As we walked up to the Trakka factory, we spied a motorhome sitting out the front and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if wecould go out in that one?’. Well, the good news was, we did! Robin was so excited to get in and see if the inside was a nice as the outside, and she was not disappointed.

Trakka has been in the motorhome manufacturing business since 1973 when they started converting Volkswagen Kombi vans. Martin Poate, General Manager for Trakka, explained that the Volkswagen has been their staple since conception, and they are still one of their most sought after products. Their latest conversion of a Volkswagen called the Trakkadu is all about being self-sufficient.

We have been in many motorhome conversions on the Fiat Ducato chassis before, but there was something different about this RV. The drive was as smooth as you could ask for, and internally, even with all the cupboards packed with the essentials, this RV was really quiet on the road. We didn’t have to shout at each other and there was a much better centre of gravity than usual.

EXTERNAL

The Trakkaway 730 is a well made, stylish RV fit for travel around Oz. It wasn’t the usual white box on a chassis, but a fully integrated body that wraps itself around the cab. The colour coding from front to back was very modern, as was the shaping and all LED lights.

Most motorhomes that use the Fiat Ducato also use the standard chassis, but Trakka has gone one better here. The cab is made by Fiat in the Sevel Sud factory in Atessa Italy, then it is transported to the AL-KO factory in Verona (Northern Italy) where they attach their chassis to the front cabin. The AL-KO motorhome chassis is a longer wheelbase with a higher GVM, lower floor level, and independent torsion bar suspension. This means that Trakka can put a 24ft motorhome body on the chassis instead of 23ft. No wonder it drove so much better!

The body is a composite construction using high density closed-cell foam vacuum-bonded between onepiece fibreglass sheets, resulting in an extremely strong, maintenance free, water-resistant finish inside and out.

As we continued around the outside, we found many items to impress, including a large wind-out awning. One of the external doors housed a portable Sovereign BBQ. When you pull this out, you have the choice of connecting directly to the motorhome and cooking under the awning, or you can take it away and cook remotely from the vehicle using another bayonet fitting and the third gas bottle.

The next two doors accessed a boot across the rear of the motorhome. This provided a great place to store all those essential outdoor items such as a table and chairs. There is a small white flap in here where we found an external shower. We love these for bathing the dog, or washing the kids after a trip to the beach.

Further around we found another hatch, where a power lead is permanently mounted. The electrical power circuit breaker and safety switch are also located here. No more searching through cupboards trying to find this switch. We were impressed!

EXTERNAL FEATURES

Frame construction: High-tech vacuum moulded composite panel construction
Windows: Dometic double-glazed hopper style
Insulation: Styrofoam
Waste water common outlet: Yes
Water tanks: Fresh 165L, grey 135L
Suspension: AL-KO independent torsion bar at rear
Clearance: Standard
Brakes: ABS front and rear disc
Wheels: 6J x 16in steel
Tyres: 225/75R16
Awning: 4m Fiamma F45
Storage bin(s): Yes several
Gas cylinder size/s: 3 x 4kg
Hot water: Truma 14L stainless steel (gas & 240V)
Battery: 2 x 100Ah AGM
Battery charger: Waeco 25A
Solar panels: 1 x 125W BP
Entrance door: Motorhome two-piece with flyscreen and shade

INTERNAL

The internal area did not disappoint. In fact, it went beyond our expectations. Everything in the Trakkaway 730 is about quality, comfort, style, functionality and ease of operation.

There were so many great features that we were hard-pressed to know which ones to mention.

Our first surprise came from the Switch Mode Bathroom (SMB) with its retracting toilet. This allows the user to enjoy the full shower room. When the toilet is required, you push a button and it slides out from beneath the vanity into the shower floor space. The toilet is kept dry when showering and is such a great use of space.

Then there were the flexible sleeping options incorporated into the massive lounge/dining area at the rear. The backrests are held on by small magnets, making them very easy to remove. The lounge sides make two very comfortable single beds.

To convert to a large double bed, press a button and the driver’s wall seat base slides into the middle. A cushion is stored away for this section.There is another double bed in the Luton area. The table can be moved to sit with the front side chairs and cabin swivel chairs. This table has so many swivel positions, it can be made comfortable for any number of guests. The whole layout is so versatile and easy to use.

The cabinet design incorporates roller shutter doors, with aluminium radius extrusion for edges. This makes all the overhead cupboards self-closing with better access.

These shutters are made of a heavy-duty plastic, and Martin tells me that they have been using them for over five years now with no negative feedback. They are lightweight, durable, self-closing and easy to access, making them the obvious choice for Trakka.

The layout really works for a family of four or a couple. The kitchen is very functional and the seating options make this motorhome a real winner. We did ask Martin if he would notice if this RV didn’t come back for a week or so, but no such luck.

There were so many inclusions in the price and everything was so easy to operate. The panel above the stove had the switches for the electric skylights and the display for the solar. Yep, this RV even included two batteries, battery charger and solar panel.

The attention to detail was exceptional. There was nothing we noticed out of place or needing attention.

INTERNAL FEATURES

Fridge: 175L Dometic three-way
Television: Palsonic 48cm high-definition digital TV/DVD
Antenna: Winegard
Music system: AM/FM radio CD player
Cooking equipment: Dometic stainless steel three-burner gas stove plus oven/grill
Microwave: Sharp Carousel 800W
Heating: Webasto diesel
Cooling: Truma ducted
Rangehood: Dometic 12V
Lighting: LEDs and halogens
Smoke alarm: Yes
Gas leakage detector: No
Cupboard finishes: Laminated plywood
Latches: Push button for lower Innotech drawers and roller shutter door for overhead lockers
Lounge configuration: U-shape lounge at rear + front four seats
Seating capacity: Four
Upholstery: Leather/fabric combination or full leather
Sink: Dometic Cramer
Sleeping configuration: Rear double/single option + Luton double
Berths: Four
Bed sizes(s): Main 2170 x 1400 – Luton 2150 x 1300
Mattress: Dunlop Enduro foam
Under bed storage: Yes with easy access
Privacy screens: Yes
Bathroom configuration: Switch Mode
Bathroom (SMB) – retracting toilet
Privacy door: Yes
Toilet: Thetford
Toilet roll holder: Yes
Shower head: Yes
Washing machine: No
Clothes dryer: No
Towel racks: Yes

RATINGS:

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

WORTH BUYING?

The Trakkaway 730 comes with a comprehensive list of standard features. It has so much to offer that the price tag is certainly justifiable. The obvious thinking outside the box with its chassis design makes this motorhome one for the discerning buyer of quality products. It’s no wonder Trakka is an award-winning manufacturer.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Make/model: Trakka Trakkaway 730
Vehicle make: Fiat Ducato with AL-KO motorhome chassis
External body length: 7.35m (24ft)
External width: 2.39m (7ft 10in)
VIN Tare weight: 3790kg
Height: 3m
NB: length and width are external measurements of the vehicle shell (and awning) only

CONTACT/THANKS

Contact person: Martin Poate
Name: Trakka Pty Ltd
Address: 9 Beaumont Rd, Mt Kuring-gai NSW 2080
Phone: 1800 TRAKKA
Fax: (02) 9472 9090
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trakka.com.au

Please Note: Prices were correct at time of review.

WORDS BY PAUL & ROBIN HUTCHINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT SHEARER