Romancing the Road

$204 - 240 AUD
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If you are looking to hire before you buy, Maui offers its Platinum 6 rental package. Set for the hire market, the review RV was a six-berth layout rather than the more common two- or three-berth layouts seen in similar-sized motorhomes designed purely for retail.

 

When you’re ready to buy, you’ll find essentially the same vehicle as the Jayco Conquest. The motorhome started its life as the Mercedes Sprinter. This means it has Mercedes’s typical build quality and power required to produce a top-notch motorhome.

 

This is a reasonably fuel efficient beast producing up to around 440Nm of torque. It provides adequate power to the road, ensuring it’s not going to struggle too much uphill or when overtaking, but you do need a little patience on those steeper mountain ranges.

 

The Sprinter that was the Maui six-berth left me feeling it needed another gear when we were up to speed on the highway. At just short of 8m long, this RV demands you keep your head about you in those tight turning situations or when manoeuvring through heavy traffic. At those times, you’re thankful the Maui specifications include two on-board cameras to peek out the back and at the rear bumper and generous side mirrors.

 

EXTERNAL

 

This is an RV that looks ready for business. It’s got the right lines and curves that suggest it’s ready to hit the road.

 

Importantly, with two small external bins, a utility bin for the water hose, drain hose and buckets, a gas bottle hatch containing a 9kg and a 4kg bottle, together with a bin that you can access from the outside or inside from under the bed, there is sufficient external storage in which to keep your holiday bric-a-brac and boogie boards.

 

For those of us not as agile as we once were, the Maui is equipped with an electronic Carefree awning that makes setting up camp very easy.

 

What’s more, the entrance step is also electric, which means sliding out the step and entering the house portion of the motorhome requires just the push of a button.

 

Some people may be concerned about all the electronic gadgetry; however, there are two points to be made here. First, this is not an offroad RV, so the thought of something going bung thanks to the rigors of a corrugated or bulldust road should not be an issue.

 

Second, we are firmly in an electronic era and, for the most part, modern electronic components offer little about which to worry when used correctly. The electronics means it is easier to pull out the awning, and if you forget to fold away the step there’s no need to worry – it’ll retract when you start the engine. This means you can forget your sore back, the chance of a broken entrance step, or suffering from a bruised ego after driving away leaving your step dangling.

 

EXTERNAL FEATURES

 

Frame construction: Tough aluminium frame
Windows: Camec Wind-out
Insulation: Foam
Waste water common outlet: Yes
Water tanks: Fresh 75L
Suspension: Leaf springs
Clearance: Standard
Brakes: Disc
Wheels: 16in steel
Tyres: 185/75 R16
Awning: Carefree electric
Storage bin(s): Yes
Gas cylinder size/s: 1 x 9kg and 1 x 4kg
Hot water: Gas and electric
Battery: 1 x 100Ah
Battery charger: Setec
Solar panels: No
Solar provision: Yes
Entrance door: Challenger

 

INTERNAL

 

Push the button on the inside by the entrance door and the step whirs out into position and you’re right to enter.

 

Once inside, my first impression is that the Maui is a tidy RV and its looks are a clear reminder that this vehicle was made for the rental market. Every aspect of the interior is kept simple and pragmatic.

 

Simplicity dictates that although you can enter the house area from the driving compartment, the driving cabin seats do not swivel to form part of the house furniture.

 

The bedding configuration allows you to stow the kids in the Luton peak in one double bed, or in a double provided when the dinette table is dropped down, while the rear housed a permanent queen-sized bed for mum and dad. A convenient privacy curtain meant that the older folk could read in bed while the younger ones watch their latest DVD using the on-board entertainment system. The entertainment system included external speakers for enjoying the cricket or soft music depending on your mood.

 

As for other internal features, the Maui included a quality microwave and four-burner stove that included one electric hot plate while the remainder were gas, plus an oven. Perhaps my only gripe on the inside was the very limited interior access to the under-bed storage, as access was limited to one side of the bed only.

 

INTERNAL FEATURES

 

Fridge: Dometic RM 2455
Television: Sphere 19in TV DVD
Antenna: Wind-up
Music system: Pioneer CD player
Cooking equipment: Smev four-burner grill + oven
Microwave: Sphere
Heating/cooling: Coleman low profile air-conditioner
Rangehood: 12V
Lighting: Halogen 12V
Smoke alarms: One
Cupboard finishes: Walnut ply
Latches: Positive lock
Lounge configuration: Cafe dinette
Seating capacity: Four
Upholstery: Cloth
Sink: Stainless steel
Sleeping configuration: One queen, one double plus dinette
Berths: Four (optional six)
Bed size(s): Queen 2180 x 1320, double 1890 x 1320
Mattress: Innerspring/foam
Under bed storage: Yes
Privacy screens: Yes (curtain)
Bathroom configuration: Combined shower/toilet
Privacy door: Yes
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Toilet roll holder: Yes
Shower head: Flexible
Washing machine: No
Clothes dryer: No
Towel racks: No

 

RATINGS

 

Exterior: 4/5
Interor: 3/5
Layout: 4/5
Kitchen: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

 

WORTH BUYING/RENTING?

 

The Maui six-berth, or Jayco Conquest, is a fine example of a motorhome able to take on the rough and tumble family holiday. They are available for short- or long-term hire, and you can get rates directly from the website.

 

TECHNICAL SPECS

 

Make/model: Maui six-berth (Jayco Conquest)
Vehicle make: Mercedes Sprinter
External body length: 7.70m (25ft 4in)
External width: 2.33m (7ft 6in)
Vin tare weight: 3600kg
RRP: $204 per day
NB: Sample day rate is Melbourne to Melbourne with pick up on May 11th 2010 and drop-off on May 18. Prices are subject to change.


NB: Length and width are external measurements of the vehicle shell (including awning) only.

 

CONTACT/THANKS

 

Contact person: Sally Wood
Name: Maui Motorhomes
Address: Central West Business Park Building 24, South Road Braybrook VIC 3019
Phone: 1300 363 800
Fax: (03) 9687 0896
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.maui.com.au

 

Manufacturer: Jayco Corporation
(Andrew Ryan/Bruce Astbury)
Manufacturer’s phone:(03) 87922000
Manufacturer's email: [email protected]

 

Please Note: Prices were correct at time of review.

 

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID GILCHRIST