Police hunt Northumberland caravan thieves after dealership break-in

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by Tom Lowenstein

Police in Northumberland are appealing for help catching thieves who burgled caravans at a retail outlet near the picturesque town of Morpeth.

At some time between 6pm on Monday evening (January 16th) and 8am on Tuesday morning, tourers at the Clifton Ideal Caravans site were broken into, the Morpeth Herald reported.

It appears that the thieves may have been caravanners themselves, after they stole a number of items that only a caravan owner would need.

Six hitch tow bars, a mattress, two water pumps and a heater were taken by the criminals, who also stole a selection of caravan curtains in the raid.

Ideal Caravans have been running for more than 35 years and have links to many caravan parks throughout the north-east.

Morpeth police have asked anyone who may have been in the area during the period in which the crime was committed to contact them as they may have seen people or vehicles linked to the thefts.

Anyone with information should call 101, extension 69191.

Bailey Unicorn stands strong underneath fallen tree

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by Chris Jefferies
Bailey Caravans are well known for their clever marketing stunts, but amazingly this isn’t one of them.
The owner of this Bailey Unicorn Valencia must have been alarmed at the noise made when an oak tree fell on the roof of his Alu-Tech tourer.
However, on closer inspection it turned out that no significant damage had been done to the exterior of this luxury caravan, besides a few minor cosmetic scrapes.
This photo, which was sent in by an amateur photographer, is surely the ultimate illustration of why caravanning is better than camping, especially when the British weather turns on you.
Bailey launched their groundbreaking Alu-Tech construction method in 2009 in the form of the Bailey Pegasus and to prove its strength, the Bristol-based company parked a car on the roof.
Next month sees the launch of the latest Bailey range, the Retreat, which will be displayed to the public at the Motorhome Caravan & Camping Show at the London Excel Centre.
Only time will tell if the new arrival can stand up to rough treatment as well as the rest of the Bailey range…

Catterick Caravans snaps up former Discover Leisure sites

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by Tom Lowenstein

Two former Discover Leisure sites in the north of England are to be taken over by an award-winning caravan retailer after Catterick Caravans revealed it had pulled off a major coup to secure the premises.

The family-owned business moved quickly to secure the two sites after their former owner Discover Leisure was placed into administration in October last year with debts of around £35 million.

Now Catterick Caravans is set for a major expansion, taking over one site in Birtley, Tyne and Wear, and a second in Flaxton Moor, York.

Run by brothers Chris and Matthew Kinsell, the siblings plan to rename the outlets with their former titles, Tyneside Leisure World and Ebor Leisure World, both of which will sell a range of new and second-hand caravans and motorhomes.

“This move represents not just our growing influence in the leisure vehicle sector, but commitment to our north-east of England stronghold. We’re saving jobs, and will be creating them, too in the longer term,” said sales director Matthew.

The two new sites will both open this month, with the firm also planning new franchises to open in the future.

SsangYong to give away free towcar at Caravan Club national rally

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by Tom Lowenstein

With The Caravan Club’s event of the year on the horizon, organisers of The National have revealed that this year’s sponsor will be SsangYong Motor UK.

Traditionally one of the highlights of the summer caravan season, the six-day event sees thousands of caravanners both young and old come to together for a fun-filled festival.

This year, The National will be held at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire and the UK import and distribution arm of the Korean carmaker SsangYong has agreed to be the exclusive sponsor.

As part of the arrangement, SsangYong Motor UK will be offering one of their excellent Kornado towcars as a competition prize, giving everyone who attends The National the chance to drive home in a brand new 4×4.

Details of how to enter the competition will be included in the March edition of the Caravan Club magazine, while online entries will also be accepted.

Announcing the sponsorship agreement, Len Short, events manager at The Caravan Club, said: “The SsangYong brand is well respected by caravanners, and the new Korando is another welcome addition to its range of great tow cars.

“We are therefore especially pleased to have SsangYong supporting this year’s event.”

The National has been planned to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year and will run from June 1st until June 6th.

Top five things to see at the Manchester Motorhome & Caravan Show

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by Chris Jefferies and Tom Lowenstein
This week, Manchester’s Event City will be opening its doors to thousands upon thousands of caravan lovers for the 2012 Motorhome and Caravan Show (January 19th to 22nd), and this year’s event is bigger than ever before.
The organisers, Clarion Media, have moved the show from Manchester Central to its new home, meaning that it will be 50 per cent larger this year – meaning there are more caravans, more accessories and much more to discover.
And, to add a touch of glamour, former Dallas actress and Dancing On Ice star Charlene Tilton will be opening the show at 10.15am on Thursday (19th January). Charlene revealed that her Dallas co-star Patrick Duffy had recommended that she get involved in the show.
“Caravanning really appeals to me as I have spent much time in trailers on film and television sets; and when chatting to Patrick, he suggested visiting the show as the easiest place to start,” she said.
Charlene will be joined at the show by many caravan industry experts and insiders, and with so much on display, it’s almost impossible to see everything. With this in mind, CaravanTimes has put together a quick rundown of five of the best things to see at Event City…

Try your hand at towing with the Friendly Club

The Camping and Caravanning Club will be giving touring newbies a chance to try towing for the first time, with their Towing Experience outside Hall 1. These free 15-minute sessions include helpful tips from expert tutors on how to hitch up and tow your caravan safely, efficiently and economically.

See the new Swift Challenger Sport layouts

Six months after launching its stylish new Challenger Sport range, Swift has added three new layouts, which should prove to be a big hit with families. Head over to Hall 2 to get a first look at the Challenger Sport 564, 584 and 585.

Admire the new Majestic range from Elddis and Marquis

Industry giants Elddis and Marquis have joined forces to create a distinctive lightweight range of caravans, called Majestic. Based on the best-selling Elddis Xplore range, these compact tourers are likely to draw big crowds to Hall 3, Stand 81.

Check out the latest Bailey Unicorn model

The luxury range from the Bristol boys is getting a new addition in the form of the Unicorn Cadiz. On show to the public for the first time, this four-berth layout is ideal for families with teenage kids. Make your way to the Campbells Caravans display at Hall 1, stand 41 to take a closer look.

Get some holiday inspiration from Monty Halls

Outdoor expert and BBC TV presenter Monty Halls (right) will be giving a talk on discovering the hidden gems in the remotest corners of the British Isles. Don’t miss this exciting presentation at the Expert Talks Theatre on Saturday (January 21st) at 12.30pm.
Tickets for the Caravan and Motorhome Show 2012 at EventCity in Manchester cost £8.50 on the door, under-16s go for free and there are 3,000 free car parking spaces. If you want to save £2 off the price of your ticket, then book online using the CaravanTimes discount code DST1

Elddis to bring Whale heaters into half of its caravan range

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by Tom Lowenstein and Chris Jefferies

Elddis Caravans has announced that it will be installing Whale underfloor heating systems in half of its fleet of caravans and motorhomes.

Renowned in the industry as a name that provides quality water and heating systems, Whale will now work with the County Durham-based manufacturer on more than half of its models, including the Xplore and Avante caravan ranges and the best-selling Autoquest motorhomes.

Elddis were one of the first ‘vanmakers to adopt the most recent range of Whale’s underfloor Space Heaters and Rapid Heat Water Heaters, and they have been quick to praise how the system frees up more space to use as storage, while also cutting excess weight.

Patrick Hurst, Managing Director at Whale, said that the new contract was a great success story for UK manufacturing.

“Over the past three years, the company has grown dramatically and we are on track by the end of 2012 to have a business double the size to that of 2009,” he said.

Sarah Baird, commercial manager at the company, added that they are delighted to have been chosen as a key supplier to Elddis, reflecting the strong partnership that has developed between the two.

Last month, Elddis and Whale took the CaravanTimes Innovation Award 2011, after the caravanning public voted their use of the underfloor heater in the Xplore range as their top breakthrough of the past year.

Historic Yorkshire caravan site preparing to grow

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by Tom Lowenstein

An historic caravan site in North Yorkshire is preparing to double its capacity after planning officers recommended its expansion plans for approval.

Nestled in the picturesque 15,000 acre Mulgrave Estate, the site on the North York Moors has operated as a small touring caravan spot for over 60 years, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Now, however, it looks set for a major renovation after planners gave their approval for 20 caravan pitches and eight camping plots as well as six permanent ‘camping pods’ and a brand new amenities building.

Owned by the Marquess of Normanby, the newly upgraded site will bring caravanners close to a host of nearby activities as it is near the Sandsend national park and the popular Cleveland Way walking trail.

Chief executive of the Mulgrave Estate, John Hoves, told the newspaper that the local village also stands to benefit greatly from the new and improved site.

He said: “This will be fantastic for the village and bring a lot more people in.

“The application will do a great deal in supporting the existing businesses in the village and it will give us an economic shot in the arm.”

Visitors to the site will also be close to the beautiful seaside town of Whitby.

Overseas rescue: Bringing your caravan home if you breakdown abroad

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by Chris Jefferies
Escaping to Europe is a big draw for many adventurous caravanners, who can enjoy the comforts of their home from home as well as the great overseas weather. But this does present some unique problems that touring holidaymakers may have to deal with.
The caravan insurance experts over at Towergate have recently highlighted the problem of repatriation when your towcar breaks down overseas.
Without anything to tow with, you may need to arrange for your caravan to be brought home, or repatriated as it is known in the insurance business.
What’s more, depending on your policy, your insurer may be able to provided alternative accommodation, such as a guest house or a hotel, if your caravan is ruined in a road accident.
However if you don’t want to carry on with your holiday, another alternative is arranging emergency travel home, which can be covered by some caravan insurers.
Edward Cross, Towergate insurance expert, said: “For those thinking of taking their caravan overseas for the first time this year, we would advise them to make sure they have adequate insurance cover.
“When we hear from someone who has crashed overseas, our primary concern is to ensure that the customer is safe and well.
“We then tend to take each case on its merits – some may be traumatised, some may be keen to keep going and not let it ruin their holiday. We try to accommodate each customer’s requirements as far as we are able.”
Breaking down in a foreign country can be a very stressful experience, so it makes sense to ensure someone’s looking out for you just in case you do.
For more advice from Towergate on how to deal with caravan breakdown overseas, read their article: Top tips for first-timers exploring Europe in their caravan

Coachman Caravans takes on two new apprentices

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by Tom Lowenstein

Two young construction students in Hull are celebrating after they were awarded apprenticeships by the caravan maker Coachman Caravans.

Seventeen-year-old David Prenty and Craig Cook, 16, were both studying Construction Diplomas in carpentry and joinery at Hull College when they applied for the training programme at the local caravan manufacturer.

Having stood out because of the quality of their work at college, the pair are now about to begin three-year apprenticeships where they will work and train under the supervision of Coachman’s expert staff.

As well as the on-the-job training, David and Craig will continue to study their Diplomas at the college one day a week.

Production director of Coachman, Alan Roberts, welcomed the latest recruits to the firm’s apprenticeship programme.

He said: “Whenever possible, we look to recruit young people from the local area, and provide them with a comprehensive in-house programme of training that will give them all the skills they need to be successful within the caravan industry.”

Bailey Caravans adds two family layouts to lightweight Orion range

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by Chris Jefferies
Almost exactly one year after its launch, Bailey Caravans has announced two new members for its entry-level Orion range of Alu-Tech caravans.
The Bailey Orion 460-5 and 530-6 will be unveiled at next month’s Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show in London.
These new arrivals will broaden the family appeal of the Orion range, which already features four different layouts, as well as a distinctive sloping rear end.
Bailey says that the innovative 460-5 will be similar to the existing 450-5 layout, with two separate sleeping areas, but includes a more spacious end washroom with a stand-alone shower, instead of having a compact wetroom on the offside.
The nearside on the 460-5 features a double bunk dinette, while the offside boasts a fixed single bed – making for a completely new and unique layout.
Meanwhile, the 530-6 is based on the 620-6 layout that has proved so popular in the mid-range Bailey Olympus caravans.
Eagle-eyed caravanners may also spot the many layout similarities with the Sprite Quattro FB, but unlike the Sprite and the Olympus, the Orion 530-6 has been built on a single-axle chassis.
With a fixed double bed in the nearside corner of the rear end and an offside double bunk dinette, in addition to a convertible front double, this layout should prove to be a big hit with larger families on a smaller budget.
Prices, weights and photos are being kept under wraps for now, but all will be revealed next month at the London Excel Centre.
Tickets for the Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show (which runs from 14th to 19th February) are on sale now, priced at £7 each.

Eterniti to exhibit at Manchester show without any caravans

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by Chris Jefferies
The much-anticipated ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/eterniti/">Eterniti Caravans range will not be appearing at the Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show this week, it has been revealed.
In a major setback for the UK’s newest caravan manufacturer, the vessels shipping the EC1 range in from the USA have been delayed, meaning that Eterniti will have to get by without any models to show the visitors at the event, which opens at Manchester Event City on Thursday (January 19th).
The Eterniti EC1 range is currently being manufactured in the American city of Goshen, Indiana, but the Cheshire-based company plans to move production to the UK as soon as possible.
Despite this disappointing development, the company was keen to stress that they will still be attending the Manchester show in person; handing out promotional material and answering any questions from curious members of the public.
As announced last week, Eterniti Caravans will also be exhibiting at the Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show at the Glasgow SECC (which runs from 2nd to 5th February) and the Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show 2012 at the London Excel Centre (14th to 19th February).
Following on from the announcement, Adam Hewitt, Sales and Marketing Manager at Eterniti, told CaravanTimes: “We are extremely disappointed but fully expect them to be with us for London, and indeed Glasgow.”
The EC1 range from Eterniti is a brand new range of luxury slide-out caravans, which includes several exclusive features such as a powered sun awning and a bath tub.

    To see more pictures of the EC1 range from Eterniti Caravans, click here

Storage centre caravan batteries stolen for scrap, say police

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by Tom Lowenstein

Nottinghamshire police are appealing for help catching thieves who stole 18 caravan batteries from a storage facility in the county.

The theft from the Homestead Caravan Storage Site in Clipstone is thought to have taken place at some point between 11pm on Friday January 6th and 1pm on the Saturday.

Police officers investigating the crime believe that the heavy duty batteries could have been snatched by thieves to sell to a scrap yard, Chad.co.uk reported.

The large batteries measure 16 inches by ten inches and are eight inches deep.

A silver Peugeot vehicle with an R registration plate was seen in the former coal mining village at around the time of the theft and police have said they would like to speak to the car’s owner.

Anyone who has any information relating to the crime has been asked to contact PCSO Keith Crowhurtst at the Ollerton Police Station on the new non-emergency 101 number, extension 808 7054.