Swagman Motorhomes to rise again

The new owner of Swagman Motorhomes is planning to start manufacturing an updated range of luxury A-Class models within 12 months.

Dave Suttor, who recently announced the ‘rebirth’ of Swagman Motorhomes Australia on the  revamped company website, acquired the Queensland-based motorhome manufacturing business in late-2011 after it went into liquidation.

Suttor (pictured), says the plan is to have at least three, updated versions from Swagman’s previous range on sale by mid-2013. These should include the 25ft, Isuzu-based Swagman Signature, retailing from around $250,000, and a Cummins diesel-engined, 31ft Australis model from $400,000.

An updated version of the range-topping, 36ft Australian Dream built on a Freightliner chassis, is also on the cards, costing from $650,000 to $800,000 depending on options.         

Currently, the born-again Swagman is operating out of new premises in Yatala, Queensland, where it is providing spare parts, maintenance and refurbishment services to owners of the estimated 600 Swagman motorhomes produced since the mid-1980s.

Suttor said the new business is also in the process of finishing off five, partially completed Swagman motorhomes bought by private individuals at last year’s liquidation sale.

As well as acquiring the original tooling, Suttor has around $500,000 worth of Swagman spare parts. A number of previous Swagman employees have also been re-hired to work at the new facility.

Suttor, who also runs a Swagman motorhome hire business servicing the film and television industries, believes there still exists strong albeit limited demand for top-end, coach-based motorhomes from the likes of Swagman, which he says “was considered by both industry and the public to be the duck’s guts of A-Class motorhomes”.

He’s also been encouraged by the strong turnout to a Swagman Club Rally he recently organised at the Gold Coast Polo Club, where 54 Swagman motorhomes and 135 owners turned up.

“We’ve had a lot of encouragement to start manufacturing as soon as we can but we’re going to go slowly, and make sure we do it properly and don’t get caught out (like the previous owner),” he says.

“We will probably for a while build on-demand... I’ve probably had 20 firm commitments from either present owners or people who own other product.”

Ultimately, he’d like to see the business return the heights achieved during the period between 2000-2005, when it was owned by engine giant Cummins and “was turning over $30 million-plus a year, employing over a 100 people and producing up to 70 vans a year”.

Future plans also include relaunching the Swagman owner’s club, which previously had around 250 members; establishing service agents in all major Australian cities, and promoting the brand at major events including the upcoming Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia national rally in Boonah, Queensland.