Bright new direction for Kedron

Queensland’s Kedron Caravans has given its top-spec TopEnder model a substantial makeover, introducing eye-catching Euro-style decor and lightweight furniture options along with an innovative rear recess for the spare wheels to create more internal space.

The 52-year-old off-road specialist has until now resisted a move to the latest, CNC-cut furniture made from lightweight, yet strong plywood, but will now offer the trendy new alternative alongside its traditional and heavier hand-built, hardwood furniture.

The new design is available with a classy new wood-grain gloss veneer finish sourced from Italy, and complemented by an expanded range of colour options for the benchtops, splashbacks and upholstery, from eye-scorching bright colours to more conservative earthy tones.

The new T3 TopEnder made a big impact when launched at the recent Queensland Caravan & Camping Show, where some of the 15 display vans featured very un-Kedron like touches like burnt orange splashbacks and lime green benchtops.

Kedron’s Glenn Gall said while the bright new interior direction was a "big change for us" it served to give existing Kedron owners "a reason to upgrade".

Kedron believes the TE3’s reshaped body with its new recessed rear section housing the two spare wheels is a first for an Australian caravan manufacturer, allowing a larger rear ensuite and more storage space without increasing overall length of the van.

"It utilises that airspace around the spares," he explained. "For a van with a 19ft 6in internal chassis and 21ft body we can maintain the same length chassis and overall length but extend the van’s body to a 22ft 6in."

While the re-sculpted rear adds to overall weight, Gall said this has been offset by the lighter CNC-cut furniture.

He said the changes were well received at the show, with a number of orders received for the new-look vans from around Australia.

"It was probably one of the best shows we’ve had in quite some time, there was a real buzz on the stand… we even had vans sold from Western Australia over the phone from Facebook photos, and a bloke flew from Darwin to order."

Some of the display models also had rotomoulded storage boxes on their A-frames, but Gall said the new feature still needs some work before it goes into production.

While currently only available on the TopEnder, the plan is to offer some of the T3's new features  as ‘option packs’ on other Kedron models including the

entry-level XC3 Compact.

Meanwhile, Gall said the next instalment of the infamous Gall Boys video series is now set to be filmed in September/October around Arnhem Land in Australia’s far north, after an attempt earlier this year was cancelled due to Cyclone Ita.