The first resort
Frontline’s T5 camper is a climate-controlled oasis in a blazing landscape of passenger van conversions.
It’s flat on the Hay Plain, and we’d be able to see for miles if it wasn’t for the heat blurring the distance into a watery haze, an ever-distant mirage that cloaks perspective and hides the horizon. It’s like an oasis in the climate-controlled comfort of Frontline’s VW conversion as we cruise up the Cobb Highway looking for an excellent place to camp.
The Volkswagen T5 Transporter is arguably the best passenger van on the market and easily suitable for campervan conversions. This one is fitted with VW’s 2.0L, 132kW turbo diesel, a seven-speed DSG auto-transmission and drives all-four wheels. On the road, it is a quiet and comfortable car. The suspension is well-balanced, so there’s a good spread between handling and ride. Volkswagen’s optional 4Motion all-wheel drive system is an excellent addition to this camper. Rather than featuring a locking centre diff, the vehicle’s computer chooses how to distribute the power, and although we didn’t get to test it on this trip thoroughly, we’ve used the same system crossing the Simpson Desert in Volkswagen Amaroks (check out page 91) and found the system surprisingly good.
The T5 has an electronic front diff-lock, which is excellent for off-road traction. The 300mm wading depth was the van performed excellently. Frontline has fitted some beautiful alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres to this camper, which makes it even more suitable for some rougher driving. The cabin and driver ergonomics are ideal for a van. Despite the good front end and short nose, it feels like you are driving a car rather than a converted commercial vehicle. The steering wheel is full of buttons, and the cruise control is easy to use. It’s got a great stereo and that climate-controlled air conditioning.
As a credit to Frontline, the second row of seats, which fits as part of the Adventure Pack conversion, are comfortable and good-looking. The seat belts have even been pull-tested to ensure occupant safety is maintained. We did notice a little wind noise through one of the Kingsley Van Conversion windows while driving, but we’re very impressed that there was very little of the cabinet rattling and squeaking we’ve come to expect in all campervans and motorhomes.
The camper itself is easy to set up. Notably, the full-popping roof isn’t fitted with external latches; internal cam-buckles lock down straps and hold the top shut. This is great in bad weather, as you can set up the whole camper without leaving its cozy comfort. The roof is nice and light, with a durable canvas skirt that self-gathers when it’s time to pull it down. Three fly-screened windows are sewn into the fabric. Fitted with Frontline’s optional Adventure Pack, the VW’s front passenger seat swivels around into the living area in daytime mode while the second row of seats stays put and becomes a lounge (as soon as you take your seatbelts off). A small table fits into the floor, although it’s tough to move around inside with it in and the stove out. That stove is a great little feature, though. Not just because it’s a stove but because it slides out from under the bench. Many campers use a lifting lid to maximise bench space, although it’s only maximised when you don’t need the stove.
Many will like the two-burner metho stove for its ease of use and clean burning. Plenty will be able to reminisce about old, similar camping stoves that have cooked some great meals. Others might need to read the instruction manual the first time they use it. The kitchen is otherwise well-equipped. The 80-litre, upright, compressor-driven fridge is the perfect fit, and 55 litres of water is plenty for such a small camper. A small microwave is cleverly tucked away. A slide-out pantry is a great feature; we never needed to use the smoke detector or fire extinguisher. When day becomes night, the camper is easy to convert. It’s a two-handed operation to unlatch the lounge and transform it into a bed, although it’s a very light process – there’s no heavy lifting.
The same is true in the opposite direction. The cushions are soft to sit on but firm to lie on, and they lie very flat, making a good bed. A second bed can be fitted up the top, made from three unfolding slats and a mattress. We found that if it wasn’t packed away in the right spot, it prevented the roof from closing correctly (it fouled on the smoke detector). There is adequate lighting throughout the van. Alongside the T5’s inbuilt cabin lights, there are two LED reading lights and another two fluoro roof lights. We’d love to see these replaced with LEDs as a standard feature. There’s an auxiliary battery to keep everything running, and our tester was fitted with the optional 60W slimline solar panel on the roof.
We spent a week in this camper, predominantly using it as a camera car and scout vehicle. It proved that the T5 is an excellent base for camper conversions because it is so easy to drive, manoeuvre and live with. When we needed someone to head down a tight track to find the campsite, we sent the Frontline. When we needed someone to head into town, they took the camper. It did everything, was always the first set up and first packed up, and always with ease. Frontline makes a very professional product. It’s Brookvale, New South Wales.
The factory is fitted with computer-aided cutting machines and high-tech wizardry to ensure everything is manufactured to the highest standard. It isn’t the most luxurious camper conversion around – others have higher-specced fitment, more excellent fabrics, more windows and so on – but it is excellent value. If you like the freedom of a small campervan or can’t afford two cars, this is a very versatile package.
VERDICT
Volkswagen Transporter base; great floorplan; off-road ready
A very versatile, very well-priced campervan conversion.
‘It did everything, was always the first set up and packed up, and always with ease’
‘The full-popping roof is great in bad weather, as you can set it up without leaving cozy comfort’
