by Holly Tribe
Last week we revealed the Fifth Wheel Company was preparing to launch its first ever ‘traditional’ touring caravan: the Fifth Wheel Inos. And we caught up with the firm at Boat and Caravan 2011 to find out more.
Using technology borrowed from its line of fifth wheel touring vehicles, the Inos features Europe’s first ever production line ‘van with a slide-out section.
For those of you unfamiliar with the North Welsh company’s portfolio, their signature slide-out design is a compartment built into the side of the trailer which is extended outwards to increase the internal floorspace, in the case of the Inos, by 3 metres square. Operated electronically (12v), the mid section slides out at the push of a button.
The name comes from an anglicised version of the Welsh word ‘Ty unnos’ – an old tradition which allowed any person who constructed a house on common land in a single night to lay claim to that land forever more.
As a specialist caravan manufacturer, operations director Adrian Parry-Jones remarked the firm is not competing with the mainstream caravan market, and is instead focused on developing its niche product portfolio: “There’s been a huge demand from customers in the UK for a caravan which features a slide-out.
“With our experience in manufacturing fifth wheel tourers we have been able to develop the technology to make a slide-out feature for the caravan market.”
So, what’s inside?
The Inos is one of the most spacious two berth caravans on the market today, and comes with a long list of quality fixtures and fittings including underfloor heating, acres of storage, an anti-snake trailer control system and a speed fit pressurised water system.
The main living area is set up well for entertaining with a bench sofa running along the width of the rear end with a second U-shaped seating area set into the slide-out section opposite a well kitted out kitchen (pictured).
As you move through the cabin, along the corridor to the bedroom there are two doors on either side. One houses a spacious WC and the other contains a separate washroom with full shower cubicle. The bedroom features a double island bed with steps leading up to the headboard on either side.
Due to the heavy towing weights of the Inos, the firm has been working in conjunction with experienced European chassis manufacturers BPW, who are well versed in building chassis for larger commercial vehicles utilising their exceptional heavy braking expertise. As such, these caravan are designed to be towed behind substantial 4×4 towcars such as Range Rovers and Nissan Pathfinders.
Check back soon for our walk through video feature and commentary from the Fifth Wheel Co.’s technical manager.
Tech spec:
- Price: from £36,000
- MTPLM: 2,700kg
- Payload: 500kg
- Berth: 2
- Axle: twin
- Overall width: 2.3m
- Width of slide-out: 2.9m
There’s an extensive list of optional extras including leather upholstery upgrade at £1400, and black out windows for £600. For a full list of cost options, head to the Fifth Wheel Company website.
