For many families, the cost of owning a caravan and a suitable tow vehicle is prohibitively expensive. Storage space, too, can often be a problem.

However, camper trailers, particularly of the rising-roof variety, can often solve these problems. They are often cheaper, offer plenty of interior space when opened up, and yet still are small enough to store and be suitable for a wide range of tow vehicles.

Such is the case with the Coromal Family Series F400 Camper. Ours came from the Brisbane-based City Caravan Centre, and proprietor Mark Glencross was quick to confirm my initial thoughts. “We certainly find the F400 camper trailers are attractive to families,” he said. “Not only do they offer a number of advantages, like easy towing, but some travellers actually prefer the very open layout and large window area when compared to a caravan.”

LIGHT LOAD
With an ATM of 1420kg and a Tare weight of 1126kg, there’s no doubt the F400 is suitable for a wide variety of tow vehicles. It does mean of course a family might have to put some effort into being lightweight travellers, but in this eco-centred age I don’t think that’s a total negative.

From a storage point of view, the towing length of 6m (19ft 8in) and towing height of 1.84m (6ft) are also going to be factors of interest. Another benefit of that low weight is the ease of manhandling when setting up or packing it away.

Like the rest of the Coromal range, the F400 is built on a DuraGal chassis that rides on the company’s Ezy-Tow leaf-spring-based independent suspension and 15in white sports wheels. Centrally mounted behind the wheels is the galvanised-sheet-protected 60L water tank.

Almost looking a little bare, the drawbar only has the towing essentials – ball coupling, handbrake and jockey wheel. Hidden in the front boot is a 9kg gas cylinder, with provision for a second one if needed.

Some potential travellers may worry about setting up a camper trailer, but the reality is it’s actually quite a simple and fairly quick process. Once the camper trailer is parked and the corner stabilisers are down, the roof clips can be undone and the roof wound up into its raised position. Often the trickiest part of the whole operation is getting the two-part door into position, but it’s really not that difficult. After that the bed-ends can be slid out and the supporting struts put in place. Once the canvas ends are stretched out and the weather strip is Velcro’d into place, it’s not long until the camp chairs come out!

Inside the F400 you’ll find most of the things you might expect in a caravan, albeit at a slightly lower height. The front half is mostly occupied by a dinette/lounge, while the rear has kitchen bench space on both sides. Beds of course are in the ‘air space’, front and rear.

All the spacious window area is fully insect screened, and the main body windows are tinted plastic. Canvas flaps are fitted to the bed-end windows, instead of plastic screens, and they’re fully curtained for night time use.

There are a couple of advantages to the ‘air space’ bed-ends. One is that from a disturbance point of view (i.e., mum, dad and the kids) bed sleepers are about as far apart as is possible, and the second is that on warm nights there’s plenty of cross-flow ventilation in both bedroom areas.

COMPREHENSIVE KITCHEN

The kitchen comes with just about all the features a family cook could need. The nearside bench contains a stainless steel sink avec drainer and pumped water tap, plus a Smev four-burner cooktop/grill. There are four cupboards, the one under the sink containing a lone cutlery drawer. In these little campers space is often a bit confined for cooking and washing-up operations, but with this arrangement it’s possible to have more than one person ‘at the coalface’.
On the opposite side, the bench does offer a reasonable amount of working space, along with a Dometic 90L fridge and an LG microwave oven, both under the benchtop. There are also a couple of cupboards.

Up the front, having the lounge right across the van, in tandem with the table and smaller dinette seat, does give a bit of flexibility with dining and lounging positions – there’s a bit of room to spread out, which is definitely an asset for a family. All the seats have flat cushions and under-cushion storage areas.

As might be expected in a camper like this, the 12V lighting system is quite simple, with two ceiling lights inside and an external light fitted to the body. Keen bedtime readers would have to consider something like portable LED reading lights. Powerpoints aren’t obvious but there are two – in the kitchen cupboards on either side at the rear. Access to both is via large plastic grommets on the benchtop. There is also a TV antenna connection and 12V socket in the offside cupboard.

THE BOTTOM LINE

For families who like camping but not so much the tent bit, then something like the Coromal Family Series F400 Camper is going to be of some considerable interest. It’s easy enough to tow when folded up, yet when opened out it has that ‘back to nature’ feel. With all it’s many creature comforts – and with a dry, off-the-floor place to sleep topping the list – Mum will be smiling. And when it comes to the purchase price and family budget, Dad will be smiling too!

- Caravan World #479