The Caravan Expo 2024 was arguably a milestone moment in the event’s history, seeing a whopping 27000+ people coming to see what was being showcased through the course of the weekend. Notably, this year’s show depicted an increase of 23% more campers, caravanners and overlanders from years past. Which confirms similar growth and interest within this leisure lifestyle activity. Everywhere you’d look, there were enthusiasts young and old flooding the stands to either see what was new on the market or take advantage of the insane exclusive sales that exhibitors were offering attendees. Needless to say, the main attractions revolved around caravanning (both on and offroad), however, there was an excellent presence and overlap of 4×4 accessories for those looking to add some kit to their overlanding rigs as well.
An interview with John de Kock who is taking over from Hampie de Kock for the Caravan and Overland show for 2025.
From racks and seats to mobile fridges and power supplies, we were able to see what’s hot and happening on the market, as well as what products you should keep an eye out for to make your journey more comfortable, less hassle and of course easier and better! Here are some of our top picks that would easily make it onto our Christmas Wishlist for 2024!
- CTEK x Tiger Wheel and Tyre: battery box
Inverters and power supplies will always be in demand in South Africa as long as we find ourselves in situations where power is scarce (which these days mean everywhere Eskom might be). That is why CTEK and Tiger Wheel and Tyre have teamed up to help solve this issue for the 4×4 community.
Fitted with CTEK’s D250SE, which is a fully automatic, 5-step charger that supplies up to 20A of power to any 12V lead-acid or lithium (LiFePO4, Li-Fe, Li-iron, LFP) service batteries from 40–300Ah, boasting features such as:
- Battery separation replacing diodes and VSR relays
- Selectable AGM option – 14.4V or 14.7V
- Maximised charging for better battery life and performance
- Temperature sensor to compensate for hot or cold conditions
- Splash and dust proof (IP65)
- Compatible with SMARTPASS 120, SMARTPASS 120S for the ultimate 140A power management solution
Although the CTEK D250SE charger has been around for a few years, the fact that it is now fitted to a robust battery box made of stainless steel with a quick release baseplate and built-in handles is something to be excited about. This makes the set-up easy to remove and easy to fit to almost any vehicle, as well as reducing wobble when going over bumps. The box itself has a slimline design, and is fitted with USB ports, voltage gage, lighter sockets, and more.
- Big Country: Hilux Revo tailgate storage
If we had a national car manufacturer in South Africa, chances are it would be Toyota, and if it isn’t the Quantum selected as the representative model, it would most certainly be the Hilux. Big Country must be acutely aware of this, as they have just launched a product that creates more storage space for South Africa’s favourite bakkie. The storage compartment is fully aluminium making it lightweight yet durable. It features a black powdered coating finish outside, ribbed carpeting on the inside, and 2 large push locks for extra safety.
If you have a Hilux, this is guaranteed to get you excited. If you happen to drive another bakkie, don’t worry, Big Country still has you covered with their LC80 and LC100 tailgate storage options.
- Lumeno: T-5 12v Jack
A Flat tyre can ruin anyone’s day, especially those on an adventure in a place where the AA could only dream of reaching you. That is why Lumeno is back with a bigger and better 5 tonne Jack. This product is remote-controlled, making it a low-effort process when changing your wheel. The Jack features an extended lifting bar of 550mm, a better built-in compressor, and an improved emergency torch. The kit also includes an impact wrench with improved grip, safety hammer, socket adaptor, inflatable needle, gloves and toolbox.
- Pedders: Lazer lamp with grill integration
When the situation calls for a little overlanding when the sun goes down, stock headlights don’t always cut it. Even if they were sufficient enough, they certainly don’t look as cool as your friend’s spotlights that he fitted to his Land Cruiser last year. Pedders have recently introduced some fresh grill lights that won’t only make you the most popular person around the campsite but keep the authorities at bay when it comes to these types of mods to your 4×4.
Lazer lamps are originally made in the UK and are grill integration kits that mount into your grill with specific brackets designed for whatever vehicle you may have. Because the lights do not cross the center line, they are not deemed a light bar, making them a safer bet when dealing with the traffic department. Key features for these lights include:
- 50 000 hours/5-year warranty on the globes
- IP67 rating water/weather resistance
- Up to 5000 lumens per light
- Takla: Ultra suede platinum seat covers
Some people said that comfort when driving was never on top of their priority list. Those people look like walking Allen keys today. For the rest of us who understand how comfort compounds enjoyment when road tripping, Takla has developed a new range of seat covers that will keep you smiling no matter how long the journey may be.
The Ultra suede platinum range combines their River Rock seat covers with Alcantara, featuring River Rock’s 5mm foam padding designed for performance with spun dyed yarns that ensure the colours stay vibrant, resisting fading over time and is 100% waterproof, as well as providing much more grip than conventional leather or plastic in a lighter and rugged material (which is why you usually find it Alcantara in premium sports cars).
So, if you’re trying to feel like Max Verstappen next time you trek into the wild, these seats are definitely a must-have.
- Howling Moon: Modular swing awning
If you’ve ever been in the market for a gazebo or awning for your overlander, you’ve most likely come across Howling Moon. They have garnered a devoted following, so it’s no shock that they have collaborated with some of the biggest brands South Africa to create custom fittings for their products.
At the show we found that Howling Moon will be partnering with Britz car rentals to fit their entire fleet of overlanding vehicles with a newly upgraded Howling Moon swing awning. This awning holds onto the tried-and-true features but has been updated with tie downs that easily roll up and zip away into the awning material for extra security as well as ease of guttering water from the tarp during a storm. The best part of the update is the fact that every piece of the swing awning is now modular and easily replaceable. No longer will you have to replace the entire product, just order the piece you need, and bam, your swing awning will be as good as new again.
- Energy independence: Singo 2000 pro
Some people, especially politicians, will have showcased how disastrous a power trip can be. Energy Independence showed us how you can totally avoid the issues you would face whenever the power trips where you are. The Singo 2000 Pro Portable UPS Power Station is designed to make your life easier during load-shedding, power outages, or when roaming around the remote corners of Africa. This UPS features:
- a 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter that can handle up to 2200W which can power 95% of appliances and electronics
- A high-performance 1920Wh Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery that holds 2000+ battery cycles
- Rapid charging with the AC Max Fast Charge feature, fully recharging the battery in just 90 minutes
- Built-in UPS functionality guaranteeing seamless power backup which switches over in less than 10ms
- A user-friendly app with the built-in Wi-F, enabling remote monitoring and control from your smartphone (Android or IOS)
- Built-in protections against over-charging, over-discharging, and over-temperature issues.
- An intuitive Smart LED display providing real-time updates on power usage and battery life
- Versatile Charging Options through solar, AC, and DC.
- Cgear: Sand-free groundsheet
Hitting the sandy dunes of Namibia for a couple of weeks may be one of the best experiences one could have as an overlander, but bringing the sandy dunes back from that trip will make you want to never do it again. That’s where Cgear comes in with their internationally patented multi-layered knitted and rip-stop technology. These groundsheets allow sand and dirt to fall through the dual layer mat, but makes it impossible for the sand to make its way back to the
surface. Cgear designs various mats for various purposes and in various shapes, making their products a must have whenever setting up a campsite, going to the beach, or tapping into your inner Jim Morrison and embarking on a quest in the desert.
- Victron Energy: Blue smart charger
When walking around the caravan show this year and speaking to anyone showcasing caravans, mobile homes, or campers, they would have most likely told you that their vehicles have been fitted with some form of Victron Energy product in order to power their electronics. There’s a good reason for that.
Victron Energy started off as a marine-based company that specialised in making energy products durable enough for the roughest waves the open seas could throw at you. That has translated perfectly into the motorhome, 4×4, and caravaning industry and quickly made Victron a name trusted by adventure seekers far and wide.
Stopping off at their stand, we were introduced to the Blue Smart IP65 The Blue Smart IP65 Charger which is a new professional battery charger with built-in Bluetooth. The Blue Smart IP65 Charger can be used on cars, 4x4s, motorbikes, jet skis, boats, and camper vans.
The charger itself has a pretty small footprint, and comes in 6V/12V 1.1A, 12V 4/5/7/10/15/25A, 24V 5/8/13A models. Some of the more impressive features this charger offers is:
- A seven-step charging algorithm that gives the battery the power it needs, maintains its health, ensures better performance… and a longer life
- Recovery of deeply-discharged or ‘dead’ batteries by force-feeding it with a low current. Normal charging will then be resumed as soon as there is sufficient voltage across the battery terminals
- Connect the battery with ease with both crocodile clips and M8 eyelets which come with the charger
- If you wish, you can leave it permanently connected
- Check the status of your battery remotely with built-in Bluetooth, so the status of the charger and the battery can be checked on any mobile device, with settings that can be configured through the VictronConnect app
- Opposite lock: EXoverland racks
This entry may be the most basic since it doesn’t involve high-tech solutions or crazy technologies, however, every overlander out there will understand that sometimes the best solutions are simple ones.
The team at Opposite Lock have brought in new grids and racks from EXoverland that should help solve any storage issues you may run into. These are mild steel carriers are made to compartmentalise and structure your packing the next time you go on a trip.
Need to transport wood? Easy.
Coolerbox? Light work.
These racks are designed to make your life easier and secure any items you may want extra protection for when travelling.
Honourable mentions
Now there was a tonne of things to see at the expo, and honestly, we could probably write an entire book with more pages than a standard dictionary on all the cool stuff we came across. However, because you’re a busy individual with things to do and people to shake hands with, we’ll just mention some of the other products that caught our eye. Be sure to register for next year’s show, because we believe this show is set to become even bigger than what you simply read here.
- THULE awning with blockers
A great, well-structured awning with optional modular wind and rain blockers that come in sizes from 1 to 4 metres. Place the blockers where you like, build an enclosed camp environment, or just let your creativity guide your blockers.
- IKamper: Disco stove
Even if you’re not a chef, basic survival dictates that we need a way to make food in the campsite. The IKamper disco series stove is a gas-powered cast-iron stove/skillet/braai that doubles up as a tripod for potjies and stews. It even has a spatula that has been shaped to the skillet top to maximise comfort and efficiency when using it. So even if you don’t know how to cook, at least you’ll look good doing it with this.
- Star Trac: Canblu Bluetooth security app
Everyone in South Africa has been concerned with security at some stage in their lives. If you never want to worry about your car’s security ever again, the Canblu imobiliser might be the answer to your prayers. It shuts down your car’s computer ECU, making your vehicle non-drivable to those who shouldn’t be in the driver’s seat. You pair your phone to the imobiliser, and through their app, activate the car’s driving ability. If your phone is dead, there’s a fail-safe way to activate your ECU as well, but I’ll let the pros at Star Trac explain that to you (it’s not my secret to tell).
- Snomaster: TR82D fridge
It’s not new, but I dare you to say it isn’t necessary on those long trips. The TR82D is an 85.1L fridge/freezer that fits in most caravans and overlanding vehicles. It’s got two compartments that can turn into either a fridge or freezer, so switch the compartments at ease, double up your freezer space after a fishing trip, or if it’s just drinks with the boys, have all the fridge space one could need.
- CADAC: Celsius water heater
A water heater that will make sure you can wash cups, dishes, and unmentionables wherever you may be. The water heater connects to gas, but also 12V AND 220V, making it adaptable to any situation you might find yourself in. Simply immerse the pump into water and you’ll have access to hot water at 2.1L per minute. It has a manual heat regulator, a carry bag, and pretty light at 6kgs.
If you feel like you’ve missed out by not being at the show, the bad news is that you’re right, you did. The good news is that the show will be back next year with more products at insane discount prices!
Hampie and John de Kock, successful event organisers of the national Caravan and Overland Show 2024.
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If you’re a company wrestling with the idea of showcasing at the event, growing your product sales and marketing your industry products to our fraternity – let us put your mind at ease. DO IT! Not only were there smiles as far as the eye could see on the faces of attendees, but on the faces of those that displayed as well. That only tells us one thing, everyone who came to this national industry launchpad walked away a winner. To enlist as an exhibitor for 2025, just fill out the enquiry form below.
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