More caravan company collapses predicted

It's been described as a "perfect storm" for the until recently unstoppable Australian caravan industry.

More brands competing for fewer buyers; soaring fuel prices and other crippling costs; and a big dent in consumer confidence thanks to a succession of headline grabbing caravan company collapses...

In the space of six months, a number of high-profile and established brands including Zone RV, Network RV, Great Aussie Caravans, Star Vision Caravans, X Series RV and Sunland Caravans, have either collapsed or been resuscitated. Together these brands accounted for an estimated 2500-plus RVs sold in Australia in 2025.

At the same time, remaining brands along with newcomers including Gold Class, Jurgens, Dream Journey, LDV, Zodiac, and Prattline, chase a diminished pool of buyers.

"We need to have a level of consolidation," Crusader Caravans Managing Director Michael Paidoussis told caravancampingsales, in reference to the influx of new players during the COVID boom that saw the number of Australian RV brands rise to more than 250, according to some sources.

"As is happening right now, when the tide goes out, businesses that are either over committed or running on paper thin margins close," continued the boss of Crusader, which remains Australia's 'no.2' caravan manufacturer behind Jayco despite seeing a drop in production last year to 1631 'vans (down from 1853 in 2024) according to RAVS data.

With green shoots still to emerge, Michael predicts more caravan companies will hit the wall over the next six to 12 months.

"I don't think we're in a crisis but I think we're shedding capacity that I think we never should have added through COVID," he said.

"I think what's going to come out the other side is a smaller number of manufacturers that are properly capitalized and can back their product," he continued.

"I think there's going to be a lot more consolidation come post-Christmas. It's going to be hard for companies to close their doors for up to five weeks and pay staff and suppliers, and come back from that. And that's if they have sales, and sales are bloody hard to come by at the moment.

"What we're seeing right now is not one bad year. It's probably six or seven years of things catching up in a single year, and I think that's what we're starting to see right now."

Michael Paidoussis is not alone in his assessment of the current RV market shakedown.

Goldstream RV director Shaun Noble told GoRV that he saw the writing on the wall last year, when the Melbourne manufacturer stopped production of its once popular wind-up camper trailers after a 32 year run and put its focus on a new range of full composite caravans.

As an industry veteran, he likens it to the age-old "what goes up must come down" market cycle.

"With what we're seeing in the media at the moment there would be no reason why a buyer wouldn't be nervous going to make a purchase of a caravan and handing over lots of money... It's about making sure you understand what the market wants," Shaun explained.

Caravan Industry Victoria CEO Daniel Sahlberg told 3AW the industry is in "unprecedented times".

"Through COVID we saw double growth of the industry in terms of production numbers and new businesses coming to the market... and we're coming off those times," Daniel said.

He also pointed to the steep rise in the cost of manufacturing and running a business in Australia.

"It's the cost to do business and how it is these days," he said.

"(Caravan businesses) are doing it tough and there are some extenuating circumstances to a couple of these (liquidated RV brands) to what's happened and where they've got to, but it's really tough out there (at the moment)."

Sunland Caravans founder Roy Wyss, who cashed in during the boom after more than two decades in the industry, believes "the caravan industry isn't dying, it's evolving".

"We're seeing industry consolidation. The companies with strong finances, efficient production and good reputation, well they're surviving. In fact, some are even growing. Others well they've struggled," he surmised in a recent video.

RV brands disappearing, merging or being rescued are all signs of a maturing market, Roy reckons.

"That doesn't mean the industry is failing, it means it's maturing. Every industry experiences this, the strongest usuall survive."

However, Roy Wyss does see a big upside for buyers not put off during the current downturn, with some great deals, big discounts, bonus accessories, and extended warranties on offer for savvy shoppers.

"(It's one of the) best buying environments I've seen for years. But only if you negotiate," he advises.

"Never assume the advertised price is the final price. My advice... if I was buying a caravan today, I wouldn't rush."

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