The CRV range from Crusader Caravans is among the most interesting new caravan line-ups in Australia at the moment. Comprised of three individual vans, the Gladiator is the mid-spec van in the range. 

OUTSIDE THE GLADIATOR During our review, I had to negotiate various gravel roads, some medium-sized undulations and one badly scalloped section of track. 

In low range, I crawled through, expecting the Gladiator to bottom out or at least thump and scrape. The CRV Gladiator is fitted with a Cruisemaster D035 hitch as standard, and even though the van doesn’t have a rear cutaway, the short rear overhang kept the back from smashing the ground as I descended and climbed out of the ruts.