Brisbane Xmas 2001 - Caravan Show

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Brisbane Xmas Caravan Show

Kratzmann's impressive A'van range on display

Lots of Chalets on display at Queensland Campers

After heat wave conditions for a week, the weather for the Caravan Show was fortunately mild and cloudy! A'van was out in full force courtesy of Gary Kratzmann with a wonderful display featuring an astounding nineteen models. Buyers were certainly spoilt for choice. Chalet also had a good display and were showing off the new fully Australianised Chalet featuring grey tonings as per A'van and Jayco. A review is in the pipeline but we will tell you this for free - it looks terrific! Kratzmann's also had a huge display of Supremes, Windsor's and Goldstream. They were easily the largest exhibitors even larger than the very comprehensive Jayco display. Kedron Caravans had an excellent display showing a van in various stages of construction. The vans are actually made in Brisbane and some are billed as ATV. As this show is a lot more laid back than the main June one, we took the opportunity to look very closely at the construction methods used on vans and even Winnebago and Horizon motorhomes and campers. It is wonderful to note that chipboard on working surfaces has just about disappeared completely from all makes and galvanised chassis are becoming the norm. All the A'vans we checked weren't galvanised but all the Chalets were. Looking under the bottom of the big Winnie's revealed solid sheets of solid galvanised iron. What a wonderful idea. The floors were even insulated a feature so often ignored in Australia vans yet a standard feature in the USA and UK. Most manufacturers have stopped using the tacky plastic edging on top surfaces and have opted instead for solid timber. A'van no longer offer the Stucco finish, a very good move as this makes minor ding repair so much easier and most units had quality branded tyres fitted either Olympic's or Dunlop's. Overall the show was a great success and very well patronised with all sales people rushed off their feet. There was a very generous $500.00 factory bonus offered with every A'van.

Bob Eustace

The revolutionary Windsor Rapid

Kratzmann's Supreme range