Camping Trade World – Issue 03

C O N N E C T I N G T H E G L O B A L C A M P I N G I N D U S T R Y 

ISSUE 03 | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 

»

WELCOME 

WELCOME TO 

■ 

new digital B2B media platform for the international camping 

and leisure vehicle industries. We cover tents, caravans, 

A 

motorhomes, awnings, accessories, components and just about 

everything else in between. If it happens in the international trade, it 

happens in Camping Trade World. 

Our aim is to help you grow your business by creating new 

connections within the industry. This digital magazine will be released 

six times per year and in between you can stay current with our upto-the-minute 

website, www.campingtradeworld.com, our social media 

channels, our industry podcast and our email newsletters. It’s the full 

package and it could help you: 

• Gain partners in new countries and territories 

• Put your products/services in front of buyers around the world 

• Build your brand 

• Communicate your message to the industry 

• Source new products, services and components 

• Learn about market trends and insight 

• Get the latest news and opinion from the industry 

• Get your voice heard 

02 | www.campingtradeworld.com

WELCOME 

WHY WORK WITH US? 

Our average online 

audience per month is 

more than 1,000 industry 

professionals and growing. 

We can break your news or 

product launches via our 

website, including videos 

and multiple images. 

We can send targeted 

content to specific sectors 

of the industry via our 

email newsletters. 

We can tell your story in 

detail via this magazine or 

our podcast. 

We have camping and 

leisure vehicle industry 

professionals already 

subscribed from: 

UK 

India 

Belgium 

USA 

Denmark 

Russia 

France 

Germany 

Switzerland 

Sweden 

Austria 

Italy 

Latvia 

Australia 

Slovenia 

New Zealand 

Spain 

Netherlands 

Ireland 

Poland 

Why not join them and 

subscribe today? 

www.campingtradeworld.com | 03

WELCOME 

MEET THE TEAM 

DAVID GUEST 

EDITOR 

David has worked in B2B publishing since 2006 and has edited 

several major titles in that time. He has also worked on the UK’s 

biggest consumer camping magazine, Camping & Caravanning. A 

keen camper and outdoorsman, David will bring you the very latest 

international industry news. 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk 

JUSTIN FOX 

PUBLISHER 

Justin is hugely experienced in publishing and oversees the running 

of all of David Hall Publishing’s titles, which includes not only B2B 

titles, but also some enthusiast consumer brands too. Justin’s 

organisational and sales skills are invaluable to the business. 

justin@dhpub.co.uk 

WILLEM BONNEUX 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 

Fluent in several languages, Willem is hugely experienced in 

helping outdoor industry brands realise their global communication 

ambitions. He has a broad background in sales, marketing and key 

account management. 

willem.bonneux@dhpub.co.uk 

GUIDO KNEGT 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 

Guido has a wealth of experience in helping companies grow their 

international export businesses. He speaks numerous languages 

and is well-known for going that extra mile for all of his international 

customers. 

guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

MARK GRAFTON 

DESIGNER 

Mark is the man who takes our essential trade info and turns it into 

something beautiful. With more than 20 years of experience as a 

magazine and digital designer, we trust him to make us look good. 

housegrafton@gmail.com 

PAUL EVANS 

ART EDITOR 

Paul is the Art Editor of our publishing house and he runs the rule 

over the creative direction of our titles. He has worked in the company 

since 2008 and keeps our vision in focus. 

PRESSING THE FLESH 

M 

■y enthusiasm has received 

a huge boost since the 

last issue of Camping 

Trade World was released. Why? 

A quite simple answer – I’ve been 

able to network in real life. Since 

issue two, I have attended two 

camping industry events – and 

honestly, I didn’t realise how 

much I had missed that face-toface 

interaction in a professional 

context. First up was the National 

Camping Show at the outdoor 

venue of Stoneleigh Park in the 

Midlands of the UK. The show 

was a consumer event designed 

to help tent companies get some 

interaction with their audiences 

after multiple cancellations of 

the usual big shows. It had been 

pushed back twice due to changes 

in the COVID-19 restrictions 

in the country and unfortunately 

landed on a weekend with 

torrential rain and 40mph winds, 

but it was largely successful. Just 

a month or so later and it was 

the turn of the Outdoor Trade 

Show in Liverpool – one of the 

first indoor trade exhibitions to 

take place in the UK since the 

start of the pandemic. This was 

also well attended and there was a 

tangible buzz in the air as people 

reconnected with old friends 

in the industry and made new 

connections with all the hope and 

promise that brings. For us, as a 

relatively new media brand on 

the market, we have really missed 

the opportunity to get out there 

in the industry and meet people 

and spread the word about what 

we’re trying to do. I think we may 

have even been guilty of forgetting 

just how important that is when 

it looked like events wouldn’t be 

possible for a long time. With two 

shows under our belt and plans to 

be at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 

later this year – we are excited 

for what the future may bring. 

You can read a preview feature of 

Caravan Salon later in this issue 

and also hear from some of the 

key exhibitors who will be there. 

Besides that, we have our usual 

dose of industry insight, business 

guides, market analysis and 

interviews that we hope you are 

enjoying so far. If you are already 

a subscriber, thank you so much 

for being with us. If you’re new, 

welcome along and I hope you like 

what we’re offering. If you think 

this publication would be of use 

to your colleagues in the industry, 

please feel free to share or direct 

them to www.campingtradeworld. 

com. We are growing, and we want 

you to be part of it. 

Enjoy the issue, 

David Guest 


CONTENTS 

20 

BASECAMP 

06-13 What’s happening in the camping and leisure vehicle 

industries? More than you know. Keep abreast of the latest 

trends and read our takes on them. 

44 

34 

48 

58 

THE DETAIL 

14-15 The UK hosted its first ever National Camping Show, and 

despite some rather typically challenging British weather, 

we were there to get the scoops. 

16-18 Camping companies clamoured to be part of the 2021 

Outdoor Trade Show in Liverpool, UK – and so did we. 

Find out what happened at this important event. 

20-22 Campervans are all the rage, but what are the current 

challenges facing companies who build them? 

CamperKing’s marketing manager Stuart Kidman tells all. 

24-25 New campers means we need new ways to sell to them. 

Innovative tech firm Lendobox has a solution for the 

industry to help offer camping gear for hire to newbies. 

26 The surge in orders for new motorhomes and caravans is 

good news – but also means we need more qualified people 

to build them. The industry in Germany is stepping up. 

FEATURES 

28-33 Despite Brexit and COVID, the camping and leisure 

vehicle market in the UK is still one of the big players. We 

give you an insight into this sector and its intricacies. 

34-37 Planning on attending Caravan Salon 2021? Here’s our full 

preview of one of the biggest caravan fairs on planet Earth 

to help you plan your trip, and make the most of it. 

38-39 Dutch firm Horrex has almost endless solutions for RV 

companies and the aftermarket with its huge range of 

flyscreens, windows, blinds, room dividers and skylights. 

40-43 Sure, it’s easy to say your product is the best at what it does 

– but how can you prove it? SuperSprings International 

enlisted the help of NaviStar to do just that. 

44-47 One of the RV industry’s biggest names is celebrating its 

65th anniversary this year. We go inside Lippert to uncover 

the full story behind this iconic brand. 

48-53 An in-depth look at the global motorhome market. What 

are the latest trends and opportunities and how can you 

capitalise on them? 

54-57 Our Become a Better Business series turns its focus 

towards sustainability. Are you doing enough? Are you 

doing anything? If not, it’s easier than you think. 

MAKING CONTACT 

58-63 The latest and greatest products from the worlds of 

camping, caravanning, motorhomes and just about 

everything in between. 

www.campingtradeworld.com | 05

BASE CAMP 

Photo: NCC Events 

SUPPLY AND DEMAND 

■e’ve got pretty used to shows and events being cancelled 

over the last 18 months for very obvious reasons. But 

W 

there haven’t been too many shows cancelled in recent 

memory because the demand they would create cannot be met. 

That’s at least part of the reason why the UK’s Motorhome and 

Caravan Show – set to take place at the National Exhibition 

Centre, Birmingham in October – has been cancelled for yet 

another year. Organisers NCC Events said: “We have taken 

feedback from our exhibitors and while the industry is seeing a 

huge demand for touring caravans, campervans and motorhomes 

from the UK staycation boom, there are many challenges in the 

supply chain which make the timing of this year’s show, and the 

additional demand it would generate, untenable for some.” 

They also confirmed that even though, at the time of writing, 

there would be no more coronavirus restrictions in place by the 

time of the event, the feedback they received indicated people 

needed time to adjust to the idea of attending large indoor 

events again. Because of that, they have highlighted sister show 

Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, which takes place at 

the same venue but in February 2022, as a more realistic target. 

“We have also consulted with our visitors and although there 

is a huge appetite for the show, we must put their wellbeing 

and safety first. For those who have been shielding, a February 

timeline will also allow them to build their confidence in 

attending indoor events.” 

▲ Customers are demanding smart online tools more often. 

DIGITAL SALES SOLUTIONS 

As another few months pass, 

more emphasis is being placed 

on making the digital buying 

experience easier and more 

intuitive. Luxury motorhome 

brand Niesmann+Bischoff 

is the latest leisure vehicle 

manufacturer to introduce a 

superbly innovative online 

motorhome configurator that 

allows users to create the vehicle 

of their dreams and then view 

06 | www.campingtradeworld.com 

it via a 360-degree virtual tour. 

While this isn’t a groundbreaking 

new technology, it is 

something we are seeing more 

and more of in the industry. 

Even when showrooms are 

open again and people can view 

vehicles in person, that pre-sale 

period when they are considering 

their purchase is almost 

exclusively carried out online, 

making systems like this less of 

a luxury and more of an essential. 

FUTURE-PROOFING, MADE 

IN GERMANY 

With the boom in leisure 

vehicles, shortage of supply 

is not the only side effect. A 

lack of skilled workers is also 

a significant problem – so 

much so that in Germany 

the Caravanning Industry 

Association of Germany 

(CIVD) and the German 

Association of Car Body 

Technology (ZKF) have agreed 

to do something about it. They 

have created a new training 

specialisation course to help 

increase the number of skilled 

and qualified leisure vehicle 

technicians for the country’s 

factories and workshops. 

Demand for German 

motorhomes has increased 

about 30 per cent in the last five 

years with more than 100,000 

caravans and motorhomes 

newly registered in 2021. More 

camping units, means more 

people needed to build them. 

CIVD managing director 

Daniel Onggowinarso said: 

“We assume that around 300 

apprentices will be needed 

by manufacturers as well as 

dealerships and workshops every 

year. The new specialisation – 

Caravan and Motor Caravan 

Technology – is a milestone 

for us and makes an important 

contribution to making the 

caravanning industry fit for the 

future.” Read more on page 26. 

CARAVANNING ALONG THE 

ROAD TO RECOVERY 

A boom in caravanning might 

not necessarily just be a good 

thing for our industry, but 

for the global economy as a 

whole. Reports from the UK 

showed that the country’s 

gross domestic product (GDP) 

grew by 2.3 per cent in April 

according to the country’s 

Office for National Statistics

BASE CAMP 

ARE YOU PACKING A PUNCH? 

The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has been carrying out 

some excellent work on how outdoor industry businesses 

can be more sustainable, specifically surrounding the use of 

single use plastics in packaging. It has been working closely 

with a group of 35 retailers and brands from the outdoor 

industry who have been researching and testing ways to 

reduce the impact of their single use plastics. Here are some 

of the findings: 

1. PLASTIC DOES SOME THINGS VERY WELL 

Some of the substitutes being used instead of single use 

plastic aren’t all that great for the environment. Often 

creating them causes so much environmental damage that 

you’d have to re-use them thousands of times to outweigh it. 

2. END OF LIFE IS A BIG PROBLEM 

Even when properly disposed of, much of plastic packaging 

either cannot be, or is not, reprocessed or recycled. 

3. THE SYSTEM IS TOO LINEAR 

It relies on too many people to do the right thing, to make 

the system more round, the EOG believes removing plastic 

packaging before it gets to the consumer could really help 

with re-use. 

4. AN INDUSTRY RECYCLING STREAM WOULD HELP 

According to EOG research, this system fits within the context 

of almost every retailer and brand which currently uses poly 

bags to protect their products. In 2021 it intends to continue 

refining and improving scalability. 

Learn more at www.europeanoutdoorgroup.com 

INDUSTRY INSIDERS 

IN THIS ISSUE 

We get the lowdown 

on what it’s like to be a 

campervan converter 

during these times of 

unprecedented demand 

and extreme pressure on 

the supply chain from 

Camper King’s marketing 

manager Stuart Kidman. 

P20-22 

This year is the 65th 

anniversary of RV 

components giant Lippert, 

so who better to guide us 

through the history of the 

company than its VP of 

marketing and PR, Jarod 

Lippert? It’s a really great 

family business story. 

P44-47 

(ONS) – the largest growth 

it has seen since July 2020 – 

which has been strongly aided 

by the strength of the camping 

and caravanning market. The 

sales of caravans and an increase 

▲ Caravanning is helping the UK economy get back on its feet. 

in bookings at campsites 

and caravan parks were 

noted as having made a large 

contribution to this economic 

growth, according to ONS. 

The latest figures also show 

that accommodation service 

activities grew by 68.8 per cent 

in April, with caravan parks and 

holiday lets at the epicentre of 

that growth. Domestic travel 

and tourism has seen a huge 

surge in interest in the UK, 

like in many other countries, 

with international travel still 

uncertain and difficult. 

CEO of the UK’s Outdoor 

Industries Association, 

Andrew Denton, chaired 

a sustainability breakfast 

during the UK’s recent 

Outdoor Trade Show. Find 

out what’s being done to 

make the industry more 

sustainable. P16-18 


BASE CAMP 

STAT’S AMAZING 

It may be hard to keep track 

of all the numbers being 

reported in recent months, 

so here’s a snapshot of some 

of the most important facts 

and figures from the industry 

that could help you formulate 

better business decisions. 

63,000 

New motorhomes and 

caravans registered in Germany 

in the first half of 2021 – as 

many as the whole of 2017. 

25% 

The increase in bookings for 

July and August 2021 for First 

Camp sites in Denmark and 

Sweden. 

US$4.5b 

The estimated revenue 

made by Thor Industries 

and Winnebago Industires 

combined in their 2021 fiscal 

third quarters. 

56 million 

Americans are planning an RV 

adventure in summer 2021, 

according to the RV Industry 

Association. 

25,000 

Caravans and motorhomes 

were produced in Australia in 

the last year, which represents 

a 30-year high. 

88% 

Of new RV buyers in the USA 

purchased some kind of 

aftermarket accessory. 

ZERO IS THE TARGET 

■here’s no denying that climate change 

is an existential crisis for the outdoor 

T 

industry. The question is no longer 

‘what will we do about it?’ – it’s how far 

can we go, and who wants to join us?” Big 

questions from Amy Horton, senior director 

of sustainable business innovation at the 

USA’s Outdoor Industry Association 

(OIA). She asks these on the one year 

anniversary of the founding of the 

OIA’s Climate Action Corps – an 

unprecedented programme to 

push to become the world’s 

first climate positive industry 

by 2030. More than 100 

companies are signed up to 

the programme and during 

its inaugural year 84 per cent 

of Corps members measured the 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their 

owned or controlled operations (known as 

“scope 1 and 2 emissions”), 78 per cent have 

set or are setting targets to reduce these 

WORK FOR THE 

WANDERERS 

More and more people are 

living the free life and hitting 

the open road in their RVs 

for months, even years at a 

time. But what about work? 

Well, often these people 

work remotely from their 

RVs in all kinds of different 

▲ Nomad workers are growing in number year by year. 

emissions and 49 per cent are actively reducing 

them through improved energy efficiency 

and sourcing renewable electricity in the U.S. 

Recognizing the GHG emissions from the 

value chain (known as “scope 3 emissions”) 

as the largest portion of a typical outdoor 

company’s footprint, 69 per cent of Corps 

members measured, or are in the process 

of measuring scope 3 emissions, while 

28 per cent are taking actions to 

reduce this impact – a number due 

to grow greatly in the coming 

years through targeted supply 

chain collaborations. All of 

this is fantastic news, but 

it does beg the question – is 

the leisure vehicle industry 

doing enough? The outdoors 

and tent camping sectors are 

tackling this issue head on is as collaborative 

a way as they can, but there is perhaps much 

more of this kind of work to be done by 

leisure vehicle manufacturers. 

industries – from being digital 

nomads to working in the 

RV industry itself. And now 

there’s a platform for these 

highly talented and skilled 

people to find more work and 

for companies to find them. 

Escapees RV Club recently 

unveiled the new design and 

functionality of their RVerfocused 

job board, the RVer Job 

Exchange (RVJE). Since the 

creation of Xscapers in 2015, a 

community within Escapees RV 

Club catering to the workingage 

RVer, Escapees continues to 

expand its resources for working 

nomads. 

This newest iteration of the 

website, which is open to the 

public, showcases a full-scale 

job and resume listing platform. 

With a mission to connect 

employers with a diverse group 

of skilled workers in a variety of 

fields, the RVer Job Exchange is 

open to all who are interested in 

bringing the creative problemsolving, 

quick-thinking, and 

adventurous skills and talents 

of RVers to their teams. 

You can learn more at www. 

rverjobexchange.com/hire-rvers/ 

DIGITAL REVOLUTION 

No matter how you conduct 

business and what digital tools 

you use, every day there are 

new additions to your potential 


BASE CAMP 

toolbox that could help you 

work smarter. One great 

example is Germany company 

Syscara – a producer of highperformance 

CRM software for 

motorhome and caravan dealers 

that offers intuitive operation, 

flexibility and individualisation, 

all through a browser. It’s a 

smart system that is growing 

exponentially in the country, 

and also in some neighbouring 

European nations too. 

Syscara started back in 2009 

and it now has more than 

250 caravan and motorhome 

dealers across Germany using 

its software and reaping all 

the benefits. This industry was 

already quite professional at the 

retail level, but companies like 

this are helping it leap forward 

into the digital age with full 

aplomb. 

Manufacturer of high quality components 

and accessories for the RV market, Airxcel, 

has promoted Anthony Wollschlager 

to the newly created position of group 

president. His role will see him oversee 

brands such as Dicor, United Shade, Vixen 

Composites and Cleer Vision Windows. 

Leading American firm Exxel Outdoors, 

which owns Sierra Designs and Kelty, has 

appointed Adrian French as its new sales 

support administrator for the UK and 

European markets. Adrian will assist UK 

and European country manager Damon 

Street to streamline and improve the sales 

and distribution service for the company. 

Top professional cyclist and 2020 Tour de 

France winner Tadej Pogacar has teamed 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS 

The who’s who of hires and promotions 

up with German leisure vehicle giant 

Carthago for this summer’s cycling season. 

He will be travelling around Europe for 

races in a Carthago c-compactline 141 LE 

motorhome as a result. Meanwhile, Lippert 

has announced that 17-year veteran of 

the company Andrew Pocock has been 

promoted to executive VP of building and 

transportation products. In this new role, 

Andrew will lead all sales and operational 

strategic direction for Lippert’s building 

and transportation products in North 

America, and will report to Lippert’s 

president and CEO, Jason Lippert. 

Tell us about your hires and promotions via: 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk

BASE CAMP 

INFLUENCING YOUR INFLUENCERS 

■ore and more brands in the 

modern world are adding 

M 

social media influencers to 

their marketing mix – whether we like 

it or not. Pretty much everyone on the 

planet now has access to a platform 

to promote themselves and products 

they are passionate about thanks to 

social media – but is it right for your 

brand? No doubt, influencers can 

have powerful and meaningful reach, 

but how you use and manage them 

is very important to avoid getting 

stung by those looking for a free ride. 

Here’s some advice on how to best 

use and work with influencers if it’s 

something you are considering for 

your marketing. 

01 02 03 04 05 

MAKE WISE 

CHOICES 

Like anything to do 

with marketing, make 

sure you are spending 

your money wisely. 

It’s well worth doing 

some proper research 

into the influencers 

you are looking at 

working with to see 

how they interact with 

their audiences, what 

their reach is like and 

if their style fits with 

your brand. 

MEASURABLE 

MEANS 

Exposure can be 

hard to measure as a 

rule, but it definitely 

helps to have some 

loose goals in mind 

when working with 

an influencer and 

keeping them fully 

informed about 

what you expect 

from them. Even if 

that’s something as 

simple as number of 

impressions per post. 

LOOK FURTHER 

AFIELD 

Think about 

influencers as a way to 

expand your normal 

marketing reach. 

If you’re a caravan 

brand, don’t work with 

someone who is big 

in the caravan sector, 

try offering the use of 

a caravan to someone 

big in something else 

like hiking, fishing, or 

the great outdoors in 

general. 

TANGIBLE 

ENGAGEMENT 

Remember that eyes 

on your brand is 

always a good thing, 

but it still helps to 

have a call to action 

even when using an 

influencer. Getting 

them to help you 

get more followers 

or more visits to your 

website through a 

giveaway is a great 

way to get real 

engagement. 

IT’S JUST ONE PART 

Remember than 

an influencer isn’t a 

magic bullet that’s 

going to bring you 

tonnes of new sales. 

It is just part of your 

overall marketing mix 

and should work in 

tandem with other 

promotions you carry 

out. They can help 

you, but they can’t do 

it alone. 


BASE CAMP 

Photo: Bürstner 

FIVE STATS TO MAKE 

YOU THINK 

▲ The Bürstner Campeo 4x4 is a sign of the times – off-road styles of RV are getting more popular. 

IS OFF-ROAD THE NEW 

ON-ROAD? 

Finding new niches in our 

industry can be hard. Many 

aspects and market sectors are 

so strong developed, the tracks 

already so well-defined, that 

coming up with something 

new can be difficult. However, 

creativity has found a home 

in the motorhome industry in 

the shape of off-road campers. 

German giant Bürstner has 

revealed its first ever 4x4 camper 

– the Campeo – which it claims 

is the perfect choice for an 

off-road camping adventure. At 

just 5.41m in length and 2.05m 

wide, the van is super nimble 

and is equipped with enhanced 

tyres and suspension that can 

help its owners stray a little 

further than just the roads or 

hardstanding pitches (where 

legally permitted, of course). 

Bürstner isn’t the first to create 

a camping vehicle with a more 

rugged outlook, other brands 

have tried it and no doubt many 

others will investigate the option 

too. Clearly, this isn’t going to 

become a best-seller but it’s a 

smart way of introducing a new 

niche that could attract more 

casual outdoors lovers into 

becoming campers. 

DEALS ON WHEELS 

Yet again, the last few months 

have seen plenty of business 

acquisitions going through 

in our industry as different 

companies aim for growth 

in sustainable ways. UK 

camping and leisure product 

specialist Miriad Products 

has taken the next step in 

its ambitious growth plans 

with the acquisition of fellow 

British brand Quest Leisure. 

The deal will apparently bring 

both companies symbiotically 

together. Lippert Components 

has been busy with another 

acquisition – this time it is 

American specialist metal 

fabrication firm Trazcor Inc, 

which has more than 30 years 

of experience in utilising 

innovative technology to 

supply custom aluminium 

sidewalls and panels to the 

recreation and transportation 

OEM markets. Dometic 

could arguably be the busiest 

company on the planet in terms 

of acquisitions – in the last 

two months its has acquired 

South African company Front 

Runner Vehicle Outfitters, 

Australian mobile power firm 

Enerdrive and Germanybased 

provider of mobile 

power solutions to the outdoor 

market Büttner Elektronik. 

Meanwhile, leading American 

retailer Camping World is 

continuing its expansion plans 

with the acquisition of TC’s 

RV Dealership based in St. 

Albans City, Vermont. 

DON’T MISS THE POD 

Don’t forget you can hear from camping and 

leisure vehicle industry leaders and innovators 

each month via the Camping Trade World 

podcast. Search Camping Trade World on 

Spotify or Apple Podcasts and hit subscribe so 

you don’t miss an episode. If you’re interested in 

being a guest on our show, contact CTW Editor 

David Guest on david.guest@dhpub.co.uk 

In 2020 Australian 

01 businesses saw more 

than $175 million lost to 

cyber scams and hacking 

– with one in three caravan 

industry businesses falling 

victim to ransomware 

attacks in the last 18 

months. 

The Fiat Ducato is 

02 celebrating its 40th 

anniversary this year and 

remains the best-selling 

light commercial vehicle in 

Europe, with 149,000 units 

sold in 2020 (up eight per 

cent on 2019). 

An estimated 500 

03 exhibitors will 

be present at the 60th 

anniversary edition of the 

Caravan Salon show in 

Dusseldorf. Read our full 

preview of the show on 

pages 34-37 of this very issue. 

The caravanning 

04 industry in the UK 

currently employs about 

130,000 people, including 

part-time staff, but that 

number is predicted to have 

grown significantly in the 

last 18 months. 

The Economic 

05 Development 

Corporaton Elkhart County 

in the United States, 

one of the RV industry’s 

epicentres, is involved in 

more than US$300 million 

worth of projects right now 

to boost the industry and 

help hire more people in it. 


AROUND THE WORLD 

UNITED STATES 

One of the United States’ largest campsite 

chains, Kampgrounds of America, announced 

an impressive 80 per cent increase in booking 

during the Memorial Day Weekend at the end of 

May 2021. Even more impressive, check-ins for the 

KOA system were up more than 14 per cent over 

the company’s record 2019, pointing to a robust 

return to camping across the United States. 

“To say that campers both new and returning 

are eager to get back out to camp is an 

understatement,” said KOA President and CEO 

Toby O’Rourke. “Last year, we had our best fall 

on record as restrictions were lifted and people 

started to explore and travel. That trend is not 

only continuing, but growing as we look at 

Memorial Day and the summer.” 

Find out more at www.koa.com 

01 

Around the world 

Camping and leisure vehicles are a global business, but 

each corner of the world faces it own unique challenges 

and enjoys its own successes. Here’s a snapshot of what’s 

been happening on planet camping the last few months. 

02 

What’s happening 

in your part of the world? 

Contact us today and 

tell us your story: 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk 

SPAIN 

The camping and caravanning market in Spain is experiencing steady growth, 

according to Aseicar, the Spanish caravan industry association. In January 

and February 2021, buyers were hesitant with only 974 new motorhomes and 

166 new caravans registered. However in March things began to improve to 

levels similar seen in 2019 (896 motorhomes and 243 caravans). Things dipped 

slightly again in April, but by May 1,038 motorhomes and 283 caravans were 

registered – numbers that were both up on 2019. Aseicar remains optimistic 

things will improve, especially when it’s able to host the Caravanning Show in 

Barcelona – as it has gone two years without doing so due to the pandemic. 

Find out more at www.aseicar.org 


AROUND THE WORLD 

03 

UNITED KINGDOM 

Two of the UK’s major caravan industry bodies – the Approved Workshop Scheme 

(AWS) and the National Caravan Council (NCC) – have offered their full support to a 

UK Government campaign for safe towing. The SAFE campaign has been launched by 

the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standard’s Agency (DVLA) and aims to help caravanners 

focus on safety when towing. Interest in caravanning is enduring an all-time high in the 

UK with many campers either returning to or trying the hobby for the first time. That 

combined with the fact that many caravans have been in storage for long periods due to 

the coronavirus lockdown, means it is especially prudent that towers know what safety 

checks they should be carrying out. Learn more at www.thencc.org.uk 

04 

JAPAN 

In Japan, a recent inauguration 

ceremony was held to establish 

a parliamentary federation in the 

country to promote the leisure 

vehicles in the country and grow 

the camping industry. The All- 

Party Parliamentary League for 

the Spread of Campers and Car 

Travel will aim to promote the use 

of leisure vehicles and develop 

the camper industry in Japan. 

The Japanese RV Association was 

heavily involved in the setting 

up of this federation and realises 

this is a pivotal moment for the 

camping industry in Japan. 

Find out more at www.jrva.com 

05 

ITALY 

The premiere camping and caravanning show in Italy is set to take place from 

11 to 19 September this year at Fiere di Parma. Italy’s caravan and motorhome 

manufacturers association (APC) is the organiser of the event and calls it the 

second most important caravanning fair in Europe. Attracting more than 

54,000 visitors to an exhibition area of more than 61,000sqm the show certain 

has size to attract the end consumer and industry professionals alike. As well 

as being a showcase of all things new and wonderful in the industry, the show 

also offers visitors the chance to camp in their own caravan or motorhome 

outside the exhibition hall with more than 300 electric hook-up points 

available. To learn more, head to www.associazioneproduttoricamper.it 

06 

AUSTRALIA 

It’s been a few months of ups and 

downs in Australia. May started 

with a bang when the Caravan 

Industry Association of Australia 

(CIAA) held its annual Caravan 

Industry Awards in Australia 

during the CIAA 2021 National 

Conference. More than 500 

delegates were in attendance for 

a night of celebrating outstanding 

contribution to the caravan 

industry in Gold Coast. Industry 

stalwarts such as Peter Buttigieg, 

Justin Hales, Geoff Olholm and 

Tho Whitmont were all award 

winners on the night. 

However, some sad news out 

of Australia was the death of 

industry legend Max Elsley after 

a lengthy battle with illness. Max 

was a significant and long-time 

contributor to both the caravan 

and camping industries both 

in his home state of New South 

Wales and at a national level. He 

and his wife Hazel owned and 

operated a number of successful 

caravan parks and Max was 

also heavily involved in shows 

and events. Keep up to date at 

www.caravanindustry.com.au 


NATIONAL CAMPING SHOW THE DETAIL 

National Camping Show 

ushers in the return of live events 

After months of meticulous planning and navigating a series of obstacles, the first-ever 

National Camping Show successfully took place in the UK back in May. Camping Trade 

World was there to scope it out meet the many camping brands exhibiting there. 

Photos: David Guest 

A 

■fter the announcement 

of the cancellation 

of the UK’s Caravan, 

Camping and Motorhome 

Show, the camping industry 

in the country was faced with 

a dilemma. The show, which 

normally takes place at the 

National Exhibition Centre in 

February, is a major business 

opportunity for tent, awning 

and camping brands to showcase 

their wares to the public and also 

make vital business connections 

within the trade too. Without it, 

and without some of the events 

▲ Japanese brand Snow Peak 

was in attendance. 

cancelled in 2020, the camping 

industry felt something must be 

done. And, thankfully, someone 

decided to do something. That 

someone was leading camping 

retailer PJ Camping, who 

together with Media Contact 

Services PR and Events, set 

about organising an outdoor 

event for tent and camping 

brands to try and keep that 

connection with their customers 

open. The initial idea was for the 

show to be a pre-camping-season 

show in mid-March, but delays 

to the easing of coronavirus 

restrictions on events in the UK 

meant the National Camping 

Show was shifted not once but 

twice, to its eventual final dates 

of 20 to 23 May. At least the 

later dates would mean nicer 

weather, right? Maybe not. It is 

England after all. But despite 

large quantities of rain and some 

very challenging 40mph gusts 

of wind, the show successfully 

took place and attracted more 

than 3,000 visitors – no mean 

feat given it was one of the first 

outdoor consumer events of 

its kind to go ahead since the 


THE DETAIL NATIONAL CAMPING SHOW 

▲ More than 120 tents and awnings were pitched at the show from numerous brands, as well as many accessories on display too. 

pandemic began. 

The show was also supported 

by a wide range of camping 

brands who exhibited more 

than 120 tents and awnings, 

including Coleman, Dometic, 

Isabella, Kampa, Karsten, Kelty, 

Outwell, Sierra Designs, Snow 

Peak, Terra Nova and Vango to 

name but a few. 

Sole retail partner and 

camping specialist PJ Outdoors 

was pleased with the level of 

interest from the visitors who 

decided to brave the outdoors 

over the four-day period. The 

company’s managing director, 

Richard Forman, said: “This 

was our first attempt to create a 

camping event on such a large 

scale and despite the weather 

and current Covid restrictions we 

were delighted that it managed 

to go ahead and attract such a 

level of interest. We were happy 

with the level of engagement 

with customers and the support 

that we had from the brands to 

make the show a success.” 

Exhibitors too were pleased 

to be at an event and engaging 

with end consumers once again. 

Damon Street, general manager 

of Exxel in Europe, said: “Our 

team at Kelty loved being face to 

face with people passionate about 

being outside again. After what 

seems like forever it was fun to 

introduce our new products in the 

most testing of weathers and still 

be standing strong after four days. 

We look forward to seeing you all 

next time.” 

Meanwhile, marketing 

manager for Grangers Natasha 

Seal-Jones added: “What a joy 

to be back outside attending 

an actual show. After the year 

we’ve all had, we were so happy 

to attend the very first National 

Camping Show. Although the 

weather tried its best to dampen 

spirits, it didn’t succeed! The 

event was very well organised, 

plots well laid out, a fantastic 

range of brands exhibited 

and the attendees were well 

engaged! We’ll certainly be 

returning next year.” 

It was an encouraging few 

days, not only for the camping 

industry, but also for the live 

events industry in general, with 

many more scheduled to take 

place around the world in the 

camping and leisure vehicle 

fraternities. The National 

Camping Show has proved that 

you can host a successful event 

with thousands of attendees and 

exhibitors during the post-Covid 

era – long may they continue. 

PLAY VIDEO * PLAY VIDEO * 

MISSED THE SHOW? 

Check out our video of 

eight cool things we saw at 

the show. The UK camping 

industry is bursting at the 

seams with innovative 

products and forwardthinking 

companies looking 

to try something different 

in order to encourage and 

nurture the surge in interest 

in camping in the country 

right now. 


2021 OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW THE DETAIL 

Showing how it’s done 

Camping Trade World was there in Liverpool for one of the UK’s first trade shows 

since the pandemic began – the 2021 Outdoor Trade Show. Spirits were high, 

COVID safety was excellent, and a good show was had by all. 

Photos: David Guest 

N 

■ever has a trade show 

felt quite so good. 

At least that’s the 

impression the Camping Trade 

World team came away with 

after two days at the UK’s 

Outdoor Trade Show (OTS) 

– one of the very first indoor 

trade shows to take place in 

the country since the start of 

the pandemic at the beginning 

of 2020. There was a hum of 

noise on the show floor of the 

Exhibition Centre Liverpool as 

outdoor industry professionals 

flocked to the event to get that 

impossible-to-replace face-toface 

interaction with colleagues, 

customers and new connections. 

It was an incredible effort from 

the organisers the Outdoor 

Industries Association (OIA) 

and MCS PR to put on such a 

show given the uncertain buildup. 

As much was done as could 

be done regarding COVID-19 

precautions, such as a limit 

on numbers, aisles widened to 

three metres to help with social 

distancing, and masks required 

when walking around the show. 

Needless to say, it felt safe and it 

felt good. It was one of the first 

times where you have been able 

to fully gauge that positivity 

that is ringing through the 

camping and the outdoors 

industries – the next few years 

are going to be wild. 

As you would expect, there 

was plenty of new products, 

brands and services to keep 

the (socially distant) crowds 

entertained. One of the 

highlights was the first UK 

trade showing of Dometic 

Outdoor – a division of the 

leisure vehicle and outdoor 

industry giant specifically 

targeted at the camping and 

general outdoors sectors. The 

brand showcased new product 

lines including Dometic Go 

cool boxes, camping furniture, 

shelters, blankets, and 

hydration products – as well 

as smart point-of-sale displays 

for all. It also showed off its 

recently-launched drinkware, 

Dometic Hub shelter, and 

eye-catching rooftop tents. 

The Dometic Outdoor stand 

was one of the most impressive 

at the show, and as it was 

the brand’s debut at OTS, it 

certainly caught the attention. 

Another thing that really 

caught the CTW ’s team’s 

collective eye was the first 

foray into tents from hugely 

popular outdoor clothing and 

accessories brand Craghoppers. 

The British company’s entry 

into tents may have come 

as a surprise to many, but as 

we found out when speaking 

with the team, it’s something 

that has been on the cards for 

a while but they wanted to 

ensure they brought something 

different to the sector. And 

they definitely did – the 

Nosi Defence Kiwi tent is a 

classic four-man, easy-pitch 


THE DETAIL 2021 OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 

AND THE WINNERS ARE… 

Each year, OTS is also the place where the winners of the 

annual UK Outdoor Industry Awards are announced. This 

year, Exxel Outdoors UK was celebrating hardest after 

claiming the Sleeping category award and the overall 

Product of the Year award for its Night Cap sleeping bag 

– an innovative and versatile bag with a patent-pending 

zipperless design that claims to offer bed-like comfort. The 

award sees over 2,000 outdoor enthusiasts voting for their 

favourite product in each of nine categories, and then being 

judged by a panel of outdoor industry experts. Criteria 

including innovation, functionality, choice of materials, 

environmental friendliness, safety and commercial viability 

were used by the judges to decide on the outright winners. 

Damon Street, European general manager of Sierra’s 

parent company Exxel Outdoors, said: “We’re obviously 

delighted to receive this recognition from the industry. 

For us, it really shows that what Sierra offers as a brand – a 

combination of a strong history with modern, innovative and 

sustainable ideas – is really resonating with the trade and 

consumers in the UK and Europe.” 

The full list of winners for the 2021 awards saw a couple of 

other camping brands pick up prizes, including Vango in the 

Camping Equipment category for its Radiate DLX Chair and 

Robens in the Tents category for its Chinhook Ursa S. The fiull 

list of winners for 2021 is as follows: 

poly cotton tent made using 

recycled, technical and modern 

fabrics. The breathable, waterresistant 

and lightweight 

material offers great protection 

from the elements as well as 

from insects. The tent has a 

real retro feel thanks to its 

classic design, its poly cotton 

build and also the fact that 

Craghoppers has used its retro 

logo on it. This could be the 

start of a new name in tents 

well worth your attention. 

On the subject of tents, 

there were some interesting 

introductions from Bach 

Equipment, a brand of the 

Scott Sports Group. The brand 

showcased some of its first 

tents at OTS including the 

single-pole, tepee style Wickiup 

trekking tent. The company also 

makes an almost bombproof 

‘five-season’ tent in its Spix. This 

tunnel tent has been designed 

to take absolutely anything that 

nature can throw at it. Other 

tent brands on display included 

British giant Vango, American 

names Sierra and Kelty, niche 

and high-tech brand Crux, 

and Finnish name Halti. The 

number of accessories relating 

to camping was also vast with 

household names such as 

Buff, Primus, Helly Hansen, 

Petzl, Grangers and many 

more showing that real-life 

physical shows are still a hugely 

important way to display your 

brand or company. 

Accessories – Petzl IKO CORE 

Backpacks/Travel Luggage – Osprey Talon Pro 30 

Camping Equipment – Vango Radiate DLX Chair 

Climbing – Petzl AlpenAdept System 

Clothing – Helly Hansen Odin 9 Worlds Infinity Shell Jacket 

Family – Keela Puddlebug Suit 

Footwear – Craghoppers Locke Packaway Shoe 

Sleeping – Sierra Designs Night Cap 

Tents – Robens Chinook Ursa S 

Product of the Year – Sierra Designs Night Cap 


2021 OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW THE DETAIL 

▲ Key players in the UK outdoor industry were entertained and informed at the first-ever sustainability breakfast. 

Sustainability never tasted so good 

A new addition for OTS this year was 

a special sustainability breakfast, 

hosted on the morning of the second 

day of the event. Limited on numbers 

due to COVID-19 precautions, the 

event was sold out within a few 

hours of tickets being available and 

featured a strong line-up of guest 

speakers talking about everything 

and anything to do with improving 

sustainability in the outdoors 

industry. Andrew Denton, the CEO 

of the UK’s Outdoor Industries 

Association, kicked things off by 

giving an overview of some of the 

great initiatives the organisation has 

already implemented – including its 

pledge to ensure all of its members 

are net zero by 2030. The plan is 

ambitious, but through collaboration, 

Andrew believes this can be achieved 

by the UK industry. 

Debbie Read was next to speak, 

the CSR manager of Equip Outdoor 

Technologies, which owns brands 

including Rab and Lowe Alpine. She 

spoke at length about the changes 

that her company has made in order 

to travel down the path towards being 

more sustainable, incuding cleaning 

up its act regarding packaging, 

changing to renewable only energy 

and offsetting its manufacturing any 

way it can. 

“The most important thing about 

this journey – and, despite the cliché, 

it is a journey – is actually starting it,” 

she said. “We may not achieve our 

aims by 2030, we may achieve them 

before that – the path is uncertain. 

But what is most important is that we 

all act now in any way we can. Even 

the smallest change can help your 

company on a path towards being 

more sustainable.” 

Debbie explained that Rab has 

saved 300kg worth of polybag waste 

by reducing the size of its packing 

and getting rid of it altogether in 

some cases. It has also shrunk its 

product labels to the minimum 

required size and put QR codes on 

them instead. Rab has also managed 

to repair and clean up more than 

7,000 used products and put them 

back on sale via its repair workshop 

– and end consumers are now much 

more keen to buy products that have 

been repaired, because attitudes are 

changing. 

Next up was Scott Nelson, the 

programme manager at the 

European Outdoor Group, who 

emphasised that collaboration is the 

most important aspect of any kind of 

plan towards sustainability. He said: 

“We are an industry with nature in our 

name, so it’s more important to us 

than perhaps anyone else. But if we 

want to achieve big change, we have 

to work together.” 

Lastly, Dave Turnbull, the head of 

access, conservation and environment 

at the British Mountaineering 

Council, spoke about the good work 

that group is doing to help educate 

consumers, including the many new 

arrivals to outdoor pursuits. One of 

the most interesting stats from his 

presentation was that in 2010 only 

around 20 per cent of UK adults felt 

personally at risk from climate change 

– in 2020 that percentage had jumped 

to 50. Attitudes are changing, and the 

camping and outdoor industries must 

be seen to be leading the charge – for 

the good of the planet. 


CAMPER KING THE DETAIL 

Vans with a plan 

With campervans experiencing a renaissance like they’ve never 

seen before; it is both an exciting and challenging period for 

the industry. What is it like to be a campervan converter during 

these fast-paced times? CamperKing’s Stuart Kidman tells all. 

Y 


■ou can’t have been 

paying very close 

attention in this 

industry if you haven’t heard the 

words ‘van life’ mentioned in 

the last 12 months. The growing 

popularity of campervans was 

given an unprecedented shot 

in the arm in the immediate 

aftermath of the beginning 

of the coronavirus pandemic 

– and things have been on a 

steep upward curve ever since. 

Campers around the world are 

seeking to have vehicles that 

they can use for their everyday 

lives as well as for holidays 

– a feeling that is especially 

prominent in those people taking 

up the hobby for the first time. 

While any kind of explosion in 

interest in a product category is 

a good thing, it has also brought 

challenges too, and we were 

interested to find out specifically 

what those challenges are and 

how they are being navigated

THE DETAIL CAMPER KING 

▲ CamperKing offers a wide range of customisable options in its vehicles, which have proved very popular with consumers. 

“We are finding that customers are looking to buy campervans as 

their everyday vehicles –it’s been a real change of mindset.” 

by the industry. Stuart Kidman, 

the marketing manager of 

fast-growing UK campervan 

converter CamperKing, is 

our guide to this booming yet 

complicated market space. 

CamperKing is a UK campervan 

converter that largely works with 

Volkswagen T6.1 models. It 

converts donor vans and brand 

new vans and in the last 10 years 

it has grown to become the 

largest VW campervan converter 

in the country, producing around 

35 vans per week. 

“Camping in a campervan 

is an extremely trendy and 

popular pastime at the moment 

and first of all, we are happy to 

be able to create vans that help 

people realise their dreams and 

get out there and adventure 

more,” says Stuart. 

“Camping is booming, of that 

there is no doubt. We are seeing 

that in terms of how many 

people are coming in trying to 

buy campervans from us and the 

number of campervans we are 

building – frankly, we can’t make 

them fast enough. But we try to 

encourage people to remember 

that this is a lifestyle, you’re not 

just buying a vehicle from us, 

this is a lifestyle. We do this 

through the content we serve up 

to customers after their purchase 

and the things we do to inspire 

them to combine other activities 

with using their campervan. 

“We are finding, like many 

others, that customers are 

looking to buy these vehicles 

as their everyday vehicles – an 

integral part of your lifestyle 

but also useful in other ways, 

such as doing the school run or 

going to the supermarket. It’s 

been a real change of mindset by 

consumers.” 

But with this boom has come 

challenges. Of course, there 

have been challenges across 

the board for everyone in the 

leisure vehicle industry in the 

last 18 months, but for this 

budding sector that was already 

experiencing growth before the 

pandemic, the challenges have 

been a rough sea to navigate. 

Stuart explains: “Meeting 

demand has been a challenge in 

itself, demand has never been 

higher – if that’s true across the 

board for all our competitors, 

then that makes life more 

difficult. Communicating well 

to people what we can do for 

them has been one of the biggest 

challenges. It’s a period where 

the perfect storm of COVID-19 

and Brexit happening almost 

at the same time has naturally 

interrupted supply chains and the 

ability for customers to come into 

our building and see us. There 

have clearly been issues with 

sourcing stock with everyone 

going after the same limited 

supply from the same suppliers. 

All of these things have made it 

difficult to service the demand, 

but at the same time they are also 

part of the reason the demand is 

so high in the first place.” 


CAMPER KING THE DETAIL 

▲ A boon for CamperKing has been the fact it has a lot of vehicles in stock at any one time, so it is able to satisfy demand. 

A true double-edged sword 

– so how are things seemingly 

still ticking along so well at 

CamperKing? Well, for starters 

it is in the fortunate position 

that it has a lot of stock already 

at its facility – not just vans 

but also for parts. This means 

that people have been able to 

come to them when they have 

struggled to find what they want 

to buy elsewhere. They are also 

focussing their marketing on the 

new, younger demographics that 

are coming into camping as a 

result of people bringing forward 

their planned purchases due to a 

reassessment of things thanks to 

the pandemic. 

“With the supply problems, we 

have an increased responsibility 

to try and keep people engaged 

with camping,” Stuart says. “If 

you go camping and it’s wet and 

there’s a problem with your unit 

and you don’t have fun, that is a 

problem. If you don’t have fun 

while you’re on holiday, then 

what is the point of it? For that 

reason, we need to make sure 

people who are new to camping 

have a good experience and that 

we keep them. As we know from 

past experience, there will be 

drop off for a number of people 

who try it and don’t enjoy it. 

We have to be mindful that it’s 

not for everyone, but we can do 

our best to ensure that we give 

people a high chance of coming 

back for more by providing them 

with the right equipment and 

education.” 

CamperKing runs a series 

of instructional content that 

tries to simplify campervanning 

– a YouTube channel with 

CamperKing guides to show 

people how to use their vans 

and any accessories safely and 

correctly is a great example of 

this. Practical content is one way 

CamperKing helps to take the 

fear out of camping for newcomers 

so they can concentrate on the 

adventure ahead. 

One other issue that the 

explosion of interest in 

campervans has caused is that of 

potential safety. Camper King 

builds all of its vans to stringent, 

high-quality standards, but with 

the lack of any real industry wide 

standard to ensure conversions 

are safe and of a high quality, 

is the industry in danger of 

shooting itself in the foot? 

“It’s an interesting point,” 

says Stuart. “There isn’t any real 

standard in place so that makes 

it difficult for the consumer to 

know what they’re getting is 

built properly. The danger in 

campervanning circles is that 

it has become so accessible to 

people to even make their own 

that there could be quality issues. 

Volkswagen sought to try and 

address this issue with its own 

converter affiliation scheme, but 

the uptake hasn’t been great on 

Want to hear this interview in real time? 

Check out the Camping Trade World 

podcast today. 

it so far. So, there’s no doubt this 

is a challenge and a bit of a grey 

area for the industry. All we can 

do is push the message in our 

marketing that we have been 

going for more than 10 years and 

we produce 35 vans a week – you 

don’t get to that stage without 

producing something that is of a 

very high quality.” 

What of the future? This is no 

short-term thing, according to 

Stuart. “I think the more people 

see the benefit of campervan 

lifestyle the more people will 

tune into it. At the moment it 

is causing residual prices and 

buying prices to be high, so that 

is proving a little bit of a barrier 

to some, but that will level out 

a bit. And when that happens, I 

believe we will see a second bout 

of people coming through keen 

to make the purchase they were 

not able to before. This period 

will have an exponential effect 

on the industry, and we will see 

rolling growth pattern for many 

years to come.” 

You can learn more about 

CamperKing via its website: 

www.camperking.co.uk 


LENDOBOX THE DETAIL 

Lending a hand 

British company Lendobox is aiming to change the way the camping industry thinks – from 

a product model to a product-as-a-service model – with its technology driven ambition to 

make hiring camping equipment fast and easy for customers and for campsites. 

N 

■ecessity is the mother 

of invention, so the 

old saying goes. And 

that necessity can come around 

in many forms. For Solomia 

Boretska, co-founder and 

CEO of UK-based company 

Lendobox, the spark that helped 

her formulate the idea for her 

business came about on an 

impromptu camping trip with 

friends. As word got around 

about her trip, several of her 

other friends wanted to join but 

none of them had any camping 

equipment – and they certainly 

weren’t in a position to buy a 

load of expensive kit with no 

real experience for a one-off 

trip. 

“For me, this is where 

frustration crept in,” says 

Solomia. “I wanted to share my 

love of the outdoors with my 

friends, but they were being 

held back. I decided I wanted 

to look for ways to tackle the 

equipment barriers in camping.” 

Fast-forward two years and 

Solomia along with business 

partners Roman Boretskiy & 

Benjamin Irwin have created 

Lendobox – a start-up company 

that is aiming to create a more 

circular economy utilising 

technology and good industry 

connections. In the camping 

fraternity, this means Lendobox 

offers camping equipment 

rentals where and when 

customers need it. 

“We are passionate about the 

outdoors and seeing how many 

people wanted to go camping but 

couldn’t because of equipment 

made us want to do something 

about it,” Says Solomia. 

“With so many people now 

living in cities with a lack of 

space to store equipment we 

wanted to give everyone an 

easy way to access camping. 

Our technology lets customers 

easily book tent hire when they 

are booking their campsite 

pitch, as a simple add-on. The 

tent is delivered and pitched 

at the campsite by a local tent 

hire supplier, so there’s no 

extra maintenance work for the 


THE DETAIL LENDOBOX 

campsite and customers turn up 

to a ready-made camping setup.” 

It’s one of those ‘why has no 

one thought of this before’ kind 

of ideas, but one that has come 

at the perfect time for a camping 

industry that is seeing a huge 

influx of new people or people 

willing to try it out for the first 

time. But unlike in other holiday 

and tourism industries, rental 

of equipment for tent camping 

specifically has never really been 

a serious market. 

Solomia explains: “Our 

goal is to normalise the idea 

of hiring camping equipment 

and expecting it to be available 

at campsites. We can hire 

campervans, caravans and 

hotels, but for those looking 

for the connection with nature 

through camping there aren’t any 

options. Not only does hire make 

camping more accessible but we 

help to reduce the environmental 

▲ Lendobox is aiming to remove the barriers to camping for those who’ve never tried it before. 

By working with Lendobox, campsites can easily integrate the option 

for customers to hire camping equipment from the inventory of 

Lendobox’s suppliers at the same time as booking their pitch online. 

footprint of the camping 

industry, giving customers an 

alternative to buying cheap 

polyester tents that they only 

use once which then end up in 

landfill. At LendoBox we have 

an opportunity to make camping 

accessible and more sustainable.” 

The sustainability angle is 

particularly interesting – rather 

than people buying cheap 

tents from chain stores, using 

them once and then them 

ending up in landfill – this 

is a way for tents to be used, 

re-used and then used again. 

Often, Lendobox’s suppliers 

have hundreds of such tents 

in storage which they hire out 

for events or festivals. It offers 

a real chance for change in the 

camping industry, and it could 

come at the perfect time for the 

growing number of campsites 

in its native UK. By working 

with Lendobox, campsites can 

easily integrate the option for 

customers to hire camping 

equipment from the inventory 

of Lendobox’s suppliers at the 

same time as booking their 

pitch online. There’s also no 

fee to use Lendobox’s software, 

the company just takes a small 

commission from the supplier on 

an order that it sends to them, 

making it very much hassle-free. 

“We are actively open to 

working with new businesses 

in the camping industry,” 

says Solomia. “We want to 

make as many campsites and 

organisations accessible to new 

customers with our tent hire 

solution. We integrate with 

their current booking provider 

which will allow for bookings 

to be placed without back 

and forth emails. Our system 

automatically assigns the orders, 

avoiding missed bookings and 

removing the hassle of rental 

order management.” 

Things have started off 

brightly for Lendobox – a 

real need for a business model 

like this has been uncovered 

in camping – but what of the 

future? Solomia explains: We 

hope to be bringing easy tent 

hire solutions all over the 

country, and in a year’s time 

we want to be working with as 

many organisations as possible. 

By year five, we aim to have 

normalised the concept of hassle 

free camping and increased 

campsite visitors by over 15 per 

cent. And in 10 years’ time we 

would like to work with tent 

manufacturers to work with 

us to make durable equipment 

for the rental sector, allowing 

people to rent all the equipment 

they need to engage with the 

outdoors.” 

Bold ambitions, but this is a 

bold company with real ideas 

about changing the way people 

go camping and making the 

process smoother, easier and 

more accessible to potentially 

thousands more new campers 

for the future. 

LENDOBOX 

W: www.lendobox.com 


GERMAN TRAINING THE DETAIL 

▲ Thomas Aukamm of ZKF and David Onggowinarso of CIVD sign on training specialisation. 

Prepping the 

next generation 

The Caravanning Industry Association of Germany and the 

German Association of Car Body Technology are creating 

a new training programme to help increase the number of 

skilled and qualified leisure vehicle technicians in the country. 

IN NUMBERS 

4,000 

Trainees currently training 

under ZKF 

3,200 

Companies that currently 

work with ZKF 

1.3 million 

Leisure vehicles on the 

German Federal Motor 

Transport Authority register 

100,000 

Newly registered 

motorhomes and caravans 

in Germany in 2021 

30% 

The increase in demand for 

leisure vehicles in Germany 

over the last five years 

T 

■he Caravanning 

Industry Association of 

Germany (CIVD) and 

the German Association of Car 

Body Technology (ZKF) have 

agreed to create a new training 

occupation specialisation that 

will help to increase the number 

of skilled and qualified leisure 

vehicle technicians in the 

country. The new Caravan and 

Motor Caravan Technology 

specialisation will help the 

German leisure vehicle industry 

adapt to mee the growing 

demand for its products – an 

increase of about 30 per cent has 

been experienced in the last five 

years with more than 100,000 

caravans and motorhomes 

newly registered in 2021. This 

exponential growth has led to a 

shortage of qualified people in 

workshops and in the production 

of leisure vehicles, but this new 

reorganised training occupation 

and specialisation, which is the 

first of its kind for the German 

caravan industry, should help 

redress the balance. 

Unlike in the car or truck 

sector, the production, repair and 

maintenance of a motorhome or 

caravan also requires knowledge 

of things such as sanitary 

installations and liquid gas. In 

addition, materials such as wood 

and GRP are used in the living 

quarters of leisure vehicles, which 

the classic car mechanic is usually 

untrained to handle. 

CIVD managing director 

Daniel Onggowinarso said: 

“The creation of a separate 

specialisation takes into account 

the growth and change in the 

caravanning industry. Not only 

is the technology of the vehicles 

becoming more and more 

complex, but our customers are 

also becoming more demanding 

in terms of services. The need 

for skilled workers is increasing 

accordingly. We assume that 

around 300 apprentices will be 

needed by manufacturers as well 

as dealerships and workshops 

every year. The new specialisation 

– Caravan and Motor Caravan 

Technology – is a milestone 

for us and makes an important 

contribution to making the 

caravanning industry fit for the 

future.” 

Thomas Aukamm, general 

manager of ZKF, added: 

“Together we will position 

ourselves even better in the 

future and thus become more 

attractive for young people. 

Coping with new challenges 

will only succeed if associations 

work together, recognise 

synergies, and use them. New 

technical developments, such as 

the increasing digitalisation of 

vehicles and strongly changing 

mobility concepts, ensure that 

the job profile will also change 

even more. In addition, there 

were a permanent, omnipresent 

shortage of skilled workers. These 

dramatic changes can be better 

managed together in the form of 

a common specialisation of the 

training profession.” 

Thomas Aukamm and Daniel 

Onggowinarso signed a letter 

of intent to put the wheels in 

motion for this new initiative and 

a joint training regulation plan 

will be drafted soon. 


Unique 

resizeable 

for system 

! 

after-sales 

30+ years of 

innovative products 

for the RV and 

Van conversion market 

Flyscreen & van Flyscreen doors, UCS 

resizeable window screen/blind combi, room 

dividers, skylights, windows, refrigerators 

Available 

R5000 

in 

version! 

Horrex BV 

Vlaardingen, 

The Netherlands 

www.horrex.nl 

Part of the Driving Change Group 

www.drivingchangeint.com 

Caravan, 

Motorhome 

and 

Van slide-outs

THE UK DOING BUSINESS WITH... 

DOING 

BUSINESS 

WITH... 

the United Kingdom 

One of Europe’s major nations in terms of the camping and leisure vehicle industry, 

the UK has a wealth of opportunities for both import and export, as well as a large 

number of manufacturers, dealers, OEMs and of course camping consumers. 

T 

■he first thing you need 

to know about the 

camping and leisure 

vehicle market in the United 

Kingdom is that it’s pretty big. 

It is estimated that there are 

about 550,000 touring caravans, 

365,000 caravan holiday homes 

and 225,000 motorhomes 

currently in use in the UK. The 

industry as a whole contributes 

about £6 billion per year to the 

economy of the country, and that 

is before you even consider what 

tent camping can offer. Most of 

this data is actually from the time 

before the COVID-19 pandemic, 

which like in every other country 

with any kind of camping 

infrastructure, has caused a surge 


DOING BUSINESS WITH... THE UK 

of interest and sales of camping 

units in the country. 

A great barometer of the health 

of the UK’s camping and leisure 

vehicle industry is the fact that 

it has two huge membership 

organisations that continue to 

grow each year: the Camping 

and Caravanning Club and the 

Caravan and Motorhome Club. 

Both these organisations have 

their own campsites and help to 

promote and protect the industry. 

In terms of industry 

associations, the UK is also well 

covered. The National Caravan 

Council (NCC) is perhaps the 

best known. In its own words: 

“The NCC has a crucial role to 

play in promoting best practice, 

helping members become more 

competitive and formulating 

effective public policy and 

delivery. We are the united voice 

of the reputable businesses in 

our industry when talking to 

government and regulatory 

bodies. We quickly disseminate 

information to our members to 

protect their business interests and 

to give them a commercial edge.” 

The UK has many of its own 

brands and manufacturers who 

are big players on the global stage. 

In caravans and motorhomes, 

names like Swift and Bailey come 

to mind. In tents, it’s brands like 

Vango. Despite manufacturing 

not being as major a part of the 

economy as it once was in the UK, 

it is still regarded highly in terms 

of quality on the global stage. 

However, many UK brands do 

rely on overseas manufacturing to 

make and supply their products, 

which is something that took a hit 

during the worst of the pandemic. 

Most have recovered, but there 

is definitely a shortage of parts 

and units still affecting some 

parts of the industry. The country 

is also well-known for its many 

campervan conversion companies. 

The UK has a very extensive 

network of caravan and 

motorhome dealers – from the 

humble, family-run businesses, 

through to chains that are owned 

by large global suppliers such 

as Erwin Hymer Group. It is a 

highly developed sales chain and 

one that works incredibly hard 

to offer the very best in customer 

service to the masses. 

If you are looking to work more 

closely with a British company in 

any capacity, then a face-to-face 

meeting is one of the best ways to 

do that. The country still values 

long-term and friendly business 

relationships, and you can be 

assured of loyalty from British 

companies if they deem you to be 

conducting your business in the 

right way morally. 

FACT FILE 

Capital: London 

Population: 68,000,000 

Dialling code: +44 

Prime Minister: 

Boris Johnson 

Official languages: 

English 

Time zones: GMT 

Currency: Pound Sterling 

Internet domain: .co.uk 

ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

$3.12 trillion 

GDP (USD) 

$46,500 

GPD per capita (USD) 

6.5% 

GDP growth (pre-COVID) 

5% 

unemployment 

(2021 estimate) 

TOP IMPORT PARTNERS: 

European Union 

United States 

China 

Japan 

Turkey 

TOP EXPORT PARTNERS: 

European Union 

United States 

China 

Switzerland 

Japan 

▲ Campsites and caravan parks in the UK are often highly developed and well equipped. 



ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

The United Kingdom is 

a major player in world 

finance – estimated to 

be about the fifth largest 

national economy globally, 

it is a high developed social 

market. It is among the top 

ten biggest importers and 

exporters in the world and is 

a market largely dominated 

by the service sector. With 

all that impressive financial 

clout, it might be easy to 

think that everything has 

been rosy in the UK for the 

last few years, however 

that is far from the case. 

The country has been 

in a state of uncertainty 

for many years while the 

details of its withdrawal 

from the European Union 

were negotiated. Even 

now that the so-called 

Brexit has occurred, there 

is still much uncertainty 

in business and trading 

with many of its closest 

and biggest partners in the 

European Union became a 

lot more complicated and 

expensive overnight when 

Brexit finally happened. 

However, the country has 

been signing new trade 

deals with many countries 

around the world and all of 

its vital signs such as GDP, 

unemployment levels and 

human development index 

still remain positive. The UK 

will undoubtedly remain a 

major financial player for 

years to come. 

WHO’S WHO 

The UK is one of the strongest and most important markets in Europe in terms of the camping and 

caravanning industries. Not only does it have a wealth of manufacturers and suppliers, but its population are 

also extremely important in terms of camping tourism too. Companies in the British market vary from tiny 

one-man-bands through to internationally-recognised producers. Here is a snapshot of some of the country’s 

movers and shakers. 

SWIFT GROUP 

One of the largest and most popular manufacturers of caravans and motorhomes in the 

UK, Swift employs more than 1,100 people and is based in East Yorkshire in the north of 

England. The brand dates back to 1964 and aims to build leisure vehicles that are at the 

heart of the British holidaymaker. It also has a strong export business in Europe and even 

Australia and New Zealand. 

www.swiftgroup.co.uk 

BAILEY OF BRISTOL 

With origins in the city of Bristol that date back to 1947, Bailey can lay claim to be one 

of the oldest leisure vehicle manufacturers in the country. The company has constantly 

innovated throughout its history and has caravans and motorhomes in every corner of 

the world – including Australia, where it has its own manufacturing plant. 

www.baileyofbristol.co.uk 

COACHMAN 

Although recently acquired by Swedish company Kabe, Coachman is still one of the UK’s 

most popular leisure vehicle manufacturers. It focuses on quality and innovation – with 

smart inventions such as its 10-year water ingress guarantee. The company has been 

around since the 1980s and now with its new ownership it is looking towards a future of 

growth at home and overseas. 

www.coachman.co.uk 

ELDDIS 

With one of the largest caravan, motorhome and campervan production plants in the 

country, Elddis and its associated brands Compass, Xplore and Buccaneer have a long 

history of smart designs and great popularity. The company is part of the Erwin Hymer 

Group, which in turn is part of American firm Thor Industries, but it still maintains close 

connection to the local area in County Durham, England. 

www.elddis.co.uk 

Photo: Bailey 



VANGO 

Based in the West of Scotland, Vango has been one of the biggest names in the British 

tent market since 1966. The company is founded on the spirit of adventure and is known 

for its pioneering innovations such as its Project Hydrogen lightweight tents and its Earth 

Collection made from recycled single-use plastics. It was also the first tent brand to bring 

inflatable poles to the market. 

www.vango.co.uk 

OUTDOOR REVOLUTION 

A relative newcomer to the market, Outdoor Revolution specialises in not only tents but 

also awnings for caravans, motorhomes and campervans. Designed in the UK, Outdoor 

Revolution products are enjoyed by customers across the world, and the brand offers a 

very wide range of products that covers the full range of price points. 

www.outdoor-revolution.com 

TERRA NOVA 

This famous British company makes high quality tents under the Terra Nova and Wild 

Country Names. Both these brands are best known for their light backpacking qualities, 

however in recent years the company has also started to make family tents. The festival 

and family fun tent brand Field Candy also falls under the Terra Nova umbrella after it 

acquired it a few years ago. 

www.terra-nova.co.uk 

NCC 

The National Caravan Council (NCC) is the official UK trade body representing the interests of 

the leisure vehicles, holiday and park homes, and residential parks sectors. The organisation 

has been running for more than 75 years and works with its large membership base to tackle 

issues the industry faces. The organisation is also heavily involved in the running of two major 

exhibitions in the UK at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. 

www.thencc.org.uk 

Photo: Bailey 

▲ Bailey of Bristol is one of the UK’s leading leisure vehicle manufacturers, and with good reason. 

SHOW BUSINESS 

There are many, many 

camping and leisure 

vehicle shows in the 

United Kingdom all 

throughout the year. 

Perhaps the two most 

significant are the Caravan, 

Camping and Motorhome 

Show in February and 

the Motorhome and 

Caravan Show in October 

– both taking place at 

the country’s National 

Exhibition Centre in 

Birmingham. Both of 

these have suffered recent 

cancellations due to 

the pandemic, however 

both should return for 

2022. Though these are 

consumer events, they are 

hugely important trade 

networking shows too. 

As you will have read 

earlier in this issue, the 

first-ever National Camping 

Show recently joined the 

show roster in the UK, 

more focused on tents 

and awnings than leisure 

vehicles. At the time of 

writing no date for the 

2022 edition had yet been 

announced, but this show 

looks set to grow. 

Another show of 

importance is the Outdoor 

Trade Show, the show 

of the UK’s Outdoors 

Industries Association. 

This year it took place 

in Liverpool in June, but 

it has previously taken 

place in the Midlands and 

Manchester. 

The UK also has a host of 

local and regional shows in 

its calendar. 



UK MARKET IN FIGURES 

£6 billion 

Is contributed to the UK 

economy by the camping 

and caravanning industry 

each year 

550,000 

Estimated number of 

caravans in use in the UK 

REDISCOVERING HOME 

Like almost everywhere, 

holidaymakers in the UK have 

been forced to largely stay within 

their own shores for the last 18 

months. The year of 2020 was 

described by many in the country 

as a ‘staycation summer’, but 

even with international travel 

starting to become easier for 

British people in 2021, it seems 

like the imagination has been 

captured by holidays at home 

– especially camping. A recent 

study by the UK’s RAC – an 

automobile, roadside recovery and 

insurance specialist – found that 

half of drivers with an overseas 

trip planned will holiday in the 

UK in 2021 if their plans get 

cancelled and 43 per cent in 

the UK already have firm plans 

for a UK staycation. About 

14 per cent of those surveyed 

said camping would be their 

preferred holiday and whether 

that it is in a tent, with a caravan 

or motorhome – traffic will be 

hugely increased in the country 

over summer. RAC’s breakdown 

spokesman Simon Williams 

said: “For those heading off in 

the UK this summer it’s very 

apparent that the car is going to 

be the transport mode of choice. 

What’s more, if those who have 

foreign trips planned can’t take 

them there is every chance the 

roads will be far busier than they 

would be in a normal summer.” 

That boost in the camping 

industry is also evident in the 

figures coming from one of the 

country’s main membership 

organisations, the Camping and 

Caravanning Club. It recently 

reported that its membership 

has reached an all-time high of 

350,000 households (or about 

778,000 individual members). The 

Club’s director general Sabina 

Voysey said: “After a difficult 

2020, I’m delighted the Club has 

enjoyed unprecedented growth 

this year. The staycation message 

in the media has hit home and as 

well as reaching our highest ever 

membership – a major milestone 

for us – bookings on our 

campsite network have broken 

records for June.” 

225,000 

Estimated number of 

motorhomes in use in the UK 

4.2 nights 

The average length of a 

camping trip in the UK 

55 million 

Holiday nights are spent in 

caravans, tents, glamping 

and motorhomes in the UK 

13.1 million 

Camping holiday trips were 

taken by Brits in 2019 

*stats from NCC and Pitch 

Up – most pre-pandemic 

▲ The UK has stunning camping scenery, especially in the Lake District, Scotland and Wales. 



INSIDER 

INSIGHT 

CAROLYN BUDDING, director at Terra Nova Equipment 

“This summer is going to be extremely busy... we 

expect the upturn in the outdoor sector as whole to 

remain as people continue to spend time outdoors.” 

WANT TO HEAR FROM 

UK INDUSTRY LEADERS? 

“The UK camping market is 

extremely buoyant as people 

look to stay at home 

this summer. The 

uncertainty about 

holidaying abroad 

due to Covid 

has resulted in 

a resurgence in 

camping and 

we’ve had a really 

encouraging uptake 

and sell through of our 

new Wild Country Zonda 

Inflatable tents. Retailers have 

been keen to take their orders 

for Wild Country and Terra 

Nova tents in one or two drops 

rather than call it in over a 

longer period. 

“The biggest opportunity is 

that having camped this 

year, people will be 

keen to continue 

in the future. It’s 

a year when a new 

generation could 

be introduced to 

camping holidays 

and hopefully 

they’ll be encouraged 

to continue if they enjoy 

themselves - that comes down 

to them having the right kit as 

well as plenty of good weather. 

“Apart from the supply 

chain disruption we’ve all 

been experiencing, one of the 

biggest challenges is insufficient 

camping pitches as sites get 

booked up. Temporary sites are 

being opened by farmers etc to 

cater for the increased demand, 

especially over the peak school 

holiday period. 

“This summer is going to be 

extremely busy. Although things 

will tail off as the schools start 

back in September – we expect 

the upturn in the outdoor 

sector as whole to remain as 

people continue to spend time 

outdoors. If the weather’s good 

at the end of September and 

into the Autumn, we could see 

a longer camping season which 

would be an added bonus.” 

We have interviewed 

several UK camping and 

caravanning industry 

leaders on the Camping 

Trade World podcast 

including CamperKing 

marketing manager 

Stuart Kidman, Erwin 

Hymer Centre Travelworld 

managing director Ross 

Edwards, and OLPRO cofounder 

and CEO Daniel 

Walton. And there’s much 

more to come. Head over to 

Apple Podcasts or Spotify 

and search ‘Camping 

Trade World’ to find us and 

become a subscriber. 


CARAVAN SALON SHOW PROFILE 

The greatest show on 

planet caravan? 

Photos: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann 

O 

For one week in late summer, the historic German city of Düsseldorf 

becomes the epicentre of the caravan and leisure vehicle universe as the 

Caravan Salon show welcomes the trade through its doors. 

■ne of Europe’s 

leading trade fairs 

for motorhomes 

and caravans, Caravan Salon 

Düsseldorf, is preparing for 

what will be its 60th anniversary 

edition when it takes place from 

28 August to 5 September this 

year. The show is one of the 

industry’s leading platforms 

for showcasing products in the 

camping and leisure vehicle 

industries and will occupy three 

additional halls for 2021, which 

will help increase exhibitor 

numbers by around 45 per cent. 

Stefan Koschke, project 

director for the show, said: 

“Around 500 exhibitors will 

show the whole world of mobile 

travel on an area of more than 

200,000 square metres. In 

13 halls and on the open-air 

site, they present the world’s 

largest selection of caravans, 

motorhomes, campervans, 

vehicle technology, components 

and extension parts, tents, 


SHOW PROFILE CARAVAN SALON 

▲ Caravan Salon is one of the major meeting places for the caravanning industry in Europe (pics: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann). 

mobile homes, caravanning 

and camping accessories and 

equipment, outdoor clothing 

and equipment, tourism 

destinations as well as nature 

regions, camping and site 

offers.” 

The growth of the show 

and the integration of new 

categories will mean that 

the show has a new layout 

to accommodate these – it 

will also be running a full 

digital platform including 

matchmaking, web sessions, 

video showrooms and a hybrid 

forum in the tourism sector. 

“Caravanning as a form of 

holiday has been experiencing 

enormous and continuously 

growing popularity for 

almost a decade. The Corona 

pandemic has once again 

strengthened the trend towards 

individual, self-sufficient 

holidays and regional travel,” 

said Daniel Onggowinarso, 

managing director of the 

German Caravanning Industry 

Association (CIVD). 

“Motorhomes and caravans 

are emotional products. 

Potential customers want to see 

and touch the vehicles ‘live’, 

this cannot be done digitally. 

Real product presentations 

accelerate purchase decisions 

considerably, as the great success 

of Caravan Salon in recent 

years proves. Face-to-face 

events such as trade fairs are 

indispensable sales platforms 

and opportunities for staging 

brands and products. This is all 

the more true for a mediumsized 

industry like ours.” 

Organisers remain confident 

the show will be able to go 

ahead with regards to the 

COVID-19 pandemic and 

relevant restrictions. It managed 

to go ahead safely in 2020 and 

with the expected relaxation of 

travel in Europe, 2021 should 

prove even better. 

“We are looking forward to 

the anniversary with optimism 

and confidence.” said Erhard 

Wienkamp, managing director 

of Messe Düsseldorf. 

“The prospects for opening 

up trade fairs, which NRW 

Minister of Economic Affairs 

Andreas Pinkwart recently 

presented to the public, as 

well as the development with 

rising vaccination rates and 

the associated falling incidence 

rates, make us positive that 

we will once again send an 

important signal to the Europewide 

trade fair industry by 

holding the Caravan Salon 

in late summer. The hygiene 

concept under the motto 

“PROTaction”, which worked 

excellently last year, will 

again serve as the basis for 

successfully running a trade 

fair in times of Corona. We 

are very well prepared and will 

do our best to make this year’s 

Caravan Salon once again an 

unforgettable experience with 

the highest possible hygiene 

standards.” 

For more, head online to 

www.caravan-salon.com 


CARAVAN SALON SHOW PROFILE 

THE VENUE 

Messe Düsseldorf 

Am Staad 

40474 Düsseldorf 

Germany 

Messe Düsseldorf has more 

than 70 years of experience 

in hosting exhibitions and 

trade fairs. The company 

hosts many different events 

at its 305,727sqm exhibition 

area each year and also 

runs many exhibitions 

overseas too, including the 

All In Caravaning show in 

Beijing, China. 

The City 

Düsseldorf is the capital city 

of Germany’s North Rhine- 

Westphalia state and is the 

seventh largest city overall in 

the country with a population 

of more than 610,000. The city 

is located at the confluence of 

the Rhine and the Düssel rivers 

and has a long and important 

history in Europe. Düsseldorf 

suffered heavy damage during 

the Second World War, but 

was lovingly restored to how it 

used to look. In the city’s Old 

Town you will find national 

and international restaurants, 

bars, breweries and countless 

independent stores to intrigue 

you. There is also a promenade 

alongside the Rhine, which is a 

great place to go for a stroll or 

catch a boat trip tour. 

The city is known for its 

cultural richness with many 

museums, an opera house and 

the Heinrich Heine Institut 

all calling Düsseldorf home. 

The city also has a reputation 

for being a very green urban 

environment with major 

parks such as the 28-hectare 

Hofgarten, Nordpark and 

Südpark offering peaceful and 

beautiful places to explore for 

tourists and locals alike. 

Düsseldorf has a thriving 

carnival scene with a million 

visitors a year who normally 

arrive for the Shrove Monday 

procession and is also said to be 

the place where the tradition of 

cartwheeling was originated. 

Areas Of Caravan Salon 

MOTORHOMES & 

CARAVANS 

A unique selection 

of the top brands 

in these key 

categories. 

CAMPERVANS 

The growing 

‘vanlife’ segment 

will be well 

represented. 

PREMIUM 

Luxury and special 

vehicles for offroad 

and other 

purposes. 

TECHNOLOGY & 

COMPONENTS 

Automotive tech, 

components and 

parts for every 

need. 

TRAVEL & 

NATURE 

Tourism 

destinations and 

camping and 

caravanning sites. 

EQUIPMENT & 

OUTDOOR 

Caravanning 

accessories as 

well as tents and 

outdoor gear. 


SHOW PROFILE CARAVAN SALON 

Photos: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann 

▲ Caravan Salon usually offers a place for people to camp in their own leisure vehicles, making attending much easier. 

Getting to the show 

Arriving by air (if such things are 

possible by the time the show takes 

place) is easy enough. Düsseldorf 

Airport is just 3km from the exhibition 

centre. You can get either a short taxi 

ride (flat rate of €20) or the number 

896 bus to the exhibition centre 

with relative ease. The airport is also 

relatively close to the city centre, if 

that’s where your hotel is. 

In the more likely event that you travel 

to the show by car then you can do so 

quite easily. A number of large highways 

run into or nearby to Düsseldorf and 

the city is also conveniently close to 

the land borders with the Netherlands 

and Belgium. If you are using satellite 

navigation, you should use the address 

D-40474 Düsseldorf, Am Staad 

(Stockumer Höfe). 

Public transport to the exhibition 

centre is also an option – tram number 

U78 or U79 can get you there, as can 

bus number 722. Visit www.rheinbahn. 

de for more information. 

One last thing not to forget is that 

you can stay at the on-site caravan 

centre – to find out more or to book, 

you can call +49 211 4560 01 or email 

caravan-center@messe-dusseldorf.de 

ABOUT DÜSSELDORF 

620k 

Population 

217k 

Area 

(sqkm) 

38m 

Elevation 

(124ft) 

10 

Districts 

.de 

Country 

(Germany) 

CET 

Timezone 

(UTC +1) 

1,000 

Trains stop 

each day 

400+ 

Advertising 

agencies 


HORREX COMPANY PROFILE 

Your doorway to 

new opportunities 

See us at 

CARAVAN SALON 

DÜSSELDORF 

Hall 13 

Booth D36 

With 30 years of expertise, a host of innovative products, and a company ethos to 

work closely with its customers, Dutch firm Horrex is well poised to achieve its aim of 

becoming a total supplier to the caravan and leisure vehicle market. 

▲ The ethos at Horrex is flexibility, modularity and innovation – all three of which can be seen in its products. (Pic: Swift Group) 

J 

■ust because a product 

may appear simple upon 

first glance, doesn’t 

mean that it can’t be high quality 

or innovative. Take something 

as straightforward as a flyscreen 

or a window blind on a caravan, 

motorhome or leisure vehicle. 

On the face of it, it’s a product 

that serves a basic purpose, which 

is true, but for one company it 

represents a gateway to innovation 

all designed to make the lives of 

campers better and improve the 

overall leisure vehicle experience 

for all. That ethos is what drives 

Dutch brand Horrex – an expert 

in flyscreen doors, window blind 

systems, windows, room dividers 


and TV blinds for the middle and 

high-end sectors of the RV and 

leisure vehicle market. 

“Our ethos as a company 

is flexibility, modularity and 

innovation,” explains Horrex sales 

director Alina Coroian. “We are 

continuously improving ourselves, 

striving to be as innovative and as 

successful as we can.” 

A perfect example of how 

Horrex likes to do things is its 

UCS Combi blind/screens, which 

are easily resizable, meaning that 

not only can the end consumer 

easily cut them to size, but it also 

gives great flexibility on stock to 

dealers and wholesalers. In fact, 

Horrex can quickly customize 

many of its products to any interior 

design within short deadlines. The 

product can be supplied as a knockdown 

kit or completely assembled, 

all according to the customer’s 

preferences. 

Alina adds: “We think along 

with our clients to help them with 

new products, sizes, version – it’s 

a collaborative relationship we 

have with many of them. But, 

perhaps more importantly, we 

are all about spotting trends – we 

have moved into the aftersales 

and van conversion markets with 

our products that are do-ityourself. 

This is an opportunity 

for us to help improve the overall 

experience of end consumers in 

these segments.” 

Horrex is actually part of a 

larger group of companies known 

as the Driving Change Group. 

Its sibling brands include RV and 

leisure vehicle slide-out brand 

InnoSlide, electric bike producer 

ClikeBikes and VanCasco+, 

which specialises in bringing 

Horrex’s full portfolio to the van 

conversion market. All in all, 

the brands together have plans 

to become a complete supplier 

to the caravan, motorhome and 

leisure vehicle industries. 

Alina says: “Our short term 

goal is to introduce our line of van 

conversion products solidly to the 

market as well as establishing firm

COMPANY PROFILE HORREX 

CURVED R5000 WINDOW 

Thanks to the high strength powder-coated 

aluminium frame, the Horrex straight and 

curved (R5000) RV Flush acrylic windows are 

the newest must-have in the market. With 

a double glazed, UV-resistant tinted acrylic 

glass this window is ideal for sun-drenched 

summers. The multi-angle telescopic hinges, 

combined with our matching blind allow 

excellent airflow control. 

USC BLINDS 

A resizable blind, which is Horrex’s improved 

version of the classic Duo Plissé. It is super 

versatile, incredibly easy to mount and its 

solid construction is built to last. The shade 

fabric is made from four layers to ensure no 

light is let through and heat doesn’t build up. 

aftersales relationships. In the long 

term, we want to be a total supplier 

to the caravan market.” 

To help achieve this aim, 

Horrex will be showcasing its 

wares at the upcoming Caravan 

Düsseldorf show this August and 

September. The company has 

been ever-present at the event 

for the last 25 years, but sadly 

missed the 2020 edition due to the 

coronavirus pandemic. “Physical 

shows are still really important to 

us,” says Alina. 

“They give us a chance to have 

many face-to-face meetings. It 

is difficult to demonstrate and 

brainstorm with a client how a 

product might work if you don’t 

have it in your hands. We look 

forward to seeing our clients faceto-face 

again soon.” 

INNOSLIDE 

Designed to help extend the living space 

of leisure vehicles, Inno Slide slide-outs are 

electronically controlled and offer a secure and 

safe space expansion. They are also securely 

watertight, can be made to match the 

externals of the vehicle and are easy to install. 

CLIKEBIKES 

Clike compact 

e-bikes with 

aluminium 

frames and 

unique profiles 

for clicking 

accessories 

on – specially 

developed for 

quick and easy 

storage in the 

motorhome and 

camper. 

FLYSCREEN DOORS 

Horrex makes a wide range of flyscreen 

doors that feature high-quality pleated 

mesh to offer excellent bug protection and 

improved air flow. The door provides silent 

and seamless operation and also is highly 

visible to avoid accidental damage. 

WHO ARE YOU? 

Company: Horrex (Driving 

Change Group) 

Location: The Netherlands 

Products: The Driving 

Change Group is made 

up of several companies 

including Horrex, InnoSlide, 

ClikeBikes and VanCasco+. 

Together these brands 

offer a wide range of 

caravan and motorhome 

components and 

accessories. 

Other: High quality RV 

products from Horrex and 

Driving Change Group’s 

other brands are currently 

sold to OEMs in more than 26 

countries around the world. 

LEARN MORE: 

E: info@horrex.nl 

W: www.horrex.nl 


SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY PROFILE 

Proving your worth 

Photos: SuperSprings International 

You know your product is great. The customers who have purchased your product 

know it’s great. But how do you convert those you just can’t seem to reach with 

traditional marketing methods? You prove just how great your product is. Here’s how 

a second opinion put SuperSprings International’s money where its mouth was. 

T 

■railer SumoSprings 

aren’t a new for 2021 

item. They’re not 

even a new for 2020 item. 

But their demand is going 

through the roof. These zeromaintenance 

airless air springs 

by SuperSprings International 


are designed to remove sway, 

hop and vibration from any 

trailer or caravan they are fitted 

to – and this year their yearon-year 

sales growth stands 

at 370 per cent. SuperSrings 

International puts this down to 

several key factors. First of all, 

the product is hugely effective 

and offers something different in 

the marketplace. Second comes 

customer tesitmonials on forums 

and Facebook groups – a kind of 

word-of-mouth growth. Lastly is 

an increased effort in marketing 

the products. But there’s more 

that can be done. So in May 

2021, SuperSprings decided to 

get objective third party data on 

its Trailer SumoSprings to prove 

once and for all to any doubters 

or anyone who hadn’t realised 

just how great they are, that 

these things are the real deal.

COMPANY PROFILE SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

THE WHY 

Breaking into the towable 

RV market is no mean feat – 

SuperSprings International 

has experienced that first hand. 

One thing the company learned 

quickly about this market is that 

manufacturers often request test 

data on products so they can 

quickly and efficiently judge their 

effectiveness. 

“Understandably, when 

explaining why trailers need 

a suspension upgrade, it’s 

not unreasonable for the 

manufacturers to want some 

data to back up the claims” 

explains Adam Weisner, 

chief commercial officer at 

SuperSprings International. 

“As much as we’ve heard firsthand 

from the consumer, we also 

love data, and were more than 

happy to oblige.” 

So, Adam and the team 

arranged to set up a serious test 

of the Trailer SumoSprings’ 

credentials. They loaned a 

double-axle Momentum Travel 

Trailer from Grand Design RV, 

hitched it up to a 2021 Ford 

F-250 single-axle Super Duty 

truck and headed on down to 

the NaviStar Proving Grounds 

in New Carlisle, Indiana in the 

United States. The aptly named 

NaviStar Proving Grounds is no 

strange to rigorous testing – the 

former Studebaker testing track 

was constructed in the 1920s and 

has a rich history of performing 

objective tests of vehicles and 

accessories and add-ons. 

Adam said: “A suspension 

focus can deliver far-reaching 

benefits. RV’s incur interior 

damage from the rattle and 

roll of road conditions and the 

jolt and shake on the RV leads 

to things like dishes breaking, 

window treatments detaching, and 

undersink plumbing loosening and 

causing water leaks. There have 

been multiple stories of Trailer 

SumoSprings providing so much 

vibration control, that watches and 

cell phones left on nightstands 

have withstood 20 hours of driving 

across the country without so 

much as nudging the edge.” 

▲ No stone was left unturned in NaviStar’s rigorous testing of Trailer SumoSprings to provide accurate, real-world, data. 


SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY PROFILE 

Getting Technical 

Trailer SumoSprings part number TSS- 

107-47 were tested on a double-axle 

Grand Design Momentum Travel Trailer, 

towed by a 2021 Ford F-250 single-axle 

Super Duty truck. The test was performed 

at the NaviStar Proving Grounds in 

Elkhart, Indiana on May 18, 2021. 

All data was provided by Navistar. 

Data showed that the average 

reduction in G-force was 68% when 

the trailer was fitted with Trailer 

SumoSprings. 

0.8 SECOND CHUCKHOLE RUN COMPARISON 

Trailer SumoSprings vs. Original Equipment Springs 

Frame Acc Z (g) % Difference 

36.3% 

0.0% 

-50.0% 

-100.0% 

-67.2% 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

-43.3% 

-54.0% 

-71.4% 

-78.1% 

-91.3% 

68% 

AVERAGE REDUCTION 

IN G-FORCE 

-150.0% 

■ Difference (G%) 

-176.9% 

OVER 

100% 

HIGHER AVERAGE 

DISPLACEMENT 

AT EVERY INTERVAL 

Vertical Displacement Difference (inches and %) 

462% 

0.20 

0.10 

0.00 

-0.10 

-0.20 

-0.30 

-0.40 

-0.50 

Vertical Displacement Measurements (inches) 

-0.34 

0.05 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

-0.18 

0.14 

0.11 0.13 

-0.36 

0.18 

-0.43 

■ Average OE Displacement 

■ Average SumoSprings Displacement 

0.02 0.02 

-0.41 

-0.26 

0.10 

4.50 

4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.39 

■ Difference (inches) 

■ Difference (%) 

114% 

0.31 

177% 

0.34 

150% 

0.49 

135% 

0.23 

0.45 

105% 

0.43 

105% 

0.36 

139% 

462% 

HIGHER DISPLACEMENT 

BETWEEN SECOND 4-5 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 


COMPANY PROFILE SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

▲ An on-board live feed to the data captured the speed and movement of the springs while being tested. 

The tests included a semi-trailer pass by with each vehicle traveling 

at 60mph, a durability test and various other torturous surfaces to 

evaluate the Trailer SumoSprings under scrutiny. 

TESTING TIMES 

Backing these amazing 

customer testimonials up with 

some real-world data was too 

good an opportunity to turn 

down for Adam, SuperSprings 

International CEO Gerry 

Lamberti and creative director 

Tom Bateman. 

The tests included a semitrailer 

pass by with each vehicle 

traveling at 60mph, a durability 

test over cobblestones, dirt 

road simulations, uneven road 

conditions, and various other 

torturous surfaces to evaluate 

the Trailer SumoSprings under 

scrutiny. The test was designed 

to examine the springs on two 

fronts: first, to see how the 

trailer would move side-to-side, 

from tail to top, and what type 

of sway was present. Secondly, 

the SuperSprings International 

team wanted to see if they 

could see a reduction in G-force 

vibration. This one was especially 

important to the team, given the 

feedback from users praising 

the springs ability to reduce 

vibration and what that means 

for extending the life of the 

trailer. Adam noted: “If you took 

a house, picked it up, and shook 

it, the whole thing would rattle 

and loosen. It’s important to 

measure G-force vibration at the 

smallest levels because that is the 

largest contributor to RV issues 

during the first year and beyond.” 

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING 

While the SuperSprings 

International team were 

extremely confident in their 

product, there were some 

nerves before the results 

came back – but good news 

awaited them. Together with 

NaviStar’s director fata Justin 

Tevis, the team deciphered the 

results and saw that all of their 

expectations were confirmed in 

an objective conclusion. Trailer 

SumoSprings showed over 

100 per cent higher average 

displacement at every interval. 

This means that at any given 

point, the distance between the 

trailer frame and the factory 

suspension was on average, 

double. At one particular point, 

that displacement was 462 

per cent higher which shows 

a decrease in spike loading 

and reduction in events that 

cause lasting damage. And 

the proudest moment for the 

team, according to Adam, was 

larning that Trailer SumoSpring 

reduced G-force in the trailer 

by an average of 68 per cent. 

“What we were sure was there 

before, is now confirmed beyond 

any doubt,” exclaimed Adam. 

Check the opposite page for a 

full breakdown of the results. 

LEARN MORE: 

W: www.supersprings.com 


LIPPERT COMPANY PROFILE 

Keeping the 

industry rolling 

This year is the 65th anniversary of the company the leisure vehicle industry knows 

as Lippert. We track the story of how a small and humble mobile home chassis 

manufacturer founded in 1956 became the beating heart of the global RV industry. 

T 

■here’s probably not a 

person reading this 

article who hasn’t at 

least heard of Lippert. The 

company is one of the world’s 

leading manufacturers and 

suppliers of products, chassis, 

components and accessories 

for the RV industry, not 

to mention the marine, 

automotive, commercial vehicle 

and building product industries 

too. Headquartered in Elkhart, 

Indiana in the United States, 

Lippert is now a truly global 

industry with plants and 

subsidiary companies all over 

the USA and Europe, as well 

as Asia and Africa. In short, if 

you’re in this business, you will 

have no doubt done business 

with Lippert or one of its 

companies at some point. But 

how did it get here? It’s a story 

of hard work, smart decisions 

and an ethos of being more than 

just a manufacturer. 

There are two things that 

largely define the history of 

Lippert: acquisitions and family. 

Founded as B&L Industries 

back in 1956 by Larry 

Lippert, the company initially 

manufactured chassis for mobile 

homes. Larry, the grandfather 

of current president and CEO 

Jason Lippert, was a visionary 

in many ways and quickly built 

up a reputable company that 

took on a steady path of growth. 


COMPANY PROFILE LIPPERT 

▲ One of Lippert’s main European headquarters is in Italy, located just south of Florence near the banks of the river Pesa. 

That growth continued, as did 

the acquisitions until in 1988 

it acquired its biggest rival at 

the time Riblet Industries. By 

this time, Larry’s son Doug 

was the president and CEO. 

What’s truly amazing about the 

Lippert story is that it didn’t 

really get into the RV industry 

in a big way until 1997. In 

that year LCI was bought by 

Drew Industries and became a 

publicly listed company. But the 

family influence still continued 

– it was Jason Lippert, son of 

Doug and grandson of Larry, 

who first identified the RV 

industry as a market that was a 

natural expansion for Lippert. It 

was already successfully making 

excellent chassis for mobile 

homes, it seemed a natural step 

to start making them for RVs 

too. That wasn’t the last time 

the company diversified into 

a new industry, and probably 

won’t be the last – it is now a 

big player in many others – but 

the RV industry is perhaps 

what the company is best 

known for. And with good 

reason, since 1997 the company 

has acquired a staggering 

number of RV component 

and accessories producers. 

Names such as We-Shape, 

Coil Clip, Quality Frames, 

ET&T, LTM Manufacturing, 

Venture Manufacturing, 

HappiJac, Trailair, Seating 

Technology, JT’s RV 

Accessories, Nappanee Door, 

Schwintek, Level Up, EZ- 

Ride, Home-Style, Starquest, 

IDS Electrinics, Power Gear, 

Kwikee, Signature Seating, 

Flair Interiors, SessaKlein, RV 

Doors, Lexington, SureShade, 

Challenger Door and Schaudt 

GmbH have all been acquired 

by the company since that first 

move into the RV market. No 

wonder it has grown at such a 

rate. 

“From early on, we knew that 

the key way for us to grow and 

to continue to offer the best 

service for our customers was 

through acquisitions,” explains 

Lippert’s VP of marketing and 

PR Jarod Lippert (brother of 

Jason). 

“In a relatively short space of 

time we have gone from offering 

simply chassis to offering almost 

everything you could think of 

when building an RV, and we 

aren’t sitting still. We are now 

getting more involved in the 

aftermarket business than ever 

before and we have continued 

expansion in other markets such 

as marine and automotive. For 

us, diversity is the key to success 

as a business.” 

Indeed, it could be easy to 

forget this point. The pandemic 

has been kind to the camping 

and RV business, pushing it 

to new heights. But it could 

so easily have gone a different 

way if we were all in another 

industry. The case for not having 

all your eggs in one basket 

should ring loud and clear. On 

the subject of the pandemic, 

Lippert managed to turn the 

adversity of the situation into 

a success for itself and for 

the industry. Jarod explains: 

“When things were at their 

worst during the pandemic, a 

lot of companies shut down 

or had to drastically reduce 

their production. We had a 

very short shutdown but I am 

incredibly proud of the attitude, 

commitment and organisation 

of our teams who wanted to 

keep things going. We were able 

▲ The range of RV and leisure vehicle accessories and components Lippert produces is almost endless. 


LIPPERT COMPANY PROFILE 

to keep manufacturing when 

many others didn’t and I’m 

honestly very proud to say we 

kept the RV industry rolling in 

many ways.” 

It would be easy to think of 

Lippert as a corporate giant, 

given all this growth and 

all these acquisitions, but it 

remains a company with great 

morals and one that truly does 

care about its employees. A 

great example of that is that it 

doesn’t use the word employee 

at all. Everyone at Lippert is a 

team member or a team leader 

(there’s no managers) and 

huge effort goes into nurturing 

people and making their job feel 

like part of their life, not just a 

way to pay the bills. 

“Our leadership development 

might sound like the sort of 

thing every company says 

they do, but we truly believe 

in bringing our core values to 

▲ Lippert’s people are one of the company’s real success stories. 

life through our people,” says 

Jarod. “By identifying the core 

values that define us, we operate 

programs like our Dream 

Achiever – a personal coaching 

program that helps our team 

members achieve their dreams. 

Even if that is something as 

simple as wanting to own their 

own car – we work together 

with them to help them figure 

out how to get their finances 

straight and how to achieve that 

dream. We also have the Lippert 

Academy for Leadership, which 

builds upon the leadership 

development fundamentals 

that LCI has worked hard to 

embed throughout our company. 

The Academy serves external 

businesses, non-profits, and 

individuals with a variety 

of programs and offerings, 

including on-site training 

and leadership development 

programs, executive coaching, 

speaking engagements, and a 

two-day in-house leadership 

development experience.” 

All this speaks volumes to 

the fact that Lippert doesn’t 

just want to be a company that 

makes things, but one that 

improves the world in which 

we live. To learn more, visit 

www.lci1.com 

1956 1969 1970 1976 1988 1997 

The company 

is founded as 

B&L Industries 

by Larry Lippert 

(pictured) and Don 

Baldwin – initially 

manufacturing 

galvanised mobile 

home roofing. Don 

sold his shares to 

Larry a year later in 

1957. 

B&L’s expansion 

had been growing 

steadily with major 

acquisitions for a 

decade, eventually 

the name B&L 

Industries was 

dropped in favour of 

Lippert. The parent 

company remained 

LCI. 


The company 

began to heavily 

focus on steel 

manufacturing 

and continued to 

grow and expand, 

opening new 

facilities around the 

United States. 

Larry’s son Doug 

Lippert (pictured) 

becomes the 

president and 

CEO of LCI. The 

company opened 

more new plants in 

North Carolina and 

Texas at the same 

time. 

Lippert acquires 

the assets of its 

largest rival at 

the time Riblet 

Industries. LCI also 

formed a strong 

partnership with 

Skyline, providing 

all its mobile home 

chassis. 

A big year for LCI 

– Jason Lippert, 

son of Doug 

and grandson of 

Larry saw need 

for diversification 

and steered the 

company to start 

building its first 

travel trailer chassis 

line. LCI was then 

acquired by Drew 

Industries and 

so began LCI’s 

relationship with 

the RV industry.

COMPANY PROFILE LIPPERT 

A Force For Good 

A lot of companies of Lippert’s size 

do their fair share of charity work 

to support their local communities, 

but Lippert truly does consider 

this to be one of its core missions. 

Collectively, Lippert team members 

have spent more than 350,000 

hours volunteering at non-profit 

organisations and supporting 

charitable fundraising events. The 

company also gives back more than 

US$ 1million every year to support 

the needs of its communities – not 

just at its headquarters, but at all 

of its facilities around the United 

States, Europe and the rest of the 

world. It mainly focuses on causes 

that work with children and families 

in need, educational programs, 

community health and wellness 

and its own team members in crisis 

or illness. 

Jaron Lippert said: “We impact 

our communities not only through 

good business, but also through 

charitable giving and volunteer 

work. We encourage our team 

members to volunteer within their 

local communities to support 

health, safety, and happiness. Every 

year, we support hundreds of nonprofit 

organisations by donating 

our time and talents. Our culture of 

caring and generosity inspires us to 

create transformative social change, 

one helping hand at a time.” 

That generous and caring ethos 

has been recreated by Lippert’s 

various subsidiary companies 

in Europe – especially its Italian 

branch, where team go above and 

beyond. 

2000 2003 2004 2012 2013 2021 

LCI becomes 

an international 

company with the 

opening of a facility 

in Lindsey, Ontario, 

Canada. 

Jason Lippert 

(pictured) becomes 

the CEO of the 

company – the 

third generation 

of leadership from 

the family. The RV 

chassis production 

capacity was also 

expanded with 

the acquisitions of 

Quality Frames, We 

Shape and ET&T. 

LCI acquired LTM 

Manufacturing, 

marking the 

company’s entry 

into the RV 

accessory market. 

The company 

officially began 

its aftermarket 

sales division 

with a focus on 

retail aftermarket 

product offerings 

and marketing 

programs. 

Larry Lipert is 

introduced into the 

RV/MH Hall of Fame 

for his lifelong work 

and service to the 

industry. Meanwhile 

Jason Lippert 

became CEO of 

Drew Industries. 

LCI rebrands as 

simply Lippert – 

the name now 

represents the 

company’s core 

line of RV and 

commercial 

products. 


MOTORHOMES SECTOR SPOTLIGHT 

SECTOR 

SPOTLIGHT 

Motorhomes 

The motorhome in its many guises has been pushing a lot of the overall growth in 

the camping industry for some time now and that trend shows no signs of slowing 

down in the foreseeable future. Companies are expanding, supply is scarce, and 

innovation is being introduced on a regular basis. 

Photo: Chausson 


SECTOR SPOTLIGHT MOTORHOMES 

M 

■uch of the growth that 

we have seen in the 

camping industry over 

the last five years or so has come 

from the motorhome segment. 

Where, perhaps 20 years ago the 

caravan or trailer was the king of 

leisure vehicles, it seems as though 

attitudes and tastes are changing 

on a global scale. Motorhomes of 

all shapes and sizes have become 

more popular options with 

their flexibility, their all-in-one 

nature and the advancements in 

technology and home comforts 

on board all believed to be 

some of the reasons behind the 

swing. A conscious effort has 

also been made by motorhome 

manufacturers to make units that 

fall under the 3,500kg weight 

limit, which makes them possible 

to be driven by a much wider 

range of people who have more 

recent driving licenses in many 

countries around Europe. 

For a lot of campers, the 

motorhome represents true 

freedom. The ability to have a 

motorhome on your drive or in 

your garage that is set-up and 

ready to go at a moment’s notice 

is half of the appeal – as is the 

fact that you can go camping in 

relative luxury. 

The general growth trend of 

motorhomes has been on a steady 

increase for the first ten years of 

this century. Between 2000 and 

2007, the figures showed healthy 

increases across Europe. The 

Global interest in Google search term ‘motorhome’ in last year 

100 

75 

50 

25 

5 JUL 

2020 

25 OCT 

2020 

financial crash of 2008 put the 

brakes on things for several years 

but by around 2014, increases had 

begun to return. In 2017, 2018 

and 2019 the sales figures for 

motorhomes saw some of their 

biggest increases ever in many 

countries around the world – and 

we all know what happened in 

2020 and beyond. It seems as 

though a product category that 

was already enjoying organic 

growth has been further enhanced 

by the pandemic and now looks 

set for a very bright short to 

medium-term future. 

A GLOBAL PRODUCT 

Motorhomes are manufactured 

all over the world. Europe is one 

particular hotbed with Germany 

being home to a huge array of 

brands that build motorhomes 

at all different levels of the price 

spectrum. From affordable units 

from the likes of Bürstner and 

Knaus, through to top-end names 

like Niessman+Bischoff – a broad 

spectrum of products are made 

here. Other European countries 

such as Slovenia and Poland are 

also significant producers of these 

kinds of leisure vehicles. In the 

United States, motorhomes are 

also hugely popular. Here we 

see much larger models than in 

Europe – Class A motorhomes 

here can be anywhere up to 45ft 

(13.7m) in length and often have 

more luxurious and well kitted out 

interiors than the average home. 

14 FEB 

2021 

6 JUN 

2021 

However, smaller motorhome 

styles such as Class B and Class 

C are becoming more and more 

popular here as the scramble 

to own a motorhome by the 

American public shows no signs 

of slowing. Motorhomes are also 

widely made in Asian nations such 

as China, Japan, and Korea and 

also in Australia and New Zealand 

too. The motorhome truly is a 

global phenomenon. 

BUZZING FOR THE FUTURE 

One significant challenge facing 

the future of the motorhome 

segment is the slow demise of 

the combustion engine. Due 

to their size and weight, many 

motorhomes have to have diesel 

engines, which are coming under 

increasing scrutiny, and in some 

countries, restrictions as the 

environmental consciousness 

of the world grows. It’s clear 

that diesel and petrol engine 

motorhomes are not a sustainable 

plan for the long-term future, 

which has led to some soul 

searching for many manufacturers. 

Electric vehicles are becoming 

more commonplace and more 

affordable to all – examples 

like the new Fiat E-Ducato 

will help with the smaller sizes 

of motorhomes available. But 

presently, there aren’t many real 

life solutions for huge coach built 

or Class A motorhomes to have 

alternative fuel systems. It is no 

doubt something we will see 

change over the coming years and 

there is also no doubt that it is one 

of the biggest challenges that the 

motorhome industry specifically 

faces. Expect to see exceptional 

efforts to reduce size and weight 

of motorhomes in the near future 

to make electric power a feasible 

option to move them around. 

Expect also to see other fuel 

alternatives enter the market as 

vehicle manufacturers pour huge 

amounts of money in research and 

development to sustain their longterm 

futures. 

THE STATISTICS 

28% 

The year-on-year growth 

of new motorhome 

registrations in Germany 

225,000 

Motorhomes are on the 

road in the UK (estimated) 

24,131 

New motorhomes 

registered in the USA in 2021 

up to and including May. 

$88,500 

Estimated average cost of a 

new motorhome. 

10.8% 

The percentage increase 

of new motorhomes sold 

worldwide from 2019 to 2020. 

Top five countries with 

highest Google search 

interest for the term 

‘motorhome’ in 2020 

United Kingdom 

New Zealand 

Australia 

Argentina 

Ireland 



Photo: Hymer 

▲ Motorhome users now demand smart connectivity to control aspects of their motorhome – such as the Hymer Connect App. 

It is no longer acceptable for customers to simply be buying a place 

to sleep while they are away travelling, they want home comforts. 

TRENDING 

Size really does matter when it 

comes to motorhomes in recent 

times, but perhaps not in the 

way you’d think. Sure, the market 

for huge Class A motorhomes 

is still strong, particularly in 

countries with the infrastructure 

to handle such mobile giants like 

Canada or the United States. 

But in Europe, and maybe also 

North America a little too, there 

is a trend for trying to make 

motorhomes more compact, more 

nimble and more lightweight. The 

perfect example of that can be 

seen in the Chausson X550 – a 

vehicle the French brand actually 

claims is a cross between a van 

and a motorhome – that at just 

5.99m in length, 2.10m wide and 

2.75m tall is a perhaps the first 

motorhome you could call a ‘super 

mini’. Chausson hasn’t made 

this motorhome by accident, it is 

following the trends. Consumers 

are looking for something with 

the comfort of a motorhome 

but not as bulky for a number 

of reasons. First off is weight. 

In many European countries 

you need a special additional 

license to drive a vehicle over 

3,500kg – so more and more 

motorhome brands are trying to 

make vehicles that come under 

this weight limit so that their 

potential customer base remains 

as large as possible. Another 

reason for this push towards 

smaller and lighter motorhomes 

is that with each passing year 

more new people enter the world 

of motorhome ownership, which 

can be daunting. The idea of 

driving a huge home on wheels 

is made far less intimidating if 

said motorhome appears to be as 

small as it can be, agile and easy 

to drive. 

Besides the size and shape 

of motorhomes, another aspect 

of the market that is a current 

trend is that of improved onboard 

technology. It is no longer 

acceptable for customers to 

simply be buying a place to sleep 

while they are away travelling, 

they want home comforts. 

Not only does this technology 

apply to the living area of the 

van – the ability to control 

heating, lighting, music and 

other on-board entertainment 

with mobile apps – but also to 

the driver’s cab. More and more 

technology is being applied 

here to make driving the vehicle 

more enjoyable and comfortable, 

including everything from 

Bluetooth connection to satellite 

navigation beamed into you via a 

head-up display. As technology 

advances, as already mentioned, 

expect to see more technology 

applied to the motorhomes 

of the future, especially if 

they become electric-powered 

vehicles. Think more advanced 

batteries, charging points and 

even solar panels to keep things 

moving for longer. 

Motorhomes look to continue 

to outsell caravans as the most 

popular form of leisure vehicle 

in Europe for some time to 

come – it is a trend that has 

been occurring for the best part 

of 20 years and shows no signs 

of slowing. The main threat 

to traditional motorhomes is 

that the craving for smaller 

and smaller camping vehicles 

means that campervans are now 

their main rivals for market 

dominance. However, there will 

always be a demographic for 

whom, a good-sized motorhome 

is the perfect way to enjoy a 

camping holiday. 



INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 

CÉCILE KLAERNER, 

EXPORT MANAGER AT 

NIESMANN+BISCHOFF 

Photo: Niesmann+Bischoff 

“We’ve experienced a continuous growth of our sales since we have launched our new exterior 

design back in 2013, but the peak came definitely in 2019. Because of the pandemic and its 

restrictions, a lot of people decided to go back to their first love – camping – and rediscover 

their own country in a safe way. On the other side the number of completely new customers – 

first motorhome – has been growing, which is really unusual in the luxury segment we are in. 

“We think it [this trend] will continue. Of course, not in these crazy dimensions, which would be 

impossible to handle for all our suppliers. 

“With the pandemic many people are coming back to true values, back to the will of spending 

more time in the nature, with family and friends instead of flying from one event to the 

next one. And they appreciate being more spontaneous, enjoying every single day of their 

leisure time without having to book flights, hotels and so on. There is a new awareness for 

environment as well. 

“The main [buying trend] evolution is that modern buyers are spending more time online 

before visiting dealers. Since we have launched interactive tours with 360° recordings and 

a detailed and self-explaining configurator on our website, the number of inquiries keeps 

growing. When customers visit their dealer, they know exactly what exists on the market and 

what they want. 

“Major trends we have been experiencing in the last few years at Niesmann+Bischoff are selfsufficiency, 

driving safety and individuality. People want larger tanks for fuel, water, toilet and 

gas, lithium equipment for an independency of up to nine days… One of the reasons why our 

Flair models in the 7.5 t. weight category are so much in demand in the last months is one 

related to the safety on the road: the only motorhome of the industry on IVECO Daily 70 C 

chassis with airbags! 

“Modern buyers enjoy individuality and want to make their motorhome – as their house – 

unique: they combine leather seat cushions with textile backrest cushions, they choose a 

different furniture décor in the bedroom than in the living room and they individualise the 

exterior look of their motorhome with a striping in different colours. 

“The motorhome market has to reach the coming generations, their ideas of motorhome 

design their desire of sustainability and environmental protection. 

Renewable energy for the base vehicle and the living space will be crucial in the development 

as well as the use of ecological materials for the construction of the body. The motorhome of 

the future is a challenge, which Niesmann+Bischoff – already known for our striking design and 

high technology – will face in due time and without compromise.” 

www.niesmann-bischoff.com 



BUSINESS CONNECTIONS 

The motorhome market is a large 

sector of the camping market that 

offers vehicles ranging from the 

simple and affordable through 

to the luxurious and expensive. 

They offer campers a real sense 

of freedom and exploration 

and are often used paired with 

other activities such as hiking, 

cycling and kayaking, to name 

just a few. They are a truly global 

product, so with that in mind, 

here’s a snapshot of 50 companies 

that could help you make a 

meaningful international business 

connection… 

Photo: Chausson 

▲ Motorhome accessories are 

an essential part of the market 

ACCESSORIES 

This is a huge market in 

motorhomes – not only OEM 

products that are made and 

then used by motorhome 

manufacturers (think doors, air 

conditioning, walls, windows, 

fly screens, steps, bike racks etc), 

but also sold at retail level in the 

aftermarket. The sheer size and 

versatility of a motorhome leaves 

it wide open to a huge collection 

of accessories that can be bought 

at OEM or retail level – and 

that’s before you even think about 

add-ons such as awnings. The 

business opportunities in the 

motorhome sector a wide-ranging 

and so are the companies that 

could help you make the most of 

those opportunities. 

MOTORHOME BRANDS 

Airstream 

www.airstream.com 

Adria 

www.adria-mobil.com 

Apollo 

www.apollocamper.com 

Auto-Sleepers 

www.auto-sleepers.com 

Auto-Trail 

www.auto-trail.co.uk 

Bailey of Bristol 

www.baileyofbristol.co.uk 

Benimar 

www.benimar.es 

Bürstner 

www.buerstner.com 

Carthago 

www.carthago.com 

Chausson 

chausson-motorhomes.com 

Dethleffs 

www.dethleffs.de 

Elddis 

www.elddis.co.uk 

Eura Mobil 

www.euramobil.de 

Frankia 

www.frankia.com 

Giottiline 

www.giottiline.com 

Hobby 

www.hobby-caravan.de 

Hymer 

www.hymer.com 

Jayco 

www.jayco.com.au 

Kabe 

www.kabe.se 

Kea Motorhomes 

www.keamotorhomes.com 

Knaus 

www.knaus.com 



Photo: Bailey of Bristol 

PARTS & ACCESSORIES 

Alphaseats 

www.alphaseat.de 

AL-KO 

www.al-ko.com 

CaraControl 

www.caracontrol.eu 

Dometic 

www.dometic.com 

Horrex 

www.horrex.nl 

Liontron 

https://liontron.com 

Lippert 

www.lci1.com 

Miriad Products 

www.miriad-products.com 

Ofolux 

www.ofolux.it 

Laika 

www.laika.it 

Roller Team 

www.rollerteam.it 

Wingamm 

www.wingamm.com 

Teleco 

www.telecogroup.com 

Malibu 

www.malibu-carthago.com 

STX Motorhomes 

www.stxmotorhomes.com 

Winnebago 

www.winnebago.com 

TenHaaft 

www.ten-haaft.com 

Mobilvetta 

www.mobilvetta.it 

Swift 

www.swiftgroup.co.uk 

Thetford 

www.thetford-europe.com 

Morelo 

www.morelo-reisemobile.de 

Niessman+Bischoff 

www.niesmann-bischoff.com 

Pilote 

www.pilote.fr 

Rapido 

www.rapido-camping-car.fr 

Talvor 

www.talvor.com 

Thor Motor Coach 

www.thormotorcoach.com 

Tiffin Motorhomes 

www.tiffinmotorhomes.com 

Weinsberg 

www.weinsberg.com 

*Note: We know this isn’t 

every company that deals 

in tents on the planet, but 

we hope you can make 

a meaningful business 

connection through it. If you 

feel we’ve missed you out, 

contact us today to talk about 

editorial opportunities. 

Truma 

www.truma.net 

Solbio 

www.getsolbio.com 

SuperSprings International 

www.supersprings.com 


SUSTAINABLITY BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

BECOME 

A BETTER 

BUSINESS 

Creating genuine 

sustainability 

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword in modern business, it’s something to build a 

business on. But being authentic with your efforts and not just using them as a PR stunt is 

the only real way to gain benefits and make an actual difference, says our marketing guru. 

■ Y 

ou might be sick to death 

of hearing about eco this 

or sustainability that – 

but that’s actually a good thing. 

It means that so many companies 

are making those things a part of 

their company ethos or business 

plans that it could really be 

making a difference. After many 

years of awareness campaigns by 

many different companies and 

media, the environment is finally 

being taken seriously in business. 

No longer is having a green 

message just something you can 

put out there to try and appeal to 

a wider audience, it’s something 

consumers increasingly expect 

and seek out. It has to be genuine. 

As businesses, as employees and 

as consumers, we all care much 

more about the environment 

than we ever have. That doesn’t 

necessarily mean we’re all doing 

it completely right or that we’re 

all doing the absolute maximum 

we can, but it’s a start. And if a 

start is where you find yourself 

with your company or with your 

life – wanting to lead a personal 

and professional lifestyle with a 

softer footprint – then it can be 

daunting. What’s fantastic about 

green movements is that you only 

need to make a few small changes 

and that can start adding up to 

make a real difference. 

The best place to start is by 

taking a bird’s eye view of your 

company and its processes. Are 

they as efficient as they could be? 

Is there unnecessary waste? What 

can you do better? By taking a 

holistic view of your company 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS SUSTAINABLITY 

you can spot the areas where 

small improvements can be made. 

Could you source your energy 

from more sustainable sources? 

Could you recycle waste material 

more? Could you contribute 

some of your financial wealth to 

eco projects? Not that long ago, 

these were questions not many 

businesses asked themselves, 

and if they did, it was for purely 

selfish reasons. However, in the 

modern world, if you don’t care 

about your company’s impact 

on the environment, you are in 

a shrinking and increasingly 

isolated minority. The very nature 

of the camping industry means 

that many of the companies 

within it are run by people who 

love the outdoors and nature, and 

subsequently care about both very 

deeply. You don’t have to look 

around much to see examples 

of that – from huge multinational 

companies down to 

small start-ups – almost everyone 

in this industry has their focus 

firmly fixed on making it more 

sustainable. 

The most important things 

to be when thinking about 

sustainability are genuine, 

authentic and proactive. You 

have to really want to make a 

difference and then making small 

sacrifices to achieve eco goals 

will become easier. You also have 

to seek out the opportunities 

and the ideas, they won’t come 

to you (at least not for a long 

time). Time taken to sit down 

and examine your business and 

its impact on the environment is 

time well spent, not just for today 

but for tomorrow too. 

ECO FACTS AND FIGURES 

3 planets 

Would be required to provide the natural resources current 

lifestyles require if the global population reaches 9.7billion by 

2050, as predicted 

US$120b 

Is the annual saving the 

world would make if 

everyone switched to energy 

efficient lightbulbs 

85.9b 

Is the global material 

footprint in metric tons 

35% 

Is the estimated increase 

in the global motor vehicle 

stock since 2002. 

20% 

Or less of all electronic waste 

was recycled between 2010 

and 2019 

79 countries 

(Plus the European Union) have reported at least one policy 

to report sustainable consumption and production since the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

▲ Something as simple as a tree planting initiative, or even 

contributing financially to one, is a great starting point. 

* All stats from the United Nations Responsible Consumption 

and Production program 


SUSTAINABLITY BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

6 tips to help you run a greener business... 

Reduce, reuse and recycle 

One of the most obvious ways in which 

to reduce your impact is to reuse and 

recycle things as much as possible. Try 

to discourage the ‘one-use’ mentality 

in your workplace – before you even 

think about throwing something into 

trash and landfill, carefully consider if it 

can be reused or repurposed somehow. 

It’s not always possible, but with a 

little creative thinking you might be 

able to use those aluminium offcuts 

for something else, even if it’s just 

something around the workshop. Even 

something as simple as going paperless 

with documents can make a huge 

difference in an office or factory. 

For those things that simply have to 

be thrown away, make sure you recycle 

them however you can. Talk to your local 

or national authorities about the correct 

ways to dispose of and recycle materials 

– it’s often much easier than you expect. 

To go that extra step further, consider 

whether you can make use of waste 

materials and recycle them into new 

products yourself. 

Keep it homemade 

One of the worst contributors to climate 

change is the way products and materials 

are constantly shipped around the globe. 

To help reduce your part in this impact, 

why not consider using more materials 

from your own country where possible? 

Of course, a lot of the time you have to 

source parts or materials or even the 

whole manufacturing process overseas, 

but if you can reduce your dependency 

on that even just 10 per cent, it will make 

a difference. Try and make things in your 

own country with your own country’s 

materials and you will drastically reduce 

your carbon footprint. 

If it’s broke, fix it 

One really simple change almost every 

company can make in order to reduce 

waste is to offer a repair service to your 

customers. Whether it’s an outdoor 

jacket, a tent or even the fixtures in a 

caravan, by offering a repair service you 

will be encouraging your customers 

to keep their old gear and get it fixed 

rather than buying something new and 

throwing the existing one away. This 

might seem counter-intuitive from a new 

product sales point of view, but actually 

it can build real loyalty with customers 

for your brand. You don’t have to do it for 

free – most consumers are happy to pay 

a small fee to get something fixed rather 

than fork out for a new one. By creating 

a positive experience in fixing someone’s 

product, you are also creating a warm 

feeling towards your brand – because you 

helped a consumer do something that 

makes them feel like they’re doing their 

bit. Making a customer feel good about 

themselves has zero downsides, so what 

are you waiting for? 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS SUSTAINABLITY 

Offset 

In many instances we simply have 

to do things that aren’t great for the 

environment. We can’t always use 

sustainable energy, sometimes there is 

waste, some products are just simply not 

very eco. In those cases, the best thing 

you can do as a company is to offset 

the harm. There are many different tree 

planting initiatives out there, which you 

can contribute to, or perhaps you could 

just consider making contributions or 

donations to other charitable causes 

that do good for the environment. 

Even donating the rejects from your 

production line is a great way to offset. 

Second-hand success 

The second-hand market is already 

something that thrives in leisure vehicles, 

but it is something we could all pay more 

attention to. By focussing on how we 

can sell second-hand products that are 

already out there in the world, we will 

be reducing the new products made 

and subsequently waste. Of course, 

there will always be new products, but 

by having a focus on how you can help 

people find second-hand alternatives, 

you’ll be helping significantly. You’ll be 

extending the life of products already 

out there in the world and reducing 

waste significantly, while also potentially 

attracting a new demographic of 

customer who can’t afford to buy brandnew 

items all the time. You could even 

offer discounts to those customers 

buying new products if they trade in their 

old ones. 

Promote your efforts 

Whatever you are doing in terms 

of sustainability or improving your 

company’s relationship with the 

environment, make sure you shout 

about it. Marketing what you are doing 

is essential, but it’s not as easy as it 

used to be. Sadly many companies who 

have jumped on the ‘greenwashing’ 

bandwagon are just trying to reap the 

kudos of being green without actually 

making many significant changes. 

This means consumers can be a little 

desensitised to green messaging. The 

way around that is to be absolutely as 

transparent as you possibly can be. One 

of the best examples in the world of this 

is outdoor clothing brand Patagonia. 

On their website you can see where 

every single product they sell is made, 

by whom and using what. This shows 

there’s nothing to hide, and while even 

Patagonia would admit they still have 

a ways to go in terms of being perfect 

environmentally, by being honest they 

are showing they’re doing everything 

they can at this moment in time. 



SUPERSPRINGS 

TRAILER SUMO SPRINGS 

100 per cent made in the USA, Trailer 

SumoSprings are manufactured using microcellular 

polyurethane and are designed to 

remove sway and vibration from your trailer. 

They are a zero-maintenance, airless air 

spring that increases overall driver control 

and comfort when towing. They have a 

lifetime warranty and are guaranteed to 

make your journey better. 

www.superspringsinternational.com 

LIPPERT 

R-BIKE 

Desiged to hold two e-bikes, which are fast becoming a 

hugely popular accessory for consumers who love camping in 

campervans, caravans and motorhomes, the R-Bike can also hold 

three traditional pedal bikes. Flexible in its use, the R-Bike can be 

used to mount an original line of Lippert storage accessories and 

was designed to use the most popular bike carrier attachments in 

the market today. 

www.lci1.com 

www.lippertcomponents.eu 

SITKA 

KELVIN 

AEROLITE 

30 SLEEPING 

BAG 

Billed as the sleeping 

bag that never sleeps, 

the Kelvin Aerolite 30 

from American brand 

Sitka has a jacket-like 

design that includes 

zippered, functional 

armholes, contoured 

shoulders and hood 

and a centre-front, 

two-way zipper. It’s 

a sleeping bag and 

a multi-functional 

piece of outerwear in 

one. It benefits from 

PrimaLoft Synthetic 

Gold Insulation 

and Cross Core 

technology. 

www.sitkagear.com 

FABSIL 

UNIVERSAL PROTECTOR UV 

A product that helps to prolong the life of tents, 

awnings and outdoor clothing, Fabsil Universal 

Protector is an easy-to-apply, paint-on waterproofing 

treatment formulated to restore water-repellency 

and add UV protection. You can buy it in three sizes 

of container – 1ltr, 2.5ltr and 5ltr. It makes a great 

add-on sale to anyone buying a tent or awning and 

also encourages people to extend the life of their 

products rather than just throwing them away. 

www.fabsil.com 



MSR 

GUARDIAN GRAVITY PURIFIER 

The Guardian Gravity Purifier has you covered with safe 

water around the world, removing viruses, bacteria, 

protozoa, sediment and microplastics hands-free. Simply 

hang it while you go about your tasks at the hostel, 

basecamp or campsite – its 10ltr reservoir supports the 

daily water needs of multiple people. Originally designed 

to protect servicemembers in the field, this rugged purifier 

handles the abuse of travel and meets the NSF P248 

military testing standard. 

www.msrgear.com 

BALLISTOL 

UNIVERSAL OIL 

Ballistol’s Universal Oil can be used effectively 

to maintain metal, wood, leather, rubber, 

synthetic material, skin, animal coats and 

much more. Widely used in the handicraft, 

agriculture, household, gardening, vehicles, 

fishing, hunting, shooting sports and general 

outdoors, this has almost unlimited uses in 

camping and RVs. 

www.ballistol.eu 

SNOW PEAK 

TAKIBI FIRE AND GRILL 

Durable, well-designed and packable, this excellent campsite fireplace is 

perfect for setting up a warming fire no matter where you pitch. It is strong 

yet lightweight and supplies with its own pack and carry bag, baseplate to 

protect grass and even a grill so you can actually use the fire too cook with as 

well as to stay warm. We first saw this at the National Camping Show in the 

UK and we like it a lot. 

www.snowpeak.com 

OUTWELL 

MOVIE SCREEN 

Never miss the big match again, or enjoy 

a movie night on the campsite with this 

excellent, portable movie screen from 

Outwell. Made form technical cotton, the 

screen is specially treated to prevent light 

penetration so you can sure of a clear and 

bright picture wherever you set it up. Works 

just as well in a tent or on the inside of your 

caravan. 

www.outwell.com 



LAIKA 

ECOVIP 

Recent recipient of the reddot Design Award with 

its space compact model, the Ecovip range of 

motorhomes from Laika is growing in popularity 

around Europe. With stylish design and a host of 

exciting features such as TV compartment, dropdown 

bed completely integrated in the wall unit 

line, underseat storage, the Ecovip has a lot going 

for it. It also features unrivalled insulation thanks to 

the XPS foam used in the walls and roof. 

www.laika.it 

ROLLER TEAM 

PEGASO 590 

This compact yet capable motorhome promises a 

whole host of features for an affordable price. It is one 

of the few Class A motorhomes under 6m in length 

and provides easy-to-drive performance and smart, 

space-saving ideas inside. The four-berth 590 features 

a spacious rear washroom, L-shaped kitchen area and 

drop-down double bed. 

www.rollerteammotorhomes.co.uk 

FENDT-CARAVAN 

TENDENZA 

The 2022 version of Fendt-Caravan’s hugely popular Tendenza 

range of caravans brings four new well-thought-out floorplans that 

the company says are perfect for design lovers. With a distinctive 

exterior design, the caravan also features TFT touch control panel, 

oven with barbecue function, Truma gas heater, clevel lighting in 

the wardrobes and by the awning rail, and practical lowered entry 

with carpet. 

www.fendt-caravan.com 

KNAUS 

VAN TI 640 MEG VANSATION 

This new incarnation of an already popular motorhome is now based 

on the MAN TGE vehicle and offers a super large interior thanks 

to the FoldXpand rear design and MAN chassis. The motorhome 

includes smooth sheet metal side walls, 17” MAN light alloy wheels, 

air conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated side view mirrors, 

insect protection door, navigation system, awning, TV, ambient 

lighting, bed extension for reclining area, water filter system, Truma 

iNet system, Truma CP‐Plus digital heating control panel, rear view 

camera, fatigue detection, cruise control with speed limiter. 

www.knaus.com 



BÜRSTNER 

LYSEO GALLERY 

German motorhome expert Bürstner has come up with a new 

concept with its Lyseo Gallery – the first motorhome model to unite 

the advantages of a coachbuilt/low profile motorhome with those of 

an over-cab bed/alcove model. When the vehicle is moving, the upper 

level is lowered; the vehicle then has the same silhouette as a low profile 

coachbuilt and is considerably more streamlined than ordinary overcab 

bed models, which saves fuel. Once parked up, the front part of the 

roof can then simply be elevated with the aid of compressed air and a 

specially developed air chamber system in next to no time. 

www.buerstner.com 

AIRSTREAM 

INTERSTATE 24X 

Built on the same powerful, capable Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 

Van chassis as its Airstream touring coach cousins, the 

Interstate 24X has a 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine that packs 

188 horsepower and 325 lbs of torque. It’s six rugged wheels 

and dirt-road-ready tires make it ideal for taking off-road 

while its excellent power means it can handle challenging 

terrain and tow up to 5,000lbs. When you place the backrests 

between the benchseats you can create one of the largest 

beds in any Class B motorhome. 

www.airstream.com 

HOBBY 

BEACHY 

A brand-new caravan for 2022 from German brand Hobby, the 

Beachy is an entry level unit designed to be affordable and 

adaptable to holidays – whatever the family size. There are three 

floorplans available with the largest able to sleep four adults or 

families of two adults and three children. The simplified caravan 

has no washroom (though it does have a sink), and a small 

kitchen with cool box and the possibility to add a cooking hob. 

www.beachy.de 

WESTFALIA 

COLUMBUS 600D 

All the style and quality you have come to 

expect from German firm Westfalia is available 

on the popular and reliable Fiat Ducato with 

the Columbus 600D. At just 5.99m in length, 

the motorhome is nimble and easy to drive but 

has a host of great interior features including 

convenient slide-out kitchen, large rear double 

bed and plenty of smart storage solutions. 

www.westfalia-mobil.com 



FIAT 

NEW DUCATO 

In its 40th anniversary year, the latest incarnation of the Fiat Ducato 

was recently revealed, retaining the things that has helped make it 

one of the most successful leisure vehicle base vehicles ever but with 

new style and features. Fiat has pulled out all the stops in terms on 

on-board technology and driver comfort and has also improved the 

performance and lowered the CO2 emissions significantly too. 

www.fiatprofessional.com 

SIERRA DESIGNS 

NIGHT CAP 

The zipperless design of 

the Sierra Night Cap with 

oversized comforter 

makes it lighter, 

easier to get in and 

out of, and less 

restrictive when 

you’re inside it. It also 

features a patented 

self-sealing foot vent, that 

provides quick and easily 

ventilation if you get too hot. 

The Night Cap also features 

recycled synthetic insulation 

that reduces the product’s 

environmental impact but 

also offers excellent warmth 

when needed. The sleeping 

bag is available in three 

versions: 20°, 20° Women’s 

version and 35°. 

www.sierradesigns.com 

WILD COUNTRY 

ZONDA 4EP 

Perfect for smaller families or couples the Zonda 4EP has all the 

great features of our inflatable tents in a more compact version. The 

smaller dimensions allow the use of 10cm diameter Air Flex poles that 

contribute to a smaller packed size. If you are looking at 4 man air 

tents then the Zonda 4 EP is an ideal choice and great for weekend 

getaways as well as longer holidays. 

www.terra-nova.co.uk 

TELECO 

SILENT PLUS 8100H 

Italian RV component firm Teleco has revealed a new 

Silent Plus 8100H air conditioner that replaces the 

previous Silent 8400H and Silent 7400H models in its 

range. The new Plus versions offering never-beforeseen 

performance and ergonomics including a new 

internal diffuser and a much more overall compact 

design. The Silent Plus 8100 uses the R32 coolant, in line 

with a Teleco environmental policy that has seen all air 

conditioners use this gas since 2020. 

www.telecogroup.com 



ESVO 

MANDAN 

ESVO Excellent Light-weight Cotton Tents are made for an 

adventurous outdoor life and experience. The ideal tents for the 

wanderer, backpacker, or biker, who expects a long lifetime of a tent. 

The cotton has been impregnated with an anti-mould and anti-dirt 

treatment. It also dries very easily but must be aired at short notice. 

The ventilating characteristics make it comfortable to sleep and stay. 

www.esvocampingshop.com 

CAMPINGAZ 

ATTITUDE 2GO CV 

For 2021, Campingaz has taken the Attitude range to the 

next level with the introduction of the Attitude 2go CV. This 

gas barbecue offers the same combination of sleek styling 

and pioneering, precision cooking as the larger Attitude 

barbecues, yet is more compact and lightweight so it can 

be easily transported to your favourite outdoor cooking 

spot. Light yet powerful, the Attitude 2go CV benefits from 

perfectly even heat distribution across the entire cast iron 

cooking surface thanks to the updated Blue Flame stainless 

steel burner and Campingaz’s Even Temp technology. 

www.campingaz.com 

LIPPERT 

SOLID STANCE STEP STABILIZER KIT 

A hugely popular product to enhance RVs – the Lippert Solid 

Stance Step Stabalizer kit is now available to dealers and 

warehouse distributors as an retail-ready aftermarket kit. By 

grounding the bottom step, the Solid Stance improves stability 

and convenience on all current Lippert double and triple steps as 

well as several competitors’ double and triple steps. 

www.lci1.com 

GRANGER’S 

TENT + GEAR CARE KIT 

With more emphasis than ever on repairing 

and re-using old kit, Granger’s is in the 

perfect position to sell plenty of this handy 

tent care kit. Included in the smartlypackaged 

box are three products: Granger’s 

Tent + Gear cleaner, its Tent + Gear Repel 

waterproofing product and an expanding 

sponge. All of this can help people extend 

the life of tents they thought were maybe 

resigned to landfill – win, win. 

www.grangers.co.uk 


www.campingtradeworld.com

Camping Trade World – Issue 03

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?