Lets begin by acknowledging Boroma Caravans’ status as a force within the industry, nowadays famed for its top-line caravans fitted out to an impressive level of appointment. In many ways, Boroma Caravans is a statement about the way much of the caravan industry is moving.

Indeed, every time we turn up to the Boroma factory in Qld, Peter Russell, general manager, and his design team seem to have added something else to their latest caravan. In this case the van was the Limited Edition Grandinata 730ST, which Judie Groves, director of sales and marketing, enthusiastically showed us over.

At 24ft (7.3m) in length, and with an ATM of 3500kg, the 730ST certainly is not a lightweight caravan. It requires something like a Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol to tow it, or in our case, a Ford F250.

It might be stating the bleedin’ obvious but given the limited market it would pay to carefully consider your choice of tow vehicle when purchasing a van such as this.

On the road, the F250 showed no hesitation in towing the Boroma wherever it needed to go, and one of the side benefits for this CW writer and photographer was the tray of the pickup, which acted as excellent an platform.

Outdoor Living

There’s no doubt the 730ST has been designed to travel off the beaten track with all the comforts of home. The Grandinata came with lots of goodies, like the 3KVA generator, Oyster automatic satellite dish, Dometic washing machine, external fridge, slide-out barbecue, 256W solar panel bank, triple 120Ah batteries and grey water tank. These inclusions are designed to make long term camping a great experience.

Getting under the Grandinata reveals a SupaGal chassis that is treated with Stoneguard underbody spray. The plumbing and wiring is neatly tucked up out of the way, as are the three 74L freshwater (and one grey) tanks that sit between the rails. Since this is a luxury van, the tandem axles are fitted with Cruisemaster Stage 3 airbag suspension and electric/hydraulic disc brakes. Given the likely tow vehicle for the van, the 730ST is fitted with 17 x 8in LandCruiser-style alloy wheels.

Like all Boromas, the 730ST has a timber frame and, being a Grandinata, has fibreglass-clad walls (the Di Lusso models are aluminium).

One of the notable features about Boroma vans is that the external list of standard inclusions is often almost as long as the internal one. Up front on the drawbar is a centre-mounted Trail-A-Mate jockey wheel, along with a mesh stoneguard. In the front boot are two 9kg gas cylinders, the airbag suspension controls and the Boroma Starter Kit, which includes a five-tonne bottle jack, drainage hose, water hose, power cord and wheel brace, so there’s no stopping at the accessories shop on the way to your first night’s camping.

Moving around the van, the all important slide-out barbecue is located at the front nearside. Next to that are a couple of brackets that accept a folding washing line. Mid van are two essential outdoor-living items: the 62L drinks fridge, and the other being the entertainment unit which includes a swivel arm for the flatscreen TV. Still on the nearside, right at the rear is a good-sized storage locker.

From the rear, Boroma vans are always neat looking and the fibreglass moulding includes an air scoop on the top edge and a rear view camera. A bumper bar is always a standard feature but not the usual location for the spare wheel – it’s located underneath the van.

Along the offside are locker doors for the Dometic cassette toilet, Suburban water heater and (an almost) through boot, which butts against the slide-out barbecue on the other side.

On the technology front and still outside, the wall lights are both LEDs and the grab handle light has a remote control. There are, of course, external speakers, ensuring the outdoor lifestyle is complete.

Inside the 730ST, the interior very much reflects the external features list. The cabinetry, excellently done, represents Boroma’s style – typically easy on the eye – as does the leather upholstery and the light and airy feel of the van. Ventilation and fresh air is supplied by large windows all round plus two big Heki hatches, which can be cranked open. When the going gets too hot, then the roof-mounted air-conditioner can be utilised. All the integrated blind/insect screen windows have pelmets and all except the one in the kitchen have curtains.

Open interiors

The layout features a front bedroom, mid-station kitchen and dinette with a bathroom in the rear. The fridge next to the bathroom means that all bulky objects are in one place, leaving the rest of the interior with a nice open feel. Electric lighting is a mixture of LED reading lights and downlights. It’s nice to see that Boroma has gone the energy efficient way in this department.

In the forward quarters, the bedroom has the queen-size bed and a bedhead of overhead lockers, wardrobes and drawers. Large windows are a feature, as is the useful shelf behind the bed. It nicely complements the small bedside shelves. At the foot of the bed in each corner are small diagonal cupboards.

Given limited space in a caravan, it’s not always possible to have a dinette and a place to put your feet up when not eating. However, Boroma has developed a neat idea to get around that. The dinette has both wall and back cushions with slide-out footrests at the end of each seat. By turning sideways, vanners can stretch out in style, yet still have somewhere for the wine glass.

Even when they’re extended it is possible to walk around the footrests and with the tri-fold table folded back there’s both room to relax and a place for the drinks and nibblies. The final touch is the flatscreen TV on the opposite wall, which can also be positioned so as to be seen from the bed.

There is plenty of storage space around the dinette, with overhead lockers, under-seat drawers and a small cabinet of drawers between the fridge and dinette, the top “drawer” containing the fold-out ironing board.

Boroma kitchens are always paragons of bench and storage space. This one isn’t an exception, with a plentiful supply of overhead lockers, drawers, cupboards and a small aircraft carrier for benchtop area! In addition there are two pantries, one a wider-than-usual slide-out and the other a quarter circle-style with a roller shutter door at the bench end. There are, of course, the usual items, such as a Stoves cooktop, grill and full oven plus a stainless steel sink and drainer. On the opposite side is the aforementioned Vitrifrigo 230L fridge with the microwave above.

Reflecting current design trends in upmarket vans, the bathroom has the full kit with separate shower cubicle, Dometic cassette toilet, vanity wash basin and, hiding the end cupboard, the Dometic front loading washing machine. There are a good supply of cupboards and drawers, including a wardrobe above the washing machine plus angled wall mirrors set in the doors of overhead lockers above the vanity unit. Bathroom ventilation is also good, with a window behind the vanity unit plus a small window and vent fan in the shower.

The Bottom Line

Well, if you are looking for a very well appointed van that is going to handle some of the rougher roads in Australia, then this is probably it. Of course, there are a few considerations, such as the weight of the van and the tow vehicle required, but if home-away-from-home travel is desired along with remote-location stays, then the Boroma Grandinata 730ST should certainly be a consideration.

Boroma Caravans, 3779 Pacific Highway, Loganholme, Qld 4129, (07) 3806 4655. For more information, email sales@boroma.com, or visit www.boroma.com

By Malcolm Street, as featured in Caravan World issue 453, May 2008.

External length 24ft (7.3m)

External width 7ft 9in (2.36m)

Interior height 6ft 2in (1.93m)

Nameplate Tare 3060kg

Nameplate ATM 3500kg

Frame Timber

Chassis SupaGal with Stoneguard

Suspension Cruisemaster airbag suspension

Cooktop Stoves four-burner, grill and oven

Fridge Vitrifrigo DP2600 230L 12V compressor and a 62L drinks fridge

Microwave Sharp

Shower Separate cubicle

Toilet Dometic cassette

Lighting 12V fluorescent and LED

Gas 2 x 9kg

Fresh water tank 3 x 74L

Price $152,000

Liked

• The general fit and finish of the van – the cabinetry looks good and works well

• Features like the slide-out barbecue nothing like enjoying a sundowner listening to the steak sizzling. This van is certainly built for outdoor living

• Extended footrests and back cushions, which enhance the dinette/lounge design.

I would have liked

• There’s not much more you could ask for, given its high level of appointment.

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