More off-road models coming

Melbourne’s Track Trailer  isn’t the only Aussie off-road specialist looking to tap into new markets and cater to rising demand for bush-bashing RVs.

Two leading manufacturers based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland – arguably the off-road capital of Australia – are aiming to add new, entry-level models to their ranges by the end of this year.

Bushtracker, which specialises in building
large off-road caravans with the lot (pictured), is hoping to release a more compact pop-top van at the 2012 Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Holiday Show in early-June.

The new 14ft model is expected to be much smaller and lighter than any of the company’s existing range of heavyweight vans, which can have 22ft long bodies and weigh up to 3500kg fully loaded.

The new pop-top will also have a narrower track, making it suitable for a range of smaller tower vehicles.

It shouldn’t miss out on too many features of its larger stablemates though, with Bushtracker’s Philip Wilson confirming the single axle van will have similarly sturdy underpinnings and rock-solid construction Bushtracker buyers have come to expect.

“We think it’s going to meet a demand,” says Wilson. “We used to do (pop-top vans) many years ago, but people have been asking for it so now we’re bringing it back.”

Wilson says the new model was also in response to the increasing popularity of smaller hybrid vans like the Kimberley Karavan and Australian Off-Road Campers Matrix.

“We’ve looked at what they currently do, and our van is going to have some things which have not been seen in that market so it’s going to be unique,” he says.

“Plus it’s going to have a shower and toilet, and a full kitchen inside which a lot of those (other models) don’t have.”

It will be priced “less than $100,000,” says Wilson. “By Bushtracker standards it’s going to be cheap.”

Meanwhile, Travelander general manager Darren Hoger says the Queensland manufacturer plans to have a new soft-floor tent trailer on the market by late-2012.

“We used to do soft floors many years ago and I stopped doing them, and concentrated on
(hardfloor campers), and I thought I’d start doing them again,” he explains.

“We’ll have a budget one and then we’ll have a top-of-the-range one; pretty much what we do with our slide-ons and other campers."

“The budget one will probably start at around $7000 and the top-of-the-range about $25,000. They’ll be nice and roomy, more of a family camper type of thing with a soft floor.”

Hoger says Travelander has plans to eventually offer a full range of RVs and accessories, including tables, chairs “and anything to do with camping”.

The company recently introduced a tent-style canvas swag (pictured), available in single or double bed sizes. Some of its handy features include an in-built thick foam mattress, supporting roof structure and peg-less construction.

The swag is stored in a compact bag and retails from $385.