Caravan World

It has been a busy month here at Caravan World headquarters with reviews in Coffs Harbour, NSW, and Ballarat, Vic, a caravan show in Melbourne and our annual Caravan of the Year event at Warrnambool, Vic. In between, we have been working on our caravan to prepare for a trip north later in the year. The Caravan of the Year (COTY) presented by MSA 4X4 Accessories event was fantastic, and you’ll be amazed by some of the caravans that showed up this year. We have always believed that the event drives the industry to new heights, and every entrant has elevated its build quality and innovation this time around. Choosing a winner will be tougher than ever, so keep an eye out for the outcomes in the next two issues.…

Want to be in the running? It’s simple! Send in your best travel-inspiring image of your rig, along with a brief description, to submissions@hemagroup.com.au. Just make sure your image is high quality and suitable for print (2–3Mb). We’ll still be awarding a monthly Readers’ Rigs prize, but come May 2026, one standout submission will be crowned the ultimate winner — taking home an incredible prize bundle. WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS? Hema HX-2+ Navigator (Valued at $849.95) Navigate with confidence on and off the beaten track with the Hema HX-2+ GPS Navigator. Now updated to include the innovative Hema 3D Explorer Map, turn-by-turn navigation and remote guidance. It is also pre-loaded with the all-new Hema Nav and Hema 4WD Maps powered by Memory Map© (subscription required), making it the ultimate tool…

Surviving 50 years in the caravan industry is no mean feat and Royal Flair managing director, Billy Deralas, believes that innovation, customer relationships and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity are among the key ingredients to the company’s success. ROYAL FLAIR’S GROWTH The business was established by his father Peter Deralas in 1975 as New Home Caravans in Reservoir, Victoria. In the early 1980s, Peter moved the business to Campbellfield, at a time when there were only about eight other caravan builders in the outer north suburb of Melbourne. He renamed the business Royal Flair in 1990. By 2010, the number of manufacturers in the new Victorian mecca of van building had swelled to about 100 and Royal Flair had to start thinking outside the box, producing family and…

Based in Melbourne, Willow RV Caravans has made a name for itself in Australia’s caravanning scene, recognised for its lightweight but robust vans that are designed for Aussie adventures. But there’s some exciting news for Willow RV fans - the manufacturer has officially entered the motorhome market, marking a new chapter for the Aussie company. Founders Ian Jow and Eddie Willis have aspired to expand Willow RV’s range into motorhomes since they started the brand back in 2017. Both Ian and Eddie have extensive experience in motorhome manufacturing, having originally come to Australia for this very purpose in the early 2000s. This expertise has played a key role in the development of Willow RV’s newest offering: the Kauri 25 series motorhome. Built on the Iveco 50C chassis cab, the Kauri…

Isuzu has unveiled the 2025 MU-X, bringing a host of refinements aimed at making this SUV even more capable for towing, offroad adventures and daily use. With upgraded suspension, improved safety features and the introduction of the premium X-TERRAIN variant, the latest MU-X is set to meet the demands of Australian drivers. X-TERRAIN: NEW FLAGSHIP VARIANT FOR 2025 The 2025 MU-X lineup introduces the new X-TERRAIN, a bold, high-spec model featuring a more aggressive exterior and a premium interior with red-accented leather seats. Having tested multiple X-TERRAIN D-MAXs over the years, we can say the black interior is a welcome addition to the MU-X range. The X-TERRAIN also features an updated digital multi-information display (MID) and a 9in infotainment screen with wireless smartphone connectivity. It builds on the LS-T 4x4…

With caravans getting bigger and heavier, it’s important to make sure your towing setup remains safe. To help with that, Lovells Automotive Systems has launched a significant upgrade for the Ford Ranger, boosting its gross vehicle mass (GVM) to 4000kg. This new Lovells upgrade is now available across the full range of 4x4 Ford Ranger models, including the 2L bi-turbo, inline-four and 3L V6 turbo-diesel variants. The move follows the company’s recent introduction of a four-tonne Brake Towing Capacity (BTC) upgrade for the Ford Ranger V6 turbo-diesel model. Designed to improve the Ranger’s load-carrying capacity, the GVM upgrade provides an additional 720kg of payload. This enhancement makes the Ranger more suited to a variety of demanding roles, from trades and emergency services to leisure and recreational uses, where extra load-bearing…