Campdraft turns into glampdraft
A SWAG rolled out in the back of a truck used to be the most comfort a campdrafter could expect out on the circuit - but not anymore.
Owner of T&G Supafloats, Terry Dwan, said there was definitely more people looking for a bit of luxury when they hit the hay (or not) after a long day of competing.
"Very much so," Mr Dwan said yesterday.
"People seem to want to be a little more comfortable. They want to go away and enjoy it."
Looking out across the temporary village set up at the Warwick Showgrounds, Mr Dwan said many of his goosenecks had set up camp.
"There are a lot of ours here," he said.
"There are a few companies that make custom goosenecks in Australia but not many."
Mr Dwan and his wife Geraldine - who also works in the business - said they had both been around the campdrafting circuit for a long time and decided to custom build their own gooseneck nearly a decade ago.
The idea to start a business grew from there.
"I have always been in metal fabrication," Mr Dwan said.
"They started off very basic but you always try to improve and do better things."
That was eight years ago and Mr Dwan said the business had grown from a one man operation to employing six staff.
"Our staff specialise in a range of different things," he said.
"Campdrafting seems to have become more popular so that's probably making businesses like ours more popular."
A gooseneck can take up to three months to fit out depending out the project which meant the amount finished each year could vary - but there was do doubt demand was increasing.
A custom built gooseneck could cost anywhere between $20,000 and $300,000 - truly making it a home away from home.
"The people that have never been in them can't believe when they look inside," he said.
"But the campdrafting people are starting to know about it."
When queried about the strangest thing a customer had asked for in their gooseneck was, Mr Dwan laughed.
"One guy asked for an external ice machine for ice to have with his scotch when he had parties," he said.
But no chandeliers just yet.