RV REVIEW
INTRIGUING LAYOUT
The layout of the 18ft 5in Mawson features a rear club lounge, with inbuilt cupholders, nearby USB points and reading lights. The switch for the Gusto dust reduction system is mounted inside one of the overhead lockers.
The kitchen, however, is split across both sides of the van, with the induction cooktop sitting atop a three-in-one microwave on the nearside and the sink on the offside, between the Dometic compressor fridge-freezer and the lounge. Splitting the sink off from the main kitchen bench is a different approach, but in the context of this van, I thought it works well.
Now, the Mawson’ s bathroom is split between a shower on the nearside and the toilet and vanity on the offside. There’ s a door separating the bathroom from the main living quarters, but there’ s no door between the bathroom and bedroom, probably due to space constraints but is a door here really needed anyway? Besides, not having a door actually makes the bedroom feel more spacious. Further, it has allowed for a larger shower – it’ s a triangular unit that does not feel cramped at all. The design has even allowed for a front-loader washing machine.
Unsurprisingly, Hilltop Caravans has given this van an east-west bed. Frankly, that’ s the only way the manufacturer would ever be able to fit so much stuff into a smaller van such as this while retaining a sense of liveability and space. Is it a compromise? I don’ t think so, especially when you consider everything else this van offers.
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