Trakka's latest campervan (or motor camper in Trakka-speak) bridges what used to be a sizeable gap between campervans and motorhomes.

It used to be simple: campervans were just small vans - usually Kombis or Hi-aces - that provided a base for easy outdoor camping. Those who wanted something bigger went for a motorhome, a box built onto the back of a small truck. Not anymore: the new Trakka Jabiru offers true motorhome-style camping within the confines of an unmodified van body. A big van body at that.

Talking technically

The fact Trakka can build the Jabiru as roomy as it has is all down to a handshake in Germany. Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz jointly developed the Crafter and Sprinter family of vans, and the flagship is a long-wheelbase, super-high-roof model with a two-metre rear overhang option. Choose that option, like Trakka has in this instance (Xtra, get it), and you get a cargo space of 17 cubic metres. That's huge. And because the front seats swivel they effectively convert the driving area into accommodation space, this makes the interior cubic volume around 20m3. Not a single body panel has been touched or a fibreglass mould added.

About all Trakka does to the sheetmetal of the body is install six opening side windows and a roof hatch - nothing but the best double-glazed quality, with integrated blinds and mesh - and disguise the 7340mm slab of painted sheet steel with black vinyl masks.

On the near side, above the sliding door, is a roll-out awning, with integrated support struts, and two exterior lights. Nice.

Don't let this lull you into thinking this isn’t a top-end conversion, though. Trakka adds an electrically-powered access step, centrally-controlled lighting, a systems monitor screen and even a diesel-powered heater. It's state-of-the-art, but it isn't overly complicated to use.

Indeed setting up the Jabiru Xtra for an overnight stay was simplicity itself. With one of us doing the inside bits - converting the rear lounges to a double bed, swivelling the front seats and popping in the folding table - and the other setting up the awning and the outside furniture, drink o'clock arrived in five minutes. Packing up took no longer.

Nice touches include an outside shower, an exterior electrical cupboard with its attached 240V lead and external circuit breaker, and a very useful table that clips to a rail on the sliding door.

Inside story

All of the room offered by the cavernous VW Crafter meant that Trakka could really go to town when fitting out the Jabiru Xtra.

The rear overhang is devoted to a clever arrangement that's based on a pair of inward-facing lounges. The seats are curved in a shallow-S shape that provides additional shoulder width if they're used as a pair of single beds. The cushions convert quickly and effortlessly to a double bed by an electric motor that responds to a press on the Trakka remote control. A slight reverse on the motor button locks the bolsters in place and the bed's ready for linen. Being positioned aft, the bed can remain made up if visitors aren't expected.

Forward of the bed area is a toilet/shower compartment that is a Trakka-specific moulding and features a teak floor grate. The cassette toilet fits under the vanity, to allow a large shower floor area, and is brought into action by, yep; you guessed it, an electric motor drive. You might want to keep hold of the remote control if you're planning to use the toilet, or else someone with a sense of humour might just decide to retract it mid-performance.

Opposite the toilet/shower is the kitchen, with the sink, rubbish bin and LPG cook top neatly covered by a hinged patterned, toughened glass lid. There's also a drinking water outlet, with separate plumbing. Below the top is a set of six drawers with marine-style locking knobs and beside the drawers, under a curved bench top, is a hanging wardrobe.

Opposite the galley, forward of the shower/toilet compartment, are the 12V fridge and 240V microwave oven.

The fridge bulkhead doubles as the seat back mounting for an auxiliary bench seat, with a pair of head restraints and lap/sash seat belts, allowing the Jabiru Xtra to seat four. The driver's and passenger's seats swivel on their bases to face the bench seat and an eccentrically-mounted table top can be dropped in place between the four seats.

The combination flat-screen TV and DVD player is mounted above the galley on a strut that allows it to face the interior or through the sliding side door of the Jabiru. The aerial is raised manually from the saloon by a handle and knurled base rotator.

All this equipment and furniture is integrated into the Crafter van interior in a style and manner that's reminiscent of a luxury motor yacht interior. Sure, it's narrower than a similar-cube motor home, but the styling is first class. Strong, lightweight, foam-cored, wood-laminated panels are edged with brushed aluminium and the cupboards are fronted by fine aluminium roller shutters. The only non-harmony in the interior is the painted, exterior-colour rear doors that we'd like to see covered.

Is the Jabiru Xtra perfect? Not quite. The auxiliary seats aren't suitable for adults on long journeys, but would suit the grandkids, or a couple of friends for a quick trip into town. The rear overhang can be a problem around spoon drains, so we think the add-on rear access step should retract, like the side one does.

In the end

If you want a motorhome-style vehicle with the security and narrower width of a galvanised sheet steel exterior the Trakka Jabiru Xtra could be the ticket. Its wheelbase and overhang won't let it get far off the beaten track, but if you're planning blacktop and good dirt road touring only, then it should be fine. The value for money equation looks good, as do the running costs.

* Options fitted

• $2750 for leather seats
• $2950 for a 240-volt roof-top airconditioner
• $2790 for the diesel cabin heater
• $1950 for solar charging panels
• $1200 for the reversing camera (well worth it we reckon)
• $695 for the TV/DVD screen
• $595 for a trip computer
• $1995 for metallic paint (must have diamond dust in it, Volkswagen)
• $1395 for aluminium wheels.

Optional ($1570) xenon headlights are available on the M-B Sprinter version.

Article published in Caravan + RV magazine, Spring 2007. Words Allan Whiting, photos Phil Cooper.