Crusader Musketeer Palace Review

"All For One, and One For All" - Crusader Caravans

When it comes time to escape the hustle and bustle, you’ll feel like royalty in a Crusader Musketeer Palace. Moreover, you will have space for all your little Musketeers in this family bunk style caravan worthy of Dukes, Duchesses and nobles alike. Viva la revolution!

The Musketeer range includes five different alternatives, including single and dual axle configurations, recliner, club, and other dinette options, and front or rear ensuite layouts, each with its own cost-effective appeal.

The Palace tandem axle bunk van, as tested, is designed for a larger family to travel with all the bells and whistles from the Musketeer range, including bunk beds, a tremendous array of creature comforts and accessories, and that inherent Crusader quality that saw them being recognised with the 2019 Caravan Industry Association award for “Excellence in Caravan and RV Manufacturing.”

The Musketeer Palace is a large van with over 6.3 metres internal length, but with a very reasonable 2240kg tare weight considering its facilities and abilities. It can carry an average payload up to 960kg with its 3200kg standard ATM and also provides terrific head clearance of 80”, giving a bonus to the feeling of internal space. It sits firmly in the premium touring range with a popular-sized van with the strength, capability, design, construction and fit-out to suit the whole family.

Built On Strong Foundations

The foundations incorporate a robust 6” Duratech box steel chassis and drawbar with tandem rocker suspension and 15x235 all-terrain tyres on attractive alloy mags. All Crusader caravans feature a strong, attractive, and insulated body shell with a 42mm single-span composite floor providing secure underbody protection. Plus, a one-piece, hail-resistant roof combined with smooth-sided Alupanel skins for great looks in all conditions.

Musketeer has presented a magnificent appeal with their mobile Palace. The stylish black and white base is accentuated by hard-wearing black checkerplate armour up high on the front and rear, and 400mm kickers either side. There are stately Euro-style tinted insulated windows, and the decals and insignia display a distinctive flair that spells Musketeer. Crusader allows the premium materials, design, and workmanship to do the talking.

Out in front, this noble steed carries the standard towing fittings and jockey wheel, but there’s also twin 9kg gas bottles and a pressurised freshwater outlet. The “living” side of the body shell holds a cavernous full width boot securely housing your essentials and accessories and then a forward security mesh door, a full length awning, fold out picnic table and step, an array of LED lighting including the illuminated entry, entertainment hutch with TV mount, 240/12/USB and aerial outlets plus a pair of marine speakers to set your chosen mood.

This Musketeer's rear is packed with practical features like a galvanised bumper bar with spare wheel mount, big LED trailer lights, and a reversing camera. The roadside is as slick as the kerb side, sporting diamond-cut decals on glossy sides, lockable service points, a 240V inlet with circuit breakers, and a 105Ah deep cycle battery securely mounted in a lockable box. The undersides are as neat as a pin with tidy plumbing and wiring, fully shrouded twin 95L water tanks, plus a 95L grey water tank with a washout valve.

Luxurious Interior

The interior is done royally, blending gorgeous aesthetics, function, and finishes. White cabinetry and walls have brushed chrome fittings, plush grey leatherette upholstery, faux marble splashbacks, and a wood-grained floor. The sturdy cabinetry has piano hinges, dual gas struts, CNC-cut furniture, and lifetime-lasting metal drawers. The remote lighting is a winner, letting you tweak the mood for any activity. The regal bedroom is up in front, featuring a queen bed, upholstered bedhead, innerspring mattress, and heaps of storage. Night nooks on both sides of the bed've got outlets, an overhead hatch, 12V fans, and big windows with flyscreens and blinds. The obliging musketeers from Crusader will hook you up with a twin single bed option if you prefer.

Whilst the Palace offers plenty of internal appeal, it also provides terrific flow with expansive floor space and a high ceiling. The L-shaped dinette is on the kerb side, with the kitchen opposite and the bunks plus a full ensuite in the rear.

The Palace provides a compact but complete kitchen with plenty of bench space and light from the large window in the splashback. You can prepare the royal feast with recessed four burner cooktop (3 x gas, 1 x electric) with grill, fan forced oven and microwave, 12V Rangehood and 190 lt fridge/freezer, and the rolled edges to the benchtops are fitting for their station. You will be impressed with the array of versatile cabinetry with deep drawers, a stainless steel sink with draining board, and a flip mixer for the gas/electric hot water.

The royal powder room (ensuite) is compact but very usable, including a stand-alone full-height moulded shower, ceramic vanity with flip mixer set on top of neat cabinetry complete with a dressing mirror, plus the ceramic cartridge toilet with suitable venting and lighting options. When you take the family along, you need plenty of storage; hence, there’s a further set of floor-to-ceiling cabinets on the rear wall, including a front-loading washing machine to keep the little nuggets clean and tidy. Then there are the full-length rear bunks that make this Palace a home for the whole family.

You'll find loads of overhead and side window ventilation throughout the Musketeer Palace, plus reverse-cycle air-conditioning to keep you comfy in any climate. With its big water capacity, gas/electric hot water, gas storage, inbuilt grey water tank, power supply, and auxiliary charge from 170W solar panels, you're all set for independent adventures in style. There's even an outdoor gas outlet for hooking up a portable BBQ. Other creature comforts include LED reading lights, a 24" TV/DVD combo with twin wall brackets and a digital antenna, a Projecta battery management system, heaps of 240V and 12V outlets plus USBs, CD/USB/Bluetooth entertainment, and two internal fans.

Our Verdict

Crusader has a solid company ethic centred around "self-worth and accountability"—they apply this throughout the whole process, from quality control to manufacturing and delivery, to ensure your total satisfaction with your purchase.

It’s “All for one and one for all” with this wonderful mobile Musketeer Palace - in fact, it may just be ideal for all your royal family. All you need is your tow vehicle, and away you go on your own family adventure.

Specifications

Tare: 2240kg

ATM: 3200kg

Body: Insulated composite aluminium/fibreglass panel

Chassis: 6” Duratech box steel chassis and drawbar

Ball Weight: 145 kg

Suspension: Tandem rocker leaf

Tyres: (SIZE AND TYPE) 15 x 235 All terrain

Sleeps: 4

Water Capacity: 2 x 95ltr with electric water pump

Battery and Charger: Projecta Battery Management System with 105Ah deep cycle battery and 170-watt solar panel.

Fridge: 190 lt AES fridge/freezer

Cooking: Microwave, rangehood, 4-burner cooktop (3 x gas, 1 x electric) with grill, and fan-forced oven.

Hits

• Attractive insulated security shell

• Regal appointment and accessories

• Flowing ergonomics

• Plenty of family values

• Reasonable towing weight and payload

Misses

• Only one battery standard (options available)

Are You Still Shopping for the Perfect Van?

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No matter how you like to travel, we've got you covered. 

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