Caravan owners urged to check tyres ahead of summer trips

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by Chris Malone

Caravanners hoping to avoid travel misery and delays this summer should carry out a few key checks before each long journey.

According to Protyre, giving the vehicle a quick once over can help prevent trouble en route to your holiday destination.

The independent tyre dealer network explained that caravans that have been sitting in storage all winter can often end up with flat tyres and urged owners to carry out an examination of their road-worthiness before they set off.

Drivers should check for lumps, bumps and cuts to the treads, as well as cracking or distortion on the sidewalls.

There should be a minimum tread of 1.6mm by law, but the company recommends having at least 2.5mm for safety.

“A particularly important aspect of tyre safety, often overlooked by owners, is the age of the tyres fitted to the caravan or trailer,” Protyre said in a statement.

“In fact, determining the age of a tyre is simple and straightforward. A code is marked on the tyre sidewall with the first two numbers determining the week, with the third and fourth digits referring to the year of manufacture.”

The firm, which recently partnered with Japanese premium tyre manufacturer Toyo Tires at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, recommends replacing tyres that have been on the vehicle for more than seven years.

Bailey Olympus Series II: Pictures and layouts unveiled

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by Chris Jefferies
As we reported from the launch event last month, Bailey Caravans has reintroduced its Olympus range of tourers for 2012, offering a well-appointed family tourer for the mid-level market.
Named the Olympus II, this streamlined range comes in a choice of four layouts that, as we can now confirm, range from two to six berths, including two designs that are brand new to this range.

Key improvements for 2012 include double glazed windows throughout to help keep the warmth in during the winter and increase energy efficiency all year round.
Furthermore, the interior has been revamped with a new Walnut furniture finish and Italian design overhead lockers, which feature flush-fit 12v corner lamps.
Quality quartet
Perhaps the biggest difference in the Olympus range is the number of layouts, as Bailey has opted to go with just four options (460-2, 530-4, 540-5 and 620-6) in much the same way it did for the launch of the entry-level Orion models earlier this year.
Taken from the previous Olympus range, the 460-2 offers an affordable two-berth option, with an end washroom, while the 530-4 features a nearside fixed double bed, resulting in plenty of space for a family of four to enjoy a comfortable caravan break.
The larger models, however, are imported from previous ranges, with the five-berth 540-5 (pictured below) drawing heavily on the Pegasus Ancona for its inspiration.
Those looking closely at the Olympus 620-6 may notice some striking similarities with the classic Ranger GT60 620/6 layout, as this six-berth twin axle model features a nearside fixed double bed, as well as a side dinette, which converts into a bunk bed.
Taking a closer look at the interiors, it is clear that Bailey has…
Click here to continue reading 

Would you consider trading up for the new Bailey Olympus II? Share your thoughts in our Bailey Owners Group



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Permission sought for surveillance caravan to fight crime

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by Chris Malone

Retrospective permission is being sought for a surveillance caravan at a construction firm site in Peppard.

The mobile home has been in use at the Investfront facility in the Manor Farm trading estate since January, the Henley Standard reported.

Planning consultant Neil Davis claimed the caravan would help to “substantially” reduce crime in an area with no residential properties to offer additional surveillance of the premises.

“This automatically makes the complex prone to vandalism and theft when the units are unoccupied,” he wrote in his planning application.

With the backing of the police and the estate’s insurance brokers, the use of the mobile home is said to offer “maximum surveillance”, while not “adversely harming” the area of outstanding natural beauty.

Each of the 17 letters of support the document is accompanied by state that crime had been a problem before the caravan was installed, Mr Davis added.

Caravan storage customer left with bill after theft

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by Chris Malone

Caravan owners who keep their mobile holiday homes in secure storage units might be wise to check the agreement they have with the facility.

One North Tyneside resident recently discovered to her cost that she was storing her vehicle at her own risk after intruders managed to break into the compound on Sandy Lane in Wideopen and help themselves to her property.

A number of items were stolen from Jane Hemmingfield’s tourer after CCTV footage showed the thieves opening the window of the caravan from the outside, the Sunday Sun reported.

“My caravan has been there for years without any bother, but two years ago they removed the on-site security and replaced it with remote surveillance,” she told the newspaper.

“I was devastated to discover my caravan had been broken into and the seats had been stolen.”

Ms Hemmingfield said the missing items would cost approximately £1,900 to replace and she was disappointed to learn that she would be expected to pay on her own insurance, rather than the facility’s cover.

Cher Lloyd won’t forget caravan roots

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by Chris Malone

Pop sensation Cher Lloyd is determined not to forget her caravan roots, despite the fact she now boasts a UK number one single with Swagger Jagger.

The 18-year-old recently told the Sun that she has no intention to move into a posh property, having been brought up in a Romany caravan and now calls a council house home.

She explained that she would probably celebrate by having a night in with a take-away meal and a glass of bubbly.

Since making it big, Cher has had a few extravagant moments – she bought her dad Darren a Range Rover, which is a favourite among many caravan enthusiasts due to its pulling power.

“I bought him a Range Rover because we have always had rubbish, embarrassing cars,” she told the newspaper.

“When I needed to get to a gig once I had to push the car up a hill. It was awful.”

The singer and rapper is not the only star to have been brought up in and around caravans – Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart last year explained how he learned to play football at the Dutch caravan park on which he was raised.

Caravan bed design wins over Hilary Devey on BBC’s Dragons’ Den

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by Chris Jefferies

A smart mattress offering a cosy and comfy night’s sleep to caravanners was the star of last night’s episode of Dragons’ Den, as the newest investor Hilary Devey ploughed £80,000 into the invention.

Husband and wife team Liz and Alan Colleran delivered a slick and confident pitch, which demonstrated the Duvalay – a zip-up memory foam mattress and duvet combo.

This patent-pending product ensures a warm night’s sleep, as the side of the bed that rests against the caravan wall can be zipped up, meaning your back doesn’t get cold.

Furthermore, the inventors claim that the memory foam base results in a more comfortable night’s sleep for caravan and motorhome owners, and can even help people with back problems.

After some fierce questioning from Deborah Meaden, which exposed some gaps in Liz and Alan’s financial knowledge, four of the five dragons said the fatal words: “I’m out”.

Nonetheless, the husband and wife duo claimed that this was a great investment opportunity as they couldn’t make the product fast enough to satisfy demand and they have plans to expand into the Dutch and German markets.

This potential was enough to attract an offer from Hilary in only her second episode on the show, although she insisted on a 26 per cent share, to ensure she had enough control of how the company is run. Despite this being much more equity than Liz and Alan had planned on parting with, they eventually accepted.

The couple had long toyed with the idea of going on Dragons’ Den and have since said that it was even scarier than they had imagined. “It was absolutely terrifying. If you think it’s scary, you need to times it by 100,” Liz said.

“You don’t notice the cameras, you’ve just got five people staring at you and bombarding you with questions,” Alan added.

The Raskelf Duvalay is available now in a range of thicknesses and prices start at £99.95 each. To watch Liz and Alan’s pitch to the dragons, click here.

POLL: Dogs on caravan sites – have your say and win prizes

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by Marcus Dubois and Chris Jefferies

Thank you for your entries, this competition is now closed

It’s the most popular topic in the Caravan Times community, and a debate which has raged for well over a year in our forum. Namely, should dogs be allowed on caravan sites?

Having recently broken through the 600 post mark, the topic continues to draw a huge variety of responses from all members of the caravanning family. And having seen many passionate posts from both sides, we at Caravan Times though the fairest way to settle this once and for all is with a good old fashioned vote.

Please do let us know your thoughts by filling in the short poll below. What’s more, Caravan Times readers who have their say by 26 August can be included in our latest prize draw – to win a copy of the new RAC guide “Walking the dog: Motorway walks for drivers and dogs”.

This handy little book should prove useful for dog owners looking to take their four-legged friend for a stroll on long journeys. Each walk in this pocket reference guide is less than five miles from a major motorway and full, clear directions are included.

Whether you’re looking for a sedate stroll in Swansea or a wistful walk in Winchester, there’s something on offer in this glove box guide. You’ll also find a list of natural highlights you can expect to see along the way, including urban farms and visitors’ centres. Best of all, author Lezli Rees tested out every walk in this book with her collie Jem and husband David. So all the pubs picked out for a quick tipple are certified as dog-friendly!

Cast your votes now and you could be in with a chance of winning one of five copies of this handy guide. All winners will be selected on 26th August and notified by e-mail.


TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
1. To enter a Caravan Times competition you must be:
(a) UK resident; and
(b) 18 years old or over at the time of entry.
2. Competitions are not open to employees (or members of their immediate families) of Caravan Times, or any subsidiary of Adfero.
3. No purchase necessary.
4. Only one entry per person.
5. If you want to enter this competition you must be a member of Caravan Times and fill out the Should dogs be allowed on caravan sites poll.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries that are lost or delayed, or which are not received for any reason.
7. The winner will be selected at random by the editor of Caravan Times, whose decision is final.
8. The closing date is as specified in each competition, and we reserve the right to amend the competition details at any time.
9. If you win a competition, we will notify you by e-mail. The organiser’s decision will be final, and no other correspondence will be entered into.
10. No part of a prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize.

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VIDEO: Chris Gosling’s Caravan Diary – London sightseeing from Theobalds Park

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by Marcus Dubois

Ever wondered where you can stay around London when caravanning? At a place that’s quiet enough to feel like home, while also close enough to see the sights and sounds of the capital?

In this week’s Caravan Diary presenter Chris Gosling ventures into the heart of London from his base at Theobolds Park Camping and Caravanning Club. Set amongst fourteen acres, the Club site offers plenty of room for caravanners alongside ample facilities. Yet despite the rural setting, it’s only forty minute train ride away from Central London.

Follow Chris around town on a personal tour around some the best attractions London has to offer; while back at the campsite he gives his thoughts on the Theobolds Park site itself.

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Park owner escapes ban after overtaking caravan at 104mph

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by Chris Jefferies

The owner of a Scottish caravan park has narrowly escaped being banned from driving, after he was clocked at 104mph in his Audi R8 sportscar.

Despite owning Loch Ness Holiday Park, which has 56 caravan pitches, Robert Girvan clearly has little patience for tourers on the roads, as he was caught overtaking one at excessive speed earlier this year, the Highland News reports.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard how Mr Girvan, 41, overtook the rig on the A82 on April 8th at a speed more than 30mph in excess of the National Speed Limit.

And despite already having four points on his license, the park owner managed to avoid a ban after his lawyer argued that this would hinder his ability to run the business, given that he drives around 40,000 miles per year as part of his job.

When handing down the sentence Sheriff Margaret Neilson said to Mr Girvan: “I hope you have learned your lesson.”

Loch Ness Holiday Park offers fully-serviced pitches for caravan owners at a price of £21 per night. And the five-star site is clearly doing well for itself, as Mr Girvan’s sportscar would have cost at least £86,000 when new.

Do you pull your caravan over to let drivers get past? Or should motorists be more patient with towcar drivers? Share your thoughts in our forum.

Scottish caravan park put up for sale with £1.6m price tag

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by Chris Jefferies
Nethercraig Holiday park in the Scottish region of Perthshire is being offered to potential buyers with an asking price of more than £1 million.
The current owners are looking to sell up and focus instead on their business at Crofthead Holiday Park in Ayrshire, Business7.co.uk reports.
Facilities on site include pitches for 60 lodges and static caravans, as well as space for 52 touring caravan pitches and indoor storage for a further 60 tourers.
The new owners will also get a three-bedroom house thrown into the bargain, according the business website.
Richard Moss, a director at property agency Colliers International, which is handling the sale, said: “This is a really interesting prospect given the acreage and potential scope for further development.”
The site also boasts a series of accolades, including a five-star rating from Visit Scotland and a David Bellamy Gold award for conservation and environmental excellence.

Friendly Club opens 1,500th site in Pembrokeshire

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by Chris Jefferies
The Camping and Caravanning club has celebrated a major milestone this week after it opened its 1,500th Certified Site in the UK.
Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Pembrokeshire is a “secluded and picturesque” spot, the Friendly Club claims, and members can enjoy free access to all the farm’s facilities during their stay, including toilets, showers and an on-site shop.
Furthermore, you can pre-order breakfasts or lunches during your stay, and a farm trail is available, featuring Shire horses, rare-breed pigs and sheep, as well as donkey rides.
Site owner, Huw Murphy, said: “As campers with two young children ourselves, we wanted to provide a smaller, less commercialised site similar to those we often look for when booking our own holidays.”
The site is open until October 31st at a price of £16 per night, but it can only accommodate a maximum of five caravans or motorhomes, so those looking for a rural break in the Welsh countryside are advised to book in advance.
Certified Sites are only available to members of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Membership costs £39 per year, plus a £10 joining fee.

BBC DJ Chris Hawkins: Caravans are cool again

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by Chris Jefferies
An Englishman’s home is his caravan, according to BBC 6 Music radio DJ Chris Hawkins, who has spoken of his new-found love for touring.
Speaking to OK! magazine, the 35-year-old father of one said that he finds caravanning very convenient for his family holidays.
His wife, ITV weather presenter Claire Nasir, will be joining him on the road, as will their 20-month old daughter Sienna.
“Clare and I have been to lots of music festivals before, but we’ve not been in a caravan until now,” he told the celebrity magazine.
“It’s brilliant, because we can enjoy a really good mix of music, and we’ll be able to take constant care of our daughter, with the caravan as our family base.”
When asked if caravanning was cool again, Chris said that caravans are “brilliant” and his family “love” the experience much more than camping, which he has vowed never to do again.
Chris Hawkins will be hosting the Summer Sundae Weekender in Leicestershire from August 12th to 14th, weekend tickets cost £115 and caravans are welcome for an extra fee of £35.
This year’s line-up includes the Mercury award-nominated act King Creosote & John Hopkins, as well as perennial family favourites McFly.