While on-the-road trends often come and go, one remains relentlessly consistent … the average rig is getting ever bigger and ever more luxurious.
It’s taken a series of baby steps to get from the compact, basic vans of decades ago to the ensuite palaces of today … which often come with luxurious chef’s kitchens and surround sound systems as standard.
But, if we see the final destination, why are manufacturers taking so long to get to the ultimate home away from home?
Well, one leading Turkish van maker is skipping all those incremental year-on-year slightly longer, slightly more amenities ‘breakthroughs’, and cutting straight to a seriously big boy.
A wall expansion system provides extra space PIC: Saly Caravans
Saly Caravans says its aptly named 8.75 Dublex Palace redefines the concept of luxury mobile living … and they are not wrong!
This monster-sized behemoth is 8.75 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. Its most striking feature though, thanks to its four hydraulic wall-expansion systems, is its ability to expand into an 85-square-metre living space once parked. The revolutionary design effectively transforms the caravan into a fully-functional holiday home or a permanent residential alternative.
The Dublex Palace boasts all of the luxuries of home PIC: Saly Caravans
The company says the van has a total weight of 2,800 kilograms and ‘can be towed by suitable, high-capacity vehicles with ease’. It is without doubt one of the largest and most innovative towable caravan models ever produced and intended for ‘those who refuse to compromise on comfort while on the road’.
Its dual-storey construction and hydraulic levelling legs also ensure outstanding stability on virtually any terrain.
The manufacturers say the 8.75 Dublex Palace is the perfect solution for avid travellers and bridges the gap between a traditional holiday home and the freedom of the open road.
It has surprisingly speedy setup and pack-down times, and comes with flexible floor plans that can accommodate up to 12 occupants!
The rig can accommodate up to 12 people PIC: Saly Caravans
A spokesperson for Saly, which exports its various vans and motorhomes to more than 40 countries, told the GNT that it may be awhile before the 8.75 Palace is spotted in the Australian Outback.
“We are not promoting the unit widely because it’s heavy, and hard to ship abroad,” they said. “We mostly sell it in Turkey, around 8-10 units per year.”
• Would you swap your current van to take a Big Lap of luxury in the 8.75 Dublex Palace? Comment below.
