At this year’s CreditOne/OnlyVans Awards, Arctic Campers didn’t roll in with fanfare. No towering banners. No booming sales pitch. Just quiet confidence, in the product, the process, and the people behind it.

Front and centre; Kyle McKendrick, Arctic’s national manager and a caravan industry veteran with more than fifteen years under his belt. Nearly a decade of that was spent refining hybrid designs, giving him a rare perspective on where the market’s been, and where it’s headed.

McKendrick’s journey spans both sides of the fence: years building Aussie-made vans, followed by hands-on experience with imported models. That mix of local grit and global adaptability now shapes everything Arctic does.

It’s not about choosing one over the other — it’s about blending the best of both. At Arctic, flexibility isn’t a feature — it’s the foundation. Their hybrid caravans aren’t churned out from a cookie-cutter template. Each build starts with a conversation.

Want the kitchen moved? Done. Prefer no cupboard? Easy. Fancy a layout without a bathroom? McKendrick might raise an eyebrow, but if that’s your style, they’ll make it happen. That customer-first mindset doesn’t stop at handover either.

Arctic’s after-sales support is famously personal. McKendrick jokes about taking calls on Christmas Day, not because he has to, but because he wants to. That kind of responsiveness has become a signature move, and it’s why Arctic owners tend to become Arctic advocates.

No flashy ads. No influencer campaigns. Just word-of-mouth, passed from one campfire to the next. Quality control is another non-negotiable. Every van goes through a rigorous pre-delivery process, and Arctic’s warranty system lets customers use their nearest repairer.

It’s a sign of trust in the build, and a nod to transparency. Working with third-party service centres keeps everyone honest, and McKendrick wouldn’t have it any other way. Feedback isn’t just welcomed, it’s fuel too.

McKendrick and general manager Brendan spend much of the year on the road, talking to owners, attending shows, and listening. Really listening. If a problem pops up more than once, it’s solved before the next model hits the road.

Their shift from AGM to lithium power systems is a textbook example, a practical upgrade driven by real-world use, not guesswork. There’s more coming, too. McKendrick’s tight-lipped on the details, but confirms three new models are in the pipeline.

That includes dual-axle and smaller on-road options designed to broaden Arctic’s reach without losing its personal touch. With coverage already across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, there’s just one frontier left.

“Western Australia,” he says with a grin. “That’s the last dot on the map.”

proudly sponsored by RACV Finance


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