Weighing in at 2300kg Tare, this caravan boasts a full-length 150mmx50mm galvanised chassis, AL-KO trailing arm and coil spring suspension. That’s another nod to local manufacturing as AL-KO’s suspension is designed and tested in Australia for harsh local conditions. We dragged the van through the river, across untold river rocks and up onto a gravelly island. The combo of a tow vehicle with all the chutzpah we needed, and the van with its local-made chassis and suspension seemed to handle the rough and tumble of the drive.
Taking a walk around the Byfield, I found a stylish van whose design and construction has kept the weight down using composite fibreglass wall and roof panels as structural material.
The Byfield has a basic array of features including a tunnel boot, drop down table with television input, single spare tyre and a well-protected drawbar tap. On the downside, the tunnel boot is the only external storage given the drawbar has no toolbox. However, AUSRV will option in a front toolbox if you like.
AUSRV might have tapped into the caravanning zeitgeist with a club lounge design. Long a staple of the motorhome design fraternity, a club lounge design comes around in caravan design trends every now and then. It seems to have gained some traction with caravan designers once more, and with the Byfield, AUSRV are on trend. In this van, the club lounge is comfy, well-made and offers under-seat storage space.
Stay tuned for the full review coming next month in Caravan World #567. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!