Caravan theft falls again but contents still at risk warns C&CC

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by Chris Malone

British caravans are safer from thieves than they have been in a long time, if new figures are anything to go by.

According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, the 1,200 caravans stolen in 2010 were down on the previous 12-month period, marking the third successive year of falls.

However, the organisation, which was founded in 1901 by a group of six people camping in Wantage, warned that crime is still fairly common and that owners should never become complacent.

It noted that thieves are finding it hard to tow vehicles away, so they are now focusing on stealing what’s inside.

The Camping and Caravanning Club added that it was slightly concerned by the fact that so many owners did not have insurance cover for their mobile homes.

While having a policy is not compulsory, it is smart to protect your investment, whether it is on the road or in storage.

Charity caravan cafe wins battle for council approval

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by Chris Malone

A caravan owner from Seaton Sluice has been using his two mobile homes to raise money for Bedlington-based dog rescue charity SHAK (Safe Homes and Kindness).

Derek Hepple, 69, had been raising about £250 per week for the organisation by selling tea, coffee and scones from his caravans before Northumberland County Council enforced a restriction on him due to complaints, local newspaper the News Post Leader reports.

However, after long discussions with the local authority and Seaton Valley Parish Council, Mr Hepple has been granted permission to move his fundraising activities from his driveway to a car park across the road on the sea front.

He will now run the fundraising business every Sunday and on bank holidays, which should help to keep SHAK running.

The charity looks after larger dogs with medical, mental health and behavioural problems.

Those taking their caravan to Northumberland might wish to visit Seafield Caravan Park, which claims to be one of the most relaxing holiday home locations anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Cross-winds warning after caravan overturns on M5

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by Chris Malone

An incident on the M5 on Tuesday served to underline the importance of safe driving while towing a caravan.

One unlucky caravanner might have to make an insurance claim after his tourer ended up overturned on the southbound carriage of the motorway.

The driver, a passenger and a dog were fortunate to escape from the vehicle and had to be given medical attention by firefighters until an ambulance arrived.

Fire engines from Bromsgrove and Droitwich were joined by another from Worcester, with experts making both the car and the mobile home safe by checking the gas bottles and removing them to a safe location.

The accident occurred between junctions five and six of the busy motorway, with two lanes having to be closed off from approximately 13:45 BST.

Watch Commander Craig Newman said: “Our standard advice to all drivers towing trailers is to take great care and pay particular attention to issues such as cross-winds or other conditions that might affect you more when towing.

“Hereford & Worcester Fire and Service works closely with the safer roads partnership in West Mercia on a range of road safety initiatives to help reduce the number of road collisions, injuries and deaths across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”

Meanwhile, BBC News recently reported that another couple had to be cut from their car after their caravan overturned close to Dumfries in the Scottish Borders.

Caravan smash closes borders motorway

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by Chris Malone

An elderly couple driving on the A74(M) with their caravan in tow were given a real fright recently when they were involved in an accident in which their vehicle and tourer overturned.

According to BBC News, the pair had to be cut free by firefighters, but a spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway police claimed their injuries are not thought to be serious.

The pensioners were driving on the motorway between the junctions for Lockerbie and Ecclefechan when the incident occurred at approximately 15:20 BST on Monday (August 15th).

Their vehicle and caravan overturned and caused three lanes of the busy route between Scotland and England to be closed for about four hours.

Traffic was diverted past the scene of the crash on the hard shoulder, with the road fully open again by 19:30 BST.

The A74(M) is a regular route for Scottish caravanners heading south to the Lake District and Cumbria, while English visitors exploring the Trossachs and Highlands often use the motorway to take them as far as Glasgow.

Caravan rockers prepare for Reading and Leeds Festivals

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by Chris Malone

Rock enthusiasts who own caravans will be welcomed to the Reading and Leeds Festivals later this month, with the double-site event kicking off on the Bank Holiday Weekend.

The events, which are being headlined by Muse, My Chemical Romance, The Strokes and Pulp, are open to those who wish to take their mobile home for an extra £40 on top of the standard weekend ticket with camping price.

Virtual Festivals editor Daniel Fahey explained that those preparing their tourer for the weekend should get ready for “another three days of no-frills rock ‘n’ roll mayhem”.

“It looks like it might be some of the final shows for Pulp and The Streets, while Muse will play their album Origin of Symmetry for the last time,” he said.

Caravanners should “look at weather forecasts before going and pack accordingly”, the festival expert added.

Mr Fahey also suggested that festival goers ensure to eat well and have some soft drinks throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Weekend tickets for Reading and Leeds Festivals have now sold out, however day tickets for Friday 26th August are still on sale, priced at £82.50 each (exc. booking fees and P&P).

Increase in Bailey Caravans prices following launch of Olympus Series II

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan lovers considering trading up to a new Bailey caravan will have to pay around three per cent more than they did last year, as the Bristol-based ‘vanmakers have revised their pricing structure.

Following the launch of the Olympus Series II range last month, the entire Bailey range has seen a price hike, with the company quoting “increases in both raw material and component costs plus adverse currency variations” as the main reasons.

Buyers of Olympus Series II ‘vans will find a small increase in comparison to their predecessors, with the most noticeable difference found on the entry-level two-berth ‘van. The Bailey Olympus II 460-2 will cost £14,795, nearly £800 or 5.5 per cent more than the outgoing Bailey Olympus 462.

Across the Bailey Caravans range, customers will see an average price rise of three per cent, with the cheapest model, the Orion 400-2 due to cost £400 more. Meanwhile the top-of-the-range Bailey Unicorn Barcelona will see £600 added to its price tag.

Despite these higher prices, Bailey insists that its Alu-Tech range offers “market-leading value for money”.

Buyers looking to beat this price rise are advised to act fast, as they can still snap up a limited number of pre-price increase Bailey Orion, Pegasus and Unicorn models at selected Bailey Retailer Sites.

All the prices listed below are exclusive of a £545 retailer charge, but inclusive of 20% VAT, and are guaranteed subject to ordering from the earliest production availability. Furthermore, delivery must be taken within 14 days of dispatch from the factory to ensure the quoted price.

Orion

  • 400-2 £12,395
  • 430-4 £13,495
  • 440-4 £13,495
  • 450-5 £13,495

Olympus Series II

  • 460-2 £14,795
  • 530-4 £15,695
  • 540-5 £15,795
  • 640-6 £16,795

Pegasus Series II

  • Genoa £15,995
  • Verona £16,985
  • Milan £16,895
  • Ancona £17,195
  • Bologna £18,595

Unicorn

  • Seville £18,595
  • Valencia £19,795
  • Madrid £19,795
  • Almeria £19,795
  • Barcelona £21,595

Tragedy hits East Sussex caravan park as two die in blaze

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by Chris Malone

A fatal accident in Sussex has underlined the need for caravan owners to exercise caution while on holiday.

News that a fire swept through a tourer at a popular holiday park on Saturday (August 13th) night should serve to underline the fact that care is needed when heading off on a touring break.

Two Haven caravan park employees and a holidaymaker attempted to fight the flames until fire crews arrived, but were unable to save the two occupants.

The pair, believed to be in their 40s, were dead before firefighters were able to pull them from the mobile holiday home, which they had owned and pitched at Combe Haven in East Sussex since 2007.

“Our team members and guests are shocked by this tragic accident,” a site spokesman explained.

“The owners of the caravan were valued and popular members of the community at Combe Haven.”

It is not yet clear how the blaze began, but the deaths highlight just how important it is for caravan owners to install smoke alarms and make a fire safety plan before using their tourers.

A range of fire safety equipment is available for caravans, including fire blankets, extinguishers, CO detectors and smoke alarms.

Advice for caravanners using the Hindhead tunnel

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by Chris Malone

The new Hindhead tunnel, one of the largest road tunnels in the UK, opened last month, allowing drivers on the A3 to take a 1.2-mile underground shortcut when travelling between London and Portsmouth.

However, caravanners using the route might be wise to pay attention to advice from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), which claimed it is concerned about Brits’ lack of experience using such large tunnels.

It noted that vehicle fires in Europe’s Mont Blanc and Gotthard tunnels have claimed 50 lives between them, with many of those fatalities coming because drivers mistakenly stayed in their cars, rather than exiting the tunnels.

This is not the thing to do, according to IAM Drive & Survive head of training Simon Elstow, who advised that caravanners and other drivers only attempt to put out fires if someone is in immediate danger.

In all other cases drivers and passengers should leave as quickly as they can, before alerting the authorities.

“Motorists heading for Europe this summer are likely to use a road tunnel. Remember, if there is a fire or an accident, don’t wait to act – fire and smoke can be fatal,” Mr Elstow advised.

“Leave the vehicle and walk to a safe place.”

Caravan pitches available at horse driving trials championship

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by Chris Malone

Caravanners are being given the chance to camp and work at the Queen Victoria’s Review Ground in Windsor Great Park as part of the British Horse Driving Trials Association’s National Championships.

The event begins on Friday September 9th and concludes on the 11th, and the Caravan Club has revealed that members can book pitches for the weekend.

Those who wish to can act as a steward on one, two or all three of the days and can spend any time off enjoying the new Country Fair and entertainment, which includes gun dog, falconry and classic car displays.

The second day of the show will see the annual British Driving Society Show and dog agility classes take place.

Caravanners will be asked to pay £40 to pitch their mobile home from Wednesday September 7th until Monday September 12th.

Other caravan sites in the Windsor area include Stroud Farm and Westhorpe Farm.

Chris Goslings Caravan Diary: Chestnut Farm Meadows, Norwich

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by Marcus Dubois

For many caravanners the holy grail is a small site in picturesque surroundings with plenty to see nearby. Both the Caravan Club and Camping and Caravanning Club are known for their secluded 5-caravan pitches, where visitors can properly enjoy the tranquility of the countryside.

In this week’s Caravan Diary Summer Special presenter Chris Gosling may have stumbled upon one of these gems. Chestnut Farm Meadows is near Horsford in Norfolk and while there, Chris stumbles upon a caravanning-related find of his own…

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Bailey to build custom caravans for C&CC training centre

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by Chris Jefferies
Caravan owners looking to sharpen their skills will soon be able to try their hand at towing a Bailey Orion as part of a new partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club.
Members and non-members alike can book onto a towing training course at a number of accredited centres across the UK and get top tips from professional instructors, while towing a custom-made Bailey caravan.
The sessions, which are priced at £99 for a full day’s training, focus on increasing road safety awareness, whilst giving caravanners the skills to manoeuvre their outfit with confidence.
Bailey launched the entry-level Orion range earlier this year, and the Bristol-based ‘vanmakers claim that these models are ideally suited to the job, due to their aerodynamic shape and lightweight Alu-Tech construction.
Robert Louden, Director General at The Camping and Caravanning Club said: “We are delighted to work with Bailey and we hope our members enjoy towing with such safe and reliable units.”
In other Bailey news, the manufacturer has expanded its retailer network, offering customers more support at three new centres.
These outlets are Costwold Edge Caravans in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, Teeside Caravans in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, and Wandahome Caravans in Knottingley, West Yorkshire.
Each site will be taking delivery of new Bailey models, including the recently launched Olympus Series II, in September.
Bailey now boasts a grand total of more than 80 retail outlets and 40 approved service centres, the largest network for a single caravan brand.

Bizarre caravan fire ‘may have been caused by overheating brakes’

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by Chris Malone

Firefighters from Burnham-on-Sea were recently called to a blaze at a caravan that appears to have begun in bizarre circumstances.

The seaside resort town is located in Somerset and features a number of camping sites.

Little was left of the tourer after crews from Bridgwater and Burnham managed to quell the flames, but it is not thought that anyone was harmed in the incident.

The fire service was called at 14:09 BST on Wednesday (August 10th) and attended the blaze on the A38 at Pawlett, according to Burnham-on-Sea.com.

On their arrival, the mobile home was already engulfed in flames and despite the efforts of officers, the vehicle was completely destroyed.

A spokesman told the online resource that crews used breathing equipment and a reel jet to extinguish the blaze, but were unable to stop the fire before the caravan was rendered useless.

However, they were able to establish that the cause was accidental, with overheating brakes the bizarre culprit.