Pick up 6

Motorhome-World’s Discoverer 6 motorhome is driving and camping comfort at its best – for a whole half a dozen people.

The Bouwers family’s motorhomes and off-road camping vehicles need no introduction. Bobo Campers, with Tim Bouwers at the helm, is Africa’s largest motorhome and off-road camping vehicle rental company, supplying to local and international campers who want to explore South Africa. After a few years’ use, their fleet vehicles are made available to campers looking to buy a secondhand camping trailer or vehicle, and if you’re in the market for a new motorhome, off-road motorhome, or off-road camping trailer, head to Motorhome-World, where Dennis Bouwers runs operations. Motorhome-World builds motorhomes and off-road camping vehicles for anything from two to six people for Bobo and the camping market. We camped at three places with the Discoverer 6 motorhome – with space for, yes, six. You won’t be able to drive technical terrain like the Sani Pass or the Baviaanskloof with this big and luxurious motorhome (built on the chassis of a Iveco minibus) but it’s a superb family motorhome for good tar, dirt and sandy roads. And the best thing about it is that you have your entire camping home – complete with bathroom and kitchen – on board in the back of the Iveco’s cabin.

Let’s talk torque

We drove and camped with the Discoverer 6 on the Iveco 35S15 chassis. With its 2,3 ℓ turbodiesel engine (107 kW and 350 Nm) and six-gear manual gearbox, the motorhome does a very respectable 110 km/h and even 120 km/h on the open road, despite its size, and it also doesn’t shy away from uphills or overtaking. Our average diesel consumption was 12 ℓ/100 km. The two cabin seats have a spring system that you adjust with a rotary knob according to your weight to take the bumpiness out of the ride. You sit nice and high and you can see the traffic and the road in front of you. Together with the side mirrors, the rear-view mirror gives you a good view of the road behind you through the motorhome’s large rear window. Just remember: the motorhome is high, so beware of the branches and that tap you might not see in the mirrors. You also have the comfort of power steering, ABS, air con, a radio-CD-MP3 player, and electric windows. The Discoverer 6 is also available in two different eight-speed automatic models.

That 6...

By day the interior is a living space with seating for four at a table next to the motorhome’s large rear and side windows. In front, directly behind the driver’s seat, is more seating for four at a table. Two passengers sit with their backs to the driver, with the other two on the opposite side of the table facing front. These seats – with safety belts – are next to a large side window. In front of the rear window and side windows (that slide open and have removable mesh) are durable concertina curtains. At night the seats and the tables combine to become double beds. You lift the rear tabletop off its post, remove the post, slide the tabletop in between the seats, and put the cushions on the tabletop. It’s as easy as pie and you have your first bed (1,3 x 2 m) ready. For the second bed (1,25 x 2 m) you need to lift the front tabletop of its post, remove the post, and use the tabletop as well as an extra-length top and extra cushion to build this bed. The second bed stretches from the right side of the motorhome to the bathroom on the left. The third bed is for two people (1,4 x 2 m) and is in the hatch above the driver section. You have to get on the bottom bed and then climb up a narrow three-step ladder to get to the top. Grandma and Grandpa won’t manage and toddlers may need your help. >

Bathroom basics

The enclosed bathroom (with its own door) is on the left-hand side as you enter. It’s spacious, with more than enough room for a sturdy rugby player, and the showerhead sits high enough for a tall adult to stand upright. The basin tap also serves as the showerhead – it’s hooked up via a pipe that extends and can be hung on a wall. The shower has a built-in space to put soap and shampoo, above the basin is a toothbrush holder, and in front of the room is a cabinet against the wall. The toilet is in front by the door, and a plastic curtain separates this from the shower. You remove the black water casette on the outside of the motorhome. Two 3 kg gas bottles are fastened in an outside cupboard above the right wheel. The 22 V socket used in campsites and the filler for the 60 ℓ water tank are also above the right wheel. Behind this wheel is the outside cupboard with the charger for the motorhome’s two batteries (beneath the one back seat) as well as the 12 V en 220 V distribution box with the circuit breakers. There’s also storage space for loose objects in this cabinet. The 20 ℓ geyser (beneath the front bench next to the safe) works with electricity or gas. The switches for the choice between gas and electricity options are underneath the table, as well

as a two- and three-prong socket and USB charger. The motorhome has oblong LED lights at the beds, in the kitchen and bathroom and outside above the door, all with settings to brighten or dim. There are also small spotlights at the beds that you can swivel in different directions to change the angle. And with the control panel above the door in the motorhome, you stay in charge. This is where you switch off the electricity, outside light and water pump, and you can check if you have enough battery power and water and if everything that needs to charge is charging and everything is working as it should. >

Kitchen confidential

The kitchen is to your right as you enter. The twin-plate gas stove and sink (with hot and cold water) are built-in next to each other, with glass tops over both. These glass tops double as work surfaces when you’re not using the stove or sink. Beneath the stove is a cutlery drawer and beneath that another drawer with crockery for six people – and right at the bottom is a deep drawer for pots and pans. There’s storage space aplenty. To the right of the drawers, beneath the sink, is a hip-height cupboard with storage space for dishes and a bucket, and shelves at the top for things like braai tongs and dish cloths. In front of the stove is a wooden rack with two flat shelves and perspex partitions in front for spices, a torch, and candles, and a slanted wooden shelf where you can slide in firelighters and other small items. The microwave (19 ℓ) is built into the wall above the sink, with a wine rack next to it. There are small cabinets with fold-out doors running down the right wall for things like glasses and food, or even towels and clothes. At the back and in the front of the motorhome are more cabinets and shelves, and beneath the seats is more storage space plus a small safe. The drawers and shelves all close firmly with silver push-button handles. Because the vehicle is big, a person behind you can take a cooldrink out of the ice freezer (80 ℓ) against the opposite wall or walk to the table in the back while you’re cooking or doing dishes. Above the fridge is a wardrobe, near which there is a work surface with two- and three-prong sockets, an air con and a ceiling fan that extracts food odours or draws fresh air in.