NewGen launches new Chinese composite caravans

Melbourne Leisurefest runs at Sandown Racecourse from October 3-6, but Australia’s newest caravan brand – NewGen – won’t be there, in line with organiser CIA (Vic) policy that requires new nameplates to have a prior Victorian retail presence for at least 12 months.

Instead you’ll have to visit 4-6 Fillo Drive in Somerton to see NewGen’s four-model range of Chinese-built, but locally completed, caravans.

With its initial range of three on-road models consisting of a single-axle 17ft NG17, the tandem-axle 19ft NG19S with a slide-out lounge and the 20ft family model NG20F, plus the 19ft 6in tandem-axle semi off-road NG19, NewGen caravans are being launched with all the popular bells and whistles, along with appealing prices ranging from $49,000-$60,000.

NewGen is owned by Leisure Lion Pty Ltd, with Jack Green as its CEO, and the NewGen caravans are built in the same Chinese factory as the popular Snowy River caravans and camper trailers before being shipped to Melbourne. They are also being completed to Australian regulations in the same Somerton, Melbourne facility that builds the Snowy River and Regent caravans.

NewGen’s main point of difference to most other Chinese-built caravans (and the majority of locally-built Campbellfield/Somerton caravans) is their sophisticated full composite bodies.

Finished bodies arrive on their chassis in Melbourne by container, where they are locally equipped with their suspension and appliances, before being certified to meet local regulations.

Full composite 25mm thick walls, consisting of a welded aluminium frame with an aluminium outer and inner fibreglass surface, are built in China using the latest vacuum pressing machinery.

The walls are then fitted to a galvanised steel chassis, with the structure strengthened by a 48mm thick fibreglass particle floor and a one-piece roof.

Al-Ko rubber torsion suspension, brakes and coupling and checker plate stone protection for the lower body sides, front and rear, are standard on all NewGen models, as are twin 95-litre fresh water tanks, a 100Ah deep- cycle AGM battery, a rooftop solar panel and a BMPro battery management system.

Tare weights, depending on the model, are around 2500kg, with a reasonable 600kg of payload and ball weights of around 230kg, making them ‘ballpark’ for composite-walled caravans of their size and features.

NewGen is initially launching in Melbourne with a single dedicated Somerton dealership in Fillo Drive, but plans to appoint a national retail dealer network in the months to come.

For further details, visit the NewGen Caravans website.