Australian Off Road (AOR), a Queensland-based caravan manufacturer, has ceased operations, leaving customers, employees, and suppliers seeking information about outstanding orders, repairs, warranties, and deposits.
The Sunshine Coast company reportedly stopped operating late last week, with customers unable to reach the business through its usual channels. Its phone line has been disconnected, its website is no longer accessible, and its social media accounts have been deactivated. The company’s factory and office premises in Caloundra were also found empty.
The development comes less than a year after the collapse of another Sunshine Coast caravan manufacturer, Zone RV. In December 2025, Zone RV entered administration owing approximately $42 million, with hundreds of customers reportedly left out of pocket.
For AOR customers, the immediate concern is what the apparent shutdown means for caravans already under construction, deposits paid on new orders, and vehicles that were at the company for repairs or servicing.
Ron and Winsome Vernieux traveled nearly 2,000 kilometers from Victoria to AOR’s Caloundra facility to collect their caravan, which had been at the business for several months while undergoing repairs. They arrived Monday to find the gates locked and no staff present.
“I expected to see a line-up of cars here and people at the gates, but there’s nothing,” Mr Vernieux told ABC News.
“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.”
The couple said they could see their caravan parked inside the property but did not attempt to retrieve it themselves.
“It’s surreal … I just want to climb over and get it, but we’ll do the right thing [and wait],” Ms Vernieux said.
Another customer, Sunshine Coast resident Lester Jerman, also visited the factory to collect a caravan that had been undergoing repairs. He said he was concerned about the company’s status and the wider financial conditions facing caravan manufacturers.
“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.”
The uncertainty has also prompted affected customers to organize online. A social media group established for AOR customers reportedly grew to almost 800 members within a few days, as owners and customers sought to share information about the company’s status and outstanding matters.
Founded in 2000 by Steve Budden, AOR has operated in the Australian caravan manufacturing sector for more than two decades. The company was named People’s Choice Manufacturer of the Year at the 2021 Caravan Industry Association of Australia awards.
As of the report, AOR remained listed as a registered company on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website. The listing did not indicate whether administrators had been appointed.
Budden remains listed as a director, alongside Russell Evans. The ABC reported that it attempted to contact the company and visited Budden’s home on Monday afternoon, but he was not there.
For caravan and RV businesses, the situation highlights the potential downstream effects of a manufacturer’s financial difficulties on customers well beyond the initial sale.
Uncompleted orders, customer deposits, repair work, warranty obligations, parts availability, and servicing arrangements can all become issues when a manufacturer stops trading. Until AOR or a formally appointed administrator provides further information, affected customers may face uncertainty over how those obligations will be addressed.
