Van Life review: Answering the call of the wild west
Ever felt like telling the boss to stick it and dropping out of the rat race for a while?
Some people switch careers, buy a Harley, or a boat, or take up golf.
But a lot of Aussies – kind of uniquely in this modern world – are getting back to basics and exploring our massive continent.
I'm now of an age where it seems every second Facebook post I see is another old school chum who's pulled their kids out of school and hit the road for a #VanLife gap year.
The thought of packing up and driving around this massive island is compelling, but generally it's an expensive itch to scratch, so I thought I would sample it first.
Thankfully when I put out the call for a donor rig, Brisbane-based Titan Caravans and Toyota Australia were only too happy to indulge me.
Toyota LandCruiser Prado VX and Titan 500 Sierra Blackhawk caravan.
So before I knew it, we were packing up the kids and heading west for a fun long weekend – in a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX hauling a Titan 500 Sierra Blackhawk.
I'd never towed anything before this trip, which is definitely not advisable, but Titan Caravans managing director James Creswick and the team ran me through everything I'd need to worry about, took me for a thorough test drive and got me set up to the point where I took off with confidence.
The thought of manoeuvring a van into a spot at a caravan park – especially at this time of year – was a little too daunting for me, so we decided to go bush instead.
We found a property out at Helidon, about an hour west of Brisbane at the bottom of the Toowoomba Range, where I could practice reversing (a dark art), and getting everything set up.
The Titan had solar panels, massive batteries and an inverter, so we were pretty well set up for off-grid living.
Titans are built for going off-road, so basically it will go anywhere your vehicle can get to.
I was expecting that feature to be a challenge on the highway, but it was surprising how stable the Sierra felt behind the big Prado.
The catch with having off-road clearance is the van feels bouncy when you're parked, but Titans have hard stands in each corner for levelling so that wasn't a problem.
I don't know much about caravans but we were very comfortable sleeping in it for a few nights. On board we had a smart TV, aircon, a big fridge, toilet and shower and we gave the stereo system (internal and external speakers) a good workout.
It is quite a novelty packing a caravan for a few nights away rather than packing bags and I can see why the lifestyle is appealing for growing numbers of people across the country.
The new Prado has been making waves since its launch last year – a much better off-roader than its predecessor but with rugged modern styling and all the latest tech.
Our VX, with black paint riding on big black alloys, looked great, especially with a tan leather interior.
I reckon this VX, at $93,000, is better value than the cheapest big LC300, the GX, which is $104,000.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX's tech-heavy and plush interior.
The most controversial part is its third row, which doesn't fold into the floor due to the hybrid tech under the car. This gives you a raised boot platform with a narrow space behind.
Toyota has filled this with a 60-litre utility box that doesn't really serve a purpose other than as storage for wet stuff. Still, the boot is massive and the third-row seats are usably roomy.
The Prado handled the Titan easily, sitting flat and wafting down the highway. You never forget there's a big lump of caravan behind you, but it was surprisingly easy to get used to.
Our van life weekend test run was unforgettable fun and never felt like we were roughing it. I know people set off having spent far less, but it's nice to know you can hit the road with everything you'll need – not just the basics – for well under $200,000.
Now to email the boss…
The Titan Caravans Australia Sierra 500 Blackhawk is $74,990 tow away
TITAN CARAVANS 500 SIERRA BLACKHAWK
Price: $74,990 tow away
Dimensions: 5.1m long; 3.1m tall, max weight 2800kg
Features: Off-road suspension; queen-size bed; battery management system; generator slide-out; aircon; bluetooth stereo; 360-degree outdoor LED lighting; reverse camera; 24-inch smart TV; fridge; kitchen; bathroom; grey and fresh water
More info: https://titancaravans.com.au/
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO VX
Price: About $93,000 drive away
Warranty/servicing: Five years, unlimited kilometres; Five years capped-price servicing
Engine: 2.8-litre turbo diesel four cylinder; 150kW, 500Nm; 8-speed automatic
Thirst: 7.6 litres/100km (claimed); 110-litre tank
Features: LED headlights, 12.3-inch display, five-mode drive selector, on-board cooler box, JBL premium sound system
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