Verdict
Being based on the Sprite Major 6TD makes the Culmor a winner already. And with its own extras – more than £3000-worth – the Culmor remains competitively priced. We would have liked a dual-fuel hob and a washroom window, though, just for icing on this tasty cake.
Pros
Kitchen worktop
Comfy seats
Good kit for the cash
Cons
No dual-fuel hobs
ATC is an extra
No washroom window
If you fancy a dealer special and live in England, the world is your oyster. In Scotland, however, dealer specials are the exception rather than the rule, as our recent visit to the Glasgow Caravan Show confirmed.
A number of those exceptions can be found at Duncan’s Caravans on the outskirts of Glasgow, not least in the shape of the Cruach line-up.
Four layouts of these Sprite-based specials are available, three of them with fixed beds. It was the single-axle family six-berth, the Culmor, that really caught our eye.
Duncan’s has got together with Swift and added a number of features to create a real head-turner that majors on value. Packed to the gills with equipment, the Cruach has a kit-tally that reads like a wishlist to Santa, but does it fulfil its brief?
Packed to the gills, the Cruach has a kit-tally that reads like a wishlist to Santa
Pitching & Setting-up
Constructed on an Al-Ko chassis with a timber-free body shell, the Cruach is well built and, with its special graphics, looks every bit the smart modern tourer. Having the best-selling Sprite – the Major 6TD – as its base model, this tourer is set fair to please.
Alloys are standard and there is, of course, a large front gas locker. The Cruach has front and rear GRP panels and comes with some useful kit. There’s an extra access locker at the nearside front, alongside a BBQ point and exterior mains socket.
The entrance door is given a window while the Cruach also boasts a 100W solar panel, sunroof and Status TV aerial. There’s an AKS hitch lock but ATC isn’t a standard fit, which is a little surprising. The Culmor doesn’t have heavy-duty steadies – that privilege is reserved for the twin-axle versions. All the main service points are on the offside, and there’s a spare wheel underneath the van.
Living
The front lounge area is large enough to seat six, and comes with Swift’s upgraded upholstery, which includes oversized scatter cushions and sculptured bolster cushions, so comfort is assured.
We found the lighting in the living room particularly effective, thanks to a neat combination of spots and LED ceiling lights. There is a central chest of drawers underneath a bank of mains sockets.
Overhead storage is good and under-seat access is via large flaps under the seat cushions.
Another extra on the Cruach is the alarm, the sensor for which is in the lounge area. A DAB/FM radio is included but there’s no CD player.
At the rear of the Culmore is a further, small lounge area. This is ideal for kids and gives them their own eating/living space. There’s more overhead storage here and the side dinette will comfortably seat three children.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a side unit opposite the central washroom, and practicality is the keyword here. There’s a good amount of worktop area – and it’s boosted by a useful extension flap.
Equipment goodies include a microwave and a 100-litre Dometic fridge/freezer, while an oven and grill are also part of the spec. Surprisingly, though, the hob is only a three-burner affair – we would have thought a dual-fuel device might have been in order.
Storage is generally good thanks to a decent cupboard and drawers plus, of course, overhead lockers.
There’s a twin mains socket and LED down lighters mean the kitchen is well illuminated.
We’ve no complaints about the sink, which comes with a clip-on drainer, and we also like the charcoal worktop – all very classy. And just in case any frazzled cooks need to check their appearance before serving dinner, there’s a wall-mounted mirror opposite.
Washroom
The Culmor’s washroom comes with a separate shower cubicle and an electric-flush loo. There is no window but a roof vent does allow natural light in and adds some ventilation.
LED lighting means night use isn’t a problem and, in this dealer special, the mirror is also illuminated. Side washrooms tend to mean a compromise when it comes to floor area, but Swift has managed things well here, keeping everything compact yet practical.
Beds
Whichever bed you’re sleeping in, it’s easy to set up. The front-end lounge seating can be used as twin singles or, if you pull out the slatted bed base from the central chest of drawers and drop in the cushions, quickly converted into a comfy double.
At the back, there are twin offside fixed bunk beds, each with it’s own window. Opposite the bunks is the dinette, which converts into a single bed and, if needed, a fold-up bunk. We think most buyers will be families of four, but it’s always handy to have extra bed space.
Storage
This is good if not, perhaps, exceptional. There’s overhead storage in the rear of the van as well as shelving and a small cupboard between the bunks and the dinette. Overhead lockers in the front lounge offer storage for bulky items, and extend right into the corners. Then you have the drawers in the chest and the space under the seats.
The wardrobe offers a good amount of hanging space but storing clothes for six on a week’s break could be pushing it.
The kitchen comes with two cupboards plus overhead locker storage, and the washroom comes with a cupboard below the sink and two shelves. On balance, we reckon there will be few concerns about storage.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 6 |
| MiRO | 1335 kg |
| Payload | 164 kg |
| MTPLM | 1491 kg |
| Shipping Length | 2.25 m |
| Width | 2.25 m |
