Vecto designs for easier towing

A new Melbourne caravan manufacturer debuted at this month’s Geelong Outdoor Living Show in Victoria, with Hoppers Crossing-based Vecto Caravans displaying three models from its all-new range of Australian-built touring vans.

Vecto has grown over three years from an idea by six former automotive industry workers to a reality, with its production facility located in an industrial area 24km south-west of Melbourne rolling out a six-model, full-height caravan range spanning lengths from 18 to 22ft, with modest plans to build 30 to 40 per annum.

Initially Vecto will concentrate on 18ft family layouts with either a rear or centre door, to 21ft centre door club and 22ft family touring-style, rear island and rear club lounge models, but shorter couples vans are on the future drawing board.

All feature locally manufactured Australian steel chassis with Queensland-sourced Vehicle Components’ XT tandem-axle independent suspension with twin telescopic shock absorbers per wheel, aluminium framing and composite fibreglass walls and roof.

Distinctive styling features include tapered, aerodynamically efficient angled front panels and a unique ‘camel-hump’ raised rear roofline to ensure comfortable standing room for tall adults in the rear bunk area.

The wall panels are fabricated locally, while all interior furniture is made in-house.

According to Vecto management team member Chris Lipa, the tapered front results in improved fuel economy when towing.

“A key requirement was that our caravans towed well,” he said.

All Vecto vans are well specced for off-grid free camping, with standard equipment including two, 200W rooftop solar panels feeding a 200Ah Enerdrive B-Tec lithium battery, while each carries 200 litres of fresh water in twin 100-litre tanks.

Tare weights vary with the model, but are around 2700kg, with prices starting at $115,000.

A claimed innovation is what Vecto calls its ‘Cone of Silence’, with additional insulation placed around the bedhead, which is pushed up into the nose of the van to ensure its occupants get a good night’s sleep.

Lipa said Vecto has a core mission to use Australian design integrity and Australian materials wherever possible and from the outset is offering a  five-year structural warranty on its caravans, backing it up with a three-year warranty on parts and fitting. At present, the plan is to sell only factory-direct under the promise of ‘lighter, safer, stronger’.

“We wanted to go to market with something we could be proud of and could stand behind,” he said. “Our team of eight are all caravanning enthusiasts who live locally and have brought their experience to the design table.

“There are a lot of highly skilled people in the west of Victoria and we wanted to keep the project local. The reception we got at Geelong tells us that we are on the right track.”

Related: Rembrant joins crowded caravan market