Major caravan manufacturer shuts leaving customers in the dark

Caravan maker Australian Off Road shuts its gates leaving customers in limbo In short: Australian Off Road has closed suddenly, with customers unable to contact the company. It comes less than a year after the collapse of Zone RV, another Sunshine Coast-based caravan manufacturer. What's next? Existing owners and customers are banding together as they wait to find out more information. A Queensland caravan manufacturer has shut its gates leaving hundreds of customers, staff and suppliers in limbo less than a year after the sudden collapse of Zone RV. Sunshine Coast's Australian Off Road (AOR) campers ceased operating late last week, with customers saying they had been unable to make contact with the company. AOR's phone line has been disconnected, its website is down, its social media accounts deactivated, and its factory and office space in Caloundra is empty. Zone RV, also based on the Sunshine Coast, went into administration in December last year owing $42 million and leaving hundreds of customers out of pocket. New AOR customers who have paid deposits for caravans say they are in the dark about when or if they will get their vans or money back. Existing owners are also worried about what the situation means for their warranties and servicing. Left waiting Ron and Winsome Vernieux raced nearly 2,000 kilometres from Victoria to pick up their caravan that had been at the Caloundra base for repairs for several months. They arrived on Monday morning to find the gates locked and no-one around. "I expected to see a line-up of cars here and people at the gates, but there's nothing," Mr Vernieux said. "We want to use it in November to do a trip. "We've had it for 14 years and they've been very good to deal with and it's just one hell of a surprise to see it go like this." Ms Vernieux said it was frustrating, especially given they could see their van in the car park about 20 metres from where they were standing. "It's surreal … I just want to climb over and get it, but we'll do the right thing [and wait]," she said. Sunshine Coast customer Lester Jerman arrived at the factory to collect his caravan which had also been in for repairs. "I'm worried. There are a few caravan manufacturers struggling a bit," he said. "I don't know whether that means AOR is struggling because they've got lots of orders for months in advance, so I don't know what's happening just yet." Award-winning company A social media group has been set up by affected AOR customers and has grown to almost 800 members in just a few days. The company has won a string of accolades, including being named people's choice manufacturer of the year in the 2021 Caravan Industry Association of Australia awards. AOR is still listed as registered on the ASIC website, with no mention of whether administrators have been appointed. The ABC has attempted to contact the business, founded in 2000 by Steve Budden, who remains a director. Russell Evans is also a director of AOR. Mr Budden was not home when the ABC visited on Monday afternoon.