Our A'van Applause 500

Ours is a 2006 model-year Applause 500. The layout and specification have changed year by year. We will refer to ours as simply the "Applause 500" or "A'van" from now on.

Applause 500 Layout

The house layout is compact but very accessible for each of the main functions.

Specification for our Applause 500

The specification as supplied is given in the following Table, along with some extra detail for most items.

As purchased, the A'van also came with

• 2 x BP 80 W solar panels and SBC-7120 controller
• tow bar and wiring
• reversing sensors and LED display
• flyscreen and fitting for sliding door

Essential Information

Things that are necessary to know to use the A'van:

• Sleeping Configuration: One double bed, 2.00 m x 1.25 m.
• Fridge/Freezer: The fridge always operates on 12 V. Fridge capacity 90 litres. Size: 808H x 549W x 411D (mm).
• Gas cooker: 2 ring cooker ignited by match or included piezo lighter.
• Gas bottle: A 4.6 kg gas bottle. The gas bottle is located in a vented, isolated exterior compartment on the kerb side of the vehicle under the bed, accessed from rear door. Do not use "Swap'n'Go" refills since these all seem to be only 3 kg bottles.
• Microwave: Operates on 240 V power only, so the vehicle must be plugged into mains power to operate.
• Water heater: Water heater works on gas or 240 V and is operated by internal switches. Water will be heated after approximately 30 minutes. BOTH gas and electricity can be used to hasten the heating. A heater vent is on the driver's side towards the rear.
• Fresh water tank: Capacity is 63 litre (not much).
• Drinking water: A drinking water faucet is located on the sink. It is supplied from the fresh water tank via dual filters that remove minerals, chemicals and Giardia bacteria.
• Shower facilities: Hot and cold pressurised water shower cubicle with separate hand basin and mirror.
• Toilet: Located in cubicle with shower. When foot lever is depressed, flush toilet waste goes into a 14 litre vacuum holding tank which is accessed from the rear door. The toilet cassette holding tank must be emptied if panel light in shower room indicates full. 1-2 cm of water must be in pan to seal vacuum (lifting foot lever adds water). A switch on the panel stops the toilet pump from operating at odd times. The switch is centre off, up momentary on, down permanently on. The ball seal in the pan needs to be kept clean to establish vacuum.
• Grey water tank: Holding tank for grey waste water from the shower and kitchen sink. Disposable at all caravan parks and dump sites. Holds 71 litre. Note carefully how the hoses are stored under the vehicle on the driver's side. - the smaller hose is inside the larger, threaded nose to the front nestled in the driver's side front wheel well.
• Power Supply: 240 V mains and 12 V battery. The 240 V mains power operates when the exterior power cable is plugged in at a camp ground. There are two 12 V batteries, one for starting the engine, and the other for the domestic 12V system (the 'house' battery). This system includes water pump and lighting. Batteries are recharged by engine alternator when driving, from the roof-mounted solar cells, or from the mains power supply when plugged in at a camp ground.
• Lighting: All interior halogen lights have been replaced by LED lights and operate only off the 12 V house battery.
• Heating/Cooling: A ceiling heater/air conditioner operates off 240V only, and is thermostatically controlled to ensure a comfortable temperature.
• Two fans are available for comfort.
• Also fitted is an Airtronic diesel heater, operated from the mini-controller below the controllers for the hot water heater next to the bed. Set the dial to the desired temperature; start by top button, off by centre button, fan only by bottom button. Adjust setting slowly so that once the room temperature reaches a comfortable level, the heater runs at its lowest speed. Otherwise it will either use excessive fuel, or repeatedly stop and restart, drawing a lot of power from the battery.
• Storage: Ample overhead cupboard storage, space under bed at rear of vehicle, and along wall.
• Skylights: One in the roof of living area, one in the shower cubicle. Ensure these are closed when driving.
• Fly screens/privacy screens: All windows and the main skylight have privacy screens. All openable windows and skylights in the living area of vehicle also have fly screens. There are also fly screens for the side door entrance and for the cabin windows, under the bed. That for the side entrance fits into the rope track at the top and is attached magnetically at the sides and bottom. The cabin window screens also attach magnetically and are rolled into position.
• Flooring: Easy care, non-slip vinyl.
• Internal access: Internal access between driver's cab and living area.
• External access: Side door with power doorstep, controlled at the door. The step is retracted automatically when the vehicle ignition is turned on. The step cannot be activated if the ignition is on.
• Sun awning: Fiamma wind-out awning fitted to the passenger side of the motorhome. Anti-flap brackets and poles are under the bed.
• TV/FM antenna: A crank handle on the ceiling at the side door raises and lowers the antenna. A pull-down ring allows rotation to aim the antenna. The antenna has a built-in head amplifier which needs to be switched on at the red push button inside cupboard 8, the 'technical cupboard' at the door.
  If signals at the location are vertically polarised, the antenna can be tilted to vertical to match. An adjuster handle can be reached through the main skylight - it needs a slight twist to unlock and lock, and then a push to set the antenna vertical. Be sure to pull out the handle to restore the antenna to the horizontal before lowering it!
• General Equipment: Buckets, fire extinguisher, fresh water hose in rear drawer.

While A'van have built a very good motorhome, it was not as well fitted out as we would have liked:

• Inadequate fresh water storage
• Poorly fitted out shower/toilet room
• Lack of heating when away from mains electricity
• Dingy cupboards with no shelves.

And there were a few serious design flaws that required correction:

• The fridge cooling air was drawn in from under the van and vented into the house instead of outside, bringing road dust inside
• The water pump plumbing was poorly laid out resulting in excessive noise
• The Philips Home Theatre System was a poor choice and was installed with the loop antenna for AM reception against the side of the van -- hence no AM radio reception
• The roof-top air conditioner blows the air to the front (the cab) rather than the back (the house) of the vehicle, where it is needed.

There are several pages detailing the motorhome "house" and some modifications I have made to it to correct most of these issues and to enhance the Applause. Use the site map to navigate these.

LINKS

• A'van http://www.avan.com.au

Applause 500

another view of the layout

What's on the roof of the Applause

another Applause 500

another Applause 500

another Applause 500