Brisbane Show

[UIZ733]

I spent some time at the show and here (for what they are worth) are my observations.
There are a lot of very 'similar' Hybrids on the market now. Virtually every manufacturer is in on the game including Jayco. Most of the offerings are quite similar. Some cost relatively little. Who is leading and following is difficult to work out. Windsor were about the only ones with something 'different'. Being different does not necessarily mean better. What it means for the future 'hybrid' market, particularly second had values will be interesting in this segment.
Same with 'Forward Fold' campers. A lot to choose from. There are a lot out there with little to separate them (in my opinion). What will happen to the second hand market in this segment again will be very interesting.
Very few traditional rear fold campers compared to a few years ago. What does remain includes some quality setups.
Virtually no soft-floor campers.
Heaps of caravans, many with very plush and comfortable interiors. Nice homes away from home. Many are very good value for money.
Very poor response from 'new technologies' businesses, particularly lithium batteries. It is almost like they really don't want this aspect of the industry to develop. They must all be Tony Abbott & Co. voters, wanting to NOT change a working thing.

[two up]

Lithium batteries are expensive and usually reserved to the upper end of the market and with the associated chargers etc would add a fair percentage increase to the lower end. In the upper end it's usually only a couple of percent to the total price. If you are paying around the 100k mark a couple of grand extra is hardly here nor there. If you're entering the market at the lower end that couple of grand may mean you look elsewhere.
For a lot of people how they use their camper will determine if lithium is an economically viable option, eg if you use it once or twice a year then it's overkill. If you can are constantly travelling and depend on solar then it's probably worthwhile.

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[Bigfish]

Lithium batteries are expensive and usually reserved to the upper end of the market and with the associated chargers etc would add a fair percentage increase to the lower end. In the upper end it's usually only a couple of percent to the total price. If you are paying around the 100k mark a couple of grand extra is hardly here nor there. If you're entering the market at the lower end that couple of grand may mean you look elsewhere.
For a lot of people how they use their camper will determine if lithium is an economically viable option, eg if you use it once or twice a year then it's overkill. If you can are constantly travelling and depend on solar then it's probably worthwhile.

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Lithium is supposed to be the future (for the time being) in batteries.  It would still have been nice to have reps there that can explain the pros and cons from an experts point of view (plenty of experts everywhere though).  Reckon the second hand market in a couple of years will be a buters delight..Same thing happened with the huge influx of second hand harlys from USA..Prices dropped considerably.

[edz]

Maybe its just me, But I saw a hell of a lot of over priced Cheaply built and cheaply  Blinged for the sake of Blinging it units of all types for sale.. Hook a few Cashed up retiree's was  the order of the day 
And the sales pitches by the Sheila's n blokes on the some of the stands,  Smacked of the Europeans offering useless colored glass trinkets to the Indians in return  for Gems and gold..
If nothing else it was an entertaining day out in the Big Smoke ..   

[two up]

There is no doubt that lithium batteries will get cheaper over time, but we are not there yet and as such it's a very small part of the CT market.  Shows are about getting people to sign on the dotted line, the finer details are worked out later. Those looking into lithium battery systems are usually more savvy and generally know more about the systems than the reps, they will seek out experts rather than sales persons and you don't find them at shows.

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[Rumpig]

Seemed to be a lot of people looking at the new Windsor set up when I was there, a quick look had me thinking it offers nothing better then the hard floor KK I already own. Found a few vans we liked the look of, all around that $70 - $80K mark though...think I might try and track down something secondhand for about $30K less instead.

[GBC]

There is no doubt that lithium batteries will get cheaper over time, but we are not there yet and as such it's a very small part of the CT market.  Shows are about getting people to sign on the dotted line, the finer details are worked out later. Those looking into lithium battery systems are usually more savvy and generally know more about the systems than the reps, they will seek out experts rather than sales persons and you don't find them at shows.

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30 ah for $300. I'll look hard at them when my time comes around again in a few years. If I got 2 of those and got rid of my three 100 ah, I'll lose 100 k.g. straight up. Getting a positive read lithium AH vs AGM AH is what I need though to know how many AH of lithium I need.

[BaseCamp]

There was a guy offering free batista coffees - that wad tucked away in the he far rear corner of the show....

He was operating out of a new thing that looked like a hybrid verson of a toy hauler ....  had a big origami rear deck thing out the back...

His coffee was great.   He said he was the only person;  (or the original person, I don't recall)...   who has a coffee set up / come home on wheels - completely operable off grid....   batteries to operate his on-board $7K coffee machine; filtered water, etc, etc....   Said his set up cost about $100K

(this is the only pic of his set up I can now only find on my phone unfortunately)?

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[UIZ733]

There was a guy offering free batista coffees - that wad tucked away in the he far rear corner of the show....

He was operating out of a new thing that looked like a hybrid verson of a toy hauler ....  had a big origami rear deck thing out the back...

His coffee was great.   He said he was the only person;  (or the original person, I don't recall)...   who has a coffee set up / come home on wheels - completely operable off grid....   batteries to operate his on-board $7K coffee machine; filtered water, etc, etc....   Said his set up cost about $100K

(this is the only pic of his set up I can now only find on my phone unfortunately)?
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Yes I saw him. He should takes spelling and grammar lessons though!
Then again, he may be a Legal Eagle who serves good coffee.