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Live the royal life in this luxury van Words and photographs by Paul Hutchinson The Coromal Princeton is a luxury unit designed for a couple ready for the long term tour in style. The Princeton tows like a dream. We towed it with a Nissan Navara 2.5ltr turbo diesel dual cab. The Nissan is an excellent towing vehicle with plenty of grunt for the long haul. For my wife, the Navara was not her ideal tow vehicle, but others may disagree. EXTERNAL The front and rear of the Coromal are fibreglass with moulded side trims, along with aluminium cladding bonded & riveted to the aluminium frame. The Princeton has a very smart look from both the front and the rear. On the road the Independent suspension performs very well. Unique to Coromal, this has been tried and tested over years of caravan manufacturing. All the lighting is 12V and there is a battery compartment with diode protection, located on the A-frame, neatly hidden under a storage locker door. There is also a grab handle light and annex light, both 12V, plus an outside power point. The windows are uniquely designed to wind out on the driver's side, and slide open on the door side. This is so practical, and avoids the inevitable bang on the head from the window located under the awning, which by the way is a Colorado Carefree. Not to be missed is the triple lock security door for that added protection, and plenty of ventilation. The front storage boot has a moulded boot lid, gas struts, lock, lining and is sealed to store a gas bottle. On the rear there is the centre mounted stoplight for added safety. Coromal have a galvanised steel plate above the main door. This gives the aluminium frame an important strengthening above the door. Many early 80s Viscounts suffered cracks in the frame above the door because they did not have the extra strengthening. 15” sports mag wheels combine with mud flaps to give the Princeton the style it deserves. Drop down corner jacks have not been forgotten, nor has a tool kit; Coromal really do think of everything. INTERNAL My first impression of the inside of the Princeton was WOW! And that didn’t change. The Princeton has the latest in European style cupboards giving the van a very modern and sleek style. There was nothing overpowering in the Princeton and I continued to be impressed right through to the ensuite. The colours were very tranquil and stylish to say the least. The leather lounge was unique in its backrests, and I was unsure if they would be comfortable, but they were sheer luxury. The leather lounge was beautiful to sit on and so comfortable that I didn’t want to get up. Coromal has been around for a long time, and the older units were sparse when it came to cupboards, but the Princeton is not shy of storage at all. From the kitchen to the ensuite there are plenty of cupboards and the cook will not be disappointed. The kitchen is a well thought out layout designed for long term caravanning and I was impressed by its function and style. The Princeton has a huge 186L fridge. So many vans still have the old 90L fridge, but when you have the space, an upgrade like this is just the thing. There is a full size stove with four burners (one electric), ready to cook up a storm. We know that long term tourers can’t afford to be eating out each night and too many BBQs just gets boring, so the ability to cook inside the van is a great asset. The pantry under the microwave is excellent, and by the way the microwave is at a perfect height for the average cook. A large stainless sink has also been included. This is definitely a kitchen designed for practicality and efficient use of space. The windows are covered with venetian blinds and cloth pelmets which are both stylish and practical. There is plenty of light streaming into the van along with plenty of fresh air. I checked for the sanding of the timber work and because of the European cupboards and aluminium frame, there was nothing to catch your hand on - I was impressed. The ceiling contains a roof pressure hatch for the dusty roads, a Dometic air conditioner and a large hatch in the bedroom plus vent in the ensuite. The Princeton includes an LCD TV and a CD/Radio/MP3/DVD wired directly into the TV. No more lugging the spare room TV with you, tying it down under the bed and putting it up each stop. They have included the Winegard antenna to ensure the best of reception. The ensuite is very well equipped with separate shower, toilet and large vanity with a mirror to match. The shower has a clear glass door in chrome frame that matches the sleek lines of this van. The toilet is a Thetford full flush toilet and there is a decent sized vanity and hand basin included. There are plenty of mirrors and ventilation in the ensuite. The Princeton includes those little extras like toilet roll holders and towel rails to name a few. There is a solid sliding timber door to give privacy and there is plenty of room in the ensuite once it is closed. WORTH BUYING Michael Chapman informs me that this is one of their best sellers, designed for a couple to travel in medium to long term. Having looked over the van and towed it along the road, I can definitely see why it is such a good seller. On my short list, you bet. TECHNICAL SPECS INTERNAL FEATURES EXTERNAL FEATURES CONTACT/THANKS RATINGS LEGEND We stayed at the Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Park LAYOUT KEY
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