Well the "Gall Boys" and Kedron Caravans go upmarket

An Opalite Caravan(mainly all Composites)

Designer Vans Illusion Pop Up.

Royal Flair Piazza

Some idea of the variety, this Company Grandcruiser Caravans released this Scamp like lightweight Caravan several weeks ago at a Caravan show

Slownsy wrote:
What is the prize tag Robert .

Frank roughly in the $50,000-$60,000 mark. US Travel Trailers are a lot cheaper due to economies of scale, but they are a lot "cheaper" in durability and general quality as well.

profdant139 wrote:
But Robert, if the US has a much bigger and more diverse market, why can't US manufacturers sell to various niches? How can the Australians afford to be more innovative and "out of the ordinary" in a smaller market, where there are fewer economies of scale? I just do not get it. This situation flies in the face of everything I know about economics (which evidently is not much).

I think the diversity is not really there, unlike here, which on the surface of it seem strange.It would appear, that manufactures in the US, are making "generic products" as another posted has stated with different names. They are not prepared to go out on a limb, due to making the cheapest product available and trying to keep to general industry expectations. Another factor is all of the current 130 Manfacturers in Australia are not part of a larger grouping, unlike the 4\5 large companies in the US that own many brands.

profdant139 wrote:
According to Google, there are maybe 23 million people in Australia, versus around 40 million in just California, let alone the rest of the US. So how could it be that such a small population supports such a vibrant and creative caravan industry, far superior to the US?? I do not understand the economics of this situation. Someone will earn a PhD by studying this anomaly and solving the mystery. In the meantime, I feel deprived.

When I visited OZ on business in the 80's and 90's I found a people who were striving to be "good enough" compared to the US and similar countries. Here we have a generation who was deeply affected by the Great Depression, there it felt like they had serious intentions to prove they weren't a third-world country.

I still see it today in the Breville brand of countertop kitchen appliances. Although they're manaufactured in Asia, the Australia design folks go the extra mile to prove they're better than the incumbents. If you see one at a store, look at the plug for an example of that obsession (it has a hole for your finger, so it gets pulled from the wall without damaging the cord).

What is the prize tag Robert .

But Robert, if the US has a much bigger and more diverse market, why can't US manufacturers sell to various niches? How can the Australians afford to be more innovative and "out of the ordinary" in a smaller market, where there are fewer economies of scale? I just do not get it. This situation flies in the face of everything I know about economics (which evidently is not much).

I totally love what they are doing with travel trailers (caravans ;)) in Australia. The features, finishes and styling are just amazing. RV manufacturers in NA should take note. It's always the same 'ol stuff here and it's hard to differentiate one TT from the next unless you glance at the name on the outside.

LenSatic wrote:

profdant139 wrote:
According to Google, there are maybe 23 million people in Australia, versus around 40 million in just California, let alone the rest of the US. So how could it be that such a small population supports such a vibrant and creative caravan industry, far superior to the US?? I do not understand the economics of this situation. Someone will earn a PhD by studying this anomaly and solving the mystery. In the meantime, I feel deprived.

Tort actions, maybe. Just saying. ;)

LS

Nothing to with legal action, more to do with cost. US manufactures are not prepared to do anything outrageous as they are always looking for the bottom line. Anything too far out of the ordinary may not sell.

profdant139 wrote:
According to Google, there are maybe 23 million people in Australia, versus around 40 million in just California, let alone the rest of the US. So how could it be that such a small population supports such a vibrant and creative caravan industry, far superior to the US?? I do not understand the economics of this situation. Someone will earn a PhD by studying this anomaly and solving the mystery. In the meantime, I feel deprived.

Tort actions, maybe. Just saying. ;)

LS