Tow Vehicle

While the tare weight is not over the top for this size of caravan and the equipment levels, the boys at Caravan City suggest that a larger 4WD such as a Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser or a larger F-Series 2WD would be the most practical.

On The Outside

The Manhattan is a big caravan with a bold look provided by the chequer plate front with padded stone-guard section and the chequer plate skirts along the bottom of the sidewalls. Aluminium cladding and tinted windows round out the package. The body is mounted on a Supagal chassis complete with tandem axles, leaf-spring suspension and electric brakes.

Twin 9kg gas bottles sit up on the A-frame along with a mesh floor for wet gear. Inside, the boot is a full battery system to power the 12V lighting, water pump and other odds and ends. Twin 80L water tanks, awning, Breaksafe unit, LED lighting and a couple of Dometic roof hatches are some of the extras included in the 20ft model, and there is more on offer including a BBQ gas bayonet and picnic table.

The exterior is neatly finished and pretty much everything is tidy underneath as well. With the added extras on the outside, The Manhattan is set up as a full-on caravan for touring.

Day Into Night

There's so much to check out that I'd need half-a-dozen pages to report it all. An angled ensuite/laundry is situated across the back of the caravan. This houses a Thetford toilet, vanity unit and full-size shower. There is also a clothes washing machine and dryer mounted in a wall unit, one above the other. This wall unit creates the divider to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, there's everything needed to tour in comfort, from a 186L two-door three-way fridge to a Waeco wine cooler. There's also a gas/electric oven and a deep sink. In addition to regular storage there are two slide-out pantry units.

Opposite the kitchen is the dining room with leather recliner chairs and a tri-fold table. The front of the caravan is filled with the queen-sized island bed and plenty of storage room.

Extras on the inside include Venetian blinds, flat-screen TV, frosted-glass windows on cupboards and a JVC stereo. This is a big classy caravan and very well priced given its huge list of features.

Australian Caravan+RV magazine, issue 10 April/May 2009.