Sussex caravan show offers chance to tow home a winter bargain

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

This weekend keen caravanners will have the chance to grab a bargain at Sussex Caravan & Motorhome Centre’s November Show, which kicks-off today.

The eagerly-awaited sale event looks to be even bigger than last year’s, with the centre pitching Coachman, Elddis and Lunar models to the caravan-loving public.

Running from Friday 25th until Monday November 28th, the show had to be postponed slightly because of a delay in Coachman Caravans getting their 2012 ranges delivered, but now all is all ready and raring to go.

It’s sure to have a huge turn-out, so anyone who is thinking of part-exchanging their current caravan would do well to call in advance.

What’s more, the Sussex team will be serving up some hearty homemade soup with a hunk of warm crusty bread to go with it. Visitors to the show will also be able to nibble on mince pies and Yule log to keep things in the festive spirit.

Meanwhile, those of you who have had your eye on the Elddis Sussex Special Edition tourers will be pleased to hear that for the duration of the show it will be sold at the same price as standard models.

This means that you could snap up £2,000 worth of extras for free, including an awning warmer, a large Heki rooflight and a memory foam mattress (fixed bed models only).

Entrance to the show is free. For more information, call the Sussex centre team on 01903 893 666.

Caravan Club to make Chelsea Flower Show debut in 2012

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A garden complete with a caravan is set to cause quite a stir at next year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

For the traditionalists it may look slightly out of place, but Jo Thompson’s ‘Staycation’ garden, which is sponsored by the Caravan Club, is intended to capture what it means to go on holiday in Britain.

Drawing on her experiences caravanning with her children, Jo’s stunningly designed garden will revolve around a vintage steel caravan with bags of character.

A celebration of caravanning, the garden is far removed from what many visitors to the Royal Horticultural Society show are used to, where classic designs such as Japanese water gardens and wild meadows usually take centre stage.

“The idea for the garden came about after seeing the fantastic collection of retro style trailers on the Isle of Wight whilst on holiday last year and seeing people relish in the nostalgia of such a holiday,” said Jo.

“I am hoping that everyone will find some detail in the garden that reminds them of the things they like about holidaying in the UK.”

The designer from Kent unveiled the plans for her 10m x 10m large show garden on Wednesday (November 23rd) and it will feature on the Main Avenue at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show from Tuesday May 22nd until Sunday May 26th.

No way caravan park could become the next Dale Farm, says owner

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A landowner who plans to sell his plot to make way for a caravan park has said that locals worried the site could turn into the next Dale Farm are “just scaremongering”.

Freddie Smith, who lives in Caistor, Lincolnshire, plans to sell his bungalow and the adjoining land to businessman Phil Manning so he can build a 40-pitch caravan park on the 1.7-hectare site.

However, following objections from the local Brigg Road Residents group, Mr Smith has said that the idea the caravan park would turn into an illegal travelers’ site like the one in Essex are “ridiculous”, the Market Rasen Mail reported.

Planning permission has been requested to create the park, which would have a shop, a cafe and space for 20 tents, but locals have complained that it would make the road dangerous and could turn into another Dale Farm.

In fact it is quite the opposite, says Mr Smith, who believes that the park would be good for the town by attracting people and business.

“It will bring people into the town and they will spend their money in the town and use the amenities around the area,” he told the newspaper.

A slip road at the entrance is included in the plans, which should remove the danger of caravans entering and exiting the site without permission, Mr Smith added.

Top Gear unearths vintage photo of Formula 5000 towcar

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

You could be forgiven for thinking that Top Gear has a bit of a vendetta against caravans.

Not content with occasional casual violence directed towards defenseless tourers, James May set about trying to have caravans permanently removed from Britain’s roads, a quest he thankfully didn’t succeed in.

Meanwhile, Richard Hammond (who is a secret caravan lover) has tried to break the land speed record while towing a caravan, and failed in characteristically comical fashion.

Perhaps he might have had more luck if he’d tried this unique outfit (pictured above), which the BBC show has described as “road, caravan and car in perfect harmony”.

An image has surfaced on the Top Gear website showing an unknown caravan being towed by nothing less than a Formula 5000 car.

Though it dates back to the late 1960s, we’d risk a bet that this is one of the fastest towcars going, even if it can only manage particularly lightweight models.

Earlier this year, Top Gear achieved another caravanning first by modifying five tourers to create a low-cost train for the credit-crunch generation. Needless to say, this experiment also ended in a spectacular disaster.

Friendly Club Peak District site gets green light for winter extension

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A caravan park in the Peak District is celebrating after it was given the go-ahead to improve its site and lengthen its opening season.

The Bakewell Camping and Caravanning Club Site on Hopping Lane in Derbyshire will now be able to open for an extra three months each year, on the condition that fewer caravans are permitted on-site through winter.

Permission has also been granted by the Peak District National Park Authority for the Caravan Club to carry out upgrades on the site, including resurfacing 22 of its existing pitches and building a new motorhome service point, the Buxton Advertiser reported.

The Youlgrave site also received planning permission to alter its track and construct a new caravan storage facility.

John Herbert, chair of the planning committee, told the local newspaper: “In approving the application we have put in place conditions that address some of the concerns of local people.”

“We have been able to advise the applicant on appropriate improvements that benefit people and the environment.”

Mr Herbert added that the improvements will create a less visually intrusive site.

Under the regulations imposed by the Park Authority, the Club has to begin the work within three years, while no caravan or tent is allowed to be occupied for more than four consecutive weeks.

VW Passat Alltrack: Popular saloon towcar gets off-road upgrade

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
When it comes to picking an ideal towcar, many caravanners opt for the spacious practicality of a family saloon, while others plump for the rugged towing ability of a 4×4. But what if you could have both in one car?
Well the boffins at Volkswagen think they have cracked this conundrum with the VW Passat Alltrack, which is due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan next week.
As these exclusive images show, the changes made to the exterior are subtle, with only a few tweaks to the front and rear bumpers.

Instead it’s under the bonnet where Volkswagen has really gone to town, as the Off-Road Driving Programme from the VW Touareg has been imported; something that the German carmakers think will help improve this saloon’s towing ability.
This system manages the electronic differential, ABS, torque control, hill descent and gearbox shift points to make for easier manoeuvring off road – perfect for accessing those more obscure caravan sites.
What’s more, the ride height has been raised from 135 to 165mm, which will help to significantly improve the ramp breakaway angle from 9.5 degrees to 12.8 degrees.
Engine options are restricted to a 2.0-litre TDI engine with a choice of 142bhp or 172bhp variants, while prices are expected to be in the region of £26,000.
This is almost £1,000 cheaper than the equivalent Volvo XC70 and nearly three grand less than an Audi A4 Allroad.
For your money you get plenty of fancy features as standard, including climate control air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth and Sat Nav.
If this ticks all your boxes, then you can expect to be able to place an order at your local Volkswagen dealership from April next year.
The Volkswagen Passat Estate 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

More caravanners flying south for the winter, says Friendly Club

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

More and more caravanners are abandoning Britain’s frosty shores for more exotic climates this winter, according to new figures recently released by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

The Club has reported a massive rise in the number of holidaymakers booking up for its European Winter Sun Rallies, with almost two-thirds (61 per cent) more getting involved this winter season than last.

Rallies are held in numerous European destinations, including Spain and Portugal, and are organised by members of the Club on behalf of its Carefree Travel Service.

“Many holidaymakers decide against camping abroad generally due to their fear of the unknown, so it’s encouraging to see that so many people are now looking to enjoy new camping experiences in foreign countries,” said Richard Grimsdale, the Club’s travel services director.

He added that the Carefree Winter Sun Rallies offer caravanners the chance to holiday together while enjoying the warm European weather.

For those who don’t fancy a trip abroad with their tourer, however, the Club also runs 109 award-winning sites all across the UK.

Used Caravan of the Week: 1990 Weippert Spezial

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Large continental caravans have always carried with them a certain gypsy affiliation, but this colossal German tourer actually used to be the home of a family of circus performers.
This 20-year-old model has been modified quite significantly, and as a result you get unbeatable levels of interior space from a caravan that is eight feet wide.
The main reason for this is that the central dinette has been removed and there is no washroom, but the Teutonic build quality should be enough to reassure any would-be buyers.

History
Weippert is a German company synonymous with luxury, and their most recent range retails for around 60,000 euros, making the £1,500 asking price of this model seem like a snip by comparison.
This particular tourer began life as a six-berth, but with the removal of the bunk bed dinette it now can sleep four in spacious comfort, thanks to a convertible double in the rear and a fixed double in the front end.
Other modifications include some emulsion on the inside walls, and a tasteful coat of varnish on the wood panelling.
As you might expect from a foreign van, the door is on the opposite site, which may cause problems on caravan sites with small pitches.
The seller also admits to a few bumps on the exterior and a hole in one of the bedroom’s sliding glass doors. Nonetheless, we are assured that there is no damp and the tourer is “totally watertight”, despite its advanced years.
Kit and Caboodle
All the original wood is still in place, while you get an (untested) three-way fridge freezer, a gas hob, 240v hook-up, and a Trumatic blown-air gas heating, but no hot water system.
There’s certainly plenty of space inside for a creative renovator to go to town, but you’ll have to be mindful of not pushing the overall weight much higher – with an MTPLM of 1,800kg already, this twin-axle is definitely one for 4WD towcar owners only.
Despite the obvious drawbacks, this classified listing is attracting a lot of interest on eBay, with more than 3,000 views at the time of writing, so you may need to put your offer in soon to snare this German giant.

  • Price: £1,500 (or nearest offer)
  • MTPLM: 1,800kg
  • Internal Width: 8’0″
  • External Length: 28’0″
  • Berth: 4
  • Axle: Twin

Click here to make an offer on this 1990 Weippert Spezial for sale


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Ten cars and a caravan destroyed in farmyard arson attack

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Police are appealing for information after a suspected arson attack at a farm in Bolton destroyed a caravan, a converted bus and ten cars.

Firefighters rushed to the scene at Fernhill Farm, Astley Bridge, shortly after 11pm on Thursday night (November 17th) and spent over two hours battling the flames, the Bolton News reported.

The caravan was completely destroyed and some of the cars were left as burnt-out shells after a fire started in the farm’s storage yard, close to the livery stables.

A campervan which had been converted from an old single-decker bus was also badly damaged in the blaze.

It appears as though the cars – which were due to be sold on eBay and were just being stored at the farm – might have been the main target in the attack.

Richard Smith, whose horses live in the stables and trailer is stored in the yard, said he was relieved that his animals were not hurt in the fire.

“It looks deliberate but I don’t know why they are targeting these cars,” he told the newspaper.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 8725050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Caravan park sees its extension plans scuppered by local council

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A Scarborough holiday park has seen its expansion plans go down the drain after local planning chiefs rejected its proposals.

The award-winning Flower of May Holiday Park in North Yorkshire has submitted an application to expand the number of caravan pitches onto its nine-hole golf course, while relocating its camping area.

Unfortunately for bosses at the site, planning chiefs at Scarborough Council dismissed their application over fears that it would put too much stress on the drainage system, the Filey and Hunmanby Mercury reported.

Planners also claimed that more caravans at the park would have a detrimental visual impact on the area.

In its report on the application, Scarborough Council said: “The development is not essential within the open countryside and will detract from its open, expansive, landscape character, due to the introduction of tents on the highest part of the golf course.”

A neighbour who was opposed to the park’s plans said the proposals needed to be ripped up to prevent the “creeping encroachment” towards the village, the local newspaper added.

The Flower of May Holiday Park has been graded as a five-star holiday park by Enjoy England and has previously won the AA five-pennant Holiday Park of the Year award.

Elddis Diamond Jubilee: Photos and layouts for new luxury range

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
The terribly patriotic souls over at Elddis Caravans have done their bit to celebrate our dear old Queen’s upcoming Diamond Jubilee, with the launch of a special range of limited edition caravans.
Fittingly named as ‘Elddis Diamond Jubilee’, these tourers are based on the hallmark Elddis Crusader range, but with a few luxury modifications.
Previously the only place that punters could view these limited edition ‘vans was at the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show, but full details and pictures have been released today (November 21st).

The interior design in this sophisticated range is based on Elddis’ highly popular Aspire range of motorhomes, with granite-effect worktops and hand-crafted dark wood cabinets, which offer class-leading storage space.
This brings a thoroughly modern, monochrome feel to the decor, whilst retaining all the benefits that you would expect from an Elddis Crusader.
One-piece aluminium sides and a GRP underskin add to the tourer’s durability, while the Grade III thermal insulation and Alde heating system make for a cosy experience all year round.
In terms of layouts it’s business as usual, with all six Crusader configurations imported wholesale, ranging from the four-berth Shamal to the six-berth Tempest.
For all this extra luxury there is a price to pay, however, as the Shamal layout is £700 dearer and all the other versions will set you back £800 more than their Crusader counterparts.
Diamond Jubilee brochures are available to order from Elddis right now, and orders can be placed at any approved Elddis dealership.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Caravan Club warns holidaymakers about EU low emission zones

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
With governments and local authorities across Europe looking to crack down on carbon emissions, it’s becoming harder and harder to keep the costs of towing down.
For this reason, the Caravan Club has issued new guidance on how best to avoid low emissions zones when taking your tourer on a European adventure.
As well as the English cities of London, Oxford and Norwich, several popular European destinations have restrictions in place, which can catch out those driving a unit with higher carbon emissions levels.
Italy and Germany are the most common places where you may encounter Low Emission Zones (or LEZs), with Florence, Frankfurt and Stuttgart all affected.
Fortunately the family favourites of France and Spain are not included in this kind of scheme, but those planning a holiday to Holland or Belgium should also be aware that they may need to pay extra fees.
The Caravan Club has advised all towcar drivers and motorhome owners to keep documentary proof of their unit’s emissions standard with them at all times.
What’s more, buying an overseas caravan guide can help you to understand how these laws affect each region, the club suggests.
A full list of the European Union’s LEZs can be found online here, but adventurous caravanners are also advised to check with the local authorities at their destination before setting off.