Black Series caravans released

Sydney-based Black Series campers is the latest budget camper importer to dip its toes into the potentially lucrative Australian caravan market.

Like the latest Black Series camper trailers, the new off-road caravans are largely built in China, with final assembly including fitment of locally-sourced European and Australian fittings and appliances completed at the company’s Sydney factory.

Two, fixed roof models are currently available – a single-axle 15ft (body length) HQ15 and tandem axle 19ft HQ 19, with other models likely to follow.  

The insulated bodies are built using a timber and aluminium frame with flat aluminium composite sheeting and aluminium checker plate for the exterior. While underpinnings include a 150 x 50mm hot dipped galvanised chassis with an off-road hitch, trailing arm independent coil suspension, and 16in alloy wheels with mud tyres.

Both layouts include a north-south queen bed plus a dinette with drop-down table for another bed option, along with an internal kitchen, shower and toilet.

They also come loaded with a long list of standard features, including exterior as well as interior kitchen, air-conditioner, awning, audio and TV systems including TV antenna and external entertainment locker, water filter, roof hatch, 12V water pump and hot water heater.

Also standard is an impressive 240V/12V battery system including four 100Ah AGM batteries, battery manager, inverter and solar panels, along with 250 litre water capacity and two 9kg gas bottles.

The pricier 19ft van also gets a few more upmarket features like a separate toilet and shower and bigger fridge, as well as an oven, microwave and washing machine.

Overall, the 15ft version is 7300mm long by 2500mm wide by 3240mm high, with a Tare weight of 2600kg and ATM of 3100kg, while the 19 footer is 8400mm long by 2500mm wide by 3240mm high, with a Tare of 2900kg and 3500kg ATM.

Backed by a five-year factory structural warranty, the 15ft HQ15 is currently priced from $59,000, with the 19ft HQ19 at $69,000. They sit above Black Series current range of soft- and hard-floor campers which range in price from $6500 to $19,900.

Black Series is one of Australia’s largest sellers of budget camper trailers with more than 10,000 sold in the last decade, according to the company’s website.  

With its expansion into caravans, Black Series is about to move into a new, larger factory in Warwick Farm, Sydney, about 10 minutes' drive from its current factory in Revesby, where the company built camper trailers under the GIC Campers brand until about two years ago.

"Like Holden and many other companies we have had to go offshore to remain competitive," a company spokesperson said. "We have used our experience in manufacturing to go offshore and start our own exclusive manufacturing plant overseas." 

MDC Group was the first major budget camper importer to offer a range of imported caravans, with the company since moving into local production with its latest AusRV range.

More recently, EzyTrail has built a hybrid van, while Mars Campers is also working on a new compact hybrid van after attempting to introduce a locally-built, hard-walled camper in 2015.

The new Black Series vans will be on display at a number of local shows this year, starting with the Newcastle Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo, from February 9-12.