Rembrandt joins crowded caravan market

It takes confidence in the caravan industry’s resurgence to go chasing new interstate dealers right now but Josh Spasevski, the founder of Melbourne’s fledgling Rembrandt Caravans, believes he has the right combination of quality and price to appeal to the recovering RV market.

Founded nearly a year ago, the Somerton-based brand has bet its future on three basic models and five floor plans, all named after famous paintings by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn.

However now that the caravan buying outlook is brightening, Spasevski is looking for new interstate dealers in the hope of building up to two caravans per week by next year. New Zealand's Time Out Caravans was recently added as Rembrandt's first outlet across the ditch.

He says building just 50 vans or less annually will allow him to achieve a higher level of quality than most volume brands, while staying a low volume builder will allow him to offer a limited degree of customisation.

Being small has also allowed Rembrandt to keep its prices low by today’s standards, with its top-selling 19ft 8in couples rear entry-door van in premium Danae spec. selling for $69,990.

Being Victorian vans, all Rembrandts feature Meranti timber wall framing with the buyer’s choice of either ribbed aluminium or smooth Dibond aluminium external wall cladding, with Cruisemaster independent or AL-KO roller rocker suspension underneath depending on whether it’s a luxury on-road or an off-road model.

Spasevski says he has aimed for top-notch construction as Rembrandt’s edge in a crowded industry that often puts quantity over quality.

“When the owner is on the floor building the caravans, second best is never good enough,” he said.

Check out some of the other Rembrandt vans on offer here.

Related: How to choose the perfect caravan