Golf campers getting around

Golf Caravans was one of the victims of the global financial crisis, finally shutting its factory doors in Brisbane in late-2009 after 34 years in business, to the disappointment of owners and the local RV industry in general. 

But now the brand is back, with a range of on- and off-road camper trailers sporting the Golf name available at A'van dealerships throughout Australia.

Alistair Hall from the A'Van RV factory/dealership in Pakenham, Victoria, said following the closure of Golf Caravans, a businessman purchased the rights to use the Golf name, and has since introduced a range of family-friendly camper trailers built out of a small factory in Melbourne.

The pop-top/slide-out camper trailers are aimed at the budget end of the young family van market and come with a long list of standard features.

Both on- and off-road versions feature a one-piece insulated fibreglass roof, gel-coat fibreglass walls, one-piece flooring, 10inch electric brakes and a hot-dipped galvanised chassis with pressed hole cross members to protect wiring underneath the van.

The on-road Challenger is priced at $24,990 and comes standard with queen size front bed, four-burner mini grille, microwave oven, electric water pump, 90-litre three-way fridge, 80-litre water tank with level indicator, auxiliary battery pack with charger, 9kg gas bottle, TV antenna and coaxial TV point.

Additional standard features on the off-road-oriented Bush Challenger, which costs $26,990, include thicker 150mm x 50mm galvanised chassis, roof racks with 500kg capacity, 15inch alloy wheels, aluminium checker plate side protection, an underslung axle for more ground clearance, longer corner stays, double step and off-road electric brakes.

Options across the range include a wind-out awning, camp room, solar panels, CD radio, and roof air-con.

Hall said the Bush Challenger (pictured) is able to sleep up to eight people, although some of those would have to be small kids (or very close friends!) judging by the size of the converted sleeping areas.

"For the extra two grand you get the bigger wheels and tyres, raised ride height, thicker chassis and tougher suspension including bigger shock absorbers. (The Bush Challenger) is designed for off-road, whereas the (Challenger) isn’t," he said.

According to Hall, the new Golf campers are a clean-sheet design not based on any previous Golf Caravan models.

"This guy has bought the name, there were no plans, no accessories or anything like that; he just bought the name because it had a good name in the marketplace," he said.

"He hasn’t copied any previous Golf models; it’s all his own design. It’s completely new; Golf didn’t do (campers), they focussed on luxury caravans."

What's more, Hall said, "he’s also starting to build hardtop vans; he’s produced a couple of prototypes," with the aim to once again offer Golf-badged luxury caravans to the market.

"But hopefully (the camper range) gets the name out there (to show people that Golf is) back and kicking along...” Hall said.

For further details see the Golf Campers website, or visit Avan.com.au for your nearest dealer.