Geelong debut for Aerovan

One of Australia’s most interesting new caravans will make its public debut at the Geelong Caravan, Camping & Outdoor Expo over the January Australia Day long weekend to gauge customers’ interest.

The innovative Aerovan that looks like a cross between a double-ended horse float and a traditional American Airstream RV, has been developed over several years by Echuca, Victoria brothers Alistair and Geoff Morrison after they decided Australian-built vans were too heavy, dated in their design and their brick-like styling was not aerodynamic enough.

Their research also found that traditional Aussie vans with their Meranti tinber frames and ribbed aluminium sheet cladding were subject to frustrating leaks and hail damage.

The brothers have been trying to display their Aerovan for months at CIA-organised shows – first at Melbourne’s Leisurefest and then at the Bendigo’s RV & Camping Show – but they were not allowed to co-share another manufacturer’s site, to gauge public interest.

“We only heard about the Geelong show this week, rang the organisers and we’re in,” said a delighted Alistair Morrison. “As the show is not being organised under the CIA banner, they had no problems with us displaying.”

The Aerovan that will be displayed is the second of two prototypes the former ultra-light aircraft specialists have built in their hanger at Echuca airfield. A third is currently in production for a customer friend.

It employs 39mm thick fibreglass sandwich flat wall and roof construction, with curved front and rear fibreglass ends. Everything is contained within the body for aerodynamic advantage, including the gas bottles, spare wheel and even the electric awning, which retracts into the side bodywork.

Features include a full north-south queen-size bed, a household size kitchen and a large rear ensuite.

The prototype is built on a G&S galvanised chassis and tips the scales at just 1650kg – excellent for a fully equipped Australian-built van measuring 6.5 x 2.4 metres.

The Aerovan’s display at Geelong is intended to attract public interest, which in turn will be used to encourage a manufacturer to take over building the vans.  

“Geoff and I are both in our late 60s and fit, but we’d rather have someone established in the industry take over the project from here,” said Alastair. ??

“We have already had advanced talks with a Melbourne specialist company but they would like to gauge public reaction to the Aerovan before making any commitment. We hope the Geelong Show will produce that.”

The Geelong Caravan, Camping & Outdoor Expo will be staged at the Geelong Showgrounds from January 23-26.