By Catherine Best,
July 21, 2025
Almost every new caravan looks the business on the showroom floor. The shine of just-assembled cabinetry, the dazzle of LED lights, the smell of freshly stitched leatherette furniture… But once on the road, some vans lose their sparkle. So, with more than 200 local brands, how do you know which are Australia’s best-built caravans?
The annual Caravan Industry Victoria (CIV) Hall of Fame Industry Awards is a good place to start. This year Crusader Caravans took out the top gong, winning 2025 Manufacturer of the Year for the fourth time in six years.
Other finalists included:
Regent RV
What makes a stand-out manufacturer?
Decided by a panel of industry experts, the CIV awards were judged on criteria including manufacturing processes, materials, operations, sales, marketing and customer support. CIV represents more than 200 caravan and RV brands, with 90 per cent of Australian manufacturers based in Victoria.
Crusader is the only caravan brand to win Manufacturer of the Year and achieve CIV RV Master Manufacturer accreditation. Introduced in 2024, the Master Manufacturer program recognises brands that meet industry standards across five benchmarks. These include quality management, customer service, compliance, business systems and human resources. To date, only three other brands have achieved Master Manufacturer status: Jayco, Snowy River Caravans and Royal Flair.
Crusader has been operating for 22 years, and moved into a new, purpose-built manufacturing plant in Melbourne in 2022. Earlier this year, the brand celebrated a $3.5 million expansion into the lucrative US market.
Founder and CEO Serge Valentino says Crusader has grown from humble beginnings into an industry leader and Australian-made success story.
“Crusader’s team of in-house engineers and designers are driven by a passion for creating exceptional caravanning experiences. Their innovative vision is realised by skilled tradespeople who build each caravan with the same care and pride as if it was their own,” Valentino says.
“This dedication is reflected in our state-of-the-art production facility in Epping, Victoria, which was a standout for the judges. Purpose-built and modelled on world’s best practice manufacturing methods, it’s proudly one of the most advanced facilities in the Australian caravan industry.”
About Crusader Caravans
Crusader manufacturers a large and diverse range of caravans catering to couples, families, black-top tourers and off-road warriors. There are eight styles in the range, incorporating 33 unique models. They start with the compact and affordable CRV Esperance (from $58,501) up to the luxury off-road, off-grid XCountry (from $158,527). All Crusader caravans are built from full-composite, one-piece construction, with a chassis made from 100 per cent Australian steel.
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