Used caravan of the week: 1982 ABI Tycoon

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by Niki Greig

For those of us that aspire to own an Airstream but can’t quite stretch to the sizeable budget required to own such a caravan, how about considering this silver number?

Although significantly aged and with some minor work needed, it could be a great starter van for all the family to enjoy or even a project for the enthusiastic restorer.

This 16ft three-berth ‘van is ready to use but would benefit from alterations and a bit of refreshing to make it a fun family tourer.

History

Made by UK brand ABI, this is a caravan with history – in fact it was launched by Noel Edmunds at the 1981 Earls Court Caravan Show in London. This A-Type ABI Tycoon was manufactured in the following year in this stylish silver design, and is something of a collectors item as around 115 were built in total.

Nowadays ABI only specialise in static caravans and no longer make touring caravans, but owners are encouraged to join the ABI & Friends Caravan Club.

The current owner of this particular model recently holidayed in the ‘van in April with no reported problems and is only selling due to not having a suitable vehicle to tow it with anymore.

Kit and Caboodle

Admittedly the caravan is not in amazing condition, but this could be easily rectified and costs for such are easily calculated, as the owner has been as honest as possible.

Included in the sale is a Brand new Leisure battery, cooker, oven and rotisserie grill. The owner is also throwing in car mirrors and metal ramps to secure the caravan on an incline.

The ‘van already has mains hook up so there is no fiddly rewiring to be done, although there is a problem with the water supply which would need some looking at.

There is some surface damage to various parts of the interior, such as the table and worktop, but all the jobs the owner lists are small and need not be undertaken by a professional.

Bidding on the caravan has already reached over £120 but it is for sale at no reserve meaning you could grab a bargain and have plenty of money to spend on renovations to put your own stamp on this silver bullet.

  • Price: £127 (bidding not yet ended)
  • Length: 16’0″
  • Berth: 3
  • Axle: Single

Click here to view more details of the 1982 ABI Tycoon for sale



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C&CC urges campers not to mention the weather this summer

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by Arash Hekmat

With the first rays of sunshine breaking through the rain clouds this past week to remind us that we are in fact at the height of summer, holidaymakers are being urged to forget about the weather and enjoy their breaks regardless.

After what has been the wettest ever April to June period on record, caravanners can be forgiven for being preoccupied by the forecasts whilst planning their summer holidays.

The weather has been so miserable that the Camping and Caravan Club was forced to call off its National Feast of Lanterns event, scheduled for August, due to rain.

But that isn’t stopping the organisation from urging campers and caravanners to enjoy the great outdoors whatever the weather. In fact, its latest survey indicates that 87 per cent of people feel we should be ignoring the weather this summer and 72 per cent think Brits spend far too much time worrying over the forecasts.

The club has now launched a ‘Don’t Mention the Weather’ campaign, with weatherman John Kettley throwing his support behind it.

He said: “Britain has always had a varied climate but why should that stop people from holidaying at home? There are plenty of campsites, activities and attractions to experience – whether it’s wet or sunny – and all at an inexpensive cost.”

To back this initiative up, C&CC are offering 30% off grass pitches. This covers high-season adult, child, and Family Deal pitch prices (per night per pitch for a grass non service pitch only).

This deal is available when booked through the club website, for more info visit the Don’t Mention the Weather website.

New Bailey Unicorn II to feature lower noseweights

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by Niki Greig

After learning last week that the new Bailey Unicorn II was going to be a significantly lighter caravan, CaravanTimes has now discovered that there will also be a significant reduction in the noseweight of the new models.

Thanks to the popularity of the fixed bed layouts, many caravan owners have found this type of caravan to be heavier on the nose-end of the model.

As a result, many have found it difficult to load their caravans in line with the manufacturer’s recommended nose weights, which is normally around 7% of the overall weight.

This problem will be tackled by the new Bailey Unicorn design, with the most significant feature being that the gas locker has been relocated to the centre of the vehicle, over the caravan axle, as the picture above shows.

This will not only improve access to the gas bottle at a more convenient height but will provide more stability for the caravan and will free up more all-important storage space for the interior at the front of the vehicle.

The great news is that Bailey will be affecting this redesign over the entire 2013 Bailey Unicorn Series II range to achieve better stability for all luxury caravan owners.

For more information and to learn how to load your caravan correctly, read the CaravanTimes’ guide to safer caravan loading.

UPDATE: Bailey Caravans have confirmed that the Unicorn II will feature Michelin tyres and a range of towing safety devices. For more information, click here.

Tom Daley’s Olympic dream began in a caravan

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by Niki Greig

Tom Daley, will begin his quest for a GB gold medal in the Olympic pool, diving alongside his partner, veteran Pete Waterfield this afternoon (30th July).

And Tom has revealed that his first glimpse of Olympic glory was when he saw Pete claim silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics whilst staying in a caravan on a family holiday.

Tom 18, said: “I was 10 years old when Pete won his [medal] in Athens. I was staying in the family caravan down in Newquay”

He also said that “I was sat there trying to tune the TV in. I was thinking ‘Wow he’s an Olympic silver medallist’. That is my dream – to compete in the Olympic Games and win a medal.”
This pivotal moment spurred Tom on to realise his dream of competing at the Olympics, and today is his second chance of gaining a medal after the disappointment of Beijing 2008 where he placed 8th.
This time the pair stand a better chance at a medal, but they face stiff competition in the form of China, a team that have long dominated the sport
GB’s attention will turn to the pool at 2.55pm as the pair began their Olympic campaign. Full coverage is available on the BBC and online via the corporation’s iPlayer service.

Julia Bradbury likes ‘nothing better’ than a caravanning holiday

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by Jack Beresford

Julia Bradbury, has told of her passion for caravan holidays after it was announced that the Countryfile star would be hosting the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Real Richness – The Awards.

Speaking after it was announced that the 42-year-old Dubliner would be fronting the event, Ms Bradbury revealed that she had a long-held passion for tourers that dates back to her early years.

“My childhood camping memories are some of my most treasured,” she said.

“There’s nothing better than getting out in the great outdoors and enjoying all that Britain has to offer.”

The appeal of caravan holidays has enjoyed a notable resurgence in the past few years, with a study conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists indicating that as many as 20 per cent of adults in the UK could be planning a holiday camping or in a tourer this summer.

An increasing number of sites are being developed too, with the idyllic village of Llanberis in Gwynedd, North Wales, among the latest to get the go ahead for the development of new facilities, with a 59 pitch site set to be created in the region.

The Camping and Caravanning Club has been at the heart of much of this resurgence, with the Real Richness campaign the latest example of its efforts to promote tourer holidays.

And while the addition of Bradbury as host represents a major coup for the firm, it is not yet the highlight of the year, with the Motorhome & Caravan Show still to come.

Scheduled to run from October 16th to October 21st at the NEC in Birmingham, the event promises to showcase all that the industry has to offer, according to chairman of NCC events Anthony Trevelyan.

“The Show celebrates all that is new and exciting about caravanning, motorhoming and camping and unites visitors from across the country who share a passion for a pastime that enriches their lives and relationships,” he said.

With Bradbury bringing her own life experiences in a tourer to help kick off proceedings, caravanning fans could be in for more fun well beyond the lovely summer months.

Eterniti Caravans confirm debut ranges to be called Chronicle and Genesis

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by Chris Jefferies
Back in January, the caravanning community was taken aback by a daring new design that emerged at the Manchester Caravan Show.
Featuring a whole host of innovative features, the ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/eterniti/">Eterniti Caravans prototypes went down a storm with the public, but the company behind this new design insisted that they were only just getting started.
Over the last few months more and more details have emerged about the first proper Eterniti caravan ranges and we can now reveal that they will be called Chronicle and Genesis.
What’s more, having paid them a visit earlier this month we can report that the company’s headquarters and factory in Widnes, Cheshire is set up in such a way that they could become a serious contender in the UK market over the coming years.
The Eterniti Chronicle and Eterniti Genesis will be unveiled in October at the Birmingham NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show, but in the meantime CaravanTimes has unearthed some tantalising details.
Tricks up their sleeve
As with the prototype versions, the first proper Eterniti caravans will feature a slide-out section to dramatically increase the interior space once you are set up on your pitch.
Called Eazzzzzy Slide, this is complimented by the Eazzzzzy Awning system, which electronically extends a canopy over the nearside in just 30 seconds.
For yet more space, each Eterniti caravan is being built with
Click here to continue reading 

What can I tow? Legal caravan towing limits explained

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by Chris Jefferies
One of the main reasons why caravanning is so popular in the UK is that you don’t need any qualifications to hitch up and tow away your first tourer.
However, this is only true up to a point, with specific limits placed on the weight of caravan that you can tow, depending on when you passed your driving test.
Thankfully, Towergate Insurance has recently published a comprehensive guide to the different restrictions that exist and what you can do to circumvent them.
The insurance provider explains that if you passed your standard driving test after 1 January 1997 and your car and caravan weigh more than 3,500kg combined, then you will need to take an extra test, called the B+E licence test.
As always, the rules regarding towing limits and the Caravan Club’s 85% guideline should be adhered to no matter what, Towergate adds.
To find out more and read a full rundown of what the Driving Standards Agency towing test involves, read Towergate’s original article: What driving licence is needed to tow a caravan?

New Bailey Unicorn caravans to weigh up to 100kgs less

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by Chris Jefferies
Bailey Caravans has confirmed that the 2013 Bailey Unicorn Series II collection will boast significant weight savings, meaning that they can be towed by a much larger range of towcars.
As reported on CaravanTimes earlier this week, the Bailey Unicorn II will be arriving on dealer forecourts from September, and now the Bristol-based company has announced that these models have been on a significant diet.
Weight savings of up to 100kgs have been achieved when compared with the equivalent layouts in the old Bailey Unicorn range, meaning that all the single-axle Unicorn II vans will weigh less than 1,500kg MTPLM.
What this means for caravanners is that you won’t need such a large car to tow with, in fact a Volvo V60 would be more than up to the task.
Bailey adds that this weight reduction will mean improved fuel efficiency for all Unicorn Series II owners, which is more important than ever with petrol prices spiralling ever upwards.
However, the Bristol-based company has not said how these weight savings have been achieved, but they assure us that nothing has been done that would compromise the integrity of their Alu-Tech construction.
For more information on the Bailey Unicorn II, keep checking back with CaravanTimes over the coming weeks.
UPDATE: Click here to watch a video showing inside the new Bailey Unicorn II

Caravan cool box competition closed and winners announced

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by Chris Jefferies
When we launched this competition two weeks ago, we weren’t sure how popular a caravan cool box would prove to be as a prize, given the dismal weather at the start of July.
However, thanks to a long-overdue heatwave, it seems like caravanners up and down the UK are now eager to keep cool.
And what better way to keep cool than with this snazzy Waeco Dometic 240V cool box? This mini fridge also comes with a 12V connector, so you can hook it up to your towcar’s electrical supply while you’re on the road.
But enough about how fantastic this prize is, let’s get on with the actual business of announcing the two lucky winners. The random number generator has done is thing and the winners are…

  • Carrie Simpson
  • and Anthony Greatrex

Congratulations to you both, we will be in touch via e-mail to arrange delivery of your prize. Our thanks go to the generous souls at Towergate Insurance for supplying these great prizes.
If you haven’t won this time, keep checking back with CaravanTimes as we will be running another exciting competition next month.

Caravan plays its part in young golfer’s success

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by Jack Beresford

The father of an up-and-coming golfing star has pointed to the positive effects of staying in a caravan in Cornwall near to the course had in helping his son prepare for a tournament.

Jake Storey became only the third player from the north-east of England to win the England Boys Championship in the 31-year history of this prestigious sporting event.

And while practice proved crucial to his performance, his father Jim admitted that the youngster also benefitted from the close proximity of a nearby caravan site to the course, which meant he was able to practice staying in a tourer located just two miles away.

“Every night Jake went back to the caravan, had a shower and some dinner and then returned to the golf club to practice his putting. He would stay on the green until around 9.45pm and then get back for an early night,” he explained to the Journal.

A number of caravan parks across the UK are located near to golf courses, with the Hebden Bridge Caravan Club Site in West Yorkshire a classic example.

Caravan parks to benefit from 10 million UK staycationers

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by Jack Beresford

Caravan parks could be among the main beneficiaries of a surge in the number of UK residents opting to embark on a holiday in the British Isles this summer.

The assessment follows the publication of figures from VisitEngland which show that as many as 10.3 million Brits are planning at least one holiday or short break in the UK this year, with 8.9 million eager to explore England.

Based on data collected from the body’s Summer Trip Tracker, the findings come just days after a study from the Institute of Advanced Motorists and Nissan suggest that one in five people were planning a caravan or camping holiday this year.

These tourers could contribute a significant proportion of the £2.3 billion in tourism spend that VisitBritain estimates this influx of staycationers will bring, with around £1.9 billion projected to be spent in England alone.

“I’m delighted to see that over ten million people are planning to holiday at home this summer,” VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said.

“The trend for last minute bookings is strong, this coupled with the recent return of sunshine to our shores could provide the industry with a welcome boost.”

VIDEO: Clever heating control from the Whale I Van system

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by Chris Jefferies
Controlling the heating system in your caravan can be very confusing, so when Whale set out to make a new heater they wanted to make it as easy to use as possible.
With the use of a touchscreen panel and intelligent wireless technology, they claim to have achieved just that with their new I Van system.
This simple panel allows you to control your water and space heaters in a straightforward and intuitive way, which will feel very familiar to smartphone users.
With features like frost control to help keep your caravan above freezing during the winter months, this new system looks set to be very popular when it is rolled out next year.
In this video, CaravanTimes meets the team at Whale to find out how they are pushing caravan technology to the next level.