RAPIDO VAN V53

A Serious challenge to the Brit’ speciality

What am I on about? Simply this, that where the Camper type of Motor Caravan is concerned, the UK are usually acknowledged as leader of the pack world-wide. To date there are at least fifty makers of the genre in our sceptered Isle and some of them date back to the Fifties. This machine is a very real challenge to that UK dominance by virtue of its quality and innovation and the fact that it is built by Rapido whose coachbuilt Motorhomes already enjoy a high reputation here. Brownhills of Newark made this V53 available to us for the test – an experience of some wonderment and respect as we discovered what makes the V53 tick. Basically this is a two-berth high-top Camper with a medium length of 5.99m. The friendly folk at Milestone campsite managed to squeeze us in during a busy period in May when the sun shone and the wind blustered whilst we dissected this Gallic machine.

CONSTRUCTION

Although you might not recognise it from the Smiley front shape, this is a medium length high-top Fiat Ducato base vehicle on which Rapido have worked their magic. Confused at first by the brochure reference to a polyester shell, I then realised that all was well; Fiat were still building their panel vans of steel to which Rapido add an inner shell of what we refer to as GRP and the cavity between is insulated. Obviously, any constructor that adds their own front shape to the vehicle and goes that far with the shell is in earnest for the long haul. Slide the side door wide and the first impression is of a lounge/diner of Motorhome scale. Swivel left and beyond the passage is a fixed transverse double bed! Galley, washroom and wardrobe occupy the middle ground. Why does it feel so spacious? Intelligent use of space and surfaces is the answer, plus the moving parts – table, seats, lockers and access points operate smoothly. How come the washroom is Motorhome size? It’s about planning and it’s not an illusion. Hmm this is something special and it’s obvious that Rapido have taken a cold hard look at how Campers have been built hitherto.

FLEET OF FOOT

To claim the Rapido’s bonnet shape improves the aerodynamics of the basic Fiat shape might be fanciful but if you take a careful look you will notice that the ridge on the standard Fiat front has disappeared resulting in a smooth rounded profile and the unmistakeable grin. The cockpit however, with its air bags, Pioneer radio/CD and cruise control is regular Fiat as proclaimed by the logo on the steering wheel boss. Power in the shape of Fiat’s 2.2-litre, 120bhp turbo diesel and six-speed gearbox produces a sparkling performance but with the option of a 3.0-litre, 160bhp motor should you be in a hurry. My driver’s log suggests I’ve sat behind the wheel of twenty-five of the current Ducato machines and enjoyed every one but Van V53 I believe has that little bit extra when in comes to the muted noise level contributed by the unique inner body structure and overall rigidity of the furniture. Interesting and unusual for a builder of Campers, the brochure quotes maximum speeds of both motor options at 150-kph for the 2.2-litre and 160-kph for the 3.0-litre option. We had the former option with its hefty 300Nm of torque at 2,000rpm and more than happy. A quoted turning circle between sidewalks of 14.14m was another piece of useful information in the brochure. Standard Rapido equipment includes the cab air-conditioning, cruise control, central locking, double armrests, ABS –ASR and the spare wheel! Incidentally, a single rear passenger seat belt was fitted with a fourth as an option.

RELAXING RAPIDO STYLE

That particular attention has been directed to the quality of seating was obvious when using the forward facing bench seat for two – it was unusually comfortable and supportive, with just the one seat belt. The same standard applies to the easily rotated cab chairs with their twin armrests. The jump seat by the sliding door was also a useful locker for outdoor tackle needed in a hurry. As for the monitor/control panel at last a manufacturer has used commonsense to create the best yet, telling all in obvious fashion without the necessity of using a manual. Lighting is economical LED throughout; curtains are of simple elegance, with white and tan fabric seat furnishings totally in keeping. My resident fabric advisor demurred about white for the cushions, loved the diaphanous curtains and reckoned the sliding pleated blinds for the windscreen and cab doors quite superior to any yet seen. Just one more example of the thorough way that Rapido have looked in detail at the way Campers are and ensured that Rapido stuff works impeccably. Camper tables can be a pain to adjust – this one lifts, slides easily by depressing a button on the clamp and that’s it. Looking aft from the lounge there’s the galley on the left passage straight ahead with washroom to the right and bedroom beyond. There’s also space for the decent wardrobe between galley and the sleeping quarters.

SLEEPING

Here Rapido have surpassed themselves in that they have created a fixed double bed with all its benefits within the dimensions of a modest length Camper. A firm but comfortable mattress has a sprung slatted base, there are four roof lockers, twin spotlights and a plain fabric wall covering. Madam, not tall, quite reasonably complained about the height of the bed above the floor, so we used our ingenious folding step. However the real ingenuity of the sleeping quarters is that beneath one part of the bed is the Truma space/water heater and fresh water tank and the rearmost section has the gas locker and stowage including space for two bicycles. For access, the bed base in two sections hinges up on gas struts to form a Vee – a relatively effortless procedure. Night time privacy in the cab is achieved by the best ever type of folding pleated expanding blinds that release and secure positively without fuss.

KITCHEN

European in style, nonetheless this galley has all the necessary hardware to conjure up nourishing meals. Raising an extension flap broadens the worktop area and the proximity of the table adds valuable space to that. A pair of hob burners with spark ignition shares the galley unit with a medium size sink and fold down swivel faucet. Stowage space in the base unit is excellent, with the 90-litre fridge/freezer right alongside. Total stowing capacity including the roof locker and dedicated shelves plus the cutlery drawer all add up to an impressive capacity for the food and the hardware needed to magic raw materials into palatable nosh.

WASHROOM

Study the photo for a moment to see a rather special Camper washroom – well planned and with an appreciation of how much space is actually needed to shower comfortably. Note the brilliant wooden duckboard, the warmth of wood grain effect walls, hooks for towels and the switch mechanism for the cassette toilet. There’s plenty of ventilation, a window through which the faucet can be used to wash the bike or the dog and a large wall locker and shower curtain barely visible in the corner.

STOWAGE

Not only is the stowage capacity very good indeed, it is also generally easy of access and that also applies to the fresh water tank when you need to clean it. Roof lockers are fitted wherever there is wall space and the wardrobe is generous by Camper standards. Space under the dinette double seat is useful and the inconspicuous space over the cab can be ideal for items needed regularly but preferably kept hidden. In the cab there are places for all the maps, documents and guides, some of it hidden and some readily available.  A final point on the stowage beneath the double bed; the rearmost section is of course accessed completely when the rear doors are open.

SUMMARY

Research and intelligent design have combined to produce a Camper that is a real pleasure to use and enjoy. Changing the front bonnet section and adding the interior shell of GRP are bold moves to accentuate the Rapido identity and achieve first class insulation. Hopefully our photos will give some idea of the character of the machine and it’s no surprise that the V53 and its twin V55 with a side bed are selling well at Brownhills who made our test possible. The vehicle has its own identity of shape and practical interior, lacks only a step to get into bed but otherwise was a joy. At £41,660 ready to roll it compares favourably with a number of similar size, similarly equipped Campers based on straight-faced Fiat Ducatos.

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: Rapido two-berth, high-top Camper

Price of vehicle tested:

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Brownhills Leisure World, A1/A46 Junction, Newark, Notts, Tel: 0845 605 2969

CONVERSION

Overall length:  5.99m

Overall width: 2.05m

Overall height: 2.55m

MPTLM: 3300kg

Payload: 495kg

Construction: Steel/GRP body with GRP interior shell

Fresh water capacity:  95-litres

Waste water capacity:  90-litres

Gas storage capacity: two x 13kg propane cylinders

Auxiliary battery:  100 Ah

Refrigerator:  capacity 80-litres

Water heater: Truma Combi 4 combined water/space heater

Lighting: mix of Halogen  and LED spotlights

Upholstery: Saint-Malo fabric option

Other equipment: Pioneer Radio/CD, Remis cab blinds

BASE VEHICLE

Type: Fiat Ducato long wheelbase Camper

Power unit: 2.2-litre JTD turbo diesel

Maximum power: 120bhp @ 3500 rpm

Maximum torque: 300Nm @ 2000 rpm

Transmission: six-speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking: servo assisted system with ABS to disc brakes

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 28-32mpg estimated

Maximum speed: 150kph as Rapido brochure

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph