Macquarie 25 Overview

Travelhome is the favourite Fifth Wheeler in Australia today

You don't require larger, more expensive tow vehicles and there is a wide variety to choose from including single cab, extra cab, and dual cab in both 2WD & 4WD. Travelhome's unique aerodynamic design reduces traveling costsand it's relative small size & weight means that it is extremely safe & simple to tow. The positioning of the hitch above the rear axle dramatically improves towing efficiency, maneuverability, and safety, particularly when compared to conventional caravans. Travelhome's overall build quality & modern finish is second to none, all cabinetry is constructed from light weight aluminiumand is powder coated for a clean, durable finish. These are only some of the many reasons why more people are choosing Travelhome today.

Click here for a print-friendly flyer of the Macquarie 25 with pictures and floorplans

Caravan + RV Review of Macquarie 25

Bridging the gap between the dedicated one-box motorhome and the flexibility and versatility of a caravan/car combois the fast-growing catagory of what are known as fifth-wheelers. Taking their name from thetrucking industry's colloquial term for the tray-mounted coupling ('fifth wheel') of a semi-trailer, fifth-wheelers' big advantage is that they pack extra living room into the space wasted by a caravan above its draw-bar. They're also more stable when being towed and arguably easier to manoeuvre.

But there are drawbacks. You can't simply drop one of these onto the tow bar of your Falcodore or Nissitoyo wagon. No, you need to buy a ute or pickup and have it appropriately modified to accept the fifth-wheel coupling.

Travelhome came about when Newcastle, NSW-based trade vehicle body specialist Geoff Dutch decided he wanted to retire and hit the road. As well as building alloy trays, Geoff's career includes designing and building Holden Commodore-based New One Tonners seven years before Holden decided it was a good idea.

Geoff was about half-way through converting a V8 Holden Commodore sedan into a full-on motorhome (yes, really) for his big trip when ideas began to take over. Geoff began sketching... Before he knew what had hit him, the Commodore V8 motorhome project was pushed aside,

retirement was postponed and Geoff was building his Travelhome prototype.

Technically Talking

The Travelhome Macquarie - the company's only offering for now - is manufactured on the shores of Lake Macquarie near Newcastle NSW, hence the name. Built on a box-section zinc-coated steel chassis rolling on dual AL-KO rubber suspension axles, it bristles with smart design. Up above, the one-piece moulded roof wraps over and interlocks with the walls, adding stiffness and reducing the need for silicon sealer - and the potential for leaks. One-piece moulded fibreglass body caps front and rear flow through the air easily and look good. The rear end's coach-like lift-up door reveals a large boot. The materials - fibreglass roof and ends; timber-coated laminated fibreglass walls - are inherently insulating to help take the strain off the heater/air-con unit.

Clever design continues inside, too, with the fit-out and furniture constructed from pre-fabricated units of welded, powder-coated aluminium rather than traditional timber. You don't need to know each night as you snuggle into your pillow, but the furniture is loaded onto the floor before the walls are spliced into place. What you will appreciate - ironically, by not even noticing - is the fact these modular alloy furniture units are moisture-impervious, zero-maintenance, low-dust, light, stiff and squeak-free. Look around, and in contrast to many RVs, the only visible use of timber in the construction of the Travelhome is the benches and drawer bases. Check out every nook and cranny, look anywhere you like and the workmanship is superb.

Thanks to its on-board electronically-managed house batteries, Travelhome can be used for bush camping, independent of 240V power. The system automatically recharges itself when plugged into 'shore'.

Inside Story

Travelhome offer a roomy, pleasant living environment. Up front, the two single beds (a queen-sized mattress is optional) are installed under the Travelhome's distinctive dome. Access is by climbing three stairs and as we proved during our usual overnight evaluation, the beds are comfortable and there's plenty of room to sit upright. An overhead hatch and two side windows let in plenty of natual light without compromising privacy. There's ample storage for doo-dads and each bed has a reading light and - big plus, folks - power points for electric blankets.

Unlike many RVs, the sink/vanity and mirror is installed outside the shower recess, adding to its usefullness: Jan can start on her hair while John takes a shower before dinner at the RSL. There's generous wardrobe space, too, with provision for hanging shirts and jackets and fixed baskets for other clothes. The whole bedroom/ensuite can be partioned off from the living and kitchen area.

The kitchen is mounted mid-ships and is sensible in its layout with the sink and cooktop on one side, and fridge (a good 150-litre unit), microwave and slide-out pantry on the other. More smart design: the overhead cupboards (one above the sink, one over the dinette) feature simple and durable roll-fronts rather than side or top-hinged doors. Adhesive drawer dividers are provided loose with each new Travelhome so customers can install them in positions to suit their own needs. The cutlery drawer is full-size and two big drawers take care of pots and pans. A slide-out pantry has adjustable shelves for different sized cereal boxes. Nice.

A big thumbs-up to the house-sized sink installed in the Travelhome. Anyone who has tried to wash dishes in a doll-house sink will realise how frustrating that can be. There isn't much excess benchspace in the Travelhome, but what's there is useful and there are four power points for toasters and kettles. Thoughtfully there's a 12V socket for charging mobile phones, too.

At the rear, the lounge/dining area is ample, with comfy wrap-around seating and a generous-sized table that can also be used outside the van. Large windows (and two roof hatches/skylights) give it a beach-house ambience and there's plenty of overhead lighting at night. Travelhome uses industry-standard pop-out windows with flyscreens and privacy blinds with its own matching interior curtains. The bright, durable upholstery is zipped and press-studded for easy cleaning.

It's well set-up for outdoors living, too, with the optional flat-screen TV able to be mounted and plugged in to the living side of the van under the huge roll-out awning.

In The End

I reckon Macquarie is a benchmark for mobile living design. It's a one-size-suits-all size, is beautifully built and its bed, kitchen and lounge layouts eliminate most of the space and day-to-day usefulness compromises associated with travelling or living in a big white box. Don't be put off by the size of the Macquarie, sure it looks intimidating, but fifth-wheelers are actually easier to tow than a caravan. And for nervous or first-time RVers they're easily a better bet. Big in America, they're now taking off here in Australia.

There is just about nothing to criticise and everything to aspire to. I have little doubt that in future evaluations, I will be asking myself "Is this thing as good as a Travelhome?"

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