Avan Cruiseliner Adventure Plus 2018 review

It’s not hard to see where the Avan gets its name. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The Cruiseliner is the biggest of the A-shaped campers and the Adventure Plus is the company's rough-road upgrade pack, which also makes this the flashiest of the range. As such, it’s got just about every conceivable feature packed into it, including cabin heating, ducted air-con and a hot-water system. 

Packed up, it looks a lot like a more traditional winding-roof camper-trailer, although with giant Perspex pods on it. Set up, it has that distinct A-shape from which it gets its name.

Overall, the camper is 5765mm long under tow with a body that’s nearly four-and-a-half metres long. The interior is 3.6-metres long and it has a reasonably light tare weight of 940kg. 

The bed has an inner-spring mattress and if you sleep on the wall-side, your partner will have to cook you breakfast every morning – it’s worth a try, anyway. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The master bed runs in an east-west orientation at the back of the van, which means that one person will have to climb over another, or always be first to bed and last up – not such a bad thing, now I think about it – is the other cooking breakfast?

In the Adventure Plus it’s an innerspring mattress and the base lifts up to reveal that largest storage area and some of the bigger appliances, such as the hot-water system and reverse-cycle airconditioner. I found it comfortable, and although I didn’t test the air-con this time (no power at our camp), I’ve used them before when they’re under the bed and if you only use them on the lowest setting, you can barely hear the slight hum they make. 

The dinette at the front also turns into a bed which would be suitable only as a last resort, or if you’re hosting a grand-child for a short period. As there’s not really anywhere for a third person to sit, or store their stuff, the third berth is largely redundant. 

The Avan is truly easy to set up and far quicker than anything with canvas or a winding roof. However, as the Adventure Plus raises the height of the van, initially lifting the roof and locking it into places is a little awkward for short folk like me, as I’m at full extension just when I need a little extra muscle. 

Also, because there’s no canvas, the camper insulates a little better, doesn’t flap in the wind and is a little more secure when left behind at camp. I did think the exposed foam core around the wall latches was a little ugly, though, but maybe I’m just being picky. 

Packing up is just as easy as it’s the process in reverse. Similarly, unlocking the roof peak needs a hard pull down (hard enough that you’re almost worried you left something latched the first time you do it), but then it comes down softly thanks to the elastic restrainers

There’s not much to go wrong, unless you make a mistake packing up. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Although the camper has a very distinct look, it’s actually quite a simple concept so there’s not a lot to go wrong. I could imagine things breaking if you pack it away in the wrong order (forgetting to unlatch the door, in particular), and I suppose with a join right in the middle of the roof there’s a very slim possibility of water getting in, but I think it unlikely. If anything does go wrong, Avan has an online spare parts shop, which makes getting obscure parts a little easier.