Caravan World

The past few weeks have been hectic. We are getting ready for travel to Western Australia with some other members of the Trakmaster club and the list of things to do just doesn't seem to be getting any shorter. Most of the work is around getting the 200 Series LandCruiser into shape for towing and living off-grid. As mentioned last month, we recently bought a very basic GX version with no modifications so we needed to fit it out to our liking. Our old 100 Series had every conceivable extra but we are trying to rationalise what goes into the 200. Our first change was to upgrade the GVM to allow an extra 500kg or so to the payload. To me, this is the most important improvement we could make.…

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia's (CIAA) Business Conditions Report for January 2023 reveals the industry remains strong in the face of increasing challenges. The six-monthly analysis of the performance, outlook and sentiment of Australia's caravan industry demonstrates significant growth across the industry, with tinges of a slowdown on the horizon. The report dives into Australia's continued love affair with the RV and caravan lifestyle, a love affair that picked up real momentum during the pandemic. Current economic conditions are acting as protective factors for the industry with tightening household spending limiting international travel, a trend that is expected to see domestic travel remain strong. The strength in the industry is evident by the growth in the number of annual caravan and camping trips in Australia overtaking the 2019 levels,…

Research published by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has found that Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) reduce the likelihood of motorists being involved in a non-night-time multi-vehicle crashes. DRLs are fitted on the front of a motor vehicle and are designed to automatically switch on when a vehicle is driven to increase the visibility of a vehicle to other road users during the day. The study found that DRLs can reduce non-night-time multi-vehicle crash involvement by 8.8 per cent. The study assessed the relationship between crash risk and the fitting of DRLs using data on crashes that were reported to police in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia between 2010 and 2017. There were 119,606 casualty crashes in the database, of which 11,013 crashes were found to…

As of 3 April 2023, interstate and international visitors must now purchase a park pass before entering up to 50 Northern Territory parks and reserves. Until this change, the majority of the Northern Territory's national parks and reserves, apart from Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks - which are federally managed - have had free entry for all day visitors. The day-use fees have been introduced to aid in safeguarding and enhancing the region's natural areas for years to come. Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, Sally Egan, said revenue from fees would be invested into the protection, maintenance and safety of parks and the creation of new visitor experiences. Interstate and international visitors must purchase and display a park pass. NT residents are exempt from these fees but may be…

After first signing on with Greenfleet in 2021 to offset emissions generated by company and employee vehicles, Bendix is again supporting the program in 2023. The plantings will consist of a range of trees including locally adaptive species in any site to ensure resilient forests will thrive and flourish. After any planting, regular checks are made especially during the establishment phase to check on the health and growth rate of the trees. Aside from providing emission capture benefits, the program supports Greenfleet in restoring native forests and ecosystem, which provide crucial habitat for endangered wildlife and help counter the devastating impact of bushfires, which have been particularly prevalent in recent years, particularly in Australia. Greenfleet forests are legally protected ontitle for up to 100 years from land clearing, harvesting and…

VANSafe Queensland - an initiative of Caravanning Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Government - was launched in early April and events will continue throughout 2023. Established in response to the rapid rise of recreational vehicle ownership over the past few years, the free Caravan Safety Check Program educated and supported recreational vehicle owners with the information they need to tow confidently, safely and compliantly. Open to all owners of caravans, campers and motorhomes, the education program included workshops, displays and masterclasses and was a safe zone for all attendees, meaning no fines or breaches were issued. Attendees could also get their RV combination inspected and weighed for safety and compliance. Total registrations of RVs have increased by over 20 per cent in the last five years in the Sunshine…