Founded in 2017 by Ian Jow and Eddie Wills, Willow RV Caravans might not have hit the double digits yet, but it’s already become a trusted Aussie owned company backed by decades of experience.
Based in Pakenham in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Willow RV Caravans has built a reputation for its lightweight but robust caravans that are designed for Aussie adventures. And while the Willow RV name itself might still be considered a new kid on the block, both Eddie and Ian had been in the caravanning industry for many years before arriving in Australia from South Africa and the UK respectively.
The brand hit the ground running, joining the Caravan Industry Association (CIA) in 2018 and receiving accreditation and full CIA membership in September 2019. Following this, Willow RV established its Victorian dealership — RV Centre Victoria — and received accreditation and full CIA membership on 14 October 2022.
Willow RV co-founders Eddie Wills (left) and Ian Jow with their accreditation
This large 2008sq m facility is not only Willow RV’s factory, where the team of 20 expert personnel including admin staff produce 100 caravans per year, but also serves as a one-stop-shop for caravanners, featuring an indoor caravan showroom with a segment of Willow RV’s caravan range, an RV accessory shop and a service centre.
The Aussie manufacturer has continued to expand over the years and its unique build philosophy and focus on delivering premium and lasting quality in every caravan have ensured constant growth.
Willow RV now has dealerships in most states and territories in Australia and the team is focusing on expanding these dealerships and its support base around the country to offer more comprehensive support to Willow RV owners and potential buyers.
“We also aim to further diversify our product range and our engineering capabilities to offer users exactly what they need,” commented Willow RV management.
The Illawarra model outside the Willow factory and new RV Centre Victoria
Unique build methodology
Willow RV has a no-compromise approach when building its vans, prioritising premium products and durable construction methods to ensure every caravan is built to last.
The manufacturer also has an open-door policy when it comes to its building methods, understanding that caravans are a massive investment and that potential buyers want to understand all the ins and outs of how their van is built to withstand Aussie conditions. To show off how every part of the caravan comes together, Willow RV offers factory tours to the general public which can be booked online or just a phone call away.
“We have a unique method of building our caravans ‘inside out’,” Eddie explained. “This means installing all furniture to the floor and completing all wiring and plumbing prior to erecting the walls and roof of the caravan.”
Building from the inside out
One of the benefits of this is that all the caravan’s wiring is strategically run through the furniture to avoid having any wiring in the walls of the caravan — thus avoiding compromising insulation in the walls and making electrical repairs much simpler.
All Willow RV caravans feature fully composite walls, roofs and floors, creating a completely insulated caravan, which is stronger and offers a barrier against the diverse Australia weather conditions, with the added bonus of being lightweight. The body is supported by a heavy-duty hot dip galvanised Australian steel chassis that is able to withstand Australia’s harsh environments. The durable yet lightweight frame is paired with AL-KO independent trailing arm suspension and offroad brake system.
The Willow RV team constructs all the joinery using poplar plywood and all the CNC machined panels interlock into each other for easy construction and stronger furniture.
And aluminium exterior cladding paired with checkerplate (please note, checkerplate is standard on all ranges bar the Conifer series, where it is an optional inclusion) offers added protected ready for adventure.
A Willow RV van on the production line in Melbourne
All Willow RV caravans come with a three-year factory structural warranty, which covers all Willow RV manufactured components and workmanship, this includes the shell, chassis and furniture. All purchased hardware and appliances are covered by the component suppliers’ warranty terms and conditions.
Willow RV now has an inhouse service facility in Pakenham that offers routine maintenance service work and warranty work in addition to its Willow RV dealer network.
The Willow RV lineup
The entire Willow RV fleet has been thoroughly tried and tested to ensure they can withstand the demands of rough Aussie travel.
There are five ranges available, with models to suit all kinds of travel styles, requirements and budgets. Whether you’re after an offroad or semi-offroad van, a single or tandem axle, two berth or family configurations — Willow RV has it. Sizes range from 16f 7in (5m) to 23ft 6in (7.2m) and everything in between, and all ranges bar the Ironbark series have family configurations (four to five berth) on selected models.
Beautiful interiors
We’ve been fortunate enough to test out various Willow RV models over the years, the most recent being the impressive Ironbark 6522. We've got full reviews you can read online, but for now we’ll give you a taster of what each range has to offer.
Conifer Range: This is Willow RV’s entry level range. The models are all semi-offroaders, suitable for dirt roads, and feature an ATM (aggregate trailer mass) between 2600kg and 3000kg. They all come with a caravan queen size bed and selected models have the option of lengthy single beds.
Boab Range: From here on out, all Willow RV ranges are suitable for offroad travel. The Boab models have a beefier ATM ranging between 3200kg and 3400kg, a caravan queen size bed and selected models offer lengthy single beds. This range is a great choice for those who want an offroad-ready van, with plenty of included standard features and a reasonable price tag.
Waratah Range: This mid-range series of offroaders features ATMs ranging from a practical 3200kg to 3450kg and features a caravan king bed that lifts up to expose a large club lounge that’s perfect for entertaining or luxury relaxation.
Ironbark Range: This is Willow RV’s slide-out series for the best of both worlds when travelling off the beaten track. The models have ATMs between 3200kg and 3400kg, with slide-outs for either a lounge or a bed (model dependent). Selected models also have the option for a caravan king bed.
This range of caravans has proved to be the fan-favourite in Willow RV’s lineup, with owners appreciating the sheer amount of space offered by the durable slide-out facility and the optional king bed.
Illawarra Range: Designed to prioritise space and luxury, the Illawarra series has ATMs ranging from 3200kg to 3450kg, a caravan queen bed and on selected models there is the option for a caravan king bed. The range’s newest model offering, the Illawarra 6830, features a spacious centre bathroom with a rear club lounge to maximise space while also offering separate living spaces.
As mentioned, all bar the Conifer series are suitable for offroad travel, but for those wishing to take their adventures to the next level, then Willow RV also offers optional off-grid packages across its entire fleet.
A rear club lounge layout
What’s new with Willow RV
Willow RV’s most recent addition was its launch of the Illawarra 6830 centre bathroom model earlier this year, which has been put on proud display at many a caravan show since and the team reports it’s proving to be a winner and expect it to be a fan-favourite going forward.
“Willow RV is currently embarking on an exciting new venture to enter the market with RV motorhomes,” Eddie mentioned. “This has been a request from both the public and our dealers alike, so watch this space!”
Willow RV vans in the showroom
Growth in the Aussie caravanning industry
One of the questions we like asking caravan manufacturers is what changes they’ve noticed in the industry over the years.
Responding to this, Eddie said “People are certainly doing their homework, wanting to see how their caravans are being built and are insisting on quality; they make 100 per cent sure that their caravan purchase is manufactured and supported in Australia, hence we have an open-door policy and offer factory tours.”
Light and airy bedroom areas
When it comes to meeting changing trends and customer requirements, Eddie commented that “The Willow RV range is constantly being refined with the focus on shedding unnecessary weight from all products within our range; this benefits the user by improving payloads, vehicle fuel consumption and so on.”
Since hitting the Aussie market in 2017, the Willow RV team has been constantly evolving and refining its caravans, using customer feedback over the years to improve storage, luxury and efficient living spaces, and tough, durable designs across the structures, chassis and running gear.
Eddie and Ian are both familiar faces at caravan shows across Australia and are always up for a chat with owners and potential buyers to discuss their vans, build methods and receive feedback.
To find out more about Willow RV’s caravans, book a factory tour or to find your local dealer, head to Willow RV's website.
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