Top-5 cheap Aussie campers

Most buyers these days with $20,000 or less to spend on a camper trailer will head to one of the many showrooms dotted around the country selling one of numerous cut-price imported brands that account for as many as 10,000 camper trailer, hybrid and caravan sales annually.

However, for those on tight budgets who want the reassurance of buying an Aussie-built product, there are a still a few good options available…

Walkabout Campers

It’s hard to believe you can buy a homegrown camper for well under $10,000, but that’s exactly what you can do with Queensland's Walkabout Campers.

The super-cheap and often brightly coloured tent trailers are hand built by Craig Gall, who has run his Walkabout Campers side business for the past two decades while the rest of the Gall family focus on the more lucrative and high profile Kedron Caravans.

Based on a bare-boned 6x4 galvanised trailer, the Walkabout trailers are little more than a tent and bed on wheels, but stand out for their quality construction including the use of Australian made Defab canvas that's available in multiple colours and patterns, to appeal to Walkabout’s mostly female clientele.

Craig Gall will stitch a tailor-made top to suit your trailer from $2890, or supply a full camper trailer kit from $4995.

More info: Walkabout Campers 

Marlin Campers

Sydney’s Marlin Campers is also helping keep the local soft floor camper market alive, with three affordable models that appeal with their simplicity, lightness and price.

While Marlin Campers isn’t the only Aussie company offering cheap soft-floor campers, it's one of very few that can accurately claim a high local content.

Further reading: Marlin Escape 2019 Review

Cub Campers

Sydney’s Cub Campers turned 50 in 2018 and while you can spend up to $50,000 on one of their quality Australian-built campers, there are much more affordable options.

With a Tare weight of just 566kg and $18,000 drive-away pricing, Cub's entry-level, rear fold Weekender camper makes great buying for those who want a top-notch camper from one of the iconic brands of the Australian RV industry.

Further reading: Cub Weekender 2019 Review

Jayco Camper Trailers

Jayco cut its teeth on basic wind-up camper trailers and the current range still offers excellent value for those on a sub-$20,000 budget.

With a $1000 price rise in 2020, the well-equipped six-berth Lark family model just sneaks over our $20,000 cut-off, but Jayco’s entry level Swift camper still offers plenty for its $18,990 starting price, with sleeping for up to five family members, a 90 litre fridge, two burner cooktop, 80 litre water tank and innerspring mattresses among the standard features.

Further reading: Jayco Lark camper from $19,990

Outback Campers

With a factory in Carrum Downs, Victoria, Outback Campers is another (now rare) Australian manufacturer of affordable, locally built camper trailers, ranging in price from $7950 for the bare-boned, lightweight Nepean on-road camper, up to $29,950 for the bigger and better-equipped Tanami off-road rear-fold camper.

The tent trailers boast genuine Australian Made bona fides, with Outback a member of the 15-strong Australian Manufactured Camper Trailer Guild.

Further info: Outback Campers