First-time caravanner talks of Carlight restoration project

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by Chris Jefferies

“You can call me stupid if you like, but I saw that caravan and just fell in love with it,” says John Anderson in the kind of voice you normally only hear from an excited schoolboy.

With his first child born only a few months ago and a busy day job in London as a design director, it would be logical to assume that John has more than enough on his plate at the moment, but nonetheless he and his wife Gem are about to embark on a year-long caravan renovation project.

John spotted this 1973 Carlight Caribbean (pictured right) on Caravan Times earlier this summer, when it was featured as Used Caravan of the Week, and he impulsively decided to snap it up for the bargain price of £650.

Despite his rookie status (John has never owned a caravan before and doesn’t even have a suitable towcar yet), he is beginning his epic project with plenty of optimism, due to previous experience doing up Victorian apartments and classic cars, such as VW Beetles.

A family affair

“I got the idea from my wife,” he explains. “She used to go caravanning with her family years ago, and her dad still has a caravan in France.

“Since the baby came along, we realised we wouldn’t be able to take as many big holidays in far-flung locations, so this seemed like a great way to enjoy breaks closer to home.”

This weekend, John is due to collect his prize tourer from its former owner, who used to live in it as her permanent home.
Over the winter he plans to “chip away” at the list of things that need work, but he is already starting to realise the historic quality of the caravan that he has managed to get his hands on.

The Rolls Royce of caravans

Carlight caravans are widely regarded as the epitome of touring luxury, from the coachbuilt quality to the extremely well-appointed interiors.

These models also have significant historical pedigree, as they have been carefully crafted in the UK since before World War Two.

At the turn of the century production came to a shuddering halt, but earlier this summer, the Lincolnshire-based manufacturers set to work again, with a brand new range, the Continental, being launched to considerable industry acclaim.

John is very conscious of the venerable legacy that his new tourer belongs to and hopes to do the Carlight badge proud with his ambitious plans.

“I’d like to do justice to it and do it properly, the pressure is on now. It needs some serious work doing, so I just hope we can pull it off. It’s still early days, but I’m sure there are people out there who know how to get the right bits and pieces,” he said.

John has already announced the beginning of his project in the Caravan Times forum, and we will be following him every step of the way on what promises to be a fascinating renovation job.


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Biba: Choosing the cheapest caravan insurance can be dangerous

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners may be feeling the pinch on their budget this year, but it doesn’t make sense to skimp on insurance, according to a major brokers’ association.

It’s crucially important to make sure caravan insurance meets your needs, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) has claimed, otherwise you can be left dangerously exposed.

Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at Biba, has explained that not all caravan insurance policies are suitable for all customers.

“I think it is important to get good advice when you buy insurance to ensure it meets your needs,” he said. “People just try and buy the cheapest possible. I think that is quite dangerous – they should get it based upon what is appropriate for them.”

The insurance expert added that since most caravans are worth thousands of pounds, they are an investment that needs protecting, especially if you are planning a holiday overseas, which will require a more comprehensive type of policy.

Mr Trudgill continued: “Speak to an insurance broker, they can advise you on the kind of cover to have, the best choice available, and the choice of cover to choose from.”

Christmas caravan packages already on offer at Teversal

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by Chris Malone

While most caravan enthusiasts only take their tourer off on holiday during the summer, others see it as a year-round pursuit.

For this reason, Teversal Camping and Caravanning Club Site is flipping the stereotypical caravan holiday on its head with its unique Christmas camping packages.

Those staying at the park during the festive season have the option of visiting the stunning Lincoln Christmas Market, which will be packed full of cultural entertainment and is set to feature hundreds of stalls throughout the town’s medieval square and cobbled streets.

The other option is a trip to Chatsworth House and Gardens, where the lower floors of the country home will be festively decorated and be used to host a number of unique events, such as nativities, twilight openings and Christmas market stalls.

“Both of our Chatsworth and Lincoln excursions provide the perfect chance for campers to buy their Christmas gifts and soak up the festive atmosphere in two of the country’s most charming locations,” explained Teversal franchisees Chris and Jayne Woods.

As part of this package, caravanners will have access to four nights’ camping on a fully serviced pitch, given return coach transfers and granted entry to the sites, all for £34.80 per person.

Caravan site owners react to our Dogs in Caravans Poll findings

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by Chris Jefferies
Dog-friendly and dog-free caravan sites are both highly popular across the UK, with many camp sites hoping to attract dog lovers, and many others specifically catering for those who value a weekend without barking.
Following on from our latest readers’ survey, Caravan Times has spoken to two camp sites in Devon and Wales to put your comments to the owners and find out where they stand on this divisive issue.
The case against dogs
Anwen Roberts, owner of Barcdy Caravan and Camping Park in Gwynedd, North Wales, is a former dog owner and used to accept dog lovers, but took the tough decision to make her site a dog-free zone after a particularly troublesome Bank Holiday weekend 20 years ago.
“I remember, it was a Spring Bank Holiday and there were nearly as many dogs as people here; some even brought two or three dogs each,” she explained.
“These dogs started howling at each other, and the owners fell out and expected us to settle their arguments. Also, stones had been taken from our walls and used to cover up the dog dirt. That’s when we decided that it just wasn’t worth the trouble.”
Mrs Roberts is not alone in her opinion, as 15 per cent of our readers said that they prefer dog-free caravan sites.

The dog-friendly view
For many others, however, taking the dogs is an integral part of the holiday, and Edward Corwood, Owner of Moor View Touring Park in Devon, tells us that many of his visitors got into caravanning in the first place as a convenient way of taking the dogs with them on holiday.
“We have always been a dog-friendly site. Every dog owner gets a note when they arrive, reminding them of the dos and don’ts. I’d be lying if I said everyone always abides by the rules, but a polite request to clean up after their dog is usually enough,” he said.
Contrary to Mr Corwood’s lenient approach, our survey showed that 79 per cent of caravan owners would be in favour of fining those who fail to clean up after their dogs.
Furthermore, half of Caravan Times readers claimed that dog fees at caravan sites are excessive, while 36 per cent said that most sites do not provide adequate facilities. This is clearly not the case at Moor View, as Mr Corwood explained.
“We charge £1 per night, per dog, up to a maximum of three, and that money is used for the upkeep of our dog walk area. This is a designated space where dogs are allowed off their leads. Everywhere else, they have to be kept on a lead.”
With 91 per cent of Caravan Times readers saying that dogs should always be kept on a lead when on site, it seems that there is at least one thing that almost everyone can agree on.

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Swift, Elddis and Lunar confirmed for free North East caravan show

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by Chris Jefferies

As many proud residents of the North East will tell you, everything is better value up north, and the caravan shows in that part of the country are no different.

Opening next Friday (September 23rd), the Great North Caravan & Motorhome Show is free to visitors, parking is free, and better still, everyone who registers online can claim a VIP Voucher Park, full of great bargains.

As well as the big hitters Swift caravans, the show will also feature stands from Elddis, Buccaneer, Lunar, Sterling, Sprite, T@B, Pennine and Conway.

Motorhome enthusiasts will also be well catered for, as Auto Trail, Rollerteam, Swift Escape and Autocruise will all be at the show in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

As well as the big-name makes, you will also be able to pick up some bargains on various caravan accessories, including solar panels, heaters and awnings from Isabella, DWT and Apache among many others.

What’s more, the organisers have promised something for all the family, with a live band, a bouncy castle, an ice-cream van and other catering options, all being laid on.

Online registration is open now and thousands of caravan enthusiasts are expected to attend this biannual show, which runs daily until Monday 26th September.

Matthew Kinsell, the show’s organiser, said: “The market place demands great prices and we believe our line up of products for this show is simply the best yet.”

Cambridgeshire caravanners on alert after arson attacks

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by Chris Malone

Caravan enthusiasts in the Cambridgeshire area are advised to keep a close eye on their tourers.

According to the Cambs Times, the region is on the lookout for criminals after a shed and caravan were torched by arsonists over the weekend.

The publication revealed that housing associations, the police and fire service have all been called together by the Cambridgeshire Arson Partnership to tackle the problem.

They are hoping to work together on a countywide basis after a successful trial in Peterborough, which more than halved the number of incidents from 2009/10 to 2010/11.

As a result of the crackdown – led by fire officer Martin Boome – the town saw the number of incidents fall from 662 to 313.

The Godmanchester-based officer noted that working together can help stop the arsonists.

“Our aim, first and foremost, is to prosecute people responsible for arson, as this acts as a deterrent to others,” he told the newspaper.

“In the past, firefighters may have seen something important at a scene and it would get forgotten but now it gets recorded and could become evidence.”

Meanwhile, the Sussex express recently reported on one caravanner’s lucky escape after her holiday home caught fire.

Introducing: the Sealander… The caravan that thinks it’s a boat

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by Chris Jefferies and Marie Bleier
Lightweight, micro caravans are often sold as a cheap, convenient way of exploring the great outdoors, but none of them can have such a strong claim to this as the Sealander.
At just 380kg, this remarkable amphibious caravan, which was unveiled at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon earlier this month, is light enough to be towed behind a Volkswagen Golf, and buoyant enough to double up as a boat.
The brainchild of German industrial designer Daniel Straub, the Sealander is built using faserverbundtechnolgie (a material similar to carbon fibre) and features a modern Ikea-style pastel green and white interior.
The large panoramic windows allow you to get a great view of your aquatic surroundings, and you can even take the roof off on sunny days.
Those expecting the premium facilities you’d get with a Swift Challenger Sport, or even an entry-level Bailey Orion, will be disappointed.
In the Sealander, you’re limited to a sink, a cool-box, a cooker and a camping toilet, but the freedom that it offers is beyond compare.
As the video below shows, you can just reverse up to a lake, push your Sealander into the water, pop on the outboard motor and the water is yours to explore.
Ambitious amphibious gadgets
Herr Straub isn’t the first inventor to try his hand at an amphibious camper, though, with similar inventions dating back to the 1950s.
More recently, in 2006, Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond memorably turned a VW Type 2 into his ill-fated Damper Van, which sank like a stone during a challenge in Rudyard reservoir.
Due to its waterproof chassis, the German-made Sealander is sure to avoid a similar fate, and the wide, bowl-shaped hull means it won’t run aground, even in the shallows.
Finally, the modular interior can be converted into a double bed, and when it comes to swimming, there’s a fold-out ladder to help you climb in and out of the water.
Daniel Straub, said of his creation: “A product like the Sealander needed a lot of testing, and after two years of developing and working, it is a stunning moment seeing how your baby learns to walk, or in our case, how to swim!”
The Sealander is due to be released next year, priced at roughly 15,000 euros (around £13,000), which is almost £5,000 more than a comparable micro caravan. But then again none of those can float, and you can’t really put a price on that.

Towcar drivers beware: The UK’s uninsured hotspots revealed

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners heading away on a late summer break might be well advised to avoid the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, as they are the UK’s key hotspots for uninsured drivers.

According to figures released by the Motor Insurance Database, the number of uninsured drivers in these two regions is eight times higher than the national average.

The good news for proud caravan owners is that this problem is in decline, with 750,000 uninsured cars having been removed from our roads during the past six years.

Ashton West, chief executive at the Motor Insurance Database, said: “We cannot stand by and let uninsured driving continue; otherwise the honest motorists will keep paying the bills for the injury and damage caused.

“We are determined to bring UK levels more in line with the rest of Western Europe.”

These figures reflect a wider trend, as Britain has one of the worst records of uninsured driving in Europe – on average, 1 in 20 motorists drive without cover.

Highways Agency issues high winds warning after A9 caravan smash

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by Chris Malone

The importance of safety when towing a caravan has been highlighted by a recent incident on Scotland’s A9.

Four people were taken to hospital after a vehicle towing a tourer collided with another motor on the main road near Dalwhinnie.

The highland highway was closed for several hours after the incident, with traffic being diverted through the town.

There had been concerns for one of the passengers, who had to be airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, while the others were taken by road ambulance.

While it is now thought that none of the injuries are life-threatening, the accident serves to remind caravanners of the care they must take when moving their tourer.

Those with tourers at Scottish caravan parks should consider avoiding towing them over the next day or two, with northern parts of the UK being hammered by gale-force winds and storms as the remnants of Hurricane Katia hit Britain.

Yesterday, the Highways Agency issued an Amber Alert for strong winds of up to 70mph the next three days, warning caravan owners in the North East and North West of England to take particular care when towing.

Towcar drivers are also advised to plan their journeys before they set off and expect road closures due to storm damage in some Northern areas.

VIDEO: Swift Challenger Sport – New from the chassis upwards

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by Marcus Dubois

Earlier this summer, Britain’s biggest manufacturer of touring caravans and motorhomes, Swift Caravans launched a brand-new entry-level range. Named the Swift Challenger Sport and Sterling Eccles Sport, these caravans will replace the outgoing Swift Charisma and Sterling Eccles ranges.

In the final episode of our four-part video series, Marcus Dubois speaks to the design team Mick France and Chris Milburn about the construction methods used on this caravan. By using GRP for the front panels and aluminium for the sides, Swift have managed to reduce the overall weights by up to 60kg.

The Swift Challenger Sport and Sterling Eccles Sport ranges are on sale now, with prices ranging from £13,675 for the two-berth 382 layout to £17,425 for the twin-axle family model, the 636.

Cheryl Cole poses for 2012 calendar photos in retro caravan

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by Chris Jefferies

As if there were any doubts that caravans are the very epitome of cool, Cheryl Cole’s latest calendar photoshoot should put them to rest once and for all.

The Geordie singer, famous for being a member of chart-topping group Girls Aloud, as well as her number one solo hit Fight For This Love, has delighted her fans with a provocative new set of photos, which will be released later this year for her 2012 calendar.

Whilst the caravan in question needs a bit of a touch-up, Cheryl herself looks picture perfect, wearing a floral skirt and a polka-dot blouse, with a subtle nod to gypsy chic in her red floral headband.

The photoshoot took place in the south of France and also features Cheryl in a Mediterranean-style villa, wearing some outfits that would certainly raise a few eyebrows at the local camp site.

Having been axed from her role as a judge on the American version of X Factor earlier this year, Cheryl is reportedly due to return to our screens next year for the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent.

Her endorsement of caravanning is sure to delight many ‘van owners, as she was chosen as the number one person that caravan owners would most like to share 24 hours in their tourer with, according to a survey conducted by the Caravan Club last year.

More single parents holidaying with kids in the UK

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by Chris Malone

The number of Brits taking their kids on caravan holidays could be on the up, with singlewithkids.co.uk noting that there has been a spike in the frequency of UK single-parent families holidaying in Britain.

According to a survey by Monarch Airlines, 11 per cent of British respondents said they never go on holiday.

Singlewithkids.co.uk co-founder Chrissie Lewandowski explained that this is not a surprise with financial struggles affecting many households.

This year has seen more families leaving their vacation plans until the last minute as “people haven’t been sure of their jobs and the economic situation and whether they can afford it”.

“We’ve also seen a number of people who, instead of going overseas, are stretching their budget over a number of UK trips,” the expert said.

“There’s a wider range of holiday possibilities in the UK now – we’ve had glamping [luxury camping], for example, which is very popular.”

Brits worried about finances but still wanting to take their kids away could enjoy a trip to the sea or countryside at one of the UK’s thousands of caravan parks and campsites.