Full review
THE garage-model Sunlight T65 is based on Ford’s front-wheel drive cab, and one of a range of models.
Despite the T65’s fairly substantial 6.86m length, this motorhome goes like stink – thanks to Ford’s 140bhp TDCi engine, which replaced the 130bhp version.
The Sunlight looks pretty good, not least because of the optional red paintwork which makes the bodywork appear modern and striking.
Pay the extra £582 for this option and you’ll always stand out from the crowd on the campsite.
The more powerful engine and six-speed ’box is another upgrade that’s well worth the asking price (£1661), but it’s a must for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road.
You can afford to indulge in a few extras, too, thanks to the Sunlight’s price: unbelievably, the basic T65 starts at just under £32,000 – and no, that’s not a typing error.
Sunlight’s build-quality is every bit as good as we have come to expect from its maker Dethleffs.
The furniture is solidly made and the styling is far from the plain Jane affair often seen in entry-level motorhomes.
The large garage access door is positioned on the offside, along with the caravan door, which some may complain is on the ‘wrong’ side for the UK.
Of course, a garage layout means that the bed is raised to create the necessary height, but access to this mattress is easy enough thanks to the three-rung metal ladder.
A window and rooflight are provided for light and ventilation, and swivelling spotlights at the head end will please late night readers.
Forward of this bed are the bathroom on the nearside and the kitchen opposite. The bathroom doesn’t offer a separate shower, but with the optional plastic doors that separate the toilet from the showering area it’s almost as good – especially as there are two drain holes in the tray.
One section folds out from the bathroom door, while another clear Perspex folding door unfolds to cover the toilet area. The showerhead is handheld only, though, as there isn’t a wall clip for it once it is pulled from its standard position.
You don’t have to worry about falling over your shampoo and conditioner bottles, though – you can put these in the washbasin as you shower, having first extracted them either from the grey-doored cupboard or the mirrored cabinet above the toilet.
There’s also a small opening roof vent, plus two towel hooks and a plastic toilet roll holder.
Just like the washroom, which has all the essentials, the kitchen lacks for almost nothing. I say ‘almost’ because some would like a grill, although there’s a Smev oven below the three-burner gas hob (together with a drawer for storing your saucepans).
The only other omission is a draining board, so you’ll have to dry your dishes on a tray on top of the hob’s flush glass lid.
The refrigerator isn’t hugely generous in size, but it is raised almost to counter height which is really convenient for the cook.
Up front is a comfortable lounge, where both cab seats swivel to face the large wall-mounted table, which can be dropped to knee height if you opt for the extra double berth.
This table is a good height for all diners, wherever they are seated, as there’s only a very small step between the living quarters and the cab. Once again, bookworms will appreciate the twin swivel spotlights, and there’s an elastic wall-mounted magazine-rack for your reading matter.
You may not be quite so thrilled if you are an avid TV-watcher, as it is less than obvious where is best to site the box.
With only one mains socket in the kitchen the only place is on top of the hob, but this obviously can’t be done while the chef is at work. And if you use an extension lead it would have to trail through the kitchen, past the caravan door.
A proper TV cupboard with aerial sockets (and the lack of extra 230V sockets) is one of the obvious omissions that come with a budget model, but there aren’t that many more.
A window over the inward-facing seat would be nice (the panel is covered by a curtain, which at least looks better than a blank wall), and the electric step doesn’t automatically retract when you start the engine.
A grill in the oven unit is another small omission, and some won’t like the lack of carpets.
With head restraints and three-point belts on the forward-facing bench making it safe for four to travel, blown-air heating throughout, and that high-specification Ford cab, are we really going to moan about having only one armrest on each of the cab seats?
When this otherwise fully optioned model costs less than £37,000, I think not.
A full version of this review first appeared in the August 2008 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.Content continues after advertisements
It might be budget-priced but the quality is good and this a genuinely capable four berth based on a Transit