Another Australian caravan/camper maker gone

[WilSurf]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-14/australian-off-road-caravan-company-shuts-its-gates/107150896

AOR has gone, gates are closed, store and website are empty.

[Bird]

Caravan maker Australian Off Road shuts its gates leaving customers in limbo

[sparksy]

This popped up on my facebook feed a couple of days back. the name Australian Off Road was newly registered on 4th Sep 2026 by a new company very similar to the original company that owned Australian Off Road. 

[xcvator]

This popped up on my facebook feed a couple of days back. the name Australian Off Road was newly registered on 4th Sep 2026 by a new company very similar to the original company that owned Australian Off Road. 

What site is that ?

[sparksy]

lemon caravans & RV's n Australia - The original and the best. 
Be a slap in the face to those customers and suppliers if this turns out to be true.

And this is the AOR statement from director. https://australianoffroad.com.au/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUYHsFwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXhESDBIMGxra3JTQVczTUNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeosvUQmVKHaYjF9dfnVd0gtrjAiZCyDgpGD0mEL9WlOEV9DR20FwnFt5-T64_aem_DLI3iQPzaODF_dZTX3TMWg

[Fizzie]

  

[Bird]

Id be seriously looking at options if i was buyin a van no way im puttin down a 10k+ deposit and waiting 18mths for it.... plenty of good USED options with low klms... look at GeoffA and GG and numerous others

[GeoffA]

We ordered new in Nov 2019. It was pre-Covid. Not many options at the time. Plenty now, but very $$, or Chinese.
Delivery was to be March 2020, but ended up being pushed out to mid-2020 due to travel restrictions.
No way I'd order a new van now. The bust following the Covid-induced boom is biting manufacturers very hard.

[wakychapmans]

we're lucky... in that respect.

we'll never be able to afford a new van so not an issue for us.

we stretched to afford the $35K we paid for the 15yo Kedron we got at XMAS.

[Bird]

we're lucky... in that respect.

we'll never be able to afford a new van so not an issue for us.

Your not the lone ranger there!!
quick look thru caravan camping sales shows an insane collection, you might not find 100% what your looking for but for the savings its a compromise

[sparksy]

Looks like the claims about phoenixing the company were enough for the administrators to inform ASIC.  47 orders on the books but only 13 chassis found, deposits of up to $110k taken with about $2.2 million owed to customers,  reports of vans being taken off site by related persons and even vans in for repair going missing.  $9 million in dept.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-24/australian-off-road-caravans-creditors-meeting/107182046?fbclid=IwY2xjawUilfJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5UtGsZbuTX3VrfaYUJzUCUyiKUNpW7HfsTOzKrjLoB6D4z2OP1NkZBY_KepA_aem_OffOnCvFnNJyFjGq6ooFuw

[Bird]

Looks like the claims about phoenixing the company were enough for the administrators to inform ASIC.  47 orders on the books but only 13 chassis found, deposits of up to $110k taken with about $2.2 million owed to customers,  reports of vans being taken off site by related persons and even vans in for repair going missing.  $9 million in dept.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-24/australian-off-road-caravans-creditors-meeting/107182046

its bullShit how this can happen... and the bloke whose was in for repairs but has gone AWOL.. WTF?

AOR's directors are also facing questions about assets located at a different factory in Kunda Park operated by another of Mr Evans's companies.

"Our auctioneer has inspected this site and advised it appeared preparations may have been underway for an alternate business operation involving a similar line of business," Mr Keramos told creditors.

[prodigyrf]

And another Maverick in administration

[wakychapmans]

And another Maverick in administration

and Essential/Design RV/Zone RV are "restructuring"

[Foo]

All of these caravan mobs are playing on the fact that many people want to "tour" when the retire! 

There is nothing in the value of buying a new van that would encourage me too venture down that avenue!    My brother and a cousin have bought new vans in the last 2yrs and both have had problems! 

Foo

[wakychapmans]

All of these caravan mobs are playing on the fact that many people want to "tour" when the retire! 

There is nothing in the value of buying a new van that would encourage me too venture down that avenue!    My brother and a cousin have bought new vans in the last 2yrs and both have had problems! 

Foo

101%... buy a used van. (pick one of the *really* well known and respected off road brands that you know you'll never be able to afford new)

upgrade the components.

We spent $35k on our 2011 Kedron
add ~ $10k in solar, lithim and new Victron charging gear (this is all going in now)
add ~ $5k in internal paining and remodeling of the lound/dining space (we hate the cafe style seating and want an L shaped lounge area) (assuming you paid someone to do it)
add $200 + my own labour to add shoe lockers/steps either side of the bed (makes it easier to access the crazy tall bed, and gives us storage underneath and down low... shoes for the wife on her side and my Ryobi collection on my side)
add $2400 for the new fancy Cuddy S1 bagging/diverting dunny
add $2000 for new 285/75/16 tyres to match the Troopy for redundancy

All up $54,600

for this I will have (works in progress) a bulletproof Australian made van with 1880w (plus) of solar and 1300ah of lithium will all new latest tech Victron charging gear. I'll have a modern dunny, and the insides freshly painted like the new vans plus tyres (& wheels) matched to our tow vehicle (which I would have to do anyway with a new build/purchase)

Even if I go all out now and cut the suspension off and have Cruisemaster ATX w/airbags fitted (approx' $25k)... I'm still at way less than a new Chinese import and less than half of the cheapest brand new Australian made.

[Fizzie]

Related to vans! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1cKn8VtoyT/

For those not on FacePlant, https://www.boatahome.com.au/ have announced they're closing, "effective immediately"!

Turns out they were involved with AOR, who apparently owe them a lot of $$$.

Good bit though is that there are no orders outstanding, & all staff are fully paid up to date

 

[wakychapmans]

Bit of an update via the ABC on AOR...

it's not pretty.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-14/australian-off-road-creditors-meeting-allegations/107260272?

"trading insolvent since 2023"...

"single axle trailers arriving from China"...

[Fizzie]

t's not pretty

Especially the Directors now claiming holiday pay!