Caravan production on a roll

According to the latest figures from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, the first five months of 2018 saw a marginal increase in local RV production, with 8946 units built in total (up 0.9 per cent from the previous year).

Caravans continue to comprise the bulk of local RV production, with 4983 built to the end of May, or 56 per cent of overall production.

Next was pop-tops, with 1689 built year-to-date, although demand for pop-tops has decreased from a peak of 5000-plus annual production in 2016-17.

Demand for locally-built camper and tent trailers has also tapered off, with 1513 and 144 units respectively for the period.

Bigger caravans are proving popular, with almost two thirds of the towable RVs produced during May measuring at least six metres long.

Despite the publicity they get, heavyweight vans weighing more than three tonnes comprise only a small proportion of the towable market (around five per cent). Fifty per cent (or 979) of all towable RVs built in May weighed between two and three tonnes.

While still a snippet of the overall market, demand for motorised RVs continues to rise with campervans and motorhomes accounting for seven per cent of the overall market (614 units year-to-date).

Most of these are the larger cab-chassis mounted, seven to nine metre long, sub-4500kg B and C class motorhomes, with the smaller campervans accounting for just 14 per cent of the motorised RV market.

The production statistics are derived from data received from 81 industry member manufacturers, so don't include many niche manufacturers including fifth wheel caravan builders, or the thousands of imported RVs sold in Australia each year.