Award-winning design and offroad durability — Stockman Australia is leading the way with practical innovation in the caravanning industry.
From clever pod trailers to rugged offroad campers, Stockman Australia has carved out its place in the Aussie RV scene with smart, practical designs built for real-world adventures. Based in Carrum Downs, Vic, the company launched in 2006 and has expanded its range with thought and care — constantly innovating to improve an owner’s experience, not just for the sake of change. Compact builds, clever use of space and a focus on keeping things simple (without skimping on comfort) have been part of the Stockman DNA from day one. To find out how the team is continuing to lead through design, we sat down with company owner and product designer Phil Savory to talk trends, tough testing and why the simplest solution is often the smartest.
Stockman Australia ROVER 02 All Terrain Ultra pod
Q: What does innovation mean to Stockman, and how do you make it part of everything you build?
A: Stockman Australia is arguably one of the most innovative RV companies in Australia, and we’ve been credited with inventing two entirely new RV categories: the world’s first plastic multi-purpose POD TRAILER for camping gear and bikes and the first luxury offroad teardrop camper, now categorised as the POD CAMPER (the Rover 02).
Forty per cent of our management team — including the director — are qualified industrial designers, so innovation is at the heart of everything they do. Between them, they have multiple design awards and strive to be a design-led company. Our slogan says it all: “Design does matter”.
Q: How does your design or manufacturing approach differ from traditional Australian caravan methods?
A: The competitive nature of our industry and increasing customer requirements is certainly keeping us on our toes. Thankfully, we can move quickly, test rapidly and adapt faster than larger manufacturers. This allows us to stay ahead of the curve and respond directly to emerging requirements. We are currently looking at advanced manufacturing processes to achieve details we originally thought were impossible. Ergonomics, the study of how users interact physically and emotionally with their environment is a leading force in everything we do. An example of this is the Rover’s kitchen layout. Traditionally, campers had a slide-out kitchen, but the pantry and fridge were often in different locations. Our kitchen has the fridge, sink and full pantry all at arm’s reach over a central workbench.
Louis drafting a new Stockman van
Q: How are key trends and customer needs shaping the future of caravanning in Australia, and how is Stockman responding?
A: We know that customers are seeking more convenience, more comfort and to be more self-sufficient off-grid. Customers are definitely demanding more power — both in lithium batteries and solar panels — so we now offer larger systems to suit their needs and budget. There is no more ‘one shoe fits all’.
We’ve also seen that customers aren’t tolerating lengthy or cumbersome setup times, as shown by the decline of the camper trailer market over the last few years.
While most caravan manufacturers are focusing on these main trends of more power and off-grid capability, to give us a point of difference, we are also paying attention to the growing trend of active retirees wanting to carry valuable equipment such as e-bikes (more on this later). We’re also focusing on lighter weight vans so that customers don’t have to upgrade their tow vehicle and/or GVM.
Q: What’s an innovative product or feature you’ve introduced that surprised the market?
A: Our latest caravan, the TREKKA, was launched in September 2025. With a 13ft cabin, the TREKKA also features a massive storage nosecone designed to mount modular storage solutions inside of it. It’s like taking your shed with you. Uniquely, it fits a proprietary bike slide designed to fit two e-bikes securely out of the weather without taking the wheels off, complete with ramps and quick release locks for easy loading. For those who don’t require bike storage, fridges, barbecues and other storage solutions are available — allowing customers to build their van to their requirements.
The new Stockman TREKKA caravan at the Cruisemaster Towing Performance Centre
Q: How do you balance pushing innovation with making sure your caravans are tough and reliable for remote trips?
A: At our core, we believe that innovation is not about using technology for technology’s sake — it’s about using the right technology where it delivers the most meaningful advantage. In everything we design, develop and deliver, we ask a simple question: Does this enhance the user experience, improve durability, streamline production, or solve a real-world problem? One example of this is the fact that we don’t offer the top-of-the-line self-levelling airbag control systems because we think that a manual (non-wi-fi) control is intuitive, reliable and there’s less to go wrong.
Our customers appreciate smart, reliable technology — but are increasingly wary of over-complicated systems that are generally just frustrating to use or can fail in remote conditions. Rather than chasing flashy interiors, many customers are prioritising practicality and simplicity. Reliable products, easy diagnoses and a strong support network are integral to the decision-making process when specifying power systems.
Q: What role does customer feedback or user testing play in your design and innovation decisions?
A: Firstly, our staff are all keen campers, so we generally get out and use our vans regularly — and our wives give us plenty of feedback! Secondly, Stockman runs regular camping trips with our owners’ group which provides us more balanced feedback. While customer feedback is helpful, we tend to look deeper at cultural and emotional trends. For example, customers used to ask us for thicker canvas and easier to set up campers. We removed them both and designed an insulated cabin with no set up.
The Stockman team are all keen campers and put their units to the test
Q: Beyond the vans, what makes your company culture or philosophy stand out as a leader in the industry?
A: At Stockman Australia, our company culture is built around curiosity, constant evolution and a genuine passion for quality design. We don’t just build vans — we solve real-world problems through design thinking and a hands-on, human-centred approach. With a small team we stay agile and innovative, and by camping with our customers we actually care that we bring joy to their holidays.
We adopt advanced technologies selectively and strategically. Sometimes that means using cutting-edge materials, digital fabrication techniques or smart systems. Other times, the best solution is something simpler, more mechanical and time-tested. For us, innovation is measured by outcome — not by how flashy or complex the solution is.
This philosophy keeps our products practical, robust and forward-thinking. It also ensures we stay focused on the needs of our customers, rather than getting caught up in trends that don’t serve a real purpose.
Ultimately, we use technology as a tool, not a crutch — always guided by the belief that true innovation adds value, not noise.
Stockman's luxury POD CAMPER — the Rover 02
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see Stockman shaping the future of caravanning in Australia? Any projects in the pipeline?
A: The design pipeline is pretty full at the moment, but we are not in the business of churning out cookie cutter products, so we tend to be selective with what makes the cut.
We have plenty of products in the works, so stay tuned!
Stockman Australia
13 Sahra Grove
Carrum Downs Vic 3201
P: 1300 725 712
E: sales@stockmanproducts.com
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