Bolwell back in business

After a fire gutted one of Bolwell’s factories in Mordialloc, Victoria in April 2014, the composite specialist was forced to convert part of its RV production facility to keep up with orders in its thriving truck body business while a new factory was built.

As a result, production of the company’s cutting edge, fibreglass Edge caravan and Air expandable camper trailer was significantly reduced.

“We were trickling them out,” said Bolwell RV managing director Owen Bolwell. “We had a small area of the RV facility where we were still producing and we were mainly producing our Edge models. We kept hold of all our skilled staff though.”

Now after a brief hiatus Bolwell RV is set to reveal new, 2015 versions of both its models, including a new rough-road Air model.

“We’ve used the (downtime) to do a whole lot of development on the units and tweak them and bring them up to spec. Basically, production is in full swing again and we’re ready to go,” he said.

After a noticeable absence from major RV shows in recent times Bolwell RV is also set to return to the show scene, exhibiting for the first time at the Melbourne 4x4 Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds on August 21-23.

“We’re getting out there again, after a little bit of a while people are wondering where you’ve got to. So really it’s more to say hey, we’re back,” he said.

Priced from $35,900, the new rough road version of the Air2 model to be displayed at the Melbourne show, will feature sturdier Al-Ko torsion bar suspension and axles, larger 16in wheels with off-road tyres, and an extra 120mm road clearance.

Bolwell also has plans to introduce other new variants including a toilet-shower version of the two berth Edge.