Vanguard breaks cover

Until recently Vanguard Caravans has concentrated on manufacturing a range of vans under contract, sold at various dealers throughout Australia under brand names including Adventure Caravans, Freedom Off Road, Northstar, Maytow and Island Star.

If you wanted a Vanguard-badged caravan, you had to order it directly from the company's Epping, Melbourne factory - that’s if Vanguard director John Kyriakidis could find time in his busy production schedule.

Now Vanguard in conjunction with Melbourne dealer Bayswater RVs is offering a new range of Vanguard vans at a retail outlet for the first time.

On display at the 2011 Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, the new seven-model line-up ranges from 18ft long, single-axle, full ensuite vans to 26ft twin-axle vans with large bathroom and laundry at the rear.

"(Vanguard’s John Kyriakidis) has been around a long time, and built a lot of vans for a lot of people, but never really had the time to spend on promoting his own products, so this is where we’ve stepped in," explained Bayswater RVs’ Ross O’Reilly.

Vanguard is one of a handful of caravan manufacturers in Australia to have full ISO Quality Assurance, and provide gas and electrical certificates as well as a public weighbridge docket.

"The product has been around name-wise for a long time and people know it’s a quality product," O’Reilly said. "The majority of people who buy these are third or fourth time buyers; they’re certainly not first time buyers by any means."

The aluminium-clad Vanguard vans are "designed to last", he said, and offer a strengthened Meranti timber frame, full Batts insulation, and upgraded wiring amongst other benefits.

"We use a full marine grade laminated floor, one piece, which is quite unusual in this industry," O'Reilly said.

"There’s no compromise with materials, so the vans are slightly heavier overall than some of our competitors."

The vans can be custom-built to individual requirements, and are designed for rough-road travel with checker plate protection and increased ground clearance.

The range-topping 'Grandview' on display at the Victorian Supershow was a 23ft dual-axle van with queen bed at the front and spacious bathroom/laundry rear section including a 7kg LG front loader washing machine.

With an ATM of just under three tonnes, the Grand View lacks few creature comforts and with 2 x 95 litre water tanks and two, 100aH batteries included is "designed for those who are permanently travelling and want self-sufficiency when free camping", O’Reilly said.

The display van was priced at $88,000 including an Ibis air-conditioner and Dometic awning.

Bayswer RVs will continue to sell aluminium-framed Millard vans alongside the new Vanguard range, as well as offer used vans and general servicing.

For further details visit the Bayswater RVs website.