A Year On With Camplify At The NEC

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By William Coleman

At last year’s October NEC show we met the Camplify team, at which point they had just launched in the UK. Following Camplify’s huge success in Australia the bar was set pretty high for the UK version. So one year on how are they doing?

Over the past 12 months the amount of leisure rental companies seems to have tripled. With so many new avenues for people to get into leisure vehicle based holidays how are they coping with the increased customer demand?

One of the unique things about Camplify is just how diverse their range of leisure vehicles is. From statics to twin axles, motorhomes to converted fire engines, they really do have it all on one site, I know there is a camping joke in there somewhere.

Having a rental company with such wide range does wonders for the leisure industry, holiday opportunities and the overall economy of the UK.

With such an easy route to leisure vehicles, without the initial financial outlay, this can only drive more customers through the doors of their local dealership. With Camplify you can safely try before you buy and rent out your vehicle hassle free.

It seems that the Camplify team are dealing with the increased demand very well and are looking at making second year a lot better than the first. This summer brought them huge levels of success to the point where they were pretty much fully booked up.

So if you want to make your leisure vehicle work for you and earn an extra income or if you simply want to jump in a van and spend the weekend away come to the NEC and speak with Camplify.

New Forest Remains Hot Spot For Caravan And Motorhome Club Members

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William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have announced an increase of bookings for touring pitches of up to 17% for there two New Forest Touring sites – Black Knowl and Centenary sites. The Club’s Black Knowl site has recently had a massive investment on the touring side which is great news because so many sites in the New Forest are changing from touring to static only.

The New Forest is such an amazing place to visit and with increasing popularity for UK holidays. Some of our best loved places are being turned into static only holiday parks so we think this press release from the Club is well timed and shows support and commitment to keeping touring pitches in our prime holiday spots.

The club’s Harvey Alexander said: Our touring sites in the New Forest are fantastic bases for holidays, there is so much to see and do in the area. Touring holidays are hugely popular; the Club saw a 17% year-on-year increase over the May bank holiday, the August bank holiday produced record bookings for the Club and it has been the best year ever for off-peak bookings. The bookings figures come as no surprise given the choice of amazing locations on our site network and unbeatable money-saving member offers.”

Well done to the Club – keep putting sites where we want them and literally wild horses won’t keep us away!

The UK Love Campervans

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William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have just published research showing how much we love camper vans in the UK – with over 90,000 VW camper vans currently circulating the UK.

Camper vans are a wide bracket of motorhomes but many consider the VW camper as the iconic camper van. It is easy to see why these are so popular with modern or classic styling, easy to drive, parking versatility and the ability to try this with small price tags. These campers also hold there value very well so why not give it go?

The research is full of interesting statistics and vital information about values and prices but we thought the best bit was what people called there VW.. our favourite was Nelson Van Dela.

A recent poll of van owners showed that nearly 10% of them call their vans after someone who they wanted to remember, had left them the money to buy the van or was special in their lives.

This was closely followed by owners giving names with ‘van’ in them such as Frank-en-van, Vanny-de-Vito, Nelson Van Dela and Dick Van Dyke. Other owners used music as their inspiration with Van Morrison featuring highly and then there are travel inspired van names including Skippy (Australia), Syd (Sydney). For those that let their children choose the name, they could end up with Vanny McVanface or the Bat Van!

CT At The NEC Motorhome And Caravan Show

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By William Coleman

This week the CaravanTimes team are in Birmingham at the NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show all week so we can bring you all of the news and highlights from the UK’s biggest launch event. The show offers so much to everyone who visits, you can take a free towing lesson, take part in activities and most importantly have a look inside all the new caravans and motorhomes.

Over the next few days we will be speaking with everyone from dealers to manufacturers to some of the very best accessory suppliers out there. We are going to be asking them about what’s new, the 2019 ranges and most importantly what’s on display here for you guys to see.
We will be bringing you interviews with exhibitors such as Kampa, Truma and The Caravan and Motorhome Club and many more.

Each hall has the very best the leisure industry has to offer. Bailey are here with the brand new 8ft wide Pegasus range, the Phoenix and the all new Alliance Motorhome. There are also new ranges from Coachman, Elddis, Swift and many major manufacturers.

If you are coming to the show to buy or upgrade your leisure vehicles you will be spoilt for choice as most major dealers are here spread throughout the show. Thankfully the show is almost a week long so you can take your time to see them all and make the right decision for you.

What we love about the show is just how diverse the exhibitors are. From giant coach sized tourers all the way down to small compact campers there is something for everyone. No matter what your needs are you will be sure to find it all here. Vans, tents, awnings, BBQs, tow cars, holiday parks, rental services. All of that under one roof is well worth the price of admission.

Oyster Talk The Joys Of The NEC Show

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By William Coleman

The Oyster Sat Tech team are at almost every trade show you can think of. We spoke with them at Dusseldorf Salon, where we found out that Julian is fluent in German. Now we are in the UK we want to speak with Julian about the importance of displaying at the NEC and what Oyster can do to help visitors.

The good thing about Oyster is that they sell directly to the manufacturer. Why is is this so good? Well you can guarantee that the advice they give you will be totally unbiased as they are not trying to sell you anything. Following the advice they give you can then make an informed decision about having a system fitted or buying a van where it is already installed.

Having seen Oyster as so many shows we wanted to ask Julian what he likes about the show, advice for visitors and most importantly how they can get feedback from existing customers to ensure they keep their finger on the pulse of the industry.

If you are in the market for an on board TV system you have to look at Oyster Sat Tech. The systems are a 1 touch set up that takes away all the fear and stigma of on board satellite TV system.

New Roller Team Models at The NEC

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By William Coleman

At the NEC we look at bringing you the very best the show has to offer. While walking around we had to stop at the Roller Team stand as we spotted 2 new models that are compact for motorhomes for a family of 4. This is the first time they will have been seen in the UK and if you’re a family of 4 and want a compact motorhome visit Roller Team in Hall 7.

The first model that stood out was the Roller Team Toleno which is a brand new van conversion motorhome that can come in a 2 or 4 berth option but were talking about the 4 birth Toleno R.

This 4 berth comes with 2 double bunks in transverse configuration – something you not have seen before in a van conversion. Fantastic if you are an active family of 4 looking for that base for an active holiday. Being a van conversion this has the go anywhere appeal.

The second is the new Pegaso 590 – you may know the Pegaso range as affordable A class motorhomes and the 590 is no exception it is a A class / fully integrated motorhome with everything you expect from a luxury A class – apart from about 2 meters at the back – this is just under 6 meter A class. Intelligent design and a drop down bed lets in light / roomy and bright whilst sleeping 4 easily.

So if you’re a family of 4 Roller Team have two interesting compact motorhomes that will fit in any parking space, be allowed on any site in the UK or continent, will eat small country roads and city driving so come and say hello.

Tomorrow Tech Today With Alde At The NEC

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By William Coleman

Is there anything worse than being last in the shower and being hit with cold water while having shampoo in your hair? This seems to be a thing of the past all thanks to the design and innovation coming from the team at Alde, the King Of Comfort.

We all strive to make our caravan the perfect home from home by adding our own personal creature comforts. One addition that seems to have been missing has been the ability for constant running hot water, which for me would be the final piece of the perfect touring puzzle.

A lot of people I know prefer not to use onsite shower blocks as they prefer the privacy of their leisure vehicle, and let’s face it during the winter who wants to walk to and from the van for a shower when you have a perfectly good heated living space to clean up in.

While walking round the show I had my eye out for things that are brand new to the industry and things that are going to be game changers. As I walked past the Alde stand I heard one of the team explaining how their new Flow system would deliver constant running hot water. I had to do a double take as there are so many variables that would need to be considered for tech to deliver constant flowing heated water.

After a brief convo with Leigh from Alde the camera was out and we were rolling so we could give you to info straight from the horse’s mouth. Good by cold showers and hello on board bathtubs?

5 Brands Under One Banner With Travelworld At The NEC

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William Coleman

It seems like every time I have a look at industry news there is an update about the ongoing success that Travelworld are experiencing. We spoke to the guys at the Dusseldorf Salon where they had some teaser style announcements ahead of the October NEC show. Now we are at the show we can get a good look at their brand new models and find out what brand they have just added to their already impressive portfolio.

As if having Hymer, HymerCar, Carado and Niesmann+Bischoff in their dealerships was not impressive enough Travelworld have just acquired Dethleffs’ leisure vehicles to their line up. The reason behind adding another top brand? Quite simply so they can cater to all budgets.

The motorhomes that are already being sold by Travelworld are the highest end of luxury but they did not seem to have a mid level product. Having done their research they decided that the right move was to stock Dethleffs. Having had a look at the Dethleffs they had on display it really is easy to see why they chose these pitch perfect motorhomes.

We are rapidly approaching the opening of the brand new state of the art dealership. I tried to probe to see if I could get the scoop on some exclusives regarding the opening but the details are under lock and key. But I did really try.

As well as having some of the best looking high end luxury motorhomes on display, some come with a Nespresso machine, there are also deal exclusives which you will not want to miss out on. So make sure you head over to the Travelworld stands to see their impressive lineup this week at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC.

Prima Touring Essentials At The NEC

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By William Coleman

The NEC is a huge show with an even wider range of products, offer and prizes available. No matter what you are looking for the Motorhome and Caravan show will have it and you are more than likely to find your perfect touring essentials on the Prima Leisure stand.

If there is one thing I can say about the Prima stand it would have to simply be- DIVERSITY. Prima have thousands of products to choose from and their best products are all on display this year at the NEC.

Prima have put on quite the display this year with their flagship products, the Prima Air Awnings. There are hundreds of products on display as well as a chance to win an air awning! Also be sure to take advantage of Prima’s show exclusive deals and discounts this week.

If you are feeling strong you can take part in Prima’s air awning competition. if you can pump up the air awning quicker than anyone else you will alk away from the show with a brand new air awning free of charge.

So if you want a new Cadac BBQ, collapsible buckets, folding chairs, amazing air awnings or even a bicycle shaped pizza cutter, my personal favourite, head over to the Prima Leisure stand and make sure you bring a bag because you won’t be able to fit all your purchases with just two hands.

If you are unable to make it to the show this week you can still get your hands on all the goodies at Prima Leisure’s online shop

Meeting Truma And Their Exclusives At The NEC

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William Coleman

A caravan or motorhome is only as good as the tech you find under the chassis, I mean it’s where you eat, sleep and relax. So with that in mind we caught up with the Truma team this week at the NEC to find out what they are presenting at this year’s October NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show.

Having seen Truma’s innovative stand at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf we did get a little bit of inside info as to what the UK audience can expect from the heating specialist. So naturally we jumped at the chance to get one of the team in front of the camera so we can give you all the NEC show exclusives.

This year at the show Truma unveiled their all new Aventa Compact roof mounted air conditioning system, which has to be seen to be believed, as well as a whole host of products, live demos, tech and even an interactive spin the wheel competition. Will you walk away prize in hand?

We spoke with Martin Fitzpatrick, Truma’s MD, to find out more about the company itself and all the hard work and customer feedback that goes into making their ground breaking products.

So if you are visiting the NEC this week be sure to head over to the Truma stand and speak with the team. They are there to help you with all your needs and questions so you can find out how to benefit from having Truma on board.

The Benefits Of Being A Caravan And Motorhome Club Member

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By Dan Cartwright

The Caravan and Motorhome Club are a true membership organisation and as well as providing insurance and an impeccable site membership they work to leverage the buying power of there over 1 million members to get some excellent deals for members.

This year the Club have announced a whole host of discounts and offers available exclusively to members. These range from thousands of pounds off of new cars to discounts at roadchef services and even pet clothes.

A list of some of the offers are below:

  • Save £3,680 on the Volvo XC60, awarded Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the
    Year 2019
  • Save over £6,700 on a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe Premium SE Automatic
  • Save up to 16% with Nissan and receive a free tow bar on selected models
  • Save over £3,200 on the all-new Suzuki Swift
  • SsangYong offers a free fixed towbar and electrics on selected models

Other examples of the Club’s latest offers include:

Witter Towbars and Westfalia Automotive UK have partnered with leading manufacturer Purple Lines to offer this discount to Club members.

Purple Lines’ enduro and e-go caravan motor movers come with a five year warranty and
are fitted to the highest standard by a professional installer.

You can even save 10% on a caravan motor mover. A bit of kit that seems to have grown in popularity over the past year or so.

Members receive a free remote control worth £200 when purchasing a motorhome kit from
E&P Hydraulics. The self-levelling system enables you to get your motorhome perfectly level and stable at the touch of a button.

Save up to £40 on a TyrePal Tyre Pressure Monitoring System which continuously monitors
the pressure and temperature of your tyres whilst you are driving and gives clear visual and
audible alerts should anything start to go wrong.

Ensure your pet travels in style and save 10% with Ivy & Duke. Their range of products have been designed specifically with portability in mind, reducing bulk whilst maintaining comfort and support for your dog.

Some of the Club’s most popular offers include:

Save 20% with motorway service area operator Roadchef when visiting Costa, Fresh Food Cafe or Rest Bite at any of its 21 locations across the country. Ensure it’s not just the car or motorhome that is regularly re-fuelled

Outdoor adventurers can re-style their holiday wardrobe and save up to 15% off with both Cotswold Outdoor and Mountain Warehouse.

Save up to 10% on car hire with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Save 10% on Raleigh bikes, plus receive a free 12 month service and bicycle helmet.

With all these amazing offers you can pretty much pay for your membership several times over in no time at all.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Get Spooky This October

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By William Coleman

For me October is the best month of the year for so many reasons; my birthday, the Autumn weather, wrapping up warm and then Halloween. This year the Caravan and Motorhome Club are getting into the spirit of things and celebrating Halloween and Bonfire night at their sites all across the UK.

Norfolk Trick Or Treat Spooktacular
As the witching hour draws closer, for those who like things that go bump in the night, visit Norfolk this Halloween and you’re bound to get a fright. No matter what spooktacular Halloween activities families are looking for, Norfolk has it covered for the spookiest time of year. For those who want to celebrate all that is magical why not visit The Real Halloween or for big kids looking for a real scare, be very afraid when you head to PrimEVIL Scare. For the adventurous travellers, try something new and head to the UK’s first extreme live scare trip train experience on the Loco Horror Train

To make the most of the cauldron tricks and treats in Norfolk book yourself a pitch at the Sandringham Estate Caravan Club Site. The site’s perfect location is just a half hour drive from all the frightfest activities. The 5 star rated site is ideal for a halloween getaway and has all the pubs and markers very close buy. So buy your pumpkin, pitch up and enjoy this relaxing site this Autumn.

Bonfire Night In East Sussex

Who doesn’t love a good fireworks display and a big bonfire and where better to do this than in East Sussex where you can find two of the most well renowned Bonfire night celebrations in the country.

This November take a trip down south and be part of the extravaganzas and make the most of the cool winter air with bonfires and fireworks.

Battle has been home to huge Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations for over 300 years, with 30 local bonfire societies teaming up to take part in an impressive torchlight procession through the town. Less than an hour away, the Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations are the biggest celebrated Fifth of November Event in the world and hold controversial parades every year that attract visitors from far and wide. With impressive firework displays and an infamous parade, this is not one to miss!

For full listings of all the seasonal festivities the Caravan and Motorhome Club can offer this year head over to their site, or if you are at the NEC this weekend you can visit them on stand.