Offroad heavyweights explore new niches

Three of Australia’s leading off-road caravan manufactures are planning to expand their current ranges into new markets in a bid to attract today's cashed-up, but more time-poor and more fickle buyers.

The big surprise is that gold-standard off-road caravan builder Bushtracker is also looking to dip into the burgeoning pod/box/hybrid camper market, with a new narrow-bodied entry-level model that could go on sale later this year, if the numbers stack up.

Unlike most of the current offerings in this growing ‘Millennials’ market, Bushtracker is expected to build a scaled-down compact Bushtracker caravan, rather than a camper, with things like its main cooking and bathroom housed inside, rather than externally.

The new model’s target weight will be well under 2000kg; it will be less than two metres wide, and we can expect Bushtracker’s traditional assets of high build quality and strength to be incorporated in what will be a premium-priced model in its segment.

Stripped-back Sierra

In the interim, the first to blink will be Caloundra’s Australian Off Road, which this month will debut a new camper trailer at the National 4x4 Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo in Brisbane from March 27-29.

Called the Sierra ZR, sharing many of its components, but conceptually quite different to the existing Sierra box camper released last year, the ZR is new from its chassis up, with large internal storage, space for a rooftop tent or fibreglass sleeping capsule, a pull-out external kitchen and a wide range of optional add-on tent rooms.

AOR says the new model will be designed to appeal to younger campers who want to get off the ground on the next phase of their off-road adventuring.

Based on research that brand loyalty is one of AOR’s greatest sales assets, the Sierra ZR has been conceived on the belief that many people transitioning from a tent to a camper trailer will already have much of their own portable equipment, that could include a separate or rooftop tent, a cabinet fridge and perhaps their own gas cooker, induction cooktop, or Weber BBQ to bring to the new vehicle.

With this in mind, the ZR is designed to accept a wide range of equipment, with AOR offering its own extensive TRAX-branded options for those that don’t have such a cache and of course these will add to its anticipated basic price of around $30,000.

New premium AOR Synergy

The idea for the new AOR entry model has largely come from General Manager Russell Evans, as company founder Steve Budden is busy putting finishing touches on AOR's new tandem-axle off-road model, the Synergy, which is set to be revealed at the 2020 Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow at the Brisbane Showgrounds from June 3-6.

Described as a tandem-axle version of AOR’ popular Matrix Hybrid off-road, the Synergy will have a tandem axle layout like the company’s range-topping Aurora, but will sit in between the two in the $130,000-$145,000 range in price and features. However, while having an AOR family look, it will be a lot more than a tandem-axle Matrix, Budden has assured us.

Melbourne movements

Melbourne’s Track Trailer is also working on a new tandem-axle model that is likely to make its debut at Melbourne Leisurefest from October 1-4.

However, the news that highly-respected Melbourne-based custom off-road caravan maker Trakmaster and its recent acquisition Pioneer Camper are both currently on the market, has widened the options for many manufacturers to fast-track their plans to expand into new RV markets by incorporating Trakmaster’s 22 years of experience.

Also read:

Kimberley plans new box camper

MDC slashes hybrid pop-top pricing