Option RV Caravans Tornado Equippe: Review
A lament I frequently hear from parents looking for a family caravan is that there are not many available. While that is true to a point, it’s a supply and demand situation. There are family layouts available, you just have to keep looking!
This Option RV Tornado Equippe is a good example of an Australian family van, with sleeping quarters for at least five people (and the dinette can be used as well).
Because it’s designed for contemporary needs, hence the full bathroom, some areas, such the kitchen and dinette have been compressed a bit, but all the essentials are there and for the most part, the compromises are well considered.
Having said that, some thought needs to be given to practicalities such as storage (considering the extra gear needed when travelling with kids) before heading off into the wide blue yonder. And that, I should point out, is the major asset of this van: it’s built and designed for that very purpose.
Hits & Misses
I liked...
- General layout
- Interior colours
- Good-sized tunnel boot
- Electrical setup
- Decent multimedia player
I would have liked…
- Better bunk ladder
- A wardrobe instead of a washing machine
- Labelled 12V fuses
Option RV Tornado Equippe Specs
Weights and measures
- Overall length 8.6m (28ft 3in)
- External body length 6.4m (21ft)
- External body width 2.4m (7ft 11in)
- Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in)
- Travel height 2.9m (9ft 10in)
- Tare 2220kg
- ATM 2720kg
- Ball weight 140kg
External
- Frame Meranti timber
- Cladding Aluminium and checkerplate
- Chassis SupaGal RHS
- Suspension Tandem-axle, load sharing leaf spring
- Brakes 10in electric
- Wheels 16in alloy
- Fresh water 2x96L
- Battery 1x110Ah
- Solar 1x120W
- Air-conditioner Aircommand Ibis
- Gas 2x9kg
- ESC No
Internal
- Cooking Swift 500 Series
- four-burner/grill/oven
- Fridge Dometic RM8551 190L
- Microwave Daewoo DC
- Toilet Thetford cassette
- Shower Separate cubicle
- Lighting 12V LED
- Hot water Suburban 23L gas/electric
Read an extended version and view the video of this review on Caravan World. The full test appears in Caravan World #533, January 2015. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!