Bruce Foan’s lifestyle changed about 12 months ago after he bought a near-new camper trailer for $6,500.
The Donnybrook resident considers it a wise investment, as he now spends most weekends in the bush with his partner.
Bruce wanted to go “off the bitumen” to taste the real Australian bush on stations and along beaches, and utilising the state’s many free camping spots.
His camper trailer now affords him accessibility to areas that could not be reached with a caravan.
Since buying the unit, Mr Foan has travelled around the Kimberley, visiting Kununurra and travelling along the Gibb River Road.
“It was money well spent, far better than outlaying money on an expensive caravan that sits for long periods at home,” he said.
David Holmes of Scarborough is also looking for a camper trailer to get him and his partner into areas inaccessible to caravans.
He was in the market for a camper trailer suitable for two people and priced below $20,000.
With retirement from plumbing just around the corner, Mr Holmes wanted a unit with a tilt tray and dinghy and he had seen something priced at $18,000 he felt would be ideal for his bush excursions starting later this year.
“I want something that would take the knocks on rough tracks and to pull along the beach,” he said.
A new and growing segment of the camper trailer market is hiring.
Tracey Vogler, manager of Wangara-based Australian Camper Trailers, said she had experienced significant growth since she and husband, Paul, started up their hire business three years ago.
“The public is becoming more aware of the hiring alternative to buying a camper trailer,” she said.
“Hirers can get a taste of bush holidays to see whether a camper trailer would suit their families before deciding whether to buy their own unit.
“Some young families prefer to hire and set up at a caravan park so children, in particular, have all facilities available.”
Australian Camper Trailers targets mostly young families, although it has regular customers in the grey nomad category who hire for an average of six weeks and up to three months during the winter months to explore Western Australia’s north-west.
The company has trailers to suit singles, couples and young families.
It is continually updating and expanding its fleet and now has 16 camper trailers for hire.
