Snowy River Caravans SRC-21 Review

“There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from Old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.”

AB Banjo Paterson

If Banjo Paterson’s poem "The Man from Snowy River" doesn’t stir up proud Aussie emotion then you’re probably not into exploring the beauty and the terror of our sweeping plains, our ragged mountain ranges, our jewel sea, our droughts and flooding rains and the far horizons of our wide brown land. But for the rest of us a Snowy River Caravans SRC-21 just might boil your billy!

The good folk at Snowy River have mustered a deadset ripper of a caravan that’s choc a bloc with features, fittings and accessories providing fair dinkum great value for good ol Aussie diggers. (and youngsters too!) It's a great size too, with a tonne of room for a touring couple and a very reasonable towing weight at 2321kg tare and 2921kg ATM. By providing 600kg carrying capacity you can be assured of filling all your tanks, fridges and storage, as well as loading all your toys and still being within the weight boundaries.

The Nitty Gritty

The backbone is a 100 x 50mm Duragal chassis with 150 x 50mm A-frame drawbar and 50 x 50mm riser with independent rubber torsion suspension, 12” electric brakes (with breakaway) and riding on 15” alloy mag wheels. I personally like the simplicity of torsion suspension having first fitted it way back some 30 years ago and never experiencing any difficulty. It provides a very neat assembly that rides beautifully even over harsh corrugations and has very little to attract obstructions or road damage.

Out in front are all the standard connectors including 50mm ball, Anderson plug, 12 pin trailer plug, detachable jockey wheel, twin 9kg gas bottles, water tap and gas bayonet plus the tray infill that’s convenient for carrying light or wet items.. There’s checker plate wear panels surrounding the tub and it is extended high on the front where most abrasion occurs. I was pleased to see a full width front boot and tunnel boot, as well as a front window with shield. Underneath are twin 95 litre shrouded water tanks with grey water options and at the sides are dual battery boxes, yet only one 120amp battery fitted as standard.

The main body shell is relatively lightweight and should never attract rot or water ingress with its aluminium frame and XPS insulation between inner and outer fibreglass panels. There’s a 42mm single section insulated floor and roof to combine longevity with strength and maximised insulation. The main shell and chassis are imported with the plumbing and electricals roughly plumbed in but the rest of the unit is completed in Australia to applicable standards.

What's Up Top?

Overhead we find a reverse cycle air conditioner, optional Wineguard TV antenna, 150w solar panel, 2 large roofs hatches with blockouts and flyscreens, internal LED’s, plus two ensuite ventilation units.

External features include a terrific array of insulated tinted windows with internal screens and block outs, a fold down picnic table, entertainment fittings for the 22” portable TV, pull out awning and 3 way security door, external speakers for the Bluetooth sound system, illuminated door handle, pull out step,  240/12 volt power and a good array of LED lighting. Out back is a strong bumper mounting the spare wheel plus the reversing camera as standard.

Well Surprise, Surprise!

However the big surprises start from the moment you enter the van from the rear door. The layout is fairly typical of a 21’ unit with forward Queen island bed, café style dinette to the kerb side, kitchen opposite and ensuite to the rear. However, the visual appeal is reminiscent of a much more expensive unit, and still with its own unique features.

I simply loved the convex doors fitted to the large array of overhead cabinets that give the Snowy River its own identity. There’s a lovely blend of colours, textures and surfaces with a basic black, white and grey palate, but lots of bright and shiny surfaces enhanced by the spacious windows that bring a bright attitude.   There’s deep grey faux marble bench and tabletops plus the matching splashback and the overheads have lighter near marble veneer. All the cabinetry is manufactured from CNC cut plywood with premium fittings, and there’s even rolled edges on the overhead doors.

Fit For Royalty

The bedroom is fit for royalty and has a large array of storage including under the Queen bed, wardrobes, side dressers with drawers and there’s power outlets for your gadgets plus individual reading lights. There’s no padded bedhead but I wouldn’t miss it!

The café style dinette has tri-section cantilevered table top with thickly upholstered cloth seating and there’s even some added storage underneath. The kitchen is a ripper with reasonable bench space, stainless steel sink with draining board, hot water from the Swift HWS, disclosed 4 burner (3 x gas, 1 x electric) cooktop with grill but the optional oven wasn’t fitted to our demo unit. Overhead is a range hood, microwave and the sound system head unit and below there’s a terrific amount of cupboards and three soft close drawers.

Yet it’s the inventive additional storage that won me over. Next to the stove is a really neat two section pull out pantry with twin racks in each section. Plus next to the entry is a wall full of cupboards that make just so much sense. All have terrific locking mechanisms so they won’t be a bother while travelling. You just must have a large fridge/freezer and this SRC-21 has a ripper Dometic 173 litre unit to keep the touring essentials cold.

All Ensuites are Not Created Equal

You may think that all ensuites have become the same – but look again. SRC have used fairly standard fittings including a ceramic toilet, full height moulded shower, a large vanity sink with premium fittings, a big dressing mirror with plenty of light as well as overhead and vanity cabinetry with those lovely overhead doors again and matching laminates. Yet they have been ever more inventive with a sliding bench top that reveals the top loading washing machine. By sliding the bench it covers the toilet and provides a great shelf for the washing basket.

There’s a great array of LED mood lighting throughout as well as plenty of 240/12 v and USB power outlets. The power system and water supply is fully controlled and monitored by a very simple Projecta PM200 battery management system.

To be honest I found it very hard to fault the Snowy River Caravans SRC-21. There’s a couple of silicone dags and some minor untidiness in the wiring and plumbing but certainly no worse than I’ve seen on units twice their price. It towed beautifully, has all the construction criteria, plenty of inviting living options, and all packaged in a very attractive body that just yearns for the open road during the day, and a comfy campsite at night – or maybe for a month or two in the Man from Snowy River country!

Specifications (Snap Shot)

Ball Weight: 119Kg

Tare Weight: 2321Kg

ATM: 2931Kg*

Exterior Dimensions: 8240mm overall length x 2390mm width and 3070mm height (inc air conditioner)

Body: Insulated aluminium frame with fibreglass inner and outer skins, with 42mm insulated roof and floor. Black aluminium checker plate skirting

Chassis: 150x50x3mm drawbar with 100 x 50 x 3mm Duragal chassis with 50 x 50 riser

Suspension: Tandem rubber torsion independent

Tyres: (Size and Type) 235 x 75 R15 tyres on alloy mag wheels

Sleeps: (How many people) 2

Water Capacity: 2 x 95 litre with electric water pump

Battery & Charger: 120Ah deep cycle battery, Projecta PM200

Fridge: Dometic 173 litre fridge/freezer

Cooktop: 4 burner cooktop (3 x gas, 1 x electric) with grill and range hood

Hits

• Innovative storage

• Selection of accessories

• Ensuite

• Flow and aesthetics

• 5-year structural warranty

• Price

Misses

• No oven (optional)

• A couple of silicone dags

Still Shopping for the Perfect Van?

Find your dream van online at OnlyVans.com.au!  If you enjoyed this review, please check out our current selection of Snowy River Caravans for sale.

And if you're still in research mode, we have many other great deals on caravans for sale, including used caravans and caravans from private sellers. You can also find motorhomes for sale, camper trailers, and pop top caravans. No matter how you like to travel, we've got you covered. 

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