RV FEATURE
I had a revelation in recent weeks. In January next year, I will have been a freelance writer for the caravan and camping community for 10 years. I can say without a shadow of a doubt, it has been one of the great privileges of my life. I genuinely enjoy doing this gig, and I hope I can keep doing it for many years. It’ s allowed me to have a lifestyle that many people my age could only dream about. It has also given me great insight into the workings of the caravan industry in Australia. I can hear you asking what the point of all this is.
Well, one of the revelations I had was the incredible irony of my career. You see, my very first article was about caravan weight safety checks conducted by police and VicRoads in Newmerella, Vic. It was a moment that brought the issue of overweight caravans to the forefront of Australian travellers’ minds across the country. And while the issue of overweight caravans hasn’ t gone away, it has a greater focus than it ever did before.
I never thought in a million years I’ d be buying an EV yet here we are.
That weekend of weight checks arguably spawned an industry of professional weight-checkers in every state and territory who ensure the safety of numerous caravanners every day. It’ s a fantastic outcome and a credit to the vision of Graeme Shenton, the officer who organised this event.
But what has happened to the industry since the weight issue hit the headlines? You would think that manufacturers would be looking for ways to reduce the weight of their products, and, in some ways, they have done that. Composite construction and lithium battery technology are just a couple of developments that have significantly reduced the weight of caravans in recent years.
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