2011: The year of the family RV

If you attended a caravan show in Australia in 2011, you’ll know the RV industry is booming, with more buyers, brands and new models than ever before.

By all accounts dealers and manufacturers have bounced back after the GFC and are reaping the benefits of more and more people opting for caravan and touring holidays.

Judging by industry figures, it looks like caravan and RV production in 2011 will eclipse last year’s 30-year high of more than 21,000 units. The growing interest in RVs Down Under reflects overseas trends, particularly in Europe where major shows demonstrate just how big and innovative the RV industry has become on a global scale.

While Cyclone Yasi and the Queensland floods were a big setback for the tourism industry, the good news is that caravan and camping holidays continue to rank highly. And it's no surprise given the cost benefits and recent findings that spending time in the great outdoors makes you happier.

So as another year draws to a close, let’s look back on some of the issues and trends that defined the RV world in 2011...

CARAVANNERS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL...

The RV and camping lifestyle leapt into the headlines in 2011, for at least two reasons. One of the biggest political ‘hot potatoes’ was the right of campervan and RV owners to free or cheap campsites, particularly as the cost of staying at the major chain holiday parks continues to rise.

Leading the charge was the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), which with more than 60,000 members has plenty of political clout. The CMCA’s RV Friendly Towns Scheme has been successfully endorsed by many local councils keen to attract cashed-up, grey nomads. But not everybody thought low-cost campsites close to town are a good idea, especially private park operators.

Expect more fireworks in 2012, especially if Tasmania decides to ban cut-price campsites.

A related issue was the ongoing problem of councils in tourist hotspots having to clean up the mess left by motorcampers parking illegally in residential areas or public carparks.

The Caravan Industry Association of Queensland pointed the finger at backpackers in rental vans, while the New Zealand Government went a step further by introducing on-the-spot fines for cheapskate campervanners.

Also causing plenty of angst was the influx of cheap, Chinese-imports and their effect on the locally manufacturing industry. To promote their cause, a new industry lobby group was formed comprising 14 camper trailer manufacturers including Cub Campers.

The top-selling camper trailer manufacturer had a lot to lose, considering the opening of its new $7million manufacturing facility in Sydney.

THE OFF-ROAD PUSH...

More and more manufacturers in 2011 offered models designed to take you off the bitumen... even it was just adding some all-terrain tyres and jacked-up suspension to an existing model to cope with the odd dirt track.

But whether it’s a ‘rough road’ version or proper off-roader with heavy-duty chassis and independent suspension, just about every local manufacturer seemed to be getting in on the act.

In the hardcore, hybrid end of the market, Vista RV brought out a smaller version of its all-terrain Crossover, for those who want to travel to Cape York but don’t need an internal kitchen.

While award-winning camper trailer builder, Australian Off Road Campers, launched its first full size, off-road caravan, the Matrix, with the same off-road capabilities as the Quantum pop-top model, only with internal cooking and living facilities.

Heavyweight bush caravan specialist Kedron went on a diet, releasing a lighter yet still full-featured off-road van for those with Prado or similar sized tow vehicles.

For those who prefer all-in-one campervans, NSW’s Horizon Motorhomes came to the rescue with an off-road version of its two-berth Acacia model.

Trakka targeted cashed-up baby boomers with a jacked-up, 4x4 version of its Jabiru camper, based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and complete with diesel power heater.

Camping enthusiasts who also ride dirt bikes, were also catered for with the introduction of two new toy haulers. Melbourne’s Sunliner released a three-berth caravan with rear garage, not unlike Jayco’s BaseStation, while the American-built Jumping Jack camper trailer also went on sale, with four berths and dirt bike carrying capacity.

For the travelling angler, Desert Edge added to the growing list of boat-carrying campers with its Catch and Relax camping and fishing package.

CARAVANS BORING? NOT ALWAYS...

A common complaint of non-caravanners is that the RV industry as a whole is conservative and stuck in the past... and that’s probably true in regards the number of manufacturers persisting with ‘stick and tin’ construction methods dating back to the 1960s.

It also didn’t help when Jayco announced a major upgrade to the roof of its camper trailers... for the first time in 35 years!

But many did follow the lead of 2010’s game-changing Bolwell caravan, with plenty of innovative designs and clever technology aimed at the new breed of younger or more discerning RV buyers.

Some of the most radical came from overseas manufacturers. If money was no object, there was the $2.9 million motor-mansion from Austrian company Marchi Mobile; a 12m-long, 20 tonne goliath which we described as having “more interior room than a one bedroom flat”.

Similarly extravagant was the monster Mercedes motorhome, custom built by a coupled of cashed-up hunting buddies from Mongolia.

For those on tighter budgets, there was the innovative swissRoombox from Switzerland, a clever modular camping system that fits into the boot of your car.

And perhaps previewing the type of caravan we’ll all be sleeping in the not too distant future, Britain’s IH Leisure revealed its radical Monopod with super smooth, one piece monocoque body shell and space age looks.

Europe’s Camp Runner provided a fresh take on the classic teardrop van with its Rush. And the UK's Dub-Box also looked to the past for inspiration, with a cool caravan made out of cut-up Kombi vans.

Those looking for a bit of colour in their RV life need only have turned to the UK’s Stealth Caravans, which offered 250 nosecone colours, including pink!

Closer to home, Victoria’s Designer Vans made its own boiled egg statement with its eye-catching Desert Sands Explorer, while World Class RV aimed its state-of-the-art A-Class motorhome, with innovative mid-engine layout, directly at well-heeled retirees.

Trakka got on the ‘green’ bandwagon’ with its clever, rainwater-collecting campervan, and Van Cruiser went down the rotomoulded plastic camper route with its ‘indestructible’, multi-coloured budget tent trailer.

MORE BRANDS, MORE CHOICE...

A good sign of the strength of the Australian RV industry was the number of new brands entering the market in 2011. That’s despite already hundreds of manufacturers competing for buyers, not to mention Jayco with a greedy 45 per cent share of the market.

While Chinese-built campers are increasingly common, Chinese caravans aren’t... that was until the launch of Exclusive Caravans. With ex-Boroma caravans co-owner, Peter Russell, in charge of design, the Brisbane-based company hoped to use the benefits of cheap Chinese manufacturing to pass on savings to Australian buyers.

Another bold entry into the Aussie RV market was Bailey Caravans, the UK’s second biggest caravan manufacturer, which launched three cutting-edge models at competitive prices.

Queensland fibreglass trailerboat specialist The Haines Group dipped its toe into the caravan market with the Seachange 640 Elite, while Vanguard Caravans, which previously built caravans under contract for other companies, introduced its own range of luxury tourers.

A victim of the recession rose again, in the form of Golf Campers, and off-road journalist Glenn Torrens decided there was a market for light and easy-to-set up, HiLux-ute based camper.

Apollo Motorhome Holidays boosted its Talvor range with a new range of caravans, and the Vantage brand from Northern R.V Caravans arrived to give more choice to slide-on traytop camper buyers.

Once scorned for their inferior build quality, American RVs built for Australian tastes and regulations, had a new lease on life in 2011. Melbourne’s Cell Caravans continued its roll out of big American brands, including the striking V-nosed Viewfinder from Cruiser RV.

Aquarius Motorhomes released a luxury-lined A-Class motorhome with ducted air con and bamboo cabinetry crafted by Spanish furniture designer Hector Coronado.

But if you still couldn’t find exactly what you wanted locally, you could do what one Sydney couple did and privately import something a bit special like an Opera House-inspired, European built camper.

FAMILES TO THE FORE...

After a period when many caravans on the market catered soley to couples, family vans made a comeback in 2011, with a growing number of  manufacturers offering bunk beds or other sleeping arrangements for the kids.

Multi-roomed, soft floor tent trailers also remained an extremely popular choice for budget-conscious families.

The American-built Shadow Cruiser, with up to nine berths, was aimed at really big families, while the Coachmen Mirada A-Class motorhome (also built in the US) had a bunk bed option that boosted the number of bed options to eight.

Apollo Motorhome Holidays said its new, ute-based, four-berth offroad camper, was a first for the Aussie RV market. And Cub Campers showed that the normally family-unfriendly hard floor camper trailer could be a versatile family option, with the four-berth Spavevan-4-Kids.

Caravan parks also cottoned on to the fact that more families were buying RVs; particularly the bigger chain ’holiday’ parks which increasingly resemble upmarket family resorts.

With many now offering multi-million dollar water slide attractions and other exciting family entertainment options, for kids there’s never been a better time to go on a caravan park holiday with the folks.