Buyers of dual cab utilities or passenger four-wheel drives can visit their local dealer or head online to tick the spec and accessory boxes they desire – increasingly, most of these will be available as dealer-fit items.
But when looking beyond a traditional SUV, the broader recreational vehicle market is quite unique.
Buyers in the market for a motorhome or fifth wheeler face a different purchase experience to those buying four-wheel-drives or other light commercial vehicles – the buyer is effectively getting two products, the cab chassis which is sourced from a light commercial vehicle manufacturer, and the body itself, normally made by a separate, specialist manufacturer.
IVECO has formed strong relationships with Australian motorhome manufacturers over the years, working closely to help develop and integrate their products on to the cab chassis.
The end product professionally and seamlessly marries the two.
All of Australia’s major motorhome manufacturers including AVIDA, Apollo, Jayco and Sunliner are extensively using the Daily light truck platform on which to base their models.
Our involvement includes providing engineering support, product training and undertaking shared promotional and marketing activities such as exhibiting at industry events and open days.
This co-operation is particularly important in the lead-up to the vehicle manufacturer releasing a new or significantly updated cab chassis, ensuring any changes still make the platform suitable for motorhome applications with minimal disruptions to production processes for the bodybuilder.
Leading up to new model releases, we consult heavily with the industry.
Our plans are shared early with our bodybuilder partners allowing any changes or potential sticking points to be addressed and rectified well in advance of the new models’ release, leading to a smooth introduction.
This consultation process also provides the opportunity for us to gain feedback from the bodybuilders and their customers.
This provides valuable first-hand, real-world insights from owners who can travel tens of thousands of kilometres each year in the vehicles, often to remote places.
An example of this consultation and subsequent introduction of a new feature into our vehicles was the launch of an 8-speed full-automatic transmission to our Daily platform in 2015.
Previously, only a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automated manual was available, but following feedback from motorhome users who generally speaking fall into an older demographic, we introduced a full automatic to provide future buyers with a vehicle that was easier, more car-like to drive, and more frugal; leading to a more relaxed, less tiring and cheaper driving/holiday experience.
The automatic variant now accounts for the vast majority of sales into motorhome applications and sales of the Daily cab chassis in Australia have almost doubled since 2015.
For adventure travellers, IVECO also has close ties with leading off-road bodybuilders including Earthcruiser, Travel Trucks and Expedition Vehicles Australia.
These specialist bodybuilders develop motorhomes based on the rugged Daily 4×4 platform and are designed to allow customers to spend extended periods of time off the beaten track, in the most remote and demanding of environments.
Aside from building the bodies themselves, these companies also develop a range of accessories that are suitable for the Daily 4×4 where an existing product might not be available from IVECO.
Such equipment could include bull bars, snorkels, rear wheel carriers, underbody protection and the like – the range of accessories can be customised to best suit the end buyer’s requirements.
Given the nature of the Daily 4×4 and the applications it will likely be used in, and the customisation that end users expect even from their 4×2 Daily-based products, we acknowledge that some modifications add to the capabilities of the vehicles and may provide added functionality to the owner.
Under some circumstances we support this product development so long as the changes don’t interfere with the integrity of the cab chassis and are within the realms of Australian Design Rules and other relevant legislator requirements.
If these criterion is met, IVECO engineers will provide vehicle CAD diagrams, at times loan evaluation vehicles and also consult with the manufacturers to ensure that the accessories do not compromise the Daily’s performance.
The final certification of any customised engineering on the vehicle – whether the body itself or the accessories – is ultimately the responsibility of the third party manufacturer.
Although the relationship between truck manufacturer and bodybuilder is close, owners will still need to visit their vehicle dealer for servicing of the cab chassis, with maintenance and repairs on the body undertaken by the motorhome manufacturer.
But customers can rest assured that a great deal of consultation and collaboration goes into every Daily-based motorhome.
