DIY camper kits target Gen Z car owners

The ‘Vanlife’ trend in Australia is now embracing SUVs, wagons, hatchbacks and even cheap trailers, with camping conversion kits suitable for 'daily drivers' being pitched to young week-end adventurers seeking convenience and comfort at a more affordable price.

With the promise to "convert any vehicle into a house on wheels", Sydney-based Kata Camperbox builds everything from fit-it-yourself timber slide-out/bed bases to full in-house, custom-designed campervan fit-outs. But the Matraville, NSW start-up that was kick-started about three years ago thanks to a government grant, wants to capitalize on the growing interest in camper kits for SUVs and smaller runarounds.

Available in a wide range of styles and sizes, the CNC-cut, flat-pack, fit-yourself bed base camper kits start at around $1200, with more complex kits incorporating fridge slides, dining tables and mini-kitchens getting up to around the $3000-$4000 mark.

The idea behind Kata Camperbox was borne out of the RV sales boom that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, where RV rental prices skyrocketed and supply of new RVs couldn't keep up with demand.

"We recognized the need for an accessible and affordable solution that would allow people to quickly and easily convert their existing cars and SUVs into campers," Kata Camperbox founder Gus Medeiro explained.

Adopting the Ikea furniture assembly philosophy, the Kata Camperbox kits can be installed or removed easily by owners, with installation and removal tutorials provided.

The most popular vehicle fitments so far also happen to be some of the biggest-selling passenger cars in the country, including the Subaru Forester and Outback, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V – although Kata has also made kits for smaller vehicles like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris hatchbacks.

Kata has even made a camper trailer conversion kit for the Trailmaster Discovery Pod - another affordable locally-built camping product that was launched during the pandemic.

While pitched more at the premium end of the market, Kata's full in-house campervan conversions are aimed at owners of popular vans such as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Toyota HiAce and Volkswagen Transporter.

"We use Fusion 360 3D design software to allow buyers to create their own camper ideas into a 3D format," Medeiro explained. "This allows you to tailor your camper fit-out to your requirements, and also provide the basis for checking that the ideas are going to work in practice. The company sources 16mm laminated plywood and precision cuts the kits with a CNC machine."

Kata also employs experienced and qualified engineers and technicians to do the work.

“We use state-of-the-art tools to create precision components, ranging from electrical and plumbing to cabinetry and metalwork," she said.

Catering to its Gen Z customers, Kata Camperbox has a mobile-friendly online store where it sells all the different kits along with camping accessories like portable batteries, fridges and water systems, while they're also available via the Bunnings Marketplace online store.