Caravan Review: Hike RV Atom 176

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s something to be said for choosing a smaller van over a massive rig. I know it’s horses for courses, but smaller vans – 18ft and below – present a particular advantage in terms of manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency and accessing certain sites. When the time comes for me to join Australia’s fleet of grey nomads, it’ll be in a single-axle offroader similar to this Atom 176 by Hike RV.

Hike RV has been building this rig for three years. I’ve been admiring Hike RV’s van for a while now – the company’s big Amore Ultra is particularly drool-worthy – so when the opportunity arose to check out the smaller Atom 176 (which stands for 17ft 6in), I wasted no time.

BUILDING BLOCKS

A distinct benefit to the Atom 176: its weight. Tipping the scales at 2252kg Tare, with an ATM of 2800kg, it could be towed by a vast range of vehicles. It’s a good-looking van, too.

Hike RV offers the Atom with either an aluminium or timber frame clad with either composite aluminium or fibreglass panels – our review van was framed and clad with aluminium.

This Atom was intended for offroad use, and as such it was equipped with Tuff Ride independent coil suspension rated to 2700kg (the GTM was 2610kg, with a starting ball weight of 190kg).

Before going further, it’s important to note that the Atom 176 is intended to appeal to budget-conscious buyers in a tightening market. To that end, Hike RV has fitted two 120Ah AGM deep-cycle batteries rather than the much more expensive lithium, along with two 200W solar panels on the roof. A BMPRO BatteryPlus 35 power management system is fitted inside the van, along with the BMPRO OdysseyLink, which sends the van’s crucial data, such as water and battery levels, to an app on your phone and to a digital display (mounted to the cabinetry in the entryway).

This power management system is also compatible with lithium batteries, so you could theoretically upgrade to lithium batteries down the track, if you wanted to, without swapping out the power management system.

Underneath, Hike RV has fitted two 110L fresh water tanks and one 110L grey water tank. The PVC is up high and out of harm’s way for the most part, but a DIY job might be to wrap it in a pool noodle to keep it in good shape, especially if you’re doing long stretches on gravel.

The nearside is home to all the essential gear: a roll-out awning, a couple of speakers, anti-insect awning lights, and a a fold-down picnic table.

Two 9kg gas cylinders sit on the A-frame, forward of the checkerplate storage box with dual slide-out trays. Personally, I’d consider adding a stoneguard to the A-frame down the track. It was good to see the A-frame tap had a stoneguard though!

Important point: Hike RV has each van independently leak-tested by a company called Leak Tight RVs. In broad terms, the van is pressurised, soapy water is sprayed on all joins, and then inspected for bubbles that would indicate a potential point of water ingress.

INSIDE THE HIKE RV ATOM

Hike RV does its van interiors well, often employing a healthy dose of lateral thinking, with features such as illuminating wall niches. The interior of the Atom 176 is a little more traditional, though it’s important to remember that this van is pitched at budget-conscious buyers. That said, it’s still a very attractive and functional interior.

Further, despite its overall compact dimensions, I didn’t feel like there were any compromises in terms of the space given to the kitchen, the bathroom or the bedroom. The kitchen has a four-burner gas cooktop with griller and oven, recessed beneath bench height to further improve overall bench space.

Speaking of bench space, there’s plenty of it. Not only is there a hinged section of bench above the cooktop, Hike RV has fitted an extension piece that snaps up into place when needed, and folds flat against the leading edge of the kitchen when not. And if that’s not enough, there’s a slide-out bench section above the drawers. Both the hinged and slide-out extensions are small details but I have no doubt they’ll make the world of difference in terms of this van’s general liveability. It’s a shame we don’t see more of this sort of thing on other vans.

The kitchen also gets a stylish black sink with filtered drinking water, while directly opposite is an L-shaped lounge that’s quite comfortable for two people.

A queen-size bed sits in the nose of the van surrounded by overhead lockers and wardrobes complete with niches that each contain a 240V and 12V/USB point. While the housing for the tunnel boot does take up some of the under-bed storage area, the rest is unencumbered. The bed base lifts easily enough on gas struts. Small detail: either side of the bed, Hike RV has included padded vinyl book/magazine ‘pockets’ of the kind you’ll find also in the doorway and on the wall separating the lounge from the fridge.

Finally, the bathroom. I don’t mind admitting that the round mirror adds a certain wow-factor. In all the years I’ve been looking at caravans, I’m not sure that I’ve seen such a setup before. I realise it’s a small aesthetic detail… but I liked it!

The bathroom also includes a wall-mounted front-loader washing machine, a cassette toilet and a nearside fibreglass shower cubicle.

Among the other inclusions are a reverse-cycle air-conditioner, a microwave recessed into the cabinetry above the fridge, some 12V fans in the bedroom, reading lights at the dinette, a flatscreen TV and speakers, LED strip lights above the overheads… it adds up to quite an appealing package. I liked that all overhead locker doors are on piano hinges, too – still the best and strongest way to secure them, in my humble opinion.

And by the way, if you like this van but want to go even smaller, it’s available in a 172 variation – 17ft 2in. Essentially, you’ll lose 2in from the dining area and 2in from the bathroom. But if you like this size but would prefer a forward door, there’s a layout to suit.

GORV’S VERDICT

It’s compact size and relatively low weight are two things that appealed to me about the Hike RV Atom 176, but I would be remiss not to include the interior. It’s bright, cheerful and well thought-out. I particularly liked the bathroom and the kitchen bench extensions – they aren’t novel, but they’re useful. Yes, when the time comes, I think I’d be quite happy in this little guy.