THE RIVER DOMINATOR 19’6’’ STAYS ON TRACK, THANKS TO CHASSIS KNOW-HOW AND LOAD SHARING TECHNOLOGY
Caravanning is a camper’s pursuit and if you’re chasing breezes, you want the right van. Comfortable spaces with large windows elevate your destination. And when teamed with a capable off-grid setup you can almost forget there’s another world out there.
Chassis-building heritage
River caravans have that ‘little home’ vibe about them. They suit tall travellers and are sturdy from the ground up, which is unsurprising, given River Caravans builds its own chassis.
Sal and his wife Rita Inturrisi launched River Caravans in 2010 but despite its relative youth, it enjoys an enduring engineering pedigree. Sal grew up within the caravan industry, working alongside his family in a chassis manufacturing entity till 2018.
In 2019, Sal started producing a chassis he’d co-designed with his father for River Caravans that uses a supportive T-bar and 5mm-thick 6in drawbar, under the C&R Chassis name.
Modular Suspension
Given River builds its chassis, using self-contained Simplicity Suspensions makes sense.
It’s standard on River models, with the tandem-axle Load Sharing system on the Dominator 19’6” seen here. “The Simplicity Suspension comes to us, modular on a jig, already ready to go,” says Sean Conner for River Caravans, for consistency in production and on the tracks.
“We just got to line it up with our chassis weld in place and it’s good to go.”
The Simplicity Suspensions ‘Smart Coils’ are variable rated, so they respond to highway bumps without bottoming out in rough terrain.
150Ah Lithium power
River vans have Meranti frames, alloy walls and fibreglass roofs. Our Dominator 19’6” demo has a Winegard aerial, Gree air-conditioner and a Dometic Dust Reduction System and two 200W panels. That tops up the 150A Enerdrive lithium battery via a BMPRO BMS, ably running the 275L compressor fridge indoors. Opposite that is a sink on an angled benchtop for easy access around the bed. All the cabinetry is laminated plywood attached to timber frames underpinning quality throughout. The ceiling is high and there’s a 6ft 2in pillowtop bed. Large flush windows, reading lights, overhead LEDs and mirrored robes brighten the interior.
Tough yet safe
We love the full-width bathroom out the back. The separate shower is spacious, with ample grey and freshwater storage off-grid. There’s also a large mirror and a washer under the bench. Comforts outdoors include speakers and a TV stand under the awning with storage for your gear. The 12in brakes work confidently with the 16in muddies and DO35 hitch. A rear-view camera and Dexter Sway Control boost safety, with the Load Sharing System demonstrated here. All up, the River delivers a well-thought-out off-grid van in the Dominator 19’6’’ that delivers off-road with the help of a formidable suspension.
CONTACT
River Caravans
Dominator 19’6″, River Caravans, Simplicity Axles, Simplicity Suspension