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The Geist Aktiv 560 is a beaut bunk van designed to suit the travelling family Words and photography by Gil Schott Seems to me that family vans are becoming more and more popular. Many of our local manufacturers are including bunk vans in their ranges, and the German builders are no different. The Geist Aktiv 560 is one such van, designed for the Aussie touring couple bringing their ankle-biters along for the experience. It’s a good thing, too. In days past ‘vanning was very family orientated – mum, dad and the kids taking off for annual holidays, school holidays and so on. More recently it seems ‘vanning has been presented (particularly in newspapers and on TV) as the domain of grey bearded old pelicans like myself, out spending the kid’s inheritance and trying to reclaim lost youth. The truth is, caravanning continues to be for everyone. It may well be that for those who can afford the time, taking an extended touring break with the family in a van is becoming more popular than ever. On The Outside Smooth curves and a clean outer skin typify Geist vans. They are attractive units and the AK560 is no exception. Aluminium front and side insulated panels blend with curved ABS mouldings to provide a neat, sleek look. We’ve detailed the structural aspects of the Geists in the past – a monocoque construction that builds the strength into the body in the same way many cars and aircraft do. The chassis is built around 3.5mm galvanised channel section steel with galvanised crossmembers, with the 42mm thick flooring panel adding strength while providing a really significant weight saving without surrendering structural integrity. The Swing V-Tec axle/chassis combination has been strengthened for Australian touring conditions by BPW in Germany. I visited their plant at Paderborn recently and was quite impressed at the testing they did on these chassis. The horrible corrugations they ran them over reminded me of the Pacific Highway on a good day. Alloy wheels are standard, as are heavy-duty corner jacks, and the suspension is independent torsion bar with dampers. On the A-frame the Winterhoff stabilizer hitch is designed to provide stability without the need for additional towing equipment. These are standard on Geists and operate via a clamp system that resists any tendency to swing. Override brakes are fitted and a retracting dolly wheel is enclosed in a shroud beneath a fairing when travelling. I have to say I like the way these Geists tow. We took the Aktiv 560 along some back roads and gave it some stick behind a Ford Territory. Through a set of ‘esses’ at, um, a tiny bit over the speed limit the van sat straight and true. On a long straight we performed a ‘crash stop’ at 100km/h and the thing never moved off line, and this was no autobahn, I can tell you. The front boot contains two 9kg gas bottles in their own galvanised protective box. The boot is shielded by a padded stone protector Along the sides you’ll find power inlets and access hatches for batteries and toilet on the driver’s side, while on the passenger side there is a hatch accessing a large storage bay. This is all pretty standard with the Geists. A swing-out handrail is mounted alongside the door, with a porch light above. Double-glazed, screened windows provide lots of light and air and the rear lights are high and easily visible. In The Kitchen The kitchen is positioned opposite the entry door and as is usual with Geists it is a touch short on bench space. Having said that, the dinette bench is within easy reach, and there’s another small bench opposite just as you enter, if you need more preparation room. A stainless steel sink with cover (which provides more preparation space) and flickmixer tap sits alongside a Spinflo Triplex three-burner cooker with grill underneath. The fridge is a three-way, 80L unit positioned under the drainer end of the kitchen bench. Below bench level there are cupboards and a cutlery drawer, while above there are overhead lockers with a solid shelf underneath. A fluoro light is fitted beneath the shelf and the kitchen area is backed by a reasonable window so that you can see your friends outside having fun while you slave over a hot stove. Water is supplied from a 70L tank. At The Dinette Which dinette? That’s the question you can ask of the AK560. On the passenger side to your right as you enter is a dinette with two bench seats. It’s positioned forward of the bathroom and across the passage from the bunks and a large wardrobe. It will seat four cosily and is quite comfortable and well located. This is probably the ‘family’ eaterie, where the adults can trap the kids against the wall and not let ‘em out to play until they’ve eaten their Brussels sprouts. It’s well lit by down lights, overhead lights and an overhead ‘Heki’-style hatch, as well as a big window alongside. It’s cosy in winter, too, with the Truma heater fitted beneath the ‘robe opposite. Overhead and under bench lockers provide storage. But then there’s the other one – the lounge area up forward. Here you can utilise a slide-out table to make additional eating space – less formal (and probably less comfy for eating), but just the job if you want to feed the bride grapes, cherries and strawberries as she reclines on the lounge in comfort. (I know that line is going to get me into some serious wife strife!) Whichever way you go, dining space is fine in the AK560. In The Bedroom Well, there are two bedrooms in the AK560. The forward section of the van is dedicated to that lovely Geist lounge/bed area, flanked with panoramic windows. As we’ve mentioned in the past, the forward lounges of the AK560 can convert to two single beds, an east/west double, or a great big luxurious sprawl of a bed – all put together in a kind of padded jigsaw puzzle. Overhead and underneath is plenty of storage, lighting is via downlights, an overhead light, a Heki-style hatch and of course those magnificent all-round windows. The only drawback with this set-up is having to remake the bed each night if you want to use the lounge as a grape-feeding area, (but that’s a small price to pay, isn’t it, dear?). The bunk bedroom at the rear, opposite the bathroom, is a beaut kid’s area. Double bunks are fitted on the driver’s side, with solid timber supports and ladder, and comfy mattresses. Each bunk has its own window for light and air, and overhead lockers and shelves provide storage. At the end, between the bunks and the bathroom wall, is a double locker with a table to for storing kid’s stuff. There is loads of room for the kids in this area and it’s a good option for the touring family. Keeping Clean The bathroom is fitted at the passenger side rear quarter of the AK560. It’s functional, if cosy, with a corner vanity backed by a big mirror, opposite a Thetford cassette toilet. Cupboard doors are made from a plastic-style material which looks a little flimsy, but can handle the watery environment. There’s a little bench space alongside the vanity – a plastic moulding that runs along the window sill. Ahh, that window. It’s big, bright and airy, and it’s opaque, but if you open it up, remember to close it during ablutions to avoid offending the neighbours (or, in my case, having them fall about in fits of hysterical laughter!). Overall, it’s a cosy bathroom for a family van, but it’s eminently workable, none-the-less. Worth Buying? In a word, yes. At the price they are going for, these Geist family vans are pretty good value. They have loads of storage, loads of room for the kids and all the accessories necessary to make a family blacktop touring holiday a pleasure rather than a chore. They are ideal for van-park hopping, especially to those resort-style parks with lots of attractions and activities for kids. An added advantage is their weight (or lack thereof). These are lightweight vans, which opens up the number of options for potential tow cars and will be reflected significantly in lower fuel consumption. Talk about Swords into Ploughshares – if the world’s AK47s (and AK74s) were turned into AK560s it would be a heck of a safer place (and much more comfy). Manufacturer: Geist Caravans THANKS TO…
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