Vision eyes future expansion

Sunseeker’s fledgling adventure brand Vision RV is poised to realise the success that its Marvel and Sunseeker caravan siblings have had, once full supply of COVID-limited components resumes.

Vision RV, formerly Noosa Off-Road Vans of Noosaville, but now part of the expanding Sunseeker RV range, is built in Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Such has been the demand since the brand launched last year, that it has already outgrown its new factory, with predictions that it will soon be looking for premises at least double the size next year.

Founded by former high-end shopfitter, Darren Wilson, his traditionally-styled but high quality pop-tops are now built in a joint venture with Warana-based Sunseeker Caravans, founded by hands-on caravanning guru Chris Michel.

It’s a good marriage, with Darren’s obsession with manufacturing quality combining with Michel’s extensive industry experience to create what can claim to be Australia’s fastest-growing RV brand.

Part of Vision RV’s success can be attributed to the high level of attention to detail and Wilson’s prior experience working with a range of quality materials and adhesives. The timber-free Visions come standard with a unique, purpose-built galvanised Australian steel chassis, full composite wall panels, airbag suspension and 12-inch disc brakes, because all have been deemed essential for a serious off-roader.

Vision RV’s current line up rivals many worthy hybrid competitors that include Australian Off Road, Northcoast Campers and Rhinomax in Queensland, Victoria's Track Trailer and NSW's Mountain Trail.

All Vision vans begin life with the marriage in Toowoomba of their hot dipped galvanised chassis with Vision’s own-designed  trailing arm airbag suspension and American-designed 12-inch disc brakes. After arriving at Coolum, they are fitted with their all-composite bodies, which arrive in containers, but employ German manufactured outer skins that cost up to three times more than cheaper overseas made alternatives, but are of superior quality.

Up to 55 separate attachment points employing Huck bolts are used to join the body to the chassis – the same system used in big aluminium gravel trucks. This results in an exceptionally strong join to withstand the harshest of outback conditions.

Over 250 production hours are spent completing each van, including adding the joinery, wiring, plumbing, and fitting of auxiliary components.

Current output of finished Vision RVs is currently around eight per month but expected to rise significantly by January 2022. For this reason, Vision is already on the lookout for new space of about double the size of its current premises to allow production to meet demand.

While the new Vision RVs are impressive, the Vision team is constantly looking for ways to make them even better, including harnessing new technology.

“We are always learning, and we want to bring our customers with us on the journey,” said Wilson.

“We have a customer’s pop-top in for service that did three remote desert crossings (Tanami Track, Gibb River Road and Plenty Highway) on its first trip. This has been a great opportunity for us to not only obtain direct customer feedback, but also thoroughly inspect the van to understand what is going well and what elements can be improved upon.

“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our product to enhance the customer’s off-road experience. This will always be Vision RV’s point of difference.”

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