RV REVIEW

INSIDE THE ATOM!

I’ ve said it before and I’ ll say it again: there’ s something to be said for choosing a smaller van over a massive rig. I know it’ s horses for courses, but smaller vans – 18ft and below – present a particular advantage in terms of manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency and accessing certain sites. When the time comes for me to join Australia’ s fleet of grey nomads, it’ ll be in a single-axle offroader similar to this Atom 176 by Hike RV.

Hike RV has been building this rig for three years. I’ ve been admiring Hike RV’ s vans for a while now – the company’ s big Amore Ultra is particularly drool-worthy – so when the opportunity arose to check out the smaller Atom 176( which stands for 17ft 6in), I wasted no time.

BUILDING BLOCKS

A distinct benefit to the Atom 176: its weight. Tipping the scales at 2252kg Tare, with an ATM of 2800kg, it could be towed by a vast range of vehicles. It’ s a goodlooking van, too.

Hike RV offers the Atom with either an aluminium or timber frame clad with either composite aluminium or fibreglass panels – our review van was framed and clad with aluminium.

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