Nomadic Campers: Revolutionising Lightweight Off-Road Travel
Nomadic Campers may be a relatively new player in the caravan market, but they’re quickly making a name for themselves with their innovative, lightweight designs and a customer-first approach. Speaking with Adam Mathieson, founder of Nomadic Campers, at the 2024 Caravan & Camper Excellence Round Up hosted by www.OnlyVans.com.au, it’s clear that the brand’s focus on tailored service and off-grid capabilities sets them apart in a crowded market.
A Focus on Lightweight Durability
At the core of Nomadic’s offerings is the Norca 14 Off-Road Pop-Top Hybrid Camper, a lightweight camper designed with durability and accessibility in mind. “It’s a lightweight camper,” Adam explains, pointing out that the use of composite sheeting and XPS panel construction allows them to eliminate traditional framing, reducing weight significantly while still offering a solid core that resists water, mould, and mildew.
By employing this construction method, Nomadic has managed to create a camper that is not only rugged but also easy to tow. “The camper itself has a tare weight of 1960kg, with a payload of 560kg,” Adam continues, “so it’s perfect for those with vehicles like Pajero Sports, Prados, and Raptors that have a 2.5T towing capacity.” Coupled with the use of a one-piece honeycomb floor system, Nomadic’s lightweight approach makes the Norca 14 an ideal choice for a wide range of adventurers, from weekend warriors and festival-goers to retirees looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use setup that doesn’t sacrifice comfort or off-road capability.
Customer-Centric Design and Off-Grid Capability
Part of Nomadic’s broad appeal stems from the fact that each camper is fully equipped for off-grid living without the hidden costs often associated with add-ons. “We’ve tried to market the product so that it includes everything,” Adam tells me. “There’s nothing worse than seeing a sale item at a show and then having to add everything to actually get off-grid.”
This all-inclusive approach means that buyers get a camper that’s ready to explore the moment it rolls out of the sales yard. The Norca 14 comes with a high-quality 400W rigid frame solar system with the capability of plugging in an additional 400W for extended trips, as well as a robust 400Ah Projecta high-discharge lithium battery system and the ability to run air conditioning straight from the battery for complete off-grid comfort—a standout feature that many off-grid travellers will appreciate. Such comprehensive inclusions are all about allowing Nomadic’s customers to be off-grid and self-sufficient in the truest sense.
“You can run your air-con for six or seven hours a day and at nighttime and still have plenty of charge to run fridges and all of that,” Adam says.
While its base models include a standard cassette toilet, Nomadic also offers the option to upgrade to composting toilets, a rare feature in imported campers, that gives buyers even more flexibility for extended off-grid trips. “You can basically contain your waste for up to 6 weeks,” Adam explains. This focus on off-grid capability is particularly important to Nomadic’s target demographic, with buyers looking for a reliable, low-maintenance camper that can handle extended periods in remote locations.
Tailored Service and Customisation
For Adam, Nomadic Campers was born out of a desire to offer a more personalised, customer-focused experience, something he felt was lacking in the larger caravan industry. “When you become a bigger company, you lose a lot of control,” he says. “We don’t follow the cookie-cutter model… Everything is fitted here [in Australia], so we can give our customers a full 5-year warranty, and we’ve got a lifetime warranty on the chassis and drawbar.”
Nomadic’s smaller scale allows them to work directly with customers to tailor their campers to individual needs. “We have customers that want a power point here or a 12V socket there, and we can actually work with them,” Adam explains. This level of customisation ensures that every camper is built to suit the buyer’s exact requirements, whatever they may be.
It’s this dedication to service and flexibility that sets Nomadic apart from many of its competitors, particularly larger manufacturers that may not offer the same level of after-sales support. “These aren’t $10,000 camper trailers that we’re selling anymore. These are significant investments to a consumer, and they want to be looked after, and they have to be looked after,” Adam says.
Adapting to a Changing Market
As the market continues to change in the wake of the post-Covid boom, Nomadic is adapting to meet new consumer demands. “We’re seeing a lot more customers going from big vans and coming back to smaller vans,” Adam notes, a trend that has been particularly noticeable in the 14-foot and 16-foot market. For many buyers, these smaller, more manoeuvrable campers offer a perfect balance of size, comfort, and off-road capability.
This shift in consumer behaviour is shaping Nomadic’s future, and the company is responding with a diverse range of offerings to cater to different needs. “We’re launching a new on-road range called the Dirt Track range, aimed at people who don’t need heavy-duty off-road caravans,” Adam reveals. “It’s targeted at the 55+ age group who still want to get away for a weekend but don’t need something that can tackle the extremes that Australia offers.”
Nomadic is also preparing to launch a new 17-foot off-road range designed to incorporate the latest technologies from their suppliers. With these new models on the horizon, Nomadic is set to expand its presence even further, with discussions already underway to open additional dealerships across Australia.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, Adam remains optimistic about the future, despite the economic challenges currently facing the industry. “The quantity of buyers is certainly reduced at the moment… However, I would say that the quality of the buyer is very much still there,” he says. With a strong focus on customer service, innovative off-grid solutions, and a growing range of models, Nomadic Campers is well-positioned to continue delivering on its promise of quality, support, and reliability.
As Adam puts it, “People come to Nomadic because they want a quality product that is still at a very affordable price point, and they look for that reliability.” With this customer-first approach and a clear vision for the future, Nomadic Campers is set to make a lasting mark on the Australian caravan industry.
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