Good as gold

You don't have to be told the Trakkaway is different from other vehicles in the extensive Trakka motorhome and motorcamper line-up, because its three-axle configuration gives the game away. Front-wheel drive and two 'lazy' axles at the rear have allowed Trakka to come up with a long, low vehicle that maximises interior space.

However, it's still driveable on a car licence, provided buyers are happy with ADR-approved three-person capacity. The Trakkaway comes with four ADR-approved seating positions, with lap-sash belts, but weight is an issue with four adults seated, potentially taking the vehicle into the light-truck licence zone.

Inside its 8.3-metre overall length, the Trakkaway packs a dinette that can seat seven for a quiet little drink and nibblies, and can comfortably fit four around the set table for dinner. It also features: a large, L-shaped galley with slide-out pantry, servery shelf and drop-side bench extension; water filtration; a three-burner stove and oven, a microwave, a 175-litre three-way fridge/freezer and a range hood; separate shower and toilet cubicles; an island double bed or two singles; and a 'Luton' peak over the cabin with a double bed. Both double beds rise on gas struts: the forward one to provide headroom in the cabin and aft one to reveal bedding bins and to allow top access to the huge rear 'boot'.

The Trakkaway has brushed-aluminium roller-door lidded storage compartments in every conceivable space and even the full-height wardrobes in the bedroom are fitted with these space-saving roller doors.

There's a concertina privacy curtain across the bedroom doorway and the cabin windows are fitted with Remi concertina blinds that are custom-designed for the Ducato cabin.

The Trakkaway's low-floor layout means there's no need for a retractable step under the doorway: you just step inside. The interior colour scheme is tasteful cream and soft silver and there's only one level of trim: luxury. Leather is the standard seat covering, a reversing camera is fitted, the two skylights are powered and the nine windows are double glazed and fitted with variable-height privacy and fly mesh screens, there's an outdoor BBQ and a hot/cold shower, a Palsonic DVD/TV is fitted, all the lights have dimmers, and 240V ducted air-conditioning and diesel heating are standard.

The Fiat Ducato has just won the European 'Which Motorcaravan' Base Vehicle Award for the third time in a row, confirming our findings that the front-wheel-drive Ducato is an excellent starting point for a motorhome. The three-axle version gives the Ducato an additional edge, by providing more body length and weight-carrying capacity.

Power and torque come from a 3.0-litre, turbo-intercooled diesel, driving through an automated six-speed transmission. Cruise control is standard. Six ventilated disc brakes have ABS control and the front drive axle is fitted with anti-spin control.

The Ducato leaves the Fiat factory as two cabins and sub-frames bolted together. Then, the Siamese twins are separated at the German ALKO factory, where a hot-dip galvanised two-axle chassis is bolted on to each. The conversion is fully tested by European road authorities and by Fiat, and the finished Fiat/Alko is certified to tow 1500kg.

Alko is famous for its independent, rubber-bushed torsion bar axles and the Trakkaway sports two of them. All three axles mount 225/75R16 special motorhome tyres that combine speed and load capability superior to that of most light truck rubber.

The Alko conversion has a trade-off in that it loses the two-axle Ducato's electronic stability program and hill-hold, delayed brake pressure release for hill starts, but Fiat and Alko are working on that issue.

Trakka receives the Ducato six-wheeler as a rolling motorhome cab chassis and fits the Trakkaway bodywork at its Mt Kuring-gai (Sydney) factory. The finished vehicle packs in a 180Ah alternator, a 100Ah starting battery, two 100Ah house batteries, a 15-amp automatic charging system and 125-watt solar panel, electronic monitoring of battery and all fluid levels, 130L fresh water and 135L grey water tanks, two 17L toilet tanks, 14L hot water and 125L diesel tanks, and three 4kg LPG bottles. A satellite TV system is a $4750 option.

Motorhomes in this size are generally built on two-axle, rear-wheel drive chassis and are not much fun to drive. Sure, they get there all right, but the driving experience is a light-truck one, with ride quality that's either too firm, in the interests of stability, or too soft, generating body sway in corners. For those who enjoy driving, the Ducato/Trakkaway is a revelation.

The ALKO back-end combines well-damped ride quality with flat handling and much more sharp-bump tolerance than we expected. The net result is a vehicle that sits flat through corners, steers precisely and has enough performance from 115kW and 400Nm to embarrass many cars at a stop-light grand prix and on hill climbs.

The Ducato cabin offers an excellent driving station, with European-style ergonomics that include dual armrests, steering wheel control buttons and a trip computer. A stubby lever that pokes out of the dashboard controls a transmission that can be driven two-pedal style, like an automatic, or can be manually selected.

The ABS brakes were extremely powerful, pulling the four-tonne Trakkaway up in car-like distances. We doubt buyers will miss the deleted ESP system, because the three-axle arrangement is inherently very stable. Hill-hold would have been handy for hill starts, but most Trakkaways will spend their lives out of stop-start traffic, so it's not a huge loss.

Manoeuvring the Trakkaway was easy, thanks to a tight steering lock, excellent rear view mirrors and the reversing camera.

Setting it up for an overnight stay was absolute simplicity: the cabin seats swivel easily and don't foul the cabin bits; the awning rolls out easily and features durable metal end pins, not plastic; and the BBQ table clips on quickly. From go to whoa (with chairs and picnic table set up and G&T in hand) took us 15 minutes.

The greatest limitation we can see on the Trakkaway is its low ground clearance (160mm), combined with a long wheelbase and front wheel drive. Owners will need to select non-manicured camp sites with care. Of course, if they've got the little Suzuki 4x4 on an A-frame behind, there's always the option of a little pull.

We could live with a Trakkaway, we decided. At $190,000, we'd have plenty of change left after selling the house.

Australian Caravan + RV magazine, Winter 2009.