New Golf caravan for Melbourne Show

Twelve months after displaying its first Pakenham, Victoria-built pop-top Golf Savannah at last year’s Victorian Caravan & Camping Show, A’van will debut two new Golf models in an expanded range at the 2014 Show that opens on March 6.

A stubby new 11ft Golf Savannah pop-top will join the range at Caulfield, sliding in beneath the existing 15ft internal-length Savannah pop-top shown last year, an additional 15ft, 2014 model and the recently released tandem axle Savannah pop-top.

As you’d expect, the new Golf ‘shorty’ doesn’t have the combined shower/toilet of the larger Savannah models, but it does get a similar aluminium body, 150mm x 50mm extended A-frame with checker plate tool-box, independent coil spring suspension, propeller plate body protection and full slide-out external galley kitchen and fridge drawer.

A’van expecst it to get a lot of attention from serious off-roader couples seeking a little extra comfort.

Bigger news is the first A’van-built Golf Savannah caravan, which was still being finished just days before the Melbourne show.

The 19ft model on display boasts similar, aggressive styling to the pop-top Savannahs, with black checker-plate used liberally on the flanks and rising up the rear panel, a wedge-shaped roof and with an optional front window.

Since acquiring the struggling Golf brand two years ago in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, A’van has moved quickly to position the 38 year-old formerly Queensland RV maker as the off-road choice in its combined A’van/Golf ranges.

The Golf acquisition also allowed A’van to offer a budget-priced slide-out family camper trailer, similar to that offered by Jayco, Goldstream and Coromal, as an alternative to its signature folding-wall ‘couples’ Aliner range.

However in an example of brand synergy, the Caulfield show will see new 12ft Aliner and Cruiseliner models fitted with the Golf’s coil spring and shock absorber independent suspension for greater ground clearance and rough road versatility, whereas both models previously used Al-Ko rubber suspension exclusively.

Adding the new German Knaus caravans and motor homes that A’van will be displaying for the first time – prior to the official launch of the new Australian-built, Knaus by A’van range on April 26 in Sydney – the A’van Group will have around 70 individual RV models on display at Caulfield, making them the biggest RV exhibitor behind market leader Jayco.

These models will be spread over four separate sites: A’van (A’van caravans and pop-tops and Knaus by A’van caravans), A’van and Knaus motor homes, Golf (camper trailers, pop-tops and caravans) and A’van camper trailers.