Ultimate Campers goes into administration

In the latest casualty in an annus horribilis for the Australian camper trailer industry, New South Wales lightweight fibreglass camper specialist Ultimate Off-Road Campers, has gone into voluntary administration.

This follows the collapse earlier this year of Ballina’s Kimberley Kampers and the demise of long-standing and well-respected Brisbane manufacturer of premium hard-floor camper trailers, Aussie Swag.

Then there was the recent decision by Bolwell RV to pull back on distribution of its Chinese-built, but Australian finished campers. Bolwell is understood to be now selling its Edge caravan and Air hard-walled folding camper directly from its Seaford, Victoria headquarters.

Dandenong, Melbourne-based industrial sheet metal specialist Actro-Pickering decided in January to withdraw from hardroof and hardfloor camper trailer manufacture in the face of increased imported competition, before finding a willing buyer in Ararat’s Gason Industries, who have since dovetailed the well-known Western Australian brand into its expanded Trakmaster caravan range.

Owned by Michael and Wendy Hackett as part of their Ultimate Off-Road Campers enterprise, the Ultimate has been justifiably famous for its low 850kg tare weight, huge ground clearance and massive storage space.

In its heyday the Moruya, NSW-based manufacturer built up to 120 campers annually and employed 50 people.

Sydney’s TPH Insolvency is overseeing Ultimate’s move into voluntary administration, with customers calling the company’s main number advised via a recorded phone message.

A Creditors’ meeting has been called for 11am on Monday, October 22 at History House, 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney.

For further details, Ultimate has released a statement on its website.