Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD 2024

Off-road campervans, even based on a Mercedes Sprinter, are not unheard of. In fact, in recent years, such vehicles have found a regular spot at the NEC show, often from relatively new brands. That’s not the case with the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD, however.

Yucon might be a new name in the UK, but it is actually a sub-brand of Frankia, a name which will be familiar to you if you’ve seen our best motorhome manufacturers guide and one that is well known for its upmarket low-profiles and A-classes. Yucon is distributed here by Frankia’s dealer, SMC in Newark.

The K Peak, which is described by Frankia as a “microliner” rather than a campervan, has an impressive list of features. The Mercedes Sprinter is one of the best vans for a camper conversion and here, the ‘van comes with Mercedes’ 2.0HDI 190bhp engine, complete with automatic gearbox, all-wheel drive and all-terrain tyres.

Then you get a 110-litre fresh-water tank and a 70-litre waste-water tank, a 300Ah leisure battery, with one 90W solar panel as standard and a second one if you go for the pop-top roof.

Nor does this extra kit weigh down the Yucon: it has an MTPLM of 4100kg, so you need a C1 licence to drive it, something which could be a consideration when you’re choosing the best camper van. However, as a result, it has an impressive 600kg payload – more than enough for any gear you might want to bring along.

Cab and lounge of the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

But what about the inside? Well, the ultra-minimalist Mercedes cab is furnished with some very superior captain’s seats. Those relegated to the two travel seats in the rear shouldn’t feel too put out, either, because these can be moved apart to create more room with an elbow rest when you’re on the move – although bringing this about required a bit of effort.

An extending clip-on table separates the bench from the swivelled cab seats. Unusually, the pop-up roof has a Heki, and at night, the area is well lit with spotlights and a striplight. But there are no spotlights by the cab seats.

Kitchen in the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

When I saw the 6m-long version of this ’van, I felt the side kitchen was so small that even an experienced camper chef would be exasperated. Fortunately, the extra metre you get here allowed the designers to create something much more manageable.

There is a huge extendable shelf on the left, and more fixed workspace to the right. In between is a two-burner hob, in-line with a small sink, with sockets close to hand. A double rack over the worktop is handy for spices. The half-height fridge stands between the kitchen and the beds at the rear.

Washroom in the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

The washroom opposite has great headroom for a campervan, and boasts two drain holes. So no matter how unlevel the ’van might be (see: levelling a motorhome), you should still be able to have a shower without flooding it. The pull-out basin is a good size, and although there is no roof vent, there is a large window and plenty of night-time lighting.

Sleeping in the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

The two beds at the back are 2m long and very comfortable. Headroom may be restricted by the overhead lockers, but there is night-time lighting with striplights, and spotlights at each end.

My only concern was the prevalence of the brilliant-white finish. Off-road activities tend to end up with people coming home in a muddy state, and I wondered how long it would be before some of these pristine white surfaces start looking smudged – particularly as the lockers have no handles.

The roof bed is also well equipped, with two swan-neck reading lights, and it’s good to see the roof as a whole fastening with a sturdy metal clasp.

Storage in the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

The rear beds lift up for more storage space, although not as completely as I have seen elsewhere. You could fit at least one bicycle under the offside bed. Under the same bed further forward, there is a small hanging wardrobe, while the nearside bed lifts to reveal a shallow storage compartment for most of its length.

There are eight overhead lockers at the back, and two over the lounge, while the cupboard above the fridge could easily be used for either clothes or food storage.

Elsewhere in the kitchen, there are two columns of drawers either side of a cupboard in the base unit – again, the ’van’s extra length pays dividends here. There’s a large overhead locker, plus an open shelf above the door.

Even the washroom is well catered for when it comes to storage. There is an enormous cupboard with plenty of shelves behind the mirror. I found that surprising, because I wouldn’t have thought off-road adventure types would be too bothered about the need to take along a full range of cosmetics – but then, those buying this campervan might not be your average off-road type.

For those of you who love going off-grid, the EcoFlow Alternator Charger & Delta Max 2000 Powerbank could be two useful accessories to buy for your tours, helping you run your favourite gadgets when you’re on the go.

Alternatives to consider

The Ventura VR400 is a gas-free model which is ideal for off-gridders, providing plenty of storage and comfortable beds. There’s also the Swift Trekker range, which is targeted at the more adventurous, featuring a pop-top roof and a stylish exterior.

Technical spec of the Yucon K Peak 7.0 GD

• Price: £130,168
• Sleeps: 4
• Belts: 4 
• Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter
• Engine: 190bhp with AWD and automatic gearbox
• Length/width/height: 6.97/2.02/2.87m (22’9”/6’6”/9’4”)
• MTPLM: 4100kg
• MiRO: 3500kg 
• Payload: 600kg
• Water (fresh/waste): 110/70 litres
• Leisure battery: 300Ah
• Gas: 2 x 13kg

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