Stonestar releases first hybrid caravan

Another work trailer specialist is venturing into the caravan market, with Melbourne-based Stonestar Industries unveiling its first hybrid caravan model recently.

Stonestar is kicking off its new local caravan range with a solitary, single-axle 15ft family pop-top hybrid model, sporting a familiar design and layout including a rear pull-out king bed and internal ensuite, bunks and dinette, together with an outside kitchen to go with an internal fridge and cupboards.

Melbourne-based Stonestar has been operating in Australia for almost a decade and specialises in imported truck trailers, with other businesses involved in solar energy, medical devices, wind turbines and wheels and tyres.

The first examples of an initial batch of the Chinese-built hybrids have arrived at Stonestar’s Mordialloc, Victoria facility, where they are fitted out with appliances including an 80L fridge and rooftop air conditioner along with other gas and electrical components.

The head of Stonestar’s trailer department, Mohammad Rashid told caravancampingsales that the campers are “fully Australian compliant”, with the first completed unit currently on display at Stonestar’s head office in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Mordialloc.

“We only have one basic model now but we are planning to offer different models and layouts in the future,” he said.

The Stonestar hybrids also come standard with off-road independent suspension, alloy wheels with mud tyres, a pull-out awning, fresh and grey water tanks, a 12V battery system with 300W rooftop solar, two spare tyres, a front toolbox and a 21in TV and audio system.

Stonestar is hoping to replicate the success of Fantasy Caravan which sold large numbers of imported galvanised work trailers across Australia before launching a range of hybrid caravans around six years ago.

The key selling point for the Stonestar hybrid model at this stage is price, with its $48,000 (plus GST and on-road costs) pricetag under-cutting many similar-sized (albeit often more highly specced) rival products.

“A similar style of caravan is generally selling for around $55,000 to $60,000 plus,” he said. “We’re trying to penetrate the market [with a cheaper entry model]. We did a similar thing when launching our trailers around eight years ago...”

He said Stonestar currently sells more than 300 truck trailers a year for a range of applications including farming, heavy haulage and construction. The trailers arrive 70 per cent complete before they’re finished off at Stonestar’s Dingley Village site.

Click here for further details of the new Stonestar 15ft hybrid van.