Skye RV joins premium hybrid brigade

There's a new name in the premium off-road hybrid caravan market, with Skye RV displaying new 14ft and 18ft 6in prototypes for the first time at the 2024 Queensland Caravan Supershow in early June.

Skye RV is the latest venture by Queenslander Darren Wilson, who started out custom building Campbox pod campers and Noosa RV hybrids before working for another Queensland hybrid brand in recent times.

Skye RV initially launched in the USA in late-2023, where the first 14ft pop-top starred in a Youtube video, and Wilson says he'd already received 20 orders prior to the two new models hitting the show circuit down under recently.

Skye RV is currently setting up headquarters in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, with retail outlets also being planned for New Zealand as well as the US.

The Skye RV range of six off-road, off-grid models includes both pop-tops and hard-tops, from a 9ft couple's camper to a 21ft family bunk van.

The Skye RV models are largely manufactured in China, but according to Wilson boast quality components including German fibreglass composite panels and aluminium furniture as well as number of innovative features to help set them apart from rivals.

"A first for the caravan industry is there are only solar panels fitted on the roof, with the air-conditioner a domestic-style split system that's ducted into the van, so you don't have any holes in your roof," he said.

"The company we're using is Philips and they're designing an A-C unit for us that fits (into the front toolbox)."

The new Skye RV vans also run a bespoke composting toilet set-up, which includes three removable 'bins' located in an offside locker, along with a separate 10L 'pee' tank, that extends the time between 'dump points' when camping in remote locations.

"You're nearly three weeks or so before you need to worry about finding a place to dump any of your toileting," he said.

The Skye RV range comes well equipped for off-grid camping, with most models fitted standard with a Victron 330Ah lithium battery system with 3000W inverter and 1320W rooftop solar, with the option to upgrade to a 660Ah lithium battery system.

Also standard on larger models is 300 litres' fresh water and a 75L grey water tank, 12in disc brakes, airbag suspension, a diesel hot water and space heater, washing machine, indoor and outdoor kitchens, and marine-grade leatherette upholstery.

The 14ft model with powered pop-top roof weighs 2110kg (Tare) with a 2950kg ATM, while the 18ft 6in couple's van has a 2600kg Tare/3600kg ATM.

Australian pricing starts at under $80,000 for the 9ft pop-top, with the 14ft pop-top priced around mid-$90,000 and the full-size hardtop models coming in around the mid-$120,000 mark.

"It's a full spec van to start with, as most of our buyers are over 50 years old and that's the spec level they expect," he said.

More details available on the Skye RV website.