by Chris Jefferies
Fixed single beds layouts are undergoing something of a renaissance at the moment, with Elddis, Bailey and Adria all offering new caravans with this family-friendly configuration. Best for families with teenage kids, this layout had previously been reserved for top-end tourers, but the new Elddis Avante 574 offers a much more affordable option.
For those looking for a bit more luxury, there’s the Bailey Pegasus Rimini, which offers more premium trim as standard. Finally, there’s the new Adria Astella 613HT, which benefits from a super-wide European-style bodyshell, giving you a much more spacious interior. All three of these tourers were on show at the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show last month and we took a look inside to see how they compare.
Used Caravan of the Week: 1989 Abbey Executive 360
by Chris Jefferies
Much of the debate in our forum recently has been regarding what caravanners can do without – would you go without an oven? Can you live without a shower?
Removing these luxuries reduces the weight and makes a caravan much easier to tow and indeed, this used to be the norm with manufacturers of yore.
For this week’s Used Caravan of the Week, we have tracked down a caravan that fits this brief, in the form of a very well-preserved Abbey from the 1980s.
With no oven, shower or even toilet, this dinky tourer offers back-to-basics caravanning, with the flipside being an unladen weight of just 635kg, meaning most road-going cars could tow this with ease.
History
As a brand, Abbey Caravans was retired in 2009 by its owners Swift Group, but these well-built tourers can still be regularly found on the used caravan market.
This particular example is the two-berth Executive 360, which features the classic layout of a convertible double in the front and an offside bathroom in the rear, along with a nearside rear kitchenette.
Despite the fact that this ‘van is well into its twenties, the eBay listing describes it as being “generally in good condition” and the accompanying images certainly bear testament to that.
Kit and Caboodle
Spec levels are a little more basic than you may have come to expect in modern caravans, with no toilet in the washroom, but the seller assures us that there is room enough to fit one.
What you do get is a twin-burner gas hob and grill, an Electrolux three-way refrigerator, and a Carver Trumatic SB1800 gas heater, with instruction manuals included for the last two.
For further peace of mind, you also get service documents dating back to 2002, to help you spot the potential pitfalls before buying.
The front living area is definitely the main selling point, as it can be converted into a very spacious double bed, which is “large enough for three people” (at a push).
Ample shelving space is provided by seven overhead lockers, as well as two underseat storage lockers and a wardrobe with a three-quarter length mirror on both doors.
What’s more, a distinct effort has been made to bring this tourer up to date, with white hubcaps, a re-laminated floor and a brand new fitted carpet throughout living room and kitchen area.
Other things worth noting are the faulty smoke alarm and a small amount of damp, although this has been rectified and the seller claims it is “now 100% watertight”.
Granted this could hardly be described as a luxury choice, but anyone looking for a compact starter caravan should seriously consider this little Abbey, as it looks like a great bargain.
- Price: £575 (or nearest offer)
- MTPLM: Unladen weight 635kg, max loaded weight 850kg
- Delivery: Collection only, from Norwich
- Shipping Length: 16’0″
- Berth: 2
- Axle: Single
Click here to make an offer on this 1989 Abbey Executive 360 for sale
Caravan parks sponsor record fireworks show for Somerset town
by Arash Hekmat
Some of the leading parks for caravans in the south-west pitted together to fund a fantastic seafront fireworks display last weekend.
Home Farm Caravan Park, Newcombe Caravan Park, Highbridge Caravan Centre, Sandyglade Caravan Park and Dolphin Caravan Park were among the local businesses supporting the Burnham-on-Sea extravaganza.
Holidaymakers staying in caravans at these sites were able to attend the free fireworks show, which attended a record crowd for the Somerset town.
The display was primarily funded by the Town Council, with Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village and Unity Farm Holiday Centre also contributing to the event.
Guy Fawkes Night is one of the biggest festival dates on the calendar in the run-up to the Christmas period, and gave people all over the country plenty of reason to stay out in the cool November air for a few hours over the weekend.
Speaking to Burnham-on-sea.com about the success of the event, mayor Michael Clarke said: “It was a fantastic show that greatly exceeded expectations and it was wonderful to see a record large crowd on the seafront enjoying the display.”
The 25-minute spectacle was accompanied by music and involved fireworks provided by Skyburst Illuminations.
Elddis Caravans to relaunch Crusader Hurricane at February Excel Show
by Chris Jefferies
Couples looking forward to a luxury touring experience in 2012 will have yet another option to choose from, as Elddis Caravans has today announced the return of the Crusader Hurricane.
Caravan connoisseurs will recognise the name from its previous incarnation and the 2012 Hurricane will also be a two-berth single-axle tourer with an end bathroom.
This popular layout is also seen on the Bailey Unicorn Seville and the Swift Conqueror 480, but Elddis claims that their version will offer discerning caravanners “true lightweight luxury”.
Details are being kept under wraps so far, with weights, prices and photos all still to come – the company is simply promising that this new model will be “one of the most luxurious two-berth caravans available on the UK market”.
The Crusader Hurricane will be making its public debut in February of next year at the inaugural Motorhome Caravan and Camping Show at the London Excel centre, which will effectively replace the recently cancelled NEC Boat and Caravan Show.
Best of the rest
Other highlights that Elddis fans can look forward to at the new London show include the introduction of a four-berth motorhome for the luxury Aspire range.
Known as the Elddis Aspire 265, this new motorhome will feature an L-shaped dinette in the front, a fixed double bed at the rear and a spacious bathroom.
What’s more, show visitors will also get a chance to see the Limited Edition Diamond Jubilee Range, which was premiered at last month’s NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show.
This range, which is based on the Crusader collection, features the luxury interior from the Aspire motorhome range, including craftsman-built furniture in Boston Walnut with contrasting cream feature lockers and Aquaclean upholstery in ‘Botanique’, all of which comes as standard.
Caravan park raises over £2,000 for Alder Hey children’s hospital
Generous caravan owners and campers have helped a caravan park in Flintshire, North Wales, raise over £2,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The charity-minded caravanners at Fron Farm Caravan Park have been holding fundraising events while on holiday at the site since the season began back in April.
Now that the site has closed for the winter the park’s owners Ceri and Dylan Roberts have presented the famous hospital with the £2,390 they raised, the Flintshire Chronicle reported.
Speaking to the local newspaper, Ceri said: “Thank you to everyone who has been camping here at Fron Farm Caravan Park this season and supported this excellent cause.”
She added that some of their customers have children who have been looked after at Alder Hey so the whole park was happy to get behind the cause.
Some of the events at the park included a royal wedding disco, cake bake sales and a Halloween fancy dress competition and with the park set to reopen again in April they are all looking forward to another season of fundraising.
New law protects NI caravanners against unscrupulous site owners
Caravan owners in Northern Ireland can thank the local government after a new law protecting their rights became officially operational.
All caravan park owners should now have issued full written agreements to caravanners renting a pitch on their site under the regulations set down by the Caravans Act Northern Ireland 2011 which went live last week (November 3rd).
The main aim of the Act is to crate clear and transparent terms of agreements so that caravan owners know exactly where they stand when it comes to the contract they have for their pitch.
Written contracts are now mandatory and not only offer caravanners increased protection but also give them a greater say in the way their site is managed.
This also relates to static caravans, as in the past many owners found that their site could impose unfair restrictions on them when they wished to sell their holiday home, claiming terms that were perhaps not mentioned in the original verbal agreement.
This could involve things such as vetting potential buyers or charging commission on the sale, but as a result of the new law only terms specified in the written agreement will be permitted.
In great news for caravanners across Northern Ireland, it is estimated that the new Act will benefit 13,500 holiday caravan owners currently renting pitches in the country.
Discover Leisure customers ‘unlikely’ to get their caravan deposit back
by Chris Jefferies
When the UK’s largest dealer network announced last month that it had gone into administration, many caravanners feared the worst from Discover Leisure.
With deposits taken from several unsuspecting customers at the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show and many more relying on Discover for repair work under their warranty, doubts were raised as to the company’s ability to fulfil its obligations.
This week, Caravan Times has spoken to administrators KPMG to get an update on the current situation and there is some good news and some bad news.
Alison Anderson, spokesperson for KPMG, said: “Customers who have paid deposits are invited by the administrator to complete a form to register as an unsecured creditor. However, we would warn people who have paid deposits that it is unlikely that there will be sufficient funds to provide a return.”
This will affect only those who paid by debit card or cash, she added, since credit card customers can apply for a “recharge” from their bank or credit card provider.
Ms Anderson continued by saying: “With regards customers who have used storage on site or were undergoing warranty repair work – virtually all of these customers have been liaised with, bar a tiny handful, who we are struggling to contact. The vast majority have their caravans back or moved elsewhere.”
Any customers who still haven’t had their issue resolved are advised to call KPMG on their dedicated Discover Leisure helpline: 0845 617 1490
Caravan construction down 15.2 per cent this summer, NCC reveals
This year has seen a squeeze on the caravan industry with the number of tourers built in the quarter between July and September down on the same period last year.
New figures published by the National Caravan Council (NCC) revealed that some 4,987 touring caravans were constructed in the third quarter of this year, a fall of 15.2 per cent on the 5,879 from 2010.
This means that so far in 2011, just 24,111 tourers had been built in the UK by the end of September, GlassGuide.co.uk reported.
According to the NCC statistics, the number of tourers bought between June and August came in at 5,741 – a slight decrease (four per cent) on the 5,981 sold during those months last year.
Interestingly, it seems that caravanners are increasingly favouring four, five and six berth caravans.
A recent survey by Glass’s found that while demand for two-berth models appears to be declining, four, five and six-berthers are seeing level or increase demand compared to last year.
Honda unveils pictures of the brand new CR-V 4X4
Japanese carmaker Honda has released the very first images of their brand new CR-V, staying true to the popular design of the great towcar.
Last week we reported how the CR-V came third in a poll of the most reliable 4x4s on the market, but now Honda has unveiled a brand new version which is sure to tempt caravanners.
Honda fans had been expecting official pictures to be released in the summer but they didn’t materialise, only to suddenly appear on the company’s website this weekend.
Staying true to its original concept, Honda have packed in a load of new body features into the latest CR-V, Autocar revealed.
A three-bar horizontal grille shouts much louder than the current model’s, with slimline headlights now flanking both sides.
Honda also seem to have enrolled the CR-V in the local gym, with sculpted bodywork and more exaggerated side sills featured on the latest offering.
One thing not yet certain however is the engine configuration, though it’s a safe bet that it will be similar to the current CR-V, which has a choice of a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2 litre diesel engine under its bonnet.
Bailey invests in new machinery after £13m NEC Show sales
If the Bristol-based caravan maker Bailey is anything to go by, the future of the UK caravan market is looking very healthy.
At the recent Motorhome and Caravan Show, the company received more than £13 million in retail orders.
Bailey’s order book is now stacked up so far into the new year it has had to invest in more equipment to increase production capabilities.
The Bristol-based manufacturer has committed to a £250,000 spend on new capital equipment as it looks to increase the rate at which it can produce its quality caravans and motorhomes.
Bailey’s unique Alu-Tech construction system which it now uses in all of its models puts big demand on its laminating plant, a key part in the production process of its strong, fully laminated body shell panels.
The new equipment will allow Bailey to increase the capacity at the plant to keep up with the demand as it works its way through its orders.
Coachman Caravans first to adopt new Truma heating system
The British caravan maker Coachman has announced that it will be the first manufacturer to fit its caravans with the brand new Truma timed central heating system.
Coachman is set to be the only company whose caravans will boast the Combi boiler system this year, with its VIP and Pastiche ranges this year both sporting the revolutionary new heater.
Featuring a custom-made timer panel with a back-lit LCD display screen, caravanners are able to take advantage of a fully-programmable system allowing them to set their heating and water to exactly the right levels.
Martin Fitzpatrick, Coachman’s Sales Director, said: “Truma worked jointly with our technical department to deliver this control system, which is simple to use and can provide heating instantly or on a timer.”
He added that in opting for the system, Coachman is very confident that they have chosen the right system to meet their customers’ needs.
Boat and Caravan Show 2012 cancelled after industry pulls support
The organisers of the oldest show in the industry have been forced to cancel Boat and Caravan 2012, citing a lack of support from caravan manufacturers and dealers.
Ocean Media were due to host the popular show between 21-26 February 2012 at the NEC in Birmingham. The firm has also been forced to cancel the Outdoor Leisure Show, which made its debut earlier this year alongside the established Boat and Caravan brand.
The sudden move follows a year in which industry body the National Caravan Council launched its own events, beginning with last month’s Motorhome and Caravan Show in Birmingham.
Following a failure to secure the Boat and Caravan tenancy at the NEC next year, NCC Events then scheduled a new February show in London for 2012 – an event which ultimately contributed to the end of Boat and Caravan.
A lack of support
In a statement earlier today, Ocean Media explained the decision to cancel the show “has been taken because of a lack of support from the caravan manufacturers and their dealers, despite having strong support from all other parts of the show”.
The exhibition organisers described having “consulted in particular [with] caravan dealers” to establish that a national show was needed to support the leisure sector.” In the run up to next February, Ocean had received endorsement from the Camping and Caravanning Club and a number of caravan dealers.
Yet despite this, the dealers eventually felt unable to participate in the show, which Ocean believes “undermined one of the main pillars of the show” and “rendered it no longer viable”.
The end of a 50-year-old brand
With a heritage stretching back over half a century, Boat and Caravan could safely lay claim to being the longest running caravan show in the UK. Having attracted over 87,000 paying visitors to a successful show last February, the cancellation now leaves NCC Events’ February show at London Excel as the only major caravan event for that month.
Ocean Media CEO Trevor Barratt expressed regret at the loss of the show, stating that: “Loyal exhibitors, including a number of caravan dealers and the shows many visitors will feel sorry that due to a lack of support from one element of the industry, the 2012 show has cancelled after more than 50 years.”
Caravan Times Newsletter
Enter your email below to receive regular updates in our Caravan Times Newsletter.