GO WITH THE FLOW
I’m a bit smitten with the Maui River Motorhome. It might have something to do with the fact that it’s easy to drive — even if you’re just recovering from shoulder surgery — and it might also be that this RV turned out to be my knight in shining white armour — my ‘escape pod’ from COVID-19 lockdown.
I’ve been lucky enough to test drive the River twice this month — once in the Clare Valley with food writer Di Mattsson and the second time in Victoria’s Yarra Valley on my own.
On the Clare Valley sojourn, Di did the driving as I was just shy of being ‘allowed’ to drive following shoulder surgery.
DRIVEABILITY
It was Di’s first time driving an RV and she was surprised at how easy it was.
“Actually not much different to my 4WD, which surprised me considering the height and the fact that you’re transporting a mini house,” she says.
“It’s good sitting up high so you can see the traffic all around.
“The step up to the driver’s seat was well positioned for me, and there were ways to adjust the seats to suit different heights.
“There was a back window that gave me good vision and a bit of leeway because I was concerned about getting used to only side-mirrors to see what’s going on.
“But then, of course, it also pushed me to work with the rear camera, which my old 4WD doesn’t have — and I now want badly!”
Di didn’t completely love the layout of the dash and front cabin. Her big drink bottle had to sit at an angle in the door which wasn’t ideal to access, and she never quite figured out where to put her phone. And, without an armrest, handbags had to flop about behind the seat.
All hooked up and ready to relax
Di at the wheel
“Perhaps because I am tall and had the steering wheel set fairly high, some of the instrument panel, including the fuel gauge, was obscured by the steering wheel unless I sat right forward and craned to look,” Di says.
“It did make me forget about the fuel and we got into a pickle at one remote point, running scarily low on diesel. Still my bad, though.”
A few weeks later when I got to drive, I didn’t need to worry about being able to handle the 3.4m tall x 7.25m long River.
Coooking can be everything from a quick reheat to a full course meal
The Mercedes Sprinter is light on the road, but stable and is very easy to park and reverse. I love the reversing camera but, because I’m ‘old school’, I never totally rely on it. Instead I always check out the side windows and through the back window.
This was my second time driving an RV that has the Park, Reverse and Drive gear changes located on what I am used to being the right-hand-side indicator stick. It was a much more successful experience this time — I’m sure it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
CABIN LAYOUT
There is a lot to like about the setup in the River. I counted eight cup holders cum knick-knack containers which are handy though not really big enough for water bottles.
There is also room for bottles in the door well, but they are not easy to find and reach while driving.
A large well in the dash can hold things such as maps and glasses but, for shorties like me, they are impossible to reach.
The media/entertainment unit in the centre console is the same as in the Maui Ultima, and I’m still not a fan. The home screen is easy to use if you are stopped and able to lean over to negotiate the panel. But the shiny surface and the fact that it’s not angled towards the driver make it hard to read. And, just when you get used to where the buttons are, night falls, the light fades and so do all those buttons.
You have to guess where you think they were while trying to keep your eyes on the road.
The GPS in this model caused a few headaches. What I thought to be my lack of knowledge and patience in not being able to get the GPS working turned out to be a faulty unit.
There's a space for all of the crockery
No amount of know-how and helpful souls on the Roadside Assistance helpline could fix it.
Thank goodness for Google Maps on my smartphone and the 12V plug which allowed me to keep it charged. But, as Di mentioned, where to put the phone?
Eventually, a $2.50 removable stick-on hook from the cheap shop fixed the problem, allowing me to hang it from the open glovebox.
LIVEABILITY
Travelling on my own, the River feels like a small apartment. With two of us, there was still plenty of room.
Sleeping arrangements were great. I converted the rear lounge area into my double bed and it stayed made up as we had the dining table and seats to relax in and work at.
Di scored the bed above the cabin which, she says, was a “little claustrophobic” for a tall girl. The shape of the luton is not as rounded as some other RVs and the angled roof means that you lie quite close to the sunroof — lying on her side, Di’s shoulders almost rubbed the roof. But it did mean good access to lots of fresh air.
Seeing a tall person climb into the luton bed makes for some side-splitting laughter while watching outrageous contortionism that would rival scenes from Cirque du Soleil. Short people have it much easier getting in and out of these top beds.
A TOUR INSIDE
Pale wood and light colours make up the décor. Blinds replace curtains in the River and although I have long said they make a better-looking alternative, I hadn’t thought about how they restrict air movement. It becomes a privacy versus cool breeze competition.
Find the latest offers on new and used Maui Motorhomes here.
It's a little squeezy, but the ensuite does the trick
We left the club made up as a bed during our time with the
Comfort is the name of the game in the rear club lounge
There are plenty of cupboards in the River from closed and open options above both the rear lounge and the dining area, to under-seat storage and a tall wardrobe which also houses the ladder.
A big tick for under-sink cupboards and large drawers under the cooktop. One stored saucepans and frypans while the other was home to all crockery.
THE BATHROOM
It’s tiny but does the trick. Again, for a shorty, like me, there is plenty of room to shower.
I have to stand on the toilet to reach the vent, but then I need a helping hand to reach most things. I gave up sitting straight on the toilet because, even at 155cm (just over 5ft), my knees would have been around my ears.
However, a sideways sit worked just fine, and the shower is really good.
The kitchen is fairly roomy
The sink is another story. This tiny little corner unit (with no storage) is only useful for washing hands and brushing teeth — if you can dodge the tap which takes up most of the sink space.
There is one small shelf above the sink, a cup holder and little else. The only towel rack runs alongside the loo, in line with the shower water.
Clothes have to be chucked out the door when undressed, and you’ll need to reach out for a dry towel when finished.
POWERING UP
Power sources are easy to work out. There are switches for stove ignition, water pump, lights and fridge on one side, and water heater and media on the other.
There are two 240V powerpoints at the back end of the kitchen bench and two more under the dining table.
There is a 12V outlet and provision for USB sockets though these, strangely, are blocked off in hire vehicles.
It’s good to know that they are available in the KEA equivalent RVs. (The Maui River is the same as the KEA River.)
Remember to turn the gas on when stationary (plus the respective switches on the control panel) to keep the fridge running and to heat water. They don’t work on 240V.
ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
Media in this model is a radio plus a TV screen that allows for DVDs and things to be plugged in. After exploring all day and working into the night, it was nice to be able to stream my favourite programs on Netflix, but I did miss having a TV for the news.
AROUND THE OUTSIDE
The River offers oodles of storage outside. The rear compartment reaches right across the RV so there’s room for chairs, hoses and fishing rods!
There’s also an easy-to-open awning and a slide-out barbecue which connects to gas via an outlet in the door.
THE VERDICT
From Di: “I thought it was going to be like manoeuvring a houseboat. Not at all. It was a fun big-car-like ride, easy going, even when reversing and parking, so no driver-stress on this trip. I will happily volunteer to drive again.”
I loved the River when exploring with Di. It was a great office on the road for two writers with deadlines to meet and a comfortable, spacious place to relax at the start and end of the day.
We cooked very little as the food writer needed to review restaurants, pubs and brunch spots. However, on my solo trip to the Yarra Valley, the River was a real home away from home — I actually got to use the kitchen.
A safe enough bubble to isolate in
And then the latest Victorian COVID-19 lockdown happened and I had to make a dash for home — 850km from Healesville to Adelaide with a detour from Horsham to Naracoorte and a border checkpoint to boot.
WHAT A TEST DRIVE!
Despite 12.5 hours on the road, it was an easy run. I felt safe and comfy cocooned in my ‘escape pod’, and it even gave me reminders of when to take a break.
What a blessing to be able to pull over, make a cuppa and raid the fridge without the threat of infecting anyone else.
It feels like a small apartment on your own
But there's plenty of room for more
QUICK SPECS
Maui River six-berth
Overall length 7.25m
External width 2.2m
Height 3.4m
Tare 3560kg
GVM 4490kg
Price Check maui-rentals. com for available vehicles and pricing