By Outcamp - 23 April 2026
For years, Aussie caravanners have faced the same compromise: if you wanted a proper centre-ensuite layout - that gorgeous "wall between the bedroom and the lounge" privacy you get in a 22-footer - you needed a 22-footer. Which meant a 3,500kg-plus rig. Which meant a 79 Series, a 200 Series, or a one-tonne ute on airbags. Which, for plenty of weekend tourers and grey nomads on a HiLux or a Ranger, ruled it out completely.
Goldstream RV just changed that.
The 1860 Series - Big-Van Layout in a Mid-Sized Frame
Their new 1860 Series packs a centre-ensuite layout - for the first time in the Australian market - into a caravan that's just 18 feet 6 inches long and starts at a tare weight of around 2,600kg. That's well inside the towing comfort zone of every popular mid-sized 4WD in Australia: HiLux, Ranger, Triton, BT-50, Pajero Sport, Everest, MU-X. No upgrade to a 200 Series required.
Goldstream's engineers pulled this off with a full composite construction - 30mm fibreglass walls, a 17mm honeycomb floor, and a composite roof with aluminium capping - and a properly ruthless approach to interior packaging. There's an L-shaped rear lounge, a queen island bed up front, and between them a compact but functional centre ensuite with a wall-mounted washing machine. It's tight, but it works. And critically, it gives couples that one feature they keep telling caravan dealers they want most: a door that closes between the bedroom and the kitchen.
Four Specs, From Soft-Roader to Full Off-Road
The 1860 comes in four trim levels:
- Adventure CP - the semi off-road base model, $88,990 starting price, Cruisemaster CRS Country Road suspension
- Adventure CP Plus - same chassis, more inclusions
- Rhino CPX - full off-road, Cruisemaster XT coil/airbag suspension
- Rhino CPX Plus - range-topper with the 48V gasless package fitted
Top-spec Rhino CPX Plus runs out at $159,990. That's not cheap - but it's roughly $40,000 less than the equivalent 22ft offering with a similar power system, and you don't need to upgrade your tow vehicle.
The 48V Gasless Question
The headline feature on the range-topper is the optional $20,400 48V gasless upgrade. It bundles a Projecta Intelligrid system with:
- 5kW lithium battery bank
- 4,000W inverter
- 880W of roof-mounted solar
- Induction cooktop (no LPG)
- Diesel-fired heating
- 48V air conditioning
The big talking point in the touring scene right now is whether 48V is the future. We think it probably is - eventually. Higher voltage means thinner cables, less heat, more efficient inverters, and a real path to running serious appliances (induction cooking, A/C, full-size fridges) off-grid for days at a time. The trade-off is cost, complexity, and a smaller pool of techs who can service it if something goes wrong out past Marree.
For most weekend tourers, a well-specced 12V lithium setup with 400-600W of solar is still the sweet spot. But if you're a full-time grey nomad chasing genuine month-long off-grid stints - induction cooking included - the 1860 Rhino CPX Plus is one of the first integrated production caravans that actually delivers it without a custom build.
What This Means for Mid-Sized 4WD Owners
The bigger story here isn't the 48V system. It's the weight.
Until now, anyone running a HiLux, Ranger or similar wagon who wanted a centre-ensuite van had two choices: live with the layout compromise (rear ensuite, walk-through, etc.), or upgrade the tow vehicle. The 1860 Adventure CP at ~2,600kg tare is comfortably inside the 3,200-3,500kg braked tow rating of every popular mid-sized 4WD in the country, even with payload.
Expect more manufacturers to chase this same brief. The Australian market has been crying out for compact, lightweight, well-specced touring vans that don't force a $90k tow vehicle upgrade - and Goldstream just showed it's possible.
Worth a Look At Sydney Supershow
The 1860 Series is set to be on display at the NSW Caravan & Camping Supershow over autumn. If you're shopping in this segment - or you've been holding off because you can't justify the tow vehicle upgrade - it's worth a walk-through. Pay close attention to ensuite headroom, lounge legroom (always the trade-off in compact layouts), and how loud the 48V air conditioning is on inverter power.
One to watch.
Outcamp stocks 12V and 24V chargers, USB outlets, mounts and connectivity gear for caravans, campers and 4WDs - including our new 12V Accessories range. Source: Caravan Camping Sales.
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