KUALA LUMPUR – It started about four years ago when Shamsul Rosli tried his hands at repairing recreational vehicles (RVs) and it paid off with the business expanding, enabling him to open a factory to meet the demand of the industry.
Known as Camperv M and located in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, the factory provides expertise and professional services for repair, design, and modification of various models of imported RV vehicles, such as caravans, campervans and motorhomes.
What is more impressive is that the Camperv M is among the earliest factories in the country capable of modifying a four-wheel drive vehicle (4WD) into a camper truck.
Shamsul, a former marine engineer, when sharing this success with Bernama recently, Shamsul said he went to the United Kingdom (UK) to buy and learn everything about handling and maintaining a caravan.
“When I was there (UK), I bought a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter WB van to convert it into a caravan. I also visited several factories to learn thow to make caravans.
“When I brought back the van to Malaysia, I realised there were still something not complete with the caravan, like there was no prayer room in the cabin, which already had a bed, kitchen and toilet.
“So., that started me to make my ‘DIY’ caravan, and that was how my more Muslim-friendly innovation got the attention of local RV enthusiasts, especially with not many people having the skills to repair such vehicles then,” he said.
According to Mantin-born Shamsul, his factory provides repair of RV vehicles, including for electrical wiring and air conditioning systems, as well as design the interior and exterior of RV cabins.
He has four workers and they have repaired and modified more than 80 RVs.
Most RV equipment such as toilets, rooftop air conditioners and electrical appliances such as the oven, refrigerators and iron that use 12-volt electricity are imported from abroad.
On camper-trucks being the popular choice now compared to other RV vehicle models, Shamsul said only three countries in the world namely Australia, China and Thailand produce that type of RV.
“And now Malaysia is also producing it,” he said, adding that the camper trucks are auto-drive and more practical on all types of road surfaces.
Shamsul said he has produced 10 camper trucks by using aluminum as the main material for the cabin structure.
Meanwhile, Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) director (Automatic Engineering Division), Mohd Yusof Mohamed said any modification to be done on vehicles including vans, 4WDs would require permission from the department.
He said vehicle owners can seek the advice of professional engineers that are registered with JPJ to draw up a Vehicle Technical Plane, which will be submitted to the department’s Automotive Engineering Division in Putrajaya for the purpose.
“After the Vehicle Technical Plan is approved, modification work must be done at any of the 291 engineering workshops registered with JPJ throughout the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, vice-president of the Campervan and Motorhome Association of Malaysia, Emirol Rashid said the RV industry is becoming more popular because it is one of the lifestyles for those who like to travel with their families.
He said, there are currently more than 2,000 RV owners nationwide.- Bernama
