AusRV takes on Patriot

Big brands beware! Fledgling Queensland manufacturer AusRV is ramping up its Brisbane-based operation for a major sales push in 2018, with new caravan and camper models and new senior management to thrust the brand from niche into the mainstream.

Along with the release of a new 12ft Titan Hybrid Off-Road Pop-Top (stay tuned for our upcoming review) comes a new locally-built tough camper trailer called the Centurion, which – like the Titan – is targeted at the top end of town.

This is all happening just over 12 months after the first AusRV caravans rolled out the door of the company’s Coopers Plains, Brisbane plant, with stated intentions by its MD Group parent to become one of Australia’s top five RV companies.

As proof of these aspirations, the Market Direct Group, which also markets MDC camper and hybrid caravans that are built in China by a joint venture company, late last year appointed former Vehicle Components’ General Manager Mathew Claringbold as its General Manager – Production.

In his appointment, Claringbold effectively replaces former Jayco Manufacturing Manager Kevin Edwards, who joined AusRV in 2016 to set up its local caravan production and has since joined Avida.

Claringbold, who was also a Board Member of the CTIAQ (Caravanning Queensland), not only brings his extensive manufacturing expertise to AusRV, but also experience in financial control, coming from an accounting background.

New Patriot rival

Just as the new Titan Hybrid incorporates many of the best features of other top-end Australian Hybrid Pop-Trop off-roaders, so the new Centurion is unashamedly aimed at the premium end of the Australian-built camper trailer market.

In its case, its target is the well-respected Patriot X1, which in its latest 2018 Limited Edition X1 GT form is similarly priced just below $50,000.

Incorporating much of the hardware of the Titan, but featuring a welded aluminium frame clad with smooth aluminium composite panels instead of composite fibreglass, the Centurion features an Australian Wax Converters Dynaproofed canvas tent that folds forward over the A-frame, unlike the side-folding tent of the Patriot.

However, in most other details the two campers are very similar, to the point where the Centurion also features similar laser-cut brand ID to the Patriot on its rear flank.

Like the Patriot, the Centurion comes with a stainless-steel slide-out kitchen incorporating a three-burner gas stove and a sink with hot and cold water, plus a fridge slide. Its independent trailing arm coil spring and shock absorber suspension is respected Cruisemaster XT and its beefy 16-in Mickey Thomson Baja tyres are also the same as those fitted to the Titan.

Also like the Titan, it’s being offered with a five-year structural warranty encouraging owners to take it bush bashing.

AusRV completed its first Centurion prototype in December and reportedly has nine other campers currently in production, with most already spoken for at its introductory price of $49,990.