Caravan Review: Single-Axle EzyTrail Winton 16

Early last year, EzyTrail Campers entered the caravan market following the launch of the Winton, a sleek caravan with a European aesthetic. In this review, we’re checking out the EzyTrial Winton 16 Quad bunk van.

The Kilsyth, Vic, based manufacturer had long been known for its offroad camper trailers – when it was released, the Winton was quite a departure from its usual line-up.

Boasting a sleek, curved front profile, a purposeful stance on the road and a slightly narrower width than the typical Aussie-built van, the Winton commands attention. It is available in a range of sizes and layouts, including a 10-footer!

We hitched the single-axle Winton 16 Quad to our MU-X to see what makes it tick. We discovered an intriguing layout. But that was just the start…

EZYTRAIL WINTON 16 CONSTRUCTION

The first thing to know about the EzyTrail Winton 16 is that for a van of this size, it is surprisingly light. Our review van weighed only 1880kg Tare, with an ATM of 2500kg. The resulting 620kg payload capacity seems more than adequate.

The van saves a few hundred kilos through the use of EzyTrail’s own chassis and the construction method. The chassis is comprised of galvanised C-section folded steel main members measuring 160x3mm. The drawbar of the EzyTrail Winton 16, meanwhile, is 210x3mm C-channel. The body of the van is frameless. Instead, it’s an aluminium sandwich panel structure featuring one-piece walls and roof, while the floor is a one-piece ‘honeycomb’ structure.

An obvious feature is the large window built into the front-end. It neatly follows the curvature of the van, filling the van with natural light.

The front boot also follows the van’s curves. A couple of catches lock the lid securely in place, and it lifts easily on gas struts when opening. I liked that EzyTrail had built a couple of shelves into the boot – that’s something you don’t see very often.

On the drawbar, you’ll find a holder for a single 9kg gas cylinder, a seven-pin flat trailer plug, and a ball coupling.

On the nearside, the manufacturer has fitted a large stainless steel slide-out tray, which would be perfect for a barbecue or just to use as additional storage or even a table. You can option this up to a full slide-out kitchen, too.

A Sunburst Eclipse roll-out awning is included on the nearside, as is a fold-down picnic table – and better yet, it’s the type that requires no keys!

Underneath, EzyTrail has equipped the Winton 16 with two poly water tanks with a combined capacity of 160L. These tanks are tough – they require no separate stone shield. It’s all quite neat and tidy; however, the dump valves appear a little vulnerable. I’ll also note the tanks are sensibly fitted as close to the axle line as possible, so the affect these tanks have on ball weight should be negligible.

No ‘traditional’ rear bumper with spare wheel has been fitted. Instead, EzyTrail has underslung the spare, locating it towards the very back of the van.

The suspension system provided on this van as standard is a beam-axle leafspring setup incorporating a single shock absorber per wheel; however, you can upgrade the Winton 16’s offroad credentials by fitting EzyTrail’s own independent coil setup. If you were to do that, you might as well upgrade to a DO35 coupling too.

CLEVER LAYOUT

As attractive as the EzyTrail Winton 16 is on the outside, it’s the interior that particularly appealed to me. Now, it’s not a large van as such; however, it cleverly packs a lot of equipment into its compact dimensions.

It all starts with the east-west bed in the nose of the van – a real space-saver. I loved the two drawers in the base of the bed. Given the curved front wall, it isn’t practical to fit overhead lockers here. But not to worry: there’s a decent amount of storage elsewhere.

The kitchen offers a surprising amount of bench space, too – I liked the ply insert for the sink and the flip-up section in the entryway. A four-burner cooktop and griller is part of the kitchen package; however, a microwave has not been fitted.

The EzyTrail Winton 16 really does make use of every nook and cranny. The combined dinette/bunk setup is a case in point. A good-sized bunk bed sits permanently above the L-shaped dinette. This dinette quickly converts to a second bed – it’s just a matter of lowering the table to form the base and then rearranging the cushions. To create some head room, the upper bunk lifts easily on gas struts. A ladder is included, of course, as is a small wardrobe for the kids’ gear.

Continuing with the space-saving theme, EzyTrail has sensibly opted for the slimline compressor 150L Thetford fridge-freezer, which is fitted in the entrance. A conventional fridge would be a bit of a struggle in this layout.

Meanwhile, next to the fridge, you’ll find a ‘nook’ with a lid that hides a top-loading washing machine and yet more storage space.

On top of all this, EzyTrail has even fitted a very spacious combo bathroom in the rear-offside corner. It incorporates a cassette toilet, a hand-held shower, a washbasin and even a small overhead cupboard. In truth, it’s a larger combo bathroom than what you’d find in other vans of comparable size.

There’s a number of other features to mention, too, including a control panel behind a roller shutter. This panel contains various switches that isolate the various 12V functions of the van. There’s even a ‘mood lighting’ switch! There’s a digital display that reveals the state of charge of the van’s dual 100Ah deep cycle batteries, as well as the levels of the water tanks. No solar panels are included as standard – packing a portable panel might be the best bet.

USB charging points and a flatscreen TV have been fitted, as has a Dometic Harriet Lite reverse-cycle air-conditioner.

GORV’S VERDICT

I hauled this van over a variety of surfaces at different speeds – it was a pleasure. The van displayed genuinely stable towing characteristics.

By making such excellent use of space, EzyTrail has created a relatively compact single-axle caravan that still contains a decent amount of equipment. What’s more, there are obvious benefits to its light weight.

Families of two adults and two kids should check out the EzyTrail Winton 16 – this is not your typical caravan. There’s plenty here to keep you happy and comfortable.

THE SCORE

FIT AND FINISH –

LAYOUT –

INNOVATION –

HITS & MISSES

COMPLETE SPECS