by Chris Jefferies
Visitors to a campsite in Ditchling will soon be able to take their outdoors experience to new heights, as a radical caravan conversion is taking place.
Tim Johnson, the owner of Blackberry Wood caravan site, has announced plans to turn a former search and rescue helicopter into a caravan, the Brighton Argus reports.
His ambitious project should fit in nicely next to his collection of bizarre conversions, including a London double-decker bus, which is accompanied by a traditional red phone box.
Visitors can also stay in a retro 60s aluminium bubble tourer or a traditional wooden gypsy-style caravan, however the helicopter is attracting the most interest, even though it’s not yet finished.
Mr Johnson told the local paper: “Everyone is queuing up to get in there. There are lots of kids on the site pleading with us to let them go in. It will be even more impressive when we have finished it.”
He added that prices to stay in the completed helicopter will start at £60 per night, plus up to £9 per person.
This project won’t be the last wacky caravan conversion at the site either, as Mr Johnson plans to get his hands on either a submarine or a tank.
Friendly Club: Family camping is on the rise
by Chris Jefferies
With the price of overseas holidays on the rise, more and more British families are discovering the attractions of taking a camping and caravanning trip in the UK, it has been claimed.
The Camping and Caravanning Club has reported a rise in family bookings amongst its members, with The Lake District and Cornwall remaining the most popular destinations.
Kim Blythe, public relations executive at the Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “Why go anywhere different when we’ve got such beautiful countryside around us? We are seeing a lot more campers now and family campers are definitely on the rise.”
She added that advance bookings for this summer are already four per cent higher than they were in 2010.
Members of the Camping and Caravanning club can get reduced rates at over 100 caravan parks and camp sites in the UK, as well as access to 1,400 members-only Certified Sites in remote places across the country.
Caravan tyre checks can prevent summer blowouts
by Chris Jefferies
With the school summer holidays about to start, families planning on towing their caravan for the first time this year have been advised to check the tyre pressure, or they could be running the risk of a blowout.
Insurance providers Caravan Guard have reported that last summer they saw a 300 per cent increase in claims during July, August and September, with 90 per cent of those claims relating to a burst tyre.
The heavy weight of a caravan means that tyres can wear out while resting in the garage during the winter months, so a pressure check at the beginning of the summer holidays is essential.
Furthermore, UV damage can wear out tyres, so anyone heading abroad for an extended holiday should check their tyres before heading home.
Blowouts often result in serious accidents, with even the most experienced of towcar drivers struggling to maintain control of their rig.
Even if you manage to avoid a crash, the shredded tyre can cause major rim damage to the caravan’s wheel arch and floor.
To reduce the risk of a blowout, TyrePal has launched a pressure monitoring system, which allows towcar drivers to check on the state of up to 22 wheels via a wireless LCD monitor.
Peter Samwell from TyrePal said: “Statistics show that defective or under inflated tyres are a factor in hundreds of fatal or serious road accidents each year.”
He added that tyres should always be inflated to their recommended level when they are cold, as they can increase in pressure by 10 to 15 per cent, while driving.
Meanwhile, Caravan Guard has offered the following tyre safety tips for touring holidaymakers:
- Check your caravan tyre pressures on a regular basis. Check pressures when cold and then make sure the valve is not leaking and valve caps are replaced.
- Examine all tyres for sidewall cracks, cuts, impact damage or embedded material at both sides.
- Check the age of your caravan tyres and replace any over five years old irrespective of remaining tread.
- When not using your caravan for a long period, try to jack up and rotate the wheels each month, to ensure that a different part of the tyre is taking the weight of the caravan.
- If travelling in hot temperatures such as abroad, take regular breaks to stop your tyres getting too hot.
Neighbourhood watch scheme urged for parks after triple caravan robbery
by Chris Jefferies
As part of Security Week, today we’re looking at the importance of keeping valuables out of sight and the value of being watchful neighbours and looking after the pitch next door.
Police in the Northumberland region have suggested that the owners of a local caravan park should form a neighbourhood watch-style scheme after three tourers were broken into during a 24-hour period earlier this month.
The thieves struck between midday on July 4th and midday the following day in the Westerheugh area and took several valuable items, including TVs, a Kindle, DVD players, a cool box and a duvet, the Northumberland Gazette reports.
Furthermore, the local paper reports that a bike was stolen from underneath a caravan at Amble Links caravan park over the weekend.
Sue Peart, Alnwick Neighbourhood Police Inspector, said: “When thieves break into caravans they are looking for items they can carry off quite easily. Remove them where you can, ensure that your caravan is as secure as possible and make sure you carry out regular checks on it.”
She added that caravan parks would be well advised to form a ‘Caravan Watch’ scheme, as this system has proved effective across Northumberland.
Under the scheme, Community Support Officers make regular trips to caravan parks to offer advice during meetings with caravan owners.
“If the owners all work together and form a watch scheme, similar to a Neighbourhood Watch system, then there is more chance of someone spotting any unusual people or behaviour on a caravan site,” Ms Peart added.
Increase in Swift Caravans prices following launch of Challenger Sport
by Chris Jefferies
The prices for the Swift Challenger Sport have been revealed, and the good news is that the premium for those looking to trade up from a Charisma model isn’t too steep, although prices on other ranges have seen larger increases.
Prices in the Swift Caravans range now start around £300 higher, at £13,675 for the entry-level Challenger Sport 382, rising to £22,225 for the top-of-the-range Conqueror 645 (up nearly £500, when compared with last year).
This hike comes in the same week that rival manufacturer Bailey also announced that their price tags will be marked up by an average of three per cent next year.
Meanwhile, prices in the Sterling Caravans range will continue to mirror those offered by Swift, meaning that the new Sterling Eccles Sport range will cost exactly the same as its sister range, the Swift Challenger Sport.
The biggest price rise can be seen in the mid-range brands, Sterling Eccles and Swift Challenger, which will cost an average of 6 per cent more next year.
Swift explains this increase by pointing out that the 2012 models will feature AL-KO ATC trailer stability control as well as the new panoramic sunroof as standard, which represents an upgrade of around £900 worth of kit.
Those considering buying the Swift Challenger 565 or Sterling Eccles Solitaire are advised…
Click here to continue reading 
Caravan pensioner banned from keeping animals for life
by Chris Malone
A pensioner who kept a number of cats, dogs and budgies in her caravan has been banned from keeping animals for life.
According to the Wrexham Leader, Florence Guest Williams, 69, was also given a suspended 12-week prison sentence after she was found to have been keeping three dogs, three puppies, two cats and a pair of budgies inside the mobile home.
The cramped conditions were deemed to cause unnecessary suffering and Ms Guest Williams was found guilty of five counts of failing to ensure animal welfare.
She had also breached a disqualification order and violated the terms of her conditional discharge for a similar offence a year previously.
The pensioner had already been banned from keeping dogs for a decade in a court case that took place in 2010.
Ms Guest Williams was told that she would have to wait two years before applying for a review of the life ban.
The news may serve to remind caravan owners that while taking your pet on holiday is perfectly acceptable, it is still essential to look after its welfare at all times.
Consider weight and size when choosing caravans
by Chris Malone
Caravan enthusiasts planning to purchase a new tourer should take its size and weight into consideration before agreeing to the sale, it has been claimed.
According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, it is wise to think about what vehicle will be used to tow the mobile holiday home.
A spokesman from the organisation said it is important to decide whether you will use your current car, or purchase a new one.
“From that, you can decide what size and weight of caravan you can manage. It really is one of the most important things for people to consider before they go off buying a caravan, because you can often be quite surprised how heavy they are nowadays,” he said.
“Also, with the price of fuel going up people don’t always want a large four-by-four vehicle.”
The representative urged buyers to do their homework and find out what their maximum weight is.
Once this is done and the caravan is bought, he urged owners to “just go out there and enjoy yourself”.
Caravanners should check tyre pressure before long journeys
by Chris Malone
Caravanners have been urged to check their tyre pressure before setting off on their summer holidays.
According to manufacturer Bridgestone, 71 per cent of motorists begin their break with under-inflated tyres, putting themselves at risk of accident through sluggish handling and financial loss through wasted fuel.
The data, published on etyres.co.uk, showed that of the 38,000 vehicles checked, 12 per cent of them were actually illegal due to being below the minimum 1.6 mm tread depth.
“The figures from the survey are startling, especially at this time of year when families are setting off on long journey with heavily loaded cars,” communications manager Andy Dingley told the online resource.
“Bridgestone is committed to encouraging safe driving and with so many people still choosing to take staycations, we want to help motorists ensure that they’ve completed the proper safety checks before beginning their journey.”
The firm advised that caravan owners and other road users regularly check their tyres for lumps, bulges and worn treads.
Keeping the pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended level should also help improve economy and safety.
Caravan tyres should be changed every five years to help reduce the risk of a blow-out, which is increased thanks to the extra weight.
Laura Marling invites strangers into caravan for music experiment
by Chris Malone
Folk singer Laura Marling has been inviting pairs of strangers into caravans, tents and steamboats to conduct a strange and unexplained experiment.
The blonde musician selected random revellers at Glastonbury, Camp Bestival and Wilderness Festival to serenade in some very intimate settings, according to music site ForFolksSake.com,
She has a history of experimental music, having performed with Mumford & Sons and a collection of local artists in India for the Dharohar Project.
However, her latest actions are as yet unexplained, with Glastonbury festivalgoer Steve Murphy telling the website that there was no reason given for the experience he had.
“We went into a caravan two at a time and she came in, played us a song (which I assume will be on the new album) and left without saying a word,” he said.
Laura invited fans at Wilderness Festival to take a steamboat ride to a secret jetty, where she sat them two at a time in a luxurious tent and played them just one song.
It is thought that the Brit Award-winning songwriter is documenting people’s reactions to awkward situations, although the reason for this is still unclear.
Laura’s third full-length album, A Creature I Don’t Know, is due to be released on September 12th and will feature the new single Sophia (below).
The new Lunar Lexon 520: Lightweight luxury gets a green twist
by Chris Jefferies
Balancing luxury interiors with lightweight and energy-saving considerations, the new Lexon range from Lunar Caravans offers a range of smart solutions and extra bathroom space.
It’s all change in the mid-range models, with only the Lexon 550 remaining unaltered for 2012 – and that caravan was only introduced four months ago.
Launched last week at the Farington Lodge Hotel near Preston, the new 520 model is an interesting addition to the range, with its flexible four-berth layout – ideal for small families taking a touring holiday.
On the outside, Lunar has given the Lexon range sharp new graphics and a redesigned back end, but it’s on the inside where buyers will really notice the difference.
The spacious end-bathroom unit features several domestic-style fittings, including a ‘swan neck’ basin tap and an LED-lit vanity mirror unit.
Furthermore, the shower features the Eco-Camel showerhead (as seen on BBC One during last year’s series of the Apprentice), which reduces water consumption by 20 per cent, while keeping the pressure as high as ever.
LED lighting can be seen throughout, in order to keep the energy consumption levels down, meaning you won’t need to charge the batteries too often.
Lunar’s green credentials don’t stop there, either… Read more
Are you impressed by the new Ariva / Quasar range?
Share your thoughts in our Lunar forum.
Sally Gunnell speaks of sadness over scuppered caravan park plans
by Chris Jefferies
Former Olympic hurdler Sally Gunnell has spoken of her disappointment at the decision by the Caravan Club to drop her plans for a giant Olympic caravan park in Chigwell.
Sally had planned to set up a temporary site for the London Olympics on land owned by her parents, but despite a stipulation that the land would only be used for six weeks, she faced stern opposition from local residents.
“They said they didn’t want it because they were going on about the noise and they thought it was going to get travellers in and they thought we were going to do it again, even though it was just a one-off,” the former athlete told the Daily Telegraph.
The Caravan Club took the decision to drop its support for the project in May after the local council received 600 letters of objection. The Club said that it had never seen such vociferous opposition to a caravan park in its 104-year history.
Sally added that it was “very sad” that the plans had fallen through, saying that many of the people who had expressed an interest in staying on the site were Olympics volunteers.
Meanwhile, the Caravan Club has said that it will be continuing its search for a suitable site close to the Olympic Park at Stratford, so its members can hitch up close to the action.
Secure your wheels: Top five wheel locks
When it comes to immobilising your caravan to stop potential thieves making off with it, there are two main items you can make use of: the wheel lock and the hitch lock.
Wheel locks are very popular and effective as they stop the wheel from turning in much the same way as the wheel clamps used by those annoying parking wardens, so rest assured any would-be criminals will find them just as irritating.
The wheel clamp is just one among many options on the market, and would-be buyers need to consider weight, insurance discounts and usability when choosing their lock, as they should be used regularly, even when stopping at a service station.
If you’re new to the caravan accessories market, the choice and range of prices can be confusing, so we’ve come up with our top five picks for securing your wheels.
Wheelok Eezi-Fit
RRP: £124.52
Best Price: £89.95
Weight: 14kg
A bright, but sturdy option, this model features an integral radial pin cam-lock, which is removable by key only. If you’re worried about losing the key, Wheelock handily supplies a spare. At 14kg, it’s quite a weighty option, however.
Pyramid Barracuda
RRP: £55.99
Best Price: £45.95*
Weight: 8kg
This bright yellow wheel clamp may also stand out from your exterior decor like a sore thumb, but it also works as a clear deterrent to anyone thinking of trying their luck against your security system. This fully-adjustable model can fit any tyre size from 12 to 17-inches and comes complete with a padlock for a very affordable price.
Bulldog Titan
RRP: £142.00
Best Price: £125.99
Weight: 12kg
Continuing with the theme of hyper-manly names, this option comes in a range of specific models to fit your wheel type and size, as the steel arms come in several fixed widths. The steel cover plate and drill- and pick-resistant lock add to the toughness. What’s more, Bulldog even offers a fitting video on their website to help guide you through the process. This is certainly a favourite amongst the press, with Auto Express saying that this lock is “virtually attack-proof from all angles”.
To read our top two picks, click here
*all prices quoted are exclusive of delivery, but inclusive of VAT
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