Roma eyes Italian Rookie

Roma, one of the oldest names in the Australian caravan industry, is looking to an Italian ‘Rookie’ to give it an edge in the emerging market of micro vans able to be hauled by even the smallest tow car.

Made by the family-owned Italian Wingamm company, which has built monocoque fibreglass bodies for motorhomes and caravans since the late 1970s, the 3.6 metre long by 2.1 metre wide Rookie 3.5 has a tiny footprint, yet boasts all the key features of a proper caravan.

At its size it will be a serious market rival for the 4.0 x 1.94 metre wide and 650kg Polish-built Glider and the slightly larger 4.26m x 2.05m 750kg Sunseeker that are making their Australian show debut at this week’s Newcastle Caravan, Camping & Holiday Expo,

Sitting on a galvanised Al-Ko single axle chassis, the Rookie’s GRP all-fibreglass body houses a double bed, a two-burner cooktop ‘kitchen’ with sink and 70 litre fridge, a gas hot water system and a combined shower and cassette toilet, yet tips the scales at just 750kg, with a 250kg payload.
A Truma gas heater is an option for year-round use.

Although the Rookie is only built in Italy with a right-hand entry door for the European market, Roma has invested in the development of a left-hand door version and in return has gained the rights to market the Rookie in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, with Roma’s Mark Palmarini believing that the Asian markets will be keen growth areas for micro caravans.

“We’ve been in the caravan industry long enough to have our nose close to the ground when the winds of change are blowing and we can really sense this now,” said Palmarini, whose company ironically builds some of the biggest vans in Australia and two years ago introduced the novel pop-up glass-roofed Canadian Alto caravan to the Australian market.

“Even in Australia we’re seeing a new market for small caravans emerging as more people live in apartments and building blocks get smaller,” he said.

“Many younger couples want to travel, yet don’t want the problems of storing a large caravan or the cost of having to upgrade their existing vehicle to tow one.

“A caravan like the Rookie can fit in a normal car space and therefore can be available instantly when the weather and time is right for a weekend getaway.”

Roma plans to import the left-hand door Rookies in flatpack form for local assembly at their Campbellfield, Victoria headquarters and export them to other markets from there fully assembled.

Palmarini said Roma planned to exhibit a local version for the first time on their stand at the Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow from June 8-13.

Pricing will be crucial for the Rookie’s success in Australia, with the similarly sized Polish Niewiadow caravans hitting the Australian market from just $19,000.

In the UK the Wingamm Rookie 3-5 sells for £14,425, which would suggest a local price including the door conversion in the $30,000 bracket – cheap enough to steer many potential buyers away from camper trailers.

The inclusion of the Rookie in the Roma range doesn’t mean that the traditional caravan builder is moving away from its roots – rather it’s broadening their reach according to Palmarini.

While he admits it didn’t set the Australian market on fire because of its relatively high price in the upper $40,000 bracket, the Canadian Alto was the vanguard of micro caravans and even with only 12 currently on the road – one in New Zealand – still represented good business, he said.

“The critical period for any new product is three to five years and we’re confident that with the growing interest in small caravans that the Alto will succeed,” he said. ??“It is a niche, premium caravan in this market and there will be an increasing demand for this.”

?However with the Rookie, there’s a bigger potential prize for Roma, as Wingamm is also a significant manufacturer of motorhomes in Italy and the new collaboration is expected to give Roma exclusive access to its range in Australia.