Editor John Ford visited the recent Victorian Caravan and Camping Supershow at Melbourne Showgrounds and discovered there were some bargains to be found for savvy buyers.
The Victorian Caravan and Camping Supershow kicks off the major RV show circuit each year, and this year’s five-day event attracted 43,749 visitors who braved the 33-degree temperatures and an afternoon thunderstorm on the last day.
The show is open to caravan builders with dealers in Victoria, so most brands showcase their latest and best offerings. This year, more than 1100 caravans and RVs were featured on site. Like most years, the big offroad vans were the main attractions, and they continue to roll out across many brands. However, with the cost of living a factor for many buyers, I thought it was time to research the value propositions in caravans.
The Melbourne show is one of the biggest, being home to the Victorian caravan industry, and it took me a good two days to explore what was on offer. As well as seeking out some bargains, I was keen to uncover the latest trends. Because of other commitments, we went to the show on the weekend and, as I expected, it was busy.
There were many live demonstrations during the show, including the Snowy River hybrid was put through its paces
Many dealers reported that sales were slower than last year, even if most brands seemed to be meeting targets. Despite many commentators advising against buying at shows because of the risk of being talked into something inappropriate, the show scene is a considerable part of dealer turnover, and there seemed to be exclusive show deals all over the showground.
A trend that stood out was the move away from timber frames. Notably, Goldstream RV’s new composite construction has delivered a new lease of life to this well-respected brand (check out this review of one of Goldstream’s new composite vans by John Hughes). So, too, My Dream RV has turned the page with an aluminium frame and moved away from the rounded front profile. Wonderland RV also introduced an alloy version and a new build-your-dream caravan phone app.
New exterior look from My Dream RV
What can you buy under $100k?
Pre-COVID, a $100,000 van was expensive. Today, the market has moved, and we now see models at three times that price point. New buyers can be easily discouraged when they see the price of vans, not realising the boutique nature of the industry and the complexities of modern construction. So, it was encouraging to find that budget-conscious buyers have plenty from which to choose, and here are some standouts.
Atlas Caravans had a 21ft 6in (6.6m) family offroader with a solid list of quality equipment including Cruisemaster XT suspension, 800W of solar, 300Ah lithium and a 224L compressor fridge for $99,750, so just sneaking into our list. Family vans may have gone off the boil recently as interest rates bite, so there might be some good buys in this sector of the market. (For a similar value couples Atlas van, check out this review.)
Out in the hybrid arena, Cub Campers introduced its new F14, a fusion between caravan and camper trailer. The low-profile design allows it to fit in most home garages, while the high-lift pop-top offers impressive head height. Starting at $74,990, the little Cub oozed quality from a builder with a long heritage of making robust camper trailers. The F14 is an entrant in our Caravan of the Year 2025 event where it’s bound to be a strong contender.
The 17ft (5.2m) Design RV Stryker-X is $86,455 with options such as an L-shaped lounge and drop-down table. The van is a composite clad over a meranti frame and it looked striking in the current go-to black and dark grey colour scheme.
For more than 30 years, Goldstream has manufactured rugged offroad and touring vans from its Pakenham factory, and its recent shift from timber to composite construction has proven highly successful. While it also produces larger models, it has carved a niche with compact pop-tops, and the new 1500 Remote CP is a fantastic addition to the composite market. Priced at a $69,990 show special, it has been very popular with couples looking for a suitably sized van that doesn’t require a monster truck.
The Goldstream 1500 Remote CP doesn’t need a monster truck to tow it
The Great Aussie Caravans team always manages to bring something special to shows, and the stunning Tribal Gravity 196 drew plenty of attention from savvy families. At $90,589, it presented excellent value for a bunk van featuring 3.3T independent suspension and a solid starter pack of gear to get you off-grid. The appliances included a large fridge, washing machine and reverse-cycle air-conditioner. There was the option of two or three bunks.
The Great Aussie Tribal Gravity family caravan
Jayco is the country’s largest builder and has a vast range of vans. Its monster display under the event big top had something for everyone, and I found some standouts in our search for value. I’ve been impressed with the All Terrain range since we tested early models across the NSW Snowy Mountains a decade ago. The latest versions in the new khaki livery are built for tough going and are of high quality throughout. The 16ft (4.9m) version is a practical size for getting into some more difficult to reach spots, and at a show special of $88,990 with an upgraded heater and a rear camera, it’s worth serious consideration.
Even better value was the new Jayco Starcraft pop-top range. A 16ft couples version has a north–south bed, roomy lounge and a full-width ensuite. Aimed at blacktop touring and mainly caravan park holidays, the $49,690 price was a standout.
Jayco Starcraft
Legend Caravans is one of my favourite offroad van builders, and its upmarket vans typically command a premium price. So, I was surprised to see a Trackline Hybrid make it onto our budget list by $1000. The compact 15ft (4.8m) showcased Legend’s versatility as it sat alongside one of the show’s priciest vans, a 27ft (8.2m) triple-axle Tycoon slide-out priced at $232,000.
The Legend Trackline Hybrid made it onto John’s list
Melbourne builder Majestic Caravans is always a contender for well-priced, reliable build quality. The brilliant white 18ft 6in (5.7m) Knight SLE looked like a good deal at $74,940 for a couple wanting a tourer that could handle some dirt road travel. Twin lithium batteries and a basic solar starter pack would also allow time off-grid.
The Majestic Knight SLE was a good deal
The new aluminium-framed offerings from My Dream RV adds another manufacturer to an offroader buyers list. A Nullarbor 17-footer borrows a Trakmaster model name, but I guess we are running out of localities for branding. The single axle couples van came well equipped and landed with a reasonable tare of 2292kg for use with mid-range 4WD tow vehicles.
The last day of the show saw discounts appear on stock vans, and some deals looked pretty tempting. Olympic Caravans is one of our heritage brands, and its Brisbane-built fibreglass shell classics are sought by restorers. These days, the brand lives on in Melbourne, and the little traditionally built 15ft 6in (4.8m) blacktop tourer had a show deal price of $58,683, one of the cheapest at the event.
Not to be outdone for value though was On The Move Caravans with its new range of imported Infinity and Galaxy touring vans. The team has transitioned the composite build to these semi-offroad versions, and at $76,990, the 20ft 7in (6.3m) family van looks like a winner in the value stakes. The 15ft 7in (4.8m) Galaxy has a torsion suspension under the automotive-style chassis, delivering a 1500kg weight for frugal towing and frugal buying at $54,990.
New imported models from On The Move
Building up to our second in top-selling sales across the country, Snowy River Caravans has expanded its range to pop-tops and hybrids and introduced the SRH-16F, a snazzy well-equipped couples adventurer for $63,990. The compact offroader will be a contender in our Caravan of the Year 2025 event, so watch out for it in the May and June issues.
Snowy River hybrid
Another offroad builder we don’t generally include in the budget category is Van Cruiser Caravans, so it was great to see a 17ft 6in (5.4m) Alpha RTV join our list well under our cutoff point. The van is a practical size for couples looking to get into tight spots and comes with a basic off-grid package in a tough, lovingly built van.
The Van Cruiser Alpha RTV is a practical size for couples and comes in under $100k
Lastly, X Series RV is a new import brand looking to make a mark on the offroad scene. Its range includes a 16ft family hybrid Warrior at $73,990 and a 17ft couples version at $75,990. Both boast composite body construction on a hot-dipped galvanised chassis.
It’s no surprise that Jayco came out on top at the bottom of the price ladder because the popular brand is a perennial value proposition as it celebrates its 50th year of production. Even so, there was ample proof that the Australian industry is travelling strongly under continued and growing competition from imports.
THE NEXT STEP
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