Caravan Review: Hike RV Amore Ultra 22ft 6in

Hike RV was established in Campbellfield, Vic, a few years ago. It is a relatively new manufacturer; however, the company’s vans demonstrate the maturity of a manufacturer that’s been on the scene for much longer. That’s partially due to the fact that the team behind the company has worked in the industry for more than 12 years.

In any event, the Amore has become Hike RV’s most popular vans. We first checked out this van in mid 2024, but as this year drew to a close, we were given a look inside a new layout within a 22ft 6in format.

Vans by Hike RV are available in three different package options: Hiker (base), Terrain (mid-level options), and Ultra (the top-end option). Each option provides a different level of features and equipment, including the material used for the framing.

Our review van was equipped with the Ultra package. As such, it was framed in 25mm riveted aluminium clad with composite aluminium and black checkerplate, with a polytech (honeycomb style) floor. The van certainly looked the goods. As Melbourne was hit by an unseasonable bout of heavy rain, we hitched the Amore Ultra to our Isuzu D-MAX and hit the road, towing it on various highways and back roads until we reached our destination.

EXTERIOR WALK-AROUND

The Hike RV Amore Ultra was built on a 6in RHS chassis built by Silver Shine. The chassis had a 2in raiser, too, giving the van 8in of steel underneath. With its extended 6in A-frame, there’s plenty of room to accommodate the large checkerplate storage box, which sits behind a mesh stoneguard.

This box houses two 9kg gas cylinders within a central compartment, and there is a slide-out tray either side to accommodate a portable fridge and perhaps a small generator. Just behind that is a full tunnel storage system, while towards the rear-offside you’ll find another external locker, complete with a light and an optional 240V powerpoint.

The suspension was a straightforward Tuff Ride independent coil setup, though the previous Amore Ultra we checked out was fitted with Cruisemaster airbags. Our van was specifically built for a customer, however, and Hike RV can fit various suspension types depending on your preference. There’s nothing wrong with this setup, though.

As for the water supply, Hike RV had given this Amore Ultra two 110L fresh water tanks and a single 110L grey water tank, each protected by galvanised sheeting. Nothing looked particularly amiss under this van, which was also the case with the previous Amore Ultra we checked out. Hike had even give this latest Amore Ultra a couple of rear recovery points – let’s hope you never need them!

The van’s 12V system is quite decent. It’s comprised of two 200Ah lithium batteries, which were fixed to the offside chassis rail behind protective checkerplate, and five 200W solar panels. The system is managed by a BMPRO BatteryPlus 35, not to mention the MPPT solar regulator.

This van was fitted with a suite of extras, including a 3000W Redarc inverter wired to all GPOs, and a Mini Boost DC-DC charger, which boosts the voltage from the tow vehicle’s alternator to provide more charge into the battery system. An OdysseyLink and corresponding digital display was included, too.

The list of external equipment continues: the van had Fusion sound bar mounted to the nearside, under the roll-out awning, a picnic table, front and rear LED light bars, a reversing camera, and a spare wheel on a three-stay steel bumper. It adds up to a well-appointed exterior and, let’s be honest, the black cladding and matching checkerplate with those orange decals looks fantastic.

There were certainly some points of difference between this van and the previous Amore Ultra that I mentioned. For example, the front storage box is fabricated from checkerplate, whereas the previous one was a sleek-looking powder-coated aluminium. I personally preferred that box; however, it’s important to remember that this van was built to a customer’s needs. It does show, though, that Hike RV is a flexible manufacturer that works with its customers – the team behind this business relish a challenge.

INSIDE THE HIKE RV AMORE ULTRA

This was only the second Hike RV that I had looked at, but I am coming to see that this manufacturer does its interiors well. The layout was similar to our previous Amore Ultra – with a couple of key differences.

This was a family layout. Whereas the previous van had a club lounge across the rear, Hike RV had replaced it with a couple of bunks, moving the leather-upholstered club lounge to the offside.

In any case, it feels spacious and nicely done. While the rear bunks do form part of the main living quarters, the location of the 224L Dometic compressor fridge with 20L microwave above creates a sense of separate. Incidentally, Hike RV provides an air-fryer as part of the Ultra pack instead of a microwave; however, this van’s customers specifically requested a microwave instead.

The nearside kitchen is a highlight of this van. I loved the angled benchtop, specifically the way it creates a ‘walkthrough’ space to the split bathroom and bedroom in the front of the van. The kitchen has a classy black sink with separate filtered drinking water, along with a four-burner cooktop, griller and oven.

If I was to make any change to the main living quarters, it would be to swap the locker doors beneath the lowest bunk with drawers. This would slightly reduce the physical storage space, but access would be easier. That said, you have to hand it to Hike RV – this is a well-designed space.

The bathroom is split across both sides of the van, positioned between the main cabin and the front bedroom. It has it all: a cassette toilet, a top-loading washing machine, vanity with black sink, and a fully-moulded fibreglass shower. A small point: the bench above the washing machine is on hinges, so it lifts upwards.

However, Hike RV can instead put this on runners, allowing the section of bench above the washing machine to slide open, which means you’re not loosing bench space in the bathroom every time you want to use the washing machine. That would be my preference but, again, it’s important to remember that this is a customer’s van built to their needs.

Finally, the bedroom: an absolute highlight of the van. Hike RV was the first manufacturer that I’m aware of to recess a light panel in the wall. Essentially, it’s a strip of LEDs inside the void between the shower and the bedroom wall, with the LEDs offset slightly so they don’t shine too brightly at night time. I love the open shelving within the angled cupboards at the foot of the bed, too.

This review only scratches the surface on what this van offers. For example, it has a couple of optional Sirocco fans in the bedroom, a 28in smart TV that can be positioned in the bedroom or main cabin, a reverse-cycle air-conditioner and a great deal more. As mentioned, this van was fitted with quite a few options, including diesel heating, and as a result it is quite a comprehensive caravan. Further, there’s no arguing the quality of the fitout, especially the interior, which appears seamless.

GORV’S VERDICT

Weighing in at 2946kg Tare, with an ATM of 3500kg, this Hike RV Amore Ultra presented as a very neat and tidy example of a modern Australian caravan. The over-riding impression – aside from the general high standard of the fitout – was that the customers knew what they wanted and Hike RV delivered.

There would have been scope to up the 12V capacity, swap out the gas cooker for electric induction, or add a multifunctional rear bar… but that all adds weight and expense. From what I could tell, the customer made some careful decisions concerning their budget and their wants and needs. The result is a highly functional family caravan with bucketloads of aesthetic appeal. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Hike RV is a manufacturer to watch.

THE SCORE 

FIT AND FINISH –

LAYOUT –

INNOVATION –

HITS & MISSES

COMPLETE SPECS