Off Grid Down Under by MDC

MDC Campers and Caravans
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Off Grid Down Under is a brand-new adventure series brought to you by MDC Campers & Caravans, showcasing the very best of Australian travel—rugged landscapes, hidden gems, and real off-grid living. Each week, we take you to a new destination across the country, proving why MDC builds the toughest, most capable caravans on the Australian market. Tune in every Tuesday at 4PM AEST on the MDC Campers & Caravans YouTube channel and get inspired to take the road less travelled.

  1. 2d ago

    EP 50 | Who’s Really Behind Your Caravan? Warranty, Parts & Compliance Explained

    Buying a caravan in Australia? Before you compare floorplans and spec sheets, ask the questions that really matter: who stands behind the warranty, where the spare parts come from, and whether the company will still be answering the phone five years from now. Steve Zammit is joined by MDC founder and owner Vaughan Hindley, General Manager – Commercial & Product James Field, and MDC owner turned team member Mark Banks of Beach2Bush Adventures. Together they unpack an idea that often gets overlooked: when you buy a caravan, you’re not just buying the product in front of you. You’re buying the business that has to stand behind it for years afterwards. This is buyer education, not a sales pitch. The team works through the questions every buyer should be comfortable asking in any showroom: warranty, spare parts, stock ownership, deposits, lead times, compliance and engineering. They also explain why MDC welcomes every one of those questions. In this episode: Why the caravan is only half the purchase, and the people behind it are the other halfWhat a strong caravan business actually looks like, and why an old company isn’t automatically a good oneThe weighbridge test: will your van’s real weight match its compliance plate?Why reputable brand-name appliances matter when you’re broken down out the back of BourkeSpare parts, technical support and what happens to your warranty if the dealer isn’t around anymoreStock, deposits and lead times: the uncomfortable questions you should ask before you signWhat RVMAP accreditation actually tells a buyer, and how compliance audits work behind the scenesFEA-certified trailing arms and independently tested brakes: the engineering detail to look forDoes the country a caravan is built in tell you whether it’s a good caravan?What owners around the campfire say makes a great caravan, years and tens of thousands of kilometres laterOne question each guest believes every buyer should ask in the showroomWhatever brand you’re considering, ask the hard questions before you buy. We welcome them. Explore the full MDC range at https://www.marketdirect.com.au — and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Off Grid Down Under. Escape with Confidence — MDC Campers & Caravans Escape with Confidence

  2. Oct 26

    EP 49 | Why an Aussie Caravan Brand Went All-In on America

    How did an Australian off-road caravan brand build a home in the biggest RV market in the world? MDC USA’s founder, product lead and US business manager tell the whole story, from the first showrooms in California to the brand new XT22HRT Off-Grid Extreme, the biggest MDC travel trailer ever built for America. Steve Zammit sits down with Vaughan Hindley (Founder & President, MDC USA), James Field (General Manager, Commercial & Product) and Richie Fort (Business Development Manager) to talk about why MDC went to the US, and what five years over there has taught them about American customers, dealers and overlanding. One lesson stands out: you can’t just flip the floor plan and ship an Aussie van over. They also cover what it was like exhibiting at SEMA in Las Vegas, the RV News Adventure Trailer of the Year award, and the reaction at RVDA. There’s a road trip from K’gari to Cape York with US dealer partner Shane Stauffer from ROA Off-Road, and a very funny round of Aussie vs American RV terminology. To finish, the team breaks down the XT22HRT: three separate living zones, an integrated outdoor entertainment hub, 1,400W of rooftop solar, 1,500Ah of lithium and 93 gallons of fresh water. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode → https://www.youtube.com/@MDCCampersandCaravans 🇺🇸 MDC USA, find your nearest dealer → https://www.mdcusa.com 🌐 Explore the full MDC range → https://www.marketdirect.com.au 📻 MDC Podcast page → https://www.marketdirect.com.au/blog/mdc-podcast/ Off Grid Down Under is brought to you by MDC Campers & Caravans. Escape with Confidence. marketdirect.com.au Escape with Confidence

  3. Oct 19

    EP 48 | No Fixed Address: The Truth About Living Full-Time on the Road in Australia

    Pete spent 35 years as a Victorian police officer. Sonia ran clinical programs inside the prison system. Then they sold the house, bought a caravan, and drove away. That was three years ago — and they haven’t stopped since. Steve Zammit sits down with Pete and Sonia at the Queensland MDC Muster — right in the middle of the community atmosphere they’ve come to love — along with MDC’s Assistant National Sales Manager Wayne Chevis, to talk candidly about what it actually means to live full-time on the road in Australia. This one goes deep. The freedom, the logistics, the moments that make you glad you did it, the things nobody tells you — and the remarkable people you meet when you’re willing to park your van on a stranger’s property in Orford, Tasmania. Their dog Indy comes along for the ride too. In this episode: How Pete and Sonia went from weekend trips in the Victorian high country to full-time life on the roadWhy they upgraded from their MDC 16ft van to the XT19HRT MKIII (Wayne had something to do with it)Managing no fixed address: mail, Medicare, rego — is it really as hard as people think?Spontaneous vs. planned travel — and why they drove across the Nullarbor for someone’s 50th birthdayHouse sitting: a break from van life, or just another adventure?8 months in Tasmania — the hiking, the roads, the weather, the highlightsPete’s story: how an online connection led to a week on a stranger’s property overlooking Orford — and an Easter at their shack at Macquarie HeadsTravelling with a senior dog and the practical reality of hitting long hikes with Indy in towWhat nobody tells you about full-time van life (including why a UHF radio might be the most important thing in your rig)The MDC owners community: genuine friendships, musters, and why people will travel from WA for a birthday partyWhat’s next: WA, the Northern Territory, and a trip to London to visit the kidsExplore the full MDC range at https://www.marketdirect.com.au — and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Off Grid Down Under. Escape with Confidence — MDC Campers & Caravans 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — search Off Grid Down Under by MDC 📱 Follow MDC: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketdirectcampers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdc_caravans_and_campers/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MDC_AU 📻 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVAcWloYAYA64q9ewHGiJ5uhgEGBJYZ Escape with Confidence

  4. Oct 12

    EP 47 | Sell Up, Quit Your Job, Hit the Road - Hapnin' Empty Nesters

    What does it take to pack up your life, ignore the doctors, and go live in a 13-foot caravan full time? Cain and Katrina from Hapnin' Empty Nesters know exactly — because they did it. When Cain received a heart transplant assessment, they faced a choice: wait or go. They went. Four years later, they're still on the road, building an audience on YouTube, and Cain has written two fantasy novels along the way. In this episode, Steve sits down with Cain and Katrina alongside MDC's Mark Banks (Banksy) at the QLD Muster for a raw, honest conversation about life on the road — the freedom, the fear, the finances, and what it really means to stop surviving and start living. In this episode, we cover: Cain's heart condition and the wake-up call that changed everythingHow they went from a "one month test trip" to selling the house and never going backWhat a typical week on the road actually looks like (spoiler: there's still dishes)Free camping secrets — why WikiCamps is their bibleManaging finances full-time on the road ($1,000/week budget and how they cut it back)Building an audience on YouTube and social media — and why there's room for everyoneCain's fantasy novel series (City of Stone, Song of the Death Swords) — from sparky to published authorCain's upcoming heart transplant and why they're still out there making memoriesExplore the full MDC range at https://www.marketdirect.com.au — and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Escape with Confidence — https://www.marketdirect.com.au Escape with Confidence

  5. Oct 6

    EP 46 | Inside Dometic: Testing Labs, Grey Market Warning & the Future of Off-Grid Tech

    What does it actually take to build appliances tough enough for the Australian outback? In this episode of Off Grid Down Under, Steve sits down with Damian Orleanski and Cain Dixon from Dometic Australia, along with MDC's General Manager of Commercial & Product, James Field, to pull back the curtain on one of Australia's most trusted caravan appliance partnerships. From the Dometic testing lab in China — vibration rigs, water jets, anechoic chambers and fridges that have been running for over a decade — to a frank conversation about grey market air conditioners and the real risks they pose to Australian caravan owners, this episode covers territory most brands won't touch. You'll also hear how the Gold Class Caravan range came together as a near-complete Dometic ecosystem, how the 48-volt air conditioner changes everything about power management on board the new MDC MK4 range, and what's coming next — including a battery upgrade that fits more capacity into the exact same case. In this episode we cover: The 10+ year MDC and Dometic partnership, and what genuine collaboration actually looks likeGrey market appliances — what they are, why they're a problem, and what can go wrongInside Dometic's China testing facility: vibration, IP rating, aging and sound testingThe 48-volt air conditioner and how it works within the MK4 electrical ecosystemFridges across the MDC range — from the 70L drink fridge to the 270L dual-door unitThe Gold Class Caravan's Dometic-centric build and Enerdrive power systemA brand new battery that packs 460Ah into the same case as the old 300Ah unitTips on pre-chilling, power management and getting more out of your off-grid setupExplore the full MDC range at https://www.marketdirect.com.au — and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Escape with Confidence — marketdirect.com.au Escape with Confidence

  6. Sep 28

    EP 45 | He's Reviewed Them All. Here's What He Really Thinks.

    One of Australia's most experienced caravan journalist sits down with the MDC crew at the QLD Muster — and he doesn't hold back.  Max Taylor has spent 20+ years reviewing caravans, running Caravan World Magazine, and building GoRV into one of Australia's most trusted independent RV media outlets. This is one of the most honest conversations we've had on the podcast. We get into what's really changed in the Australian caravan industry over two decades, what reviewers look for that most buyers never think to ask, and what manufacturers are still getting wrong in 2026. Plus — Max gives us his honest take on the MDC SR19 Series 2. In this episode: How Max went from print editor at ACP/Bauer Media to building a fully digital RV media business The single biggest shift he's seen in how Australians approach caravanning What a "good caravan" looked like in 2006 vs what buyers expect today The 48-volt revolution and what's next for off-grid capability The small details that tell Max a manufacturer has actually thought about their van Common mistakes he still sees across the industry — and why they shouldn't still be happening His unfiltered first impressions of the MDC SR19 Series 2 Why musters like this one are where you get the real story from owners The cost of living squeeze and what it's doing to the caravan market Filmed live at the MDC QLD Muster 2026. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode → https://www.youtube.com/@MDCCampersandCaravans 🌐 Explore the full MDC range → https://www.marketdirect.com.au 📻 MDC Podcast page → https://www.marketdirect.com.au/blog/mdc-podcast/ 🎙️ GoRV → https://gorv.com.au Escape with Confidence

  7. Sep 21

    EP 44 | They Took A Brand New Caravan on the Gibb River Road

    Mandy and Rolly Heath are back — and this time, they've got 13,000 kilometres of stories to share. Since their last appearance on the show, they've taken Gold Class Caravan's AC17C through some of Australia's most iconic and demanding terrain: the Bungle Bungles by helicopter, Lake Argyle by Barbie boat, three nights in Broome, and then the full length of the Gibb River Road, west to east. In this episode, Steve sits down with Mandy, Rolly, and Wayne Chevis at the MDC Queensland Muster to get the full debrief. How did the Gold Class handle the corrugations and creek crossings? Was the Horizontal Falls seaplane worth the nine-year wait? And what made a planned two-day stop at Cape Keraudren turn into sixteen? They cover it all — the bucket list moments, the honest road conditions, the airbag suspension revelation, and why Mandy has absolutely no intention of going back to a hybrid. They also talk camp cooking — Rolly's recent masterclass at the Ipswich Show that became a fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctors, and the massive cook-up he's putting on here at the Muster for 250 people: fire rice, pork tacos, and 60 whole pork loin ribs hung over the fire. Whether you've always had the Gibb River Road on your bucket list or you're just living vicariously, this one's essential listening. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjsVAcWloYAYA64q9ewHGiJ5uhgEGBJYZ 📻 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2522398.rss 🌐 MDC Campers & Caravans: https://www.marketdirect.com.au ⭐️Gold Class Caravans: https://www.goldclasscaravans.com.au/ 📖 Full podcast library: https://www.marketdirect.com.au/blog/mdc-podcast/ Follow Mandy & Rolly: 📱 Facebook & Instagram: Memories Not Money 🌐 memoriesnotmoney.com Escape with Confidence

  8. Sep 15

    EP 43 | Hema Maps – The Incredible Story

    Australia is only covered by mobile phone signal across 30% of its landmass. If you're relying on Google Maps in the outback, you're relying on memory — and memory from a platform that's never physically driven those tracks. In this episode of Off Grid Down Under, Steve sits down with Sam Hayward, Chairman of HEMA Maps, alongside MDC's Banksy and Vaughan, to dig into 40+ years of mapping Australia's most remote country. From the company's Dutch founders laminating marine charts in Queensland, to sending the entire HEMA staff into the desert in pairs to remap outback Australia, to the Map Patrol vehicles that are still out there collecting ground-truth data today — this one goes deep. We cover why Google Maps and Apple Maps fall dangerously short in remote areas, how HEMA's maps are actually made, the difference between the Smart Navigator and the app on your phone, and what kit Sam would recommend to any family heading out on a big lap. In this episode: How HEMA Maps started — founders Henry and Margaret's storyThe Great Desert Tracks expedition of 1998 that remapped outback AustraliaWhy Google Maps can get you into serious trouble in remote areasAustralia's mobile coverage problem (hint: it's not 98%)Map Patrol — why HEMA still physically drives every trackThe Alpha Program: 50+ volunteer travellers collecting data on the roadSmart Navigator vs phone app — which one's right for you?The biggest mistakes people make planning remote tripsPhysical atlas vs digital navigation — does one replace the other?What's coming for HEMA: HEMA Cloud, turn-by-turn offline, and moreExplore the full MDC range at https://www.marketdirect.com.au — and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. FIND HEMA MAPS: Website: https://hemamaps.com App: Search "Hema Explorer" or "4WD Maps" in the App Store / Google Play Escape with Confidence

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About

Off Grid Down Under is a brand-new adventure series brought to you by MDC Campers & Caravans, showcasing the very best of Australian travel—rugged landscapes, hidden gems, and real off-grid living. Each week, we take you to a new destination across the country, proving why MDC builds the toughest, most capable caravans on the Australian market. Tune in every Tuesday at 4PM AEST on the MDC Campers & Caravans YouTube channel and get inspired to take the road less travelled.

Information

  • Creator
    MDC Campers and Caravans
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Off Grid Down Under by MDC
  • Show Website
    Off Grid Down Under by MDC

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