RV REVIEW |
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provide better overall rigidity
and thermal efficiency, too.
The suspension is a tandem-
axle eye-to-eye setup –
independent coil suspension
would, I believe, be an
unnecessary expense in a van
such as this. On a side note: I
appreciated that the wiring to
the electric brakes runs straight
to the wheel hub – comparable
vans would likely involve a
terminal block hanging freely
in the wind, just waiting to be
damaged by an errant stone.
I would, however, like to see
some protection for the grey
water pipes.
Among the external features,
there’s a 120W solar panel, a
100Ah deep-cycle battery, an
external 12V point, a couple
of 9kg gas cylinders on the
drawbar, and a front tunnel
boot. The offside town water
inlet sits a little low and is a
bit too exposed for my liking.
Even though it’s mounted
just forward of the wheels
(and probably out of the line
of fire), I’d prefer to see it
tucked higher up against a
chassis rail. Overall, though,
the Musketeer Aramis sports
a decent amount of external
equipment.
INSIDE THE ARAMIS
The Aramis’ layout is
comprised of a north-south
bed in the nose of the van
surrounded by a bedhead
of overhead lockers and
a wardrobe either side,
an amidships dinette on
the nearside, an opposing
kitchen, and a full-width rear
bathroom. You’re right: it’s
a familiar layout. But that’s
because in a van with a body
length of less than 20ft, it
works well.
A drawer under each dinette
seat gives easy access
to these storage spaces;
however, it’s all a bit limited
by the opposing kitchen – the
drawers can only be pulled
out so far, so you’ll need to
remove the cushions and ply
hatches beneath to access the
rest of the available space.
The kitchen has four
drawers, an under-sink
cupboard, storage under
the griller, and a pull-out
pantry. Naturally, there’s
a microwave built into the
kitchen’s overhead cabinetry,
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