Vortex Bullet: On the Move’s New Offroader

On the Move Caravans has launched the Vortex Bullet. Think of it as the Son of Vortex. Or the Vortex range’s very own Mini Me.

That’s not to downplay the seriousness of the Vortex Bullet. In fact, it’s purpose-built for people who have mud tracks, desert crossings and plenty of vehicle recoveries in their future. Ultimately, On the Move Caravans owner Lennie Mifsud wanted to build a van that was as offroad-credible as any case-hardened Land Cruiser.

To that end, the width of the Vortex Bullet was reduced to 2m, allowing the wheels of the van to ride in the wheel tracks of the tow vehicle. It’s a streamlined design, “like a bullet”, as Lennie says. And it’s lighter than many camper trailers.

BUILDING THE BULLET

Construction-wise, the van has CNC-cut composite aluminium walls. The panels are comprised of fibreglass, a marine ply centre, and a Dibond outer skin. Lennie reckons the resulting structure is as strong as any offroader. Not having the opportunity to tow the Vortex Bullet on serious offroad terrain, I can’t attest to that. But I can attest to Lennie’s approach to caravan manufacturing, not to mention his knowledge of offroad touring. He’s the kind of guy who gives his vans a good belting in the bush, applying common sense solutions to things that aren’t working and thinking of ways to further improve the things that do work.

Besides, having had a good look through and under the Vortex Bullet, and taking it for a good test tow at highway speeds, and on gravel roads, it’s safe to say that this van lives up to the reputation forged by its compatriots built by On the Move.

On the extended drawbar, you’ll find a D035 coupling, a 9kg gas cylinder, offside-mounted spare wheel, as well as a custom-made motorbike rack. Now, that rack isn’t standard fitment. It’s something Lennie knocked up to accommodate his own motorbike as he tested this particular van in the bush before it went into production. Did I mention that our review Vortex Bullet was a prototype?

The van rides on an Austrail chassis and Al-Ko’s Enduro Outback independent suspension, an offroad setup that’s been on the market for about a year.

The external storage, however, is what really caught my eye. There are four large bins on offer up front, one of which more resembles the storage compartment of a coach than a caravan. Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to fill it all, but if you did, it would be with confidence – the Vortex Bullet has a payload capacity of 963kg. As an offroader, it’s a sensible payload capacity. It means ample capacity for spare water, fuel, a generator, and food to last weeks. Our review Vortex Bullet only had a fresh water-carrying capacity of 62L, but production models will get 110L as standard. Need more? On the Move can customise water storage to your needs. The 95L grey water tank fitted to our review van will be upgraded to 110L, too, in production models.

Because our review van was a prototype that had already seen some miles, it was clear that the catches on the external locker doors left a little to be desired. Though they worked, they required a bang with a fist to latch properly.

On the nearside, there is also an ‘entertainment’ hatch and a Fusion speaker. Good gear.

BIGGEST BED?

Though the Vortex Bullet is almost half a metre narrower than its bigger brothers, the layout doesn’t feel compromised. And the bed up front? It’s one of the largest I’ve ever seen in any caravan. Love it.

Naturally, the cabinetry throughout is CNC machined, and the catches for the doors of the overhead lockers are hidden. The offside dinette has a tri-fold table, snap-up footrests, and lockers above. Meanwhile, the nearside kitchen has a four-burner cooktop and griller, stainless steel sink, the obligatory overhead lockers, and a decent spread of cupboards and drawers. The doors of the lockers snap open on gas struts and solid hinges.

Because caravans are, by nature, (relatively) confined spaces, it’s accepted that the main bed won’t be as large as your bed at home. But the Vortex Bullet’s mattress, which rests on a ply base above two of the external storage compartments, fills the entire width of the rig. You can’t access the storage space below from the inside, but a small draw slides smoothly out from the foot of the bed.

Behind the dinette, a moulded-fibreglass combo bathroom has been fitted. It’s not earth-shattering in its design, but it’s as good as any you’ll find elsewhere. I did, however, love the wardrobe/pantry/cupboard space across the rear of the Vortex Bullet. On the Move has even fitted a top-loader washing machine hereabouts. Honestly, this van has more storage, inside and out, than you could shake a stick at.

As a two-person offroad touring weapon, the On the Move Vortex Bullet should faithfully follow your 4WD wherever you care to take it. But why should the kids miss out on the fun? A family layout is on the way, with bunks on the offside and a full-width bathroom positioned in the rear. If you have kids, that will be one to look for. Lennie tells me that a range of other layout options is available too.

GORV’S VERDICT

The Vortex Bullet was launched at this year’s Victorian Supershow. It is already proving to be a popular seller, sitting as it does in the biggest-selling Vortex range.

I like the fact that this van isn’t overly large. After all, the larger the van, the more difficult it is to access the most remote campsites. The fact it will sit in the wheel tracks of the 4WD should reduce rolling resistance and minimise the need for unnecessary recoveries.

In terms of self-sufficiency, the Bullet is about right. Thankfully, production models will get greater fresh and grey water storage. As for 12V power, the standard 150W solar panel should pair well with the onboard 100Ah lead crystal battery. Lead crystal batteries haven’t received as much attention as lithium batteries but they’re gaining traction, thanks to their ability to be more deeply discharged and charged to their full capacity, regardless of how extreme the temperature, than conventional deep cycle batteries. They’re also a heck of a lot cheaper than lithium.

Is a single 150W solar panel enough? It depends on your usage. Personally, I’d pair it with a similarly-rated portable unit so that I could chase the sun around camp.

Ultimately, however, the Vortex Bullet strikes an effective balance between weight, storage and payload capacity. I see no reason why it couldn’t go to any far-flung corner of Australia where caravans are allowed.

THE SCORE

FIT AND FINISH –

LAYOUT –

INNOVATION –

HITS AND MISSES

COMPLETE SPECS