Goldstream RV 1500 QB Rhino Caravan Reviewed!

It’s been big year for Pakenham, Vic, based Goldstream RV. When a few blokes started this company back in 1993, having gained experience working for other manufacturers, it’s doubtful they ever considered that they’d be counted among Australia’s best caravan builders 30 years later.

Perhaps best known for its venerable wind-up camper, Goldstream also has a well-earned reputation for building seriously strong caravans. The most recent one that I hitched up, the 1500 QB Rhino – was a case in point. It’s only a little guy, at 15ft, but to me, that’s an absolute plus. Regular readers would know I like my offroaders relatively compact, and in this respect, the 1500 QB is a winner.

The ‘Rhino’ pack is Goldstream’s top-end feature bundle. I’m talking lithium and solar upgrades, Cruisemaster independent coil suspension, and so much more. If you’re after a fully-featured offroad weapon, you could do a lot worse than this rig.

Full disclosure: I’ve owned a Goldstream camper in the past and loved it. I would buy another in a heartbeat. That aside, let’s take a closer look at what this genuinely tough van has to offer…

INTERIOR FEATURES

First and foremost, the 1500 QB is a couple’s van. The layout doesn’t break new ground; however, it does a good job with the space allowed. There’s a queen-size bed in the nose of the van, a nearside dinette, a kitchen across the rear, and a corner combo bathroom and fridge filling out the offside wall. As part of the Rhino pack, the furniture throughout is made from an upgraded 15-25mm ply and finished with easy-clean gloss laminate.

The kitchen is equipped with a four-burner cooktop and griller, though you could have an oven fitted if you wanted to. The cooker is sensibly fitted on the far side of the bench, rather than near the door. The controller for the instant hot water heater is mounted on the kitchen wall.

Now, the bathroom is a combo unit with rubber seals for all joins. It includes a hand-held shower rose, a bench-style cassette toilet with a moulded-fibreglass hand basin behind. A mirror has been mounted above.

The fridge is a 188L three-way unit but given the lithium battery capacity – 200Ah worth of lithium battery power topped up by 340W worth of solar – it could be worth considering fitting a compressor unit instead. That said, modern three-way fridges are brilliant. I always ran mine on gas and never had an issue.

The dinette is clearly designed for two people. Upholstered in faux leather, and with a multi-directional table, it is quite comfortable and I appreciated that Goldstream fitted both a 12V and 240V point in the leg area, off to the side.

The bed is surrounded by lockers and wardrobes, and there’s a bedside table either side too. Meanwhile, each reading light contains a built-in USB charging point, with wardrobe niches either side complete with additional powerpoints. 

The bed base lifts on gas struts to reveal a reasonable storage space; however, it’s also where Goldstream has mounted the BMPRO BatteryPlus 35 battery management system, DC-DC charger and OdysseyLink, which you can pair to your smartphone in order to receive real-time updates on things like the water levels and battery state of charge. A Trek3 digital display is provided, too.

Personally, I struggled to find fault with the interior. These guys just know what they’re doing, and it shows. Goldstream’s even included a 12V pressure hatch.

GOLDSTREAM ARMOURED UP

All Goldstreams are framed in meranti timber and clad with composite aluminium. As mentioned, our van had Cruisemaster coil suspension, rated to 2.8 tonne, with the van riding on 16in alloy wheels while 12in electric drum brakes provide the stopping power.

Goldstream has used a 6in DuraGal chassis for this van, and when I looked underneath I noted extensive checkerplate protection for the water tanks. Even the outlet spout for the grey water tank was shrouded in checkerplate. Basically, if it could be damaged by stones or debris while on the tracks, it is protected. The electric brake wiring is protected as well, as it should be.

Along the offside, this van had an optional slide-out Dometic kitchen as part of the Rhino pack. This self-supporting kitchen, properly positioned out from under the awning, has three gas burners and a sink with hot and cold water. Obviously, this kitchen needs to be connected to the van’s gas supply via a bayonet coupling. The bayonet has not just been slapped to the chassis rail, as you’ll see on many vans. Rather, it’s neatly protected by checkerplate – brilliant. Further back, there’s a large picnic table.

Other features include anti-insect LEDs, a couple of optional speakers, and an optional gullwing toolbox on the A-frame. Two 9kg gas cylinders are found on the A-frame too, and everything is protected by a mesh stoneguard. Even the A-frame’s water tap is protected.

The rear bumper is equipped with two jerry can holders along with one spare wheel. And no, Goldstream hasn’t forgotten to give this van a reversing/driving camera!

Our 1500 QB Rhino had a Tare of 2116kg – not bad, all things considered. The ATM, meanwhile, was 2716, giving the van a payload capacity of 600kg. The unladen ball weight is 205kg – quite manageable, depending on your tow vehicle, of course.

GORV’S VERDICT

I always feel as though caravans are better when the people who make them actually use their products. I happen to know that this is the case with Goldstream. That’d be why everything is so well protected – they’ve taken the vans into the bush, damaged things here and there, and set out to rectify these issues. It’s a very good thing.

As far as compact, single-axle couple’s offroaders go, this is one of the better ones on the market. Highly recommended.

THE SCORE

FIT AND FINISH –

LAYOUT –

INNOVATION –

HITS & MISSES

COMPLETE SPECS