Awnings are integral to camping life, sheltering holidaymakers from Australia’s weather extremes. But in facing these conditions front on they have their own fair share of vulnerabilities–particularly at the top edges, which can tear over time.

A Caravan awning tear repair that works!

Thankfully, Everything Caravans provide campers a permanent and unobtrusive solution to stop or even prevent those tears before they become problematic with an easy to fix and require no additional setup at camp: Awning Saver. Available in three colours, these handy emergency caravan awning tear repair kits can prevent tears of less than 75mm at the sail track from advancing.

Everything Caravans

Caravanners have an exciting new way to enjoy high power comforts consistently off-grid, now that agricultural and industry generator specialists Welling & Crossley have released a quiet range of inverter generators for the campsite and home.

Three new lightweight inverter generators for caravans

Three new inverter models including campsite hero, the WC-P3200Si, feature stable pure-sine wave power that’s perfect for sensitive devices–accessible at the unit or from within your RV with USB and 15A power points available on all models.
Indeed, rated at 3000W and with 3200W maximum power, the WC-P3200Si offers ample grunt not only for the very newest air-conditioners within modern RVs but also for many older and thirstier reverse cycle systems fitted to existing RVs Australia-wide.

Whisper quiet Operation

What’s more, the 3200W achieves it at a surprisingly quiet 64dBA @7m with advanced noise-busting tech and weighs just 23kg, delivering a generous steady supply of power without significant modifications to your existing camp.
Euro 5 emission compliant, WC-P3200Si and its stablemates the WC-P6000Si and WC-P9000Si well and truly meets Australia’s emissions standards for outdoor power equipment.

Welling & Crossley

Arizon Off-Grid has today launched a brand new lithium battery onto the Australia market helping caravanners, vanlifers, and motorhome owners stay off-grid longer.

The development of the new Arizon Off-Grid 12.8V 300Ah Super Compact lithium battery evolved from our customers wanting to save space and weight in their vehicles.

“Our customers are crucial in the development of our new products as their feedback allows us to better engineer and develop our industry leading products to meet the needs of not only our commercial partners but especially the end consumer who wants to spend more time off-grid,” Arizon Off-Grid Managing Director, Roy Ding said.

“The new Arizon Off-Grid Super Compact 300Ah delivers the safest Lithium iron battery technology available today with Arizon’s bespoke casing and advanced electronics, weighing only 25.9kg.

“Customers can now experience double the run time and almost half the weight compared to similar-sized lead-acid batteries, and our Arizon Off-Grid solution has been crafted to deliver high power and extended run-time, and comes with our industry leading 5 year warranty.”

With space and weight extremely crucial to caravanners, this new Super Compact 300Ah battery offers them the best of both worlds, delivering superior performance and a space and weight reduction, helping them store more essentials for their off-grid adventures.

The Arizon Off-Grid Super Compact 300Ah battery measures 360mm in length, 190mm width and 262mm in height (accounts for cable lugs), delivering a 100A max charge current and a max discharge current of 200A.

Arizon Off-Grid will next week unveil its latest state-of-the-art 12.8V 460Ah lithium battery which will help caravanners power their dream off-grid even further.

To be officially launched at the Melbourne Caravan & Camping Leisurefest, Sandown Racecourse, Off-Grid Campground, October 3-6, the new battery will provide significant power storage and weight reduction for caravanners.

Built with LiFePO4 battery cells, this new large capacity lithium battery is the largest amp hour battery in the Arizon caravan range.

The battery is 50% lighter than similar lead-acid batteries, weighing only 40kg and measuring 523mm, 269mm, 221mm.

“A large proportion of caravanners will utilise two 200Ah batteries for their systems which average around 46kg, so with the Arizon 460Ah caravanners are saving 6kg in crucial weight and gaining an extra 60Ah with the Arizon Off-Grid solution,” said Arizon Off-Grid Managing Director, Roy Ding.

“We have recently completed extensive testing on our new Arizon 460Ah at our Melbourne headquarters, and we are more than impressed with the results – this is a game changer.

“TheArizon 460Ah battery is capable of powering a 3000 watt  inverter by itself, it’s that impressive, and with a 320 amp BMS, this is a serious power source.

“The new Arizon 460Ah battery will provide both caravan manufacturers and caravanners with a new powerhouse battery option that can ultimately provide significantly more power storage and weight reduction.”

The new Arizon 460Ah battery safety certificate is expected soon and the batteries will be publicly available in late October, but those attending the Melbourne Caravan & Camping Leisurefest will be able to get a sneak peek.

New Large Capacity Arizon Battery To Power Caravanners Further Off-grid

In February 2021, MSA 4×4 announced Legal Action against Clearview Accessories,
commencing proceedings in which MSA alleged patent infringement of their Drop Slide.

The Federal Court of Australia this week announced that it has ruled in Clearview Accessories’ favour in MSA 4X4’s patent-infringement lawsuit MSA 4×4 Accessories Pty Ltd v Clearview Towing Mirrors Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 24.

The court ruled that Clearview Accessories has not infringed on Shane Miles’ drop slide patent by manufacturing and selling the Easy Slide.

Commenting on the announcement, Co-Founder, Mike Cowan said “We are extremely pleased with the Federal Court’s decision as it demonstrates that Clearview Accessories was right to fight the lawsuit. It is a shame that MSA 4X4 and Shane Miles decided to take this action; the last two years has cost us over $1M in legal fees alone to defend our patented product. The time and money we’ve spent defending our position could have been better spent elsewhere, supporting our customers and dealers.”

Mike continues, “This case has demonstrated that Clearview Accessories won’t bow to
aggressive tactics from competitors and hopefully this result has brought this background
noise to a close once and for all, allowing our two companies to co-exist in the market.”

In 2013, Black Widow Enterprises Pty Ltd was awarded a patent for a drop-down fridge slide. This patent was purchased by Clearview Accessories in 2014, and the Clearview Easy Slide was born. Seven years later, MSA 4×4 decided to take legal action on what it felt was a breach of its patented product.

Co-Founder, Jay Praag shares “Competition in the market provides choice for customers and to have a company try to restrict our capacity to produce and sell a legally competing product is bad form. Intellectual property rights are an essential tool, and we would understand and support MSA 4X4 defending their patent had we copied the Drop Slide. They took seven years to decide to pressure-test our patented product, after we’d spent millions of dollars advertising and building a following for the Easy Slide.”

Instead of focussing attention trying to cut down fellow Australian companies who are doing the right thing, we should be supporting each other to ensure the continuation of locally designed products suited to the Australian lifestyle.

As testament to Clearview’s Aussie credentials, over 80% of Clearview’s sales are from
Australian-made product ranges and are distributed through a dealer network of local Aussie Bricks & Mortar stores.

Clearview products can be purchased and installed through our dealer network, Australia-wide.

Visit the website for more information.

German RV magazine Promobil had her readers of the magazine casting their votes via an
annual survey, selecting the best brands of 2024. Thetford is happy and proud to be selected as the number one in the Toilet Systems category once again.

Overwhelming majority

There are few brands in any market that have been such an emphatic market leader for such a long period of time. The fact that Thetford succeeds in this, suggests high customer satisfaction.

This annual users survey shows a good benchmark. Once again, a majority has voted for Thetford as number 1 in sanitation in our RV market. Norbert van Noesel, Marketing Manager at Thetford: “As Thetford, we never want to get used to this position, but we want to work hard year in, year out to maintain this position. And, although we have grown to represent much more than sanitation, we are still very proud to hold this first position.”

Market leadership

Next to being the world’s number one in RV and camping sanitation, Thetford grew to a strong market position in both refrigeration and cooking appliances. The Beste Marken’ awards includes the ‘Refrigerators and Cool Box’ category. Norbert van Noesel: “Thetford is proud to become second within this category. Having no history of offering cool boxes, but with a growing position in both gas absorption and 12V compressor refrigerators, Thetford grew to a market leading position. We see this election as an encouragement to continuously develop ourselves in this market segment.”