10
NEWS
Chinese caravan blitz looming
Ezytrail to boost imported caravan range to seven models by late-2017Get ready for a flood of new, sharply priced Chinese caravans arriving before year's end, with Melbourne-based Ezytrail the latest budget camper importer to begin rolling out its own range of off-road caravans and pop-tops.
Following the display of Ezytrail’s first compact, off-road pop-top hybrid, the Parkes 13, at next week’s NSW Caravan Supershow, the volume-selling importer will introduce more pop-top models as well as a new caravan range boasting a unique, expanding side wall design that “will rock the caravan world”.
“We will hopefully have seven caravans on the market by the end of this year,” Ezytrail Campers group general manager, Dean Porter told Caravancampingsales.
“We’ve got 15ft and 18ft four berth, pop-top vans coming, with a new design bunk layout that will be different to anything that’s currently on the market.”
Breaking convention, the bunk beds will be located towards the front, to help free up more space within the compact floorplans.
“Normally they’re located at the back, but we’ve taken inspiration from the way they ‘rack ‘em and stack ‘em’ in submarines, as well as some of the larger vans you find in the US, where they rack and stack bunks across the front, in front of the ensuite,” he said.
The Parkes pop-tops also feature rear drop down beds, and measure just 2.1m wide to better follow 4WD tow vehicles down narrow tracks.
Ezytrail is also hoping to release its first “revolutionary” full height Airlie GT caravan around mid-2017, which will boast industry-first, electric drop-down sides.
“It’s an 18ft dual axle, fixed roof, off-road van and the two side walls drop down to form floor bases, with canvas between that, so they’re like built-in annexes,” he said
“Once it’s fully opened it has around 30 square feet of off-the-ground living space. One side is the dinette, which also drops down to form another double bed, and the other side is the master bedroom. The furniture is fixed to the wall and when you fold it down it opens itself out.”
The patent-pending, bottom-hinged walls drop down either side via a power-operated cable/pulley system, with stabiliser legs for extra support. The layout will also include an internal ensuite and kitchen as well as an external BBQ.
A prototype weighing 2400kg was displayed earlier this year at the Perth Caravan Show and pricing is likely to start around $70,000, or around double that of the entry-level Parkes pop-top.
“You will be able to pull up on the side of the lake, open up the canvas wall and fish from your lounge, like you’re on your own private little jetty,” Porter said.
If the Airlie family vans strike a chord with buyers, Porter said a toy hauler version with rear garage is also on the cards.
“We’re not looking at on-road vans at the moment, but we may do them in the future,” he said.
The new caravans will be shipped out from the same Chinese factory as the company’s popular, budget-priced imported campers.
With its aggressive caravan model roll-out and ongoing expansion of its nationwide dealer network, Porter said Ezytrail has plans to rival some of Australia’s biggest RV brands.
“Our vision is to go after Jayco,” he said. “We’re about to open another five, wholly owned branch offices.
"We’re winding back (our number of) dealers and going with our own branches where we can control what is being said and done to our customers and back it up with proper service.”
Share this article
Written byChris Fincham
See all articlesStay up to dateBecome a caravancampingsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe todayDisclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Love every move.
Buy it. Sell it.Love it.
®Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Consent
Download the caravancampingsales app
