Sunliner fifth-wheeler caravan review

It’s instant ‘wow’ when you first look inside the latest offering from On the Way RV, a company that has a reputation for innovation. Even at first glance it looks like whoever designed the Sunliner knows their market. Sure enough, a Tauranga native now living in Australia is the man behind the Sunliner range, which is making waves here in New Zealand since its recent reintroduction to our shores. It was a bit blustery the day On the Way RV’s Alisha Brady and I sat in the rear lounge of the Sunliner to chat about its amenities. Along with the light, bright interior, the Sunliner feels very spaciousness. And there’s another feature which adds to the overall effect – the dedicated desk or work station adjacent to the lounge. I love this functional set up – so basic, yet so very functional in an age where everyone needs a place to set up their laptop. Another feature which will be well appreciated is the elegant, ergonomic handrail in the stairwell. This is a really classy piece of functional design. Alisha walked me through the many features of the galley – like the two slide-out pantries, each of which will have separate functions – one looked like the perfect roomy, vegetable locker, while the other was the more conventionally useful small pantry for herbs, spices, spreads, oils, etc. The Sunliner also comes with an excellent appliance package that comprises of a 190L fridge with separate freezer fridge, and a three-burner oven with grill and microwave. You get two 6kg gas bottles, a 100Ah house battery and an 140-watt solar panel with regulator, so it’s all adding up to plenty of time away from the shops. The strong and light construction method has created a vehicle which can be towed by an average family ute – like the Ford ranger, Nissan Navara or Holden Colorado. And you can remove the tow mechanism if you want to use the ute for any of is alternative purposes – around the farm or lifestyle block, or even around the city. And here’s another plus for off-roaders: the cassette toilet also comes with a black tank option, so if you want to live aboard, you can do so for an extended period. But if you still need convincing that this vehicle has it all, you need to check out the bedroom. In typical fifth wheel style, the Sunliner has a high bed (over the fifth wheel) with a queen-sized inner-sprung mattress. The master bedroom also sports a shower, with toilet and vanity opposite. There was little about this revolutionary fifth-wheeler that didn’t tick the boxes for me. I even liked the price: $122,500. Read the full review in issue #130 of Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations magazine. Subscribe here.