The travel dreams of dozens of Australians have been left in tatters after the collapse of a retro camper-maker, which owes $3.5 million to investors and customers around the world.
80 customers across Australia and America have lost $1.5 million in unreturned deposits.
Puts a tear in the eye Santa. All jokes aside, it is sad when a maker of such a good idea goes down like that and I feal for the people that have one on order and paid deposits etc.
Chief Caravans has also gone down 12 months ago so I am left to find parts etc if and when needed elsewhere. No drama as the den is out of warranty now anyway.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Bryan said
11:03 AM Jan 19, 2018
Its a shame. The Gidget is a really well thought out camper.
Jaahn said
05:55 PM Jan 19, 2018
Hi
I guess that there were not many GNs who were thinking of going on the road full time in one of them Shame to see it going broke and people loosing money though.
Jaahn
RustyD said
07:18 PM Jan 19, 2018
I've seen quite a few tear-drop vans behind smaller, older cars from the 1940s and 1950s - old Morris Minors, FX/FJ Holdens - with club regos. Also popular amongst trike riders (the VW, Subaru, Focus powered type).
Warren-Pat_01 said
08:39 PM Jan 19, 2018
I saw my first tear drop being towed behind an ancient fire truck that was part of a rally heading from Adelaide north. Cars were to be aged from 1910 to 1925 (I think the fire truck was exempted). They were at Glendambo when we saw them.
Then on another trip to WA we saw one of these later units being towed by a lady with a pink Camry or Corolla & her teardrop was matching pink & black. It looked great & was well out fitted.
I wonder whether the company directors had anything to do with my son's builder in Canberra?? All that free money coming in was too lucrative to jerks who had other more personal uses for the money!!
Ron-D said
09:00 AM Jan 20, 2018
To me they look cramped just a bed on the inside and standing outside cooking in a little hatch with no cover .
Warren-Pat_01 said
08:51 PM Jan 20, 2018
Just a fancy (or not so fancy) camper trailer, Ron. With a queen-sized bed, there is some comfort & there may be room at the end of the bed for bags, etc. An annexe or Oz-tent can be slung up to add to life's comforts. There is a active group on the internet - in the USA they are a big hit with plans on how to build them, etc.
Ron-D said
08:53 AM Jan 21, 2018
Yeah warren each to there own, I suppose if you dont have much room at home and a small car the could suit some people..
Dickodownunder said
11:20 AM Jan 21, 2018
Just as a matter of interest, their Facebook page is still open and their Gidget Owners Facebook page is limited to owners only and has 109 members. Two separate Facebook sites.
Desert Dweller said
04:00 PM Jan 21, 2018
Is it any wonder that quite a few RV makers are going broke, there's just too many of them.
Feel sorry for the folks that lost their deposit though.
The travel dreams of dozens of Australians have been left in tatters after the collapse of a retro camper-maker, which owes $3.5 million to investors and customers around the world.
80 customers across Australia and America have lost $1.5 million in unreturned deposits.
Hope no Grey Nomads have been caught up in this.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-19/gidget-retro-teardrop-camper-owes-millions-staff-and-customers/9339692
Chief Caravans has also gone down 12 months ago so I am left to find parts etc if and when needed elsewhere. No drama as the den is out of warranty now anyway.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Its a shame. The Gidget is a really well thought out camper.
Hi
I guess that there were not many GNs who were thinking of going on the road full time in one of them
Shame to see it going broke and people loosing money though.
Jaahn
Then on another trip to WA we saw one of these later units being towed by a lady with a pink Camry or Corolla & her teardrop was matching pink & black. It looked great & was well out fitted.
I wonder whether the company directors had anything to do with my son's builder in Canberra?? All that free money coming in was too lucrative to jerks who had other more personal uses for the money!!
To me they look cramped just a bed on the inside and standing outside cooking in a little hatch with no cover .
Yeah warren each to there own, I suppose if you dont have much room at home and a small car the could suit some people..
Feel sorry for the folks that lost their deposit though.