The Wanderer
Imported motorhomes from the US or Europe have generally had an erratic existence in Australia. There are a variety of reasons for that but matters like ADR compliance and warranties are close to the top of the list.
In recent times, though, major overseas manufacturers have had more of a keen interest in Australia – possibly because of world economics – and have taken serious steps to overcome some of the aforementioned matters.
That has certainly been indicated by arrivals last year from two British manufacturers, one being the Swift group. There are several motorhome models now available – cab-chassis and van conversion – but we were able to spend time looking over one of the cab-chassis models, a Swift Sundance 636L.
CAB AND CHASSIS
Although the badge on the grille says something different (European motorhome manufacturers like using their own logos) there’s no doubt what the base vehicle is – the familiar Fiat Ducato. What’s not so familiar is that it’s the 130 Multijet model.
In Australia, we’re used to the more powerful 180 Multijet but the British and Europeans favour the smaller engines. It was surprising that this Ducato had the six-speed manual gearbox, but there’s a good reason for that as I discovered when travelling in Europe not so long ago – there are far more manual vehicles, including upmarket Audis and BMWs, than are seen in Australia. I don’t mind a manual shifter but most motorhomers tend to prefer Fiat’s six-speed Automated Manual (AMT) where less cog-swapping work is required.
Swift’s Sundance body is built with one-piece composite walls that have a marine-grade aluminium exterior. The front, rear and roof are made from moulded GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic. Like the walls, the floor is a composite sandwich structure with 40mm plywood and Styrofoam insulation. Being a motorhome of European origin, all the windows are double-glazed Polyplastic acrylics and the door is in typical Euro style with top half window and a moulded inside garbage bin below. It sure beats the plastic bag hanging on a door handle.
Apart from the gas cylinder and Thetford cassette bins, there’s only one external storage bin at the rear nearside.
Rather than a sealed bin it’s actually a storage area under the bed. The folding ladder on the back is an interesting addition. It not only gives access to the roof storage area but also for cleaning roof hatches and solar panels if fitted.
The Sundance has a tare weight of 3365kg and a GVM of 4250kg, which gives a respectable load capacity of 885kg but it’s even better than that because the tare is measured as a wet weight – 75kg for the driver plus 90 percent for fuel, water and gas.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Stepping through the entry door reveals a layout that is a little different to usual. Mostly because it is a six-berth motorhome; well, maybe four and two halves. In the rear there are two sideways-facing lounges/single beds. Forward of that is a bathroom/wardrobe area which nicely separates the rear from the kitchen and dinette. Right up front, the Luton bed can be lifted out of the way if not required and that opens up the cab area nicely.
There are enough windows and multiple roof hatches to provide a good level of interior light, since the faux timber finish dominates a bit.
A look inside the overhead lockers reveals not only that they are fitted with a second shelf but also a slightly different method of construction to the usual – moulded plastic frames are used to support the locker and the shelf. All the windows have curtains, except the kitchen but all have integrated blinds in the window frames. In many ways it’s more a rental motorhome layout but the appointment level and general fit-out is not the rental decor that we’re mostly used to.
SITTING BACK
In terms of sitting back in the Sundance there are two choices. The rear lounges, if not made up into an east-west double bed, are quite comfortable for relaxing on with the added bonus of a centrally-located waist-high cabinet. There is also the dinette if things become more formal. Very roomy for two and okay for four but if there are six then two are going to have to dine down the rear using the clever slide-out table that’s fitted to the cabinet. (That’s the two halves, then – Ed.)
Like the dinette, the rear area has lockers above the seats and some under-cushion storage below. The cabinet that sits between the entry door and the nearside bed offers a considerable amount of storage; the top half is all hanging space and the lower section a generously sized cupboard.
CATERING
It’s typically British/European in size but it seems that the kitchen might be on the small size for family catering. It’s certainly okay for two but it does have all the expected features: four-burner cooktop/grill/oven; moulded sink with detachable drainer and an under-bench 110-litre Dometic fridge. Additionally, the microwave is mounted in the overhead locker space – all that leaves room for two drawers, a small wire basket pantry and one overhead locker. The lockers above the dinette are certainly going to be useful. Everything depends on how you like to cook and for any motorhome, not just this one, I’d suggest going through all the catering/cleaning up motions to ensure you are happy with it.
SLEEPING HOURS
While this motorhome layout does not have a fixed island bed, it has just about everything else and the choices are almost endless. In the rear, it’s either two north-south singles (1.8m x 0.63m/6ft 1in x 2ft 1in) or an east-west double (2.04m x 1.39m/6ft 7in x 4ft 7in). Above the cab, the Luton bed measures 1.9m x 1.34m (6ft 3in x 4ft 6in). As usual, this bed requires a ladder to reach it and in many motorhome designs I have seen the ladder is just tossed up on to the bed – meaning a ladder is frequently needed to get to the ladder. However, in this case, the ladder is fitted into a moulding which is on top of the front of the driver’s cab but accessible by lifting the bed. What a simple but effective idea not seen on too many locally-produced motorhomes. The third bed, i.e. the dinette, is a last choice mainly because it’s the mostly fiddly to put together. It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and also the narrowest of the doubles measuring 1.9m x 1.24m/6ft 3in x 4ft 1in.
KEEPING CLEAN
Although all the bathroom features are within the one moulded cubicle, the Thetford cassette toilet, fold-down wash basin and shaving cabinet can be closed off from the flexible-hose shower with a simple folding screen. It’s a neat little arrangement that gives a reasonably sized shower cubicle without everything else either in the way or getting wet. A large hatch above the shower supplies the ventilation.
ON THE ROAD
This is the first time I have had the opportunity to drive the 96kW/370Nm 130 Multijet. For the most part I have driven the 180kW/400Nm 3.0-litre Multijet and on a few occasions the midsized 109kW/350Nm 150 Multijet but only on van conversions, so I did wonder how the lowest powered of the Ducato diesels might perform on a C Class coach built.
The short answer is okay, especially with a manual gearbox but for long hauls and/or hilly country the larger engines are going to make for a more relaxed drive. The AMT gearbox can also be a bit dithery at low engine revs which might make the manual gearbox a better option. In this case the motorhome has the potential to carry six people and their gear, so it may not be lightly loaded. I know that the Euros fit the smaller engines for fuel economy but I’m fairly sure the larger engine will return better economy.
For the passengers there are the two driver’s cab seats of course but the rest are going to be sitting at the dinette behind the driver’s seat – two facing forward and two facing the rear. Like any good motorhome cab design, the Luton bed can be lifted out of the way if not needed and/or when driving along. It can often save a great deal of head-banging when moving to and from the cab.
COMPLIANCE AND WARRANTY
As usual with imported motorhomes, ADR compliance with the relevant federal regulations is always going to be a consideration. This one can be found on the RVCS website under certification number 45327. There has been some confusion over the matter of the warranty on the Fiat cab-chassis but I am advised by the Swift importers that the Fiat worldwide warranty definitely applies.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This Sundance 636L is one of the first British motorhomes to arrive via Swift approved distributors in Australia. They have been available in New Zealand for some years and there is the odd grey import around here. It is certainly built differently, particularly on the inside, to local product but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it. An asset it has over the few European imports that have arrived is that the entry door is on the correct side.
For those of us used to mostly twoperson motorhomes, this layout designed for six people, is going to look a little unusual and maybe impractical. However, as someone who often travels in a sixberth rental motorhome the six-berth set-up should not be totally discounted. Apart from anything else, it offers a bit of flexibility with the way you can live.
Is the Swift Sundance 636L or any of the other Swift models currently available in Australia worth a look and test drive? The short answer is yes.
GOOD THINKING
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
Category: Reviews
Written: Sat 01 Mar 2014
Printed: March, 2014
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