I want to start this review with an admission: I love caravans with rear club lounges! I find the layout ideal. They are convenient, comfortable, and accommodating. Whether you are travelling or stationary, the caravan with the club lounge is always the most inviting, comfortable, and socially popular.

The Franklin Club CX22 offers so much more. It is a terrific example of state-of-the-art caravan design and construction. The flow throughout is exceptionally functional for flexible living. My lady likes to go to bed much earlier than I, so having the lounge at one end of the van and the enclosed bedroom at the other is ideal.

The walkthrough centre-mounted ensuite means there is a sliding door for privacy in the bedroom, but you can still use the ensuite facilities privately from both ends. The kitchen is close to the dining area for serving and social amenities. This CX22 also provides an immense amount of functional bench space, cabinet, and drawer storage enhanced by the “double chassis” construction that allows a flat floor design, eliminating wheel arches. The layout also provides for even load distribution for improved towing safety.

Weights & Measures 

At 22’ internal body length and an overall length of 8905mm, it’s not a small caravan. She tips the scales in at a quite reasonable 2600 tare with 3100ATM and 230kg ball weight, and with its 6’8” internal head height, it has plenty of room to move and live happily. It also provides a long list of standard features to keep you cruising in comfort and style.

She sits on a strong 6” box section Supergal chassis and drawbar with risers for the spring mounts and the “double chassis” above, providing terrific strength and internal layout advantage. She rides the highways well with tandem roller rocker leaf suspension with parallel bearings, 15” radials and attractive mag wheels. There are AL-KO electric brakes on all wheels with Brakesafe breakaways for your security. The CX22 is rather tall at 3020mm and has the advantage of very good ground clearance, but it requires two pull-out steps for easy entry through the three-way security door.

Franklin Caravans - Looking Good

Externally, the CX22 looks excellent. It has a mixture of black checker plate armour skirts all around, below a nice combination of 3mm composite and rippled aluminium cladding, some tasteful branding and decals, and a terrific array of double-insulated tinted windows with blinds and flyscreens. Speaking of windows, the rear club lounge has a large window across the back plus another on each side, further elevating the inviting comfort.

The CX22 Club has a long list of outward features, including a large tunnel boot at the front and another at the rear, LED lighting, integrated 240v power inlets, reversing camera, fold-down picnic table, common waste outlet, external entertainment box, Fusion outdoor speakers, external tap, roll-out awning, illuminated entry handle, and twin 9kg gas bottles mounted on the A-frame drawbar.

She’s ideal for a travelling couple who love their comfort and may spend much of their time following the seasons.

Step Inside

The interior is quite alluring with its luxury flush-fit solid furniture, which is beautifully crafted and features clean lines and quality fittings, the latest Tru-Matt and gloss finishes, and stitched faux leather.

 

The entry leads directly to the beautiful club lounge with its adjustable drop-down table that converts to added berths. It flows into the kitchen, preparation, and pantry in the centre, which is fully equipped with a disclosed four-burner stove (3 X gas, 1 x electric) with grill and oven beneath. There’s a range hood in the overhead cabinets, stainless sink with mixer tap, freshwater filter and draining board, microwave, plus a good array of drawers, pantry and pot cabinetry. Ours had a 24” smart TV option on a swing bracket, which also has external mounting and jacks for the Wineguard antennae. The fan-cooled 180-litre fridge/freezer is set in the cabinet that divides the club lounge and the bedroom opposite the kitchen. An unusual but innovative touch is the front-loading washing machine mounted in the driver’s side cabinetry.

The walkthrough ensuite is divided into living spaces by sliding doors. You are going to like the large touch-sensitive backlit vanity mirror, especially for shaving, makeup, and general dressing. The vanity top has a ceramic bowl with a mixer and plenty of elbow space on the toilet. The separate shower is a ripper, and it features plenty of light, ventilation hatches, and extraction fans.

 

The bedroom is a beaut! It has large windows on either side, plus another at the bedhead to greet the morning in an ideal campsite. There are wardrobes, a chest of bedside drawers, knickknack nooks, overhead cupboards, individual reading lamps, a variety of mood lighting, a TV bracket, and an overhead sunroof with flyscreens and block-out blinds. Underneath the mattress is even more cavernous storage.

Franklin has included a fine array of lighting throughout the entire CX22, including downlights, reading lights, bench lighting over the sink and strip lighting in the overhead cupboards on both sides. To keep the power well organised both on and off grid, there’s a BMPro charger with an Odyssey touch panel for clear control of all your power requirements, charging levels and tank management. Overhead is a 160W solar panel, 100AH AGM battery, Bluetooth integrated sound system and plenty of 12/240V and USB outlets. Underneath are twin 90-litre water tanks with a grey water tank available as an option, and we had a reverse cycle air conditioner.

The Choice Is Yours!

Franklin offers a wide range of options to customise your CX22, including additional power alternatives, such as Lithium. You can add an external shower, more solar panels, and much more to taste, and I would personally choose some stability control.

The Franklin Club CX22 provides a very pleasing array of smart styling and comfort that will appeal to a wide range of Australian travellers. It will be the centre of attention in a holiday park but still provide plenty of privacy and facilities, both off the grid and back again.

 

Specifications

Ball Weight: 230Kg

Tare Weight: 2600Kg

ATM: 3100Kg

Exterior Dimensions: 8905mm overall length x 2450mm width and 3140mm height

Body: Meranti frame with insulation throughout, including smooth 3mm composite insulated panels combined with ripple alloy cladding & black aluminium checker plate skirting

Chassis: 150x50x3mm SupaGal steel tube chassis and drawbar with “dual chassis” construction and suspension riser

Suspension: tandem roller rocker style leaf suspension with parallel bearings

Tyres: 15” radials on alloy mag wheels

Sleeps: two plus convertible club lounge

Water Capacity: 2 x 90 litres with electric water pump (grey water optional)

Battery & Charger: 100Ah AGM battery, BMPro Plus 35 BMS and Odyssey control panel

Fridge: 180 litre fridge/freezer

Cooking: four burner (3 x gas, 1 x electric) cooktop with grill, oven and range hood

 

Hits

  • Good selection of accessories

  • Club Lounge and internal layout

  • Aesthetics, fittings, and finish

  • Head room

  • Solid timber internal construction

Misses

  • No sway control as standard (option), ESC is available as an option.

  • I would personally opt for a second battery and solar panel

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