NEW CARAVAN

You’d think imported caravans would be expensive, but if you look at the new Swift Alpine 2, the price is not only highly competitive, but you also get some lovely luxuries, says Leon Botha.

Imported caravans are as rare as hen’s teeth but ever since 2018, Loftus caravans in Randburg have been importing some models of the Swift series. They’ve already sold more than 50 of them and now a fourth model, the Alpine 2, has joined their line-up.

This newcomer is aimed at couples with a light towing vehicle. Its gross vehicle mass (GVM) is barely 1 250 kg, which means you can tow it with a Nissan Qashqai. Unlike most of the road caravans, this one has a fixed roof and is therefore also higher. A big plus is the bathroom, though you have to make peace with the indoor kitchen. This caravan doesn’t have outdoor facilities.

What do you get?

The standard original caravan gets no amendments. The Alpine comes with a galvanised Al-Ko chassis and a Euro axle. The panels contain no wood and are finished with fibreglass skins. The frame is quite unusual and consists of polyurethane, a plastic-like material.

Woody Loftus of Loftus Caravans explains some of the cabinets are for example screwed to the polyurethane with screws. This is a durable method and those screws won’t easily lose their grip. The panels are 25 mm thick and the roof 32 mm (it’s also hail resistant).

The floor is a 44 mm sandwich construction with a Styrofoam core.

From the outside, the Alpine 2 has a striking appearance compared to local road caravans. The nose is rounded and a good half of it is all window. The windows extend almost to the roof – like a sunroof.

The bathroom is built into the rear-end section, the kitchen above the axle and you’ll find the bed in the nose area.

You’ll spot the first unique element at the door. Like the windows, the door also has a mesh screen that closes. You’ll see similar Velcro versions on the odd off-road caravan, but it’s a novelty on a road caravan.

Because the European winters are so cold, Swift are obviously well insulated, which means the Alpine 2 has double-glazed windows. They also have blinds for privacy.

The bathroom is a separate room and extends over the entire width of the caravan. The door is in the middle with the toilet to the left. Next to it is a wardrobe, and that means you can get dressed in the bathroom. The basin is in the middle with the shower next to the main door.