Leisure Line Platinum 7.24 Review

Traditional in appearance, the new Leisure Line 7.24 Platinum caravan displays its bold front window proudly. Viewed from the side, it sits nicely balanced over twin axles, and the rear view shows the caravan’s width (2400mm plus an awning) and excellent ground clearance. Careful planning and good workmanship are on display wherever you look.

It’s a Leisure Line mantra that maximum width equals maximum roominess, and this model vividly illustrates this point. With clear floor space of 2.5 metres long by 1.15 metres wide, the kitchen-dininglounge area provides a lot of room for moving around.

Layout

The layout is a Leisure Line favourite with a new ingredient grafted on. It has the familiar U-shaped lounge at the front, kitchen amidships opposite the entry, and an east-west island bed between the kitchen and the washroom across the back. The new addition is opposite the kitchen: a versatile L-shaped settee that also serves as a dinette and can convert to a single bed.

Both front and side seating areas have slightly contoured backrests and 600mm wide seat cushions, buttoned and shaped for comfort, that are just the right height off the floor to not leave you with legs dangling, whether you’re tall or short. This model is upholstered in leather, but fabric options are available as well. With the lounge seats converted into a large double bed, the 7.24 Platinum has a total of five berths.

At mealtime five can relax around the freestanding table (900mm x 700mm on a single leg) when paired with the lounge seating, or it’s tea for two in front of the settee. Either way, it is a flexible arrangement.

Storage is available in the four lockers over the lounge, under the kerbside settee, and under the settee. A locker under the driver’s side settee contains equipment including the Eberspächer 2kW diesel heater, while the base slats for the lounge/ bed conversion live under the rear seat.

Carpet is fitted in the bedroom and the lounge, while the wear and tear areas – the entry, kitchen and bathroom – have durable easy-to-clean vinyl flooring.

Entertainment

Wall-mounted opposite the kitchen, the TV offers good viewing from the lounge seats. Two Camec 19-inch LED televisions, one in the lounge, the other in the bedroom (and an automatic satellite aerial), are part of the standard package. Audio entertainment is close to hand, with the Camec RV info-tainment monitor positioned between the overhead lockers above the lounge. Two speakers are mounted under overhead lockers. Two more are mounted outside, under the awning.

Kitchen

Located centrally, the kitchen looks good, is of useful size and has a practical layout. At 1250mm long plus the four-burner hob on the right and a 300mm bench extension on the left, the bench has room enough for both meal prep and serving.

Below the benchtop are a small pantry, a pair of cupboards and four drawers plus a locker for pots and pans. Above the bench are two more lockers. All together, including the fridge/freezer, it has enough storage for food and beverages, crockery and cutlery to satisfy most caravanners.

This is a well-equipped space. The latest Thetford Caprice Mark 3 fourburner cooktop and oven makes for easy meal preparation, assisted by a Camec microwave. Camec features again in the rangehood mounted under the overhead locker, taking care of cooking odours and condensation. Right next door is the impressive Thetford two-door, three-way 188-litre fridge/freezer.

Bedroom

In travel mode, the 1450mm-wide double bed is 1800mm long. Come bedtime, the length can be increased by up to 200mm by inserting a bolster under the pillows at the head of the bed. is bolster can be 100mm or 200mm wide, your choice when you order your caravan. With the wider bolster in place there is still ample room to walk past the foot of the bed. Consisting of an inner-sprung mattress over a sprung wooden slat base, it should o er a good night’s sleep. Gas strutassisted, the bed base lifts to give you access to the large storage space below.

No matter which side of the bed you sleep on, you get the same facilities: a hanging locker, a reading light, and a shelf on top of your bedside cabinet. If you are quick, you can snare one or both of the two overhead lockers. A curtain is available to close off the bedroom from the kitchen when needed.

The bedroom has a ceiling hatch and a single window at the foot of the bed for light and ventilation. At the head of the bed is an upholstered wall panel in place of a window. Now the bed occupants can sit up in bed without clashing with, and damaging, delicate concertina window blinds. It is a good move.

Bathroom

Occupying the full width of the caravan, the bathroom – 1100mm deep from front to back – also doubles as a dressing room. A concertina door closes off the space from the bedroom when privacy is needed. To the left is a Thetford swivel bowl electric toilet, with the handbasin sitting on top of the vanity in front of the rear wall window.

A compact Camec washing machine sits in the vanity cabinet between the handbasin and the shower stall.

Much larger than the shower stalls in most motorhomes (1050mm long x 700mm wide), it is big enough to accommodate an All Black lock. With its own window and small roof hatch along with the regulation shower handpiece on a rail and ceiling lights, it has all the ingredients a good shower needs. A glass holder, toilet roll holder, heated towel rail, a mirror on the wall over the toilet and hand towel holder complete the equipment inventory. There is storage for toiletries and personal items in the cupboard below the handbasin and in the two overhead lockers.

Exterior

Another Leisure Line mantra applies to the caravan chassis: ‘for stability and longevity, a caravan relies on a sound chassis like a house relies on a sound foundation’. Leisure Line build their own double-dipped, galvanised steel ladder frame chassis so they know it will provide the stability they need to obtain that long life.

The Platinum 7.24 is mounted on 15-inch alloy wheels and has a GVW of 3100kg, well within the load rating of the dual Trailequip axles it rides on. It is fitted with powerful disc brakes managed by the latest wireless brake controller technology.

AL-KO Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is fitted to the caravan to help keep the rig safe during more extreme handling manoeuvres. At the back, a galvanised square tube rear bumper that includes a spare wheel mount comes as part of the standard package.

Hard-wired for power, the reversing camera also uses wireless technology to display the rear-view image on the cab monitor. Fresh and grey water tanks, both 180-litre capacity, are fitted into the chassis. All fresh water is filtered via a Camec combination tap and water filter. The tank monitors are inside, wall-mounted above the hobs.

Should freedom camping feature on your to-do list, Leisure Line have got you covered with two 150-watt solar panels charging 2 x 120a/hour house batteries the van is also wired for broadband reception, making it easier to install the necessary equipment to connect to the internet via the cellphone network.

Summary

The Leisure Line Platinum 7.24 caravan is the real deal, with a well-executed variation of a standard New Zealand open-plan layout. It is fitted out with quality equipment to a high standard of workmanship by a New Zealand manufacturing team that displays immense pride in their work. The standard Leisure Line package includes items that are regarded as extras by other builders. Compare apples with apples and you will find their prices are more than competitive. If you are in the market for a large caravan, be sure to have a look at the latest Leisure Line product. 

Leisure Line Platinum 7.24 specifications

Price as reviewed: from $111,000 (includes GST and on-roads)

Pros

• The new layout offers room to relax in comfort.

• The lounge seating... it’s just so comfortable.

• There’s room to move, in the lounge and washroom in particular.

Cons

• Having the control panels grouped together would be good.

Find out more at leisureline.co.nz

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