Where Your Camper Is Really Made: What Overland Buyers Should Know
China, China, China — whether we like it or not, global manufacturing has become a fact of life. In today’s worldwide economy, companies everywhere compete for lower production costs, and many turn to overseas labor to stay price-competitive. While this can help keep consumer prices down, it often raises valid questions about product quality, transparency, and the long-term impact on domestic manufacturing jobs.
The off-road and overland camper market is no exception. Some brands are very open about where their campers are built, while others are far less transparent. And while it’s completely reasonable for a buyer to choose a camper made overseas, especially if they’re aware of the tradeoffs, it’s also reasonable to expect honest advertising.
To be clear, many components found in nearly all campers are sourced from China, including electronics, lights, and certain appliances. That’s normal and unavoidable. But full camper bodies, chassis, and major assemblies can be sourced domestically, and consumers deserve to know the difference.
Below is a breakdown of several well-known off-road camper brands and the true origins of their manufacturing. This list is focused on companies that operate in the overland/off-road segment, which is also our primary space. Some of these brands have already closed their doors, while others are still active.
1. OBI / Conqueror
Originally a South African brand, Conqueror’s manufacturing moved to China before COVID. OBI also marketed the Dweller line. The company has since closed, but many buyers were surprised to learn their units were fully built overseas.
2. Black Series
Black Series gained popularity leading up to 2024 and was heavily marketed as an Australian brand. In reality, production was based in Rongcheng, Shandong Province, one of China’s largest RV manufacturing hubs.
While the company previously referenced having facilities in Australia and the U.S., those locations functioned mostly as receiving and finishing centers, installing suspensions, electrical components, or options on bodies built overseas.
Earlier pre-2020 models developed a reputation for solid quality, but later models (2020 and after) frequently drew complaints regarding quality control.
3. MDC USA
A name can be deceiving. Despite “USA” being in their branding, MDC, like many others, imports major assemblies from China and completes them domestically. This raises a common question in the industry: How much work needs to be done in America before something can be advertised as “Made in the USA”? The answer may surprise most buyers.
4. Opus (Purple Line)
Opus began as an Australian company, but like many of its competitors, manufacturing eventually shifted to China. The brand still markets its Australian design heritage, but the manufacturing footprint tells a different story.
5. Additional Australian-Marketed Brands
A large number of campers marketed as “Australian-inspired” or “Australian-designed” are, in fact, manufactured in China. This has been the case for many companies since well before COVID. It takes careful research to uncover this, as not all brands openly discuss it.
Marketing a product with Australian imagery is much more appealing than advertising overseas production and many brands rely on that.
About Components: What’s Really Made in China?
Even among genuinely American-made campers, many components still originate from China, especially electronics, lights, switches, and air-conditioning units. This isn’t inherently a problem. In fact, some of these components are high quality and widely used throughout the RV industry.
The issue arises when companies imply or advertise full domestic or Australian manufacturing while importing the majority of the camper’s structure or critical systems.
The Bottom Line
Most buyers don’t mind if a camper is built overseas — as long as they know upfront and see a meaningful savings.
The concern is that many off-road campers marketed to U.S. consumers come with price tags similar to, or even higher than, American-built units, despite being manufactured at significantly lower cost overseas.
As a consumer, you deserve transparent information so you can make the right choice for your budget, your values, and your adventures.
At Venture Overland Campers, we believe transparency should come standard. That’s why every one of our trailers is built right here in the United States by our in-house team, from welding the steel frames to cutting the cabinetry. While some components inevitably come from overseas (as is true for every brand), the heart of every camper we build is crafted domestically with quality you can see and service you can trust.
When you’re investing in your next adventure, you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting. We’re proud to offer campers that are designed, built, and supported in America, no guesswork required.
