, the Sirius RB had the capacity to keep over 400L of water including 165L of fresh water, 125L of grey water, a 105L galley tank and 125L of black water.

Working with the idea that customers deserve choice, Cut Loose offers a range of options that include a BBQ and washing machine. With or without these, the review van boasted extra external storage hatches to complement the sizable front boot.

An external shower beside a very convenient utility hatch meant keeping your shower knick-knacks handy when washing off the beach sand is too easy.

EXTERNAL FEATURES

Frame construction: Welded aluminium
Windows: Powdercoated aluminium hopper windows – safety plus tinted glass
Insulation: Fully insulated – fire retardant
Corner jacks: Rear stabiliser jack – manual
Waste water common outlet: Yes
Water tanks: Fresh 165L, grey 125L, galley 105L, black 125L
Water tanks covers: Yes
Coupling: 2in kingpin
Suspension: Road friendly Equa-flex suspension
Clearance: Standard
Brakes: 10in elec. drum – each wheel
Wheels: 15in
Tyres: Goodyear
Awning: 17ft 8500 Series A&E
Boot(s): Huge front boot
Gas cylinder size/s: 2 x 9kg (not fitted in review RV)
Hot water: Suburban 23L water heater – gas & 240V
Battery: 150Ah AGM deep-cycle maintenancefree battery
Battery charger: Xantrex True Charge 2 smart battery charger
Solar panels: One or two Kyocera 130W panels (option)
Solar provision: Yes

INTERNAL

On the inside, the Sirius doesn’t have the nautical feel its name suggests – thank goodness. Instead, the interior is open, light and breezy with a clean and comfortable character that talks of holidays anywhere while enjoying a fine meal or stretching out on the bed or lounge reading a good book.

Although normally a twin-birth RV, this fifth-wheeler could sleep up to four by folding out the lounge and collapsing the dinette table. However, a word of caution, if you intend to carry yourself and three friends away on a beach side or country trip make sure your tow vehicle is large enough to accommodate all four travellers comfortably.

Some dual cabs tend to be a little too cosy. The new auto Isuzu D Max is a full dual cab and a recommended tow vehicle for the whole Cut Loose range.

Meal times are easy in the Sirius because it comes equipped with a generous Waeco fridge together with Dometic burner and grill. Importantly, the travelling gourmand or gourmet might allow his imagination to run a little wild as the kitchen has two large slide-out pantries and plenty of bench space on which to open the cans of beans for breakfast. Better still, you’re not likely to take bark off your fingers when looking through the kitchen drawers for the can opener – all the drawers and cupboards are properly finished.

Also, to its credit Cut Loose found all the usual under-utilised spaces and put a cupboard or storage box there, including shallow under-bed storage that is just big enough for one or maybe two extra blankets. Even the step between the front door and the bedroom doubles as a storage box.

INTERNAL FEATURES

Fridge: Waeco 190L 12V compressor fridge/freezer
Television: Xien 12/240V 19in or 22in with/ without DVD
Antenna: Winegard
Music system: Sony CD/radio with MP3 facility
Cooking equipment: Dometic 3 gas electric, 1 gas cooker with grill
Microwave: Panasonic 23L stainless steel
Heating/cooling: Dometic 3.2kW ducted air-con with heating and thermostatic wall controls
Rangehood: Swift stainless steel
Lighting: Low-energy fluoro and LED reading lights
Smoke alarms: Yes and CO and LPG
Cupboard finishes: Birch – solid timber doors
Latches: Pull handle
Lounge configuration: Dinette and lounge fold into a double bed
Seating capacity: Five
Upholstery: Cloth
Sink: Stainless steel single sink, drainer with chrome mixer tap and filter
Sleeping configuration: Queen bed with quality innerspring mattress
Berths: Four
Bed size(s): 6ft 6in x 5ft
Mattress: 8in hotel-grade innerspring
Under bed storage: Yes
Privacy screens: Yes, plus day/night blinds with stylish pelmets
Bathroom configuration: One-piece shower plus full-flush toilet plus cupboards
Privacy door: Yes
Toilet: Full flush Dometic with porcelain bowl
Toilet roll holder: Yes
Shower head: One-piece fibreglass shower cubical with satin mixer and roll-away door
Washing machine: Lemair
Clothes dryer: No
Towel racks: Yes

RATINGS

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

WORTH BUYING?

The Cut Loose Sirius RB is as much about lifestyle as holidaying. In this RV, your lifestyle is set to the catch word ‘comfort’. Simply, the Sirius makes it hard to want for more as you easily could cut loose and relax.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Make/model: Cut Loose Sirius RB
Chassis number: 1K9FF282XA1236541
External body weight: 8.0m (26ft 3in)
External width: 2.48m (8ft 1in)
Vin Tare Weight: 2900kg
Hitch transfer weight: 420kg
NB: length and width are external measurements of the vehicle shell (and awning) only

CONTACT/THANKS

Contact person: Nick Oliver
Name: Cut Loose RV
Address: 1/14 Dover Dve, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Phone: (07) 5520 7575
Fax: (07) 5520 6680
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cutlooserv.com.au

Please Note: Prices were correct at time of review

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID GILCHRIST