Bushtracker forced to go fibreglass

Bushtracker released its first fibreglass-bodied caravans at the 2014 Queensland Caravan & Camping Show, despite admitting the increasingly popular construction method is inferior to the traditional aluminium cladding it has used on its custom off-road vans for the past 18 years.

In fact, Bushtracker director Steven Gibbs said fibreglass vans are generally harder and more costly to repair than aluminium vans, and appeal most for their glossy good looks.  

Commenting on Bushtracker's online owners' forum, he said Bushtracker was now introducing fibreglass construction as an option, along with a new composite floor as a way to offset criticism its construction methods are “old-fashioned”.

“This style, is just that style. (Fibreglass construction) is not necessary, or even advised. I am only doing it, because others are touting and hawking it as a superior construction method, and it is not,” the straight-talking Bushtracker boss said.

“I am doing it, because the public are being sold ‘cosmetics’ at the shows, and some people are sold the idea and have to have it. In reality our standard alloy panelling is cheaper, lighter, accessible, easily repaired, and is still our preferred standard,” he said.

Like the box-section aluminium frames used for its heavy-duty caravans, Gibbs claims the new fibreglass walls with their press fit insulation and wiring in conduit, are “the strongest in the industry”.

“You will see less deformation and ripples than you can see on others, and it is far stronger than the real thin skinned over foam core boxes some are building,” he said.

“Yes, we will build the fibreglass… but it is not better. You can have it, rather than go buy an inferior brand just because they offer it, but we will tell you what is wrong with it.”

Bushtracker is also set to replace its traditional “epoxy coated marine glue ply flooring” with a tougher, fibreglass-covered PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) flooring, which was on display at Queensland.

“There is nothing wrong with (our ply flooring). The problem is some of our so called competitors have touted a foam core flooring, and used it as a gimmick to discredit us as being old fashioned,” Gibbs said.

“They are using a polyurethane foam filled floor that has a long term compression problem that we were not willing to inflict on our Bushtracker owners. (Over time it) internally starts to crumble, and can prove to ruin the structural integrity of the flooring,” he said.

To be standard on all Bushtracker vans, Gibbs said the new flooring has been extensively tested, is fully water resistant and is resin pillar injected every 50 sq mm, “to provide added structural compression strength”.

“Is it necessary? In a word no, but it will be appealing to many as it feels a little firmer and will have an insulation factor,” he said.

The new floor and fibreglass walls were among “six major new innovations” unveiled at the Queensland Caravan Show.

Bushtracker also displayed an 'exclusive' 220 litre Danfoss ‘Isotherm’ compressor fridge, rated for five degrees hotter ambient temperature than the equivalent sized Waeco fridge, and new bullet-proof 4140 Tool Steel axle stubs, with a shear rating of 60 tons per axle stub, that will be fitted as standard to all Bushtracker caravans.

The two new fibreglass caravans on display at Queensland were a 21ft tandem axle, full ensuite model, fitted with 30 optional extras  including 300aH lithium battery pack and 360 litre water storage, priced at $142,100, and a smaller 17ft tandem axle, combined shower/toilet model with 17 options fitted, priced at $109,859.

Also on display was Bushtracker’s latest 15ft pop-top caravan with new marine-grade electrical control panel and fully automatic, remote controlled electric roof.

To see how it works click on the video below…