Dethleffs Nomad 760DR Premium Review

Sometimes, when reviewing a new vehicle, you have an “ooh la la” moment. Such was the case with the bright, light and extra-spacious Nomad 760 Premium, Peta Stavelli writes.

If you take manufacturer claims with a grain of salt as I sometimes do, your suspicions will be immediately aroused by terms like premium banged into a title. But you haven’t seen the Nomad 760 DR Premium, as I have recently. This one really lives up to its name, and you can see it as soon as you enter the (extra-wide) habitation door and step into the capacious, creamy-white interior.

Spaceship

The Nomad 760 DR is a spaceship; in my view one of the best I have seen for anyone considering living aboard. Every little aspect of self-containment has been carefully considered by the New Zealand importer Central RV, and it’s quite a story. I was lucky to spend some time going over the finer points with Central RV’s technician, Brittney Litton. Brittney hails from California. She is a former United States Army veteran who honed her technical skills working on helicopters. Brittney loves her job and her enthusiasm is contagious. But it’s her knowledge of the product which is even more compelling. She knows every aspect of every vehicle she shows customers and the feedback on her service is always fantastic.

First impressions

But back to the vehicle itself. First impressions: the view from the kitchen through to the master bedroom might be sufficient to sign you up. It’s unusual to have such a clear, long-range view through a vehicle to a bedroom suite which looks like it would grace an elegant apartment. I love that queen-size island bed set in spacious surrounds. And, at the opposite end of the vehicle, the U-shaped lounge with moveable table, which will comfortably seat six-eight people for dining, and then convert to a comfortable bed, is just the bee’s knees. These are just the two things off the top of my head. There’s so much more. So let’s get down to the nitty gritty of why this caravan is – in my opinion – the crème de la crème.

Dual axle

The Nomad 760 DR Premium is a ‘big gun’ and you’re going to want some extra support. It sits on a heavy-duty AL-KO tandem axle chassis and suspension, suitable for extreme payloads. She is a big girl at 2.50m wide and 9.42m (overall) long. The 2250kg weight and 550kg payload will give you an on-road total weight of 2800kg, putting you at the upper range, especially for a European caravan. Luckily those 4 X 14” Euro alloy wheels come with heavy-duty commercial tyres. Yes, you are hearing a lot of heavy-duty this-‘n’-that mentioned, because I believe you’ll want these solid assurances, especially if you’re embarking on a hefty roadie.

Amidships and other highlights

The kitchen is just one of the highlights of this caravan which really does have a lot to offer overall. Again, it’s a work space that will suit living aboard for lengths of time because it’s spacious and extremely functional, as opposed to most RV kitchens, which are a real compromise in terms of preparation space and storage.

And it’s these things which really make the difference when you’re cooking every day in a place that’s not as big as most domestic bathrooms. This can make you look nostalgically back to your home, when all you want to be doing is being in the here and now of life on the road.

I just love the soft wood tones of the (soft-close) drawer fronts which form a wide, easy-access tower beneath the sink and stove with hob. Smart. The splashback is illuminated, and that adds to the light, bright, functionality of the kitchen design. I loved the vertical pantry and full-sized three-way fridge-freezer with its clever two-way hinged door. The opposite bench really adds to the preparation space in a way that is not token. Of course, there’s also an array of soft-close positive-locking overhead cabinets, so you’re never going to be short of kitchen storage.

And so to sleep… or read, or shower

Next door to the kitchen, and adding to the overall extreme generosity of this vehicle, is one of the coolest bathroom setups I’ve seen. It’s part passage-way, part two-part bathroom and toilet room, defined by clever, double-hinged doors which swing both ways. This lets you either enclose this space for privacy, or create a luxurious ensuite with what I wrote in my notes was a “crazily” good shower. When both bathroom doors are closed, you have this fabulous long view to the bedroom from the U-shaped living area, a really defining view which amps up the feeling of luxurious space on offer.

The bedroom itself could pass for a very fine hotel room. In the centre of his ‘n’ hers cabinets and wardrobes is a large island bed with a temperature regulating water-gel mattress and, as previously mentioned, massive under-bed storage with gas struts. It’s a real retreat for a couple. And while I may seem to be banging on about the option for living aboard, I was really impressed by this space which is light and airy with extra-large windows; perfect for getting away to read or watch a movie on your own. For those of us early risers who travel with a night owl, this seems really smart to me.

Storage and Strength

There are 14 cupboards overall in this vehicle; and that’s before we even get to the full-width storage locker which is a perfect size to take all of those windsurfing poles, or kayak paddles and canoes. This is accessible from the inside or out; a truly functional feature for holidaymakers. There are bathroom lockers, bedroom wardrobes and deep kitchen cupboards with pull-out drawers which don’t sit above a wheel well, so they’re all space and no compromise.

There are corner shelves in the lounge, as well as a thoughtfully placed hanging space inside the door and sensible hooks and rails in the bathroom.

Self-Containment

This vehicle is fully self-contained with 200L of fresh and 145L of grey in monitored on-board tanks custom-made for Central RV in Kopu (near Thames). These are placed side by side just forward of the axle for the best weight distribution. There’s 600 watts of solar power with an option to increase to 800; and a 200Ah lithium battery (with bluetooth management). The caravan is insulated throughout, with double-glazed windows and a user-friendly Alde central heating system which vents throughout the vehicle via the wall cavity.

Brittney says customers often comment that they’re warmer in their caravan than at home. Another plus when you’re intending to travel through the shoulder seasons or even the depths of winter. Central RV ensures that each caravan is genuinely road-ready with a three year WOF, registration, gas certification, electrical WOF and self-containment certification. There’s a full 9kg gas bottle (with space for two), a 20 metre power lead, step, bubble level and even more thoughtful extras like RV toilet paper and toilet chemicals, to name but a few welcome additions.

In Summary

If you’re anything like me, this vehicle will wow you. One look and you’ll be hooked. I have always been a huge fan of Dethleffs, which is supposed to be the family-friendly tier of Hymer’s vehicle offerings. Yet it seems to me that the designers at Dethleffs are competing with their own to offer top-of-the-range style and comfort in an enduring solidly built vehicle that’s also cost effective. What’s not to love about that?

For more information, visit  https://www.centralrv.co.nz/