TerraGlide wins Best New Technology award

A hi-tech new off-road suspension designed by the team behind some of Australia's most desirable performance and off-road vehicles, has won a major prize in the 2023 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards.

The TerraGlide suspension picks up the Best New Technology gong in the 2023 Innovation Awards, which are designed to recognize and reward advancements in the areas of technology, design, quality and safety throughout the RV industry.

Developed by Premcar, the experienced local outfit behind the Ford Falcon-based FPV performance sedans as well as mud-bashing 'Warrior' variants of the Nissan Navara ute and Patrol 4x4 wagon, the TerraGlide was rated highly by most judges in the Best New Technology category, beating out the Patriot GEN2 camper range and American-designed Pebble Flow, for the 2023 Best New Technology trophy.

"To have Aussie skills and talent focussed on bringing high-end automotive off-road suspension to caravans is an amazing thing," caravancampingsales' Innovation Awards' judge Phil Lord said.

Caravancampingsales’ editor and Innovation Awards judge Chris Fincham said the TerraGlide is the result of a unique and detailed approach to the development of off-road caravan suspension systems.

"Quality, purpose-built off-road caravan suspensions are nothing new in Australia, but the new TerraGlide coil and airbag set-ups from Melbourne-based Premcar are designed to deliver improvements in both ride, handling and durability," he said.

"The unique semi-trailing suspension geometry has been carefully optimised using sophisticated computer modelling and mechanical simulation, before fine-tuning and durability testing on an automotive test track."

Not far behind the TerraGlide in judges' votes was the cutting-edge Patriot GEN2 camper trailer range, which boasts a number of innovations including a 'hands-free' automated set-up and world-first 'weld-free' body panel construction.

Innovation Awards' judge Michael Browning was most impressed at the Queensland manufacturer's ability to keep stretching the boundaries of what's possible when it comes to a lightweight, go-anywhere tent trailer..

"Patriot redesigns the camper trailer -- yet again," he said.

While Phil Lord had this to say about third-place getter Pebble Flow; a futuristic American caravan design boasting 'hands-free' hitching as part of its clever 'one touch' set-up, all controlled by a smart phone app.

"An amazing technical tour de force; this is the future glimpse of caravanning not only in technology but also material use and design," he said.

Other finalists in the Best New Technology category included the OzXCorp 'smart house on wheels', the Thirsty Nomad water purifier, and the Lightship L1 caravan; another futuristic American design aimed at the iPhone generation.

While it's latest prototype missed out on a podium finish this time, Innovation Awards' judge Rod Chapman made special mention of the Melbourne-based OzXCorp as an Australian company to watch in the race to full off-grid towing rigs.

"OzXCorp is blazing a trail in innovative caravan power systems, and its prototype off-grid caravan promises to set a new benchmark with its promise of limitless power, self-production of water, hybrid drive systems and maintenance-free appliances," he said.

"Now undergoing rigorous testing, we can’t wait to see what this clever van can deliver, but early indications are it’s a window to the future of RVs in the new power economy."

Other category winners in the 2023 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards include the Zone Expedition (Best New RV), 1 Key Caravan (Best New Product/Accessory), and Tow Guardian (Best New Safety Feature).