Goldstar granny van hits the spot

Apart from the odd mining accommodation unit, most caravan companies in Australia focus on the lucrative touring and holiday market.

But Adelaide-based Goldstar RV is bucking the trend with its MyPadd range of static caravans, that are tapping a growing market for affordable, portable housing.

Half tiny house, half stripped-back touring caravan, the 20ft MyPadd caravan is available in four main layouts: Student/Teenage Retreat, Granny Flat, Bachelor Pad and Art Studio.

So far, the Teenage Retreat and Granny Flat layouts have proved most popular according to the Chinese caravan brand, which also offers a range of touring, off-road and hybrid caravans, as well as motorhomes more recently.

While benefiting from the same fully insulated, fibreglass composite caravan construction as Goldstar’s Liberty Tourer models, the MyPadd versions make do with a skinnier drawbar and less robust furniture construction, due to their limited towing requirements.

The gas-free caravans also set up inside more like studio apartments, with breakfast bars, built-in desks, open shelving and in the case of the Teenage Retreat layout, an east-west double bed that converts to a café dinette.

With the expectation that they will be connected to mains power and water in a backyard or permanent caravan site, they come standard with the basics like a fridge/freezer, 12V/240V hot water system, LED lighting and built-in cabinetry, with the option of fitting a kitchen sink and tap, cooktop, and ensuite with shower and toilet if required.

To cater to the different demographics, the Teenage Retreat version gets a breakfast bar with two stools and an office desk and chair, while the Granny Flat comes standard with a microwave oven, and two comfy recliner chairs around a coffee table.

Depending on what's fitted, the 20ft MyPadd weighs about 1800kg, with prices starting at $23,990. Adding an ensuite with separate shower and toilet costs an extra $3000.

Goldstar will do some minor customization, including adding windows, water tanks and extra shelving, but the idea is to keep the price well below Goldstar’s already cut-price touring caravans, which start around $40,000.

Goldstar RV general manager, Jacob de Leon, said 27 MyPadd vans had been delivered so far, including one recently to a Tasmanian family requiring a teenage retreat.

“It saved them a lot of money, because the family got a quote for $67,000 to build an extension on their house for the son,” de Leon explained.

“As the renovation was going to take six months, they needed something temporary for their son to live in, so we delivered it for $27,990 and now they’ve decided not to go ahead with the reno as the MyPadd is doing the job.”

Another MyPadd is providing permanent accommodation for its elderly owner in country Victoria.

“The client had an old Jayco Sterling, but because they didn’t want to go touring anymore, we trucked one to her in Ballarat and she put it in a permanent caravan park and built a fixed metal annexe for it,” de Leon said.

“It’s affordable accommodation, so it's ideal if you have an empty backyard and you need a place to live in or for guests…”

He said there’s also the option to upgrade an MyPadd at a later storage to make it suitable for touring or holidaying in, including adding gas equipment and a more robust drawbar.