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.

Swift Group Plan To Revolutionise At The NEC

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By William Coleman

Each year at the NEC you can expect to see dealers and manufacturers pull out all the stops to wow visitors from all across the country. This year Swift Group, Europe’s number one leisure vehicle brand, are vowing to to be the talk of the show with their extensive list of show launch exclusives, offers and new services.

As the UK’s largest manufacturer of touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, Swift will deliver a spectacular showcase of new-for-2019 models and initiatives. The brand will also be represented at the show by its extensive UK-wide dealership network, on-hand with expert support and local deals.

Nick Page, Swift Group Commercial Director, said “Swift is a mainstay at the Motorhome and Caravan Show, known for delivering the industry’s most exciting, forward-thinking breakthroughs in luxury leisure living. With a host of celebrations and revolutionary launches to unveil at the event, this year will be no exception.

“What makes Swift so special is its readiness to listen and respond to how the market is changing, what consumers really want and how we can enhance their leisure time. Visitors to the show will see innovations designed to deliver just that, and we are looking forward to sharing such breathtaking exclusives.”

The debut model line up will include their all new spacious 8ft wide Swift Elegance Grande caravan which features a unique 655 layout, the imposing all-new 2019 Kon-tiki motorhome and the ingenious 6-sleeper SPod 6 holiday home.

Swift will also showcase their motorhome hire service, Swift Go, another great service which will bring a lot more people to the leisure industry as well as introducing their products to a much wider audience.

A festive touch will be added with a celebration of caravanning heritage as Eccles marks its centenary – exhibiting the brand’s story from humble beginnings in 1919 to today’s special anniversary edition.

Additionally, visitors will be able to experience a life riveted by Airstream, the all-American icon that is increasingly beloved by Brits, I stayed in one at a Caravan and Motorhome Club site recently and loved every moment of it. So see my thoughts on the American icon click here.

As Airstream’s official UK distributor, Swift will demonstrate why this international sensation is enjoying increasing UK success, from the distinctive look and handcrafted aluminium bodywork to stylish interiors and exceptional functionality. Held 16-21 October at Birmingham NEC, the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2018 is the premier event in the leisure vehicle industry calendar. Attracting more than 100,000 visitors, the show will feature the sector’s leading brands and suppliers, celebrity guests and live demonstrations, while also providing entertainment for the whole family. Swift will exhibit on stands 6.31, 6.33, 6.39 and 6.41 in Hall 6.

The All New Bailey Alliance Motorhome

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By William Coleman

Having spent 3 weeks touring around Europe and Asia in a a Bailey motorhome I can personally vouch for how good these leisure vehicles are. Sturdy, spacious and a pleasure to drive. Following the success Bailey Of Bristol have had with motorhomes they are ready to launch the brand new Bailey Bailey Alliance motorhome at the NEC.

CaravanTimes have actually had some hands on experience with the new Alliance motorhome. We got the chance to spend a good few days testing it out and putting it through its paces, and it help up very well.

What with the latest release of their all new Bailey Phoenix range it seems that Bailey are redefining the term “entry level” with their caravan and amping up the quality of their mid range motorhomes. Some of the features that come as standard border the high models from other manufacturers.

The Alliance will sit right in the mid range between the entry level Alliance and the top end Autograph. You can find 6 different layouts in the Alliance range, which have been brought over from its little brother, the Advance but with a much more detailed high level finish.

Depending on what your touring requirements are you can choose from thee two berth options, the the compact 66-2, the 76-2, which features a French bed and rear washroom and the 76-2T, which has twin single beds and a rear washroom.

The next 3 layout are 4 berths, the 76-4 and 76-4T which both include rear washrooms and come with either a French bed or twin single beds. The extra beds are found in the front lounge of each model.

The sixth and final model is the 70-6 which is 6.59m long and is a 6 berth tourer which features an innovative rear lounge, something I am very keen on as I feel it makes a lot better usage of space.

Like all other Bailey motorhomes the Alliance has been built upon a 3.5 tonne Al-Ko chassis and is coupled with the popular, and every reliable, Peugeot Boxer. As standard the Alliance motorhome will have 160BHP as standard.

Inside the cab you will also find a whole range of “as standard” features, which will make you feel spoiled. You can expect it come with the Peugeot’s built in sat nav system, DAB digital radio, air conditioning and the sleek new graphite exterior paintwork.

Not only does the Alliance boast a very generous base level spec it also has had extra kit added to the habitation area to cement the Alliance’s position in Bailey’s mid level range.

One stand out feature for me is that it seems, something I will confirming on Tuesday at the NEC, that there may be an Fiamma wind out awning as standard. Another feature which stood out to me was the exterior 230V power outlet, you can charge your phone while enjoying the outside. Other onboard features include a Truma 100W solar panel, Status TV aerial and pre wiring for a rear view camera, all as standard.

The perks do not stop there! Inside the vehicle the slate effect finish on the worktop gives a very modern feel and brand new luxury furnishings make the whole layout and design feel brand new.

I do not want to give too much away as Bailey are launching this to the public on Tuesday at the NEC so I want to give them the chance to give you a full breakdown of what to expect from this fantastic new range. In the meantime you can visit Bailey online and have a look at the Alliance Motorhome

Caravan And Motorhome Show Preview Of Truma

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By William Coleman

Next week the CaravanTimes team will be bringing you live coverage from the Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC Birmingham. So ahead of the UK’s largest caravan show I want show some highlights of what to expect from Truma.

Alde & Truma Cross Compatibility

When it comes to on board heating systems there are two brand names that instantly come to mind, Truma and Alde. Following some recent developments Alde’s Compact 3020 HE is now compatible with the Truma iNet System. On the Truma stand there will be demos available to show how you can use your Alde heating using the Truma tech.

Recognising the benefits of a product crossover Truma have made it possible for Alde customers who use, or would like to use, a Truma air conditioning system or Truma LevelControl.

Being able to use the iNet system also makes controlling the heat, air con, climate control and check how much gas has been used that much easier. All of this control at your fingertips via the smartphone, and now across multiple platforms, is a big game changer.

iNet-Ready Heater Control Panel

Customers simply connect the iNet Box to the heater and they’re ready to go. This panel is available now as standard on all 2019 models; which can be identified by the ‘iNet ready’ logo that is displayed when the control panel is switched on. If the logo is not there, the touch panel is not iNet ready and must be upgraded using a retrofit kit. This scenario applies to Compact 3020 HE heaters manufactured between 04/2014 and 04/2018. Older Alde Compact 3010 models cannot be retrofitted with the iNet System

Truma Aventa Compact Roof-Mounted Air Conditioning System

Truma’s new mini roof-mounted air conditioning system will soon be on the market to ensure we stay cool while not having to add larger models to our touring homes. I got to have at the Aventa in Germany in August and it really is very compact, so even the larger tourers will be able to fit this worry free.

So the name includes the word “compact” and that is exactly what you get. An extremely compact system that still delivers the power and energy needed to sleep under a somfy duvet in 30+ degree weather. The delivery of extremely fast with 1,700 W cooling. The size in no way diminish the power of the product.

“We have developed the Aventa compact specially for vans and small motor homes or caravans” explains Bernd Gerlach, Head of European Retail Management.

Not only is the new tech small but it is also ultra lightweight, weighing in at just 27.5kg. The Truma Avent compac is the lightest roof-mounted air conditioning system on the market. Do you have limited roof space? This will no longer be an issue.

Thanks to its low energy consumption of 2.8 A, it is also suitable for use on
campsites with weak fuse protection.

These are just a select few of the things you can expect from the Truma team at this year’s October NEC show. To see their innovative stand at the Salon you can watch the video we made for them last month in Germany here.