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When a Woman runs a RV Company

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Fast-growing Melbourne manufacturer aims to steal more market share from Jayco with release of new camper trailer
For decades Jayco has been the clear sales leader in the Australian RV manufacturing industry, with upwards of 10,000 annual production or up to 50 per cent of the overall market.

But the Dandenong, Victoria-based manufacturer is facing perhaps its first serious threat from a cross-town rival thatโ€™s only been in business for seven years.

A pioneer of the apartment-style interior look now found in most Australian vans, New Age Caravans is growing faster than your front lawn in spring, with production doubling from 20 to 40 vans a week over the past 18 months, according to CEO Gabby Montagnese (pictured).

Over the same period the Epping, Victoria-based manufacturer has doubled its workforce to 200 employees, boosted by a $1million government grant that has allowed it to not only modernize manufacturing processes but focus more on research and development and quality control.

With a production capacity of 50 vans a week, New Age expects to soon outgrow the 7000sq.m factory it moved into in mid-2013. Following the recent sale of its factory-owned Melbourne dealership to Preston Motors, the plan is build more factory space on nearby land allowing production to increase to 3000 a year.

Already selling more full-height caravans than Jayco, New Age is set to steal further market share with the introduction of a new entry-level model that will be a direct rival to Jaycoโ€™s big-selling camper range.

Like Jayco, New Age has recently moved to a single-franchise dealer network, with most of its 14 dealers in six states now only selling New Age models. Next month a New Age dealership will also open in New Zealand, joining a select group of Australian manufacturers that have officially crossed the ditch including Jayco and more recently Bailey.

New Age started the mass market Apartment look, now common in Australian Caravans
51 REPLIES 51

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Tvov wrote:
So, what is "apartment style"? Those Aussie interiors look pretty much laid out the same as trailers here.

No, look like Contemporary Apartments,no bare wood finishes.

Caravan with Apartment look

ralph_day
Explorer
Explorer
Probably 2 electric induction cooktops for when on shore power. Decadent!

RoyBell
Explorer
Explorer
2012Coleman wrote:
RoyBell wrote:
Not sure why this comment makes you so angry but Americans are greedy and want the biggest everything. We also have the roads/trucks for big ass campers though so it isn't as big a deal.
So you can detect anger in an internet post as well as know what non Americans want in a Travel Trailer?

I guess this proves the common perception of Americans as arrogant.

I never get angry over posts in an internet forum. (:P visual proof if needed)


I am just that good :C

Looks like I was spot on with the European camper size thing though :W

RoyBell
Explorer
Explorer
RobertRyan wrote:

Interior of one of their Caravans


Interesting that they have 2 gas burners and 2 electric burners?

Tvov
Explorer II
Explorer II
So, what is "apartment style"? Those Aussie interiors look pretty much laid out the same as trailers here.
_________________________________________________________
2021 F150 2.7
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor

2012Coleman
Explorer II
Explorer II
RoyBell wrote:
Not sure why this comment makes you so angry but Americans are greedy and want the biggest everything. We also have the roads/trucks for big ass campers though so it isn't as big a deal.
So you can detect anger in an internet post as well as know what non Americans want in a Travel Trailer?

I guess this proves the common perception of Americans as arrogant.

I never get angry over posts in an internet forum. (:P visual proof if needed)
Experience without good judgment is worthless; good judgment without experience is still good judgment!

2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn CTD
2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Bumpyroad wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
There was a campground adjacent to my hotel in Switzerland on the lake and it was jam packed full with small TTs that looked about 28 ft. or so and most of them had a screened room attached that zipped into the roof edge molding and in effect doubled their floor space.
bumpy

Pretty well summed up the European Travel Trailers. In some countries that are rare, all you see is Class C's. Varies from country to country, but Class C's to a lesser extent Class B's, dominate their roads generally


I was probably long on that 28ft, probably more like 24 ft. I saw one large Class A in all my travels in Europe/Asia/Africa and that was at an airport in Europe. sure stuck out.;)
bumpy

Things you would not see in a Month of Sunday's in the US
There are many companies producing these in Europe, surprisingly so. A luxury Horsebox.I have tallied up about 30 Manufacturers at least. Class A's in the US sense are pretty rare. Look up Luxury European Horsebox manufacturers on the net.

Interior of one

When your Van decides to grow muscles. Cab Chassis Van acting like a 1 Ton. These are the "F250's" or " F350's" of Europe. Heavier than this are the start of the " Lorries"

A Swedish Caravan the longest in Europe at 40ft

Interior of one of their Caravans

RoyBell
Explorer
Explorer
atreis wrote:
RoyBell wrote:
Says the American mentality that "bigger is better". Every American now needs a 4000 square foot house for a family of 3. The largest SUV they can buy and the largest camper they can buy.


Hmm... Pretty sure I'm an American. Yep. Says so right on my passport. Born in the USA. Family of 5, 2500 square foot house, tow a small trailer with a minivan (and not because that's all I can afford - it's my preference).

As with all other nationalities, not every American agrees on what's enough, better, etc... Please don't characterize me in with those folk that think as you describe. Thank you.


Before you go pointing fingers, I am sure you know that Chicago is in America. I was born and raised here. Family of 5 as well and 2500 square foot house too. Although I put a small addition on so maybe 2800 square foot now. Pop-up for quite some time and upgraded to a 28' quad bunk last year. I could had easily gone to a 31-35' quad bunk with 2-3 slides, but didn't see the point. In a couple years when the youngest won't want to go camping any more I will be enjoying a nice 24'ish camper which will seem like a mansion with only 2 of us in it. I do have one of the largest trucks produced though, Ram 2500 MegaCab, so I guess I am American and spoiled there ๐Ÿ˜‰

atreis
Explorer
Explorer
RoyBell wrote:
Says the American mentality that "bigger is better". Every American now needs a 4000 square foot house for a family of 3. The largest SUV they can buy and the largest camper they can buy.


Hmm... Pretty sure I'm an American. Yep. Says so right on my passport. Born in the USA. Family of 5, 2500 square foot house, tow a small trailer with a minivan (and not because that's all I can afford - it's my preference).

As with all other nationalities, not every American agrees on what's enough, better, etc... Please don't characterize me in with those folk that think as you describe. Thank you.
2021 Four Winds 26B on Chevy 4500

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
RobertRyan wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
There was a campground adjacent to my hotel in Switzerland on the lake and it was jam packed full with small TTs that looked about 28 ft. or so and most of them had a screened room attached that zipped into the roof edge molding and in effect doubled their floor space.
bumpy

Pretty well summed up the European Travel Trailers. In some countries that are rare, all you see is Class C's. Varies from country to country, but Class C's to a lesser extent Class B's, dominate their roads generally


I was probably long on that 28ft, probably more like 24 ft. I saw one large Class A in all my travels in Europe/Asia/Africa and that was at an airport in Europe. sure stuck out.;)
bumpy

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
Bumpyroad wrote:
There was a campground adjacent to my hotel in Switzerland on the lake and it was jam packed full with small TTs that looked about 28 ft. or so and most of them had a screened room attached that zipped into the roof edge molding and in effect doubled their floor space.
bumpy

Pretty well summed up the European Travel Trailers. In some countries that are rare, all you see is Class C's. Varies from country to country, but Class C's to a lesser extent Class B's, dominate their roads generally

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
RoyBell wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
RoyBell wrote:
The other factor is that other parts of the world don't need 30' trailers with multiple slides.
Says who? You?

Lots of people towing nice campers over there with non HD trucks - how can that be? Feel free to chime in here Robert.

Heck the bottom of the line Cell Caravan linked blows my cr@ppy Coleman out of the water - which BTW something new breaks every time I use it!

I still have a good time don't get me wrong, but import one of those, and my unit goes on Craigslist.


Says the American mentality that "bigger is better". Every American now needs a 4000 square foot house for a family of 3. The largest SUV they can buy and the largest camper they can buy. European roads are smaller and their trucks not as robust. Their HD trucks are more for commercial use than personal use and designed as such (small cabs, forward design). I imagine their hot market are Class B campers.

In fact, I just googled "european travel trailer" and the majority of the images appear to be sub 30' trailers, in the 25' range. Do the same for American/USA and you get a slew of 30'+ trailers.

Not sure why this comment makes you so angry but Americans are greedy and want the biggest everything. We also have the roads/trucks for big ass campers though so it isn't as big a deal.

Without getting too off subject , large Caravans/Travel Trailers would be a nightmare in Europe, especially Southern Europe. Europeans use a lot of Class C Motorhomes, max length 29ft. Travel Trailers are a lot rarer, Pickups Trucks are very rare. They use the Cab Chassis variants of Vans to tow a lot. This they do pretty effectively. HD Trucks and their varieties dominate European roads all Cabovers, narrow day Cabs, very much more so than the US. Europeans do like BIG, but that varies from country to country, eg Saw " McMansions" in Poland, 45ft Horse Toy Haulers/ Class A's in other countries

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
There was a campground adjacent to my hotel in Switzerland on the lake and it was jam packed full with small TTs that looked about 28 ft. or so and most of them had a screened room attached that zipped into the roof edge molding and in effect doubled their floor space.
bumpy

RoyBell
Explorer
Explorer
2012Coleman wrote:
RoyBell wrote:
The other factor is that other parts of the world don't need 30' trailers with multiple slides.
Says who? You?

Lots of people towing nice campers over there with non HD trucks - how can that be? Feel free to chime in here Robert.

Heck the bottom of the line Cell Caravan linked blows my cr@ppy Coleman out of the water - which BTW something new breaks every time I use it!

I still have a good time don't get me wrong, but import one of those, and my unit goes on Craigslist.


Says the American mentality that "bigger is better". Every American now needs a 4000 square foot house for a family of 3. The largest SUV they can buy and the largest camper they can buy. European roads are smaller and their trucks not as robust. Their HD trucks are more for commercial use than personal use and designed as such (small cabs, forward design). I imagine their hot market are Class B campers.

In fact, I just googled "european travel trailer" and the majority of the images appear to be sub 30' trailers, in the 25' range. Do the same for American/USA and you get a slew of 30'+ trailers.

Not sure why this comment makes you so angry but Americans are greedy and want the biggest everything. We also have the roads/trucks for big ass campers though so it isn't as big a deal.