Emerging caravan tech on display in Melbourne

Caravancampingsales was one of 330 attendees at the 2026 Caravan Industry Victoria Trade Expo, held in late-July at Hyatt Place in Essendon Fields; not far from the Melbourne Airport.

The annual Expo brings together local manufacturers, suppliers and industry professionals for a day of innovation, education and collaboration, while showcasing some of the latest products, emerging technologies and key trends helping shape the future of caravanning. 

Here's what stood out for us on the day...

The CIV Trade Expo included a number of keynote presentations, aiming to both inspire and educate, from Red Bull Air Race champion and RAAF Top Gun fighter pilot, Matt Hall speaking about high achievement, to Swinburne University Director Vikram Sachdeva who attempted to de-mystify industrial AI for the caravan industry.

But perhaps the most interesting and relevant for many attendees was the talk by BYD Denza Australia CEO Mark Harland.

Denza, BYD’s premium sister brand, had a strong presence at the event including a couple of its tough-looking Denza B8 off-roaders on display.

We're all hearing in the general media how electric vehicle range and charging infrastructure are improving. However, the interesting extra layer Harland illustrated is how much electrical power these vehicles have in reserve for auxiliary applications.

While the caravan industry is in an arms race to build more electric power into their products, the Denza performance raises the question whether the tow vehicle can do a fair chunk of the heavy lifting.

The Denza B8 petrol hybrid 4WD SUV features dual electric motors, a 37kWh battery and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine which serves as a generator. But what we are particularly interested in here is the battery.

Harland stated the driver can set the battery state of charge to 50% or even 70%. This means when driving, the generator kicks in early to retain battery charge so you can arrive at camp with plenty of electrical power in reserve.

Harland said he's been camping in his B8 a few times and said you can easily arrive at camp with 6.6kW available. That’s enough to run the caravan air-conditioner (2000W) for hours, the caravan fridge and lighting (200W) as needed, an electric kettle and toaster (2400W) for breakfast, and an air compressor (1500W) to reinflate the tyres... and still have plenty in reserve.

The bottom line is you may be able to avoid upgrading the power system in a 'van and use the tow car's power to run some of your gear.

Queensland's Airbag Man was the first company to supply airbags for suspension systems in the caravan industry many years ago and continues to innovate.

A significant part of the company’s success in the RV industry has been developing user-friendly control systems. Available in manual and automatic systems, the key benefits are being able to raise and lower suspension height to suit the conditions by adjusting air pressure.

Keeping the 'van height low for normal travelling conditions optimises stability, while raising the 'van height on bumpy terrain improves body ground clearance. Varying the height of suspension points independently, also enables the 'van to be levelled out on uneven ground.

Airbag Man’s latest innovation is adding this functionality to a phone app. When setting up for camp, users can walk around the 'van and adjust height remotely instead of walking back to the fixed control.

Another advantage is the GPS sensor speed reset. This automatically returns the suspension to normal travel height if the user forgets to reset it, once the 'van clocks a nominal speed. This protects the system from accidental damage caused by travelling too low.

Airbag Man also distributes a more sophisticated AMK electronic height control system which uses sensors to constantly monitor and adjust ride height. This keeps the 'van level at all times under all loads.

The AMK remote control and alternative phone app allow the airbags to be operated manually, and automatic horizon levelling can be achieved at a touch of a button.

Airbag Man is also compatible with Garmin and Redarc systems, so the functionality can be achieved through their centralised control panels. Don't be surprised to see more suppliers of components such as diesel heaters launch interfaces for Garmin and Redarc central controls.

Full composite caravan construction is all the rage, and it's now extending to materials inside the 'van.

HVG was showing off Durasein, a solid surface alternative to laminates for bench tops, vanities and alike. It looks and feels like stone but importantly is silica-free.

It’s created by combining natural minerals and high-performance acrylic resins to provide a solid material rather than a thin layer on a substrate.

Durasein is repairable where minor scratches or surface damage can be buffed, and chips can be patched. It's available in a broad range of colours, to suit the fussiest caravan buyer.

Filippi was spruiking its Vitter range; an alternative compact laminate solution for applications such as bench tops, doors, furniture carcasses and even shower platforms.

It's waterproof and created with multiple layers of paper saturated in resin, subjected to very high pressure and temperature. Unlike traditional laminate, it's structural in its own right, without the need for a base material. 

Also displaying its latest wares at the Expo was Supex with some stylish new caravan lighting solutions, interior fans and awning accessories, and Fixtech which is offering new adhesive and sealant solutions, including Fix90, Fix30 and Fix6 products.

Related: What's in store for caravan buyers in 2026?