Swag Gen 6 SCT16 reviewed at Australia's Best Hybrids 2024 presented by Tough Dog 4WD Accessories

JOHN FORD — CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Build quality

Swag Off-Road Campers has a 17-year relationship with the Chinese factory that constructs the body and chassis, so there is ample history and experience to call on. The design process includes in-house CAD modelling and certification through an Australian test facility before production. 

The Swag Gen 6 SCT16 is a traditional style pop-top van built in the modern frameless body method with composite walls and roof of 30mm sandwich panels of insulating foam between fibreglass skins. A honeycomb floor bonds to the body to form a sturdy structure sitting on steel cross members of a heavy-duty galvanised chassis.

The fit out is completed locally with quality appliances and upgrades to the suspension, including Monroe shock absorbers and Japanese wheel bearings. Everything under the van is protected from damage, and weight distribution has been well considered.

Appliances like the Truma UltraRapid hot water system, EvaKool fridge and Sirocco fans all point to a quest for quality and durability across rugged roads. The interior fit out is neat and well finished, and the way the lounge converts from the bed end is an inspired feature. 

Ease of use

The Swag design is a point of difference among the imports at this year's event, and I like the simple and practical approach that creates a comfortable interior and the benefits of an outside kitchen. My main feature of note was the roomy interior, with the convertible lounge folding out from the bed to create a very usable dining or entertaining space. Thoughtful design also delivered the roomy ensuite and a north-south bed with easy access. 

The outside kitchen has everything you need, and ergonomics are generally good, even if it's a bit confined between the fridge and the main workspace. 

They have simplified the battery management system for seamless power for off-grid camping with the Projecta BMS.

Taller folk will notice the door frame is relatively low over the exit, so it's something of which you need to be aware until you get used to it. 

One drawback was the high exterior latches on the pop-top — even Tim needed help reaching them — so carrying a small ladder in your kit might be good. 

Ample storage options include a large box at the A-frame, two monstrous driver-side hatches and a roomy pantry in the external kitchen, so with a 650kg payload, you should be able to take all you need for extended travel.

Customer care

The warranty cover for the chassis and A-frame is five years, and the rest of the build is for one year. Cover for components is according to the supplier terms. The warranty applies to the original purchaser on gazetted roads but excludes tight undulating and extreme 4WD tracks unsuitable for a trailer. 

The owners of Swag openly acknowledged challenges in addressing warranty issues in the past but have taken proactive measures by employing specialised staff dedicated to promptly handling any claims. While we appreciate their commitment to improvement, it is worth noting that, as with many RV retailers, enhancing the inclusivity of the warranty document on their website could further strengthen customer confidence. 

Swag provides a portal for customers to submit concerns related to both manufacturer and third-party suppliers for components like the fridges, batteries, suspension, battery management system (BMS) and heaters. Swag also provides contact details for their third-party suppliers, offering customers multiple avenues for resolution. 

MALCOLM STREET — CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR

Value for money

What represents good value? How much of that value is in the eye of the beholder? Good question since the Swag Gen 6 SCT16 is one of the more expensive of the Chinese-origin hybrids. Indeed, the hybrid has an extensive list of standard inclusion items. However, there may be more of a clue in what is not seen, like the frameless composite construction method for the wall structure and honeycomb floor. The roof too, is made from composite materials — it's quite light for lifting manually — an asset for anyone with weak arms. The benefits are seen in the weight of the Gen 6 SCT16, when empty, just 2150kg — several hundred kilos lighter than several of its competitors, which may mean no need to upgrade a tow vehicle. Brand names are quite common in the Swag hybrid: NSK (wheel bearings), Monroe (shock absorbers), Cruisemaster (DO35 hitch), Projecta (battery management system), Tekonsha (breakaway controller) and Sirocco (12V fans). Equally of value are items like the Lagun table mounting, clamshell style drawer catches and the alloy checkerplate protection on the polymer water tanks.

Those items might mean little on their own, but combined into the Gen 6 SCT16 layout, they make quite an excellent package. Consisting of a front king size bed, nearside kitchen, offside lounge and a rear bathroom, it's very user-friendly. Throw in the external kitchen with a four-burner cooktop, stainless-steel sink and a 75L dual zone fridge; there's room to move comfortably inside and out. 

Towability

There are a couple of benefits that hybrids have over full-sized caravans — both size-related. Most have a narrower width, and a pop-top has a lower towing height. The Swag has an external width of 2.23m (7ft 4in) and a towing height of 2.65m (8ft 8in). Both features are handy along narrow bush tracks, and the height is more so when travelling at speed, particularly in windy conditions.

Weight is less of a comparable factor, with some hybrids weighing considerably more than equivalent-sized caravans. The Swag Gen 6 SCT16 is a little better than some other contenders at Australia’s Best Hybrids, with its ATM of 2800kg and tare mass of 2150kg.

When towing, the Ford Ranger proved to be an excellent vehicle at the pointy end, with plenty of power from the turbo diesel for all towing conditions. Following on behind, the Gen 6 SCT16 tracked along very nicely. The usual snatching and jerking happened under tow but nothing of note that might cause alarm.

Given the extensive front storage capability that's built into the Gen 6 SCT16, it would be remiss not to mention being a little careful with loading and doing a weight check when the hybrid is fully loaded.

As with any van, hitching and unhitching is relatively easy but there's nothing like a decent reversing camera on the tow vehicle plus a willing assistant. Similarly, a little bit of care can be a good investment when reversing around. As a towing proposition, the Gen 6 SCT16 is a good package. 

TIM VAN DUYL — CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Innovation

Swag flies somewhat under the radar for two of the most important innovations in trailers like the Gen 6 SCT16 and that's weight and construction. Using a composite panel body saves valuable kilos that can be used as payload (an impressive 650kg) and offers unbeatable insulation. Yes, the canvas will leak heat like a colander when the roof is popped but the walls will remain cool to the touch and more importantly than a lot of people realise, when the roof is down and you’re towing your Swag to Australia’s hot centre, the inside of the trailer will remain much cooler than builds less insulated. This is important for a couple of reasons. Your fridge will have it easier trying to keep your perishables cool and things like potatoes, which might not have found room in the fridge, won’t be half-cooked when you pull up in camp. Speaking of pulling up in camp, when you first pop the roof, you won’t be standing in a sauna and your air-conditioner, should you fire it up, will have less to do, initially.

The benefit of the weight savings is not just in a higher payload but also in comparatively low ATM (just 2800kg) which will allow owners the choice of using older, lower-rated tow vehicles or the benefit of saving fuel towing a lighter trailer. 

The interior layout is a standout too. The foldaway table is both usable, if the weather dictates, and yet when tucked away, opens up floor space rarely seen in trailers this size. There is plenty of room to store e-bikes when on the move or to comfortably dress without knocking elbows. 

Liveability

The mattress is king size with large windows that are well placed around it for light and ventilation, so you’ll be forgiven for taking a siesta or staying in with a good book every morning, but that’s not the biggest hit inside the Swag. 

The space afforded by the lift-up bench seats and internal table arrangement makes internal living about as good as it gets in a couples trailer this size. There is so much space inside, you’d be forgiven for spending more time inside than out. The internal kitchen has plenty of bench space, rare in trailers this size, and there is good storage throughout. 

The external kitchen is to the front, beside the front fridge slide which often cramps space for anyone looking to sneak to the fridge while the kitchen is in use but Swag has managed to get a person’s body width of space between the two so there will be no pointing of knives or nipping of tongs by the head chef when someone comes in for a refill. 

The standard awning does a good job of covering the kitchen, entrance and seating area out front though it leaves the fridge a tad exposed. The supplied annexe or a single screen from CGear will easily take care of that. 

We’ve been on somewhat of a roof-popping challenge of late after a few readers pointed out some were horrendously hard to lift and I’m happy to say, the lightweight panel used for the Gen 6 SCT16’s roof means it’s fairly easy. I could do it one-handed and I expect most people will not have any real issues popping the top. 

Importantly, for those above 1.4m tall, the shower rose is ceiling mounted so even tall people will happily shower in the decently spacious ensuite which features a window plus a fan to aid evaporation and add light. 

ALLISON WATT — CARAVAN WORLD DEPUTY EDITOR

Self-Sufficiency

When designing the Gen 6 SCT16, Swag thought a lot about its target market, particularly couples who want to downsize from larger caravans and who are looking for something smaller, lighter, easy to tow and easy to use, but still with all the creature comforts to which they are accustomed.

This simplicity applies to the power system that the Swag has on board to allow for very comfortable off-grid camping. It is not overly complicated — which some systems can be — but covers all bases so you can stay out bush for four to six days, depending on water use.

On the roof are two 150W rigid frame solar panels, powering the two 150Ah lithium batteries with Bluetooth monitoring via the Projecta battery management system. Paired with the 2000W inverter that comes standard, this will keep the fridge and the lights running pretty comfortably, but if you want a bit more grunt in your system to run some 240V appliances, Swag will allow you option in an additional lithium battery.

There’s two 100L freshwater tanks and a 120L grey water tank. Two 9kg gas bottles take care of the cooking and hot water, however Swag intends to change this in future to two 4.5L bottles or just one 9kg bottle to save on space and weight. The external slide-out kitchen has a four-burner gas stove, while inside you have a choice between a two-burner gas stove or an induction cooktop. A 75L EvaKool fridge (external) and a small 50L internal fridge with a door that opens both ways give you plenty of options for food preparation when travelling.

X-Factor

It’s difficult to identify just one X-Factor for the Swag Gen 6 SCT16. Swag’s mantra is to provide a quality product that Australian families can afford, and it seems to have resisted the temptation to keep adding bits and pieces to its hybrids just for the sake of it, preferring to keep them simple, easy to use and easy to live in.

The Gen 6 SCT16 has a very caravan-like layout which will appeal to couples, particularly the downsizers looking for something lighter and easier to tow around.

It’s spacious inside with a split ensuite across the full width of the van at the rear. There’s good internal and external storage, the option of internal and external cooking and its innovative additional lounge seat, which magically appears when the king bed mattress is folded up, will appeal to many looking for some extra living/seating inside.

Its construction — frameless composite cladding — is a method we’ve seen previously in high-end luxury vans, and it’s now made its way into the more affordable price bracket of imported hybrids. 

SWAG GEN 6 SCT16 SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

Swag Gen 6 SCT16 price from $71,990

OPTIONS FITTED

• Diesel heater
• Sirocco fan

Swag Gen 6 SCT16 price as shown $74,535

MORE INFORMATION

Swag Off-Road Campers
P: 1800 792 422
E: sales@swagcampers.com.au

THE NEXT STEP

If you need help choosing your first caravan or are considering upgrading your existing one, check out all Swag Off-Road Campers available on TradeRVs today. 

The sellers will be happy to help and answer any inquiries you may have about the products advertised for sale.

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