Camping Trade World - Issue13

C OCNO N EN CE TC ITNI NG G T THHE E GGLLO B A L C A M PII N G I INNDDU US ST TR RY 

Y 

ISSUE ISSUE 0913 | | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 

GET READY FOR A 

BETTER SEASON 

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Contents 

WELCOME TO ISSUE 13 

04 

Dispatches 

28 

Trailer SumoSprings go OEM 

20 

Doing business with South Korea 

32 

More than a HQ at Carthago 

24 

Spotlight on environmental products 

36 

Making Contact 

Click here to subscribe today and never miss an issue 

Photo: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles 

02 www.campingtradeworld.com

CARTHAGO 

THE MOTORHOME 

Feel the difference! 

Visit a dealer in your area or our web site for more information.

Dispatches 

Photos: Allfair 

SOUTH KOREAN MARKET 

CONTINUES TO GROW 

■espite the ups and downs of 

D 

the last year and the perceived 

return to more normal sales 

and participation figures, the 

camping market remains a global 

phenomenon. We’ve seen it in Europe, North 

America, and now also Asia too, with the latest 

edition of South Korea’s premeire camping and 

RV exhibition, Camping & Picnic Fair, posting 

great results in 2023. The event took place at the 

KINTEX exhibition centre near the capital Seoul 

from 9 to 12 March and attracted more than 

69,000 visitors through its doors. 

Allfair, the show’s organiser, said: “The 2023 

Camping & Picnic Fair, the nation’s largest 

camping exhibition held on a large scale for the 

first time since lifting the obligation to wear indoor 

masks, was held successfully after COVID-19.” 

All in all, there were 134 camping brands 

showcasing at the event, covering an impressive 

22,580sqm of exhibition space. These brands 

were not only Korean, but many international 

brand names also exhibited alongside domestic 

favourites. Visitors to the event saw brands such 

as Snowline, Northpeak, KZM, Wimocamp, Wiwo 

Outdoor, Abenaki, Canvas Durango, Claymore, 


Dispatches 

Vango, SeaToSummit, Zempire, and Decathlon, to 

name just a few. 

The spring timing of the show works perfectly 

with the market in South Korea as it usually the 

start of the traditional camping season. According 

to Allfair, the warmer weather is the indicator 

for the start of the season and ignites a desire in 

Korean people to return to outdoor activities after a 

break over the winter. 

With camping still being a relatively modest and 

growing industry in South Korea, Allfair and others 

involved in the market are keen to help educate 

and inform new and returning participants about 

how to camp in a considerate and sustainable 

way. A statement from Allfair explained: “We 

continue practicing the ‘Being a Quite Good 

Camper’ campaign delivered by ‘Seji’ and ‘Somi’ 

the official mascots of Camping & Picnic Fair, even 

after the event. We will try to make a place for 

communication and information for those who 

enjoy camping and beginners.” This campaign is 

not something new in the country, it was prevalent 

when the camping industry first began to receive its 

initial post-Covid boom when international travel 

was restricted, but it is clear that the country sees 

this as a viable and long-lasting tourism market for 

both domestic and international participants and 

the industry will do its utmost to secure its future. 

▲ The show continues to promote 

responsible camping to newcomers. 

11 

69,000 

22,580sqm 

134 

2.6% 

Years of the 

Visitors 

Of exhibition 

Camping 

Increase in 

Camping & 

space 

brands exhibited 

exhibitors on 

Picnic Fair 

2022 

www.campingtradeworld.com 

05

Dispatches 

Photo: Tyler Casey, Unsplash 

LANDMARK LEGISLATION FOR 

RVING REACHES US CONGRESS 

■he RV and outdoor recreation industries in the United 

T 

States are fully supporting a new comprehensive policy 

package that has been reintroduced to Congress. 

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act has been described 

by the RV Industry Association and the Outdoor 

Recreation Roundtable as ground-breaking bipartisan legislation that 

will boost local and national economies and give more Americans 

greater access to green spaces and public lands and waters. 

Among other vital outdoor recreation friendly provisions, the bill: 

• Establishes proven partnership agreements to sustainably 

modernise campgrounds on federal lands. 

• Provides gateway community assistance for outdoor recreation 

businesses that supply accommodations, including campgrounds, 

through the use of financial and technical assistance programs. 

• Extends the federal land shoulder seasons to spread out demand 

and create more RV camping opportunities on public lands and 

within gateway community campgrounds. 

• Brings much-needed broadband/Wi-Fi to front country 

campgrounds to address safety issues and provide technologies 

that current and future visitors expect. 

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act 

is crucial to the RV industry and the 

wider outdoor recreation industry. 

It remains a significant factor in 

making sustainable improvements 

to our nation’s campgrounds 

and improving the experiences 

of current and future RVers. In 

addition, the Act provides greater 

access to the health benefits offered 

by the great outdoors and offers an 

economic boost to both the local 

and national economy. We call on 

Congress for its swift passage.” 

Craig Kirby, 

RVIA president and CEO 


Dispatches 

FJÄLLRÄVEN SCORES 

ON SUSTAINABILITY 

■wedish 

S 

outdoor and 

clothing brand 

Fjällräven has 

been voted 

as Sweden’s most sustainable 

brand in the Clothes and 

Fashion Brands category in 

the 2023 Sustainability Brand 

Index. The iconic brand, which 

also has a significant presence 

in the tent and camping market, 

won the title for the fourth year. 

Martin Axelhed, Fjällräven 

CEO, added: “Our vision is to 

be the most sustainable and 

premium outdoor brand in the 

world, so we’re delighted that 

consumers trust the Fjällräven 

brand and our efforts in 

driving sustainable innovation 

and placing strict regulations 

on ourselves to set new 

sustainability standards. 

“Swedish consumers are 

known to place a particularly 

high value on sustainability, 

so to be acknowledged as an 

industry-leading brand in 

Sweden proves we’re going in 

the right direction.” 


07

Dispatches 

SOMETHING STIRRING 

IN SCANDINAVIA 

■he time is now, 

T 

and the location 

is Scandinavia. 

At least that 

is the strong 

impression coming from the 

caravan and camping market 

in the region – spearheaded 

by the growth and success of 

Sweden-based campsite chain 

First Camp. Hot on the heels 

of recording its best ever year 

in 2022 with total revenues 

doubled to more than US$95 

million, the group recently 

announced that it has agreed to 

acquire one of Denmark’s most 

well-known camping chains 

CampOne. First Camp, which 

already owns nine different 

campsite destinations in 

Denmark, will be adding four of 

CampOne’s sites to its network, 

which between them bring a 

combined annual turnover of 

US$4.5 million. The remaining 

fifth CampOne destination 

in Assens Strand will remain 

under the ownership of Per and 

Gitte Blaabjerg but under a new 

brand name. 

First Camp CEO, Johan Söör 

(pictured), said: “CampOne 

has well-managed and 

popular destinations, and we 

are delighted that Per and 

Gitte have given us a vote of 

confidence by choosing us 

to take over their life’s work. 

They have done a fantastic job 

developing CampOne, and we 

will do our utmost to preserve 

their legacy and continue the 

development of the destinations. 

As usual, our future plans and 

developments will be based on 

input from the campsite guests, 

and it will be ‘business as usual’ 

with retention of the CampOne 

brand name during the summer 

of 2023.” 

Learn more online at www.firstcamp.se 


Dispatches 

Photos: Dometic 

Find out more at www.dometic.com 

CAR CAMPING GETS THE 

DOMETIC TREATMENT 

■or many in the industry, the idea that Dometic would 

F 

go big into the tent camping market was probably just a 

matter of time. And that time is now. The global RV and 

outdoor accessory brand recently revealed a huge range 

of compact camping tents for the European market 

ready to target the start of the 2023 season. Each tent in the three 

tent series is designed for quick and easy car camping and will also 

be constructed using a Redux recycled material. Each model will also 

benefit from Dometic’s AIR Frame technology helping to create a stable 

shelter and also making them easy to erect and take down. 

The three models are the Santorini FTK: a technical cotton tent with 

mesh windows and plenty of ventilation, the Reunion FTG REDUX: 

made almost entirely from recycled PET bottles and featuring a 

versatile two layer design for different climates, and the Pico FTC: a 

small and smart one or two-person tent that can be compacted down 

and carried as a backpack. Every one of this new collection is downsized 

from regular inflatable tents and they are light in weight, small in 

size and compact enough to be packed up to fit into a back of a small 

passenger car – a clear target market for Dometic. We don’t expect this 

to be the last foray… 

▲ Santorini FTK 4X8 

▲ Reunion FTG 4X4 REDUX 

▲ Picto FTC 1X1 


09

Dispatches 

RV INDUSTRY POSTS IMPRESSIVE 

FIGURES DOWN UNDER 

■he long-term future of the 

T 

caravanning and RV industry in 

Australia looks brighter than ever 

after the latest figures released 

from the Caravan Industry 

Association of Australia showed increases in units 

registered, local manufacturing, and exports in 

2022. According to the figures, almost 50,000 RVs 

were registered to the market last year while the 

number of locally produced units reached 28,031, 

which represents a 17.1 per cent increase on 2021 

and represents the highest figure since Cyclone 

Tracy in 1974. Imported RVs were recorded 

at 20,498 (8.36 per cent up on 2021), while 

Australian-made RVs exported achieved 9,568 

units (an incredible 229.93 per cent increase on 

2021), the CIAA says this shows the high regard in 

which Australian-made products are held around 

the world. 

▲ Australians are continuing their love affair 

with camping and caravanning. 


Dispatches 

CIAA CEO, Stuart Lamont, said: “There is no 

surprise that Australians continue to invest in 

industry product, since caravanning and camping 

remains one of the best value and accessible 

holiday options, especially for families. 

“Our industry through COVID was able to pivot 

and mobilise during challenging times, and now 

that labour and supply chain interruptions have 

minimised, we continue to see strong output 

particularly from local manufacturers. 

“Australia is renowned for producing rugged 

product suited to our stunning yet unforgiving 

terrain. With the ability to provide for urban 

escapism and the new workplace shift towards 

remote connection, the industry remains well 

positioned for anticipated strong consumer 

demand into the future.” 

While these figures are hugely encouraging, 

there is no time to get complacent according 

to Stuart and the CIAA. The body 

believes that the industry should now be 

examining the future of caravanning and 

working towards new innovations that will 

help create a low emission future. 

While global uncertainties and rising inflation 

continue to dampen consumer confidence more 

broadly, the caravan and camping industry 

remains optimistic regarding the future despite 

the headwinds and looks forward to continuing 

to build on the AUS$27 billion worth of annual 

economic value to the Australian economy. 

Stuart added: “These most recent figures 

only further fortify the recreational vehicle 

manufacturing sector’s position and importance 

as one of Australia’s largest remaining bastions of 

automotive manufacturing, a position by which we 

need to see continued support and partnership for 

in order to maintain,” said Stuart. 


11

Dispatches 

EQUALITY THRIVING IN UK 

CAMPSITE OWNERSHIP 

■ew research from online 

N 

campsite marketplace Pitchup. 

com shows that more than 50 per 

cent of its listed campsite owners 

in the UK are women. This is one 

of the highest figures across Europe, with women 

making up just 26 per cent of campsite owners 

in Germany, 28 per cent in Spain, 36 per cent in 

Italy and 41 per cent in France. The figures show 

that the campsite industry is an employment 

sector with generally good levels of equality, 

especially when compared to the manufacture 

and sale of camping units sector. 

Pitchup brand marketing manager, Brodie 

Farrow, said: “The feedback we’ve heard from 

site owners in the UK is that our sector provides 

enjoyable and often lucrative careers for women, 

so we’re glad to see that the results reflect this. In 

fact, our top earning campsite so far this year is 

owned by a woman, with sales topping £160,000. 

Pitchup itself is made up of 60 per cent women, 

many in senior leadership roles, of which we are 

very proud.” 

The campsite industry is a great place to work 

in, according to one woman taking the lead in the 

sector. Harriett Cunningham, owner of Benville 

Manor Camping, said: “We really got into it 

because of Covid. It’s not easy - you have to 

clean a lot of toilets and clear up a lot of rubbish 

- but it’s very sociable and so rewarding seeing 

how much people enjoy the experience you’ve 

created.” 


Dispatches 

COMMITMENT TO 

CAMPING ACCESSIBILITY 

■merican camping and outdoor 

A 

brand Sierra Designs has 

donated almost $60,000 worth 

of both gear and a percentage 

of web sales to good causes 

that help to increase accessibility to outdoor 

recreation since 2020. In that fateful year, the 

company revealed a new programme called 

Reach Out, which was designed to support 

a number of carefully chosen non-profit 

organisations committed to such causes. The 

scheme was a success, and will continue in 

earnest for 2023, with this year’s partners 

recently named. 

In addition to $2,000 in product donations 

and one per cent of web sales per quarter, the 

organisations Women’s Wilderness, LGBT 

Outdoors, Outdoors For All, and SoulTrak 

Outdoors, will each receive education, event 

support and a unique awareness campaign from 

Sierra Designs. 

Alexandra Black-Paulick, marketing manager 

for Sierra Designs, explained: “Sierra Designs 

was founded with the vision that all people 

deserve to have good gear for exploring the 

outdoors, regardless of their background or 

experience level. Our Reach Out program 

helps us fulfill that mission by partnering with 

organizations that are increasing access to the 

outdoors.” 

Women’s Wilderness strives to support girls, 

women, and LGBTQ+ people in accessing their 

power and improving their health through 

connections to the outdoors and community. 

LGBT Outdoors encourages and enables 

members of the LGBTQ+ community to get 

outdoors and connect with nature. Outdoors For 

All is a national leader in delivering adaptive 

and therapeutic recreation for children and 

adults with disabilities. SoulTrak Outdoors is a 

D.C.-based nonprofit organization that connects 

communities of colour to outdoor spaces. 

Learn more at: www.sierradesigns.com/reach-out 


13

Dispatches 

ANOTHER 

NEC SHOW, 

ANOTHER 

RECORD 

Photos: NCC Events & David Guest 

■he trajectory of the caravanning and 

T 

camping market in the UK seems 

to only know one direction at the 

moment, and that is up. Despite the 

challenges of chassis supply and a slight 

drop-off in interest following the post-Covid boom, 

things seem stronger than ever in one of Europe’s most 

important markets. The proof? We’re once again writing 

about a record-breaking exhibition at the country’s 

National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. From 

21 to 26 February 2023, more than 108,000 visitors 

descended on the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome 

Show, which is a record number for the spring show. 

The show is one of two annual shows organised by NCC 

Events, with the other in October, and both shows have 

enjoyed record-breaking events in the last year in terms 

of attendance. The show occupied five halls and almost 

20 acres and was awash with camping and caravanning 

enthusiasts who, so Camping Trade World understands, 

were still keen to place orders and buy things, despite 

the current difficult financial climate. Many exhibitors 

seemed happy with the show, not just from a numbers 

point of view, but also from a financial return standpoint 

as well. 


Dispatches 


15

Dispatches 

WHAT THE 

EXHIBITORS SAID... 

It’s been fantastic, a 

really positive Show. 

Great to see so many 

visitors here and sales 

have been very strong 

- in fact, both caravans 

and motorhomes have 

outperformed last year. 

We had a record day 

of motorhome sales, 

the best we have had in 

10 years. We are really 

pleased to see so many 

people here and it’s a 

really positive start to 

the season.” 

Ian Rawlings, 

sales director at 

Bailey of Bristol 

We have had 

a very good 

Show and it’s 

been busy - 

very busy! The 

opening of 

the Show has 

been very good 

and sales-wise 

we are above 

expectations 

so we’re very 

happy indeed.” 

Duncan Wildman, 

managing director at 

Wildax Motorhomes 

The Show has been 

very good, above our 

expectations. We came 

in thinking it would 

be difficult to replicate 

what we had achieved 

last year with the 

circumstances, but we 

have been delighted 

with the results - it’s 

been fantastic. Footfall 

has been very good; we 

have had it through all 

days of the week so it 

has been great to see 

that the enthusiasm 

is still out there. 

People are still clearly 

seeing holidays as an 

important part of their 

budgets.” 

David Williams, 

sales and marketing 

The Show was another 

success for the brand 

and sales. It is a 

pleasure to be here 

and not explain who 

we are, we are not a 

niche market anymore 

which also means there 

has been very good 

marketing from the 

industry. People are 

coming here looking for 

our exact models and 

then it’s only one more 

step until they buy at 

the Show. There has 

been a lot of people, so 

thank you to the NCCE 

for bringing so many 

people through the 

door. Attendance was 

great and we are going 

forward positively.” 

director at Auto- 

Slavica Sterk, 

Sleepers Group 

managing director at 

Adria UK 


Dispatches 

This has been lovely. Great 

crowd, lots of people and lots of 

positive vibes from our visitors 

and we are looking forward to 

coming next time.” 

Mike Lake, UK agent at Knaus: 

We have had a good response 

on all our new products with 

sales being very, very good. 

Overall, I am pleased with the 

sales and will definitely be 

coming back next year.” 

Steve Biggs, managing director at Isabella 

International Camping 

The Show has been great, and 

we’ve had a lot of exposure and 

sales from the Show.” 

Dom Pemberton, sales and marketing 

executive at Tent Box 

THE GREAT DIVIDE? 

No one can argue that caravans, motorhome, and 

campervans are still flying high in the UK, but the feelgood 

boom is not necessarily the same across the whole 

industry. In the tent market, the post-Covid drop-off 

has been a little more severe. The general consensus 

seems to be that many casual or first-time campers 

bought tents in the immediate aftermath of Covid but 

are slowly drifting away from the hobby, or simply 

don’t need to buy another tent anytime soon given 

how often they do it. With caravans and motorhomes, 

many of these purchases were ones consumers had 

been planning more seriously for some time, so they 

are more committed to the hobby. Newcomers have 

decided to upgrade, others who weren’t able to get the 

model they wanted due to shortages are happy to bide 

their time and are still entering the market now. The 

draw of campervans in particular still also seems to be 

attracting new people to the market even now, with a 

huge number of campervan converters present at the 

NEC. In the strange middle ground between these two 

sectors of the industry you have roof tents. A topic we 

have written about before, roof tents seem to be filling 

a gap in the market for a perhaps younger demographic 

with less to spend who want to enjoy the ‘vanlife’ style 

of camping. Roof tents give them an inexpensive way to 

try it out and also without having to change their vehicle 

in many cases. UK leader TentBox appeared to have a 

phenomenal amount of interest in its products, and if 

the UK follows mainland European, we can expect to 

see many more brands making their presence known. 


17

Dispatches 

BRITISH CAMPING BRAND OLPRO 

SECURES MAJOR INVESTMENT 

■ritish tent and camping brand 

B 

OLPRO is looking forward 

to increasing its operational 

capacity and growing its business 

after successfully securing a 

£1,075,000 investment from the Midlands 

Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), an equity fund 

managed by Midven. 

OLPRO has been on a steady growth trajectory 

for the past six years, more than tripling its 

turnover in that time by utilising a sales strategy 

that supplies leading retailers in the UK such as 

Halfords, Argos, B&Q, The Range, and Wayfair, 

as well as selling direct to end consumers 

through its own successful website. The 

acceleration of the company’s growth was helped 

by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused an 

expansion of the camping market – an estimated 

42 per cent of England’s adult population 

went on a camping or caravanning holiday 

between 2018 and 2021, 38 per cent of those 

were newcomers. The company plans to add 10 

team members to its staff by 2025 across sales, 

marketing, customer services, and warehousing. 

OLPRO managing director Daniel Walton 

said: “OLPRO is fast becoming the recognised 

go-to brand for stand out camping and 

campervan equipment. As a British-designed 

and innovative brand, we’re now selling into 

more countries as OLPRO products have 

become more readily available. This funding 

allows us to invest further into the team, our 

product development, and to hold more stock so 

we can cover demand.” 


Dispatches 

PROPOSED B LICENCE CHANGE 

BACKED BY INDUSTRY 

■he caravan and motorhome 

T 

industry is watching the EU 

Commission with great interest 

at the moment. Changes are 

afoot with the rules surrounding 

driving licences, specifically changes to the B 

driving licence and applicable weight limits as 

part of its 4th Driving Licence Directive. So, why 

is this big news? Well, one of the key changes 

could be an extension of the B driving licence to 

cover driving weights of up to 4.25t instead of the 

current 3.5t, which would obviously open up a 

much wider market of consumers for the caravan 

and motorhome industry. But, like anything 

litigious, it’s not straightforward. There is some 

debate about whether the extension of the 

weight limit will have to be linked to two years 

of previous licence possession, there may also 

be trouble for the industry catching up making 

chassis to fit this weight classification if the new 

law doesn’t cover all existing vehicles. Countries 

including Germany, France, Bulgaria and Finland 

are supporting the extension of the licence, while 

the European Commission has determined that 

there could be environmental benefits to the 

change. They have also ascertained that there is 

not a significant or urgent road safety problem 

surrounding RVs. 

The draft of this new legislation is set to go 

to the European Parliament and it is possible 

a decision may be made on it this year with 

possible implementation in 2025. Naturally the 

European Caravan Federation (ECF) and other 

national association bodies will be coordinating 

representation in Brussels to ensure the interests 

of the caravanning industry are adhered to. 

The ECF has requested this extension for many 

years and says it would remove the disadvantage 

of those who only have a B driving licence. For 

now, we watch and wait. 


19

Doing Business With... 

SOUTH KOREA 

Photo: Minku Kang-la, Unsplash 

DOING BUSINESS WITH... 

SOUTH KOREA 

■he camping and RV industry in South 

T 

Korea is still in its relative infancy 

compared to many others around the 

world. Culturally, camping and RVing 

have not always been hugely popular 

pastimes for Koreans, but as with many other places, 

interest in them has increased significantly since the 

travel restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic were a 

thing. Of course, that’s now consigned to history, but 

the interest in spending leisure time in the outdoors 

has remained – people are keen to discover ways 

in which they can enjoy camping and the outdoors 

via traditional tent camping, campervans, and even 

towable caravans and RVs. There is a willingness 

shown at both the consumer level and the trade level 

to grow and develop the camping and RV sector in 

South Korea – proof of which can be seen with the 

growing attendances at various shows (up to 20,000 

attended the Busan Korea Camping Car Show in 

2022), and also by the fact the Korea Recreational 

Vehicle Industry Association (KRVIA) recently sent 

a delegation of 13 staff to Germany to tour some 

of its famous motorhome and caravan brands and 

learn more about one of the most highly-developed 

and successful RV markets on the world stage. The 

KRVIA signed a partnership to work more closely 

with Germany’s CIVD as a result. The potential in the 

Korean market might be modest but it is certainly a 

country moving in the right direction with a sharp eye 

on its future. 



SOUTH KOREA 

TRADE BODIES 

The main industry body in South Korea that is 

worth knowing about is the Korea Recreational 

Vehicle Association (KRVIA). This body was 

established in order to help nurture and grow 

the RV industry in the country and help expose it 

to a wider audience through industrial research, 

technological cooperation and more. Its members 

comprise manufacturers, retailers, and importers in 

the RV industry, who all support the organisation 

and reap benefit from its existence. As with the RV 

industry as a whole in South Korea, the organisation 

is relatively young, having only been founded back 

in 2015. It conducts a wide range of surveys, studies, 

and educational programmes within the industry 

that further develop its aims. It also collaborates with 

international bodies from different countries around 

the world to form strategic alliances and share ideas 

in order to help benefit the overall RV industry. Learn 

more online at www.krvia.org 

FACT FILE 

Capital: Seoul 

Population: 51,000,000 

Dial code: +82 

Prime Minister: Yoon Suk-yeol 

Official languages: Korean 

Time zone: UTC+9 

Currency: Korean Republic won 

Internet domain: .co.kr 

ECONOMY 

GDP: US$1.7 trillion nominal 

GDP per capita: US$33,500 nominal 

GDP growth: 2% 

Main export partners: 

China 

ASEAN 

USA 

EU 

Hong Kong 

Main import partners: 

China 

USA 

EU 

ASEAN 

Japan 

▲ The KRVIA visited Germany last year. 


21


SOUTH KOREA 

▲ The Camping & Picnic Fair is a great indicator of South Korea’s market strength (pic: Allfair). 

A trend that has appeared in the Korean camping 

market in recent times is the creation of ‘RV Stations’, 

which is a scheme run by the KRVIA to allow camping 

car accommodation in streets of rural villages across 

the country. It is a similar idea to the example of French 

‘aires’, and it is hope that it will help to encourage more 

people to think of RVing as an accessible way to travel 

around the country and enjoy domestic holidays. It 

is also aimed at increasing tourism money that goes 

into less popular rural areas as well as improving the 

infrastructure in those places too. A statement by the 

KRVIA said: “Based on the active promotion of these 

RV stations and their advanced infrastructure, we plan 

to activate the promotion of RV station infrastructure 

in other towns to establish the right travel culture 

for users who have difficulty travelling in RVs due to 

the ban on parking and anchoring, and to establish 

a mutually beneficial platform for agricultural towns 

that actively cooperate with RV stations to increase 

tourism and economic benefits.” 

SHOW BUSINESS 

One of South Korea’s most important events within 

the camping industry is the Camping & Picnic 

Fair, which takes place each March at the KINTEX 

exhibition centre about 23 kilometres outside 

of central Seoul. The show has been operational 

since 2013 and has grown significantly in that 

time, successfully navigating the challenge of the 

coronavirus pandemic. Over the past 10 years, the 

show has attracted more than 760,000 visitors and is 

one of the most influential shows in Asia for not only 

consumers but also trade and industry professionals. 

You can learn more about the show via it’s English 

language website: campingfair.co.kr/eng 

Another show of interest is the Suwon RV Show, 

which takes place at the Suwon Convention Center 

in September each year. This show is run with 

organisational help from the Korea Recreational 

Vehicle Association (KRVIA). 



SOUTH KOREA 

COMPANIES OF INTEREST 

Sungwoo Motors 

A well-known campervan and motorhome converter 

that produces clean and modern designs based on 

combustion engine and electric vehicles. 

D 

www.sungwoomotors.co.kr 

Airvan 

An expert in towable RVs that follow the European 

caravan style, Airvan is a forward-thinking company 

with a wide range of models. 

D 

www.airvan.co.kr 

Mount River 

A premium provider of camping furniture and 

accessories that is well-known throughout Korea for 

its minimalist designs. 

D 

www.mountriver.co.kr 

Meliti 

Producer of tents, tarps, and camping accessories 

that follows traditional modern Korean design style 

and reasonable prices. 

D 

www.mountriver.co.kr 

Marre 

A trailer tent manufacturer that makes modern and 

stylish models under the Manggoo brand – with a 

unique aesthetic and features. 

D 

www.marre.co.kr 

Compaks RV Korea 

A manufacturer and converter based in the south of 

the country that produces caravans, motorhomes and 

trailer tents. 

D 

STARMOVIL 

Creator of larger, luxury motorhomes such as the 

famous Emperor, STARMOVIL is a major player in 

the industry. 

D 

www.compaksrv.co.kr 

www.starmovil.co.kr 

GER 

A small, independent producer of trailer tents that 

feature large footprints, light weights, and good 

versatility for campers. 

D 

www.ger.co.kr 

GCTRV 

A company that represents many global brands 

in Korea, such as Alde, Lippert, Dometic, Truma, 

Powrtouch, and more. 

D 

www.gctrv.co.kr 


23

Sector Spotlight: 

ECO PRODUCTS 

Photo: Bart van Overbeeke 

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

ECO PRODUCTS 

■eing kinder to the environment is 

B 

something each and every company 

should be paying some attention 

to, as even just the smallest change 

can make a big difference. It comes 

naturally to the brands, companies, and participants 

in this industry, simply because without a thriving 

and healthy environment, it doesn’t have a future. 

However, it has become one of those things that’s 

so easy to stick on the selling points of a product or 

mention in your marketing without actually backing 

up the claim that the environmental product category 

has become quite noisy and those companies that do 

outstanding things have become less impactful. 

Talking about eco or environmental products is 

quite broad stroke, as there are countless product 

types that could be considered to be under this 

umbrella. There are many tent brands out there, 

such as Vango, Nemo Equipment, and Terra Nova 

to name just a few, seeking to make their products 

from recycled or less damaging materials. The same 

could be said of other outdoor gear such as sleeping 

bags or clothing, where brands like Sierra Designs 

and Patagonia not only make their products from 

recycled materials wherever possible but also ensure 

that the supply chain is as efficient and sustainable 

as possible. A product can be described as an 

‘environmental product’ if the way in which it is made 

is better for the environment, it is not only down to 

the materials used. 

Energy products is another area where more 

environmentally conscious products are being 



ECO PRODUCTS 

created all the time. There is a boom in solar 

panels for tent and RV camping, as well as a strong 

movement towards longer lasting and more efficient 

LiFePO4 batteries. Natually anything that uses 

electricity cannot be considered truly green, but that 

depends on whether the way in which you charge 

it is sustainable. The increase in interest for people 

to camp off-grid more often and away from power 

sources has helped to drive the increase in different 

sustainable ways of generating power. 

Perhaps one of the biggest industry issues when 

it comes to the environment is the fact that the 

large majority of RVs are combustion engine, often 

operating on diesel. This is partly a technological 

restraint, but also there has been a little reluctance 

from car and vehicle providers to go fully into 

alternative markets. However, we are seeing a few 

more electric RV options becoming available, which 

will only improve as technology gets cheaper and 

more readily available. However, the building process 

for these is not great for the environment, despite 

their zero emission running. Other fuel alternatives 

are being looked at, so this remains a rather large 

elephant in the room for the caravan and motorhome 

industry. It is one, however, that is being taken more 

and more seriously by more and more of the big 

brands, so trickle down is sure to come. 

▲ 

Sierra Designs Night Cap sleeping bags 

are made from recycled water bottles. 

Top 5 countries with highest Google search 

interest for ‘eco camping’ 

Cyprus 

Photo: Sierra Designs 

Ireland 

Portugal 

Belgium 

Netherlands 


25


ECO PRODUCTS 

Photo: VWCV 

▲ The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a window into the future of electric-powered campervans. 

TRENDING 

The camping and caravanning industry has 

definitely been ahead of the curve in the eco 

movement compared to many other industries, 

because many of its participants care deeply 

about the nature that they love to spend their 

free time in. One of the main ways in which the 

industry has tried to do its bit is with how things 

are manufactured. In tents and tent camping 

equipment especially, the use of recycled or more 

eco-friendly materials has become so commonplace 

that it’s now unusual if it’s not mentioned in a 

product’s USPs. Besides just what things are made 

of, it’s also how they are made that is important. 

Many companies have gone more public with the 

ways in which they have tried to reduce waste 

or use less energy when it comes to creating 

their products – something that consumers are 

definitely more switched on to than ever before. 

In the RV and caravan market, it is a little 

different but still important. The constant interest in 

electric RVs shows that these consumers are keen to 

discover ways in which they can conduct the hobby 

in a more sustainable manner. Portable power is a 

great example of this trend, with many power packs 

coming complete with solar panels, and solar panels 

in general enjoying a boom. There has also been a 

surge in products that reduce waste or allow you to 

camp off-grid without consuming anything for long 

periods of time. The trend for being more eco is all 

encompassing and it’s here to stay. 



ECO PRODUCTS 

COMPANIES OF INTEREST 

Vango 

British tent company that is well known for its Earth 

Tent range, which are high-quality family tents made 

from recycled materials. 

D 

www.vango.co.uk 

Goal Zero 

A leader in sustainable power for people in the 

outdoors, Goal Zero has a wide range of products that 

help people use power more responsibly. 

D 

www.goalzero.com 

QOOL 

A German cool box company that produces a smart 

and long-lasting cooler that is made from at least 25 

per cent recycled materials on the outer. 

D 

www.qool-products.com 

Vaude 

A manufacturer of sleeping pads made from 

sustainable materials, they meet the ecological 

stanbdards set out by the Green Shape label. 

D 

www.vaude.com 

Nemo Equipment 

A camping company known for its commitment to 

the environment, it created a new OSMO material 

that is PFC/PFAC-free and made from recycled yarns. 

D 

www.nemoequipment.com 

Sierra Designs 

American camping giant Sierra Designs is known for 

its Night Cap sleeping bags made from recycled water 

bottles and for supporting inclusivity organisations. 

D 

www.sierradesigns.com 

Bergans of 

Norway 

A company 

whose entire 

existence is based 

on sustainable 

products and 

a sustainable 

supply chain that 

makes for less 

waste. 

D 

www.bergans.com 

Klean Kanteen 

One of the forerunners in being eco. Klean Kanteen 

is climate neutral, a 1% for the planet donator and 

certified B Corp. 

D 

www.kleankanteen.com 

Jackery 

Another portable power station brand that has a big 

focus on solar power and generating energy for its 

batteries in a sustainable way. 

D 

www.jackery.com 


27

Ad Feature 

SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

▲ Trailer SumoSprings are now standard equipment on the Brinkley RV Model G toy-hauler. 

THE ROAD OF 

OEM OPPORTUNITY 

■ven when you have a fantastic 

E 

product, the road to success is not 

always straightforward. If business 

was as easy as just having a great 

product, a lot more people would 

be good at it. But it’s not. It’s about telling the 

story about your product well, proving that it does 

what you say it can do, and also cultivating strong 

relationships with the key stakeholders in the 

markets you want to have success in. These three 

things (and much more) are the reasons why Trailer 

SumoSprings from SuperSprings International have 

enjoyed a steady climb to the top in the RV industry. 

A PURPOSEFUL PARTNERSHIP 

After several years of impressing users with their 

performance in the RV world, it was only a matter 

of time before a major towable RV brand wanted 

in. Brinkley RV were the ones with the foresight to 

listen to what SSI had to say and truly understand 

the benefits of Trailer SumoSprings – and as a result 

they have signed an exclusive OEM partnership 

with SSI that will see Trailer SumoSprings become 

standard equipment on the newly released Model G 

toy-hauler. The agreement sees two companies who 

prioritise creating the ultimate customer experience 

combine to help make a product that is already 


Ad Feature 


standard equipment across many motorised RVs and 

motorhomes become standard equipment on towable 

RVs for the first time. 

SSI president, Adam Weisner, explained: “This 

announcement is a big deal. In many ways, Trailer 

SumoSprings have been a personal project for me as 

it was the first product I experienced when I joined 

back in 2018. The first time I towed my trailer with my 

family, we were stunned at the difference. I knew then 

this product would become something really special. 

“Nate and I have been talking for several years, so 

when he called me last summer and told me about 

how Brinkley RV was innovating the experience, I 

was in. In a market where towables can sometimes 

be built as cheaply as possible, it’s refreshing to see 

a brand truly investing in a customer experienced 

focussed, high-quality, data-driven product.” 

Meanwhile, Brinkley RV’s co-owner and operating 

partner, Nate Goldenberg, added: “This is the type 

of partnership that makes sense for us. When I first 

spoke with Adam years ago, I knew we shared a 

passion for the customer experience and creating 

things that stood out from the crowd. When we 

launched Brinkley, I knew I wanted SSI and the 

Trailer SumoSprings product to be part of the story. 

This is an unmatched suspension solution for trailers 

and we’re really proud to be the first to bring this type 

of journey to the OEM level.” 

▲ Trailer SumoSprings are ‘an unmatched suspension solution for trailers’. 


29

Ad Feature 


0-8 SECOND CHUCKHOLE 

RUN COMPARISON 

Trailer SumoSprings vs. Original Equipment Springs 

Frame Acc Z (g) % Difference 

36.3% 

0.0% 

-50.0% 

-100.0% 

-67.2% 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

-43.3% 

-54.0% 

-71.4% 

-78.1% 

-91.3% 

68% 

AVERAGE REDUCTION 

IN G-FORCE 

-150.0% 

■ Difference (G%) 

-176.9% 

OVER 

100% 

HIGHER AVERAGE 

DISPLACEMENT 

AT EVERY INTERVAL 

Vertical Displacement Difference (inches and %) 

462% 

0.20 

0.10 

0.00 

-0.10 

-0.20 

-0.30 

-0.40 

-0.50 

Vertical Displacement Measurements (inches) 

-0.34 

0.05 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

-0.18 

0.14 

0.11 0.13 

-0.36 

0.18 

-0.43 

■ Average OE Displacement 

■ Average SumoSprings Displacement 

0.02 0.02 

-0.41 

-0.26 

0.10 

4.50 

4.00 

3.50 

3.00 

2.50 

2.00 

1.50 

1.00 

0.50 

0.39 

■ Difference (inches) 

■ Difference (%) 

114% 

0.31 

177% 

0.34 

150% 

0.49 

135% 

0.23 

0.45 

105% 

0.43 

105% 

0.36 

139% 

462% 

HIGHER DISPLACEMENT 

BETWEEN SECOND 4-5 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 


PUTTING THEM TO THE TEST 

On average, Trailer SumoSprings reduce g-force 

vibration in a trailer by more than 68 per cent. They 

also offer 100 per cent higher than average vertical 

displacement at every interval. How do we know this? 

The SSI team put their products through their paces 

at the NaviStar Proving Grounds in New Carlisle, 

Indiana – a former Studebaker testing track that 

was constructed in the 1920s with a rich history of 

performing objective tests of vehicles and accessories 

and add-ons. The SSI team knew that they needed 

some independent, real-world data to back up their 

claims about Trailer SumoSprings, and they got that 

and then some at NaviStar. But that alone wasn’t 

enough. Putting the products in the hands of every day 

RV users was essential to help further the message. 

Successful YouTuber Jerry Neal runs a channel 

called iLoveRVlife. When he first heard about Trailer 

SumoSprings, he had the feeling his prayers had 

been answered. A true RV veteran, Jerry had seen 

rough roads practically shake his old 5th wheel trailer 

Ad Feature 


to death. His background as a large infrastructure 

engineer led him to believe that Trailer SumoSprings 

were worth a shot. 

“I was so confident in this product that I put a full 

glass of water on the table inside our camper and 

drove it down the road,” explains Jerry. “My wife, 

Joan, was not as sure about it and let me know I’d be 

cleaning it up myself. But sure enough when I pulled 

over and when to check on it, it was in the same 

place. I thought that was pretty incredible.” 

If a glass of water stays in place on bumpy roads 

in a trailer with this modification, then imagine how 

beneficial it is to the rest of the RV. The lifespan of 

almost everything in it increases exponentially. 

So, it’s easy to see why a company as large and as 

focussed on the customer experience as Brinkley RV 

would want to get Trailer SumoSprings as standard 

on its trailers. But that revelation, which is going to 

help thousands of RVers journey better, may never 

have happened without the right back-up behind the 

scenes from SSI to their winning product. 

Learn more at www.superspringsinternational.com 


31

Company Profile 

CARTHAGO 

More than 

just a HQ… 

■A motorhome is a very emotive product. People 

A 

spend weeks or even months of their lives inside one. 

Therefore, it is vital they have ample opportunity to see, 

feel, and test the product before they purchase.” Seems 

an obvious statement, but you’d be surprised how few 

companies offer a genuine way to do this with no pressure on time or 

obligation to buy. These are the words of Tobias Reutlinger, team leader 

international marketing at premium German leisure vehicle brand 

Carthago. So, how does this leading brand achieve what Tobias says 

above. The answer lies in its rather innovative headquarters… 


PARADISE CITY 

Opened in 2013, Carthago City in Aulendorf, Germany, 

is the company’s state-of-the-heart home that does a 

little more than the average HQ. As well as the brains 

of the Carthago and Malibu operation, Carthago 

City hosts a huge exhibition area, a full sales team, 

and a service centre. And it’s still growing – around 

2,000 additional square metres have been added 

to the premises since it was built (which by the way 

took an impressively fast 12 months). The first and 

most obvious benefit of such a facility is the firstclass 

working conditions for staff. The modern and 

clean spaces provide staff with everything they need 

to thrive such as excellent transport links, the most 

up-to-date internal systems, an on-site restaurant 


CARTHAGO 

known as ‘carthagusto’ that prepares fresh food daily, 

as well as many opportunities for training and further 

development. They can even enjoy discounts on 

renting motorhomes, which is not only a nice perk but 

also allows them to become experts in the products 

they are dealing in. 

“Carthago City is also strongly committed to 

sustainability and the region itself, explains Alexander 

Wehrmann, Carthago’s head of communication, PR 

and strategic marketing. “We have e-charging stations 

for bikes and cars. We have an efficient sustainability 

management to waste as few resources as possible 

(rainwater collection, a sawing machine that produces 

little waste, etc). The ingredients of our company 

restaurant are locally sourced. We also work closely 

▼ Carthago City is much more than just a motorhome production line. 


33


CARTHAGO 

▲ The ethos of Carthago founder Karl-Heinz Schuler (red glasses) is “This can be done better.” 

with suppliers and service providers from the region 

and have educational partnerships with schools and 

universities in the area. Every year, we offer young 

people a variety of training and study opportunities. 

“The region Upper-Swabia in the South of Germany 

in which Carthago City is located is also a big plus. It 

is not far to Lake Constance and the Alps. We work 

where others go for their holidays...” 

AN EXTENSION OF AN IDEA 

The initial idea behind Carthago came from founder 

Karl-Heinz Schuler saw a converted campervan while 

studying in Germany in 1979 and thought to himself: 

“This can be done better.” That ethos has stayed with 

the company as it has grown and is a large part of the 

thinking behind Carthago City. It is designed to be an 

experience for people to visit, not just a showroom. 

You can see how motorhomes are made, you can test 

them extensively, you can imagine them as if they are 

yours, and you can see the people behind the products. 

You can even take a factory tour in multiple languages 

to see behind the scenes of the entire company. This 

kind of insight is particularly important given the slowly 

changing demographic of the motorhome market. 

The future is bright, but in order for Carthago to 

continue in its “this can be done better” attitude, 

it has had to modernise and digitise the way it 

communicates. New target markets want to be 


addressed differently – more emotionally and showing 

the benefits of the product before simply the facts and 

figures. Because of this Carthago staff actively take on 

the role of an advisor rather than a salesperson in order 

to help people get the right motorhome for their needs. 

“Fortunately, we were quick to catch up with the 

times and updated our online channels (social media, 

website, YouTube) at an early stage,” Tobias continues. 

“At the moment we are working very hard on 

transporting the experience that our customers get 

from our products to the web. We are also focussing on 

both the northern and southern European markets, to 

give each what it requires.” 


CARTHAGO 

FUTUREPROOF 

There’s no doubt about it that the industry is in a very 

interesting phase at present. Alongside those new 

demographics, the travel world is still readjusting after 

Covid, there’s still a war going on in Europe, and there 

are still huge problems with chassis supply. 

Tobias concludes: “Despite all this, the industry 

continues to develop very positively. The demand is 

unbrokenly high. This change is precisely what makes 

our industry and our work so interesting and exciting. 

We can now set the course for the future. And we as 

the Carthago Group are convinced that we are very 

well prepared for this.” 

▼ Carthago is futureproofing itself by working hard to engage with new demographics. 

D www.carthago.com 


35


LION CARAVANS 

CUB 

This contemporary teardrop 

caravan describes itself as being 

heavy on features yet light on 

weight – a claim that’s easy to 

back up considering it’s only 

640kg. Made on an AL-KO 

galvanised steel chassis with 

full mains and water hook-up 

connections, this may be a mini 

caravan but it has everything you 

would expect. Inside the fully 

upholstered bed and backboard 

benefits from a thermal curtain 

set, mounted 19in TV, interior 

spotlights, and Webasto heating 

system. There’s even a wellequipped 

kitchen at the rear. 

D 

www.lioncaravans.com 

ROBENS 

POLARSHIELD MAT 

Featuring an offset construction technique – 

a no-waste, weight-saving foam prolfile – to 

enhance performance and reduce waste, the new 

Robens Polarshield sleeping mats are ideal for 

camping in all conditions. Available in single 

(80cm) and double (120cm) sizes, the mattresses 

are made with a clever bonding technique that 

allows a static material to be used for their inner 

walls. As this does not deform under pressure it 

improves inflation/deflation speeds as less air 

is required to achieve the right comfort levels. It 

also enhances stability at the edge of the mat. 

D www.robens.co.uk 



TENTBOX 

LITE 2.0 

The brand-new TentBox Lite 

2.0 is packed with upgrades and 

improvements on the original. 

Now featuring two skylights, 

dual layer memory foam 

mattress, a foot-friendly ‘flatstep’ 

ladder and a new rainfly 

design with fewer poles, to take 

it up and down in seconds. The 

fabric cover is also brand-new, 

made from matte black Cordura 

that won’t fade over time, and 

secured with industrial strength 

YKK zip and buckles. Expect 

new, premium quality fittings, 

special extras and some nifty 

accessories throughout. 

D 

www.tentbox.com 

PUNDMANN 

MOBILE PARKING HEATER 

German heating expert Pundmann produces 

three different variations of its effective 

mobile parking heater, which is a perfect 

addition for campervans, roof tents, small 

shelters and tents. The three versions mean 

you are able to choose between using diesel, 

an AGM battery, or a LifePO4 battery as its 

energy source, giving great flexibility. The 

relatively light weight of the unit means it 

is easy for one person to pick up and move 

and the remote control gives quick and easy 

control of the output. 

D 

www.pundmann.de 


37

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