COVID inspires innovation for Moruya’s Ultimate Campers

Ultimate Campers has winched itself out of the mud and taken on new opportunities since bushfires and COVID-19.

Melbourne man David Rodgers and his wife took over the Moruya-based camper trailer company in 2018, when the previous owner went into voluntary administration.

Mr Rodgers said the previous management had transitioned from camper trailers to camper vans, causing financial strain.

“The camper vans sold for $125,000 but were costing about $150,000 to build,” he said.

“It was a great product but they couldn’t get the cost structures down low enough.”

Mr Rodgers went back to the drawing board to redevelop the original product and said he invested $1.5 million.

From the body and canvas, to electrical and interior, a staff of 35 build the trailers from the ground up at a workshop in Moruya’s industrial area.

Fabricator Alex Krantz working on a chassis.

When workshop doors reopened after the bushfires, Mr Rodgers took the business beyond trailers.

“We realised we could do other products,” he said.

Mr Rodgers said many regional airports needed runway markers to replace those burned during the bushfires.

“We realised a market opportunity,” he said.

After fires, floods then a pandemic, Mr Rodgers was uncertain of the future.

Ultimate Campers managing director David Rodgers.

“We were worrying about the future of the business, but in fact the demand for local travel and the demand for the product has skyrocketed,” he said.

Ultimate Campers went from building one trailer per week to now two.

“We are six-months out on orders at the moment and that’s based on doubling the capacity of last year,” he said.

Next year, he wants to double production.

“The goal is to reach four a week,” he said.

Before COVID, Ultimate Campers would spend $500,000 yearly to set up at shows and sell their product.

We are actually doing better without the shows

“It was a heavy expense,” Mr Rodgers said.

“We are actually doing better without the shows.

“We still plan to do the big shows next year, but certainly have enjoyed the break of not having to do the show circuit – it has been quite a resting relief.”

The pandemic pushed sales online, and Mr Rodgers said things worked out for the better.

“It has been easier for customers,” he said.

“We have a quick system on Zoom to show them the product. In a show room you only have one model, whereas through Zoom, they can now see the whole range or features we offer.

“It’s a better way, where customers can see a better perspective, can ask questions and have the sales person’s full attention.”

The fully self-contained trailers can tackle all types of terrain – attractive to those willing to escape crowded places.

“I think there’s a shift in people wanting to go more remote, to get away from the virus,” he said.

“People want to get away from cities at the moment.”

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