Verdict
Where you have your washroom is clearly a matter of personal choice, although we think moving it to the centre in the 2018-season Elddis Crusader Supercyclone has made the washing space a tad restricted.
That said, the new Crusader Supercyclone looks fantastic, with great external access to the internal storage space, and a fine kitchen.
It is very keenly priced against its rivals in this particular segment, too.
Pros
We think it is a great-looking caravan
There’s good access to the storage areas
Cons
The shower is cramped
The fixed beds are a bit on the short side
There’s been a Supercyclone in the Elddis Crusader range for some years, but not always with the same layout.
For the past couple of years, this twin-axle monster (MiRO 1617kg) has shown both sides of the transverse washroom debate, as in, are such luxuries best stowed at the back, by the bedroom, or across the middle, nearer the lounge and the axle?
The 2017 model’s facilities were at the back. This season, the last without input from new owners the Erwin Hymer Group, they are across the middle.
Let’s find out what the 2018 Elddis Crusader Supercyclone is like.
And to see other Elddis caravans for sale, click here.
It looks fantastic, with great external access to the internal storage space
Pitching & Setting-up
All models in the Crusader range of Elddis caravans have distinctive single-tone dark grey sides and new graphics for the 2018 touring season.
With the flush-fitting windows, this makes them look more classy. In fact, we’d say this pushes their appearance close to their pricier Buccaneer cousins.
You might wonder at the wisdom of naming a caravan range after extreme weather. Is it a claim that this structure will stay up in such conditions?
There was a bit of a summer storm as we viewed this caravan at its launch.
But you can be sure that, were you to meet such conditions on the road, the near 8m-long tourer should take care of them, with its Al-Ko chassis, AKS stabiliser and ATC trailer control system.
Living
The significant colour changes continue inside the 2018 Elddis Crusader Supercyclone.
Gone are the gold and crimson upholstery and yellowy wood finish. In comes a paler Noce Ampere furniture foil (with a contrast band on the locker doors given the exotic title of ‘Fantasie Mink’), and a more neutral upholstery fabric known as Arran.
This contrasts with Karnak Granite worktops, silvery curtains and a darker (more practical) carpet.
The fabric has a thread tight enough to resist even the most persistent pet’s claws and is treated with an antibacterial agent, an innovation our Tourer of the Year judges considered worthy of a ‘highly commended’ award.
In the front lounge, the two facing settees give room for four, with corner cushions.
A large sunroof and stargazer rooflight let in plenty of daylight, while at night you can enjoy ambient light and four spotlights.
Two corner speakers provide sound from the fitted CD/MP3 player and radio tuner with USB connectivity.
The cocktail cabinet is on the other side of the door, and immediately beneath are the sockets for the TV that you can put on the shelf below this.
We are not sure why Elddis bothered to include a cupboard beneath this shelf. The freestanding dining table doesn’t reside here (it has its own place in the kitchen) and the space is too narrow for anything except access to the gas taps and perhaps a map.
Kitchen
The granite-effect worktop in this Elddis caravan comes with an extension flap and two mains sockets nearby.
The other big change in the kitchen for 2018 is the rectangular sink next to a dual-fuel four-burner hob with a splashback.
The whole area is well lit, not just by the window, but also by two LED lights each side of the large overhead cupboards.
The cupboard beneath the worktop is next to four good-sized drawers and the Thetford Aspire Mk II oven/grill.
Across the way is a 155-litre Dometic fridge with freezer. A microwave sits above it and a small pan locker above that.
Washroom
As is common with transverse central washrooms, this one is a bit of a squeeze: the corridor to get through to the rear bedroom via the sliding partition door is just 56cm wide at one point.
This is not improved by the nearside shower having no rooflight and being slightly obstructed by the wheel arch.
It does, however, have a water-efficient EcoCamel showerhead and a dish for placing a bar of soap.
The washroom on the other side of the 2018 Elddis Crusader Supercyclone is much brighter, with a rooflight, an Alde radiator and a salad-bowl washbasin. You also get a large LED-lit mirror.
Beds
At 71cm wide and 1.88m long, the two fixed single beds are not the most generous, and anyone over 6ft 2in might have to put together the front double instead, which is 2.04 metres (6ft 8in) long.
The Elddis Crusader Supercyclone’s back bedroom has a central chest, good headboards, and mains and TV sockets.
That front double is easy to put together, but you do have to find a place to store the bolsters and draughtbreaker.
You can just turn the settees into single beds if you wish, finding a storage place for the backrests.
But, again, these are not very lengthy – just 1.74m (5ft 8in) right to the end beyond the chest, with all cushions removed.
Storage
The wardrobe in the Elddis Crusader Supercyclone has been a little bit compromised in size, but in all other respects, storage for four is good.
It is easy to reach most underseat and underbed areas from inside and out.
There are four overhead lockers in the front, although one contains the stereo. The rear bedroom has three nearside overhead lockers (one with a shelf), two at the back, and two on the offside (one shelved).
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 4 |
| MiRO | 1617 kg |
| Payload | 159 kg |
| MTPLM | 1776 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.96 m |
| Width | 2.3 m |
