Alongside a house and cars, a new caravan represents one of life’s big purchases. It also represents a lifestyle, something to aspire to, to keep us motivated in our lives. It makes sense, then, that we’d want to protect that investment, to give it the best possible chance of remaining in as-new condition for as long as possible. As in the automotive industry, there are a few options when it comes to protective coatings for caravans, motorhomes and campers. One of these is OptiVAN, a graphene ceramic surface protection specifically for caravans, campers and motorhomes that has been independent ..read more

I picked up the new 2024 15ft JAWA Sirocco from the JAWA headquarters just out of Caloundra, Qld, and immediately I could tell it was going to be a good day. I was headed to the bush for the day, the sun was shining and there was no one around. The plan was to tackle some difficult tracks and see how JAWA’s best-selling hybrid handled rougher terrain. What I did not expect was to be halfway down a one-way track with some of the muddiest washouts I’d ever driven. On the highway, heading out to the bush, the van performed extremely well. Unloaded, the Sirocco weighs in at 2.4 tonnes with a ball ..read more

There’s a new caravan manufacturer on my radar: Hike RV. Let me explain. Hike RV is a reasonably new caravan manufacturer; however, the team behind the company has more than 12 years of experience in caravan manufacturing. It was, therefore, with some curiosity that I climbed aboard one of the company’s most popular models: the 22ft 6in tandem-axle Amore Ultra. Would this be a run-of-the-mill caravan whacked together with meranti timber and a predictable layout? Or would Hike RV’s rigs prove to offer more than the many garden-variety vans pumped out of Campbellfield, Vic? I hoped for somethin ..read more

Is it just me or does the rear club lounge, of which we are all so familiar, work incredibly well for larger caravans, such as this 21ft 6in Sarah Series by Tango Caravans? Tango Caravans is a small, unassuming business in Australia’s caravan manufacturing capital, Campbellfield, Vic, with a relatively high output of caravans for its size. It offers for sale a mix of caravans built by other companies, while offering a selection of caravans under the Tango umbrella. Despite the acres of living space on offer, the 21ft 6in (external length) Sarah Series is quite a manageable, manoeuvrable carav ..read more

What kind of traveller are you? Are you on the road full time? Or perhaps you like to escape for a few months each year or can only get away now and then. And how do you keep on top of all the jobs associated with being an RV owner? We’re talking about a range of jobs, such as when to service your rig, clean/replace filters, and remembering to pack necessary spares and the right clothes for the climates you’ll be in, through to whether you have all the right tools. We think you get the idea, but how do you stay on top of it all? Relying on your memory might work if you’re a traveller on the ro ..read more

Almost any 4WD can be improved by some sensible aftermarket accessories. LED lights, roof racks, throttle controllers… the list of what you can add is almost endless. For one Australian 4WD accessories company, Ultimate9, right now it’s all about nudge bars. This company has been in business for almost 10 years. For a long time, it’s been best known for its range of throttle controllers. But in recent times, Ultimate9 has turned its attention to developing a range of nudge bars – known as The Ultimate Nudge Bar – that anyone handy with a socket wrench could probably fit themselves. WHY OPT FOR ..read more

There is barely a campsite in Australia where you won’t find a Starlink satellite dish either on top of a caravan or plonked out in front of a tent. It has certainly changed the game when it comes to connectivity while travelling off-grid in Australia. It’s probably the biggest development in caravanning and off-grid travel since lithium batteries. But the Starlink system has some downsides and limitations when it comes to maintaining a reliable, efficient internet connection. Recently, we installed the Starlink Integration Kit from Cowfish Technologies in our caravan. This system takes Starli ..read more

Back in 1870, major deposits of tin were discovered on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. These deposits were found predominately in Tingha, which was settled in 1841 by Sydney Darby looking for pastoral land. Within 12 months, more than 8000 people moved towards Tingha, including hundreds of Chinese people. It wasn’t long before the mines became a commercial affair due to the huge amount of tin that was found and, as the majority of the tin was on the surface, little machinery was needed, allowing the miners to make good money.  THAT’S A LOT OF TIN! The boom gave the town a scho ..read more

I headed to the JAWA headquarters, based just outside of Caloundra, Qld, excited to test out a new hybrid model that JAWA had just released. ‘Headquarters’ is certainly the correct word to describe this massive space. Not only is this where JAWA’s showroom is, but also its servicing and staff offices. Scott from JAWA was more than happy to show me through the whole building taking me through the manufacturing process from start to finish. Scott explained that JAWA imported its vans from overseas, like a number of other caravan/camper companies do; however, he was keen to point out that the fi ..read more

It had been a long time since I’d climbed aboard a van by MDC. Too long. And, in all honesty, I didn’t know what to expect. The company started over 15 years ago importing campers, but over the years has invested heavily in its Australian operations. The upshot is, each van in the MDC line-up receives over 50 hours of ‘finishing off’, including gas and electrical, with a heavy focus on compliance. In fact, it was the first RV importer in Australia to receive RVMAP accreditation. Interestingly, MDC even employed the former, highly regarded chief technical officer of the Caravan Industry Associ ..read more