Avan Caravans, Campers and Motorhomes: The Full Story
For over 30 years, Avan has been building caravans, pop-tops, campers and motorhomes in Australia, and Searle’s RV Centre has sold them for a long time. This is the story of the family behind the brand, how the vans are built, and why we chose them.
It started with four people and a folding camper
Avan began in 1993 in Hallam, Victoria, when Dutch-born couple Jeff and Marion Van Baardwyk started building folding A-liner campers with a handful of staff. The Aliner is where the Avan story began, and it’s still in the range today. As demand grew they added pop-top caravans, outgrew three factories in turn, and in 2003 moved to their current site in Pakenham.
Still a family business
The founders have retired, and the Van Baardwyk sons, Scott and Jeff, now run the company. It’s the same family that started it, which is rare for a brand of this size.
The names behind the vans
Avan models have long carried family names. Frances, Ray, Erin, Lily and Charlotte are all names from the Avan range, and the family has used the arrival of each new grandchild to help name new models. Since the Aspire range arrived, most customers choose Aspire, but the named vans are still available.
Built to last: composite panels, a galvanised chassis and trusted parts
Avan has built with composite construction for over 25 years and was among the pioneers of it in the Australian industry. The roof and wall panels are made in-house at Pakenham, not imported.
A composite panel is a sandwich of outer skin, insulating core and inner skin. Compared with traditional timber-frame construction, it’s lighter, strong and well insulated, with less timber to take on moisture. Less weight means easier towing and better fuel economy.
That body is coupled with an Australian-made steel chassis, hot-dip galvanised for excellent corrosion protection, and AL-KO suspension components throughout the range. Avan also partners with well-known suppliers with a long track record in the RV industry, including Projecta and Thetford.
One brand, a huge range
Few brands cover this much ground, from a lightweight camper of around 800kg through to dual slide-out motorhomes.
- Campers: compact, lightweight and easy to tow, with no canvas to pack away. The Aliner, Cruiser, Cruiseliner, Sportliner and AdventurePLUS.
- Pop-tops: full caravan comfort with a low profile for easier towing and storage, including the Ray slide-out range.
- Hard-top caravans: the Aspire range, and the Infinity slide-out with a long list of standard features.
- Motorhomes: the Ovation and Applause ranges, with a sub-floor build that frees up space inside.
With so many models, types and options, Avan suits a very wide range of customers, from first-timers to full-time travellers.
Golf: the range gets bigger
Avan acquired Golf, the Queensland camper and caravan maker, in 2012. That adds the Maxxi pop-tops and the Savannah Maxxi, a semi off-road pop-top with independent coil suspension, dual water tanks, solar and a slide-out kitchen, sleeping up to six.
Why we chose Avan
Any RV brand can be sold, and manufacturers contact us every other week asking us to become a dealer for their brand. We’ve said no to most. Here’s what made Avan a brand we wanted to stand behind:
- A name with history. Over 30 years of building in Australia, by the family that started it.
- Construction we believe in. In-house composite panels, from one of the pioneers of the technique.
- A range that covers everyone. From a lightweight camper to a dual slide-out motorhome, plus Golf. A customer can come to us at any stage of their travels and find the right van.
- Lightweight, easier towing and better fuel economy.
- Years of experience. We’ve sold Avan for a long time. We know the vans and we know the people.
Come and see them
See the full Avan range: caravans, pop-tops, campers, motorhomes and Golf. Browse what’s in stock, or call us on 07 4151 3000.
Questions people ask
Avan is still owned and run by the Van Baardwyk family that founded it. Founders Jeff and Marion Van Baardwyk have retired, and their sons, including Scott and Jeff, now run the business.
Avan and Golf vans are built in Pakenham, Victoria, on the site Avan has run since 2003.
Campers, pop-tops, hard-top caravans and motorhomes, from a lightweight camper of around 800kg up to dual slide-out motorhomes.
Each method has its place, but composite has clear advantages. A composite panel is a sandwich of outer skin, insulating core and inner skin, with little timber to take on moisture. That makes it lighter, strong and well insulated, which means easier towing and better fuel economy. Avan has built with composite for over 25 years and makes its own panels in-house in Australia.
Yes. Avan makes its composite roof and wall panels in-house at Pakenham, not imported, and has built with composite construction for over 25 years.
An Australian-made steel chassis that is hot-dip galvanised for excellent corrosion protection, AL-KO suspension components throughout the range, and parts from established RV suppliers such as Projecta and Thetford.
Yes. The Ovation and Applause ranges include models up to dual slide-out motorhomes, with a sub-floor build that frees up space and storage inside.
Yes. Avan acquired Golf, the Queensland camper and caravan maker, in 2012, which widened the range further.
The Avan camper range is the lightest, starting from around 800kg. The campers are compact, quick to set up, have no canvas and are easy to tow. Ask our team for the exact weights of any model in the range.
Avan is a family business, and models have carried family names, such as Frances, Ray, Erin, Lily and Charlotte. The family has also used the arrival of new grandchildren to help name new models.
Yes. Composite construction and smart design keep weight down across the range, from campers around 800kg to full-size caravans, so they are easier to tow and use less fuel.
It depends on the model. The lightest campers suit a wide range of vehicles, while larger hard-top and tandem-axle models need a higher tow rating. Check your vehicle’s tow rating, then bring it in and we’ll match you to the right van.
Avan has built in Australia for over 30 years and is still family owned and operated. It makes its own composite panels, builds on an Australian-made hot-dip galvanised steel chassis, and uses AL-KO suspension and trusted suppliers such as Projecta and Thetford. It is why we have sold Avan for so long.
Searle’s RV Centre, on the corner of Takalvan St and Enterprise St, Bundaberg QLD 4670. We are open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm and Sat 8:30am-12pm. Call us on 07 4151 3000.
See an Avan in Bundaberg
Cnr Takalvan St & Enterprise St · 07 4151 3000 · Contact us
