Kimberley plans new box camper

Recently resurrected off-road pioneer Kimberley is back in production with an updated  range of camper trailers, hybrids and caravans, but it’s not planning to stop there.

Currently on the drawing board and due for release by late March this year is a new, compact entry-level box camper model designed to compete with the likes of Australian Off Road's Sierra, Northcoast Campers’ Sniper X.9 and Bruder’s new XP4.

Measuring just 4.8 metres long, 2.0 metres high and 1.9 metres wide, with a tare weight target of 900kg, it will sit alongside Kimberley’s much-awarded hard-floor canvas-topped Kamper in the 2020 Kimberley range, capitalising on the increased demand by ‘Millennials’ for quick-set-up campers that can be towed by small SUVs for couples to enjoy weekend ‘experiences’.

Pricing is yet to be finalised, but the new camper is expected to start close to the current $42,000 asked for Kimberley’s entry-level Kamper Classic model, pitching it hard against the two Caloundra-built AOR and Northcoast products that start at around $40,000.

It follows the recent announcement of a 2020 version of its top-selling Karavan and the resumption of production of the company’s larger single and tandem axle Kruiser models.

One important change to Kimberley’s production process has been the company’s adoption of new vacuum-infused closed cell composite panels for the upper section of its latest Karavan models, speeding production and saving weight over the previous framed and fibreglass clad upper sections.

This potentially is as big a game changer for Kimberley (as has been the development of the composite ute canopy for the Sunshine Coast’s ZoneRV) and changes not only the build time, but also the potential weight saving for the planned box camper.

Having re-employed the majority of its former workforce and still operating from the same, albeit leaner, Ballina factory, Kimberley has the space and customer support to enlarge its range.

In the capable ‘hands-on’ control of former south-east Queensland dealer, James Cockburn and former General Manager, Brett McLaren, Kimberley is a different company today to the tech-adventurous one that let its customers become an extension of its R&D department in previous hands.

The new owners have received great encouragement from existing customers, with more than 7000 Kimberley owners since the company was founded back in 1994 and with growing interest in its products from overseas buyers, particularly in the United States.

Cockburn says there are already more than 100 Kimberley owners in North America, with three new Karavans currently on order by US customers.

"We have a unique product in the Karavan and although it was introduced 13 years ago, we see a strong potential market for it, going forward,”: he said.

“Because of our strong customer loyalty, we believe there is also a strong potential market for new products wearing the Kimberley brand.”