Star Trakk

Trakka’s next generation Trakkaway 700 Remote is quite an enterprise…

Words and Images by: RICHARD ROBERTSON

Now in its third generation the Trakkaway 700 Remote – let’s call it the 700 – is Trakka’s star coachbuilt model and it isn’t difficult to see why: The 700 (so named because its sevenmetres (23’) long is an ideal size. It’s also Trakka’s only model with a slide-out; a compact 0.5-metre (1’ 7”) rear unit for the bed only and one that wouldn’t leave you stranded if it became stuck open. I remember Dave Berry telling me about the first model and how he and his team travelled to a big RV industry-only trade show in the USA to look at slide-outs. He said they looked at all of them and what they learned was how not to make them. So they came home and designed and built their own.

The 700 is a four-seat two-berth B-class motorhome, although an over-cab bed is available, which then makes it a C-class. Either way, it’s built on the latest X295 version of the Fiat Ducato. The new Ducato certainly looks the business but Fiat needs to be chided for its seeming indifference to the Australian market. The in-dash touch-screen infotainment system has a clear display and wealth of features, but the built-in TomTom navigation system only has maps for Europe. Seriously? There are still no cup holders (Trakka adds its own) and the speedo has reverted to European 50/70/90/110km/h markings of early Ducatos, something we thought long gone.

The excellent 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is retained and its 132kW and 400Nm are more than a match for the 700’s 4490kg GVM. A 3590kg tare weight provides a healthy 900kg payload, depending on options fitted. Drive is through the front wheels via the usual six-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Although you can drive it as a clutchless manual to good effect, which is advantageous in some situations, most people will probably stick it in auto its whole life. Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and traction controls also help make this a safe and secure vehicle on the road.

Trakka ups the ante by specifying AL-KO’s Motorhome Chassis (AMC), which is a specialised hot-dip galvanised chassis designed in Europe but assembled in Australia. It lowers the floor height and centre of gravity, widens the track, reduces weight and cleverly uses the torsion bar rear suspension as a structural chassis cross member. To that excellent start Trakka adds the AL-KO Level Controller (ALC), an automatic system that ensures optimum ride height for the rear axle regardless of load. Finally, Trakka now fits AL-KO’s Comfort Suspension (ACS) to the front-end as standard. This system eliminates the Ducato’s default nose-down stance by increasing front ride height 40mm. Replacing the standard damper struts and springs with enhanced units not only improves ride and handling, it eliminates the Ducato’s propensity to front end ‘crashing’ (bottoming out) over bumps at speed. All-up it’s an excellent package that provides a Mercedes Sprinter-like driving experience.

Full AL-KO front-and-rear air suspension is now an option and would take the ride and handling experience to another level, but at $12,000 it’s a considerable investment. Having said that it does away with the need for levelling blocks or an aftermarket levelling system, so it’s certainly worth considering.

The 700’s body is composite sandwich panel constructed and has a high-gloss finish that looks modern and should be easy to keep clean. The cab and parts of the body are metallic-colour matched, while the balance of the body’s white finish provides a clean, stylish appearance that’s neither contrived nor likely to quickly date.

The latest Dometic double-glazed acrylic windows are used, which unlike earlier versions can be opened as far as you like, rather than having three preset positions. Of course, they come with integrated insect screens and privacy blinds. Over the cab is a large windup hatch hinged at the front that also includes an insect screen and sun blind, and which can be left partially open while driving.

There’s a new motorhome-specific entry door that’s 70mm (nearly 3”) taller than a traditional caravan door and integrates with the Fiat’s central locking, plus has a slow-fade courtesy light on entry and exit. The separate flyscreen door isn’t the security type and is a trade-off for the new main door. There are plenty of other ways to get a cooling breeze through the 700, though. For the first time the 700 has a step, required since the vehicle sits higher due to the front suspension upgrade. It’s an electric model with auto retract and is probably the biggest/deepest I’ve seen. An electric awning is also a welcome inclusion, as is a new full-length dimmable LED exterior strip light.

The Remote part of the Trakkaway 700’s name is largely because this motorhome is LPG-free. Hot water and central heating are diesel powered via a Truma Combi unit while the cooktop is a Webasto diesel-fired unit. This means there’s no external gas locker, gas cylinders or plumbing. The only other external service hatches are for the 19-litre toilet cassette, heater/hot water/water pump access and Trakka’s signature built-in mains power lead. Storage wise there’s a decent rear boot that can also be accessed via a door on the rear kerbside corner. You can still readily access the boot when the bed slide-out is extended as it has a sideways opening door.

This particular vehicle was the production prototype, which basically meant it was proof-of-concept. One thing to ‘prove’ was the new, optional Alfresco outdoor unit that sits between the entry door and passenger’s cab door. Think of it as an outdoor lifestyle centre that comes with its own 51-litre 12/240V compressor fridge; a slide-out shelf with hot and cold water and a removable hand basin (the tap is also a pull-out hand shower), plus space to store barbecue tools and so on. Production versions will have a sideways opening main door and fridge door, rather than the lift-up main door and pull-out drawer fridge featured here, for easier access.

Perhaps the biggest development is the raised floor. It’s now fl at from cab to bedroom, where there’s just a small single step to the sleeping area. In terms of live-ability it’s the single biggest improvement to the Trakkaway 700 Remote. It does away with the previous raised cab/dinette and bed areas at either end and the sunken entry/kitchen floor in the middle, and also means there’s just a small step now over the doorway lip into the bathroom.

Trakka’s traditional decor of light timber hues with silver/grey trim accents and roller cupboard doors has been updated with the inclusion of gloss white panelling that also adds a sense of space. Additionally, buyers can choose from five colours for the acrylic kitchen splashbackcum- window surround and over-bed roof hatch trim panel. Interior lighting is almost exclusively LED strip, even for the reading lights. General lighting is slightly blue/mauve and dimmable, while reading and other individual lights are brilliant white.

Electrical power comes from a pair of 100 AH deep-cycle AGM house batteries, plus the test vehicle had an optional 1200-watt inverter capable of powering the microwave or a small coffee machine, etc. A pair of 120-watt solar panels are standard and a third comes with the optional Alfresco pack, providing very good free camping potential.

Internal cupboard space is good and most are shelved for added practicality. The bed doesn’t lift – the air conditioner lives under it – but there’s a deep drawer on either side of the base. Speaking of aircon, the multi-outlet ducted system is a Truma reverse-cycle unit that can also heat. This is in addition to the Truma Combi diesel-fired heating system that has four separate outlets: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. Trakka is now specifying all Dometic-supplied appliances and systems so owners will benefit from Dometic’s new national service centre for simplified product support right around Australia.

All Truma units operate via a single control panel that sits alongside all the other major electrical controls and readouts, in a cupboard above the cooktop. Cleverly it can now be remotely operated via the Truma App, by Bluetooth as standard but optionally by telephone using a GSM data card. This means you could turn the heating, cooling or hot water on or off from anywhere as long as you and the vehicle had mobile coverage.

Serious window space provides an abundance of light and fresh air, especially in the dinette and bedroom. Up front the cab seats swivel to form a cosy lounge with the double seat-belted dinette, which has what can only be described as a massive window alongside. With it open you almost feel like you’re sitting outside. Any passengers travelling there will certainly enjoy a fabulous side view, plus they’re close enough for a great view out the front and easy conversation with the cab occupants.

The large over-cab hatch provides even more light and fresh air, while the neat flip-up table on the wall beneath the side window seems to have been enlarged. A pole table with adjustable mount slots in to provide a more formal dining experience, although it would struggle with plates for a full complement of travellers. Between the entry door and passenger’s cab seat is the cupboard that houses the optional outdoor Alfresco unit. It has bench space on top and a pole mounted TV plus a small window above.

Compared to previous 700s the kitchen is even more user friendly thanks to the raised floor. This makes it less of a stretch to the overhead cupboards, electrical control panels and microwave, which is certainly a good move for shorter people. There’s a generous six-drawer stack – illuminated when open by an LED strip under the bench edge – and new handles that are easier to use and lock automatically when closed. Bench space is good and there’s a new adjustable shelf on the pole in the corner, just behind the dinette seat. It can also be used on the poles in the bedroom or lounge that the TVs attach to. The fridge is an under-bench 136-litre Waeco 12/240V compressor unit. The main drawback of the Webasto diesel cooker is the lack of instant heat and quick temperature adjustability. Fortunately, Trakka offers an LPG cooktop that comes with its own 4kg cylinder as a no-charge option. It’s also available on other Remote-pack equipped models like the Jabiru and Torino, which is welcome news.

Trakka’s patented Switch Mode Bathroom with its remote controlled toilet that tucks away beneath the vanity to provide an extra large shower cubicle, saves space without too many compromises: the only real one being the need to dry the floor duckboard after showering when it’s time to use the loo.

Fresh, grey and hot water capacities of 165, 135 and 10-litres, respectively, are quite good and there’s a mains water connection for caravan park stopovers.

The 1.95 x 1.35m (6’ 5” x 4’ 5”) island bed, with its rounded end, is also remote controlled and when you’re travelling fits snugly against the kitchen and bathroom end panels. Only one kitchen drawer is inaccessible in this mode, which is no real bother. You could also use the bed like this although it’s a bit of a clamber up. When fully extended the bed only protrudes 0.5-metres (1’ 7”) out the back of the vehicle, which is all the space you need to walk around the front to access it and the bedside wardrobes and cupboards.

There’s a large electric over-bed roof hatch, big side windows and a bedhead window in the slide-out, so fresh air and natural light are no problems. You can also sit up in bed in the slide-out, although if using Duvalays on top of the mattress it’s more of a slouch. The bedroom has its own TV, dimmable lights and 12V fan with timer (which can also be swivelled to blow forward into the kitchen). There’s also a concertina bedroom privacy divider, which has been redesigned slightly to increase the feeling of bedroom spaciousness.