AROUND-OZ MOTORHOMES

Cold Fusion
Bob & Anne Caddows
"Dehns Den" 8 Metre Fuso Conversion

Make no mistake, this is a really good looking conversion, both from the inside and outside - an excellent example of what the professional converters can achieve with a 9 metre Fuso. For those new to bus/coach conversions, there is a massive difference between a Coaster and a Hino or Fuso. The huge advantage is that of extra width - allowing an island bed, good headroom - plus being a coach, you get excellent storage in the bins underneath. Robert and Anne Caddow and doggie Beau are very experienced motorhomers. They had a lot of input into the design of their current unit and it certainly shows in the finished outcome. They average three months home, then three months away and the RV has been designed with this kind of self-sufficiency in mind. This story also serves to illustrate how coming to the seminars we give at CMCA motorhome club rallies and Casino Village can dent your hip pocket big time! Robert came to "Installing a Lemaire Washing Machine", "Fitting a Webasto Diesel Heater" and "GPS for Beginners"! You be the judge as you read on!

LOUNGE - KITCHEN – DINING

The kitchen definitely deserves 11/10, as it is simply super spacious and functional. Having a full size Caprice oven was a wise move. The splash back tiles really add a touch of Vogue Magazine to this RV. They are the new chrome look. Super expensive, but as you don't really need a lot, the cost is just manageable. More than adequate food preparation space and yes, there is a draining board and sink cover, something that seems to be slowly disappearing in some Australian manufactured RV’s. The sofa is a full length all leather affair - great for lunchtime snoozes in front of the tele! Dining is up front, between the front leather swivel seats. The table can be moved outside, as the base is removable. Whilst this set up is great for just a couple, it falls down if you would like friends in for dinner. Not really suitable for computer use either due to stability. However, you can always do these things under the annex (on a bigger table).

The pull out pantry used here is a novel idea. Most of us fail to allow for growing old! Like many of us Robert and Anne aim that this edition would "see them out"! So, rather than have a hard to pull out pantry, they did the same trick by using Elfa pull out baskets - worked a treat. The twin door Waeco 12 volt 190-litre fridge looked very smart in all black. The Samsung microwave was mounted above the fridge. We noted that it had no ventilation at all, something overlooked by many manufacturers. (Two that spring to mind who really do it right are Dryden’s with their neat horizontal vent top and bottom and Winnebago with their fantastic rear vent idea - simply the best in the business). Super modern fabric venetians, look like wood. They really should be compulsory near stoves as they are so easy to clean.

IN THE BATHROOM AND TOILET
We instantly fell in love with this room as it gets full marks for looks and functionality. The bathroom walls used Lamipanel from Bunnings - note the hand made look "frieze". We were quite gob smacked with the attention to detail here The overall effect was this is one great bathroom! Not lining the entire area was a good move, as it contrasted very nicely with the Tassie Oak panelling and, of course, the angled walls played a part too. Great to see proper full sized towel rails fitted as standard with decent halogen lighting. Good sized hand basin and adequate storage. Ventilation was via an overhead Fiamma electric vent. The toilet was the excellent vacuum job by Dometic - VT2500 going into a remote 14-litre cassette. We like the china insert in this model - so easy to keep clean. We predict all RV's will be fitted with similar units within 5 years, as we are coming across them even in sub $80K units such as Jayco and A'van. Rumour has it that Thetford have a model coming out shortly as well. We liked the hot air vent directed into the bathroom - great for drying clothes in damp weather.