Track Trailer buys Trakmaster Caravans

Two of Australia’s most respected RV brands have joined forces, with the purchase of struggling off-road custom caravan builder Trakmaster by camper trailer icon Track Trailer (now known as Track).

In a marriage made in remote area heaven, the products of 25 year-old Trakmaster and the 35 year-old Track Trailer brand will extend from single-axle, hard-shell campers trailers to large full-height, luxury off-road tandem axle caravans.

The purchase fulfils the prediction of Track Director Gerard Waldron of a major contraction of the Australian RV industry in the face of tightening compliance regulations and economic circumstances.

Pioneer camper trailers, purchased less than two years ago by Trakmaster’s Ararat, Victoria-based owner, Gason Industries (which in turn purchased Trakmaster in mid-2016) has also been acquired by Track from Gason.

Track's purchase of Trakmaster restores a connection between the two leading Victorian RV brands that is likely to extend into the future.

A.F.Gason, a fourth-generation company that manufactures high quality agricultural machinery and slow-combustion heaters, was previously run in the mid-2000s by former Track General Manger, Terry Pye.

Trakmaster will now relocate from its current Bayswater, Melbourne leased property and production and servicing facility to be incorporated into Track's existing Dorset Road, North Bayswater premises, just 5km east.

The news of Trakmaster’s acquisition by Track has come as good news to the 600-odd loyal Trakmaster Caravan Club, whose members have been in limbo about their brand's future after being forewarned in confidence some months ago that the brand was for sale or closure, with most believing the news would stabilise re-sale values.

Russell Seebach, who founded Trakmaster in 1995 after many years as a remote area travel guide, said the amalgamation of the two famous off-road brands was ”welcoming”.

“It has gone to a company with a very good name that also understands Outback, remote area travel and its demands,” he said.

Announcing the purchase, Waldron said a major rationalisation of the Australian RV manufacturing industry would result from the Federal Government’s RSVA legislation, enforcing  Australian Design Rules for light trailers, plus from national economic factors.

“Because of these influences and in the wake of the COVID-19 restrictions, many other companies will either close up, or will be bought out over the next 12 months,” he said.

However, he remains confident that the industry’ survivors will be drawn from the 60 RVMAP member companies who are already demonstrating much better safety critical compliance than non-members and are well advanced towards integration into the new Federal compliance scheme.

“Without the RVMAP program support, the road to compliance will be very difficult and expensive for 115 of the 180 Australian RV manufacturers and all of the importers who aren’t already in the program," Waldron said.

Reassuring current owners, Waldon said future Trakmaster and Pioneer brands would not be simply ‘badged’ Track products, but will be designed and built to carry the Trakmaster and Pioneer DNAs forward into the 2020s.

“Negotiations have been in progress over the past three months and already the transfer of assets to Track is almost complete,” he said.

“Under the agreement, the balance of all manufacturer warranty on Gason manufactured Trakmaster and Pioneer products will be delivered by Track’s service business at Outback HQ, which has increased staff and service capacity to maintain continuity of service for these new customers.”

Similarly, all current new and display stock of Trakmaster and Pioneer models is now available from Outback HQ, alongside Track and Cub products.

Although the timing in these uncertain times cannot be confirmed, Waldron says new Trakmaster and Pioneer models will likely be launched in the second half of 2021.

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