Key points
- Ron has been the most mechanically sound van we looked at, and he's stayed that way. Apart from everyday maintenance like brakes, he's needed very little.
- He's lovely to drive: automatic, with cruise control and a speed limiter.
- The right size for us: big enough to stand up and live in, small enough to fit a normal parking space if we reverse in.
- The compromises: no walk-through from the cab, a bed that goes widthways, and a small grey water tank.
- We've changed a lot since we bought him, especially the power system.
- Other owners report problems with the automated manual gearbox, and there have been fuel-system recalls. Check the VIN before you buy. We haven't noticed any gearbox problems in Ron.
- Get any Master inspected before you pay. It's the best money we spent.
Ron at a glance
| What | Ron |
|---|---|
| Base van | 2018 Renault Master, 2WD, automatic, high roof |
| Size | About 20 ft long, and just over 9 ft high with the roof basket (see it in our video). Ron is a medium wheelbase Master. |
| Kilometres when we bought him | 72,000 km |
| Conversion | Converted by Savage Adventure Vans, then changed by us |
| Sleeps | Two, on a bed that goes widthways |
| Toilet and shower | A portable toilet, plus a gas hot-water shower that we never used |
| Water | A 95-litre fresh water tank under the van, and a 20-litre grey tank |
| Power now | 400Ah of lithium, two 120W solar panels, a DC-DC charger and a 3000W inverter, with 240V throughout |
We bought Ron privately in Forster, NSW, after a van in Perth failed its inspection. We first saw him in a list of vans we'd written on the back of a cereal box, and the inspection came back "all good, really well maintained" (see it in our video). The full story is in our guide to buying a van in Australia.
Driving a Renault Master
Ron is an automatic with a manual (M) mode, cruise control and a speed limiter, which is handy in cities (see it in our video). The cab has air-con, Bluetooth and plenty of storage, and there's a reversing camera in the wing mirror plus parking sensors. The middle seat folds down into a table.
- Parking. We keep an eye on height restrictions, and if we reverse in we can usually fit a normal parking space, as long as there's room behind.
- Roads. Ron is 2WD, so we stick to sealed roads and firm tracks. See our essentials page for how we decide.
- The cab. We've since added a CarPlay screen. See our gear page.
Our layout, and other Renault Master campervan layouts
The Master comes in over 500 variations, so no two conversions are quite the same (see it in our video). Before we bought, we wrote a list of non-negotiables: standing height (Luke is 5'11"), solar, safe and certified electrics, a sink, a fan or air-con, and a diesel heater. Our negotiables were a walk-through, a fixed bed, a toilet, a shower and a cooker (see it in our video).
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- The bed goes widthways and is 5'5" long, so it pulls out to just over 6 ft lengthways when we want more room (see it in our video).
- The kitchen had a gas stove, a sink and drawers that stay shut without latches. There's also an outside-access cupboard.
- Seating is a pair of side benches with a pull-out table.
- The fridge is a 95-litre Dometic fridge-freezer that we can control from an app (see it in our video).
- Airflow comes from a Maxxair roof fan and a Sirocco II fan (see it in our video).
- Privacy comes from built-in shutters, tinted windows and curtains (see it in our video).
- The "garage" at the back held the power system, the chairs, a gas hot-water shower and a diesel can for the heater (see it in our video).
Pros and cons after living in one
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Mechanically sound: just everyday maintenance like brakes, plus a primer pump. | No walk-through from the cab. On the plus side, a closed-off cab keeps the heat and cold out, and we can both fit through the emergency roof hatch (see it in our video). |
| Automatic, cruise control and a speed limiter. | The bed is widthways, at 5'5", until we pull it out. |
| Stand-up height for Luke at 5'11". | The grey tank only holds 20 litres, and in national parks you can't let it out. |
| Fits a normal parking space if we reverse in. | We can't take him with us when our time in Australia is over. |
| A full-size spare underneath, and a tow bar we've never used. | Parts for European vans can need to come from Europe. |
What we've changed since we bought him
When we filmed our van tour, about two weeks after buying Ron, the setup was very different. 240V only worked on mains power, and the diesel heater ran all night on low on about an inch of fuel (see it in our video). Here's how it compares now.
| Part | When we bought him | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | 100Ah lithium | Two 200Ah lithium batteries (400Ah), with a Renogy 500A battery monitor |
| Inverter and 240V | A 1000W inverter, with 240V only on mains | A Victron Phoenix 12/3000 inverter, with 240V throughout |
| Charging | Two roof solar panels | A REDARC BCDC1240D DC-DC charger for solar and the alternator, and a Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/30 mains charger |
| Cooking | A gas stove, and an oven on mains | An induction hob and a compact oven, on 240V |
The full breakdown is on our van power setup page. More solar is the one thing we'd change about Ron. Other things in the van that we rate are on our gear page, including the Thetford Porta Potti 345, a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and the SEAFLO 42 water pump.
What's gone wrong, and known faults
Our own record
- Brakes, as everyday maintenance.
- The fuel primer pump. Ron's manual primer pump started leaking and letting air into the fuel lines. Luke ordered a replacement from Europe and fitted it himself. It was really simple to change, and the part arrived quickly.
- The water tank. A bracket caught on a hump at our camp near Hyams Beach, in Jervis Bay, and put a pinhole in the underbody tank (see it in our video). We jacked it out, took it off (six bolts, about an hour), made a new middle bracket from two bent galvanised brackets and plastic-welded the HDPE tank (see it in our video). It hasn't leaked since. A similar 95-litre tank is on our gear page.
- The DC-DC charger. It failed, and the leisure batteries stopped charging. REDARC replaced it under warranty, including the installation, and an auto electrician in Brisbane fitted the new one (see it in our video).
- Tyres. We had new tyres fitted in Brisbane.
- A fuel line after a service. After one service, a fuel line hadn't been clipped back onto the fuel filter properly. Luke found it by spotting air in the fuel lines (more in the servicing section).
The gearbox
We haven't had or noticed any problems with Ron's automatic gearbox. Ron has a KG (load) button, and we switch it on so he knows there's a build in the back. We've never had an issue. NextCar's report on the Australian launch of this Master says the KG button changes the clutch mapping when you're carrying heavy loads (NextCar: Renault Master Australian launch), and Fleet News says the KG mode should be used when the van is working at maximum weight, so it holds gears for longer and changes down earlier (Fleet News: Renault Master Quickshift road test).
We had the automatic gearbox serviced at just over 110,000 km, just after Tasmania. That was preventative maintenance, not because of a problem. At Ron's last service, the mechanics couldn't believe how good he is: they didn't find a single leak.
What other owners report
Servicing a Renault Master in remote Australia
We get Ron serviced after every big trip. We use independent mechanics who specialise in European vehicles, and we always research them first.
The one time we didn't, because there was no alternative, we regretted it. After that service, a fuel line hadn't been clipped back onto the fuel filter properly. We lost a few hours troubleshooting before Luke noticed air in the fuel lines and fixed it. It's the only issue we've had after a service.
How we look after him
- Premium fuel, now and then. We occasionally fill up with premium fuel to help keep the insides clean.
- Engine cleaner after hard work. When we feel we've worked Ron hard, like on the Stuart Highway drive, we run an engine cleaner through him.
- Preventative gearbox service. We had the automatic gearbox serviced at just over 110,000 km, as described above.
Servicing tips
- Find a good mechanic through the owners' groups. Join the Renault Master groups on Facebook. Other owners there can recommend good mechanics.
- Research the garage first. Look for an independent mechanic who specialises in European vehicles, and read the reviews before you book.
- Parts can come from Europe. Our primer pump did, and it arrived quickly, but delivery times depend on where you are in Australia.
- Plan ahead. Check the dealer finder before a long remote stretch, and book a service in a city before you leave.
- Tyre fitters. The fitter in Brisbane couldn't use the ramp machine because of Ron's size, so mention your van's size when you book (see it in our video).
- Carry the basics. We keep a NOCO GB40 jump starter and a fuse kit on board.
- Roadside assistance. See the roadside assistance section of our buying guide.
Fuel economy
We don't track Ron's fuel figures, but as Luke puts it, "he's more efficient than my car was in the UK." Our buying guide has the figures other Master camper owners have reported, which work out at roughly 9.4 litres per 100 km. Your own figures will depend on the conversion, the weight you carry and how you drive. For planning remote fuel stops, see our Stuart Highway guide.
Renault Master campervans for sale in Australia
Everything we learned buying Ron is in our guide to buying a van in Australia. For a Renault Master, these are the checks we'd make.
- Get an independent mechanical inspection. Our first choice in Perth failed, and Ron passed. See checks before you pay.
- Do a PPSR check on the VIN. Ron's previous owner had had finance on him, and showed us proof it was paid off (PPSR (Australian Government)).
- Search the VIN for recalls, and ask for proof that any recall work was done.
- Test the automatic gearbox from cold and at low speed, given what other owners report.
- Ask for the service history, and check when the brakes were last done.
- Check the conversion: a certificate for any 240V work, gas compliance, water tank brackets, and damp around windows and the roof fan.
- Think about resale. Good resale value was one of the things we liked about Ron.
Where to look is in where to buy, and when it's time to move on, see selling before you leave.
FAQs
Is the Renault Master a good campervan?
It has been for us. Ron was the most mechanically sound van we looked at, he's lovely to drive and he's big enough to stand up in. Other owners report gearbox problems and there have been recalls, so get any Master inspected and check its VIN.
What problems do Renault Master vans have?
Owner reviews mostly mention the automated manual gearbox and dealer support. There have also been fuel-system recalls covering 2014 to 2023 vans. Ron has needed brakes, a primer pump, a water tank repair and a replacement DC-DC charger, and once a fuel line wasn't clipped back on properly after a service. We haven't noticed any gearbox problems.
Can you stand up in a Renault Master campervan?
In a high-roof Master like Ron, yes. Luke is 5'11" and standing height was one of our non-negotiables.
How big is a Renault Master campervan?
Ron is about 20 ft long and just over 9 ft high with the roof basket. The Master comes in many lengths and heights, so check the van you're looking at.
Is the Renault Master automatic?
Ron is an automatic, with a manual mode, cruise control and a speed limiter. Many owners' complaints are about this automated manual gearbox, so test it well before you buy. We haven't noticed any problems with Ron's, and we use the KG (load) button because of the build in the back.
How do you service a Renault Master in remote Australia?
We get Ron serviced after every big trip, by independent mechanics who specialise in European vehicles, and we always research them first. The Renault Master groups on Facebook are a good place to find a mechanic. Parts can come from Europe, and Renault's dealer finder shows where the dealers are.
What fuel economy does a Renault Master campervan get?
We don't track Ron's figures. Other Master camper owners have reported roughly 9.4 litres per 100 km, depending on the conversion, the load and the driving.
What should you check when buying a Renault Master campervan?
An independent mechanical inspection, a PPSR check, a recall search on the VIN, the gearbox from cold, the service history and the conversion's paperwork.
Sources
Our own experience comes from living in Ron and the videos linked above. Other owners' feedback and official information were checked on 4 November 2026. Some links are affiliate links, which help support us at no extra cost to you.
- ProductReview: Renault Master X62 owner reviews
- Carify: 2018 Renault Master common problems
- CarExpert: 2018-19 Renault Master III recalled
- CarExpert: Renault Master recalled due to fire risk
- Vehicle Recalls (Australian Government): REC-006057
- Vehicle Recalls (Australian Government)
- Renault Australia: warranty
- Renault Australia: capped price servicing
- Renault Australia: find a dealer
- Jayco: JRV campervan
- caravancampingsales: Jayco JRV review
- caravancampingsales: Sunliner Renault Master motorhome
- NextCar: Renault Master Australian launch
- Fleet News: Renault Master Quickshift road test
- PPSR (Australian Government)