Caravan Review: Tango Caravans Stevie Series 18ft 6in

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Tango Caravans is a boutique company operating out of Somerton, the caravan manufacturing capital of Australia. The business has deep roots within the Victorian caravan industry: it’s run by Sarah Horter, the grand-daughter of Ian Grant, whose family has had strong ties to both the industry and the caravanning lifestyle for decades.

Tango has a wide range of caravans available. In fact, it seems this company is always adding something new to the line-up. The latest is the Stevie Series, a van built with a meranti timber frame, clad with composite aluminium, and a whole lot of creature comforts. We had the opportunity to spend some time with the 18ft 6in Stevie Series. Here’s what you need to know about this tandem-axle couple’s van…

THOUGHTFUL INTERIOR

One thing that Tango has always done well: interior design. When the company launched about five years ago, I was impressed by the breezy interior of the first Tango I checked out. This Tango Caravans Stevie Series lived up to my expectations.

I was, however, surprised by the size of the bathroom. It stretches across the rear, but there’s more elbow room than you might expect. It comes with an offside cassette toilet, a fully-moulded fibreglass shower cubicle on the nearside, and a rear vanity unit that hides a top-loader washing machine beneath the bench, a black sink and matching tapware, and there’s even some linen storage tucked in the offside corner. A solid sliding door closes off the bathroom for privacy.

The kitchen gets a 184L three-way fridge-freezer with microwave above, a four-burner cooktop, griller and oven, one under-sink cupboard, a small locker beneath the oven, and a few drawers and overhead lockers. If that doesn’t sound like much storage space, never fear: Tango has given this Stevie Series a full-height cupboard between the kitchen bench and the fridge.

It is separated into three separate sections with separate slide-outs, so you only need to open the one you need. In some vans with similar designs, sometimes the ply fascias of these sections bind on each other when all are opened at once because of the weight of the open slide-out causes them to sag. In the Tango Caravans Stevie Series, Tango has provided separate doors to each section, rather than permanently-fixed ply fascias, which gets around this issue.

Bench space in the kitchen is on the small side, given this is an 18ft 6in van with full bathroom; however, the hinged section of bench above the cooktop can be used for meal prep.

The L-shaped dinette is directly opposite the kitchen. Upholstered in faux leather, the lounge is quite comfortable for two or three people and the table can shift on two axis, forward and side to side.

The 18ft 6in Tango Caravans Stevie Series has a north-south bed up front, surrounded by overhead lockers and wardrobes, each with a niche complete with 12V and 240V points. Lifting up the bed, I was interested to note a small ‘cubby’ in the front-offside corner of this storage space. It’s actually a purpose-built surround to protect part of the gas-electric hot water service, with an access door built in.

The 12V system is comprised of dual 100Ah AGM batteries, which are mounted to the offside chassis rail in a steel box protected by checkerplate. As standard, the van has a BMPRO BatteryPlus 35 battery management system with the OdysseyLink display, a fantastic system that sends crucial information about the battery state of charge – and more – to an app on your smartphone or to the included digital display inside the caravan. Further, Tango has given the Stevie Series a BMPRO MiniBoost DC-DC charger, which boosts the charge from the tow vehicle in order to top up the van’s batteries more efficiently – it’s excellent equipment.

If that wasn’t enough, Tango has also fitted two 170W soar panels to the roof with scope to upgrade, should you wish.

The bottom line: the interior of the 18ft 6in Stevie Series contains all the equipment, including a sound system, TV and reverse-cycle air-conditioner, that you’ll need straight out of the factory for comfortable trips away. What’s more, it’s presented in a very neat, tidy package.

OUTSIDE THE TANGO CARAVANS STEVIE SERIES

This caravan comes with an extended A-frame. But where’s the storage box? Well, this van wasn’t fitted with one as standard; however, Tango offers numerous options in this regard, from boxes with dual slide-out trays to ones with jerry can holders, and all in different sizes. So it depends on what the customer needs. I would definitely add one here, as well as a stoneguard, perhaps – the dual 9kg gas cylinders do look a little lonely on that long A-frame all by themselves.

Now, this is not an offroad caravan. As such, it’s equipped with 3.1-tonne-rated roller-rocker suspension on 15in wheels. Three water tanks are mounted underneath the 12mm marine-grade ply floor: two 95L freshwater tanks and one 95L grey water tank, each protected by some gal sheeting.

All of the expected external features are accounted for: a manual roll-out awning, a front tunnel boot, a couple of speakers, a picnic table and awning lights. At the rear, there’s a bumper-mounted spare wheel.

While this van is framed in meranti timber, we’re told that Tango Caravans will soon be able to offer it in aluminium for those customers who prefer it. Having said that, a properly sealed caravan framed with timber should last decades.

GORV’S VERDICT

The 18ft 6in Tango Caravans Stevie Series presents as a good, honest caravan that represents all the tractional values associated with caravanning in Australia. There’s enough here to keep on-the-road couples content, with an appealing interior design. The layout is sensible and provides for a surprisingly spacious bathroom.

While there’s scope to add more during the build, in standard format it comes with enough gear so that you can just hit the road straight away in comfort. Yep, it’s definitely an attractive mid-size caravan.