Since 1993, Travellers Auto Barn has sold and rented backpacker vehicles from locations nationwide. In early 2008, the company released the now legendary 'Chubby' van, a brand new 2 berth budget camper with funky, eye-catching designs. These have taken the market by storm and due to their popularity, the Sydney based company has just begun the release of another fifty brand new Chubby vans in bold new designs.

"We want to make a strong statement with these vans, that they are reliable, great value and very cool, rather than trying to grab attention with offensive pictures and slogans. The only thing wicked about these Chubbys is the price" says Managing Director, Peter Burke.

Joining the fleet of 50 existing Chubbys is the brand new surfing-inspired design called the 'Slow Jam'.

"We know that backpackers want to explore in something that they can tell their mates back home about and show off in photos, so we developed some pretty unique body decals for these vans. Add to this the fact that the Chubbys are basically brand new, extremely comfortable and just about the cheapest budget van on the road, and there is no real reason to rent something that looks, smells and drives a lot worse" according to Burke. "These things are like a private room on wheels and they actually cost less than a private room in a hostel! Its taken a long time to build up our reputation within the backpacker industry and adding high quality, great value products to our fleet sits perfectly with our image. The backpacker campervan industry has suffered some bad press lately, but we are determined not to be tarred with the same brush."

With the growing popularity of vans and cars being bought and rented by
backpackers for their Aussie road trips, more break ins and thefts are
being reported. There are some simple tips on how to avoid becoming a
victim:

They tend to stand out from the rest of the vehicles parked at the beach/campground/tourist attraction...

They
can have loud paintjobs, surfwear stickers or decals, proclaim rental
company names and are packed with everything from cooking utensils to
bedding and clothes.

They are the vans and station wagons that
backpackers rent or buy for their once-in-a-lifetime trip around
Australia, and they are increasingly becoming seen as 'soft targets'
for thieves.

Modern backpackers tend to sport iPods, digital
cameras, mobile phones and even portable DVD players or laptop
computers along with wallets, CDs, sunglasses and passports. All are
attractive items on a stealing wish list.

Nothing can put a
dampener on an adventure up the East Coast, along the Great Ocean Road,
through the outback or on any of the countless other road trips around
Australia more than being the victim of theft. There are, however, a
few simple pieces of advice that can greatly reduce the chances of the
budget traveller becoming another statistic.

John Lang from national backpacker sales and rental company Travellers Auto Barnexplains:
"We tell our customers that there are a couple of really easy things they
can do to keep their valuables safe. Firstly, all the things that are
targets of a thief tend to be pretty small, like MP3 players, cameras,
phones and wallets. There really isn't much of a reason not to always
carry these things with you wherever you go. When you leave your car or
van, pull the curtains across the windows so no one can see inside and
they won't know if there is even someone in there. If you don't have
curtains in a vehicle that you buy, go out and buy some. They are cheap
and you will regret not having them. At very least cover any belongings
with blankets. On hot days, people are often tempted to leave their
windows open a little bit. This also invites a break in, so we don't
recommend it. Also check every door and the boot is locked every time
you leave the vehicle. Backpacker cars can be older and central locking
might not always be reliable."

Lang also has advice on where to
park: "You have to use common sense when you choose where to park. Try
to choose somewhere that is well lit and open if you can't find secure
parking. If you are parking during the day and will be there into the
night, check out if the area will be lit later by street lights or
floodlights. You also want to choose a popular spot that is visible and
open."

According to the June 2008 Tourism Australia Visitor
Survey, 11% of all visitors to Australia are backpackers and in the
year ended June 08, over 2 million days were spent by backpackers in
vehicles in Australia.