The Aussies are caravaning their way into North America, one RV at a time.
Australian RV manufacturer Urban Caravans introduced itself to the North American market as Urban X Campers at the November SEMA show in Las Vegas. Urban X Campers North American Marketing Manager Chris Bowers said the company is working to develop domestic dealer relationships. The company also wants to manufacture its Outback-tested travel trailers in the U.S. in the coming years.
For now, the process is moving forward slowly, with a single Urban X Camper on the ground in Nevada.
“We got a lot of good, positive feedback and responses in Las Vegas,” Bowers said. “We seemed to constantly have a crowd of people looking at the caravan. It has been a busy month of follow-ups. We expect to build our dealer network, or at least the beginnings of it, over the next 12 months.”
The company has found one dealer partner in XGrid Campers of Las Vegas. Owner Loren Walker said his dealership specializes in off-grid overlanding trailers.
Walker offers consulting services to foreign RV manufacturers looking to enter the U.S. market. He began working with Urban X Campers approximately six months ago. Walker said getting full approval through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and setting up Urban X Campers’ distribution channels could take a year.
“I think it is exciting that they are coming,” Walker said. “There is still a lot to do, but it will be a great opportunity down the road for some dealers who are interested in this type of product. These are pretty unique with the way they are built.”
Walker said the trailers will fit dealers who are passionate about selling a “more aggressive, more capable” RV type.
Bowers said the company will focus on the U.S.’ Southwest and Great Lakes regions in the early going. He said he believes the company fits well into the U.S.’ growing overlanding market.
Urban X plans to bring two travel trailer models to the U.S. and Canada: the Tungsten X-Treme X and the Tungsten Armorlite. The double-axle X-Treme X measures 27 feet in length and will retail for approximately $145,000. The single-axle Armorlite is 20 feet in length and will retail for approximately 115,000.
The travel trailers feature TIG-welded aluminum frames. The company backs the trailers with a 10-year crack-free frame warranty, a 10-year structural warranty and a lifetime rot-free warranty. Bowers said both trailers feature Victron electrical systems, solar capabilities and “large” holding tanks.
The trailers are smaller than many traditional travel trailers. They can be towed with any half-ton pickup truck. Bowers said Urban X Campers will go wherever consumers can take their trucks.
The company’s trailers include various custom options.
“We had quite a few people asking about gun racks and features for fishing rigs and these types of things,” Bowers said. “We can do that because we are a full-blown manufacturing firm. We build them to be very tough and durable, but we want our customers to be happy with every aspect of the trailer. If they want a different color or a different type of flooring, we are going to provide that.”
Bowers said the company would like to develop a U.S. manufacturing facility in the next 12 to 24 months. He said the U.S. facility might first focus on final customization details before developing full manufacturing capabilities.
“One of the things we have realized is that having an American-made product seems to resonate much more with the American people,” Bowers said. “It would also help with tariffs and import duties, and in cutting our time from placing the order to delivery to the customer.”
Bowers said the company is well established in the Australian and New Zealand markets, with little room to grow. An expansion of the company’s Melbourne, Australia, production facility also led to the decision to move into North America.
“We feel there is a significant gap for this type of product in the U.S. and Canada,” Bowers said. “We have been looking at the U.S. for a number of years because we want to keep growing the business.”
Dealers can email [email protected] to learn more.
