by Chris Jefferies
They say the early bird catches the worm, and whilst this has never been comprehensively proven, what we at Caravan Times can confidently tell you is that the early booking gets you the best spot with the Caravan Club.
Each year in December, the outdoors organisation opens up its booking system for the following year to its one million or so members.
This invariably results in a hectic scramble to bag the perfect pitch for that all-important summer family getaway, and with some sites booking up quickly for peak season, it’s important to move fast.
Proceedings will get underway at 9am on Wednesday 7th December this year, with the bookings processed the following week.
This time around, the Club is making a real push for members to book online and several improvements have been made to the booking process on their website to make the whole experience easier to complete.
In addition, there will be plenty of money-saving offers available across the 200 sites and 2,500 Certified Locations, such as ‘Kids for a penny’, midweek discounts and ‘Only eleven’, which gets you a pitch for two adults and two children for just £11 per night (at selected sites).
For help picking your ideal caravan park, the Club will also be sending out the Essential Guide to The Caravan Club Network 2012 booklet alongside the December 2011 edition of the Caravan Club magazine.
When searching for your favourite site, don’t forget that the Caravan Club has recently changed the names of 13 of their most popular parks.
On your marks…
As always, Caravan Club members will be able to reserve their spot without paying any deposit, but this year a new ‘three strikes’ system will be in place for those who do not give enough warning that their plans have changed.
The Club said in a statement: “The minimum notice required for any pitch cancellation is 72 hours. Members who cancel inside 72 hours, or fail to turn up at a booked pitch, three times during 2012 will forfeit their ability to book for 14 days – any forward bookings will also be cancelled.”
What’s more, anyone planning to leave a site earlier than planned must give 72 hours notice, or they will incur a charge of one extra night’s stay.
These changes are clearly intended to stop frivolous bookings, but nonetheless it’s safe to predict a flurry of eager and highly organised caravanners booking their 2012 getaway next week.
Are you preparing for the annual caravan site bookings rush? What do you think of the Caravan Club’s online booking system? Share your thoughts in our community forum.
Magazine artist all set to take her caravan boutique on tour
A one-of-a-kind vintage caravan has cropped up in Nottingham, with funky decorations and a big stack of ‘zines for sale from inside its cosy confines.
The ‘Caribou Caravan’ is the brainchild of Annelise Atkinson, a designer, artist and printer who used the tourer as a travelling boutique from which to sell ‘zines – homemade magazines made by a global subculture of artists.
Having bought the caravan from a wheeler dealer in Bournemouth, Annelise brought it all the way back the midlands to house her business, which is currently residing at the Hopkinson’s Gallery in Nottingham, Leftlion.co.uk reported.
“The idea of the shop is that it is a travelling boutique, and can bring artists’ work to a wider audience and spread the good word of ‘zines around the country,” she explained.
Determined to take hehr ‘zines to the wider public, Annelise will soon take the Caribou – a cross between caravan and boutique – on tour around festivals and markets and anywhere else she sees fit to travel.
The Caribou Caravan is currently on display at Hopkinson’s Gallery on Station Street in Nottingham.
Tornado tears up tourers as it rips through Welsh caravan park
Staff at a caravan park in Anglesey must have thought they had accidentally stumbled on a Hollywood movie set earlier this week (November 29th) when a tornado ripped through the site, leaving a trail of destruction behind it.
The Sandy Beach Caravan Park was struck by the twister just before midday, tipping over caravans and throwing debris across the site.
Five tourers and a static caravan were destroyed by the freak storm, which had staff diving for cover as it tore straight through the park, the Daily Post reported.
“It was so sudden, the first we knew was when a staff member rushed in to say the caravans were being lifted in the air and bits flying all over the place,” owner of the park John Seymour-Jones told the regional newspaper.
“We went out and could just see a line of vans knocked over and a static van with its roof ripped off.”
Luckily the park had closed for winter recently so no staff or caravanners were hurt in the storm.
Caravan insurance: What does your policy actually cover?
by Chris Jefferies
Picking the right cover for your caravan can be a baffling experience at times, with dozens of suppliers offering different products and very little to tell them apart.
To tackle this problem, independent finance research company Defaqto has run the rule over the caravan insurance market and revealed some very interesting findings.
For starters, there are 41 different caravan insurance providers in the UK, offering 66 different types of caravan insurance between them, so it’s no wonder than picking a policy can seem confusing.
The most common bonus you can expect is a ‘new-for-old’ replacement when your caravan is written off – as offered by 82 per cent of products.
What’s more, Defaqto found that no-claims bonuses are available on 45 per cent of caravan insurance policies (similar to the bonus you’d get for not claiming on your car insurance for a year).
Another thing to bear in mind is hidden fees, as 70 per cent of policies will charge an administration fee to change something in your document and 41 per cent will charge you to get a duplicate document.
These fees can be as high as £25 and £50 respectively, so it’s important to check if they apply before buying a policy.
In reaction to this research Edward Cross, insurance expert at Towergate, has the following advice: “Insurance is about more than just price, look at the cover you’re actually getting. Also consider what that provider’s reputation in the market is. I would urge customers to do online research and find out who is reliable.”
For more advice from Towergate read their article: How to choose the right caravan insurance policy
Scottish caravan show to host Fifer Pod campervan range launch
by Chris Jefferies
Christmas hasn’t even been and gone yet and already the excitement is starting to build for the 2012 caravan show season.
With a new show launching in London and a new venue for the Manchester caravan show, there is plenty to look forward to, but for those north of the border, the Glasgow show is the main one to look out for.
Running from February 2nd to 5th, the Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show at the Glasgow SECC will feature stands from more than 150 companies, including a major product launch from East Neuk Campervans of Anstruther.
The award-winning van conversion specialists will be unveiling their hotly anticipated Fifer Pod range of campervans at the four-day event.
Details are sparse so far, but if the previous Fifer Touring range (pictured above) is anything to go by then you can expect a high-quality camper, as East Neuk has been honoured by the Caravan Club’s Motor Caravan Design & Drive Awards for three years in a row.
Other attractions planned for the Glasgow show include a chance to take a good look at the brand new range of luxury slide-outs from Eterniti Caravans, as well as dozens of other caravans, motorhomes and accessories on show.
What’s more, visitors can enjoy ‘A Touch of Scotland’, a new exhibit that brings together the very best of food and drink from the local area.
Advance tickets are on sale now and are available until 31st January 2012 at the price of £7 for adults and £6 for seniors, while children under 16 go free.
To book now call the organiser’s ticket hotline on 0844 395 4000
Britain’s biggest bull makes for unusual caravan park pet
There’s a rather unusual attraction drawing visitors to the Dulhorn Farm and Caravan Park in Somerset, and it’s no ordinary bull.
A giant steer called Field Marshall patrols the farm and is proving to be a rather large tourist attraction.
Standing at a huge 6ft 4 inches, the caravan park is now waiting for Guinness to confirm that he is the biggest bull in Britain, the Daily Mail reported.
Farmer Gary Bowden has looked after Field Marshall since his previous owner, Arthur Duckett, died last year.
“He’s very docile – which is fortunate because you wouldn’t want him running around angry. People are just amazed by him,” Mr Bowden told the national newspaper.
Field Marshall is now taking part in a ‘guess the weight’ competition, which will help raise money for the Dorset Air Ambulance.
On a hearty diet, the giant animal has stopped growing in height but Mr Bowden predicts that he may have put on a few pounds since he took part in a similar competition last year.
“I would say although he hasn’t grown in height since then he’s definitely thickened up,” Mr Bowden said.
Caravan crash spreads ‘Marmite’ all over the M1
A major clean-up operation was underway on Monday night after a lorry carrying over 20 tonnes of what was thought to be Marmite crashed into a caravan, spilling its contents all over the M1.
The motorway had to be closed in both directions after the HGV overturned following its collision with the caravan on a South Yorkshire stretch of the motorway between junctions 32 and 33.
The Environment agency was called to deal with the spillage, amid fears that the substance, which turned out to be waste yeast from a brewery, would find its way into the local waterways.
“Brewers yeast can have a devastating impact on wildlife in watercourses because it strips the water of oxygen, suffocating the fish,” Environment Agency area incident controller Colin Atkinson told the BBC.
Working together with the Highways Agency to contain the yeast, the Environment Agency prevented it from flowing into a nearby brook and river.
Officers will continue to check the water levels to ensure that no pollution made its way into the waterways.
SsangYong Korando 4×4 ready to take on UK towcar market
by Chris Jefferies
In recent years, Korean cars have come to be recognised as a byword for great value and reliable towing ability, and now there’s a new name to add to the list.
Following in the footsteps of Kia, Hyundai and Daewoo is SsangYong, which has recently relaunched its range of heavy-duty motors, including an appearance at last month’s NCC Motorhome & Caravan Show.
The three-model range includes the Rodius people carrier and the beefy Rexton 4×4, but the most interesting (and certainly the most attractive) is the Korando crossover.
Towcar buyers will surely be tempted by the generous towing limit of 2,000kg, which is twinned with an affordable price tag of under £17,000 for the front-wheel drive version and £21,445 for the four-wheel drive variant.
As well as its compatriots the Hyundai ix35 and the Kia Sportage, the Korando will also have to compete with some popular Japanese rivals such as the Mitsubishi ASX and the Nissan Qashqai, which is one of the best-selling cars in the UK at the moment.
To help crack the European market, SsangYong has hired Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to style the Korando and the result is certainly pleasing on the eye.
With a sculpted front end and streamlined roof complimenting the elevated ride height, this certainly looks every inch as attractive as the competition.
Pulling power
When it comes to towing, it’s clear that the Korean have kept caravanners firmly in mind – as they claim that the Korando’s monocoque chassis allows for safe towing up to almost 100% of its two-tonne gross vehicle weight.
Those sticking to the more traditional 85% kerb weight rule can comfortably tow 1,400kg of tourer behind them. Meanwhile a five-year limitless mileage warrantee makes for added peace of mind.
There are three trims levels to choose from (S, ES and EX), with the entry-level Korandos featuring cruise control, Hill Start Assist and reverse parking sensors as standard, while the top-end versions come with a sunroof, climate control, leather upholstery and heated front and rear seats.
A detachable Witter towbar (complete with electrics) can be added an optional extra for £602 and there are seven body colours to choose from, but no matter what you pick, the price remains on the right side of £24,000.
SsangYong may be a new name to many British caravanners, but it won’t be for long, with this appealingly affordable range due to make a big impression in 2012.
The SsangYong Korando has been nominated for the CaravanTimes Top Towcar of 2011 award. To vote for your favourite tourer, caravan park and dealer, and be entered into our prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle, click here.
Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes
Elddis Xplore: The UK’s lightest caravans have lost even more weight
Finding out that the perfect caravan you had your eyes on is just too heavy for your car can be a massive disappointment, nevermind the shock you get when you realise just how much fuel towing it will guzzle.
Well not so the Elddis Xplore range, which is the lightest caravan range in the UK.
Boasting two, four and six-berth models, the award-winning range features the lightest tourers in each size, and the caravans have been on a diet over the summer to shave off even more weight.
Cutting the waistline of all of the touring caravans in the range, Elddis has used the most advanced materials since they first began making caravans in 1964 to help cut down the weights.
Elddis said in a statement: “Our Xplore range of modern and affordable touring caravans were always the lightest in the Elddis range, but after these additional weight reductions the range now boasts the lightest caravans in the UK.”
Now even lighter and easier to tow, the County Durham-based ‘vanmaker has reassured us that there has been no compromise on the quality or integrity of the Xplores and they are still built to the same high specs.
Nor have they sacrificed on the payload either. The 302, 304 and 506 models offer healthy payloads of 132kgs, 152kg and 198kgs respectively.
The lightest of them all is the two-berth 302, weighing in with a Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) of 930kgs.
Winning both the Caravan Club’s Design Award and the Lightweight Leisure Trailer Award, the Xplore 302 also comes with the new Whale underfloor heating system, which as well as freeing up space inside, makes it an all-weather model fit for winter action.
Even the six-berth Xplore 506 only comes in at a featherweight MTPLM of 1,365kgs making it the lightest caravan with six beds currently on the market, so despite its size it is still capable of being towed by most family cars.
The Elddis Xplore has been nominated for the CaravanTimes 2011 Innovation Award. To vote for your favourite tourer, caravan park and dealer, and be entered into our prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle, click here.
Bailey Caravans claims 2mpg fuel saving for drivers towing an Orion
by Chris Jefferies
It seems the environmentally conscious souls over at Bailey Caravans aren’t content with being a major touring manufacturer – they want to save the world as well.
In conjunction with the University of Bath, the Alu-Tech ‘vanmakers have recently completed a two-year study into the environmental impacts of caravanning.
The findings show that the average caravan consumes around 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its lifetime, which is roughly 60 per cent of the amount that your average family car is responsible for.
Some caravan enthusiasts may well boast about how their hobby is “greener” than flying across the world, and while this is undoubtedly true, the carbon footprint of towing can’t be ignored.
The Bailey study estimates that around 70 per cent of the CO2 consumed by a caravan comes from the extra fuel that your car gets through while towing.
Lighter is greener
For this reason, it makes sense to look for ever lighter caravans and, handily enough, Bailey has just this year launched the class-leading Orion range, which is five per cent lighter, layout per layout, than a similarly specced caravan.
What’s more, the University of Bath study showed that towing a super-lightweight Bailey Orion can save you up to 2mpg at the pumps, when compared with a traditionally constructed caravan.
Part of this is down to the aerodynamic bodyshell, which is curved at the back as well as at the front, allowing air to slip over the surface more easily.
To further cut down on your fuel consumption, Bailey has also advised regular caravanners to tow with empty water tanks and, if possible, empty larder cupboards as well.
For more towing advice from the Bristol-based manufacturers, pick up the latest edition of the Caravan Club’s Discover Touring magazine.
The Bailey Orion has been nominated for Caravan of the Year 2011 in the annual CaravanTimes Readers’ Poll. To vote for your favourite tourer, caravan park and dealer, and be entered into our prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle, click here.
Take care when towing as potholes on the increase, AA says
A survey by the AA’s army of Streetwatchers has found that roads up and down the UK are plagued with potholes, even though winter hasn’t properly begun yet.
Conducting the research, the AA team spent an hour walking around their neighbourhoods, recording nine different road and path-related problems, including the pesky potholes.
Results showed that the average pothole count per Streetwatcher was up to 14.9 compared to 12.5 last year.
President of the AA, Edmund King, said: “Drivers don’t want to spend the winter trying to zig-zag round even more potholes and paying out when their cars are damaged by repairable road defects.”
Highways authorities need to get on top of the problem, as compensation claims will soar when cold weather hits roads and they start to break up even more, he added.
Potholes are defined in the survey as at least six inches in diameter and no less than two inches deep.
Triple-axle Airstream makes an ideal showroom for American design duo
by Chris Jefferies
Renowned for years as the most glamorous of caravans, Airstream has been a household name for more than 70 years, and now a Californian design team has found a new use for the original King of the Road.
The Aetherstream is the brainchild of former film producers Jonah Smith and Palmer West, who came up with the idea as a more affordable way of taking their outdoor clothing line Aether Apparel across the US on a coast-to-coast tour.
After its public debut last month, the Aetherstream garnered widespread interest from both fashion and design gurus such as GQ and Inhabitat, but this project also gives ambitious caravanners plenty to admire.
Stripped to the bare bones
Jonah and Palmer have been long-time admirers of Airstream caravans, but when they finally purchased their own version of the classic tourer they were thoroughly ruthless in stripping out the interior – after all, they wanted to build a shop on wheels, instead of a home on wheels.
With the help of French designer Thierry Gaugain, the Aether team came up with the idea for a pop-up shop that incorporated display cabinets, a changing room, a wooden worktop in the centre and a real working fireplace.
A sizeable shell was needed to contain all these bold ideas, so the Airstream that was chosen was the gigantic PanAmerica triple-axle model, which measures 34 feet from nose-to-tail.
The boys then needed a renovation expert to take on the job of ripping out the interior, and so they turned to Rod Beltran at D&G Trailer.
Convincing an Airstream lover to gut out all the insides of such an antique was a tricky process and Rod’s initial reaction was less than enthusiastic: “You want to do what? Take it all out? What, like, all of it?”
Eventually, he reluctantly agreed and the team set about refitting the floorboards with reclaimed oaked panels, before adding Parisian light fittings and partly respraying the exterior in matte black with Aether decals.
A mobile man cave
Once the basics had been taken care of, the Aether Apparal team set about making their new tourer unique, with a custom-designed leather couch in the nose end and a real working fireplace.
The latter proved to be a real challenge, with American Homeland Security taking exception to their wood-burning stove, which had to be imported from Canada.
With everything in place, the team were delighted with the finished look, triumphantly describing it as “the ultimate guy’s workshop, an adventure lab on wheels, a mobile man cave.”
After several weeks of hard work, the Aetherstream finally opened its doors to the people of Los Angeles on October 8th.
Since then, the team have moved on to New York City, with the help of a custom-painted Land Rover Defender working as their sturdy towcar (and bringing a touch of British class to the whole project).
Given its enormous size, it’s unlikely we’ll see the Aetherstream on British roads any time soon, but it just goes to show what you can achieve with a classic caravan, a few licks of paint and plenty of ambition.
Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes
Caravan Times Newsletter
Enter your email below to receive regular updates in our Caravan Times Newsletter.