GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #27 | Page 19

RV REVIEW REGAL'S FIRST MOTORHOME! “ REGAL IS ALL Regal has long made attractive, well-regarded caravans. The company has been in business for longer than I’ve been lurking around the industry, that’s for certain. Nonetheless, it came as a surprise to discover that Regal had turned its hand to building B class motorhomes as well. INTERNAL FITOUT Regal is all about custom manufacturing, and this applies to its motorhomes, too. Our review rig was built on a Mercedes Sprinter 416CDI with a 2.1L twin turbodiesel engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. The Sprinter is undoubtedly a cut above in terms of comfort and the overall driving experience. It offers a commanding view of the road ahead, its large side mirrors providing decent rearward vision. Our motorhome even had a Safety Dave rear-view camera paired to a windshield mirror that displayed the camera’s live video feed. ABOUT CUSTOM MANUFACTURING ” Our Regal motorhome had a Tare of 3.2 tonnes. Mercedes gives the 416CDI a standard GVM of 3350kg; however, a Mercedes suspension upgrade increases that to 4100kg, and these are the vans supplied to Regal, allowing in this case for a payload capacity of 900kg. The layout consists of a nearside kitchen incorporating a four-burner cooktop and griller, a rangehood, a stylish black sink with matching tapware, a microwave set sensibly low, and a couple of cupboards and drawers. The back of the van is taken up by a large leather club lounge (which converts to the sleeping quarters), a 12V fan and 12V points either side, and a 12V flatscreen TV/DVD player on the offside. / 19