Melbourne-based Terry Ryan, owner of Bushmaster Offroad Caravans, has taken on a new challenge giving a new lease of life to an old brand, Imperial Caravans, under a new name: Imperial by Bushmaster.
Many would say that it’s a brave caravan manufacturer who would restart an old brand name during tough economic times for the sector.
But Bushmaster Offroad Caravans' founder Terry Ryan is as tough as the vans he builds and doesn’t shy away from a challenge.
Terry is from salt-of-the-earth fourth generation Australian stock and has been building his renowned offroad vans from his factory in Melbourne’s caravan-building mecca — Campbellfield — for 20 years.
He is the epitome of a hands-on bloke. All enquiries for Bushmaster vans go to his mobile phone and he answers every call. He road tests all his vans in the hills around his home north of Melbourne. He doesn’t have a fancy website or a glittering showroom. He just builds tough offroad vans that last.
Caravan World has reviewed many Bushmaster caravans over the years and written about Terry’s individual approach to building caravans with a dedication to quality and a ‘do it once — do it right’ attitude. “We build them for life and most people keep them for life” is his motto.
In a Bushmaster van function is paramount, and weight saving and distribution are maximised.
Terry’s passion is building adventure vans that owners can confidently tow into remote locations. Bushmaster has developed a solid reputation among owners for reliability and rugged sturdiness. There’s a loyal following of Bushmaster owners on social media who are willing to share and recommend the brand to friends. Terry offers a five-year warranty on everything in the van except the chassis and suspension, which have a lifetime warranty.
Inside the 20ft 4in Imperial by Bushmaster
Imperial by Bushmaster
Terry is now giving new life to an old brand of caravan — Imperial by Bushmaster.
Imperial Caravans was a well-known and respected Australian brand for more than 30 years. When the owners — friends of Terry’s — decided to call it quits a couple of years ago, they approached him about taking on the warranty work for Imperial.
From that initial approach, Terry took on the business and he had just finished building his first Imperial by Bushmaster when we spoke to him. “It took me a little while to get started,” he said.
Fresh off the production line, the first Imperial by Bushmaster display van — a 20ft 4in tandem couples van — was waiting for its decals to be applied and for its first road test so Terry could take some photos.
He has also just finished building a 17ft 10in single axle in a deep red colour that will also be on display at the factory.
The Imperial by Bushmaster has an aluminium frame and comes standard with heavy duty offroad coil offroad suspension, galvanised 6in offroad chassis with extended drawbar to accommodate the front storage compartment, which houses the two 9kg gas bottles. Also up front is jerry can storage, a top toolbox and firewood box.
Only the very best components are used, including heavy duty offroad coil suspension
The Imperial by Bushmaster range has the same attention to detail as its big brother
Inside features include diesel heater, reverse cycle air-conditioner, 274L compressor fridge, three 95L main water tanks plus another 50L drinking water tank and grey water tank.
Entertainment needs are met by a smart TV and Pioneer stereo player. Front-loading washing machine, real leather upholstery, press button 12V powered rollout awning and dust reduction system are all standard inclusions.
Outside is a slide-out barbecue, twin fold-down picnic tables and an external TV point.
Like its big brother, Imperial by Bushmaster has been designed to travel down remote tracks, and Terry can provide all the heavy-duty power requirements needed to stay off-grid indefinitely. You can specify up to seven solar panels, four 300A lithium batteries, a 3000W inverter, plus all the latest electrical gear you might be looking for.
Imperial by Bushmaster will come in two couples models — a 17ft 10in (single axle) and 18ft 4in (tandem axle) — as well as two family models: a 19ft 4in and 20ft 4in, both rear door tandems.
The price for the 18ft 4in will start at $119,000.
The 17ft 10in Imperial by Bushmaster
Value for money
Terry reckons that’s great value for money for a custom built, offroad van built in Australia from Australian-made components wherever possible.
“We can buy nearly everything we need made here, made in Victoria,” said Terry. “The stove, barbecue, toolboxes, chassis, suspension, hot water system, water tanks, aluminium frame and a whole lot more is made in Victoria — not just the stickers and the packaging.”
“We do what we can to support local manufacturers but some things we just can’t buy in Australia.”
While the purchase price of an Imperial by Bushmaster will less than a regular Bushmaster, the same build methodology and quality components will be used in the build.
“These are strongly built, like the rest of our caravans,” Terry said. “This is a great off-grid, offroad caravan at a sensible price, backed by a full two-year warranty on everything.”
Slide-out barbecue
Challenging times
Being a small operator who keeps his overheads down, Terry reckons he’ll be able to ride out the tough economic times. He is grateful to have orders on the books and believes the new Imperial by Bushmaster brand will attract a whole new cohort of caravanners who are looking for the Bushmaster quality at a more attractive price.
“I’m small and I treat my customers with respect and, when you do that, they’ll stick with you.”
You won’t see Terry at caravan shows but he has vans on display at his Campbellfield factory to view at any time. Give him a call and he’d be more than happy to share with you his passion for building rugged offroad caravans.
For further information:
28 Production Drive
Campbellfield, Vic, 3061
P: 0408 194 481
E: bushmasteroffroadcaravans@gmail.com
To find out more about the Bushmaster range, click here.
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