Dethleffs c’joy 480 QLK: Surprising family caravan

Last year, Dethleffs introduced the c’joy, a new entry-level series for first-time caravanners. With three layouts, starting at just under 13 grand. For the upcoming camping season, a family member is joining: the Dethleffs c’joy 480 QLK, with accommodation for up to seven (!) people.

Compact, with basic equipment, an attractive price tag, and lightweight. A good year ago, Dethleffs immediately presented the c’joy with three models. Two with a fixed double bed and one with single beds. In two models, the seating area can also be converted into a bed, making the caravans perfectly suitable for families with children. At the Caravana in Leeuwarden, the fourth model in the series appeared: the 480 QLK, with a special layout.

Exterior

Lightweight construction is not the most economical production method. An important way of slimming down the c’joy literally happens by not making the caravan wider than 2.12 meters, which saves quite a bit of weight. The advantage is that the caravan can be towed with most cars with a normal B driving license. Another advantage of such a narrow vehicle is that you don't immediately break into a sweat as soon as you have to maneuver through a French village.
What's special about the c'joy is that quality has not been compromised: for example, the roof, front, and rear are made of hail-resistant GFK: polyester. For the side walls, Dethleffs chose hammered aluminum plating. The high service hatch at the rear right reveals that a bunk bed has been installed. If you fold up the bottom sleeping part, you can effortlessly slide a few children's bicycles in through that service hatch – handy for on the go.

Interior

The caravan looks very spacious inside. This is due to the light wood color, interspersed with white surfaces, such as the sides of the cabinets. Together with the taupe upholstery, this gives the caravan a modern look. When you enter, the transversely placed bed at the front immediately catches the eye. It is mounted higher, with an enormous storage space under the slatted bases. At the edge of the bed, the table is attached to a rail – this table can be moved to the headboard, so you can use it as a storage surface. The bench then serves as a step to get into bed. We see the other bed at the rear. There, the full width of the caravan is used for a bunk bed with two (or, if desired, three) layers. The dinette can be converted into a third bed (190x122 cm), allowing 6 people to stay overnight in the QLK. Or even seven, if you choose the optional third bed for the bunk bed. The kitchen is located in the middle of the caravan. With a sink, built-in hob with three gas burners, and a large refrigerator (90 liters) with a freezer compartment. Opposite it, we find the wet room with an easy-to-clean bench toilet and the possibility to shower.

Technical installations

The c’joy, just like its siblings, is very basic. Only the absolute necessities are included, keeping the price competitive. You can upgrade the caravan as desired with various packages, such as the Dynamic package (599 euros), which includes shock absorbers, a built-in water tank, an extra service hatch, and a holder for the spare wheel. It gets even more luxurious with the Touring package (1,000 euros), which includes more comfortable heating, a boiler, and a larger roof hatch – so you determine the luxury level of your new caravan yourself.

Conclusion

The 480 QLK is an interesting addition to Dethleffs' c'joy series. With up to 7 berths, the caravan is suitable for large and blended families. The caravan is neatly built and there is nothing to fault in terms of styling: a modern caravan with a sleek interior. The starting price of € 14,990 sounds appealing, but in practice you will want to tick some extras on the options list. Empty, the 480 QLK weighs 972 kg – allowing for 228 kg of luggage. This is not excessive, especially with accommodation for up to seven people; fortunately, you can increase the maximum weight to 1,500 kg. This means you can easily manage with large groups with the 480 QLK.

PROS & CONS
+ modern appearance
+ expandable with luxury packages
– limited payload in basic version

Facts & Figures
Body length, with drawbar: 596/706 cm
Width: 212 cm
Height: 261 cm
Number of berths: 6 (expandable to 7)
Bed sizes front: 190×150 cm
middle: 190×120 cm
rear: 190×70 and 190×60 cm
Empty weight: 972 kg
Total permissible: 1,200/1,500 kg
Payload: 228/528 kg

Price € 14,990
More information www.dethleffs.nl