Blogging policeman in stolen caravan plea

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by Chris Malone

An internet-savvy West Midlands policeman has used his blog to appeal for information relating to a stolen caravan.

The Compass Rallye 650 was taken from a caravan storage park on Solihull Lodge’s High Street between August 31st and September 2nd.

Sergeant Paul O’Reilly is hopeful that his posting will yield information that will lead to the tourer’s return.

He noted that the 26.5 ft twin-axle caravan would have been particularly difficult to manoeuvre in a tight space and suggested that the perpetrators may have had experience of moving such vehicles before.

The policeman also believes that there was more than one person involved in the theft, which saw the criminals bypass three security devices and an active alarm system to escape with the vehicle.

“I am sure you can imagine the delight it would bring the true owners to have their caravan restored to them,” Sergeant O’Reilly said.

In other news, the Seaford Standard has reported that homes in Ruskington have been targeted by burglars who strike when they notice their owners’ caravans are missing from the driveway.

VIDEO: Exploring the new layouts on the Swift Challenger Sport

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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 third of a four-part series, Marcus Dubois speaks to designers Mick France and Chris Milburn about the interior space offered by the two new layouts, the single-axle 514 and the twin-axle 636. Furthermore, the team discuss the improvements made to the kitchen areas in these caravans.

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

Friendly Club to run 2012 Olympics caravan site in East London

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners looking for convenient accommodation for the London 2012 Olympics have been just given a brand new option by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

A 320-pitch site is due to be opened at the WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre in Leyton, the Friendly Club has announced, with caravan enthusiasts due to be welcomed during the months of July and August.

This encouraging development comes after The Caravan Club bowed to vehement public opposition earlier this summer and abandoned its plans for a gigantic 1,300-pitch site in Chigwell, which would have been built on land owned by the parents of former Olympic sprinter Sally Gunnell.

Although the Leyton site will be less than a quarter of the size, it is unlikely to be beaten for convenience, as the Friendly Club claims that caravanners will be within a ten-minute walk of the Olympic Park.

The new caravan site will open its doors on July 20th for four weeks, offering full camping facilities and onsite catering, but no electric hook-up, all for £45 per night, with a minimum three-night stay.

Paul Jones, Membership Services Director at the Friendly Club, said: “To have secured an event site so close to the Olympic Park is a major coup for the Club. We are continuing to work with a number of partners to help ensure the success of these temporary campsites.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club also has availability at the 247-pitch Old Gravesendians Rugby Club site for Olympics visitors planning their trip to London next summer.

Britain’s first caravan puppet theatre to tour the country

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by Chris Jefferies

A team of theatre enthusiasts in Scotland have lovingly converted a two-berth caravan into a touring puppet theatre, with performances due to take place in Glenesk this weekend.

Sokobauno Theatre have called their creation The Little Fawn and they hope to take it on a nationwide tour, following on from its premiere at Traquair Fair last month.

Shane Connolly, musician and puppeteer for Sokobauno told the Brechin Advertiser: “This is an exciting new project for us. Over the next few years we hope to take it all over the UK to many hundreds of children and adults.”

He added that the conversion project was a labour of love, as they used a vintage 1968 Cheltenham caravan as the starting point.

Caravan lovers in the Brechin area this weekend (September 10th) can catch the caravan puppet theatre performances at regular intervals from 12 noon until 5pm at The Glenesk Retreat.

Agnes Lowden of the retreat’s curatorial group is looking forward to the performances as they hark back to the venue’s Victorian roots.

“This caravan coming to us now is just like a Victorian showman setting up here, with families coming to see what he has to show [and] we are delighted,” she said.

Tickets cost £5 per head and this also includes a free theatre workshop with the performers. The puppet show, ‘Weasel in Love’ is suitable for all ages.

Caravan Club: Almost any car can tow a caravan

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by Chris Malone

Brits consider buying a caravan should not be put off by fears that their towcar will not be up to the job, according to the latest comments from the Caravan Club.

According to technical manager Martin Spencer, almost all cars are suitable for towing a tourer of some description, with only a few exceptions.

Anyone with a full car B licence can tow a tourer, although those who passed their test after the beginning of 1997 will have to take an additional test in order to drive the heaviest combinations of towcar and caravan, he added.

“Some very small cars are not rated as capable of towing by their manufacturers, as are some sports cars and most electric/hybrid models,” Mr Spencer noted.

“A handful of models cannot be fitted with a towbar, due to design issues or production volumes, which make it impractical to develop the towing equipment.”

Despite this, he claimed that “the overwhelming majority of ‘normal’ cars” can tow very well when matched to an appropriate caravan.

Converted caravan used to broadcast from Shrewsbury Folk Festival

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by Chris Jefferies
Vintage caravans have been used for many things over the years, but the owner of this tourer showed a real sense of ambition by turning it into a fully-functioning broadcast studio.
Charles Denscombe is a retired technology teacher and he got hold of this retro ‘van (which appears to be a Carlight) for just £500, he told the BBC.
Charles went to his local dealer with quite a limited budget, but didn’t come away empty handed. “He went out back and said: ‘It’s a write off, it’s a wreck’. I said: ‘That’ll do’.
The conversion process wasn’t exactly a smooth ride, he continues: “One wall fell out, so we took the caravan apart and rebuilt it. A thousand quid later I’m on this installation course and learn how to point this thing at a satellite and turn it on.”
Unfortunately the technological demands of the caravan meant that many of the creature comforts had to be jettisoned, with Charles removing the shower and toilet and replacing them with an internet server.
All this was done for the benefit of the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, which took place at Berwick Road showground last weekend.
Charles and his technical team recorded each act as they took to the stage and presented them with a DVD of their performance just minutes after they left the stage.
Acts on the bill included Bellowhead, Imagined Village, Oysterband, Show of Hands and Shropshire’s own John Kirkpatrick.

Caravan Times member talks of sudden caravan crash

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by Chris Jefferies
We hear every week on Caravan Times of unfortunate caravanners who flip their unit over on a motorway, ruining their holiday in the process, but very few of them are as experienced as this.
With more than 10 years HGV1 driving under her belt and a lifetime of caravanning experience, Chris Stewart has even converted her husband to the joys of touring.
But last week on the way back from a holiday in Kent, the couple were caught by a sudden crosswind on the M11, which caused their 2010 Swift Freestyle 550 and Land Rover Freelander to snake violently before flipping over, wrecking both towcar and tourer instantly.
Both Chris and her husband walked away from the dramatic crash with nothing more than minor injuries, and she told Caravan Times that some crashes are just completely unexpected.
“It doesn’t matter how experienced you are; if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen,” she said. “If it goes beyond a certain point, you just can’t control it.”
Family advice
Having learnt from her father, Chris claims to be meticulous at packing her caravan so that it is evenly balanced in transit, and she adds that she was not speeding at the time.
However, a sudden gust of wind between Junction 8 and Junction 9, caught her off guard and flipped both the caravan and towcar, resulting in a write-off for both.
Whilst the caravan itself remained intact and her belongings were not damaged, the inside was like a “warzone”, Chris added.
Despite this nasty smash, Chris has plenty to be thankful for, as she was using the sturdier of her two towcars, the other being a Kia Sportage.
“It was my Land Rover that saved us, because of the way it’s built” she said, unequivocally. “It was my work-horse and I’m very sad to say it’s been written off after ten good years.”
Get back on the horse
Nonetheless, the whole experience has not put Chris off caravanning, and she aims to be back in the saddle before the end of the month.
She is confident that her insurance with the Caravan Club and Sheila’s Wheels will payout quickly, so she can take a new model out for an Indian Summer break.
Whilst Chris was relatively lucky to escape with no injuries and was wise enough to arrange full cover from her insurers, she warns that others may not be so fortunate.
“A lot of caravanners I know aren’t insured, but you need to insure your unit,” she warned. “When it goes, it goes.”

Elddis Caravans to host unique and free factory open day

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by Chris Jefferies
With the new 2012 caravan ranges about to make their debut at the Lawns Show in Hull today, Elddis Caravans has gone one step further to show off its new tourers.
Over the weekend of September 17th to 18th, touring enthusiasts will be able to see the entire range of Elddis Xplore, Avante, Odyssey, Crusader and Buccaneer caravans at the manufacturer’s Consett headquarters.
Particular highlights include new Whale heaters, the return of the L-shaped bed in the Avante 372, Xplore 304 and Xplore 302, and the all-new Elddis Crusader and Buccaneer designs (pictured).
Rob Quine, Managing Director of Elddis Caravans, said: “Outside the major shows – mainly because of stocking finance constraints – no retailer location will ever be able to show their customers the complete range.
“So this represents a fantastic opportunity for those considering purchasing a tourer or motorhome at the present time.”
Those interested in motorhomes may be keen to take a peek at the new Aspire and Autoquest ranges, which will also be on display.
Furthermore, Elddis is throwing open the door to its on-site factory, so you can see for yourself how each tourer is made.
As well as the free factory tour, families will be well looked after thanks to a range of children’s activities, including face painting and a bouncy castle.
On-site parking is provided for free, the event runs from 10am to 4pm on both days, and those attending are encouraged to register their interest on the Elddis website.

Bikers offered cosy caravan option at BMF show

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by Chris Malone

Bikers might not often take caravanning holidays, but the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) is giving them the chance to do just that at an upcoming event.

The BMF Tail End Show is due to take place from September 9th to 11th and those wishing to stay the weekend can stay in tourer with its own kitchen, shower and toilet, giving them a great base for the exhibition.

Caravans of up to six berths are available from £125 for the weekend and many of the visitors to the almost 150 motorcycle-themed trade and club stands may be tempted by the offer.

The camping area at the Lincolnshire Showground venue has also been improved over recent years, and this year visitors can enter a competition to win a Honda 600rr sportbike and see The Imps motorcycle display team in action. Other attractions include live bands and moped racing.

Tickets for the event start from £10 for BMF members and £13 for non-members. Those who wish to camp will be asked to pay £20 and £25 respectively, with caravan accommodation costing extra.

Meanwhile, BMF members are invited to attend the AGM on October 8th at Harefield Community Association in Middlesex.

Dogs in Caravans poll closed: The full results and prize winners revealed

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by Chris Jefferies

Despite the many problems and arguments they cause, caravan owners simply couldn’t do without their dogs, our latest readers’ poll has shown.

We were overwhelmed by the amazing response to this survey and the results clearly reflect a widespread love for man’s best friend, as 93 per cent said that dogs should be allowed on caravan sites.

Furthermore, 74 per cent of Caravan Times readers agreed that visiting a dog-free caravan site would be boring and of no interest to them.

Those who bemoan the mess caused by dogs may be glad to hear that there was a widespread consensus on what should be done to discipline owners who let their dogs foul a camp site, with 79 per cent supporting the use of fines.

Moreover, the use of dog leads is widely supported, with only nine per cent suggesting that canines should be allowed to roam free when on site.

Sites are also encouraged to change their ways, as roughly half of our readers think that sites are profiteering from dog owners and fail to provide sufficient facilities in exchange for the extra fees paid.

We also asked for any other thoughts that you may have and the responses were numerous and often very extensive.

Many said that bratty children were more of a problem – as one Caravan Times member put it: “Dogs don’t run around screaming or constantly kicking a football.”

Meanwhile, another member suggested that a “Dog-Owner Zone” would be a better idea for keeping people happy on larger sites.

Unfortunately there isn’t enough room to publish all your comments here, but thanks to everyone who took the time to let us know what they think about this clearly contentious issue.

Competition Winners

Of course, there was more to this poll that just a survey, as we have five copies of the RAC’s new book ‘Walking the dog: Motorway walks for drivers and dogs’ by Lezli Rees to give away.

The random number generator has done its job and the five lucky prize winners are as follows:

  • Frances Thatcher
  • Jo Cameron
  • Jay Punshon
  • Dave Rose
  • and Rob BoSmith

We will be in touch with all of you shortly to arrange delivery of your book. If you missed out this time, keep checking back as there will be many more Caravan Times readers’ competitions coming up over the next few months.

Caravan lovers can look forward to self-inflating tyres

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by Chris Malone

Caravan enthusiasts could soon never have to worry about reinflating their tyres again, thanks to new technology.

According to manufacturer Goodyear, it is only a matter of time before work is completed on a tyre that automatically reinflates to the right level when required.

The Air Maintenance Technology system will see a small pump included in each tyre that automatically inflates it to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.

Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer Jean-Claud Kihn explained that a tyre that can maintain its own level of inflations has been sought after by motorists for a long time.

“Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging,” he said.

“This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without.”

Keeping the correct tyre pressure on both the towcar and the tourer can help caravan owners to be more fuel-efficient – especially on long journeys.

Such technology should also improve safety, as tyre blowouts are one of the most common causes of caravan accidents.

Friendly Club event smashes fancy dress world record

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by Chris Malone

The Camping and Caravanning Club has organised an event that saw hundreds of people gather to smash a world record.

According to the Nottingham Post, a total of 1,215 participants showed up at the Newark Showground sporting Robin Hood costumes – smashing the previous record of 1,119.

The event was part of the five-day National Feast of Lanterns, which was also organised by the Friendly Club.

Entertainment team leader Les Littlewood explained that it was “fantastic” to have broken the world record for the most Robin Hoods in one place.

“I was walking around the crowds as they came into the arena and everyone looked to be enjoying themselves and really getting into the spirit of it,” he told the newspaper.

“The Nottingham branch held the record for the most number of Robin Hoods a while back, but this was beaten in 2008, so we’re delighted to have won the record back – I just hope we can keep it for a while.”

Touring and caravanning enthusiasts can join the Camping and Caravanning Club from £39, granting them access to members’ rates and exclusive sites.