F or the most part, in the motorhome market in Australia, there are two different design styles. One is aimed at the retail market and the other is mostly for the motorhome rental companies. The prime difference is that retail motorhomes are mostly two and maybe four berth rigs, usually with at least one fixed bed. 

Whereas rental units are often for between four and six people and frequently have beds that have to be made up each night from day/night lounges. 

For rental motorhome operators the usual modus operandi is that after a number of year of service, the motorhomes are sold out to the retail market. Whilst they are often something of a bargain for someone who cannot afford a brand new motorhome, there is often a problem with the bed configuration, particularly if the luton is the only fixed bed. 

THL who has Britz and Maui, amongst other names in their rental fleet, has come up with an interesting solution to this particular problem in the form of the KEA Beach. In its original configuration, the Beach had a rear club lounge that could be folded down into a bed every night. 

For re-sale, the motorhome has had something of a makeover, in which the principal work has been to remove the lounge and fit a fixed island bed instead. To say the least, that is an interesting idea because it instantly widens the appeal of the motorhome to a wide group of potential buyers. For those KEA motorhome fans amongst our readers, I should point out this is not an original KEA design, but something out of the Britz/Maui stable. So, what do you get for your money? 

THE VEHICLE 

The Beach, a 2010 model, has as its base vehicle, a Volkswagen Crafter 100. If you think it looks like a Mercedes Benz Sprinter of a similar vintage then you’d be correct, because in those days VW had an arrangement with Benz to use a very similar bodywork. VW supplied the engine, a 2.5L turbo diesel that delivered a maximum power rating of 100kW and a torque of 300Nm. Whether those figures are still obtainable now is open to conjecture, but recently my own diesel powered vehicle, a few years old, had something of a major (read expensive) service and that improved things very noticeably. Part of the Benz/VW deal was that VW also was able to use the Mercedes six speed Shiftmatic automated manual gearbox. The downside of these was that in the lower ranges, gear changes were often hesitant and that little feature remains.

There’s ample room to lay back and read a book on the rear cab seat 

ON THE ROAD 

The particular Beach motorhome that I looked over had about 300,000km on the clock and I was keen to see how it performed on the road. Certainly the turbo diesel and gearbox ran as expected, but the most noticeable feature was an assortment of rattles. Some were obvious and easy to fix, but there were others that whilst difficult to pin down immediately, were I thought fixable. Like for instance the overhead locker doors that could have a short strip of Velcro glued into an appropriate place.

Malcolm Street, Kirstie Bedford (left) and El Rattray from Adventures enjoying a beverage after reviewing the KEA Beach 

BODYWORK 

The Beach has a somewhat distinctive rental motorhome look about it with its fibreglass composite walls, moulded fibreglass luton peak, Hehr style habitation door with separate insect screen, and tinted glass sliding windows. Rental motorhomes often don’t have much external storage, but this one does with a tunnel boot across the rear offering enough storage for all the essential camping essentials. I had a good look around the inside of the motorhome but couldn’t see any obvious water leaks or signs thereof– something to pay attention to in any secondhand motorhome purchase. 

FLEXIBILITY 

Joining the review at our inaugural Motorhome Legends event, Editor Kirstie Bedford was impressed with the flexibility the motorhome offered. 

“The KEA is adaptable, with varying configurations, durable, affordable, and you can try it before you buy it, which is a unique aspect of this motorhome. 

“It means you can ensure it’s adapted specifically to your needs before you make the investment.” 

While CMCA’s Richard Barwick says, “if you are getting into the market for the first time, this is the vehicle for you. It has a compact but spacey design, having all the features you need and different bedding configurations.” 

He also remarked on how easy the KEA Beach makes RV travel. 

“Many consumers don’t have big budgets, and it’s very comfortable travelling in a vehicle like this. One of the highlights is the tare weight of the vehicle which allows anyone with a Class C licence to drive. It is easy to drive and park, making life simpler for all age groups.” 

A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE 

It’s surprising what a difference changing the rear bed arrangement makes. Although there are definitely other clues as to the Beach rental heritage, having a 1.88m x 1.53m (6ft 1in x 5ft) island bed in the rear changes the layout perception entirely. Some of the essentials are the same, like the kitchen bench along the nearside and a combo bathroom opposite. However, the Beach has been retained as a four berth motorhome, so there’s a two person forward facing seat on the right behind the driver and a 2.13m x 1.53m (7ft x 5ft) luton bed above the driver’s cab. Both cab seats swivel around, a feature not found in all rental motorhomes and there’s a small round table that can be used between the seats. Small is the operative word though, and there’s room for improvement there. 

Generally speaking, internal storage isn’t too bad for a motorhome this size and there’s plenty of overhead locker storage, plus a small wardrobe behind the passenger seat. I suspect a keen handyman would be fitting a set of shelves very quickly. 

A problem with the island bed installation is that access around the foot of the bed is tight, particularly around the half height cabinet on the offside. There isn’t an obvious solution to that, apart from downsizing the cabinet and shifting the microwave oven (undoubtedly the biggest problem) so it might be a compromise that has to be accepted. 

But really, it doesn’t want for much. In Kirstie’s words, “it might be entry level (as far as motorhomes go), but it still has everything you need for a family. 

“It’s under $80K and while it’s compact, nothing has been overlooked. There’s a cab bed for the kids with a television, kitchenette, shower over the toilet, and of course double bed, and you don’t need a special licence to drive it.” 

ELECTRICS 

I’d have to say the Beach is well setup with 220AH of battery capacity and 80W of solar power. Mains power points are in mostly logical places, but the TV set above the front wardrobe is only really viewable from the rear forward facing seats. Given the 85L of fresh water capacity and solar panel capacity, the Beach is going to be good for a few nights camping, but not really for long term stays. 

THE BOTTOM LINE 

For travellers whose budgets really don’t extend that far, the Beach is going to get a bit more attention. In addition, for people who like to add their own stamp on a motorhome and are prepared to do a bit of handyman/woman work, the Beach offers considerable potential. With the addition of the rear bed, much of the hard work is done, so the rest is up to you. 

Category: Reviews
Written: Mon 01 Jan 2018
Printed: January, 2018
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