KEA 4 BERTH DISCOVERY
"The windows are a deal-breaker .. besides it being the perfect place to relax with a wine and book, there's the practical element of making it much easier to drive."
Picking up the KEA Discovery, I admit to being a bit nervous. It was the first time was was driving solo, and it wasn't a short trip. I was going to cover some 700 + kilometres up the remote Mid West Coast of Western Australia. An adventure it was, but there was trepidation about the travel. But once inside this brand new beauty, I needn't have worried.
One of the key concerns I had was visibility, but the KEA Discovery has been designed with large windows at the back, great for sitting back and enjoying the vista on location, but also very practical for seeing what's behind you, and when you're in a 21 foot motorhome, it was the peace of mind I needed while on the road.
My trip started in Perth, and the drive to my first stop at Jurien Bay, was a seamless one. Do, however, make sure you locate petrol stations before you get too far, they are few and far between once you get further north.
The practicalities
Malcolm Street reviews dozens of motorhomes a year and he knows a thing or two about the practicalities.
He says motorhomes built for the rental market, as THL does, are usually designed in a way to accommodate the requirements of both hirers and users. For that reason, the larger ones come in four and six berth configurations, with the beds being made up from dinettes and lounges, rather than being fixed. A fact that does impact re-sale on the retail market.
However, he says THL in New Zealand borrowed a developing feature from the retail market and adapted it nicely for both their retail and rental operation. That being a bed which is normally stored in the ceiling day and can be lowered by hand at night.
"Apart from anything else, this gives a shorter motorhome when compared to more conventional four berth designs a bit more living space to play with inside. What KEA did with this motorhome design was to fit in the much loved club lounge in the rear with windows all round and a drop down bed above."
He says the results are that by day it's possible to sit in comfort and watch the world go by, plus a night area that will comfortably sleep four people.
"Okay the lower residents might have a slightly low ceiling height but it's not a major girpe. For two people it's a winner - no need to make up a bed every night or for those travelling with children, there's plenty of bed space."
He says the rear area arrangement then leaves space further forward for a nearside kitchen and offside bathroom complete with shower and toilet. Up front, there's a two person seat/lounge behind the driver's seat and a small cabinet between the entry door and the passenger seat. Both cab seats swivel around adding a bit of seating, especially if both beds are made up. Although there isn't one fitted, it might be possible to get a freestanding table to fit between the seats.
The stats
Measuring at 6.6 m (21ft 87in), the Discovery is built very much in the THL style with fibreglass composite walls and roof, along with fibreglass mouldings for the curvy bits. As noted earlier, it's built in New Zealand, the giveaway being the windows, especially the larger rear ones with the opening lower halves. A surprise on the Discovery, given its rental heritage, is the well sized external storage capacity. There's a tunnel boot across the rear which will be adequate for all the essentials - camping chairs, table, hoses, power leads and tool box.
There are of course the usual external doors for toilet cassette, suburban hot water heater and 9.0kg gas cylinder. Not found on many a rental motorhomes is an awning, in this case a Cvana, designed a little differently to most, but one designed for the rigours of rental use.
Standard is a 100AH house battery and 140W solar panel capacity.
On the Road
At 2.34 m (7ft 4in) wide, the Discovery is slightly narrower than the average motorhome which does reduce the internal space, but makes it easier for diriving along narrow roads and maneuvering around car parks. Fitted with a 95kW/360Nm engine, the turbo diesel moves the Discovery along well enough with the seven speed gearbox performing in the usual Benz smooth manner.
The bottom line
After spending a week in this motorhome, I found it very easy to drive and park in the varying low cost and freedom camp sites we visited, many which meant driving up sandy banks by the beach. Equally pulling into a carpark in the township of Dongara posed no problems.
The set up was easy, and as Malcolm mentioned earlier, there's good storage options and the windows would be a deal-breaker for me when choosing to buy my own motorhome. Besides it being the perfect place to relax back with a wine and book, there's the practical element of making it much easier to drive than other motrohomes of a similar or bigger size.The bathroom is a good size with a swiveling toilet seat and good pressure in the shower. Besides the cabinetry proving a bit noisy at times, when driving off-road for short periods, the pros definitely far outway that minor con. The kitchenette is small, but functional and provides enough space for cooking on the road, where you'd spend most time outdoors anyway. All in all, I was impressed by the use of space and design and am now itching to get back out in it! Road trip anyone?
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VEHICLE Manufacturer: KEA |
MECHANICAL Engine: 2.2 Litre Turbo Diesel |
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DIMENSIONS: Ext. Length: 6.6m (21ft 8in) |
EQUIPMENT: Cooktop: Dometic 4 Burner & Grill |
