Swift gets Outback ready

British brand reveals bold plans for locally-built caravan aimed at heavy-duty off-road market

The UK’s Bailey was first to introduce a
locally-built British/Australian hybrid caravan, but now cross-town rival Swift has gone a step further by unveiling a homegrown model that competes directly with heavy-weight Australian off-road vans.

Apart from similar fibreglass sandwich panel construction to the UK-built
Swift Explorer models, the Swift Trail 630 prototype on display at last week’s Queensland Caravan Show mimics in design and features hundreds of Australian off-road vans currently on the market.

“We’re utilising Swift’s SMART timberless construction technology in a traditional Australian design. We’re not attempting to do a hybrid, it’s a thoroughbred,” explained Swift Australia’s Alex Kammerlocher.

He said the full composite body will have ‘industrial grade’ XPS wall insulation promising Grade 3 insulation and including a one-piece floor that is “completely bonded to an (Australian-built galvanised) chassis”.

Classified “semi off-road”, the prototype van was fitted with roller rocker leaf spring suspension, 15in alloys wheels with mud tyres and electric brakes but production models will be available with
Al-Ko’s latest Enduro or Outback independent trailing arm suspension. Swift is also considering offering other locally-made off-road suspension systems like the popular Cruisemaster XT.

Flaunting an introductory price of $54,990, the 20ft tandem axle Swift Trail 630 will be available in three floorplans, including the popular 'grey nomad' layout of front north-south queen bed, central dinette/bed or L-shaped lounge and galley, and full width rear ensuite.

Buyers will also be able to opt for two single beds rather than one queen bed, or a family version with rear bunks and combination shower/toilet.

At 2.36m wide, the Swift Trail is slightly wider than the UK-built Swift touring vans, while the 1.98m interior height and a payload of up to 700kg should also appeal to mainstream Aussie caravanners.

“This is not a lightweight; this van as you see it at 20ft has a Tare weight of 2250kg, and that is purely because it is built solid from the ground up with a 150mm chassis and thicker fibreglass body panels (than the UK versions),” he said.

“We’re not trying to be any different (to other local manufacturers). Looking at the statistics there are a large number of vehicles coming in to Australia now that can tow three tonne no problem, so we're catering to that.”

Unlike the British versions, buyers will also be offered some degree of customisation.

“We’re completely flexible with shape and length, to go from 20ft to 24ft and to add slide-outs as well. This is a blank canvas,” he said.

Other standard features common to most Aussie vans include double glazed windows, alloy checker plate body protection, gal-lined front tunnel boot, TV/DVD and outside speakers, roll-out awning, two 9kg gas bottles, external shower and BBQ point, and a rear bumper with spare tyre. There will also be an option for a toolbox with generator slide on the extended drawbar.

Up to four water tanks can be fitted, including two 80 litre freshwater and an 80 litre grey water tank, while full off-road versions will come standard with a rainwater tank. A twin battery system including 250W solar panels will be standard.

Inside, the curvy, Italian-sourced, foam core furniture found in the lightweight UK-built Swift vans has been replaced with sharp-edged, gloss-faced and heavier marine ply cabinetry along with all the appliances found in a typical locally-built van including a big 184 litre fridge/freezer, roof-top air-conditioner and top-load washing machine.

Kammerlocher claims Swift is the biggest-selling British/European caravan brand in Australia, and also boasts the biggest range of layouts, as well as offering unique features like the
latest Command smart technology
.

“We think we’ve reached the level where we have a big proportion of the lightweight market in Australia, and this is now the next phase in establishing Swift in Australia as more of a mainstream brand as well,” he said.

“Swift is successful whatever market they go into, and to be successful you need to see where the market is, and that’s what we’re doing.”

The plan over the next 12 months is to set up an Australian factory to assemble and fit-out production versions of the Swift Trail using UK-built body shells.

Like the imported Swift vans, the true-blue Trail model will be backed by a 10 year body shell integrity warranty and be subjected to extensive durability testing.

“Swift are serious about Australia… nothing is off the table. We are constantly watching the market, and if there is a demand for it we will build it,” he said.

Swift gets Outback ready

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