Australia's first $200,000 caravan?

It wasn’t that long ago that caravans with six figure pricetags were a rare commodity.  Now Aussie RV enthusiasts will be able to feast their eyes on a $200,000 caravan, thanks to the impending arrival of the American-built Earthbound RV range to our shores.

Imported by Melbourne’s Cell Caravans, Earthbound RV should set new standards in locally-available caravans when it eventually goes on sale here around late-2012... and not just for its eye-watering pricing.

Eschewing traditional ‘stick and tin’ construction methods, all Earthbound vans are constructed entirely from hi-tech composite materials, while utilising latest manufacturing processes from the automotive, aviation and marine industries.

With the absence of wood and harmful adhesives, and extensive use of recyclable materials, the American vans also come with impeccable ‘green’ credentials.

Earthbound should also raise the bar in caravan interior design and fittings, with the range-topping ‘Azzero Collection’ featuring self-closing drawers, power entry steps, and high gloss aluminium cabinetry painted any colour you choose.

Ranging in body size from 19ft to 23ft, the Australian Earthbound range should start from around $100,000, rising to $200,000 for the range-topping model.

“What Earthbound is doing is they’re competing against A-class motorhomes, and it’s all customised as well so you can design it yourself,” explained Cell Caravans general manager, Josh Ryland. “They have some standard floorplans and you can choose whatever you want.”

The Earthbound vans are also notable for their light weight and long list of cutting edge features.

“Everything you can think of you’ll get, but the biggest thing about it is how light it is. The 23ft model would be 1800kg, and that’s with a slide-out,” Ryland said.

“You’ve got super-dooper lightweight solar panels that they use in the US Army, you’ve got composite materials for your benchtops. There’s no wood in the van.”

Exterior styling is another talking point, including a giant panoramic windscreen up front, smooth one piece walls, and the option of colour-matching it with your tow vehicle.

“They’re sleek, low to the ground, but still have plenty of clearance... it just looks like a bullet train,” he said.

According to Ryland, while the Hoefer family has been in the RV business for 60 years, its enviro-friendly line of “towable composite coaches” is relatively new to the market.

“He wanted to bring the automotive industry to the caravan industry with trims like expensive luxury cars,” he said. 

“Their first plan was to compete with (iconic American brand) Airstream, but they’ve gone to the next level.

“It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s going to be pretty exclusive, but some people like that...”

Ryland said just 200 Earthbound caravans will be produced annually, of which 50 are earmarked for the Australian market.

“We’ve sold one, and he’s been over to the (Indiana) factory a couple of times and he’s keen as ever,” he said. “He bought a Viewfinder off us, and he’s traded that in. His tow vehicle is a BMW X5.”

The first Aussie Earthbound van was due to arrive in Australia in late-2011, but the release of the updated 2012-model has delayed the process. Ryland said he was still hopeful of having the first example Down Under by the end of the year.

“We just can’t wait to finally get one...”