Pickering residents object to plans for new caravan site

Homeowners in Pickering have protested at the Caravan and Camping Club’s plans to build a campsite close to their properties.

According to the Gazette & Herald, almost 50 households in the Outgang Road area signed a petition against the proposal.

The club wishes to erect five caravan and ten tent pitches on low-lying wetland, but residents fear that their privacy will be breached and that the site could cause traffic problems on the narrow Outgang Road, which joins up with the A170.

Noting that opening a certificated site in a residential area could create excessive noise, they told the newspaper that the idea was “most unacceptable”.

The Caravan and Camping Club has reportedly said that it will take the residents’ concerns on board before pursuing its plans.

According to the petition, locals had no problem with the initial plans for five caravan pitches, but were worried by the prospect of the site holding ten tents.

Meanwhile, the Clitheroe Advertiser recently reported that a residents at a local caravan site had raised £350 for charity.

Preview video: new 2011 Swift Caravans models – Challenger, Conqueror, Sterling Eccles and Elite

by Marcus Dubois

The full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans is now available – click here to view.

Swift Caravans has launched its 2011 model line-up with a radical redesign of four of its popular ranges. Using 3D automotive technology Swift has created a new look for the Challenger and Conqueror which continues through the Sterling Eccles and Elite.

In our video feature we’ll take a closer look at the new design features of these four models, including a panoramic front sunroof on the exterior and new “wipe-clean” fabrics and wood finishes on the interior. In addition we’ll catch up with industry figures to hear more about the new 2011 Swift ranges.

2011 Swift Caravans review: new models and layouts

by Holly Tribe and Marcus Dubois

Click here to watch the full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans

Swift Caravans has announced details of their highly anticipated 2011 range of updated tourers. Dealers and journalists got a closer look at four redesigned models from Swift’s most popular ranges at an event in Cottingham, Hull held yesterday. Caravan Times was there to witness the grand unveiling and can report that the new season caravans are the Swift Challenger and Conqueror, alongside the Sterling Eccles and Elite ranges. All models now sport dramatically altered silhouettes and striking interior designs.

Click here for our photo gallery from the launch of the new Swift Caravans

The new Swift and Sterling caravans share a similar design language with a new and unique profile for the vehicle. The redesigned front panel sports corner buttresses which sweep up to link with the roof rails, which in turn continue the line across the sides until it meets the full height rear panel. This creates a look very much akin to the strong lines of the motorhomes offered by the Swift Group.

The high gloss GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) front panel adjoins roof buttresses which run along the length of the caravan and are designed to stop water dripping down the walls. New skirts made from tough self coloured UPVC meet the rear end which is also made from tough reinforced GRP, and there’s an awning channel subtly integrated into the side panel.


Front sunroof

The key talking point among visitors yesterday was the addition of an impressive panoramic sunroof at the front. It starts at the window level and curves into the roofline to create a seamless black appearance which contrasts with the white of the front panel. Standard on the Conqueror and Elite models, it can be factory fitted as a cost option on Challenger and Eccles models. Prices are expected to come in under £500 for this optional extra, which was so well received by visitors to the launch in Hull that is likely to be fitted by dealers for their Challenger and Elite ranges.

Thicker 32mm walls and a fully bonded roof sit atop the thermally insulated wheel boxes. This gives the new season models far greater thermal efficiency and they now easily match up to…

First pictures of the new 2011 Swift Caravans

by Marcus Dubois

Click here to watch the full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans

Caravan Times brings you the first pictures from the launch of the new-look Swift Caravans. The popular Swift Challenger and Conqueror ranges have received a full redesign alongside the Sterling Eccles and Elite. Using the latest in automotive 3D design software Swift has created a totally new exterior shape with striking interior styling.

What we found to be the standout feature of the Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite models is the new front sunroof which curves upward into the roof to provide a great deal of interior light. Accented either side in black, the dark sweep at the front is a new visual statement from Swift. Inside this is complimented by roof lockers either side, and both the sunroof and lockers are optional extras on the Challenger and Eccles ranges.

We’ll be bringing you a video review of the new Swift range alongside full details and pictures of all the new models. In the meantime you can click below to browse a gallery of the first pictures from the Swift launch.

Click here for our photo gallery from the launch of the new Swift Caravans


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Shrouded in secrecy: Swift Caravans 2011 model launch

by Holly Tribe

Click here to watch the full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans

The wait is nearly over. Today, Swift Caravans officially unveil their brand new 2011 season updates to the press.

Not a peep has been heard from the Hull based manufacturer in the lead up to the launch which has resulted in much speculation within the industry. CaravanTimes editor, Marcus Dubois, is in Hull with our camera crew getting the real lowdown on all the new models. The new models were still literally ‘under wraps’ this morning as the press launch got under-way.

However, rumour has it that the new models are a total departure from any of Swift’s previous offerings and are built to groundbreaking new specifications. A new construction method is expected to combat the threat of water ingress head on. With a completely new profile, the Swift 2011 season updates promise to present some exceptional alternatives to the caravan market.

Photos captured by hawk-eyed Caravan Times Community member Ian Gilmore have already provided a sneak preview of the dramatically altered nose on the Sterling Eccles, and we look forward to bringing you news on all the 2011 Challenger, Conqueror, Eccles and Elite models in the coming days.

Click here for a gallery of spy shots of the new Swift Caravans

Stay tuned for forthcoming interviews and video reviews, coming soon!

Caravan Times member captures photos of 2011 Swift Caravans models

by Marcus Dubois

Click here to watch the full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans

It has been this year’s most closely guarded secret in the caravan industry. With no information available to the press before the official media day on Thursday 19th August, Swift Caravans has kept the details of their newest tourers under its hat. The firm promised “a shape that will change the look of the modern tourer”, and eager Swift fans can now learn more of what to expect thanks to photos from a Caravan Times member.

Click here for a gallery of spy shots of the new Swift Caravans

Keen-eyed caravanner Ian Gilmore works near the studio where they were being photographed in Manchester, and he noticed a convoy of Swifts entering the building three weeks ago. He tells us “there were lots of different models, all looking really good” and from his vantage point managed to take a few quick photos of the new caravans as they were being transported. Clearly visible in the photos is the new look for the Sterling Eccles, while the aerodynamic lines of the future Swift models are also hinted at.

Caravan Times will be in Hull this week to take a closer look at the new Swift Caravans at the official launch. Look out for forthcoming interviews and video reviews.

2011 Swift Caravans: we ask your questions

by Holly Tribe and Marcus Dubois

Click here to watch the full-length video review of the 2011 Swift Caravans

This year has seen one of the busiest summers in recent memory as a raft of new touring models were announced. The caravan press has been filled with announcements of the Bailey Unicorn, the first luxury model from the Bristol manufacturer. Elddis Caravans has revamped its line-up for 2011 with lashings of wood and carbon-fibre graphics heralding a modern look for the firm. Meanwhile Lunar Caravans has taken another step forward this year with the island bed featured in the Clubman SB, and Stealth Caravans are no longer newcomers with their second generation of tourers.

Yet despite the buzz of activity in the caravanning marketplace over the last few weeks Swift Caravans have remained resolutely silent about their forthcoming product releases.

But the wait is nearly over.

At the end of this week industry figureheads and dealers from across the country will be travelling to Hull to get a first glimpse of the highly-anticipated Swift 2011 season caravans.

Four of the most popular Swift ranges have been completely overhauled from the ground up including new interior and exterior redevelopments. The firm promises high-spec design features that combine modern materials with traditional construction. An avid caravanner in Cottingham has already spied three of the new Challengers being transported through the town to the launch site. “Very smart and classy looking – if they hadn’t had the Swift badge on them I might well of thought they were Hobbys” he revealed.

Below are the ranges which will be included in the new 2011 Swift line-up:

  • 2011 Swift Challenger
  • 2011 Swift Conqueror
  • 2011 Swift Eccles
  • 2011 Swift Elite

Your questions answered

We are in Cottingham, Hull this week at the unveiling of the new Swift models, and will report back on the innovations and changes in a special edition of our online video feature “Talkback”. And in this episode we’re putting your questions to Swift about the future of construction at the firm, and passing on what caravan buyers are looking for when shopping for models.

“We are shaping the future” is the bold statement from the firm – yet we feel the test of this will be in the touring. And how well these new innovations fare will be very much up to you, the caravan community. If you have any last minute questions for Swift Caravans you can submit them by clicking here.

You can also click here to join our online community where you will be able to see the full video feature on Swift Caravans next week.

Bailey Caravans announce price freeze on Pegasus and Olympus for 2011

by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans have announced a price freeze on its Pegasus and Olympus models for the new season. The recommended retail prices for these Alu-Tech caravans will remain unchanged from those set in the March 2010 price list.

Bailey believes the decision is “out of step with other caravan manufacturers who have recently implemented price increases on their 2011 ranges” and as such the firm is hoping to offer greater value in the current market. With the spectre of a VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% on the horizon at the end of the calendar year, the move is clearly aimed at potential caravan buyers hoping to beat the rise in tax.

Limited availability

The offer from Bailey is said to be for a limited period only however, and the firm made a statement that “in the current economic climate these retail prices cannot be guaranteed indefinitely”. Furthermore availability for the models prior to Christmas is expected to be strictly limited, and Bailey has revealed that the overall standing stock of their Alu-Tech caravans remains low. They have advised interested customers to contact their local retailer to ensure stock levels.

The Bailey Unicorn

The Bristol manufacturer has recently been emphasising the value of its forthcoming range-topper in the Alu-Tech lineup. The Bailey Unicorn is the first true “luxury” caravan from the firm, combining the properties of the Alu-Tech bodyshell with a completely new level of interior quality and refinement. The firm has worked however to keep prices below the £20,000 mark for the new model, hoping that customers “can still find outstanding value for money for a Bailey caravan even at the top end of the market”.

Watch our video feature on the Bailey Unicorn below:

2011 Coachman Caravans: new models and layouts

by Holly Tribe

After celebrating unprecedented success with their 2011 dealer showcase last month, Coachman Caravans revealed they have received fifty per cent more orders from dealerships than last year.

As the 2011 product launch season gets underway for all the big name caravan manufacturers, we take a closer look at what’s on offer from the Hull based firm next year.

Coachman have made significant improvements across all their ranges, but the real focus is on it lowest priced Amara series. Undergoing a total overhaul inside and out, revisions have been carried out with family in mind.

Coachman Amara

The 2011 Amara line-up will feature nine models, including the new six berth Amara 655/6 – a twin-dinette, twin axle model. Coachman have cleverly introduced the big family sized ‘van to the lower price range. With an MTPLM at a rather hefty 1860kg, it will need a substantial towcar, but ATC stability control will help keep the twin axles firmly to the road.

Additional spec includes an extra 5cm of headroom bringing the internal height up to 1.96m, and an awning light which also creates a gutter and stops rainwater dripping down from the doorway.

Coachman VIP and Pastiche

Next year will see the departure of the 535/4 model in both VIP and Pastiche ranges to make way for a new four berth VIP 560/4 layout. The most exciting element of the 560/4 is the…

2011 Elddis Caravans: new models and layouts

by Holly Tribe

With wholesale change on the way from leading caravan manufacturers Bailey Caravans, Swift, Coachman and relative newcomers, Stealth, 2011 looks set to be an exciting year for customers in the market for a new caravan.

Not to be left behind Elddis Caravans have announced a huge number of changes to their 2011 line-up. A total of ten new models are due to be introduced across their portfolio of products. The Avante range has been given a total facelift and the entry level Xplore marque, which premiered in 2008, has also undergone refinements.

The top of the range Buccaneer line-up sees the return of the Clipper, which has been fitted with top end mod cons and the Odyssey marque gets a new six berth model.

Elddis Xplore

Elddis introduced the entry level Xplore range, which went head to head with Swift Caravans popular Sprite marque last year. Raising the bar for 2011, Elddis have modified their Xplore models – gone is the twin axle option, which leaves five remaining updated and refined layouts.

The interiors house a more sophisticated upholstery scheme and deeper lockers provide more storage with useful corner lights. Revisions in the kitchen include a larger 115 litre fridge and electronic ignition for the cooker. The cabins are mounted on a more stable BPW V-Tec chassis for improved stability and models have been certified Grade 3 Thermal Insulating making them fit for year round touring.

Buccaneer Clipper

Fans of the Buccaneer Clipper will have something to cheer about, with its return to the Elddis 2011 line-up. The all-singing all-dancing Clipper comes fully loaded with the latest technology. Stuck away from your ‘van and the weather takes a turn for the worse? No problem. The automated Heki skylight has a rain sensor and will automatically automatically close when it senses rain, and you can switch the heating on remotely by sending a text message to…

MiRO and payload allowance changes for 2011 caravans

by Holly Tribe

A new directive from Europe will change the current method of calculating the Mass in Running Order (MiRO) and payload weights of caravans from the 1st January 2011.

The European Commission’s “Whole Vehicle Type Approval” directive gives allowances for essential equipment, which have previously been covered within the user payload. This will henceforth be calculated in the MiRO weight. This essentially means MiRO weights will increase and payloads will be reduced.

In short, items deemed essential for the running of a caravan will now be included in the MiRO weight category.

This includes:

  • Gas cylinders
  • Water in the heating system
  • Electric Hook-Up (EHU) cable

Leisure batteries are considered personal effects, and are accounted for in the payload allowance.

The National Caravan Council has already changed their standard to fall in line with the EU directive, which requires UK caravan manufacturers to quote weight in terms of the new specification.

A document detailing the changes released by the NCC explains: “It may seem that the user payload for a 2011 model is less because some things are now not included in the user payload”. For example gas bottles are now allocated to the MiRO.

The NCC clarify why it is important to make the distinction: “If for example you always empty your water tank then you will be able to carry extra items up to the weight allowed for the water.”

Many European caravan manufacturers have always quoted MiRO to the new standard and the new directive will bring UK made ‘vans in line with the rest of the Continent.

New 2011 season caravans launched over the last few weeks from leading UK manufacturers Bailey Caravans, and Elddis Caravans have already begun to quote model weights using the new specification.

The legislation will not affect towcar matching because the MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) calculations which caravanners rely on to measure the trailer and towcar weight ratio remains unchanged.

A copy of the NCC’s guidance brochure can be accessed here

Pictures, prices and layouts: the Bailey Unicorn review

by Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

Bailey Caravans has launched a premium model in their best-selling lineup of Alu-Tech vehicles. The Bailey Unicorn is the first “luxury” caravan from the Bristol manufacturer and supercedes the outgoing Senator model from what Bailey call the older “classic construction” range.

We took our first look at the Unicorn last month and encountered a markedly different type of caravan to its sister vehicles, the Bailey Pegasus and Olympus. The Unicorn shares the family looks in the front window arrangement and body shape, but sports striking new graphics in 3D resin to distinguish it from its siblings. The major changes however have been reserved for the interior, where Bailey aims to stake out new ground in the caravan marketplace.

The internal headroom of the tourer has been increased to 6’5″ throughout, and there is a real sense of extra spaciousness. Every aspect of the caravan has been given premium materials, from the high gloss kitchen worktops to chrome fixtures and fittings. Customers used to the interior warmth of the recently retired Senator will love the traditional wood of the Unicorn with its Italian designed cabinets and doors.

Most notable is the introduction of the ALDE Compact 3010 Wet Central Heating System, which will come fitted as standard in both single and twin axle models. Distributing an even temperature throughout the caravan, it controls humidity and reduces the circulation of allergen particles. The heat is distributed through integrated radiators alongside a heated towel rail in the bathroom. Security features have also been upgraded – the TRACKER Monitor Stolen Caravan Recovery system will be offered subscription free for the first twelve months. A sophisticated movement sensor notifies TRACKER if the vehicle is illegally moved.

Yet beyond these major revisions, it was the smaller touches which stood out most of all. Appointments such as an incorporated linen basket in the bathroom or a clock by the kitchen may not seem like headline news, but they make the caravan feel like a proper “home from home”. We were left with the feeling that with the Unicorn, Bailey is offering its customers a tourer that can be used all year round if so desired.

Watch our video feature on the Bailey Unicorn below:

Read on as we take you through the specifications and layouts of the Bailey Unicorn models

Unicorn Seville

Couples looking for the ultimate in luxury touring may find what they’ve been looking for in the entry level Seville. The front dinette converts into a spacious 6ft 8in x 4ft 8in double or two 6ft 3in x 2ft 2in singles. And a chest of drawers between the berths houses a slide out occasional table.

  • 2 berth Single axle
  • MTPLM 1433kg
  • MRO 1304kg
  • Internal length 4.90m
  • Internal headroom 1.96m
  • External width 2.28m
  • RRP £17,490

Unicorn Valencia

The mid range Valencia single axle caravan sleeps four comfortably and weighs in at almost three hundred kgs less than the twin axle model. A traditional wood interior, and large Heki rooflight above the bed give a solid yet airy finish and blue detailing on the neutral upholstery scheme gives a regal finish.

  • 4 berth Single axle
  • MTPLM 1409kg
  • MRO 1304kg
  • Internal length 4.90m
  • Internal headroom 1.96m
  • External width 2.28m
  • RRP £18,490

Unicorn Barcelona

Sitting at the top of the Unicorn range, the Barcelona offers the ultimate in touring luxury. A superbly kitted out end washroom adjoins the sleeping quarters with its own dressing area, leading through to the high spec kitchen and dining area. The ambient temperature is managed by the pioneering Alde central heating system.

  • 4 berth Twin axle
  • MTPLM 1756kg
  • MRO 1593kg
  • Internal length 4.90m
  • Internal headroom 1.96m
  • External width 2.28m
  • RRP £20,190

Below is our photo gallery from the launch of the Bailey Unicorn


Find more photos like this on the Caravan Times community.