New Windsor caravans go on sale

The first Apollo-built Windsor Caravans made a splash at the ‘Go Brisbane Caravan & Outdoor Sale’, with the two Queensland-built models taking pride of place on Kratzmann’s huge multi-brand display at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

The two, full composite walls and floor Windsors – a Genesis 19ft 6in. 196 RD and a 22ft Genius 220 MD family van, were the first two of the intended 12 new models that new Coromal-Windsor owner Apollo plans to roll out in 2020, with six new models due to be completed in the next six months.

It was a special reunion for Kratzmanns, which formerly was a Windsor agent until 2006.

With its origins darting back to the mid-1970s, Melbourne-made Windsors used to epitomise the best in mid-priced touring caravans.

Under subsequent owner, the WA-based Fleetwood Group, the Windsor name was applied to a range of RV products from camper trailers to hybrids, effectively vacating the brand’s core market.

Now, Kratzmann Dealer Principal Dale Lawrence said new owners, the Apollo Group plans to reinstate Windsor as a mainstream brand in the ‘hot’ $55,000-$65,000 market segment.

To do this, Apollo plans initially to focus on Windsor’s heritage, leveraging it through its former mainstream Genesis range before expanding into other models.

Lawrence says there will be a clear delineation between the Apollo's Winnebago, Windsor and Coromal products built in Nudgee, northeast Brisbane.

“Winnebago will remain a niche brand, but Windsor will go after the large middle ground and Coromal will primarily appeal to budget buyers,” he said.

The principal attractions of the Windsors will be their full composite walls and floor and one-piece roof, combined with a generally higher levels of finish and equipment, he said.

As displayed at ‘Go Brisbane’, the first two Windsors were only completed just before show opening, yet were of a higher quality of finish than we often see in early production models.

“The whole Apollo factory was really pumped,” said Lawrence. “They started with the aim of making something special and they have really achieved this.”

The 19ft 6in ‘couples’ Genesis 196 MO on display had a relatively lightweight Tare of 2069kg, a not-so-generous minimum payload of 410kg and carried a competitive show price of $59,990, while the 22ft Family Genesis 220 MD weighed 2411kg, had a payload of 538kg and was priced at $56,490.

Other models in the initial six-van Genesis model line-up will range from a 1650kg (Tare) 17ft 6in single axle to a 20ft 6in,2200kg Tare, couples’ vans.

Each will come standard with a one-piece hot-dipped 150mm steel chassis and drawbar, AL-KO independent rubber torsion suspension, a separate shower and toilet rear bathroom, front-loader washing machine, 188-litre fridge, microwave oven, roof-mounted air conditioning, a single 150W solar panel, twin 82-litre fresh water tanks and 235 section all-terrain tyres.

All-road versions with uprated suspension will be added to the range later, Lawrence said.

Apollo has launched a new Windsor Caravans website at windsorcaravans.com.au