Camping Trade World – Issue 08

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 08 | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 

Rolling awnings 

crafted in Italy 

Find out more on page 32 

M: info@scalabros.it 

D: www.scalabros.it

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WITH 

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Welcome to the last suspension upgrade 

for your electric van. 

See more on page 34

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 

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 

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. A freelance designer 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. 

IS ELECTRIC REALLY THE DREAM? 

Y 

■ou’ll find a piece on 

pages 18 and 19 of this 

issue that investigates 

whether electric-powered 

RVs are the sole answer to the 

world’s fossil fuel problem. In 

my personal opinion, I’m not so 

certain they should be considered 

the golden bullet that many 

seem to think they are. Naturally, 

they vastly reduce carbon 

emissions (although we shouldn’t 

forget that a large part of how 

electricity is made is not exactly 

clean), but there a number of 

problems they face. One is 

infrastructure, particularly on 

campsites, which already have a 

large number of electric hook-up 

points for leisure batteries. There 

just isn’t enough infrastructure 

for a large proportion of the 

global population to have 

electric RVs, and to catch 

up will be a never-ending 

race. Then there’s the issue of 

range – at present, electric RVs 

simply do not meet the needs 

and expectations of end users, 

although this is something that 

many manufacturers are working 

very hard to solve. Electric 

vehicles will naturally evolve 

and improve, but to me it feels 

like everyone has thrown their 

eggs into one basket without 

truly thinking about the long 

game. There are other options 

out there: different natural gases, 

other liquid fuels, things that 

may be able to use the existing 

infrastructure we have for 

petroleum and diesel. I’m not 

purporting to know the answer 

to the riddle, but I do think it is 

worth the industry taking a little 

time and investment to explore 

some alternative options… 

You may (hopefully) notice 

that Camping Trade World seems 

a little smoother and faster 

this issue – that’s because we 

have changed to a new hosting 

partner Yumpu, which we hope 

will deliver an even better service 

for the camping, caravanning 

and RV industries. As always, 

please direct any feedback to me 

or one of the other members of 

the team. 

Also, don’t forget that the next 

issue will be our special Caravan 

Salon 2022 preview edition. 

If you’re going to be at the 

caravanning industry’s biggest 

event and want to let people 

know why they can’t afford to 

miss a visit to your stand, get 

in touch with us today to see 

how we can create a custom 

marketing plan for you. 

Enjoy the issue, 

David Guest 

04 | www.campingtradeworld.com

CONTENTS 

10 

16 

38 

44 

58 

BASECAMP 

06-13 Want the latest trends, news and views from the global 

camping and caravanning industry? You came to the right 

place. Our global round-up has you covered. 

THE DETAIL 

14 The Campfire Group, owner of Holtkamper and Easy 

Caravanning, has a new, centralised headquarters. 

16-17 One of the USA’s biggest roof tent brands, Roofnest, is 

making its way across the pond to set-up in the UK. 

18-19 Is the future of leisure vehicle propulsion electric, or are 

there other more viable long-term options? Enter the 

world of natural gas-powered vehicles. 

20-21 The camping market in South Korea continues to boom, 

we bring you a review of its biggest industry event. 

22-23 Eriba proves that luxury caravanning is still popular as it 

celebrates the production of its 100th Touring 820 model. 

24-25 A check of the financial results for some of the industry’s 

major players in the first quarter of 2022 shows that we are 

still flying high. 

FEATURES 

26-31 Our Doing Business With feature heads to the Far East and 

examines the camping and leisure vehicle market in Japan. 

32-33 Italian design, a passion for quality, and innovative product 

ideas: all of this could be yours by working with Scalabros. 

34-35 How SuperSprings International is helping electricpowered 

RVs perform to their maximum. 

38-41 Truma’s managing director commercial, Markus Heringer, 

reveals the company’s plans for the future in our exclusive 

interview. 

42-43 How did Kampgrounds of America become one of 

North America’s leading authorities in the market? We 

investigate on the company’s 60th anniversary. 

44-47 We look back on 65 years of Danish awning innovator 

Isabella to see where the company has come from and 

where it is headed for the future. 

48-53 The humble tent is part of a thriving market that could 

easily help you grow your business – our Sector Spotlight 

feature tells you how. 

54-57 Exhibitions are back on the menu. Our marketing guru 

helps you devise better strategies and obtain better results 

from them. 

MAKING CONTACT 

58-63 See some of the latest and greatest products that have hit 

the market in the last two months in our regular product 

highlight section. 

www.campingtradeworld.com | 05

BASE CAMP 

99 PROBLEMS BUT A CAMPSITE AIN’T ONE 

■ay-Z. Love him or hate him (or as both companies experience record 

maybe you have no opinion), you growth: Hipcamp, backed by Jay-Z, has 

J 

definitely know who he is. Well, seen a 460 per cent increase in bookings 

now the well-known rap artist is bringing since 2019, while the number of stays 

one of the USA’s best-known providers of booked via Cool Camping increased 340 

outdoor stays to Europe… sort of. Jay-Z per cent during the same period. 

backs Hipcamp, a fully remote company “It’s a hugely exciting moment as 

that helps farmers, ranchers, vintners, and we join forces with Hipcamp – our 

other landowners generate new revenue spiritual cousins internationally,” said 

streams to conserve their land and keep it Cool Camping founder Jonathan 

wild by offering it out as places to camp Knight. “We’re proud of the trust that 

and RV. Now people in the UK will be Cool Camping has built up with our 

able to book through Hipcamp.com after community during the past 15 years, and 

the company acquired Tripadee Ltd, a 

deal which includes the full integration of 

its popular Cool Camping brand into the 

Hipcamp platform. The acquisition comes 

as we now adopt the Hipcamp brand in 

the UK, we look forward to continuing to 

build on that trust. Our entire community 

will benefit from the Hipcamp platform 

- which makes getting outside at a 

moment’s notice easier than ever.” 

Jonathan will now serve as UK country 

manager for Hipcamp. 

“One of our core beliefs is that getting 

outside should be simple,” said Hipcamp 

founder and CEO Alyssa Ravasio. 

“Jonathan and his team have done so much 

great work to make that mission possible in 

the UK. I’m excited to further our shared 

mission of getting more people outside 

and inspiring a new love for nature.” Learn 

more online at www.hipcamp.com 

Photo: Hipcamp 

CARAVAN SALON HAS 

PULLING POWER 

Caravan Salon is without 

doubt the epicentre of a lot of 

what happens in our industry. 

So much so, that it often 

attracts companies on the 

fringes of caravanning and 

camping looking to get a firmer 

foothold with the customer 

base. One such example is 

Krug Expedition, an Austrian 

manufacturer of high-end 

expedition vehicles that has 

placed Caravan Salon at the 

top of its list of important trade 

shows for 2022. The company 

has highlighted Caravan Salon 

in Dusseldorf as one of the 

main events it will be present 

at, and it is inviting people to 

make appointments to view its 

latest innovations. As well as 

showcasing its Project Rhino 

Mercedes-Benz Atego 1023 in 

a new lightweight version, it 

will also be showing a surprise 

vehicle that it top secret until 

the exhibition begins. 

A statement from Krug 

explained: “Both the impact of 

COVID-19, which has caused 

a domino effect of pressure on 

supply chains and a crucial parts 

shortage over the past years, 

and the impact of the war in 

Ukraine have had a noticeable 

impact on the way we run our 

day-to-day business. 

“We believe in quality in every 

detail. With great intention 

and care, we used the past 

few months to strengthen the 

production of our tried-andtested 

range of Series Modules. 

The production capacities were 

expanded within Austria and at 

other locations within the EU, 

and our warehousing was thus 

able to be massively expanded. 

The goal being that we can 

keep our delivery promises 


BASE CAMP 

INDUSTRY INSIDERS 

IN THIS ISSUE 

▲ Austrian firm Krug Expedition is aiming to take full advantage of exhibiting at Caravan Salon. 

to our customers and deepen 

relationships with our customers 

and important partners.” Find 

out more about Krug at 

www.krugxp.com 

THE POWER OF SPORT 

Sport has the power to do many 

things. And one of those things 

is reinforce and enhance the 

reputation of your brand and 

the quality of your products. 

That’s probably part of the 

reason why German motorhome 

brand Carthago is continuing 

its partnership with professional 

cyclist and two-time Tour de 

France winner Tadej Pogačar 

by supplying him with another 

first-class motorhome to use 

during training and racing. 

The 23-year-old Slovenian is 

widely regarded as one of the 

top performers in world cycling 

at the moment and collected his 

new Carthago c-compactline 

motorhome from the company’s 

Slovenian factory in May – even 

taking part in a community bike 

ride with more than 200 of the 

facility’s employees. 

Marcus Kern, chairman of 

the Carthago management, 

said: “We are delighted that 

the top racing cyclist is relying 

on a top class motorhome 

from our company. Cycling 

and motorhomes have certain 

things in common: hard 

training and precision work are 

required in order to produce top 

performance in both areas.” 

Meanwhile Sandra Županec, 

managing director of Carthago 

d.o.o., added: “We are proud of 

the fact that Tadej Pogačar is 

staying on board as a part of the 

Carthago family. The outstanding 

popularity of this event with our 

employees on their weekend off 

is a good indication of the level 

of their identification with the 

top sportsman, who embodies 

the same values as the Carthago 

brand: team play, appreciation 

and trust.” For more, visit: 

www.carthago.com 

Eriba brand manager, 

Matthias Binder, explains 

his pride in the luxury 

caravan name as its 100th 

Touring 820 caravan was 

wheeled off the production 

line. P22 

Chelsea Ramm, vice 

president of global supply 

chain at Lightning eMotors, 

gives an insight into how 

it is helping create electric 

vehicles that could be 

of great value to the RV 

industry. P34 

Truma’s commercial 

managing director Markus 

Heringer explains how the 

company plans to achieve 

its aim of making camping 

safer and more comfortable 

with continuous 

innovations. P38 

▲ Tadej Pogacar (centre, pink top) with the Carthago team from its Slovenian production plant. 


BASE CAMP 

STUDY KEY FINDINGS 

Photo: Thor Industries 

ELECTRIC EXPECTATIONS 

■lectric RVs are coming, there’s no doubt about that. But 

are they going to deliver what people want and need 

E 

them to? That’s what the world’s biggest manufacturer 

of RVs, Thor Industries, set out to discover when it conducted its 

recent North American Motorized Electric RV Study. The dawn 

of this new product category represents a great opportunity for 

the industry to build truly customer-centric products that cater 

precisely to the needs of campers. The study revealed several 

interesting trends, but the overriding message was long-range is 

key – 45 per cent of consumers expect to be able to drive for five 

to six hours on a single charge. 

Thor president and CEO, Bob Martin, said: “As the global 

leader in the RV industry, it’s important that we share some of the 

critical data and insights used to inform innovation efforts across 

the THOR family of companies, which allow us to anticipate and 

exceed consumer expectations. 

“Our motorized electric RV study confirms that the highvoltage 

motorized platform we’ve developed meets the 

expectations of consumers, however charging infrastructure 

development is necessary to increase adoption. When it comes 

to electrification, THOR is positioned to redefine the RV 

experience.” Learn more at: www.thorindustries.com 

08 | www.campingtradeworld.com 

47% 

Expect to use a motorised 

electric RV at least “once a 

week or more often” or “once 

evert two to three weeks”. 

97% 

Expect to drive for three hours 

or longer before charging. 

70% 

report that the inclusion of an 

onboard fuel cell for recharging 

the vehicle’s battery positively 

impacts their purchase interest 

level, regardless of a small 

carbon footprint. 

44% 

Expect a fast-charging (onehour) 

station at each individual 

campground spot. 

47% 

Report charging time is 

expected to be 45-59 minutes. 

34% 

Report charging cost from 

empty to full is expected to be 

US$41 to US$60. 

GREEN AND PLEASANT 

Being green is, of course, high 

on the agenda for most modern 

businesses, especially those in 

this industry, which depends on 

a healthy environment for people 

to be able to enjoy camping. 

Many of us probably think 

we are doing the right thing 

when it comes to this, but to 

get a real sense of affirmation, 

receiving an award for your 

efforts is a big help. That’s what 

recently happened to eco toilet 

and fluid producer Solbio and 

eco coolbox inventor QOOL. 

Solbio was awarded with the 

Ecogarantie label for 2022 – a 

label that recognises brands 

that show strong commitment 

to offer real ecological, to help 

consumers ascertain what is a 

real eco product versus those 

that claim to be. The Ecogarantie 

label means a product is 100 

per cent organic, 100 per 

cent neutral, biodegradable, 

features no GMO and no 

petrochemicals. Meanwhile 

QOOL managed to impress a 

panel of 26 international judges 

and be awarded the Green 

Product Award for the ‘Kitchen’ 

category with its Box Eco+. 

This product is the first cooler 

made of recycled material that is 

insulated with vacuum insulation 

panels and equipped with special 

temperature elements. This 

allows it to keep temperatures 

between -25 °C to +25 °C 

constantly for up to 10 days. The 

temperature can be defined by 

selecting different temperature 

elements, which contain special 

liquids depending on the 

temperature range.

BASE CAMP 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS 

The who’s who of hires and promotions 

Leading German motorhome maker 

Carthago is continuing its partnership 

with elite pro cyclist Tadej Pogacar. The 

23-year-old Slovenian rider collected a 

new Carthago c-compactline motorhome 

from the one of the company’s factories 

in Slovenia to use as his base for training 

and racing. German RV and caravan 

door manufacturing expert Konrad 

Baur has announced an expansion to 

its management team with Thomas 

Baur-Beyerlin becoming the company’s 

new COO. Thomas is the brother of the 

company’s current CEO Benjamin Baur 

and the son of the founder and CTO 

Konrad Baur, further strengthening the 

company’s family-run ethos. Another 

leading German leisure vehicle producer, 

Knaus Tabbert, has appointed Stephan 

Petschow as its new head of marketing. 

Stephan replaces Christoph Bauer, who 

after five years in this role will assume 

another key position on the company. 

The previous interim head of marketing, 

Maximilian Recke, will remain on as 

deputy head of marketing to support 

Stephan in the new role. Leading 

European camping manufacturer Oase 

Outdoors ApS, which owns brands 

Outwell, Robens and Easy Camp, has 

announced that it will have a new CEO 

in the shape of Henrik Bernth. Henrik, 

who previously served as sales director 

for Oase Outdoors before working for 

three years as CEO of the Danish Ocean 

Textile Group, will take the reins from 

Henrik Arens, who is stepping aside 

after many years of excellent leadership. 

The change is expected to take effect 

by 1 August. There have also been 

some personnel changes at American 

RV components expert Lippert. Julie 

Markiewicz has been promoted to the 

role of vice president of internal audit 

and compliance, while Matthew Johnson 

has been named as the new managing 

director of Lippert Marine Group Europe. 

The company has also promoted Greg 

Moeller to the position of vice president 

of sales: building products, while Chad 

Novak has been promoted to the position 

of vice president of sales. 

Tell us about your hires and promotions via: 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk

BASE CAMP 

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT 

H 

■opefully you have noticed something different 

about Camping Trade World this month. We 

have partnered with digital publishing expert 

Yumpu to vastly improve our product – making it faster, 

more user-friendly, and with all-new smart features 

such as directly embedded videos. It’s all part of our 

mission to continue to deliver the very best industry 

resource we can for the camping, caravanning and RV 

industries. All back issues of our magazine have been 

updated to this new host, and all future issues will be 

on it. We hope you enjoy it, and we always welcome 

feedback. Get in touch with editor David Guest at: 


IF YOU WANT 

SOMETHING DONE 

RIGHT… 

You know the rest: do it yourself. 

That is precisely the mentality 

that Germany brand Hymer 

has taken by becoming the first 

motorhome manufacturer to 

start mass-producing its very 

own chassis after opening a 

new production facility in Bad 

Waldsee. The company has 

been working on construction 

of its so-called Super Light 

Chassis (SLC) production hall 

for around two years, and it 

claims to be the first bodywork 

manufacturer to start massproducing 

its very own chassis. 

It also means that Hymer’s 

centralised production will 

handle almost every crucial part 

of the value creation chain, as 

well as allowing it to respond 

faster and more flexibly to the 

current market situation and 

future changes. 

Christian Bauer, president 

of Hymer GmbH & Co. KG., 

said: “Hymer has been known 

as a pioneer in the motorhome 

and caravanning industry for 

more than 60 years. By opening 

the SLC hall, we’re proud that 

we’ll become the first bodywork 

manufacturer to start actively 

producing its own chassis, which 

will enable us to take a truly 

▲ The new chassis manufacturing facility opens at Hymer. 

pioneering step forwards.” 

Hymer also says that in 

the process of developing this 

facility it worked on a number 

of automated solutions that will 

provide better safety for staff 

members. It also offers better 

ergonomics, quality control 

and more precision when 

manufacturing motorhomes. 

The facility is expected to be 

fully operational by June 2022, 

and Hymer will initially use 

it to produce the SLC chassis 

with five different wheelbases – 

starting with the short versions 

from 3.90 metres through to 

the tandem axle model for the 

B-Class MasterLine I 890. 

DEALS ON WHEELS 

FCA Bank, a leading provider 

of mobility financial services, 

has agreed a pan-European 

partnership with one of the 

continent’s biggest motorhome 

manufacturers Carthago. The 

agreement will see FCA Bank 

provide financial services to 

Carthago’s network of more 

than 250 dealers as well as to 

end users, and will cover both 

Carthago products and also 

products of its Malibu brand. 

Through this partnership 

with Carthago, and the recent 

arrangements with two other 

prestigious manufacturers, 

Knaus Tabbert and Concorde, 

FCA Bank will cover around 40 

per cent of the total European 

motorhome market. 

One of the UK’s best-known 

tent manufacturers Terra Nova 

has taken the decision to become 

employee owned. The company, 

which also encompasses the 

Wild Country and Extremities 

brands, has been run by husband 

and wife team Andy Utting and 

Carolyn Budding for the past 

22 years. The couple have now 

transferred their ownership to 

an employee ownership trust 


BASE CAMP 

in a move aimed at giving staff 

a greater sense of ownership 

and its benefits as the business 

continues to grow and develop. 

Lippert has announced the 

acquisition of Girard Systems 

and Girard Products, a wellknown 

RV industry supplier 

of awnings and tankless water 

heaters. The deal was completed 

via LCI Industries’ subsidiary 

firm Lippert Components 

Manufacturing. 

Girard has been a wellregarded 

name in the RV 

industry since 1995 and is 

particularly known for its 

high quality products and 

exceptional service. Having 

created a significant niche 

in the motorized segment of 

the market, Girard’s patented 

awnings are featured on 

many of the premier Class A 

motorized units. 

FIVE STATS TO MAKE YOU THINK 

Dometic recently announced all its European production facilities now run on renewable 

01 electricity, saving as much carbon emissions as it takes to charge 572,000,000 smartphones. 

One of Germany’s biggest leisure vehicle manufacturers, Knaus Tabbert, has reported 

02 an order intake of 6,000 units for the quarter as well as an increase of two per cent in 

units delivered to 7,247. 

British outdoor kit and camping brand Alpkit has received a £2.7 million funding package 

03 from HSBC UK, backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF) to help support its international growth. 

Thor Industries has uncovered that 45 per cent of consumers expect to be able to drive 

04 for five to six hours on a single charge in an electric RV. 

Bookings for UK campsites were up by 72 per cent in April 2022 compared to the same 

05 period pre-pandemic while forward bookings also look strong with 104 per cent growth 

so far this year. 


AROUND THE WORLD 

UNITED STATES 

Registration is now open for the RV Industry 

Association’s annual industry conference 

focused on the RV aftermarket segment. The 

2022 RV Aftermarket Conference will take place 

in San Antonio, Texas from 8 to 11 August and is 

focused on supporting the parts and accessory 

purchasing experience to benefit supply chain 

members and end users. The event will offer 

attendees the chance to learn vital business 

information about new customers entering the 

market, give networking opportunities with 

colleagues around the United States, offer a 

new meetings application that makes booking 

appointments easier than ever before, and host 

the annual RV Aftermarket Awards to highlight 

the top suppliers, distributors, reps and products 

of the year. Information about registration and 

also discounted accommodation info can be 

found online at www.rvia.org 

01 

Around the world 

Camping and leisure vehicles are a global business, but 

each corner of the world faces its 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: 


FRANCE 

France has long been one of the hotbeds of the camping and caravanning 

industry in Europe, but even this hugely well-established market is not immune 

to new trends. According to a report by UNIVDL, the French RV industry 

association, the humble mini-caravan is causing quite the stir in the market 

there. The report features input from several industry leaders who all believe 

that while the mini-caravan is still a niche market, it is one that is attracting new 

people to caravanning, specifically those from a younger demographic or with 

less expendable income. Could there be a time where mini-caravans will be on 

every campsite in France? Only time will tell. 

See the full story online at www.univdl.com 


AROUND THE WORLD 

03 

UNITED KINGDOM 

A leading network of campsites in the Scotland and England has recently changed 

ownership and is looking towards a bright future. The Camping in the Forest network 

of campsites has been acquired by Forestry England and Forestry and Land Scotland 

after reaching an agreement to buy the controlling 72 per cent shareholding from the 

Camping and Caravanning Club. The move will allow Forestry England and Forestry 

and Land Scotland to develop the network of 16 campsites located within beautiful 

national forests in the country while the Camping and Caravanning Club can focus on 

maintaining the highest levels of service and experience for its customers at its near 100 

Club Sites throughout the country. 

Learn more at www.forestryengland.uk 

04 

DENMARK 

Industry body Camping Outdoor 

Denmark has made its stance clear 

for the country’s upcoming Finance 

Act 2023 as it attempts to make 

life fairer and more affordable for 

caravan and motorhome owners 

in the country. The organisation 

is proposing that caravans and 

motorhomes should be subject to 

reduced registration tax and fuel 

consumption tax due to the fact 

they drive far fewer kilometres than 

regular cars and are equipped with 

on-board facilities. Curently only 

classic cars over the age of 35 enjoy 

this tax relief. Camping Outdoor 

Denmark is also proposing to 

equalise the weight tax between 

caravans and trailers – at present 

caravan owners pay significantly 

more road tax in Denmark than 

those with regular trailers. 

Find out more at www.ocff.dk 

05 

GERMANY 

Despite difficult trading conditions and supply chain issues, the caravan and 

motorhome industry in Germany recorded a positive first quarter of 2022. New 

registrations of leisure vehicles fell slightly by about 4.8 per cent to 23,061 for the 

quarter, but that is compared to record figures from 2021. It is still higher than 

figures from 2020 and 2019. That figure is broken down by 17,485 new motorhomes 

registered (down 8.3 per cent on 2021) and 5,576 new caravans registered (up 7.9 per 

cent on 2021). Despite a lack of vehicle chassis, components and an overall shortage 

of materials, both motorhomes and caravans were able to top last year’s results in 

January and February. 

Visit www.civd.de for more. 

06 

AUSTRALIA 

The Caravan Industry Association of 

Australia announced with winners 

of its annual awards at the 2022 

edition of its National Conference 

in front of a 400-strong crowd on 

1 April. The Eric Hayman Award 

for Excellence was given to Chris 

Goddard. Meanwhile, Chris Johnson 

picked up the Richard Davis OAM 

Award, the Gerry Ryan OAM Award 

for Innovation was received by 

newBook, while Andrew Hewitt of 

BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park won 

the Apollo Future Leaders Award, 

which recognises dedication and 

outstanding achievements from 

the industry’s up-and-comers. 

Elsewhere, Blye Sky Caravans picked 

up People’s Choice Manufacturer 

of the Year and BIG4 Great Lakes 

at Forster Tuncurry won People’s 

Choice Caravan Park of the Year. 

See more about these awards at 

www.caravanindustry.com.au 


CAMPFIRE GROUP THE DETAIL 

A future of unity 

Campfire Group, the Dutch company that owns trailer tent brands Holtkamper and Easy 

Caravanning, has opened a brand new manufacturing facility in Emmen, the Netherlands, 

that centralises its operations and improves overall efficiency and profitability. 

C 

■ampfire Group, the 

Dutch company that 

owns trailer tent 

brands Holtkamper and Easy 

Caravanning, has opened a 

brand new manufacturing 

facility in Emmen, the 

Netherlands. The facility will 

be known as the company’s 

Tent Trailer Center Basecamp 

and will allow the company 

to centralise its activities and 

become more efficient. As well 

as a manufacturing centre, the 

new location will also host the 

company’s marketing, sales, 

service, purchasing, warehouse, 

engineering and administration 

activities, as well as the tent 

workshop. 

Maarten de Roos, managing 

director of the Campfire Group, 

said: “The centralisation of 

our activities in Northern 

Netherlands is the next step in 

rolling out our growth strategy at 

home and abroad. 

“With start-up Easy 

Caravanning now in the scaleup 

phase, it was a logical next 

step to bring together the three 

locations for the assembly 

of our two own brands and 

the showroom and service 

workshop. This way, we can 

realise maximum synergy in both 

front and back-office activities. 

The Holtkamper assembly 

line (in close co-operation 

with manufacturing partner 

Technologies Added) is located 

within walking distance at the 

Kapitein Grantstraat.” 

Campfire Group’s maneger 

of operations, Niels Gerrits, 

▲ The new home of Holtkamper and Easy Caravanning in Emmen, in the north Netherlands. 

added: “The popularity for 

camping has further increased 

over the past few years - partly 

due to the influence of the 

corona pandemic. Light compact 

camping concepts are gaining 

popularity as today’s tow vehicles 

are more and more equipped 

with smaller energy efficient 

engines and/or fully electric 

drive trains. As Campfire Group, 

we have seen our growth further 

increase with the introduction 

of our 2nd own brand Easy 

Caravanning at the end of 2019. 

Several new projects are also 

in the pipeline for the coming 

years to further strengthen this 

strategy. It was therefore time, 

also from a capacity point of 

view, to move to a new larger 

location.” 

The new Emmen facility 

will have eight workstations in 

its production line, each with 

separate cells for subassembly, 

prototype construction and 

woodworking. 

After entering the factory, 

visitors walk through a corridor 

to the showroom. In the corridor, 

a small history exhibition looks 

back at the development of both 

trailer tent brands. In a time 

of increasing consolidation of 

manufacturers in the camping 

industry by European or global 

groups of manufacturers, with 

this new factory, the Netherlands 

has gained a unique independent 

manufacturer of top-of-therange 

trailer tents. 

Learn more at 

www.holtkamper.nl and 

www.easycaravanning.com 


ROOFNEST THE DETAIL 

Going big in Blighty: 

RoofNest leaps 

across the pond 

Wild camping is gaining serious popularity in the UK, so much so that one of 

the USA’s largest rooftop tent brands has launched its collection of rugged and 

accessible models to campers in the country. 

Photos: Roofnest 


THE DETAIL ROOFNEST 

WHY ROOFNEST? 

Roofnest tents deploy in 

seconds — Campers can 

go from driver’s seat to 

sleeping bag in a matter of 

moments. 

Sleep above the ground — 

On the car’s roof, campers 

avoid rocky or watersaturated 

campsites as 

well as late-night intrusions 

from animals. 

▲ Roofnest roof tents can be easily fitted to a wide range of vehicles, including saloons, SUVs, 

trucks, vans and even campervans – opening up a world of camping to many. 

T 

■he popularity of 

camping is such that 

people are seeking to 

enjoy its benefits any which 

way they can. Whether that’s 

from the relative comfort of 

a motorhome or caravan, or 

via the more nomadic method 

of tents, specifically rooftop 

tents. This boom is this market 

sector has been so strong that 

the largest manufacturer of 

rooftop tents in the United 

States, Boulder, Coloradobased 

Roofnest, has decided to 

expand its sales network into 

the vibrant United Kingdom 

market. 

“Wild camping is more 

popular than ever across 

the UK. With more people 

exploring nature, we saw an 

opportunity to bring our brand 

of weather-resistant, accessible, 

and easy-to-use rooftop tents 

to the United Kingdom,” said 

Roofnest Founder Tim Nickles. 

“We are confident that 

would-be wild campers, 

especially those who live in 

cities, will find Roofnest’s 

rooftop tents the perfect way to 

explore more remote portions 

of Great Britain without 

sacrificing their city-size car or 

urban lifestyle.” 

Roofnest has spent years 

developing a diverse line of 

hard-shell rooftop tents from its 

mountain town base in Boulder 

and aims to make wild camping 

easier, more comfortable, and 

more fun. Roofnest tents can 

mount to any car, hatch, SUV, 

truck, or van and transform it 

into a campervan worthy of 

the most unique wild-camping 

experience. 

The company will begin in 

the UK market with its pop-up 

Sparrow and fold-out Condor 

models. The Sparrow pop-up 

tent measures 211 cm long and 

124.5 cm wide, comfortably 

sleeping two. The Condor is a 

compact 211 cm by 153 cm but 

opens up to double its footprint 

and sleeps two to three people. 

Roofnest tents fit a wide 

variety of vehicles, including 

cars and campervans too. Learn 

more online at: 

www.roofnest.com 

Warm and weatherresistant 

— The fibreglassreinforced 

top shell keeps 

rain out while the 280- 

gram polyurethane-coated 

polyester and cotton 

blend wall materials keep 

campers warmer than a 

traditional tent. 

Quick installation and 

removal — Unlike a bulky 

and expensive campervan, 

a Roofnest rooftop tent can 

be uninstalled from a car 

relatively easily and stowed 

away when not in use, 

saving weight and fuel. 

Comfortable and featurerich 

— All Roofnest tents 

include a six-centimetrethick 

foam mattress, 

detachable shoe bags, and 

built-in battery-powered 

LED light strips. 


NATURAL GAS THE DETAIL 

The future’s bright, 

the future’s gas? 

With all the furore around electric vehicles, it’s easy to forget that there are other 

alternative fuel sources out there that could benefit the camping and caravanning 

industry. Natural gas is making a case for being a fuel of the future. 

Photo: Stellantis 

E 

■lectric is the future 

of the leisure vehicle 

industry. Right? Well, 

actually, it might not be the only 

solution for our industry as we 

look towards trying to create a 

future that is more sustainable 

and kinder to the environment. 

There is a clamour of movement 

and noise around alternatives to 

electric vehicles, despite them 

appearing to be considered the 

go-to solution to stop using 

fossil fuels. So, what are these 

alternatives? They almost all 

take the forms of natural gases. 

One such possible alternative 

is CNG or compressed natural 

gas. Unlike liquefied petroleum 

gas (LPG), CNG is not refinery 

gas but a natural gas and just 

as safe as petrol or diesel. It 

is usually compressed to 200 

bars before it is stored to 

save fuel tank space. CNG is 

already becoming more widely 

available around Europe, with 

an estimated 900 filling stations 

that supply this in Germany 

and 1,250 in Italy. Low base 

price and low consumption 

makes CNG much cheaper 

that petrol or diesel, which is 

another big benefit. It was made 

evident that CNG has some 

legs as a future fuel alternative 

when German motorhome 

brand Bürstner revealed its 

first eco-friendly natural gas 

campervan, the Eliseo CNG. 

Based on a 100 kW/134bhp 

Fiat Ducato Natural Power, this 

hybrid Eliseo mainly runs on 

natural gas but is also equipped 

with a petrol-powered backup 

engine. The vehicle is equipped 

with five natural gas tanks 

with an overall capacity of 22 

litres/36kg that are cleverly and 

safely positioned underneath 

the floor to ensure that they do 

not reduce the available living 

space. The press launch vehicle 

had a reach of 400 kilometres 

before the engine automatically 

switched to petrol. 

“With the Eliseo CNG, we 

want to provide our industry 

with yet more inspiration 

for a more environmentally- 


THE DETAIL NATURAL GAS 

Photo: Bürstner 

▲ Bürstner gave us a glimpse of what is possible with compressed natural gas powered vehicles with its Eliseo motorhome. 

friendly future. At the moment, 

alternative engines for camper 

vans tend to be a more longterm 

issue. The respective 

demand is currently still low,” 

explained Bürstner’s managing 

director Jens Kromer. 

“However, as soon as we 

manage to increase their reach 

and the refuelling infrastructure 

improves, the development of 

alternative engine types may 

well gain considerably more 

rapid dynamics over the next 

few years.” 

HYDROGEN HYPE 

But CNG is just one of the 

gas-based alternatives that are 

being experimented with vehicle 

manufacturers and leisure 

vehicle producers. Late last year, 

Stellantis revealed a hydrogenpowered 

version of its popular 

Opel Vivaro van. Named the 

Vivaro-e Hydrogen, the van is 

based on the existing battery 

electric Opel Vivaro-e, and 

with full tanks of hydrogen, the 

driving range is more than 400 

kilometres. The 45 kW fuel cell 

is capable of generating enough 

power for continuous highway 

driving. It takes only three 

minutes to refuel with hydrogen 

– about the same time needed 

to fill up a conventional diesel 

or petrol vehicle. 

The 10.5 kWh lithiumion 

battery provides dynamic 

peak power when required, 

for example, at start-up and 

under acceleration. Since the 

battery covers power needs in 

such situations, the fuel cell 

can run at optimum operating 

conditions. The battery also 

enables regenerative braking, 

while the plug-in capability 

offers the opportunity to 

recharge the battery externally, 

if necessary, for example at a 

charging station, providing 

50 km of pure battery electric 

range. 

Opel CEO, Uwe 

Hochgeschurtz, said: “With 

the new Opel Vivaro-e 

HYDROGEN we are opening 

the next chapter in our 

sustainable mobility offensive. 

▲ Is natural gas the fuel 

solution? (Photo: Stellantis) 

The clever concept combines 

the advantages of hydrogen 

fuel cell propulsion with the 

versatility and capabilities of our 

best-selling light commercial 

vehicle.” 

Opel’s original intention for 

this fuel type is commercial 

and logistics, but it is easy to 

see how it could be translated 

into the motorhome and 

campervan sector. The main 

issue with Hydrogen and CNG 

is the fact that they are not 

yet fully widespread, and the 

amount of popular opinion 

they have behind them is small 

in comparison to electric. It’s 

not clear yet whether electric 

vehicles are the answer to 

the mobility problem facing 

the world, but with smart gas 

alternatives making strong cases 

for themselves, it’s possible that 

the future may have more than 

one long-term solution. 


CAMPING FAIR 2022 THE DETAIL 

Photos: Allfair/Camping & Picnic Fair 

4 

Days celebrating all 

things camping 

127 

Brands exhibited 

their products 

40 

Brands relating to 

leisure vehicles 

2013 

The first year the 

show took place 


THE DETAIL CAMPING FAIR 2022 

Camping Fair in South 

Korea enjoys success 

on 10th anniversary 

67,195 

People attended 

the show 

South Korea’s leading camping exhibition the Camping & Picnic Fair celebrated its 

10th anniversary event in style with a large attendance and many happy exhibitors. 

What can we learn from it? 

T 

■he health of the camping 

industry in South Korea 

looks strong after more 

than 65,000 people attended the 

10th anniversary of one of its 

leading events, the Camping & 

Picnic Fair. 

Taking place from 10 to 13 

March at the Ilsan KINTEX 

exhibition centre just outside of 

the country’s capital city Seoul, 

the fair hosted 127 different 

brands including leading 

names such as KMZ, Snowline, 

Claymore, Wiwo, ABENAKI, 

Polaris, Lumera, and Decathlon 

Korea to name a few. The brand 

showcased products for the 

upcoming spring and summer 

camping season across many 

different product categories, 

with a particular upturn in the 

popularity of auto-camping 

or camping in vehicles such as 

campervans and motorhomes. 

There were around 40 brands 

exhibiting in the market sectors 

of camping trailers, motorhomes 

and caravans, with the trends 

pointing towards high-quality 

technology and also towards 

camping beginners. 

The show’s organisers, Allfair, 

said they hoped the show was 

a good opportunity to help 

campers widen their view in a 

short period of time and make 

more informed buying decisions 

by being able to compare so 

many products at once. 

Allfair also said: “We express 

our gratitude for the strong 

interest and affection from the 

visitors that attended the fair 

and claimed that it will try 

to spread the right camping 

culture.” – Allfair and the 

Camping & Picnic Fair have 

been running several campaigns 

to encourage correct camping 

etiquette, especially among 

newcomers to the hobby. One of 

its latest programmes was called 

‘Being quite a good camper’ 

through its official SNS channel. 

Another highlight of the 

show was the official mascots: 

Seji and Somi, who made their 

debuts at the event. Fashioned 

as two campsite food favourites, 

a sausage and a marshmallow, 

Allfair said of the mascots: 

“The right camping culture 

is expected to be established 

through the pleasantly engaged 

campers linked in ‘Being a quite 

good camper’ with the friendly 

and cute Seji and Somi.” 


ERIBA THE DETAIL 

Luxury travel 

is still in demand 

After the 100th Eriba Touring 820 caravan rolled off the German manufacturer’s 

production line, the company was left to examine just how high demand has 

been for premium quality models despite the individual financial strain many 

consumers are under. It seems quality will always sell. 


THE DETAIL ERIBA 

Photos: Eriba 

▲ The 100th Eriba Touring 820 luxury caravan to be produced by the company was reason for celebration among the team. 

W 

■hen legendary German 

caravan brand Eriba 

launched its Touring 

820 model to the world in 2019, 

the company claimed that it 

would set new standards in 

luxury travel and camping. The 

modern flagship model caught 

the eye with its contemporary 

design both inside and out. It 

was a rethinking of a classic 

and featured a larger floorplan 

than previous models as well as 

headroom of over two metres, a 

touring steel cage construction 

with smooth silver sheet metal 

cladding, 180-degree panoramic 

windows, and rounded and 

modern furniture that was 

designed to encapsulate the 

feeling of a luxury yacht. In 

short, this was a caravan pitched 

at the very top end for those 

who enjoy the finer things in 

life. By default, those kind of 

luxury purchases normally don’t 

shift in huge numbers – the 

limited number of people with 

the financial freedom to invest 

in the best there is to offer 

is a major reason. But Erbia 

has managed to strike a sweet 

spot with this touring caravan, 

so much so that it recently 

celebrated the 100th version 

rolling off the production line 

in Bad Waldsee, Germany – an 

impressive feat for a large luxury 

touring caravan. 

Eriba brand manager, 

Matthias Binder, explains: 

“This special anniversary once 

again confirms that at Eriba 

we understand and successfully 

serve the demands of modern 

travel culture on a vehicle. At 

the same time, this milestone 

proves to us that with the 

Touring series we have been 

offering the ideal home on 

four wheels since day one. 

Even though we are constantly 

evolving, we have remained 

true to the iconic design in 

connection with the traditional 

Eriba quality standards to this 

day.” 

As well as featuring a design 

that catches the eye, the Eriba 

Touring 820 is smart on the 

inside too. The equipment and 

technology on board meets 

the standards of even the most 

demanding end user, such as: 

Eriba Smart Home control, air 

conditioning, heating and hot 

water that can be controlled 

via a digital display – a display 

that also allows you to monitor 

battery charge status, and 

fill levels of the fresh and 

wastewater tanks. 

The Eriba brand has stood 

for quality and functionality 

since 1957 and has shaped the 

world of travel with innovative 

caravans. Starting with the 

construction of the original 

Troll, the Eriba Touring 

continues to set standards in 

terms of design, aerodynamics 

and travel comfort to this day. 

The cult caravan is the only 

one of the brand that has been 

produced continuously for 65 

years, because its uniqueness 

makes it the most successful 

series of the company. 


Q1 THE DETAIL 

▲ The Knaus Tabbert headquarters: the German leisure vehicle manufacturer has reported strong figures for 2022 so 

+ 

far. 

First quarter health 

check: we’re still flying 

After the past two years where records seem to have tumbled at every turn, it seemed 

only right to conduct a minor health check on the industry as the figures for the first 

quarter of 2022 start to filter through. Spoiler alert: the industry is still red hot. 

F 

■or a little while at 

least, it seemed like 

2022 was going to 

be the first relatively normal 

year for business in the postpandemic 

era. That quickly 

changed when conflict began in 

Europe and coronavirus began 

causing lockdown chaos in 

China once more – all of which 

has contrived to provide some 

serious supply headaches for 

the caravan, motorhome and 

camping industries. Despite 

these challenges, demand 

remains as high as ever, with 

the pandemic spike showing 

no signs of slowing. But 

all of this is just conjecture 

and estimation, what do the 

numbers say? Well, we did some 

digging for you to bring you a 

quick summary of the financial 

state of the industry via the first 

and second quarter reports of 

some of its biggest players. 

In Germany, one of the 

industry’s biggest players 

Knaus Tabbert, reported that 

the high demand for caravans 

and motorhomes remains after 

examining its figures for the first 

quarter of 2022. The company 

reported an order intake of 

6,000 units for the quarter as 

well as an increase of two per 

cent in units delivered to 7,247. 

However, the company’s order 

backlog also remained at a high 

level as of 31 March 2022 at an 

estimated 31,000 units – this 

was largely attributed to issues 

in the supply chain affecting the 

entire motorhome and caravan 

industry. While production of 

caravans increased by 45 per 

cent, production of higher-end 

motorhomes and vans declined 

by 33 per cent and 50 per cent 

respectively, despite strong 

demand due to anticipated 

chassis bottlenecks. 


THE DETAIL Q1 

▲ Dometic has maintained strong profit margins so far in 2022. 

▲ VWCV managed to increase its operating profit significantly. 

Swedish headquartered 

industry giant Dometic brought 

some very strong numbers to 

the table with its first quarter 

results. The company reported 

a 55 per cent increase in net 

sales to an estimated US $742 

million. It also managed to 

maintain a very solid 14.8 per 

cent operating profit margin 

(EBITA) during that period. 

Dometic’s president and CEO, 

Juan Vargues, said: “Supported 

by an underlying strong end-user 

demand for Outdoor activities 

we are optimistic about the 

long-term trends in the Mobile 

Living industry. Our order 

backlog remains strong and retail 

inventory levels remain below 

historical levels across several 

vertical end markets. However, 

the current macroeconomic 

situation brings uncertainty, 

and it is difficult to predict how 

geopolitical developments and 

increased inflation will impact 

demand. While paying close 

attention to the short-term market 

development, we will continue to 

implement our strategic agenda to 

deliver on our targets.” 

Another positive result was 

seen by one of the motorhome 

and campervan industry’s most 

popular base vehicle manufactures 

Volkswagen Commercial 

Vehicles (VWCV). In a quarter 

the German firm says was 

dominated by challenges in 

production, the company saw its 

number of units shipped fall by 

14.5 per cent to 81,900, as well as 

a drop in turnover to €2.3 billion 

(previous year was €2.7 billion). 

Despite this, VWCV was actually 

able to significantly increase its 

operating profit to €46 million 

(a 61 per cent increase year-onyear). 

Michael Obrowski, brand 

management board member for 

finance and IT at VWCV, said: 

“Despite the reduced number of 

units shipped, we managed to 

significantly increase our profit. 

We are benefiting from stable 

prices in the markets, the high 

level of demand for our highquality 

California and still strong 

pre-owned vehicle trading. Our 

strict cost discipline has also 

played a key role in the positive 

development for our bottom line.” 

When it comes to taking a 

reading for the health of the 

industry, you could do worse than 

examining the financial results 

of the biggest producer of RVs 

in the world. That title belongs 

to THOR Industries, which has 

already released its second quarter 

figures, due to the way its fiscal 

year is structured. Its net sales for 

the period US $3.88 billion (a 

42 per cent increase compared to 

the same period in 2021) and a 

consolidated gross profit margin 

of 17.4 per cent. The company’s 

consolidated RV backlog as of 

31 January, 2022 was $17.73 

billion, an increase of over 60 per 

cent as compared to RV backlog 

as of 31 January, 2021. THOR 

president and CEO Bob Martin 

said: “As for the second fiscal 

quarter results, our performance 

was extremely strong, despite 

the continuation of supply chain 

challenges. Our results show the 

strong appeal of our products, 

the continued strong demand in 

our industry and the outstanding 

performance by our team 

members.” 

One of the United States’ 

other major players, Winnebago 

Industries, is also onto its second 

quarters and reported revenues 

of US $1.2 billion, an increase 

of 39 per cent. Gross profit was 

$216.6 million, an increase of 

38.3 per cent compared to $156.6 

million for the fiscal 2021 period. 

President and CEO, Michael 

Happe, said, “Winnebago 

Industries delivered a strong 

second quarter performance, 

executing on sustained, elevated 

consumer demand for our 

expanded portfolio of premier 

outdoor lifestyle brands. Our 

second quarter performance and 

record sales results at recent RV 

and Marine trade shows further 

validate consumers’ embrace of 

the outdoor lifestyle. Winnebago 

Industries is capitalizing on 

that sustained demand – market 

share gains across our segments 

are evidence of deep affinity for 

our brands, which consumers 

recognize are differentiated due 

to our continued focus on quality, 

service, and innovation.” 

▲ Winnebago reported a 39 per cent revenue increase for Q2. 


JAPAN DOING BUSINESS WITH... 

DOING 

BUSINESS 

WITH... 

Photo: Takahiro Taguchi.(Unsplash) 

Japan 

It might not be the first nation that comes to mind, but Japan is definitely a camping 

country. It has a wide range of manufacturers, importers and exporters who are all keen 

to do business if you can find the right niche. Here’s our overview of the market. 


DOING BUSINESS WITH... JAPAN 

FACT FILE 

▲ The Japanese public is gradually turning its attention towards camping for work and pleasure. 

J 

■apan is a country of great 

innovation combined 

with a proud history of 

manufacturing, which are traits 

that you can definitely see clearly 

when you examine the nation’s RV 

and camping market. The country 

has had a gradually growing and 

developing RV market that, like 

pretty much everywhere else on 

planet Earth, saw an influx of 

interest in light of international 

travel being restricted since the 

beginning of the pandemic in 

2020. It is estimated that the 

country sells somewhere between 

6,500 and 8,500 units per year 

with about half of the market 

share split between a handful 

of major suppliers, the rest 

belongs to smaller independent 

companies. These may seem like 

modest numbers when you think 

about Japan’s population and its 

standing as a major power in 

global economics but RVing has 

not always come naturally to the 

country. For starters, it is a very 

densely populated and urbancentric 

country with some of the 

best public transport networks 

on the planet. Many people 

don’t even own a car, let alone 

a caravan or motorhome, but 

this is gradually changing as the 

country becomes more interested 

in the hobby. These attributes of 

Japanese society also mean that 

the RV and camper infrastructure 

is not as highly developed as 

in many European countries, 

for example. That’s not to say 

Japanese campsites are poor – far 

from it – but there are not as 

many per person as a lot of other 

countries with similar camper 

levels. One final challenge that 

the RV industry faces in Japan is 

that in general it is a country of 

workaholics – people do not get 

very generous holiday allowances 

from their jobs and even when 

they do, they are often reluctant to 

take them. 

Despite all this, RVing is 

growing in Japan, but at a modest 

rate. Things are helped and 

encouraged by the Japan RV 

Association ( JRVA), which has 

more than 130 members and 

has been working to promote 

and improve the industry for 

more than 25 years. Many of 

the major manufacturers in 

Japan are not at the same levels 

of financial power compared to 

their counterparts in Europe or 

North America, but that’s not 

to say they are not growing, and 

the JRVA is helping with that. 

There is a strong programme of 

shows and exhibitions around the 

country, and the vibe at those over 

the last year has shown that the 

Japanese public are taking a much 

stronger interest in camping and 

caravanning than ever before. 

One thing that is a trend in 

Japan is that the RV market 

is very heavily slanted towards 

motorhomes and campervans. 

The towable market is very small, 

possibly due to the smaller nature 

of vehicles in Japan, or the highly 

urbanised environment previously 

mentioned. Nearly all of the big 

players are van or motorhome 

converters. 

In terms of tent camping, Japan 

is also strong in this area with 

several big-name brands that 

have transcended its own shores 

to become international players 

such as Snow Peak and Montbell. 

The reason for this is probably the 

attention to detail when it comes 

to design and quality with Japanese 

tents. They are often understated 

but have smart design features that 

make them very useable out in the 

field. They will also stand the test 

of time. With the example of Snow 

Peak, the brand has managed to 

strike a chord as a cult brand in 

countries such as the UK and USA 

thanks to its branding and Japanese 

appeal. 

Japan is a market that has 

potential to do business with, 

probably most likely as a supplier 

of parts or components. There are 

also one or two brands that could 

be imported from Japan, with the 

added benefit that most people 

around the world know and 

understand that made in Japan 

stands for high quality. 

Capital: Tokyo 

Population: 125,500,000 

Dialling code: +81 

Prime Minister: 

Fumio Kishida 

Official languages: 

Japanese 

Time zones: UTC+9 

Currency: Japanese yen 

Internet domain: .jp 

ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

$5.3 trillion 

GDP (USD) 

$42,900 

GPD per capita (USD) 

2.9% 

GDP growth 

3% 

unemployment 

TOP IMPORT PARTNERS: 

China 

ASEAN 

European Union 

USA 

Australia 

TOP EXPORT PARTNERS: 

China 

USA 

ASEAN 

European Union 

South Korea 



ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

Japan is one of the most 

significant and influential 

economies in Asia – similar 

to the UK in Europe, Japan 

punches well above its 

weight when you consider 

the geographical size of the 

country. Since the 1960’s, the 

country’s economy has been 

on a steady growth curve, 

though not without hurdles 

such as a stock exchange 

crash in the early 90’s. In 

recent decades, GDP growth 

in Japan has managed to 

outstrip Europe and the 

United States, which is no 

mean feat. The country is 

well known for its strong 

manufacturing sector, which 

has some serious clout in 

the automotive industry. 

Anything made in Japan 

is considered to be of high 

quality and many Japanesemade 

brands are household 

names around the world. 

Outside of manufacturing 

and Japan has a very 

strong fishing industry 

– consistently ranking in the 

top ten for tonnage of fish 

caught worldwide. 

Elsewhere and Japan’s 

finance and service 

industries are also very 

strong. The Tokyo stock 

exchange is the third 

largest in the world and 

the country was making a 

concerted effort to attract 

more tourism to its shores in 

the years leading up to the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

WHO’S WHO 

The industry in Japan is pretty different to that in Europe or in the United States. The base vehicles are very 

different and, as such, the motorhome and campervan conversions are pretty different too. This makes it 

imperative that you take some time to familiarise yourself with the companies that occupy the industry in Japan. 

There are many unfamiliar names, but certainly no lack of enthusiasm, expertise or innovation. 

JAPAN RV ASSOCIATION 

The JRVA is a voluntary organisation set up to help look after the interests of the recreational 

vehicle industry in Japan. The organisation has many members across the entire country 

and works at a government level to help improve and boost the industry. It produces a 

regular magazine and also organises a large number of shows and exhibitions throughout 

the year. It also maintains statistics and facts about the camping industry. 

www.jrva.com 

VANTECH 

One of Japan’s forerunners in terms of campervan and motorhome building, Vantech was 

established back in 2010 in Tokorozawa City and has gone from strength to strength ever 

since. The company creates a wide range of models of motorhome, mostly based on Toyota 

vehicles and is an ever-present at the country’s various shows and events. 

www.vantech.jp 

SEKISOH BODY 

This famous company claims to have produced one of the first ever Toyota Hiace truck-based 

cab conversion motorhomes in Japan back in 1986. The company itself actually dates back 

to 1974 though and is now known as one of the most modern and stylish campervan and 

motorhome producers in the country. It actively works together with its customers on the 

development, manufacture and technological aspects of each camper. 

www.sekisohbody.com 



CRAFT 

One of Japan’s best-known import companies, Craft has a long history of more than 30 years 

of importing RVs and motorhomes from both the United States and Europe and selling 

them to Japanese consumers. As well as selling brands including Adria< Sun Living and 

Annex, the company also has a maintenance and servicing department to help owners have 

long and happy experiences with their leisure vehicles. 

www.rv-craft.co.jp 

MYSTIC PLANNING 

A manufacturer of campervans and other leisure vehicles for some 30 years, Mystic Planning 

has a focus on safety, high-quality and creating vehicles for life. The company has previously 

won several Good Design Awards for its campers and trailer tents and adopts manufacturing 

methods that specialise in reducing overall weight. The company believes this has helped it 

catch the eye of campers around Japan throughout its history. 

www.mystic.ne.jp 

SNOW PEAK 

Snow Peak is one of the leading tent camping companies in Japan – it has also become a 

brand that is gaining recognition on a global stage with subsidiary companies in both the UK 

and United States. The company focuses on high-quality and high-fashion and makes tents 

and camping furniture and accessories accordingly. Located up in the hills near to Awagatake 

and Mount Sumon, the country places huge emphasis on remaining close to nature. 

www.snowpeak.co.jp 

MONTBELL 

Established in Osaka in 1975 by Isamu Tatsuno, this is a brand that came from the love of a 

mountaineer. The company is known all over the world for its high-quality tents, outdoor 

clothing and other mountaineering equipment and has bases in North America and Europe. 

The company has long held a passion to protect and preserve the natural beauty of Japan 

and the rest of the world and now has an eco-focus to help reflect that. 

www.montbell.jp 

SHOW BUSINESS 

Japan is a country with 

a staggering number of 

shows and exhibitions 

dedicated to camping and 

leisure vehicles. Most of 

these shows are organised 

by the Japan Recreational 

Vehicle Association (JRVA), 

with the biggest one being 

the Japan Camping Car 

Show that takes place in 

Chiba City in February each 

year. This event attracted 

24,000 visitors in its most 

recent edition, who came 

to witness more than 

280 campervans from 66 

different brands, as well as 

assorted accessories. 

Aside from this main 

show, there are events in 

Nagoya, Osaka, Tohoku, 

Hokkaido, Kanagawa, 

Hiroshima, Tokyo, 

Yokohama and more 

throughout the year. By 

visiting www.jrva.com/en/ 

event you should be able 

to find a complete list of 

Japanese camping industry 

shows throughout the 

calendar year. 

Pic below: ©JRVA 

LOCUS GEAR 

Another high quality tent brand, Locus Gear specialises in outdoor shelters that offer 

lightweight, durable and easy to carry solutions. The company works only with high-quality 

and technical materials such as Dyneema, carbon poles and super-fine mesh. The company 

has long been regarded as a trailblazer in the Japanese camping industry and is also sold 

elsewhere in the world. 

www.locusgear.com 



A BIG CAMPING COUNTRY 

JAPAN MARKET STATS 

130+ 

Members of the JRVA 

Photo: Shawn Liew (Unsplash) 

8,000+ 

RVs registered in Japan 

each year 

90+ 

Companies offering RV 

rental in Japan 

>1,000 

RVs are imported into 

Japan per year 

The rental market is one area where there is 

significant growth in Japan’s RV sector, which 

is another sign that more people are testing 

the waters with the hobby. The JRVA lists 

almost 90 different companies and locations 

that RVs can be rented from, which in a 

relatively small country geographically is 

quite a lot. As well as renting vehicles, many 

of these companies rent generic camping gear 

such as tents, awnings, furniture and tarps 

to help make the camping experience more 

enjoyable for all. 

Another thing that the JRVA does is help to 

educate new campers about the etiquette that 

is required to be a responsible camper in the 

country. The organisation has even produced 

a list of 10 rules to help campers camp more 

responsibly and reduce the risk of upsetting 

local people or harming the environment. It is 

clear that Japan is a nation that is intrigued by 

camping and that more and more people will 

be drawn to the hobby as the years progress. 

US$ 400m+ 

Estimated total sales in 

Japan’s RV market per year 



Photo: Tiplada M (Unsplash) 

▲ Many campervans and campers in Japan are built on small and versatile vans such as the reliable Toyota Hiace. 

CAMPERVAN IS KING 

The campervan is without 

doubt the most popular kind 

of camping vehicle in Japan, 

with small vans such as the 

Toyota Hiace as popular as 

vans such as the VW T6 are 

in Europe. The Japan RV 

Association recently conducted 

a survey to find out more 

about this market segment and 

where it is headed for 2022 

and beyond. They discovered 

that the most common age 

for campervan owners was 

50s and 60s and of the people 

surveyed about 79 per cent 

owned a camper, while 86 per 

cent said they had used one. 

The most common usage was 

of course for leisure, but with 

this being the workaholic 

country that is Japan, about 15 

per cent said they used them 

for commuting or for a place 

to have a break in when at 

work. Interestingly, those who 

do use them for work say they 

use them mostly as a way to 

have accommodation when on 

work trips. The most common 

reason for using a campervan 

was to stay overnight at 

popular tourist spots or 

destination, while the second 

most common reason was 

simply to enjoy the pleasure of 

being outdoors in nature. One 

of the most popular benefits 

for having a campervan 

according to Japanese users 

was the freedom to be mobile, 

closely followed by the idea 

of having private space while 

travelling. Japanese campervan 

owners expect much the same 

things as those in Europe, with 

electricity, water systems, air 

conditioning and comfortable 

sleeping quarters the most 

important attributes to them. 

The most common length of 

ideal time spent in a campervan 

is a week or more and the most 

desired location to visit in Japan 

is Hokkaido. Most commonly, 

campervans are used by couples, 

and when pushed on their most 

desired international location to 

try campervan or RVing, North 

America came out on top. 


SCALABROS COMPANY PROFILE 

Adversity into opportunity: 

the Scalabros story 

With a background in producing high-quality products for buses and coaches, Italian 

firm Scalabros is now showing what it can do for the RV market with roller blinds, 

sun visors and more. Could this customer-focused firm become your next supplier? 

A 

■fter working for 

several years as export 

sales managers in the 

commercial and industrial 

vehicle markets, brothers 

Benedetto and Giovanni 

Scalabrini (pictured, right) 

decided they wanted to set-up 

on their own. They founded 

Scalabros as a representation 

company in 2008… just as the 

financial crisis struck. 

“We say that we are a 

company born during a crisis 

and we kept growing through 

32 | www.campingtradeworld.com 

several other crises,” explains 

Benedetto. After the financial 

crash of 2008, Scalabros decided 

to begin manufacturing its 

own rollerblinds and escape 

roof-hatches, sun-visors and 

led-lighting, just in time for the 

European sovereign debt crisis 

of 2012. Despite these hurdles, 

and the more recent ones such 

as the Covid-19 pandemic and 

the war in Ukraine, Scalabros 

has continued to grow at a pace 

of 15 to 20 per cent per year. 

Benedetto says: “Even in 

2020 when our usual business 

(very much linked to tourism) 

dropped by 50 per cent, we 

managed to end the year with 

a 50 per cent up thanks to 

our flexibility: in fact we were 

extremely quick in adapting our 

machinery into face-masks and 

hospital gowns production. 2021 

was probably the most difficult 

year because coach production 

hadn’t picked up yet and the 

business of the face-masks and 

gowns had gone already.” In 

2022, it’s so far so good for the

COMPANY PROFILE SCALABROS 

Italian entrepreneurs – they 

have seem their sales levels 

return to similar figures in 

that of the first third of 2019. 

When all your business has 

ever known is a world in crisis, 

it pays to have strong values. 

Benedetto explains: “Our values 

are: Customers orientation: we 

think that to be successful we 

need to sell to the customers 

what they need, not what we 

have. So we are very flexible and 

willing to take the challenges 

the customers’ require. Quality 

of course is very important, so 

since 2015 we are ISO certified. 

Flexibility is a must, and we 

try to get it through a good 

organisation. We also believe 

that we can’t be successful 

without our team, so we try 

to give the best attention and 

satisfaction we can to our staff.” 

Scalabros has slowly started 

to grab the attention in the 

RV market with smart and 

innovative products to go 

alongside this flexibility. Its 

roller blinds have been wellreceived, 

as have its awnings and 

other RV components. 

BEST IS YET TO COME 

On the subject of the future, 

Benedetto has high hopes. 

“We believe that our biggest 

success is probably yet to come 

but it could be thanks to the 

incorporation of our North 

American branch in 2020. In 

fact, due to the Covid situation, 

we only started its real activities 

in August 2021, and we see 

great potential coming from 

there, especially from the luxury 

RVs.” The company has solid 

plans to increase the sales of its 

van manual roller awning and 

hopes to soon develop models 

for higher vans such as the Fiat 

Ducato, Mercedes Sprinter and 

Ram Promaster – it also plans 

to create a motorised one for 

bigger vehicles, which again 

are largely found in the North 

American market. 

Benedetto explains that 

Scalabros will definitely be 

exhibiting at Caravan Salon 

once again in Dusseldorf, 

Germany this summer as it 

believes that it gained good 

traction there last year. He said: 

“We think that there are a lot 

of Motorhome manufactures 

who may be interested in our 

rollerblinds, and van converters 

who may appreciate - as they 

did last year - our rolling 

awning. This is an awning that 

one person alone can open 

and close quickly thanks to its 

retracting system, it’s compact 

and quite good looking. Last 

year we had just the 180cm 

and 200cm sizes, this year we 

developed also the 250cm. We’ll 

also bring a new version of our 

self-sticking darkening cloth, 

which has no Alcantara, so it’s 

cheaper and lighter, and whereas 

last year we were proposing 

it just in rolls and customers 

had to cut to the shape of their 

vehicles, this year we developed 

the pre-cut sets for the VWT6 

and the Ford Transit.” 

Due to its history, its ethics, 

and its family-run set-up, 

Scalabros is a company that is a 

pleasure to work with in the RV 

industry. As Benedetto puts it: 

“[People should want to work 

with us] thanks to our flexibility 

and reliability. We are born as 

a commercial company, so the 

customers are our kings, who 

wouldn’t like to be treated as a 

king?” 

WHO ARE YOU? 

Company: Scalabros S.r.l. 

Location: Bazzano, Italy 

Products: Scalabros is an 

expert in cab sunshades, 

roll-up blinds, selfsupporting 

shades, rolling 

awnings and free-standing 

awnings for a wide range 

of RV base vehciles such 

as Fiat Ducatos and 

Volkswagen T5s and T6s. 

Other: The company has a 

history of making highquality 

products for the bus 

and coach market too, but 

the RV industry is becoming 

increasingly important. 

▲ Scalabros has a hard-working, dedicated and professional team ready to help your company. 

+39 051 832587 

info@scalabros.it 

www.scalabros.it 


ELECTRIC FUTURE SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

A better journey into 

the electric future 

Retrofitting existing vehicles to make them electric is an idea that sounds too good 

to be true. And it almost was had it not been for a pioneering partnership between 

two very innovative companies. Here’s how Lightning eMotors and SuperSprings 

International work together to make the journey better. 

W 

■e all know that electric 

vehicles are a huge part 

of the future for the 

campervan and leisure vehicle 

industry, but while many of the 

big manufacturers out there 

are working hard to create 

new space-age vehicle designs, 

there are others who take a 

different view. Colorado-based 

Lightning eMotors began its 

mission by asking itself: “what 

will happen with the multitude 

of vehicles already on the road 

now?”. The simple answer? 

They can be retrofitted. For the 

past few years, Lightning has 

been creating fully electrified 

engines that they then drop 

into what would otherwise be 

a traditionally powered vehicle. 

They can turn any cargo van, 

shuttle bus or campervan into 

a silent, electric vehicle that’s 

nothing like the ones you’ve 

seen before, simply because it 

looks like a regular vehicle. 

“We’ve been doing electric 

vehicle refits on a huge variety 

of chassis,” explains Chelsea 

Ramm, the vice president of 

global supply chain at Lightning 

eMotors. We’ve also been doing 

it for so many years that we 

can do it on an old chassis, a 

2016 vehicle, or a vehicle that 

was built this year – we have 

the engineering capability and 

expertise to be able to do that.” 

Okay, so the idea of 

retrofitting a vehicle to change 

it from standard combustion 

engine to electric might 

sound like the stuff of science 

fiction, but Lightning has 

the case studies to prove it 

really works. The company has 

completed a successful retrofit 

on an entire DHL delivery 

fleet in New York city using 

a full system that includes 

batteries, powertrain, and smart 

computer for the Ford Transit 

350HD. The all-electric 

powertrain and integration 

allows DHL to operate a fleet 


SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC FUTURE 

of cargo vans throughout the 

metropolis without creating any 

emissions or stopping for fuel. 

What’s more, by fine-tuning 

the exact needs for DHL, 

Lightning has been able to 

create the fleet while only using 

one battery per vehicle. Less 

weight, higher efficiency, and 

plenty of driving range for the 

task at hand. 

Chelsea says: “We have 

been working really hard to 

figure out how to make these 

vehicle for DHL – it’s a unique 

platform and not something we 

make for anyone else. We do a 

lot of things that other people 

aren’t willing to tackle – but 

we’ve never backed away from a 

challenge and that’s what gives 

us an edge.” 

One of the most significant 

challenges that Lightning faced 

with this job was weight. The 

kind of batteries required to 

power Ford Transits are not just 

AAs, they are pretty large and 

also pretty heavy – and that is 

going to affect the ride height 

and the quality of the ride. 

If Lightning had overlooked 

this, then they probably would 

not have been as successful as 

they have. So, how did they 

overcome the problem? They 

teamed up with SuperSprings 

International. With the DHL 

fleet, the batteries had to be 

located at the rear, which was 

causing significant rear-end sag 

on the vehicles. 

Lightning eMotors 

marketing manager Dan 

Bennett explains: “We looked 

at the van and saw that the 

back was sagging so much that 

it would be compromised in 

its performance. One of our 

senior technicians had some 

prior experience with the 

steel SuperSprings suspension 

solution and didn’t skip a beat 

in recommending that they be 

added to address the issue. 

“So, we selected a product, 

brought it in, and that’s 

what we’re using. Adding 

SuperSprings is the obvious 

solution – it’s easy to install 

and you’re good to go!” 

As well as cutting out that 

sag and driving performance, 

SuperSprings International 

products also eradicate 

problems with diminished 

battery range – in short they 

are the perfect solution to 

help make the journey better 

for electric vehicles, as well as 

traditional ones too. 


marketing director Tom 

Bateman said: “What is going 

to increase the advantage 

that Lightning has is that 

the Ford Transit chassis has 

no signs of leaving the road 

anytime soon. In fact, it’s 

quickly becoming one of the 

most difficult vehicles to get a 

hold of. Likely because it’s the 

arguably the perfect cargo van, 

passenger bus, and conversionready 

Vanlife vehicle. As the 

world moves toward electricpowered 

chassis, Lightning has 

positioned themselves to be at 

the front of the pack. 

“Lightning eMotors has a 

passion to make their retrofit 

vehicles the best they can 

possibly be. It just so happens 

we make journeys better. There 

isn’t a better fit.” 

So, there you have it. In 

perhaps the most challenging 

way it possibly could, 

SuperSprings International has 

once again proved its products 

perform beyond all expectations 

thanks to this partnership with 

Lightning eMotors. Could your 

plans for an electric campervan 

or motorhome be the next to 

benefit? Contact the team at 

www.superspringsinternational. 

com today to find out. 

▲ Lightning eMotors has used SuperSprings International products to help make its retrofitted electric Transits a dream to drive. 


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ISSUE 01 | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 




SumoSprings: The new 

RV suspension standard 

Clean and green 

Natural toilet fluid for your camper 

Read more on page 38 

» Learn more on page 24 

» 

ISSUE 01 

ISSUE 02 

ISSUE 03 

ISSUE 04 

• What can we learn from 

the German leisure vehicle 

industry? 

• New camper retention: are 

we doing enough as an 

industry ? 

• A full profile on the 

camping market in New 

Zealand 

• A round-up of what was 

hot at the CMT Digital show 

• Exclusive interviews with 


and OLPRO 

• Korean and Chinese shows 

lead the way in booming 

Asian market 

• Doing Business With 

Germany – expert insight 

from industry insiders 

• Spotlight on the global 

tent market to help your 

business grow 

• Are we doing enough to 

be green? One Belgian 

company believes we can 

do more 

• Why a partnership 

between SuperSprings 

International and United 

RV is huge for the industry 

• Full reports from two 

UK shows – the National 

Camping Show and 

Outdoor Trade Show 

• Heading to Caravan Salon? 

Read our show preview 

before you make the trip 

• Doing Business with the 

UK – expert insight into 

one of Europe’s major 

markets 

• Get the lowdown on the 

global motorhome market 

and the latest trends 

within it 

• Exclusive interviews with 

industry leaders from 

camping, caravanning and 

RVs 

• A huge 12-page wrap-up 

of Caravan Salon 2021 

• How to make new 

connections in France 

• A close-up examination of 

the global caravan market 

• Why your company’s 

culture is key and how to 

improve it 

• Camping industry buying 

trends revealed in UK 

• How a change in the law 

could affect European 

campsites 

www.campingtradeworld.com/magazine 


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ISSUE ISSUE 07 07 | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 

| JUST HOW TOUGH ARE 

SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL PUT 

THEIR SUSPENSION TO THE ULTIMATE TEST. 

SuperSprings 

I NTE RNATIONAL 

See more on page 34 

ISSUE 05 

• A 2021 health check on the 

industry 

• A preview of the CMT 

Show in Stuttgart 

• How to make new 

connections in the 

Swedish market 

• How and why you should 

be making better videos 

• Reports from leading 

exhibitions in Utrecht and 

Barcelona 

• Industry views with 

Benjamin Baur 

• Spotlight on the camping 

accessories market 

• How you can boost your 

diversity and why you 

should 

ISSUE 06 

• Scandinavian companies 

show power of teamwork 

• Inside the tent fabric tech 

arms race 

• A success in Leipzig: 

Touristik & Caravaning 

report 

• How to do business with 

the Australian market 

• Celebrating AL-KO’s 90th 

anniversary 

• How LIONTRON could 

help boost your sales 

• Exclusive interview 

with Caravan Industry 

Association of Australia’s 

Stuart Lamont 

• We demystify SEO and 

teach you how to use it 

ISSUE 07 

• Learn more about the 

camping and RV market 

in Italy 

• Sleeping mat expert 

Therm-A-Rest celebrates a 

big anniversary 

• SuperSprings International 

shows how to do product 

testing 

• Exclusive interview with 

Thetford marketing 

manager Norbert van 

Noesel 

• A closer look at the RV and 

leisure vehicle components 

market 

• How German brand 

PeggyPeg is bringing 

simple innovation to the 

global camping market 

• Do branding better, with 

our latest Become a Better 

Business feature 

Don’t miss a future issue of Camping Trade World, by subscribing today to have it delivered straight to your inbox six 

times a year. If you want to be featured in an upcoming issue, contact us at campingtradeworld.com/contact-us 


MARKUS HERINGER INDUSTRY VIEWS 

Markus Heringer 

Managing Director Commercial at Truma Gerätetechnik GmbH & Co. KG 

As one of the most instantly recognisable names in the camping and leisure 

vehicle industry, Truma has a large sphere of influence. The company’s commercial 

managing director Markus Heringer explains how it plans to achieve its aim of 

making camping safer and more comfortable with continuous innovations. 

T 

■ruma is synonymous with 

innovations in the camping 

and leisure vehicle market. 

From air conditioning and heating 

through to its all-encompassing iNet 

System that helps users control almost 

every aspect of their leisure vehicle 

with ease, Truma has created a solid 

reputation for itself as an innovator 

and a creative problem solver. So how 

did the company get here? What are its 

aims for the future? How do its values 

affect how it goes about its business? To 

find the answers to these questions and 

more, we spoke candidly with Markus 

Heringer, commercial managing director 

at Truma Gerätetechnik GmbH & Co. 

KG. Markus explained why family is 

so important to the company, how it 

leans on 73 years of history, and why 

innovation is in its DNA. 


INDUSTRY VIEWS MARKUS HERINGER 

Photos: © Truma 

▲ Truma’s products aim to seamlessly fit into every camping lifestyle and make it more comfortable and safer. 

Can you tell us something about 

the ethos at Truma? What are the 

values of the company? 

Truma was founded over 73 

years ago as a family business, 

which specialised in providing 

an unforgettable camping 

experience, thanks to its 

endless innovations. This 

DNA is still at the heart of 

our company today and we are 

constantly growing based on 

an abundance of – sometimes 

revolutionary inventions – 

which have played their part in 

making Truma what it is today: 

an international consortium 

of progressive companies in 

Germany, the UK, the USA, 

China, Sweden, Italy and 

Australia, which pursue the 

goal of making travelling in 

recreational vehicles safer and 

more comfortable. We are 

always keeping the company’s 

values in mind, in every step 

we take: the first is competence 

– Truma has developed many 

innovations, thus setting new 

standards – for example the 

first liquid gas heater and the 

first manoeuvring assistant for 

caravans. Most recently, we 

have played our role in shaping 

the future of caravanning with 

the Truma iNet X System: 

various products and services 

from different manufacturers 

can be centrally controlled via a 

single control panel or app. 

Next is product quality 

– Truma counts on state-ofthe-art 

production facilities 

and manufactures products, 

which are among the most 

effective on the market – as 

they are highly reliable, durable 

and extremely efficient. This 

explains why the trade press 

regularly rates Truma as the 

best accessory brand in various 

product categories. 

Another important value 

is service quality – no matter 

whether you contact the help 

line or the Service Centre in 

Putzbrunn: all service staff 

are able to put themselves 

in the customer’s shoes and 

provide them with competent 

assistance. Truma service 

technicians with their service 

vehicles, travelling throughout 

Germany guarantee fast on-site 

help. We also have an extensive 

network of Service Partners. It 

is not just our end customers, 

who benefit from our swift, 

outstanding service, but our 

Partners too and we are proud 

to have received awards on a 

regular basis – most recently 

the LUPO 2021. 

We also place emphasis 

on customer proximity – 

wherever the customer may 

be: an extensive sales network 

of specialist dealerships and 

Service Partners ensures that 

customers receive professional 

advice and can obtain spare 

parts, retrofit products and 

practical accessories regardless 

of their location. In more than 

30 countries. 

Another key value is family 

– we consider ourselves as a 

company which forms part of 

the camping community. We 

always develop our products 

and services in line with the 

demands and needs of our 

global “family”. A friendly and 

informal working atmosphere 

and a social company culture 

are very important within 

the company to Truma. This 

produces a strong feeling of 

identification among all of our 

employees – in production and 

in administration. 

Lastly, there’s sustainability 

– immersed in nature outdoors 

is what camping is all about. 

As such, it is particularly 

important to the community 

and the company to develop 

products and solutions which 


MARKUS HERINGER INDUSTRY VIEWS 

▲ The iNet X System is one of Truma’s most recent innovations – Markus says it will help shape the future of caravanning. 

“Truma’s objective is to make camping safer and more comfortable 

with continuous innovations.” 

MARKUS HERINGER – MANAGING DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL AT TRUMA GERÄTETECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG 

are sustainable and durable. 

Within the scope of our 

own certified energy and 

environmental management 

system, we have set a goal 

of significantly reducing our 

emissions by 2026 as well as 

producing a large proportion of 

our own energy requirements 

locally in a climate-friendly 

manner by means of 

photovoltaics, among other 

sources. 

How have things fared at Truma 

over the past two years? What 

challenges did you face during 

the pandemic and how did you 

overcome them? 

The pandemic and its impact 

caused us to reconsider how 

both our work and home 

lives operate. This was of 

course tricky to begin with. 

Nevertheless, new ideas provide 

new momentum and new 

impetus. Due to restrictions 

placed on package tourism, 

lots of people decided to 

give camping a go and the 

industry flourished. Over 

the past two years, we have 

witnessed plenty of changes 

internally, predominantly in 

terms of digitalisation and 

internationalisation. 

What are the greatest 

opportunities for the camping 

and recreational vehicle market 

right now? 

I believe the greatest 

opportunity and at the same 

time the greatest challenge is 

in the technological change we 

are currently undergoing, which 

the sector is currently involved 

in and will continue to focus 

on for years to come. Indeed, 

recreational vehicles of the 

future will be fully connected, 

for instance. This development 

to create a smart RV and 

new technologies naturally 

means that things will need 

to change. On the other hand, 

they provide a starting point 

for further innovative products 

and solutions – in particular the 

increasing trend of individual 

trips and the associated growth 

of the market. 

Do you think that the current 

boom in the camping industry 

will continue? How can we as an 

industry ensure that it continues? 

In future, the world will 

become even more digital 

and fast-moving. With this 

in mind, people will long for 

independence, freedom, the 

natural world and individual 

breaks more than ever. 

Considerably fewer long-haul 

journeys will take place due 

to the climate crisis. This 


INDUSTRY VIEWS MARKUS HERINGER 

Photos: © Truma 

WHO ARE YOU? 

▲ Markus believes that consumers will continue to long for the freedom that camping provides. 

is music to our industry’s 

ears. Provided we face the 

challenges associated with 

the technological change 

and convert them into 

opportunities, as well as think 

and act with the future in mind, 

then the industry certainly has 

the potential to grow. 

What is the most important 

product category for Truma and 

why? Has this changed? Do 

you envisage it changing in the 

future? 

Truma’s objective is to 

make camping safer and 

more comfortable with 

continuous innovations. This 

is the basis for all our products 

from heating systems, air 

conditioning systems and 

manoeuvring systems, to 

water or gas supply, through 

to the new Truma iNet X. We 

consider ourselves not just as 

a mere device manufacturer 

but rather as a systems and 

solutions provider. Indeed, the 

new Truma iNet X controls the 

devices installed in the vehicle 

via a central control panel or 

app and in doing so connects 

the entire system. The open 

interface also enables new 

products and systems to be 

subsequently connected as well 

as regular updates via the cloud. 

This means it can be flexibly 

adjusted to the individual 

future of caravanning. We are 

continuously extending our 

product range and designing 

sustainable and thus futureproof 

solutions. 

How important is the trend of 

the environment/sustainability 

for Truma and the industry as a 

whole? 

Caravanning and a passion 

for nature belong together. 

Environmentally conscious, 

sustainable action is also 

becoming increasingly 

important. We are certified 

in energy and environmental 

management and don’t take 

our responsibility lightly. 

Where possible, we use 

alternative energy sources in 

the production process and 

have set a goal of low emission 

manufacturing. 

What are the future plans for 

the company? Let us know what 

we can look forward to. 

At Truma, innovation has been, 

is and will continue to be a 

vital part of our DNA. In close 

communication with customers 

and partners, we are striving 

to continue this process, to 

set international standards 

and be at the head of our field 

as a connected solutions and 

systems provider. 

Company: Truma 

Gerätetechnik GmbH & Co. 

KG 

Founded: 1949 

Location: Headquartered 

in Putzbrunn, Germany, 

the Truma Group has 

other branches in the UK, 

Sweden, Italy, the United 

States, China and Australia. 

Products: Maker of coolers, 

leisure vehicle heating and 

cooling systems, caravan 

movers, water systems 

and more, the company 

also makes smart control 

systems. 

Other: The company has 

become a serious global 

player in the industry 

with a 98 per cent brand 

recognition level in the 

European market. The 

Truma Group employs 

more than 1,000 people. 

www.truma.com 


KOA COMPANY PROFILE 

Pic © KoA Jeff Dow 

Leading by example 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of one of the world’s largest networks of 

privately-owned campgrounds and most influential and innovative leaders. The 

Kampgrounds of America story has come a very long way since humble beginnings. 

W 

■hen the first ever 

Kampgrounds of 

America (KOA) 

site was established, it was a 

very different world. It was 

established in the sleepy 

mountain town of Billings, 

Montana in the early 1960s 

as a stopover for tourists who 

were making long journeys 

from across the country to 

attend Seattle’s Century 21 

Exposition (World Fair). Local 

businessman and entrepreneur 

Dave Drum saw an opportunity, 

not only to plant the first 

seeds of his ambitious business 

ideas, but also to help fellow 

travelling Americans on their 

long journeys. The site was 

picturesque, nestled on the 

banks on the Yellowstone River, 

and it was also reasonable. 

Campers were charged $1.75 

a night to pitch tents or park 

travel trailers and were treated 

to private fire rings, picnic 

tables, a small store, laundry, 

and hot showers. It was a 

glimpse into the future of what 

the modern day campsite and 

RV park would become: true 

hospitality on the road. 

“What began as just an idea 

and one campground has grown 

exponentially over six decades,” 

said Toby O’Rourke, president 

and CEO of Kampgrounds 

of America. “When KOA 

was founded, the goal was to 

provide easy access to camping 

options for travellers. We’ve 

taken that spirit of change 

and modernization and used 

it as a catalyst to become the 

leader in camping and outdoor 

hospitality. 

“While the beginnings of 

KOA might seem humble, Dave 

had an entrepreneurial spirit 

that still inspires our work. By 

keeping a progressive, customercentric 

approach to our business, 

we established ourselves at 

the forefront of this industry. 

In 2021, we marked our best 

year in company history by an 

astounding 33 per cent over the 

previous record. For a 60-yearold 

company, that’s the kind of 


COMPANY PROFILE KOA 

Pic © KoA Will Page 

Pic © KoA Micah & Jenna Kvidt 

Pic © KoA Dan Armstrong 

Pic © KoA Micah & Jenna Kvidt 

Pic © KoA 

momentum that will continue 

to propel KOA forward.” 

A LEAP FORWARD 

By the 1980s, KOA was a 

publicly traded company, but 

one of its most significant 

stockholders, Oscar Tang, 

decided he wanted to make 

a move. He purchased KOA 

in its entirety and returned 

it to private ownership – his 

values of fostering business and 

connecting people are reflected 

across the company today. 

“KOA provides places where 

campers can make memories, 

and small business owners can 

build their dreams,” said Oscar. 

“Over my four decades of 

owning KOA, I am proud of 

our work that has positively 

affected millions of people 

across the U.S. and Canada. It’s 

exciting to look forward and see 

endless opportunities within 

the camping, outdoor, and travel 

industry.” 

Today, KOA includes 525 

franchised and owned locations 

across the USA and Canada, it 

also owns 44 properties after 

expanding the campground 

portfolio by 15 further locations 

in last year alone. Further, KOA 

recently launched a new luxury 

brand, Terramor Outdoor 

Resort, which finished its 

first full season at its flagship 

property in Bar Harbor, Maine, 

at 80 per cent occupancy. The 

company is actively developing 

more Terramor locations across 

the country. 

KOA is now arguably the 

leading name in campgrounds 

in North America and continues 

to evolve its business to meet 

the needs of American and 

Canadian campers and RV 

users via the development 

of proprietary campground 

management software, access to 

industry-leading campground 

design professionals and bestin-class 

staff training. 

A BRAND FOR TODAY 

AND TOMORROW 

One of the ways in which 

KOA is planning to celebrate 

and build upon its 60 years of 

success is with a new corporate 

headquarters. The company 

has broken ground on a new 

facility in Billings, just a few 

short miles from the location of 

its spiritual home and first ever 

campsite. KOA says that the new 

building will represent both its 

rich history and also its bright 

and ambitious future, with the 

overarching them being to help 

connect Americans with the 

great outdoors. 

Another way that KOA 

plans to build on its long 

history of innovation is the 

implementation of a partnership 

with Jamestown Advanced 

Products, that will see Level 

2 EV chargers installed at 

campsites across the United 

States and Canada. Fans of 

KOA can also expect new main 

campground building designs 

and many other moves that 

will increase the company’s 

overall modernisation and 

sustainability. 

Toby O’Rourke added: 

“The real story of our 60th 

anniversary is that we are just 

getting started. With initiatives 

like the Campground of the 

Future, focusing on integrating 

emerging technologies like 

solar and electric charging 

and empowering our franchise 

owners to innovate, we are 

eagerly taking on the next 60 

years.” 

Learn more about KOA at 

www.koa.com 


ISABELLA COMPANY PROFILE 

From stitches to riches 

It has been 65 years since Søren Odgaard sewed the first stitch on a ridge tent in his 

cellar at his home in Denmark. Fast-forward to today and his legacy has become one 

of the camping industry’s best-known awning brands. This is the Isabella story… 

T 

■hat iconic crown 

logo that is adorned 

on the recognisable 

circular windows on awnings 

at campsites all across Europe 

has taken on an extra special 

significance in 2022. The logo, 

which you will not doubt 

recognise as that of Danish 

awning authority Isabella, 

is especially significant this 

year because it is the 65th 

44 | www.campingtradeworld.com 

anniversary of the company. 

Over a lifetime of hard work, 

Isabella has grown to become 

an instantly recognisable brand 

that has become known for 

its quality, its innovations, 

and most recently, its growth 

in popularity. But how did it 

get here? The company’s story 

began back in 1957 when 

young and self-assured Dane 

Søren Odgaard couldn’t find 

a tent that matched his needs. 

So, like all folk for whom the 

entrepreneurial spirit flows 

through their veins, he decided 

to create his own. The moment 

of inspiration that saw those 

first stitches sewn in Søren’s 

basement sparked the beginning 

of Isabella – and luckily for 

thousands of campers around 

the world, he didn’t just stop at 

one tent.

COMPANY PROFILE ISABELLA 

VIEW FROM THE TOP 

These days, Isabella is a forward-thinking, 

ambitious, and modern company that 

is working hard to take full advantage of 

the current uptick in the camping and 

caravanning industry. To learn more, we 

spoke with company CEO, Morten Kjeldsen, 

to get his views on the current state of play. 

How is business going for Isabella right 

now? How have the last few years been? 

Business going very well at the moment, we 

have succeeded to develop new products 

that suits the caravan people. The last few 

years we have grown in all markets we are in. 

▲ Isabella founder Søren Odgaard, who sewed his first tent in 1957. 

HISTORY LESSON 

There are few interesting things you should know about Isabella. First of all, 

the name came from Søren’s fascination with the classic car, the Borgward 

Isabella. Secondly, the company began only making ridge tents until in the 

1960s Søren saw that camping on two wheels was becoming more popular. He 

decided to follow this trend and in fact created the A-measurement system 

for caravans in 1967. Another thing you should know (and you already will 

if you’ve had the pleasure of using an Isabella product) is that the focus on 

quality is the same today as it was when Søren first started the company. 

Isabella prides itself on getting the details right, which has led to the company 

coming up with many much-needed innovations in the awning sector 

throughout its history. Take for example its Isacryl material, a spinneret-dyed, 

textured-weave, durable acrylic material that is used to create its awnings, 

giving them impressive water ingress protection, breathability, climate control 

and fade resistance. Or its CarbonX chassis that it introduced in the 2000s, 

which allowed awnings to be made far lighter than ever before without 

compromising on strength or durability. Quite simply, the company has always 

followed the initial ethos of its founder and aimed to offer products that solve 

the problems campers have and give them an extension to their camping living 

space that will last a lifetime. 

How important is the company’s long 

history in relation to how it is today? 

Our story is living in us. We have always been 

working on good relations with our suppliers 

and dealerships, and that is still a great part 

of our daily work. 

What are the most important recent 

developments the company has made? 

On the product side we are developing 

into the motorhome market right now, 

this is where the growth is the biggest. On 

the internal side we are back to where we 

came from, working with our core with the 

campers in mind. 

Do you predict the current boom in the 

camping industry will continue? 

How have you capitalised on it? We think 

that the business will slow a bit down, now 

everybody can travel again, and this will 

have an effect, but we are on a higher level 

than before. We are in constant process of 

developing new articles for the market, and 

we will continue doing this to keep or even 

grow our market share. 

What are Isabella’s plans for the future, 

without giving away any secrets, of 

course? 

Isabella will also in the future be a part of the 

caravanning business, and we will reinforce 

our current brands within the group. 


ISABELLA COMPANY PROFILE 

timeline 

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 

Søren Odgaard sews his first 

ridge tent in the basement 

of his home. He begins by 

renting tents for one Danish 

Krone per day. Soon the young 

entrepreneur starts production 

of his first villa tent the Capri. 

In 1964, Isabella produced its 

very first awning designed to 

fit the two-holiday homes that 

were prevalent on the market. 

Søren Odgaard also developed 

the A-measurement system for 

caravans. 

As camping begins to grow 

in popularity, more durable 

awnings are required. Isabella 

steps up to the plate by 

developing the first with acrylic 

canvas and polyester coated 

roof to replace cotton. 

An increase in the mobility 

of caravans leads Isabella to 

develop a revolutionary new 

fibreglass frame system: the 

IXL. These new frames are far 

lighter than ever before and 

allow caravanners to take them 

on their trips more easily. 


COMPANY PROFILE ISABELLA 

MODERN-DAY PIONEER 

The Isabella of today is an 

impressive company of some 

270 employees working across 

sales offices in seven different 

countries. Isabella products are 

sold in more than 35 different 

courtiers around the world 

and the company recently 

opened a brand-new 7,000sqm 

production facility in Poland 

that aims to further increase 

its capacity, efficiency, and 

profitability. The move was 

a sign of the times. Current 

CEO Morten Kjeldsen said 

that the facility will allow 

the company to streamline 

production and prepare for the 

growth it expects over the next 

few years. That’s impressive 

considering the company has 

already experienced some 

strong growth over the last 

decade. First, from the increase 

in interest in camping and 

caravanning and second, from 

the boost the whole industry 

received during the COVID-19 

pandemic. But Isabella’s current 

position has not been reached 

only by external influences, 

the company has constantly 

adapted to offer products 

that improve the camping 

experience and fit the current 

needs and trends of the market. 

As well as historic innovations 

such as the A-measurement 

system CarbonX and IXL, 

Isabella now offers awnings 

that are durable, keep a steady 

internal climate, protect from 

UV rays, and fit with modern 

camping styles. One of the 

company’s latest innovations 

that encapsulates how it 

works is the Air X-Tension 

– the company’s first freestanding 

air awning designed 

specifically for campervans. 

The Air X-Tension lets 

campervan users expand their 

living area by 8.25sqm with 

plenty of headroom and the 

option to zip out two of the 

sides to transform it into a sun 

canopy with fixed screen panel. 

It also boasts quick set-up 

and pack-down times thanks 

to its air tubes that feature 

a single inflation point and 

can easily be detached from 

a campervan or motorhome 

and left standing while you 

drive away – making it easy to 

use on longer camping trips. 

While Isabella is not the first 

company to create a product 

like this (and probably won’t 

be the last), it has done it with 

its typical attention to quality, 

performance, and products that 

the market actually wants. As it 

says in its own PR: “We believe 

that strong, hard-wearing 

materials, modern design and 

an exclusive finish are the icing 

on the cake when you want to 

relax and enjoy some downtime 

in your outdoor living room. It’s 

100% Danish hygge.” 

Learn more about Isabella at 

www.isabella.net 

1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 

Isabella expands its range 

to cater to the needs of 

permanent pitchers and 

price-conscious campers 

by launching the Ventura 

awning range. The Ventura 

Pacific quickly becomes one 

of the company’s best-selling 

awnings. 

The company once again 

reveals a pole system 

revolution – this time with its 

CarbonX lightweight chassis. 

This carbon-fibre reinforced 

fibreglass frame is lighter and 

stronger than anything Isabella 

has ever made before. 

Isabella acquired Danish 

caravan and trailer tent 

manufacturer Camp-let in 

2017 and begins working avidly 

on developing new products 

and improving the already 

successful original range. 

At the beginning of this 

decade, Isabella has been 

focussed on creating products 

to suit the needs of modern 

campers who use motorhomes 

and campervans. Examples 

include the Levo Cosy Corner 

and all-new Air X-Tension driveaway 

awning. 


TENTS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT 

SECTOR 

SPOTLIGHT 

Tents 

The tent market is experiencing a boom in sales and a boom in 

technological developments like never before. We examine the current 

trends and the forecast the areas where you could be most likely to 

strike up a meaningful and productive cooperation in the tent market. 

Photo: Glen Jackson (Unsplash) 


SECTOR SPOTLIGHT TENTS 

T 

■he humble tent is 

how camping began. 

Without it, it’s doubtful 

whether we would have moved 

on to trailer tents, caravans, 

motorhomes and beyond. The 

simple act of sleeping outside 

under a canvas shelter hasn’t 

changed too much since it’s 

early days – humans have been 

doing it for a long time – and 

it is perhaps that ancient 

pull that makes it appeal to 

so many people today. The 

modern tent market is vibrant, 

diverse, and innovative. Many, 

many companies have turned 

their hands to making tents, 

and many more have become 

national and international 

successes. Popularity in tents 

has increased steadily over 

the last decade, receiving a 

particularly stark shot in the 

arm in the era during and after 

the COVID-19 pandemic – 

for some, a tent was a more 

affordable way to try camping, 

for others it represented a way 

to get back to nature, and for a 

few more it was simply a new 

way to travel in a safer way. 

Whatever the effects recent 

global events have had on the 

tent market, things are certainly 

looking positive once again. 

The only real issue, which 

seems to be across almost every 

industry, is that of supply chain 

problems. So far, the camping 

and outdoor industries seem 

to have been able to navigate 

these with some success. 

One of the truly great things 

about the tent market is that 

there are relatively little regional 

or national restrictions or 

barriers in terms export. With 

RVs, there can be issues from 

country to country regarding 

whether a vehicle meets the 

standards of each nation’s road 

rules. With tents, in very simple 

terms, a tent is a tent. The same 

tent that caters for the needs 

of hardcore hikers patrolling 

somewhere in deepest, darkest 

British Colombia in Canada 

would be just at a home on a 

quiet campsite in the English 

Lake District, or a coastal 

retreat on the Italian island 

of Sardina. Producers of tents 

generally find them a relatively 

easy item to export around 

the world, with the right 

connections of course. The same 

can be said for retailers looking 

for their next best-seller – it 

could come from a brand in 

any corner of the world. The 

increasingly global nature of the 

tent market can be seen with 

the likes of American giant Big 

Agnes recently establishing 

a European headquarters to 

better serve the continent, or 

New Zealand brand Zempire 

establishing subsidiary or 

partner companies in the USA 

and the United Kingdom. 

Evidence of the global appeal 

of tents can be seen by the 

many retailers who have started 

up their own tent brands to 

sell directly to the entry-level 

customers they have. 

Tents are a product that can 

cater to all price points. You can 

spend literally thousands on a 

high-end family tent that can 

sleep eight to 10 people – or 

you can spend $100 on a cheap 

pop-up tent for a festival. The 

spectrum includes almost every 

conceivable level between these 

two extremes, but a sweet spot 

that many tent brands have 

been aiming for is the priceperformance 

ratio that allows 

newcomers to be able to afford 

their products at the lower end 

of the price spectrum, but still 

enjoying an excellent camping 

experience with them. One 

thing that can easily be achieved 

with tents is a customer journey. 

Most people start off with 

something inexpensive to dip 

their toe, but they quickly 

realise they need something 

bigger, better designed, or 

of better quality. Because of 

how many different levels 

of tents there are, you could 

conceivably take a consumer 

on a journey with your brand 

throughout their entire life 

if they stick with the hobby 

and you have the right 

products. Identifying which 

demographics are generally at 

which stages of the journey has 

proved to be an effective way 

for tent brands to market their 

products. Young couples will 

often start small but maybe 

move onto more technical or 

lightweight tents more quickly 

than families, who are more 

concerned with space rather 

than technical features. 

THE STATISTICS 

US$2.8bn 

Estimated value of global 

camping tent market 

10,000+ 

Tents sold annually in 

the United Kingdom 

(estimated) 

US$80 to $250 

Estimated mean RRP of a 

camping tent 

9.1m 

First-time camper 

households in the USA in 2021 

56% 

Of new campers in 2021 

said they prefer tent 

camping 

61.3m 

Projected number of 

households that will be 

camping in North America 

in 2022. 

Global interest in Google search term ‘tent’ in the last year 

100 

75 

50 

25 

23 MAY 

2021 

10 OCT 

2021 

27 FEB 

2022 

Top five countries with highest 

Google search interest for the 

term ‘tent’ in the last year 

Australia 

New Zealand 

United Kingdom 

Netherlands 

Canada 



Photo: Patrick Hendry (Unsplash) 

▲ In the warmer months, many adventure-style tents can be used without a flysheet, further increasing their portability. 

TRENDING 

The trends on display in the 

tent camping market do vary 

quite considerably depending on 

which corner of the Earth you 

reside. In European countries 

like the UK, France, the 

Netherlands, and Germany, the 

largest part of the market is for 

good-sized family tents. Think 

anything from a four-person 

tent through to a 10-person 

tent, most of which nowadays 

feature inflatable tubes rather 

than traditional poles. This is 

probably down to the fact that 

families want to enjoy a much 

higher level of luxury than they 

once did on a camping trip, and 

the industry has responded in 

kind. It’s not uncommon for a 

large, multi-bedroom tent to be 

sold with a solid collection of 

furniture such as chairs, tables, 

carpets, wardrobes and more. 

This kind of camping normally 

sees families staying on one 

site for a prolonged period of a 

week or longer. In other nations, 

such as North America, while 

these larger family tents do have 

a place, smaller backpacking 

style tents tend to dominate the 

industry a little more. Besides 

cultural differences, a lot of 

this could also be attributed 

to the kinds of places people 

go camping. In Europe, welldeveloped 

campsites with good 

facilities and plenty of space 

for leisure vehicles mean that 

larger family tents are suited. 

In North America, it is much 

easier to go camping in the 

wilderness and not on a specific 

campground. This is partly down 

to access issues and also to the 

large amount of space North 

America has geographically. 

The backpacking or lightweight 

camping tent market is seeing 

some growth in Europe though, 

possibly down to a growing 

interest in the great outdoors 

from the general public and also 

driven by inspirational content 

provided on social media. 

You could be mistaken for 

thinking that a growth in 

family-sized tents would mean 

less of a focus on technical 

materials. In fact, the demand 

from consumers for their tent 

to be a proper home from home 

means that manufacturers are 

putting in more effort than 

ever to come up with more 

advanced technical materials 

that are also environmentally 

friendly. In Europe, Danish 

family camping brand Outwell 

recently revealed one of its most 

durable and protective materials 

ever, Outtex 6000 Endurance 

RS, while over in the United 

States, New Hampshire-based 

Nemo Equipment revealed 

an award-winning new fabric 

technology, OSMO, that scores 

well on the sustainability scale. 

The increasing demand for 

smarter technology is evident: 

a tent that doesn’t display any 

effort to have some kind of 

advanced technology within 

its construction will likely not 

be a huge hit with consumers. 

Equally important is that 

eco message. Consumers are 

becoming more environmentally 

savvy in general, but campers 

are perhaps even more so than 



Photo: Oase Outdoors 

▲ Danish company Oase Outdoors, which owns brands like Robens and Outwell, has many innovative and unique tent designs. 

The increasing demand for smarter technology is evident: a tent that 

doesn’t display any effort to have some kind of advanced technology within 

its construction will likely not be a huge hit with consumers. 

the average. When your hobby 

involves spending time in nature 

and in the outdoors then you 

are naturally likely to be more 

in tune with being a greener 

consumer. Vango recently 

launched its Earth collection, all 

of which are made from recycled 

plastics. While other big-name 

brands such as Big Agnes use 

a much more environmentally 

friendly dying process when 

manufacturing their tents. 

This green trend is something 

seen across the whole camping 

industry, but with the close 

connection that tents give people 

to nature, it is perhaps even more 

pronounced in this market. 

One thing that is a certain 

trend in tent camping is that 

it’s still on an upward trend. A 

study by one of the UK’s leading 

camping and outdoor gear 

retailers, Cotswold Outdoors, 

recently showed that UKwide 

camping equipment sales 

have increased by 40 per cent 

compared to pre-pandemic 

figures, Scotland has seen the 

biggest sales boom (89 per cent 

increase), and monthly camping 

related searches online peaked 

in May 2021 when they were 

400 per cent higher than the 

monthly average. Year-on-year, 

the product category with the 

highest demand increase is 

camping picnic items (up 158 

per cent), closely followed by 

children’s sleeping bags (110 

per cent) and cookware (93 per 

cent). Stoves, lanterns, tables 

and chairs, two-person tents and 

sleeping mats all also saw good 

rises, but the real surprise was 

that six person tents or larger 

were down about 43 per cent. 

Cotswold reckons some of this 

could be because people have 

been camping in smaller groups 

in the last few years to practise 

social distancing, but it could 

also point to a trend for smaller 

tents and more backpacking over 

family-style home comfort tents. 

Tent manufacturers are often 

very connected with their end 

users, often through the use of 

social media influencers. Because 

of this, they are able to stay well 

on top of current and upcoming 

trends. There is perhaps much 

that could be learned from the 

way in which tent companies 

conduct their business that 

everyone in the camping 

industry could benefit from. 



BUSINESS CONNECTIONS 

The tent market is a vibrant and innovative place with brands that 

cover the entire spectrum of price points, from super-cheap, entry 

level, through to very expensive and technical products. Tents have 

the wonderful attribute of being a product that can be translated to 

any market anywhere in the world without any major modifications. 

So, with that in mind, here’s a snapshot of companies that could 

help you make a meaningful international business connection… 

There will likely be plenty of brands you have already heard of, but 

hopefully one or two that you haven’t. Either way, your next big 

partners could be lurking somewhere on these pages. 

Alpkit 

www.alpkit.com 

Black Wolf 

www.blackwolfoutdoors.com 

ESVO 

www.esvocampingshop.com 

Hilleberg 

www.hilleberg.com 

Alps Mountaineering 

www.alpsbrands.com 

Cabanon 

www.cabanon.com 

Eureka Camping 

www.eurekacamping.com 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 

hyperlitemountaingear.com 

Bell Tent 

www.belltent.co.uk 

Cabela’s 

www.cabelas.com 

Fjällräven 

www.fjallraven.com 

Jack Wolfskin 

www.jack-wolfskin.com 

Bergans 

www.bergans.com 

Caranex 

www.caranex.com 

Gelert 

www.gelert.com 

Kampa 

www.kampaoutdoors.com 

Big Agnes 

www.bigagnes.com 

Coleman 

www.coleman.com 

Helsport 

www.helsport.com 

Karsten 

www.karstententen.com 

Black Diamond 

blackdiamondequipment.com 

Easy Camp 

www.easycamp.com 

Highlander 

www.highlander-outdoor.com 

Kathmandu 

www.kathmandu.co.nz 

▲ Tent camping offers a level of freedom that is not always attainable with vehciles such as caravans or motorhomes.


Kelty 

www.kelty.com 

Outwell 

www.outwell.com 

Snow Peak 

www.snowpeak.com 

Westfield Outdoors 

www.westfieldoutdoor.com 

Khyam 

www.khyam.co.uk 

Oztent 

www.oztent.com 

SoulPad 

www.soulpad.co.uk 

Zempire 

www.zempire.co.nz 

Macpac 

www.macpac.co.nz 

Qube Tents 

www.qubetents.com 

SunnCamp 

www.sunncamp.co.uk 

Marmot 

www.marmot.com 

Quechua 

www.quechua.com 

Terra Nova 

www.terra-nova.co.uk 

MSR 

www.msrgear.com 

REI 

www.rei.com 

The North Face 

www.thenorthface.com 

Nemo Equipment 

www.nemoequipment.com 

OLPRO 

www.olproshop.com 

Outdoor Revolution 

www.outdoor-revolution.com 

Robens 

www.robens.de 

Royal 

www.royal-leisure.co.uk 

Skandika 

www.skandika.com 

Vaude 

www.vaude.com 

Vango 

www.vango.co.uk 

Wenzel 

www.wenzelco.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. 

▲ Wild camping is growing in popularity around the world with brands like Vango providing great one-person tents for it.

EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

BECOME 

A BETTER 

BUSINESS 

Enhance your 

exhibition experience 

Despite all the advances of modern technology, the humble exhibition remains a key 

component of modern business. But how do you make the most of your exhibition 

experience? Our marketing guru has some ideas… 

A 

■n enforced break from 

exhibitions and shows 

due to you-knowwhat 

has led to somewhat of a 

renaissance for these kinds of 

events. They truly are one of those 

things that we didn’t know how 

much we needed until they were 

gone. And whisper it quietly, 

but it looks as though they are 

back for good once again. So, 

what better time to reassess 

how valuable they are to your 

business and also how you can 

make the very most from them 

as a company? Some companies 

have decided that the money they 

saved by not exhibiting could be 

better spent elsewhere, and that’s 

fine – each to their own. Just 

for the record, I’m a big believer 

in exhibitions. Whether it’s a 

consumer fair or a trade show 

– exhibitions are an integral tool 

in the business growth toolkit, 

which means that you should 

definitely spend more time 

planning and strategizing around 

them. 

One of the first things this 

unexpected break in live events 

should have helped with is the 

assessment of which shows you 

think are most important to your 

businesses. Do the audiences of 

any you attend overlap? Are there 

some that will better serve you 

in terms of growth in different 

markets or segments? Taking 

stock of the shows you attend and 

keeping an eye out for new and 

interesting ones should be your 

first port of call. If you do identify 

a new show that you’re interested 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE 

© Landemesse stuttgart 

SHOWS NOT TO MISS IN 

THE CAMPING INDUSTRY: 

CMT (Germany) 

ISPO (Germany) 

Outdoor Retailer Snow (USA) 

Caravan, Camping and 

Motorhome Show (UK) 

Camping & Picnic Fair 

(South Korea) 

All in Caravaning (China) 

Outdoor Retailer Show (UK) 

▲ Exhibitions can easily pass you by without proper planning and measurable goals. 

Outdoor Retailer Summer 

(USA) 

in, then unless you are hugely 

confident it’s right, then put 

down that booking form. The best 

thing to do is attend a show as a 

visitor first to get a feel for it. See 

who exhibits, see who the typical 

visitors are, maybe even use it as a 

chance to talk to the organisers in 

person before you take the leap. 

Exhibitions can be expensive, 

that is almost inevitable. But try 

to think about it a longer term 

view. You could set up a deal that 

six months down the line pays for 

the show ten times over. A show 

is the definition of speculating 

in order to accumulate. There 

are also always ways in which 

you could try to bring the costs 

down when it comes to travel and 

accommodation too. 

Once you’ve settled on the 

show you want to exhibit at, 

you then need to set clear goals 

that you want to achieve. Ideally 

those goals will be tied to your 

wider goals as a company which 

helped you select this show in 

the first place. Try to set some 

quantifiable goals that have some 

means of measuring whether 

you’ve been successful or not. If 

it’s not possible to be tangible 

with your results, then set some 

aspects of the score that you and 

your team score your performance 

on. Having a structured plan 

is absolutely key to enjoying 

a successful show. There’s a 

temptation to get bogged down 

in the logistics or to put things off 

until closer to the time, but those 

who prepare well will get the 

most from an exhibition. 

Having said that, some of the 

best things to come out of shows 

are those chance encounters that 

simply wouldn’t have happened 

without them. You never know 

who you might bump into and 

what you might chat about. The 

next person on the stand could 

be an influencer who could 

help elevate your marketing 

to a higher level, or maybe a 

distributor who could open up 

an entire territory. Even with a 

firm plan in place for what you 

want to achieve at an event, it 

really pays to be flexible and 

allow some time to freestyle. If 

it’s a trade show, try not to spend 

your entire day in arranged 

meetings. While these face-toface 

encounters are important, so 

is having a chance to let random 

things happen. 

At the end of the day, 

exhibitions tap into the most 

basic human instincts. We are 

social creatures, and having the 

opportunity to network, to meet 

and greet, and to talk face-toface 

with other human beings 

can sometimes create stronger 

bonds than any other type of 

marketing ever could. Long live 

the exhibition. 

Caravan Salon (Germany) 

Elmia (Sweden) 

Caravanmesen (Norway) 

Salon VDL (France) 

Salone del Camper (Italy) 

The Glamping Show (UK) 

Kampeer en Caravan 

Jaarbeurs (Netherlands) 

Mobicar (Belgium) 

Motorhome and Caravan 

Show (UK) 

Caravan Salon (Austria) 

Salon Caravaning (Spain) 


EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

TOP TIPS 

© Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH 

TO HAVE A 

GREAT 

SHOW 

01 02 03 

PROMOTE YOURSELF 

To make the most of any appearance 

at an exhibition, it really helps to 

promote yourself to the audience 

before the show starts. Make people 

aware you are going to be there, get 

them excited about why they should 

come and visit you, try to make your 

stand unmissable. No matter how 

big your presence at a show, there’s a 

chance people might miss you in the 

hustle and bustle. By using methods 

such as email marketing, social 

media posts and press releases, you 

can make sure that your company’s 

name and logo is firmly in the minds 

of attendees to a show – whether 

end consumers or B2B visitors. 

GET READY TO ENGAGE 

Being at a show is only the first 

piece in the jigsaw of making it a 

success. To really make the most 

of it, you need to be engaging and 

welcoming towards passers-by. Too 

many times we have walked the 

halls of shows and seen staff sitting 

on stands looking bored or fed up 

and barely making eye contact when 

we come close. Exhibitions are hard 

work, they’re tiring, and there are 

always dull moments, but you have 

to try and keep your game face on as 

much as possible. Say ‘hi’ to people, 

welcome them, ask them how they 

are, you never know who you might 

be speaking to next. 

TEAMWORK PAYS OFF 

As just mentioned, shows can be 

hard work. Because of that, you need 

the right team for the occasion. Try 

to get as many people at the show 

as you can afford to and make sure 

they are the people who have the 

personalities that will come across 

best – everyone on your stand is a 

living, breathing representation of 

your company. Having a solid team 

will help with camaraderie and also 

allow you to give people decent 

breaks and downtime, which will 

boost your overall performance at 

the event. 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE 

© Landemesse stuttgart 

© Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH 

04 

MAKE PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU 

REMEMBER 

If it’s possible, try to make your stand 

more than just a stand. Try to create 

an experience. A great example of 

that is British tent brand Vango, 

which often hosts a contest to see 

who can inflate one of its AirBeam 

tents the fastest, with a running 

leader board throughout the event 

and prizes for the winners. It’s not 

always practical, but by creating an 

experience, people are much more 

likely to remember your company in 

the blur of products and brands they 

will see over the days of a show. If you 

can’t create an experience with your 

products, then consider giving away 

a simple and useful free gift that will 

keep you in the mind of visitors. 

05IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT 

PLACE 

THE SHOW FLOOR 

One of our favourite lines about 

shows, particularly trade shows, 

is that all the best deals are done 

outside the show. The social aspect 

of an industry can be a hugely 

important of a big get-together 

like an exhibition. Whether it’s in 

the bar, a restaurant, or some other 

more relaxed social setting, this 

is where you really get to know 

your customers or prospective 

customers and forge much stronger 

relationships with them. Having the 

opportunity to do it in a less formal 

situation is one of the best things 

about a show, especially if people 

have travelled long distances to be 

there – it’s a rare opportunity. 

06 

IMPORTANCE ON THE 

FOLLOW-UP 

If you pay no attention to any of this 

article at all, then please at least 

take on board this point. You simply 

must follow-up leads and contacts 

from an exhibition otherwise it may 

have all been for nothing. Those 

chance meetings mean nothing if 

you don’t stay in touch with people 

afterwards. Sometimes the followup 

might mean arranging to meet 

someone at a future exhibition or 

event, sometimes it’s just calling 

or emailing afterwards, or sending 

some information you said you 

would. Strike while the iron is hot 

in the week or two after the event 

to be most effective with your 

following up. 



LIPPERT 

SOLIDSHIELD VAN GRILLE 

GUARD 

Lippert claims that its new SolidShield Van 

Grille Guard is designed to take an innovative 

step forwards in fleet grille guard technology. 

Compared to the industry-standard twopoint 

system, SolidShield features a superior 

four-point mounting system that allows for 

maximum strength and rigidity and helps 

prevent damage to the vehicle. It gives the 

fleet an updated, sophisticated look with its 

vehicle-specific construction that contours 

to the front of the cargo van, creating a sleek, 

stylish appearance. 

www.lci1.com 

OUTWELL 

SOLAR SHOWER 

In an effort to make the camping 

experience more comfortable for 

everyone who undertakes it, Outwell 

has a range of sanitation facilities that 

can help you bring the home comforts 

along with you. A great example is the 

20-litre Solar Shower, which provides 

ample hot water for free using the 

sun’s rays to heat up the black bag. 

An integral thermometer allows you 

to monitor water temperature. These 

showers are also ideal for outdoor 

pursuits and washing off your dog after 

a walk along the beach. 


THETFORD 

PORTA POTTIS 

Thetford is the inventor of the Porta 

Potti, which could make a case for being 

one of the most important products in 

the history of camping and caravanning. 

Now available in seven different 

variations, there is a Porta Potti for every 

campers needs. With different sizes and 

capacities, as well as smart features such 

as toilet roll holders, different flushing 

systems, and even the ability to be 

repaired with spare parts, it’s no wonder 

they have been so successful. 

www.thetford.com 

VOLT 

METRO EBIKE 

Made in the UK, Volt’s impressive Metro 

folding ebike features a sleek and 

modern design as well as high-spec 

components. Features include Tektro 

Hydraulic Brakes, an ABUS frame-lock 

on the rear wheel, Velo Plush saddle, 

ZOOM suspension seat-post and SR 

Suntour front fork suspension. Still one 

of the lightest ebikes on the market with 

a large capacity SpinTech Panasonic 

battery, the Metro folds down quickly 

and easily for storage or travelling.The 

Metro’s lightweight 16 inch frame and 

powerful 250 watt SpinTech motor 

results in a nippy and stylish way to get 

around 

www.voltebikes.co.uk 



PEGGYPEG 

SCREW-IN PEGS 

All Peggy Peg plastic screw-in pegs are produced from 

fibre-glass reinforced UV-resistant polyamide. The 

bright colour is so that they can be seen more easily. 

Peggy N is the height adjustable all-purpose Peggy 

Peg for awnings, cords and tents etc. Product testers 

travelling all around Europe have approved that Peggy 

N can be used in 90 per cent of all cases by its height 

adjustment. Pre-drilling might be useful in hard or 

frozen grounds (take a 10mm drill). 

www.peggypegs.de 

ROBENS 

TRACE HAMMOCK SET 

Following the success of its Trace Hammock Set, outdoor specialist 

Robens has introduced a complete package for off grid overnight 

micro-adventures. The Trace Ultimate Hammock Set (pictured 

above) contains all required to create an ideal ‘leave no trace’ nest 

that can be quickly slung between trees to keep you comfortably 

off the cold, damp ground away from crawling insects and rain. 

Packing down to just 22cm x 31cm and weighing in at 1.84kg, 

the Trace Ultimate Hammock Set comprises: hammock with 

integrated mosquito net, tarp, slings and cord, and carabiners. 

www.robens.de 

NEMO EQUIPMENT 

OSMO DAGGER TENT 

Billed as the one-tent-wonder by Nemo, the OSMO Dagger 

is lightweight enough for backpacking, yet roomy enough 

for comfort on any adventure. It’s one of the first tents in 

Nemo’s iconic backpacking collection to feature its new 

proprietary OSMO fabric with advanced water repellency 

that lasts four times longer. This composite fabric has three 

times less stretch when wet, reducing sag and maintaining 

wind and rain shedding in any weather. OSMO fabrics 

are completely PFC- and PFAS-free, meet fire retardancy 

standards without the use of added chemicals, and are 

woven from 100 per cent recycled yarns. 

www.nemoequipment.com 

TELECO 

PORTABLE POWER STATION 

Teleco has introduced a new series of Portable Power Stations, designed to 

ensure campers always have the energy they need, no matter how long they 

spend off-grid. Featuring lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, the two 

stations can power loads of various kinds, with the PPS500 model offering 460 

Wh and the PPS1000 offering 1110 Wh. In comparison to values normally seen 

on recreational vehicles, this means 38Ah and 93Ah respectively at 12 Volts. In 

alternating current, the smaller model guarantees up to 500 Watts of power, 

while the larger one provides 1000 W and can reach a peak power of 2000 W. 

www.telecogroup.com 



ADRIA 

SONIC 

These premiu integrated motorhomes from Adria feature 

distinctive styling, an exclusive front mask and rear wall design 

and a durable Comprex body construction that is available in 

either silver or white. The aerodynamic exterior benefits from 

a large panoramic window while the double floor provides a 

single level throughout the motorhome and offers additional 

below-floor storage. The interior feature bright colours, simplistic 

styling, an open-plan design, controllable lighting system, 

multimedia entertainment and heating by Truma and Alde. 

www.adria-mobil.com 

HOBBY 

ONTOUR 

The OnTour caravan from Hobby is fresh from winning several 

awards in its native Germany and is designed to offer effortless 

travel to its users. The range weighs from as little as 1,200kg with 

2.2m of width making it compact and easy to tow, however the 

smart layouts mean the inside will not feel cramped but will feel 

more like a home from home. There are three different models in 

the range – the 390 SF, the 460 DL and the 470 KMF – that sleep 

between three and four people. 

www.hobby-caravan.de 

DOMETIC GO 

HARD STORAGE 50L 

A product that is part of the new Dometic GO sub-brand, 

this hard storage case is versatile, easy-to-use and built to 

last. Made from a durable vertical aluminium and highimpact-resistant 

polymer, the case can take whatever you 

throw at it while its lid is designed to have other storage 

cases stacked on top of it for neat storage. Built-in handles, 

tiedown points, lock holes and secure easy-pull latches 

further add to the storage case’s usefulness. 

www.dometic.com 

CAMP-LET 

PASSION 

Designed to be the perfect trailer tent for a family of four, 

the Camp-Let Passion gives campers 18sqm of holiday 

accommodation as standard with the option to add-on additional 

space via annexes on either side. The trailer tent has a wellequipped 

kitchen and can be customised further with a wide 

range of accessories and add-ons. The Passion also has integrated 

blackout curtains as standard giving a comfortable indoor climate 

in the day and an undisturbed night’s sleep. 

www.isabella.net 



EASY CAMP 

MAGNETAR 

Affordable camping brand Easy Camp has 

introduced two new Magnetar tents into 

its range that offer versatility and reliability. 

Designed to be practical and lightweight, the 

200 and 400 sizes of the new tent, are fast to 

pitch thanks to their tunnel designs and can 

be entered by a side door that provides ample 

storage space. Front and rear vents allow the 

adjustment of air flow inside the tent while 

the Sleep-Tight inner reduces light entry 

to enhance sleep quality. Available in two 

colours: rustic green on the 400 and rustic 

green or steel blue on the 200. 

www.easycamp.com 

PRIMUS 

LITE+ 

This compact and lightweight 

backpacking stove system can feed 

up to two people and offers the most 

efficient heating in an easy to use and 

easy to pack footprint. Attach and lock 

the 0.5L pot to the burner with a simple 

twist. The Piezo igniter lights the stove 

with a push of a button so you can boil 

water quickly. The Laminar Flow Burner 

is extremely compact, and puts out a 

4500BTU (1500 W) flame, boiling 0.5L 

water in less than three minutes in a 

quieter cooking experience. Simply pour 

directly from the pot spout or use the 

included pots support pegs for use with 

ANY pot or pans. 

www.primusequipment.com 

TRELINO 

S VAN COMPOSTING 

TOILET 

The Trelino S is the alternative for a 

Porta Potti. No matter where you travel 

with your Van and where you want to 

stay overnight. It is always with you. 

This composting toilet boasts being 

ready to use immediately, is hygienic 

for both men and women, is easy to 

clean, doesn’t need water or chemicals, 

can be disposed of almost anywhere 

and is designed and manufactured 

in Germany. The Trelino has a tinted 

urine container for more privacy when 

emptying. Nevertheless, the fill level can 

still be read. 

www.trelino.com 

BAILEY 

DISCOVERY AIR 

AWNING 

Each Discovery Air Awning has been 

designed exclusively by PRIMA and 

is bespoke-fitted to each of the three 

Bailey Discovery caravan models, giving 

you more space to relax, eat, store and 

sleep. The awning quickly expands your 

space yet is easy to pitch, and packs up 

neatly for storage or travelling. There are 

no complicated pole configurations or 

set-up – simply thread the awning into 

the channel, inflate each beam and peg 

down. With large panoramic windows, 

huge skylights and fully removable 

doors, the awning can be transformed 

into a light and open space. 

www.primaleisure.com 



SPECIALISED COVERS 

CARAVAN COVER 

Designed to protect caravans from the elements 

while they are stored away, covers from UK firm 

Specialised Covers feature door access, a storage 

bag, fitting poles and aerial and flue allowance 

if required. They feature a hydrostatic head of 

2,500mm and are also breathable, meaning that 

any internal moisture can easily escape. Specialised 

Covers make caravan covers in custom shapes and 

designs to fit almost any leisure vehicle. 

www.specialisedcovers.com 

OUTWELL 

SEAFORD CHAIR 

Available in two pastel colours, the Seaford low chair is perfect for 

quality me-time like when relaxing on the beach in the sun. Four 

back positions and the back rest U-frame allows you to kick back 

upright with a good book or fold flat as a sun bed when topping 

up the tan. The strong, durable steel frame and easy-clean 

textilene provide great support while an integrated foam pillow 

enhances comfort. 


SOG 

COMPACT AND COMPACT CLOSE 

A smart idea from German company SOG comes in the 

shape of its Compact and Compact Close ventilation 

systems. They can be easily attached to most type of caravan 

or motorhome toilet seats and when the lid is opened a fan 

turns on and sucks unpleasant odours from the toilet bowl 

vial the aerodynamically adapted suction shaft – they are 

then discharged through a special high-performance filter. 

The Compact works on most toilets, while the Compact 

Close has been designed to work on toilet seats with softclose 

actions. 

www.sog-systeme.de 

SNOW PEAK 

FASTPACK ENTRY SLEEPING BAG 

The Fastpack Entry Sleeping Bag is a hybrid sleeping system comprised of a 

sleeping bag and attached mattress that enables you to set up your camping bed 

faster than ever. The Fastpack Entry Sleeping Bag features a modular dual zipper 

to allow separation into mattress/duvet, so you can adjust your sleeping style 

depending on the temperature. It’s the perfect sleeping bag for Spring/Summer 

and the polyester Hollow Fibre insulation retains warmth in temperatures as low as 

3°C. You can also attach two units together to create a double sleeping space that 

will comfortably accommodate two persons. 

www.snowpeak.com 



REMIS 

REMICARE VAN INSECT 

PROTECTION DOOR 

Available for vans including Fiat 

Ducatos, Volkswagen T5/ T6, the 

Mercedes Sprinter, and the Ford Transit 

Custom, the REMIcare Van insect 

protection door is made of black, slightly 

pleated material. Even with the sliding 

door open, flies, mosquitoes, and gnats 

are kept out of the sleeping and living 

area, without obstructing the view. 

The insect protection door is so easy 

to install that end users can do it with 

minimal instruction. 

www.remis.de 

LIPPERT 

CROSSWING 5TH 

WHEEL HITCH 

The Curt CrossWing 5th wheel hitch 

gives you the best of both worlds by 

packing extraordinary strength into 

one lightweight hitch. It’s 65 per cent 

lighter than most traditional 5th wheel 

hitches and still overs a 20,000lb 

weight capacity. To add to its superior 

strength and integrity, it is made with 

high-grade steel instead of aluminium 

to ensure uncompromising durability. 

The innovative coupling mechanism 

has a visible contact surface, meaning 

it eliminates the guesswork that similar 

hitches require when backing up to the 

trailer. 

www.lci1.com 

BALDACCI 

MAGNETIC SYSTEM 

Expert in caravan and motorhome 

components, Baldacci, has launched 

a totally innovative system consisting 

of a backlit bar, available in any length, 

where a wide range of accessories can 

be inserted. A magnetic device allows 

the accessories to be quickly attached 

to the bar, guaranteeing maximum 

stability and avoiding vibrations. 

Accessories can be customised in terms 

of size and shape. A system that allows 

maximum flexibility. 

www.baldacci.it 

HELLA 

SHAPELINE LED REAR 

LAMPS 

Whether large or small quantities, 

the lamps of the innovative HELLA 

Shapeline series give vehicle series 

a consistent, yet individual look. 

The different light functions can be 

combined in this way to create an 

attractive, unique lighting design. The 

entire HELLA Shapeline series, and thus 

also the Shapeline rear lamps, impress 

with their high-quality materials, long 

durability, and energy-efficient, highintensity 

LED technology. Multi-voltage 

capability allows them to be used in 

both 12 V and 24 V environments. 

www.hella.com 


www.campingtradeworld.com

Camping Trade World – Issue 08

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