The worlds most luxurious caravans revealed: Five premium tourers

Posted June 7, 2011 by

Luxury. It is perhaps one of the more overused adjectives in a caravan journalist’s vocabulary, and each new season brings with it a new round of ‘exceptional interior appointments’ and ‘luxury finishes’.

Yet, an internet search for the ‘world’s most luxurious caravan’ is, rather disappointingly, a motorhome, not a caravan. So, what truly are the world’s most luxurious touring caravans? We’ve taken a look at what’s on offer both at home and abroad, to come up with our top five tourers for the ultimate ‘vanning experience.

AS Caravan Mayfair from £29,995

Entering the caravan market for the first time last year, Auto-Sleepers have come up trumps with a three model line-up in the AS Caravans series. The range falls in step with the company’s long established range of top quality motorhomes; with the Mayfair sitting at the top of the portfolio. It can be used as a luxury two berth, with its fixed bed and palatial living area; alternatively, the front dinette can be converted into two extra bunks for comfortable family touring. A large rear end washroom features a tiled shower room in its own cubicle. The TV is neatly stored away in an electrically operated self-raising module set into the cabinetry. Although the spec list is impressive, a 3/4 sized fridge freezer and Mammut motor mover are both included in the price, it’s the premium finishes and overall feeling of solidity that really make this caravan stand out as a top quality option.

MTPLM: 1,670kg
Axle: Single
Berth: 4

Vanmaster Occasion TBEW £35,950

Vanmaster caravans have long since been regarded as a benchmark in quality caravan design, and no luxury caravan round up would be complete without one of these models on the list. These prestigious handbuilt ‘vans are held in high regard throughout the industry and are widely thought of as unsurpassed in terms of build quality. Standard features include Alde underfloor heating and solid Ash cabinetry, and we’ve selected the Occasion TBEW as our ultimate Vanmaster choice. A transverse fixed double bed/rear end washroom configuration, gives this layout plenty of space for living, sleeping, washing and relaxing.

MTPLM: 2,200kg
Axle: Twin
Berth: 4

Buccaneer Schooner £25,549

Buccaneer Caravans are the Explorer Groups’ flagship range and feature a long list of high specification finishes to rival niche caravan builders Auto-Sleepers and Vanmaster. Celebrating fourty years in the business, the 2011 range featured a number of updates, making the range a serious contender in the luxury touring bracket. A telemetric Alde heating system can be controlled via text message even when you’re off-site, and a tracking system and roof-mounted satellite dish come included in the price. For a truly premium finish, customers can opt for cream leather upholstery livery for an extra £999.

MTPLM: 2,000kg
Axle: Twin
Berth: 4

Tabbert Paganini 655 DF from 37,000 Euros

This futuristic offering from German caravan manufacturers Tabbert, is our pick of the European bunch. It combines elements of automotive design and traditional caravan styling to achieve a unique, high-end finish. The lighting scheme allows you to set individual lights to a brightness of your choosing and high quality wood, leather and stainless steel materials give a truly opulent finish. It may not come with all the bells and whistles of the Buccaneer Schooner, but no expense has been spared in the fittings and furnishings and the difference is palpable. No flimsy overhead lockers or bubbled floor vinyl here.

MTPLM: 2,200kg
Axle: Twin
Berth: 4

Dutchman Voltage 3900 Toy Hauler from $94,995

Our last contender is the Dutchman Voltage 3900 hailing from the other side of the pond. Although these US-build rigs are far too big to be towed of British roads, it’s a great example of what happens when weight, size, price and arguably, taste, are no issue. This triple axle behemoth is so enormous you need a powerful articulated vehicle to tow it. It’s got a whopping 6,017kg unladen weight and is 4.08 metres tall that’s almost twice the height of the AS Mayfair!

There are two slide out sections; the first houses a large wrap-around settee to make way for an island kitchen unit in the middle of the cabinl; while the second makes space for a huge fixed double bed. There’s a 40″ high definition flat screen TV, home theatre surround sound, double door fridge/ freezer, a cedar lined walk-in wardrobe, and, wait for it. a 14 foot garage to the rear which can be accessed by a spring assisted ramp door. Which as the manufacturer helpfully points out is the perfect storage area for a couple of quad bikes!

Unladen weight: 6,017kg
Axle: Triple
Berth: 6

Caravanning holidaymakers urged to learn foreign road rules

Posted June 7, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

Taking your caravan abroad can be a highly affordable way of exploring Europe, but a national newspaper has warned that motorists should be aware of the different road rules.

The Daily Telegraph points out that countries such as France and Austria have very strict rules, including packing a fluorescent jacket, which you must wear if you break down.

Furthermore, in Belgium it is mandatory to carry a fire extinguisher on board at all times, while caravan owners visiting Germany should make sure to pack a warning triangle and a first aid kit.

Speed limits vary across EU countries, but provided you stay below 74 miles per hour, you can be sure to avoid any unwanted attention from the local traffic police.

Documentation is also important, so make sure to pack both parts of your driving license, the car’s original registration and all relevant insurance documents, the news provider added.

Firefighters tackle blaze at Yorkshire caravan site

Posted June 7, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

A reported fire at a caravan park in Stainforth near Doncaster resulted in fifteen firefighters being rushed to the scene early yesterday morning (June 6th), it has been reported.

The firefighters in question were called out to Station Road at 7am, where a caravan and two trailers had caught fire, according to the Thorne and District Gazette.

After five hours fighting the blaze, the fire crew were able to bring the situation under control by lunchtime, the local newspaper added.

The emergency services had been concerned that the blaze could spread to the nearby Meadow Court Stadium, which is a popular greyhound racing track.

This fire, which will come as a stark warning to anyone thinking of cutting corners when renewing their caravan insurance, comes less than a week after a caravan dealership in Northamptonshire lost £300,000 of its stock in a major blaze.

Bailey Caravans launch industry-first Parts Direct website

Posted June 6, 2011 by

by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans has launched an online service for caravan owners to order genuine Bailey parts and accessories. Bailey Parts Direct allows customers to order items using a website and have them delivered either straight to their home, or straight to their caravan while on holiday in the UK.

The parts ordering service will initially be made available to any postal address in the UK. Bailey has revealed plans to roll the service out to customers residing in mainland Europe at a later date. The Bristol manufacturer has set a target to dispatch all orders for in-stock items within two working days.

3,000 parts for classic and new Baileys

Traditionally a Bailey customer would have to order replacement parts via their retailer. Bailey has explained that this will remain the case for all items required to be fitted by an Approved Bailey Service Centre under the terms of the caravan warranty. However the firm is now also able to offer around 3,000 parts for caravans up to ten years old. And it is these items which have been made available for owners directly through this new website.

Orders placed through the site will be handled by the same Bailey Customer Services team who supply the existing Approved Service Centre network. However Bailey hope to further reassure owners by altering staffing procedures to allow it to offer a more continuous service throughout the year.

“The world we now live in”

With a service said to be the first of its kind for the UK caravan industry, Bailey managing director Nick Howard was confident their new offering meets customer expectations. “We have all become increasingly familiar with e-commerce and the convenience of ordering items from the internet. Given that is the world we now live in it is important that we can provide our customers with the level of service that they have come to expect when shopping on the internet”.

“We believe the creation of the Bailey Parts Direct web site is an important step forward in this regard and hopefully one which will enhance the owners enjoyment of our caravans” he added.

The new site can now be accessed by visiting bailey-parts.co.uk

Caravan owners should watch out for male drivers

Posted June 6, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

The traditional stereotype that women are more of a liability behind the wheel appears to have been disproved by a new motoring survey.

Caravan owners should be less worried about ‘typical woman drivers’ and watch out for the men instead, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The organisation’s research found that men are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a collision, due to being careless, reckless or in a hurry.

It may not surprise some caravan owners to hear that men are almost twice as likely to drive too quickly, and are also more likely to drive badly due to inexperience (14 per cent of males, compared with 10 per cent of females).

Despite this, men are still much more assured in their abilities on the road, with twice as many describing themselves as ‘very confident’ drivers.

Simon Best, chief executive of the IAM, said: “These results show that we need to look at the psychology of male drivers to reduce risky behaviour and over-confidence.”

Caravan owners to enjoy extra bank holiday in 2012

Posted June 6, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

Holidaymakers will be able to enjoy an extra bank holiday in 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it has been announced.

Caravan sites across the UK could experience a boost in bookings over the weekend of June 2nd to 5th 2012, as the Whitsunday bank holiday has been moved back by one week, while an extra day off has been added, to create a four-day weekend.

This is likely to provide a similar boost for the tourism industry as was seen at the end of April during the four-day Royal Wedding weekend.

James Berresford, chief executive of national tourist board VisitEngland, said: “An extra day off to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee will provide a great feel good factor and I’m sure will encourage more Brits to take a break at home.”

He added that while many holidaymakers will head to London to catch the celebrations, others may decide to get away from it all with a countryside retreat.

Forest Holidays invites families to explore the UK’s woodlands

Posted June 6, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

Families looking for something to do during the school holidays have been encouraged to explore the UK’s woodlands with Forest Holidays’ Forest Rangers.

The touring site chain, which is managed by the Camping and Caravanning Club, has various locations for caravan owners to stay across the UK, including Spiers House in Yorkshire, Postern Hill in Wiltshire, and Holmsley in the New Forest.

There are various ranger-led courses, depending on your age and interests, including bat watching, forest at dusk and a young explorer’s course.

Other outdoor activities on offer range from den building and orienteering to forest survival courses.

Alan Gibson, general manager of Forest Holidays, said: “Our Forest Rangers have a fantastic depth of knowledge of their local areas and it’s a real pleasure to be able to offer such unique activities to our campers.”

Courses are available to book for just £6 per adult and £5 per child.

Hütten Palast: the world’s first luxury indoor caravan hotel

Posted June 3, 2011 by

by Holly Tribe

Finally, a mainstream hotelier has noticed that caravans truly are the best form of holiday accommodation, regardless of price or location.

The Hütten Palast, or ‘Huts at the Palace’ in Berlin, Germany, has become the first hotel to replace conventional hotel suites with caravans.

Click here to view more images of ‘Huts at the Palace’

The hotel is located in an old vacuum-cleaner factory, and its founders, Silke Lorenzen and Sarah Vollmer, have incorporated static wooden cabins and mobile touring caravans in place of traditional hotel rooms.

The couple explained they wanted to preserve the integrity of the building whilst creating a communal atmosphere for its guests; “[we] wanted to keep the great architecture and not destroy it by building separate rooms… to create a room, where people actually meet each other.”

And it’s not just the caravans that give this unique hotel the ambience of a deluxe caravan park. The couple’s use of communal areas bears a strong resemblance to the camaraderie found on caravan sites.

The movable interior puts an emphasis on shared social spaces, and creates a flexible habitation landscape which can change and adapt with each new guest.

The caravans have had all the original utilities stripped away and been redecorated – each with its own unique theme. One of the vintage models has been transformed into a warm cocoon-like hideaway with a wooden mosaic interior, while another has been beautifully lit and fitted with a full size double bed.

Room rates start at 30 Euros a night to stay in a caravan. For more information about this unique ‘home-from-home’ hotel, click here.

Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Salop Leisure gets extended boost from caravan show

Posted June 3, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

A leading caravan dealer in Shropshire and Wales has received a month-long boost from the recent West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show.

Salop Leisure has reported that the show, which attracted more than 12,000 people to Shrewsbury, has resulted in a rush of sales.

Tony Bywater, chairman of the dealership, said that the volume of post-event sales has been a pleasant surprise to the company.

“It’s clear that discerning customers take their time and really do their homework before buying a caravan or holiday home. It’s a sign of the times that people are very careful about what they spend and are seeking good value for money,” he said.

He added that many Brits are choosing to invest in their future holidays by buying a caravan this year.

Salop Leisure has been selling caravans and holiday home lodges for over 40 years and the company has showrooms in Shrewsbury, Machynlleth and Stourport.

Campers in lucky escape after caravan site accident

Posted June 3, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners will have many reasons for picking a mobile home instead of a humble tent, but the importance of having a solid roof over your head has been brought into stark focus.

A family of four were lucky to escape with their lives intact after a large tree fell onto their tent on Sunday (May 29th), according to the Ledbury Reporter.

The group were camping at The Rock Caravan Park in Bromyard when a branch broke off the oak tree at around 5am.

Simon Halling, crew commander of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said that the branch fell off a tree that weighed at least two tonnes.

Whilst the father and two children were able to get out unharmed, the mother was trapped and had to be removed using specialist equipment.

“We had to use equipment that we normally use to stabilise cars that are involved in traffic collisions, as well as airbags and saw cutting equipment,” Mr Halling said.

The woman was later taken to a local hospital, where her injuries were deemed not to be life-threatening, the local paper added.

Caravan forecourt fire does £300,000 of damage

Posted June 3, 2011 by

by Chris Jefferies

A caravan dealership in Northamptonshire has suffered hefty losses after a fire on its forecourt led to more than a quarter of a million pounds worth of damage being done to its fleet.

Elite Motorhomes in Middleton Cheney estimates the total damage at £300,000, but this could have been even higher if fire-fighters had not prevented it from reaching a nearby petrol station, the Northampton Chronicle reports.

On late Tuesday night (May 31st), 25 fire-fighters struggled for three and a half hours to contain the blaze, which produced flames up to 40 feet tall.

The explosions were so loud that more than 30 local residents made 999 calls, as fears rose that their properties could be damaged as well.

Tom Robbins, an employee at Elite Motorhomes, told the local paper: “One of the motor homes worth about £30,000 was sold the day before but was completely unrecognisable after the fire; it was just a big pile of metal.”

Local police have not yet determined the cause of the fire and arson has not been ruled out.

Caravan Slang Dictionary: a complete glossary of terms

Posted June 2, 2011 by

If you are new to caravanning, you may already have come across a vast array of acronyms and caravan related jargon that litter spec sheets and caravan chat. This can be a tad confusing for even the most seasoned of caravanners, so we’ve put together a glossary of caravan terminology to help shed some light on the murky world of the caravan acronym!

Have we missed anything? Please feel free to add your own caravan slang/ terminology in the comments section below.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

ALW Actual Laden Weight – the total weight of the caravan and its contents when being towed.

B

Berth The number people a caravan can sleep (note: not the commonly misspelt birth!)
Blown Air A modern caravan heating system in which warm air is distributed throughout the cabin by a fan through ducting.

C

CC The Caravan Club – a national members club providing caravan related services to its members.
CC&C The Camping & Caravanning Club aka the Friendly Club – a national members club providing caravan and camping related services to its members.
CDP Chemical Disposal Point – the waste water and chemical drainage area.
CL Certified Location – sites limited to 5 caravans or motorhomes or less for exclusive use of CC members.
CRiS The Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme
CS Certificated Site – smaller campsites for the exclusive use of the Friendly Club’s members.

D

Disco The Land Rover Discovery, a popular towcar amongst caravanners.

E

EHU Electric Hook Up.

F

Farside The side of the caravan opposite the entrance door, also known as the offside.

G

Grey Nomad Caravanners of an advanced age who tour for long periods at a time ~ of Australian provenance.
Grey Water Waste water from the sinks and showers.
GRP Glass Reinforced Plastic – a material commonly used on the outershell of caravans.

H

Hitch Or caravan coupling head; the devise used to attach a caravan to the towball of a car.

J

Jockey Wheel The small wheel attached to the caravan ‘A-Frame’ used to stabilise the caravan once it has been unhitched from the towcar, before the corner steadies have been put down.

K

Kerb Weight The total weight of the towcar as it stands, without luggage or passengers.

L

Layout Or floorplan; the configuration of fittings and furniture inside the cabin.

M

MAM Maximum Authorised Mass – the maximum towing weight for a caravan when fully laden.
MTPLM Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass – the heaviest total weight the caravan can operate at, as specified by the manufacturer.
MiRO Mass in Running Order – caravan mass as equipped to the manufacturer’s standard specification.

N

Nearside The entrance door side of the caravan
NCC National Caravan Council – the official trade association for dealers, suppliers and manufacturers.
Noseweight The weight exerted on a car’s towball by the caravan’s hitch.

O

Outfit Term used to describe the caravan and towcar match.

P

PDI Pre Delivery Inspection – the check each caravan goes through before it leaves the factory floor to be sold.
Pop Top Caravan or campervan with an elevating roof section.
Pup Tent A tent or awning pitched outside the caravan, used as an extra bedroom for the kids.

R

Rangie Range Rover – a popular choice of Towcar.
Snaking Unstable caravan motion when it is being towed, caused by high winds, vehicles overtaking, erratic driving.

S

Slide-out Section of the caravan that slides out to increase the living space.

T

Tug Towcar
Twin Axle A caravan with two sets of wheels positioned closely together to enable steadier towing – usually found on longer, heavier caravans.
Tyron Bands Flat tyre protection for cars – a band fitted to the wheel well to prevent a deflated tyre from dropping into the recess, so the wheel can still be steered in event of a blow-out.

U

User Payload The total weight of accessories; optional equipment, food, clothing, etc. carried by the caravan in transit.
Unit A generic term used by many parks and sites that covers caravans, motorhomes, campervans and tents.
Unladen Weight The weight of the caravan as it stands, straight out of the factory.