Prattline Low Tow makes a comeback

Aussie buyers will soon be able to hit the road in a retro-style Prattline RV 'low tow' caravan -- a modern take on the original South Australian-built Prattline collapsible caravans sold locally from around the 1970s through to the '90s.

Innovative for its time, the original Prattline's party trick was an hydraulic system for raising and lowering the upper hard-body section, in a manner similar to modern-day campers like the Kimberley Karavan and Hitch Madigan hybrid.

The latest Prattline Low Tow adopts a similar hard-shell roof lift system, but with four corner-mounted electric actuators raising the side walls and roof from its camper trailer-like 2109mm travel height to a more caravan-like 2820mm when camping.

The modern version is built with a galvanised chassis and vacuum-bonded frame using GRP, together with a one-piece roof and honeycomb floor.

In prototype form, the 6.9m long and 2.3m wide, single-axle Prattline Low Tow has a listed Tare weight of 2100kg and an ATM of 2600kg.

The 2026 Prattline also comes equipped for all-terrain travel with an off-road ball coupling and independent coil suspension, 80L fresh and 80L grey water tanks, and a 600Ah lithium battery set-up with 600W rooftop solar and a 2000W inverter.

There's outside cooking on an external kitchen, an external shower and powered awning, while inside it gets a two-berth layout with big double bed, dinette, kitchenette and combination shower/toilet, with a rooftop air-conditioner, induction cooktop, compressor fridge, stereo and TV among the appliances fitted.

Ex Roma Caravans' Mark Palmarini has been in charge of the design and development of the new Prattline Low Tow.

Speaking at the 2026 Geelong Outdoor Living Caravan Expo, he said he's been tweaking and testing the prototype for some time and plans to release a 'Mk2' version in March.

Palmarini said it was important to retain the unique look of this "Aussie classic", right down to the '70s Bronco colour scheme.

"We retained the old shape because it's still aerodynamic. Some people say it's too retro but I love the shape," he said.

"It was the first of the 'low tows' before Jayco or anyone brought one out. But they did it with a hydraulic pump; you had to pump it up," he said.

"But if they'd had the sort of technology we're using now (actuators with a manual over-ride), they probably would have used that instead."

Palmarini has also come up with a more user-friendly entry door for the new model.

"The old version used a barn door, but we've come up with this (integrated two-part slide-out door) so you can now access this side of the cabin with the roof down," he said.

He reckons his entry door solution is so ingenious he's had owners of original Prattlines wanting to retro-fit one to their classic 'vans.

Palmarini says he wants to make a few improvements, including boosting the interior height to around 2.0m. He's also looking at other layout options that include front cafe seating and twin single beds, as well as a lighter Touring version. He also plans to book it in for a wind tunnel test.

Apart from the solid upper walls (which take about a minute to raise), he says the main advantages of the Low Tow design are better fuel economy when towing and being able to store it in the garage.

Unlike the original the 2026 Prattline Low Tow will be built in China. Advertised with show special pricing of $78,000, Palmarini said that's a good thing for potential buyers as it would likely cost close to double that if produced locally.

"We looked into it but to manufacture it here was just going to be too expensive to actually develop the moulds that we wanted," he said.

There are also plans down the track to sell it in US and European markets.

Based in the Melbourne suburb of Ferntree Gully, Prattline RV is also offering a fibreglass UK caravan style touring model in 15ft and 18ft body lengths, as part of its new lightweight imported range.

The 18 footer on display had a Tare of 1600kg and $61,500 pricing, while the 16ft version weighed in unloaded at 1300kg and was advertised at $51,500.

Also being offered for sale on the Prattline RV stand in Geelong was a small camper rig with a sky-scraping double decker rooftop tent from big Chinese manufacturer Wild Land. It had show special pricing of $29,000.