Trakka top of the pops

NSW motorhome manufacturer Trakka has added to an already bulging trophy cabinet by picking up three awards at the 2013 Caravan & Camping Industry Association - NSW Awards of Excellence.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Trakka won ‘Best of the Best – Trade Business’, ‘Best Manufacturer - Motorhomes, Campervans & Fifth Wheelers’ as well as a ‘Rising Star’ award for one of its employees, company trainee Yannick Sottaz.

Trakka was also a finalist in the Environmental section of the 2013 Awards of Excellence, which was won by Cub Campers after investing in a 58.5kW grid-connected solar system, which offsets energy used at Cub’s
12,000 sq.m Sydney factory.

It’s the second year in a row that a motorhome manufacturer has dominated the NSW Awards of Excellence, with Winnebago (now Avida) winning Best Motorhome, Best of the Best, and Excellence in Environmental Innovation awards in 2012.

Melbourne-based Elite Caravans won this year's Best Manufacturer - Caravans, Camper Trailers & Tents.

Trakka managing director David Berry was thrilled to take home the latest awards, adding to the dozens of magazine, business and environmental accolades collected since he started the business in 1973.

“There could be no better way of celebrating our fourth decade than being elected as Best of the Best, and what is particularly gratifying is that the trio of awards show that we produce the best motorhomes, we have a solid, well run business and, with the success of Yannick, we are building a secure and strong future for the company, our team and our customers,” he said.

As well as winning trophies, Trakka is well known for its industry-leading innovation, claiming various ‘Australian campervan production firsts’ including the first battery-powered compressor-driven fridge, swing-out stove unit, swivelling front seats, gas strut-assisted ‘pop top’ roof and solar energy.

“There may be more customers for motorhomes, but there is also considerably more competition than there was 40 years ago,” Berry said.

“This is why we work to ensure our designs are at the cutting edge, why we maintain very close contact with our owners so we can respond to their changing demands and why we are training new team members in all areas such as Yannick to bring fresh ideas and to drive our business forward.”

Trakka has plans to boost its current range of on- and off-road models based on Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Fiat chassis, by introducing a tougher version of its Trakkadu off-road campervan, as well as a new range-topping luxury motorhome based on the rear-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, later this year.