Should the 525W of roof-mounted solar not be enough, the system is able to support an additional 600W of solar charging via a portable panel connected to an external Anderson plug.
The SR19 FORTE is built on a 6in hot-dipped-galvanised RHS chassis on independent trailing arm coil suspension. Looking underneath the van, I found it to be clean and tidy, everything protected as it should be and nothing that looked particularly vulnerable. Two 80L fresh water tanks and a single 80L grey water tank are provided, each protected by a stoneguard.
The pointy end of the van gets a 50mm ball coupling – this isn’ t an offroad caravan, after all – and the excellent Ark XO750 jockey wheel. The versatility of this jockey wheel cannot be understated.
MDC has also given this van an A- frame-mounted storage box complete with enclosed storage for two 9kg gas cylinders, and a compartment either side that would prove useful for carrying firewood. A small point: the tap on the A-frame is mounted on the inside, where it receives mechanical protection from the surrounding steel and isn’ t as vulnerable to stone-strike.
I have always disliked the checkerplate lids provided for chassis-mounted batteries – they’ re fiddly to remove and to replace. I therefore couldn’ t help but notice the lid to the battery on this van. Simply undo a catch, and it drops down. Easy! The nearby water fillers are neatly presented and labelled – another tick in this van’ s favour. Presentation counts.
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