About Us
Our mission at JAG Camper is to infuse the joy of retro camping with innovative design, creating campers that embody our passion for the great outdoors.
Through our camper's practicality, comfort and ease of use, we aim to provide JAG Camper owners lasting outdoor experiences.
Built By Generations,
For Generations
Frank
Father
Frank has a diverse background, with experience in corporate marketing and financial roles, as well as running shutter and blind manufacturing businesses. Raised by engineering parents who loved camping, he combined his practical skills with a deep knowledge of the camping world to help develop JAG Camper. His passion for adventure and hands-on expertise led to the creation of innovative campers for the modern explorer.
Jack
Son
Jack is an Industrial Designer with a background in development for the mining industry. After years of working and studying, he set out on a life-changing journey to explore the East Coast of Australia. Alongside his father, he designed and built a camper van, embracing the nomadic lifestyle. This experience sparked a passion for enhancing van life, leading to the creation of JAG Camper—a business focused on crafting innovative, high-quality campers for those seeking adventure.
Our Story
2019 - Locked Down and Bored
JAG Camper's journey into the world of Teardrop Campers began during the unexpected and challenging times of the COVID-19 lockdown. Like many, Frank and Jack found themselves confined to their homes, craving a project to channel their creative energy.
With Frank being all round very handy and Jack finishing his Bachelor of Industrial Design, the Father/Son team decided to combine their unique skills for a project.
Being passionate adventurers, a travel related project was the obvious choice, but form of travel could they truly leave their mark on?
Frank recently had come across the concept of a teardrop camper online, an old school, practical caravan design encouraging easy outdoor travel that that had yet to see modern innovation.
So Frank and Jack embarked on a mission to craft something truly unique and special, a Teardrop Camper of the future!
Pen Goes to Paper
We researched existing teardrop camper designs, from commercial models to DIY projects, but none truly sparked our interest. It seemed no one had innovated on the classic teardrop design, which, while lightweight, aerodynamic, and easy to set up, lacked modern comforts and functionality.
Size was also an issue, with Frank being quite tall (6'4"), the existing teardrop campers on the market were all too cramped for his liking. The kitchens were also impractically small, a nightmare for lovers of cooking like Frank and his partner Deb
We saw the potential to enhance the teardrop design with a larger cabin, a fully functional kitchen, and the latest materials and technology. Inspired by these ideas, we set out to create something truly special. A teardrop camper that combines retro charm with modern comfort and innovation.
Work Begins
With our initial sketches in hand, we plunged into refining our design, spending countless hours experimenting with different ideas. The process began digitally, using advanced 3D CAD tools, where we could design the camper completely virtually, perfecting every millimeter before ordering our required components.
Once we were happy with the virtual 3D model, we sent the digital drawings to local manufacturers across the Brisbane area who specialised in CNC machining. This manufacturing process meant we could keep the dust outside of our shed and rely on the professionals to provide us with millimeter perfect components for the build. This would allow us to just focus on quality assembly.
Over the next couple of months, as components arrived, we started physically building the camper. The timber cabinetry ended up being pulled apart and rebuilt multiple times, with Frank not resting until he achieved an absolutely perfect finish.
Completed and On The Road
The camper was finally complete and the amazing result made all the work worth it. Frank wasted no time in taking it on the road. immediately booking a weekend camping trip!
Over the next two years, Frank and his partner Deb explored far and wide in their JAG Camper, uncovering a newfound passion for camping.
Frank and Jack also converted a Hyundai i-Load into a camper van which Jack used to embark on an 8 month adventure along the East Coast of Australia.
Popular with Fellow Campers
It didn't take long for Frank and Jack to notice the genuine interest and admiration the JAG Teardrop Camper attracted from fellow travelers. It was commonplace for Groups of inquisitive travelers to form outside Frank's campsite. The JAG Camper appealed to those with the most simple of tent setups to those with the most complicated off-road caravan setups. The concept of an easy, comfortable and practical camping is something people wanted.
One bloke Frank met at 1770 was so impressed, he threatened to track the Father/Son team down if they didn't produce more campers!
2023
Re-Designed from the Ground Up
Inspired by our experiences and the valuable feedback from fellow adventurers, Frank and Jack got their heads together again to reimagine their Teardrop camper. They meticulously incorporated every lesson they had learned, striving to enhance every aspect of their creation. This resulted in a complete redesign, with the new JAG Camper barely resembling the first one!
Witnessing the enthusiasm from fellow campers, they decided there was a real market demand for a product like they JAG Camper. Biting the bullet, they decided to commit full time to producing the JAG Camper.
January 2024 - The JAG Camper Factory is Opened
With the re-design complete, the Father/Son team were ready to enter full-time production. They had certainly outgrown the backyard shed which, as their neighbours who patiently endured the sounds of many power tools may tell you.
JAG Camper officially found a home in the suburb of Morningside, situated alongside the meandering shore of the Brisbane River. Frank and Jack were now able to scale up production to meet the JAG Camper's new found popularity.
The new Headquarters doubles as a showroom and a factory, allowing customers tour the JAG Teardrop Camper while also learning how it is manufactured.
Word Spreads!
Word about the JAG Teardrop Camper started spreading quickly, with the Teardrop Camper gaining a significant amount of attention at shows and online. It seems like JAG Teardrop Camper had really hit on something people were after; a product that delivered an easy, comfortable and stylish camping experience.
Orders started to flow in, with Frank and Jack's next challenge becoming keeping up with demand, a problem they were glad to have!
Continuous Improvment
At JAG Camper, we incorporate the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen (continuous improvement) in our products. The team are always listening for customer feedback to incorporate into new feature ideas and improved manufacturing methods.
Our passion for product innovation is not only what drives the team, but ensures the JAG Teardrop Camper is, and continues to be the best camper in Australia!
The team takes immense pride in the Teardrop camper we've crafted—a true labor of love. Our unwavering dedication to quality has fueled our mission to create a camper that stands out in a crowd, boasting exceptional features, ingenious solutions, and impeccable finishes.
