• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • 1300 500 077
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Search in posts
    Search in pages

Ultimate Campers

The Adventure Begins

  • The Legend
  • Range
    • Nexus 360
    • GT 360
    • XPLOR 180
    • XTRK
  • Sales
    • Promotions
    • Online Quote
    • Trade-ins & Pre-Owned
    • Hire
    • Trading Terms
  • Shop
  • After Sales
    • Product Care
    • Service & Parts
    • ULTLAB
    • Warranty
  • Resources
    • FAQ
    • Blog
    • News & Media
    • Videos
  • Connect
    • Showrooms
    • Events & Shows
    • Appointments
  • Eagle Outdoors Group
    • Ultimate CampersThe very best.
    • Bluewater CampersQuality campers
    • Emu CampersGreat value campers
    • DidgeridoonasClothing & Giftware
    • Cover ITCustom Covers
    • ShippshapeRooftop tents
    • PanoramaQuality Swags
    • WeatherallProtective Workwear
    • Eagle OutdoorsCamping Specialists

Dec 11 2014

Industry Profile – Michael & Wendy Hackett, Part I

Like many successful ventures Michael and Wendy Hackett didn’t start out with a particular goal in mind but twenty years down the track they are at the helm of a thriving business in their hometown of Moruya on the NSW south coast.

In the early 90s they were living on the opposite side of the country enjoying an idyllic lifestyle on the WA coast with Wendy working as a teacher and Michael as a boat builder and PADI diving instructor, taking tourists out to Ningaloo Reef.  They needed a trailer to transport all the equipment as well as their camping gear so Michael put his skills to use to make his fi trailer.

This led to him experimenting with various camper designs, including a front fold version, before settling on the now famous side-fold. By this time, with children on the way, the couple moved to back to NSW and before long, friends were asking him to make them a camper like his design.

They decided that building campers could turn into an ongoing business opportunity and, without the internet to help, Michael started researching products and materials that would be compatible with his designs. He even managed to teach himself the computer design programme AutoCad.

Combining his boat building skills and theories of suspension and, he drew up his first Ultimate using the principles of the Sugarglider independent suspension but with modified spring rates and trailing arm angles. With Wendy supporting the family as a teacher, they rented a factory in Batemans Bay to build two prototypes from fibreglass moulds and chassis jigs Michael made himself.

The first camper was put through thousands of miles of tortuous testing to the point of destroying it to see what sort of punishment it could take. (A lot by the sound of it). The second one went to the Rosehill Caravan and Camping Show where it was such a success, orders started flowing in. As an aside, Michael told me that the original camper is still on the road, having been through four owners who have clocked up over 200,000 km with it.

John Ford

Written by ultimatedev1 · Categorized: Blog

Footer

  • Home
  • The Legend
  • Range
  • Quote
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Connect
  • Hire
  • Owners Forum
Ultimate Off-road Campers Australia
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • 1300 500 077

NOTE: Images may show previous, customised or export models. Please check with your sales rep for current inclusions.
Copyright © 2021 Ultimate Campers · ABN 94 005 451 007 · Part of the Eagle Outdoors Group · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use