Dethleffs Beduin Scandinavia 550 RD Review

A great layout, quality materials, and stylish to boot… the latest offering from the Dethleffs Beduin Scandinavia range looks to be a winner for Kiwis, says Claire Smith.

About this time last year, MCD reviewed the first of the beautiful new Dethleffs Beduin Scandinavia caravans to hit the country. Distributed through Taupō-based dealership Central RV, the 690 BQT and 670 BET Beduins included a large kitchen up front, full width rear bathroom, and twin singles or an east-west queen bed in the centre. These caravans have proven to be a huge hit with customers.

The newest model available in New Zealand, the 550 RD, has the U-shaped lounge up front, the bedroom at the rear, and the kitchen and a split bathroom in the centre. It’s a popular layout because it provides maximum space between the living and sleeping areas and means the bathroom can be used without having to go through the bedroom.

With their apartment-like contemporary décor, plush seating, spacious layout, and the assurance of Dethleffs quality, the Beduins have proven very popular in New Zealand, and the new 550 RD looks to be no exception.

Kitchen

The cooking zone is compact but comes with all the essentials, including a three-burner gas hob plus oven and grill. The benchtop area is modest, as you’d expect in a single axle caravan, but additional workspace is readily available thanks to sink and hob covers and a flip-up bench extension – plus, with the dining table in easy reach, there’s extra prep room on hand if you need it. Storage-wise, the kitchen is well set up, with two overhead lockers and enough drawers for your cutlery and cookware. The big 142L three-way automatic tower fridge-freezer sits alongside the bench, offering plenty of room for big bottles and a week or two’s worth of supplies – including the all-important box of ice blocks. The lovely large window sitting behind the bench floods the kitchen space with light during the day and, at night, LED spotlights and a backlit splashback keep your cooking space well illuminated.

Lounge

Step into any of the Beduin Scandinavia models and the first thing you’ll notice is the plush, inviting lounge. Dethleffs makes comfort a priority, and the 550 RD is a prime example, with a generously sized U-shaped lounge that feels as good as it looks. The cushions, which are part of Dethleffs’ premium range, are nice and firm with good back support and removable head supports – perfect for stretching out with a book and a glass of wine at the end of the day. Or if you prefer to catch up on your favourite Netflix show, the 550 RD comes standard with a 24” smart TV (and 60cm KiwiSat auto satellite dish). The TV bracket is fixed on the wall opposite and can also be swivelled to face the bedroom for late-night viewing. Surrounded by big windows on all sides, you can enjoy time out in the comfort of the lounge while still feeling connected to the outdoors, with views at every turn and loads of light coming through. The lounge has plenty of storage too, with six overhead lockers plus additional storage under the cushions. And, like all good lounges, this one converts into a comfortable bed for the kids or guests. The dining table is freestanding and hydraulically operated, so it’s easy to move and adjust as needed.

Bathroom

As mentioned earlier, the bathroom has a split layout arrangement with the full-size shower on one side and the 18L Thetford toilet and a premium vanity opposite. It’s a clever setup that allows for good utilisation of space – the toilet door swings open to close off the lounge, which means the central aisle running through the middle becomes part of the bathroom, transforming it into a full width room with a decent amount of space in which to get dressed.

The shower cubicle is a decent size and has a few nifty inclusions including bifold doors – a new design feature for Dethleffs – as well as its own lighting and heating (how’s that for comfort?), along with a sliding shower handset. On the other side, the vanity design incorporates a corner sink with the sink-top extending along both sides to hold all those frequently-used bathroom items. For everything else, there are cupboards and shelves above and below.

Bedroom

This bedroom has a lot to love about it. It’s positioned away from the living area, the island bed is north-south with room to move on either side (very helpful for making the bed!), and the bed is super comfortable, thanks to the premium temperature-regulating seven-zone watergel mattress. For extra space in the bedroom during the day, the mattress and base are retractable, which means the bed length can be quickly reduced by 40cm.

With large windows on either side, plus a big overhead skylight, the bedroom is light and open, continuing the living area’s sense of being connected to the outdoors while you’re indoors. All windows and skylights include insect and blackout screens, so you can enjoy a cool breeze in the bedroom on those hot summer nights without those annoying mozzies.

There’s plenty of storage in the bedroom too, with three overhead lockers, two floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, plus a storage cupboard located opposite the fridge that can be used for extra blankets, shoes and boots, and other bulky items.

Heating

One of the defining features of the Beduin Scandinavia range is its superior insulation, full Alde central heating (LPG/230v) and underfloor heating (230v). As its Scandinavian nomenclature suggests, the range is designed for Europe’s sub-zero temperatures, which means you’ll be warm  and toasty in even the coldest New Zealand winters.

Noteworthy mentions:

All Dethleffs caravans (and motorhomes) feature the AirPlus ventilation system, which circulates air from top to bottom, including through the overhead lockers. It’s a clever innovation that helps to minimise condensation.

Single axle Beduin models also include 200w of solar plus a 150Ah LifePO4 lithium battery with built-in battery management system and Bluetooth monitoring as standard, which means you’re covered for power and warmth all year round. exterior Manufactured to Dethleffs’ impressively high standard, the Beduin range includes a comprehensive safety package, including AL-KO heavy-duty chassis and suspension for a payload of 325kg, anti-sway coupling, AL-KO Octagon shock absorbers, and AAA self-adjusting brakes.

The wheels are 15-inch alloy with heavy duty commercial tyres, and like all Dethleffs caravans, the Beduins also have a GRP glass fibre composite roof. The storage areas under the beds are accessible from outside, plus there is a large storage hatch up front (which also holds two x 9kg gas bottles). For summer barbecues, there’s an exterior gas port available. And with an extra wide 70cm entry door, loading up with boxes and bags is a whole lot easier.

Road ready

When you take delivery of your new Dethleffs Beduin 550 RD caravan from Central RV, it’s ready to hit the road from that day. Brent and the team sort all the fine details, including a three-year WOF, registration, gas certification, electrical WOF, self-containment certification, a full 9kg LPG bottle, 20m power lead, step, bubble level, steady winder, grey water treatment, grey water drain hose and bag, and a roll-away grey container to use in conjunction with the onboard tanks to allow more flexibility. They even include the toilet chemicals and toilet paper!

Summary

With its practical layout and luxurious interior, this 6.75 metre caravan has a lot to love. It’s bright and airy for summer, well insulated and heated for winter. There’s loads of storage space, and, because it’s wearing the Dethleffs’ marque, you can trust that the quality is top level.

Dethleffs Beduin Scandinavia 550 RD

More information: centralrv.co.nz