Australia’s roads are brutal on caravans. The moment your tow vehicle hits a gravel road, corrugated outback track, or freshly chip-sealed highway, stones start flying. They hit the front of your van at speed, chip fibreglass panels, crack windows, damage gas fittings, and scratch up everything they touch. A decent caravan stone guard is one of the best investments you can make before any serious touring trip.
The challenge is that not all stone guards work the same way, and the one that suits a highway-only tourer is very different from what you need on the Gibb River Road or the Oodnadatta Track. This guide breaks down every major type available in Australia, names the leading products in each category, and helps you figure out which stone guard is right for your setup.
Why Stone Guards Matter More Than You Think
Panel repairs for stone damage typically start at $800 and can run much higher if glass, gas fittings, or painted sections are involved. Beyond the cosmetic damage, stones kicked up between the tow vehicle and caravan can bounce back and strike your rear windscreen, crack a caravan window, puncture water hoses, or damage wiring and battery connections tucked under the A-frame.
There is also the resale angle. A pitted front panel is one of the first things a buyer notices. Keeping the front of your van in good condition protects its value for the long term.
The good news is that proper protection does not have to be expensive or complicated. For most tourers, a well-chosen stone guard costing between $150 and $600 will pay for itself many times over.
Tip: Even if you only occasionally travel on gravel roads, one bad patch of freshly laid chip seal on a sealed highway can do just as much damage as an outback track. Stone protection is worth having for all types of touring.
The Four Main Types of Caravan Stone Guard
Understanding the different types is the first step to choosing the right one. Each works differently and suits a different kind of touring.
1. A-Frame Mounted Mesh Guards
This is the most common type you will see in Australian caravan parks. A rigid frame, usually steel or aluminium, bolts directly to your caravan’s A-frame drawbar and carries a section of tensioned mesh plus rubber mud flaps at the base. The guard sits ahead of the front panel and deflects stones downward before they can strike the body.
Key products: Aussie Traveller Stone Guard, Coast to Coast Stone Shield, D-Flector Stone Guard
Best for: Most tourers. Good all-round protection, permanently fitted, no fussing with it every time you hitch up.
Watch out for: Mesh tension matters. Tight mesh can act like a trampoline and send stones back toward your tow vehicle’s rear window. Quality guards use slightly looser, heavier mesh designed to absorb impact rather than deflect it.
2. Horizontal Trapeze Systems (Span Guards)
These stretch a heavy-duty mesh horizontally between the back of the tow vehicle and the A-frame of the caravan, creating a full barrier across the entire gap. Stones kicked up by the rear tyres are intercepted before they can even reach the A-frame zone. The Stone Stomper is the best-known example in Australia and is custom-made to the specific measurements of your vehicle and van combination.
Key products: Stone Stomper
Best for: Extended off-road touring, outback tracks, anyone doing significant gravel travel. Offers the most complete protection of any system.
Watch out for: Needs to be connected and disconnected each time you hitch and unhitch, which adds a step to your setup routine. Also custom-made to your specific vehicle and van combo, so if you change either, you may need a new one.
3. Vehicle-Mounted Mudflap Systems
These attach to the tow vehicle itself rather than the caravan, fitting behind the rear tyres to catch stones before they leave the vehicle. Rock Tamers are the premium option in this category and are adjustable and removable, making them useful if you tow multiple different trailers.
Key products: Rock Tamers
Best for: Tourers who tow more than one type of trailer (caravan, boat, horse float), or those who want protection that stays with the vehicle rather than the van.
Watch out for: Mudflap systems do not protect the entire front face of the caravan on their own. They work best in combination with an A-frame guard for full coverage.
4. Brush Guards
A niche option derived from industrial sweeper technology, brush guards use dense polypropylene bristles mounted under the vehicle to deflect stones and road spray. The Rock Off is the best-known Australian brush guard product. Bristles allow airflow with minimal drag, which gives them a fuel economy advantage over solid mudflap systems.
Key products: Rock Off (Busy Bee Brushware)
Best for: Highway tourers or those looking for a lightweight low-drag option.
Watch out for: Less tested and less common in the Australian caravan community than mesh systems. Best viewed as a supplementary option rather than a standalone solution for serious gravel travel.
The Leading Products Compared
Stone Stomper
The Stone Stomper is custom-made to your exact vehicle and caravan measurements, stretching reinforced one-piece truck mesh between the rear of the vehicle and the A-frame. Unlike shade cloth alternatives or segmented panel guards, it uses a single heavy-duty mesh designed to absorb stone impacts and drop debris safely to the road.
We have reviewed the Stone Stomper in detail. No drilling is required for installation, and the system is compatible with a range of towball hitch configurations. The main trade-off is the hitching and unhitching step every time you set up camp.
Approximate price: Around $600 (custom-made, excluding delivery) Warranty: 1 year Best for: Serious off-road tourers, extended outback travel
Aussie Traveller Stone Guard
A popular and well-regarded A-frame mounted guard from an Australian-owned company. The Aussie Traveller guard comes flat-packed for easy assembly, fits A-frames with an inside width of 415mm to 750mm, and uses U-brackets that accommodate a range of drawbar bar widths. Available in versions for full-height caravans, pop-tops, and camper trailers.
Approximate price: $150–$250 depending on size and retailer Best for: Most tourers wanting a reliable set-and-forget A-frame solution
Coast to Coast Stone Shield
A strong performer in the A-frame category, the Coast to Coast Stone Shield includes rip-stop mesh, rubber mud flaps, and a reflector kit that meets Australian road vehicle standards for trailer visibility. Pre-drilled holes make assembly straightforward. Easy to remove when not in use.
Approximate price: $150–$230 Best for: All-round touring, camper trailers, pop-tops
D-Flector Stone Guard
An Australian-made steel-frame guard that has been gaining strong reviews in 2025 and 2026. High-strength performance steel construction, installs in around ten minutes with no drilling required, and does not need to be disconnected and reconnected with each hitch cycle.
Approximate price: Check with retailer for current pricing Best for: Tourers who want Australian-made quality without the daily connect/disconnect of a trapeze system
Rock Tamers
A US-originated product now well-established in the Australian market, Rock Tamers are a premium adjustable mudflap system that attaches to the tow vehicle. They are adjustable to different heights and widths and removable when not towing. Particularly useful for tourers who use their vehicle to tow a variety of trailers.
Approximate price: $350–$500 for the base system Best for: Multi-trailer towers, or as a complement to an A-frame van guard
Rock Off Brush Guard
A bristle-based brush guard system from Australian company Busy Bee Brushware, derived from industrial sweeper technology. The polypropylene bristles are designed to allow airflow while reducing stone kick-up and road spray. Positioned under the vehicle behind the rear axle.
Approximate price: Under $200 for a strip Best for: Highway tourers wanting a lightweight low-drag supplement to other protection
Stone & chip guards — types at a glance
Guides & Advice · What’s Up Downunder
A-frame mesh guard
Bolts to the caravan drawbar. Set-and-forget. Best all-round solution for most tourers. Brands: Aussie Traveller, Coast to Coast, D-Flector.
Horizontal trapeze / span guard
Stretches between tow vehicle and A-frame. Maximum stone coverage. Custom-made. Requires connect/disconnect each hitch. Brand: Stone Stomper.
Vehicle-mounted mudflap system
Fits the tow vehicle, not the van. Adjustable and removable. Ideal if you tow multiple trailer types. Brand: Rock Tamers.
Brush guard
Bristle strip mounted under the vehicle. Low drag, good airflow. Best as a supplement to other protection. Brand: Rock Off.
Measure your A-frame width first
Most A-frame guards suit widths between 415mm and 750mm. Check the spec before buying.
Loose mesh absorbs, tight mesh bounces
Too-tight mesh deflects stones back toward your tow vehicle’s rear window. Heavier, slightly looser weave is better.
Consider your hitch cycle preference
Trapeze systems offer maximum coverage but need daily connect/disconnect. A-frame guards stay on permanently.
Match the guard to your roads
Outback tracks and gravel highways need a trapeze or heavy-duty A-frame. Sealed road touring suits a standard A-frame guard.
For serious off-road touring, consider running both an A-frame mesh guard on the van and Rock Tamers on the vehicle. The combination covers both the A-frame zone and stones exiting directly from the rear tyres, giving you the most complete protection available without custom fitting.
What to Look for When Buying
Knowing the product landscape is only half the job. Here are the practical things to check before you buy.
Your A-Frame Dimensions
Most A-frame mounted guards are designed for drawbar inside widths between 415mm and 750mm. Measure yours before shopping. If you have an unusual drawbar width, a wide A-frame toolbox, or a weight distribution hitch fitted, some guards may not fit without modifications.
Mesh Quality and Angle
Tight mesh can act like a tennis racket, deflecting stones back toward your tow vehicle’s rear window rather than dropping them to the ground. Deflector guards work best when the mesh is angled forward at the top so stones are directed downward. Look for guards using heavier PVC-coated or rip-stop mesh rather than fine woven mesh.
Permanent Fit Versus Removable
If you want something you never have to think about, an A-frame guard is the right choice. The debate between a trapeze system and an A-frame stone guard often comes down to convenience versus total coverage. Many owners prefer an A-frame guard because it is a permanent fixture that does not require clipping and unclipping every time you hitch up.
Compatibility With Your Drawbar Setup
A-frame stone shields are generally more compatible with complex drawbar setups that include weight distribution hitches or large front-mounted toolboxes that can interfere with horizontal nets. If your setup has a lot of gear on the A-frame already, confirm compatibility before buying.
Pop-Top and Camper Trailer Variants
Not all guards are sized for every van type. Aussie Traveller, for example, offers specific guard profiles for full-height caravans, pop-tops, and camper trailers. Getting the right height match is important for proper coverage of the front panel.
Do You Need One Even on Sealed Roads?
This is the most common question first-time buyers ask. The short answer is yes, particularly if you travel on country highways, drive through road works, or pass road trains regularly.
Road debris can damage gas fittings and brake cables, which is a safety concern as well as a cost issue. Solar wiring, water pipes, and battery connectors under the A-frame can all be hit by stone impacts. A stone-pitted front panel can also affect your caravan’s resale value, as buyers notice cosmetic damage.
Even on sealed roads, freshly laid chip seal and gravel shoulders create real risk. A stone guard rated for light touring duty is perfectly sufficient for highway-only travel and comes in at a modest cost.
The WUDU Recommendation by Touring Style
Weekend warrior, mostly sealed roads: A standard A-frame mesh guard from Aussie Traveller or Coast to Coast. Fits most vans, easy to install, covers you well for the conditions.
Mixed touring, occasional gravel: A heavy-duty A-frame guard with rip-stop mesh and quality mud flaps. Look at the D-Flector or top-spec Aussie Traveller. Consider adding Rock Tamers to the vehicle as a second layer.
Extended off-road, outback tracks, serious gravel travel: A Stone Stomper custom-made to your exact setup, or a Stone Stomper combined with an A-frame guard. This is the highest level of protection available without chequerplate.
Multi-trailer towers: Rock Tamers on the vehicle, combined with whatever A-frame guard suits the primary van. The Rock Tamers stay on the vehicle and protect across all your towing applications.
Tip: Many experienced tourers combine a Stone Stomper with chequerplate on the lower A-frame for full coverage on serious outback routes. Chequerplate is a permanent addition your caravan dealer can fit and gives hard protection to the lower panel and A-frame area below where the mesh system sits.
Already Own a Stone Stomper? Read the Full Review
We have published an in-depth review of the Stone Stomper Stone Guard covering how it performs on real gravel roads, its installation process, and who it suits best. If you are weighing up the Stone Stomper specifically, read the full review before you buy.
A good stone guard is one of those purchases you make once and then forget about, right up until it saves you a very expensive repair bill. Take thirty minutes to pick the right one for your touring style and your van will thank you for it for years to come.
