Van makers plan to 'fingerprint' vehicles

Brisbane manufacturers Lifestyle Camper Trailers plan to introduce a "birth certificate" for every camper trailer they produce which details where each part was made and assembled. Marketing manager Darren Smart says every part of their trailer is made and produced in Brisbane.

"As a result they are a more costly camper trailer, but are of excellent quality," he says.

"This business has had other camper trailer competitors buy their product to send it over to China to copy the design, have it made there, but assembled here which means they are allowed to say it was `assembled in Australia' leading customers to believe they are buying an Australian-made product for a cheap price, when in reality it is a Chinese-made product."

The company has just upgraded their most popular trailer, the Extenda off-road camper, for more strength and stability. They used 45mm solid square axles which are 70 per cent stronger than round models. Smart says the reduced flex results in a more stable trailer while being towed.

The 2m triple draw bar is also now made from two pieces of 100mm x 50mm x 3mm and one 50mm x 50mm x 3mm Supagal RHS steel galvanised on the inside and outside. Despite the increased manufacturing price of these upgrades the retail price has remained $13,950, Smart says.

"The Extenda camper trailer combines the simplicity of a conventional soft floor camper trailer with the extra room of a good-sized tent and it sits on a heavy duty off-road chassis," he says.

The Extenda with 3m tent and annexe roof comes standard with a storage box with removable shelf that converts to a table; powder coated toolbox; poles, ropes and pegs; two safety chains and D shackles; 15-inch off road rims; aluminium kitchen box and bench extension; stainless steel sink with hand pump water tap; spare wheel; 80-litre water tank; two 4kg gas bottle rings; PVC tonneau cover; and queen foam mattress.

Options include 16-inch off-road wheels with new mud tyres, queen inner-spring mattress and a 3.6m tent and annexe roof.

"All of our chassis are made from top grade Australian Supagal steel and are welded together by a craftsman who is into his fifth decade of specialised welding. "Likewise, all of our tents are an Australian design made from Australian canvas."

Lifestyle Camper Trailer has five models listed from $9950 to $18,950 for the Extenda Elite. "All are made from the same chassis by the same welder every time while all of the bolt-on parts are sourced locally and are of the highest quality," Smart says.

Lifestyle Camper Trailers recently bought Adventure Trek Caravans which will be manufactured in Brisbane with new models branded Adventure Trek by Lifestyle Camper Trailers.

Visit: lifestylecampertrailer.com.au