Review: Australis Overland XT 21ft

Australis Caravans has developed a new caravan in its Overland range. Known as the Overland XT Series, this 21ft van is the second in the manufacturer’s stable to be fitted with a slide-out. The first was a Coastline XT that we featured a couple issues ago. Australis, it seems, is surging forward with new designs and models, many of which are finding a market in New Zealand, where the company is doing a decent trade. 

In fact, our review Overland XT Series was destined to be shipped across the Ditch – it was built specifically for a customer and we had but a short time with it before it was delivered to its forever home.

With its green composite aluminium and fully featured exterior, I don’t mind admitting that I liked the look of this caravan and was looking forward to stepping inside.

‘GOLD CLASS’ SLIDE-OUT

First, the slide-out in the new Overland XT is, unsurprisingly, very similar in design and ‘feel’ to the one we found in the Coastline XT. Positioned on the offside, it slides out at the push of a button, as expected, and even has built-in cup-holders! The truth is, sitting in this club lounge, you almost feel like you’re in a Gold Class cinema. The two-tone leather upholstery genuinely feels luxurious and while I’d personally prefer some powerpoints in the leg area, there are USB charging points integrated with the multidirectional reading lights in this space. It truly is a lovely spot to perch yourself while you relax or watch the world go by through one of the two windows.

The layout of this Overland 21XT is actually based on the 20ft Overland, one of Australis’ most popular models. As part of the design of this XT, the company added 1ft in length in order to sensibly fit the slide-out module and allow space for a floor-to-ceiling pantry on the offside, which sits between the slide-out and the 224L Thetford compressor fridge. The additional space also allowed for a pull-out bin in the nearside kitchen, which you wouldn’t get in the 20ft Overland.

Now, as you can tell, this is very much a couple’s van, with a queen-size bed up front and a spacious bathroom in the rear. With its padded headboard upholstered in a suede-like material, overhead lockers and side wardrobes complete with USB and 240V points inside the niches, I found this space to comfortable and logically arranged. 

The 12V optional multidirectional fans are a welcome inclusion too, and Australis fitted the control for the onboard diesel heater in the best position possible: next to the bed, which means you can warm up the van before starting your day.

I am also a fan of the ‘his and hers’ drawers under the bed. Yes, you can still lift the bed base on its gas struts to gain access, but the drawers are just so much easier for ‘real world’ use.

Did I mention that there is no shortage of equipment in this van? I’m talking a Dometic Freshjet 7 air-conditioner, a microwave recessed into the kitchen’s overhead cabinetry, a stylish black sink with filtered drinking water, a wall-mounted front-loader washing machine in the bathroom… the list goes on. Further, its packaged in a thoughtful way with attention to detail. For me, a kind of litmus test is the way in which a manufacturer seals and conceals cabin entry and exit points for the plumbing. Australis has positioned these behind the cabinetry where it can’t be seen in both the kitchen and the bathroom – I wish more manufacturers would do this.

From the decor in our review van, which included very stylish ‘timber-look’ laminate benchtops, to the overall liveability of the van, it’s a winner. I don’t say that lightly. I think the Australis vans are looking particularly appealing these days.

Considering the van has 450Ah worth of lithium batteries (mounted to the offside chassis rail behind checkerplate), the customer could arguably opt for electric induction cooking rather than the gas appliances found here. Australis Caravans can accommodate either option, but it is safe to say that the customer won’t run out of power anytime soon, especially factoring in the three 200W solar panels on the roof. This van also had an Anderson plug on the offside, allowing the owner to plug in a separate portable panel if needed.

With all GPOs wired to the supplied 3000W Projecta inverter, the convenience factor can’t be ignored. Simply plug your hairdryer into whichever point you prefer, switch the inverter on, and away you go.

EXTERNAL AUSTRALIS FITOUT

Riding on a 4in chassis with a 4in raiser – giving the van 8in of steel underneath – and riding on independent trailing arm coil suspension with twin shock absorbers and 12in brakes, our Overland 21XT weighed in with a Tare of 3050kg. Considering all the extra gear on this van specified by the customer, including the large Dometic slide-out kitchen, Grip Sport bike rack, additional solar and water tanks, that’s not too bad. With its 3500kg ATM, it has 450kg worth of payload capacity.

The 20ft Overland XT comes as standard with two 95L water tanks; however, the customer had opted for an additional 65L tank for drinking water, plumbed separately with a separate pump. Meanwhile, the customer also added an additional 95L grey water tank – one is standard fitment.

The drawbar on our van had been extended by 450mm, allowing room for a storage box and a bike rack, both of which are protected by a mesh stoneguard. I particularly appreciated the fact that Australis didn’t just fit a bog-standard checkerplate storage box. Instead, it is powder-coated aluminium – functionally the same, but better looking.Each side has a jerry can holder and a pull-out tray, with an Anderson plug fitted to the nearside space in order to power a portable fridge. This plug isn’t standard but it would be a must, in my opinion, to have fitted as an option.

Speaking of checkerplate, Australis opted instead for X-plate for protection along the sides, front and rear – a much classier look. There’s nothing wrong with checkerplate, but if aesthetics are important to you, X-plate is the material to choose.

The extensive list of equipment continues on the nearside: there’s an 18ft roll-out awning, and an optional slide-out Dometic kitchen (with two gas burners) that plumbs to the onboard gas supply of the van via a nearby bayonet. If I could make a small change here, it would be for the bayonet coupling to be recessed into the wall of the van, rather than fixed to the chassis rail.

There’s a couple of external speakers linked to the internal MYVI sound system, an LED light front and rear, anti-insect awning lights, and even an ‘entertainment locker’ complete with the relevant TV connections behind the picnic table. Again, from a liveability and comfort perspective, this van does not disappoint.

GORV’S VERDICT

Some vans you really should just see for yourself and I count this 21ft tandem-axle Overland XT as one of them. Yes, it was made for a New Zealand customer to NZ compliance requirements, but it is readily available locally too.

With bucketloads of external storage space, an external fitout that doesn’t leave you wanting, an inarguably attractive interior, not to mention an impressive features list, this Australis Overland XT deserves your attention. Would I change anything? Perhaps a couple small things, but these are marginal items of a ‘personal preference’ nature that don’t detract from the overall appeal of the caravan.

THE SCORE 

FIT AND FINISH –

LAYOUT –

INNOVATION –

HITS & MISSES

COMPLETE SPECS