True blue campers fight back

A new industry lobby group has been formed to counter the flood of imported campers trailers from low cost, offshore manufacturers, while promoting the advantages of buying homegrown campers.

A group of 14 Australian camper trailer manufacturers including Cub Campers, Heaslip Campers, Complete Campsite, Bayside Campers, Pioneer Campers, Southern Cross and Johnnos Australia, have joined the new Australian Manufactured Camper Trailer Guild (AMCTG), due to what they perceive as a growing problem with cut-price, Chinese-built camper trailers being passed off as Australian made.

"Customers... have the perception that unless otherwise informed, camper trailers are made in Australia, when often major components are fabricated off shore in cheap factories and only minor assembly work is undertaken in Australia," said Robert Fagan, CEO of Cub Campers which has just opened a new $7million manufacturing facility in Sydney. According to Fagan, poor quality componentry and workmanship in many imported campers is often only apparent once the trailer breaks down.

Fagan likened members of the AMCTG to "artisans and craftsmen of yesteryear...  who build genuine Australian made products and have pride in their workmanship”.

"To be a member of the Guild manufacturers will have to prove by independent audit that the chassis, body, suspension and tent are Australian made as per the ACCC definition and that their products are fully compliant to ADR 62/VSB1," he said.

"The ACCC has a clear definition of what qualifies as an Australian manufactured product and simply assembling a kit and adding a fridge does not qualify a product to be called ‘Australian Made’ and stiff penalities exist for those breaching these rules."

Misleading advertising will not be tolerated, either, he said.

"Statements appearing in the media, in brochures, on websites and those made by sales people such as, 'all production is thoroughly supervised' and 'We are proud to be an Australian owned company with 25 years experience in off roading', clearly gives the impression that their trailers are being locally made.

"If a camper trailer or most of its major components have been made in China then tell the buyer so that they can make their buying decision as a fully informed consumer who has not been deceived.”

What's more, Fagan said that Australian canvas used in locally manufactured campers is "clearly superior to imported canvas in our climate and weather conditions". He also claimed that “quality European canvas... can virtually turn to tissue paper after extended exposure to the ultra violet light encountered in Australian conditions".

To back the claims, leading Australian canvas manufacturer Wax Converters (which is also funding a new website, australianmanufacturedcampers.org.au), has decided to extend its warranty on canvas used in Guild members’ campers to five years.

Another problem, according to Fagan, is the policy of self-regulation which means that the importers of trailers under 4.5 tonnes don’t have to submit any engineering compliance before bringing them into Australia.

"All an importer has to do is fix a compliance plate to the trailer stating that it conforms with Australian Design Rules and that makes it legal," he said.

Fagan said the Guild will help guarantee the quality and integrity of the design and engineering of its members’ products.

"If you choose to buy your camper trailer from a Guild Member, you can be confident that it has been designed and manufactured by Australians who completely understand what it takes to survive the unique demands of the Australian Outback and stand by the quality of their product in meeting all Australian Design Rules and standards," he said.

The Guild will also lobby the ACCC, Fair Trading and the Federal Department of Transport and Road Safety (DOTARS) to enforce Australian law and prevent imported trailers being passed off as Australian-made.