Tango Caravans in liquidation

Another Melbourne caravan company has shut up shop, with Somerton, Victoria based Tango Caravans placed in liquidation after eight years of operation.

Company members decided to wind up Tango Caravans on August 14, with Lindsay Bainbridge and Andrew Yeo of Pitcher Partners appointed as liquidators. A date for a creditors’ meeting has not been announced.

According to an online notice directed to customers with outstanding orders, Tango Caravans wasn't in possession of any caravan stock when it was placed in liquidation, and had "significant" debts.

"We are aware that many clients have paid deposits (in some cases substantial) for the purchase of caravans," Andrew Yeo from Pitcher Partners said. "The liquidators are not in a position to refund deposits paid to customers. The ability for the company to pay any dividend to investors (including customers who have paid a deposit) will need to be assessed as the liquidation progresses."

As well as a number of buyers who have placed deposits on caravans, other creditors include the Australian Tax Office.

"It may be possible that some caravans are presently being manufactured by external suppliers, and a partial resolution may be achievable," Yeo said.

Tango Caravans was started in 2016 by Sarah Horter, the grand-daughter of industry veteran Ian Grant of Ian Grant's Caravans. The business grew to offer a range of Tango-branded caravans, built by an assortment of Melbourne-based contract manufacturers. For example a 2023-build Tango Caravan currently listed on caravancampingsales was built by Somerton, Victoria-based Royal Caravan, according to the build plate.

In an online video posted in early 2024, Sarah Horter said the business had recently expanded after the addition of a second location on Cooper St, Epping, which included a large service and repair centre.

She said it had also grown to become "Australias largest range dealership", stocking models from a number of other Australian caravan brands including Ausflex, New Design and OurGen RV.

Related: Tango dances off factory floor

Both Tango Caravans' website and social media pages have been shut down since the announcement was made.

Tango Caravans is the latest RV business to feel the crunch of tougher economic times, following the shutdown of Melbourne's Highline Caravans earlier this year, and Track Trailer calling in the administrators after 25 years of building the Tvan and other hardcore off-road campers. JB Caravans also recently took a large stake in its Melbourne manufacturing neighbour, New Age as part of a joint venture initiative.