By Chris Littley

This edition of CaravanTimes’ Classic Gold series takes the magnifying glass to the Elddis Xplore 304, which was originally given the once over by reviewer Peterlan Tremelling in 2014. Six years later, would it still get five stars?

From the outset of Mr Tremelling’s review it’s clear to see he was impressed with the caravan, referring to it as “an absolute peach”. The general impression he gives is that it outperforms what you’d expect from an entry-level caravan, therefore representing great value for money.

Among the highlights he pointed out are a large fridge, three-burner hob and four reading lamps on top of the two main lamps. Mr Tremelling also raved about the thick and comfy cushions, as well as the abundance of storage space.

While the washroom is described as “compact”, this is overlooked in favour of easy towability. Roomier caravans tend to be much larger on the whole and therefore require more high-power cars to tow them and more space for manoeuvring.

Mr Tremelling concluded: “It is a brilliant little van, which should prove popular with those with medium-sized cars, and those who would prefer not to tow huge caravans.”

Did you purchase an Elddis Xplore 304 back in 2011 when it first hit the market or in subsequent years? And if so, did your experience live up to the hype of our reviewer? Do let us know.

By Chris Littley

The director-general of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association has written to the prime minister asking for caravan parks to be allowed to come out of lockdown earlier than other hospitality businesses.

In the letter to Boris Johnson, Ros Pritchard described holiday and touring parks as “fresh air hotels”, which should be exempt from the current rules meaning they won’t be able to open until July at the earliest.

According to a report in The Independent, she wrote: “Our customers enjoy outdoor holidays in self-contained, self-catering accommodation with full bathroom and kitchen facilities in holiday caravans, chalets, treehouses, safari tents as well as in many touring caravans and motorhomes.”

The argument is that social distancing is much easier to achieve in caravan parks than pubs and restaurants, yet the sites have been lumped into the same category by the English government.

In Wales, the roadmap to coming out of lockdown puts accommodation businesses without shared facilities in the same bracket as non-essential retail, enabling them to open sooner.

Ms Pritchard pointed out that for many households who own a caravan, social distancing in it would not be any different in it to the conditions in their primary residence.

If England were to make a concession on accommodation businesses without shared facilities to bring it in line with Wales, caravanners could be enjoying staycations across the nation from June 1st instead of July 4th.

Many caravan owners believe it’s unfair that people with beach huts and those with boats can use them in the marina, while motorhomes are still prohibited.

There’s no suggestion that caravan parks with shared washing facilities or any on-site clubs, bars or cafes should open up early, just places that can accommodate self-contained leisure vehicles.

Ms Pritchard underpinned her point, adding: “For holidaymakers who rent holiday caravans and other accommodation from us (without shared facilities), we have well developed social-distancing measures which would safeguard against the risk of infection.”

By Chris Littley

Experts in the caravan industry are warning owners that their vehicles could be targeted during the coronavirus lockdown.

Insurer Caravan Guard has teamed up with vehicle recovery service Tracker to offer a number of tips on securing caravans and motorhomes while restrictions remain in place.

They highlighted the fact that the majority of thefts of leisure vehicles happen when they aren’t being used for a long time or are in storage. And that basically sums up the situation for all caravans and motorhomes at present, as it’s against government rules to take them away for an overnight trip.

Liz Harrison at Caravan Guard told the Daily Record: “We know how disappointing it is to be unable to hit the open road. But owners must remember that their pride and joy is still vulnerable and must be protected.”

Among the tips suggested is fitting security posts or a lockable gate at the end of your drive to prevent thieves from driving your caravan off your property. Alternative methods of securing a motorhome include marking it or fitting a tracking device for easier recovery if it is stolen.

If you’re looking for equipment that will stop thieves in their tracks, then there’s plenty to choose from. These include hitch locks, wheel clamps, steering wheel locks and door deadlocks. They each target a different part of the caravan and can be purchased relatively cheaply to offer greater peace of mind that your beloved motorhome will be safe until you can next use it.

Some of the common mistakes made by caravan owners when their vehicle is not being used include leaving valuables inside and not marking items with their postcode. Registration documents should also be taken out of your motorhome and put in a safe place, as these would help a potential thief to sell on your treasured vehicle once they’ve taken it.

Clive Wain from Tracker added: “While the extended lockdown increases the risk of caravan theft, there are plenty of ways in which owners can protect themselves and their vehicle. Security and insurance are both vital, and neither should fall down the list of priorities this summer.”

By Chris Littley

In the latest edition of the CaravanTimes’ Classic Gold series, we take a look at the Hymer Nova 530K. It may have hit the market in 2007, but it was in 2011 that our reviewer David Welch took it for a spin and handed down his verdict.

And when we say he took it for a spin, Mr Welch toured much of Great Britain in the Hymer Nova 530K and said that after more than 30 weeks of use, it still looked brand new. That’s high praise from a caravan reviewer and he was so impressed, he gave the model a whopping five stars overall.

He pointed out that the Hymer Nova 530K wasn’t the cheapest caravan on the market, but you did get a lot of bang for your buck. Mr Welch said the seats were large and the cupboards a good size, making for a comfortable ride and excellent storage.

On another practical point, he said: “Excellent layout; can put the kids to bed in a full-size bunk to watch TV in bed and slide the door closed so they are separate from the rest of the van.”

Mr Welch only had a couple of minor gripes to report and one was that the gangway was disproportionately narrow compared to the other features. The second complaint was that, being a European van, the door opened on the wrong side for most UK caravan sites and required a mover to address this problem.

All in all, David was very impressed with the Hymer Nova 530K, describing it as “built like a tank”, but what do you think? Did you purchase this model and if so, would you have given it a five out of five, like Mr Welch did?

By Chris Littley

It was big news when prime minister Boris Johnson said individuals in England would be allowed to drive as far as they like to take exercise, but overnight stays away from home are still a big no-no. So, when will caravan trips be allowed again?

While nobody can say for certain how the next few weeks and months of coming out of lockdown will go, it’s worth looking towards the caravan sites for an expert opinion. Many of them have started to make tentative plans for reopening and this is what they’re currently saying:

The official line from the Caravan Club is that its UK sites are expected to reopen in July. They won’t all fling their doors open on the same day, however, as a phased approach is expected. As the four nations of the union have now diverged in their approach to coming out of lockdown, it could be that caravan sites in England are opened up before those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, Parkdean Resorts plans to reopen on June 1st and Haven has announced its sites will be closed until July 2nd. Hoseasons hopes to see visitors arriving from July 1st and Away Resorts isn’t taking any new reservations for before July 3rd. The Camping and Caravanning Club has not committed to a date to start welcoming visitors, but is accepting new bookings on a fully flexible basis.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has warned against getting too excited prematurely. A spokesperson said: “The recent statement by the UK government on the gradual easing of the current lockdown restrictions is welcome news.

“However, the government advice does not currently give the dates that campsites and touring sites are able to reopen and is conditional on further progress being made. At this time we are planning on the assumption that we will be able to introduce a phased reopening of our sites network during July.”

By Chris Littley

After the weekend’s announcement that small concessions to the lockdown can start to be made, caravan enthusiasts will no doubt be beginning to dream. We’re not yet out of the woods and able to travel freely, but perhaps by the time the summer arrives, some sort of holiday could be possible.

Caravan owners could be at a huge advantage when it comes to planning a trip away, as it’s relatively easy to stay self-contained in a motorhome. Most live-in vehicles are equipped with their own kitchens, toilets and even showers, which could mean cutting down on interaction with others in a cautious post-lockdown climate.

Nick Lomas, director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, told The Telegraph: “The fundamental desire to get out in Britain’s great outdoors is as strong as it’s ever been. Our bookings for July onwards are almost identical to last year. We’ve also opened bookings all the way into 2021 and they’re very buoyant too.”

Caravan sites represent a good place to observe social distancing, as they are often located in the countryside and surrounded by lots of open space. There’s none of the issues associated with a city break when adults and children alike can enjoy outdoor activities at a safe distance from other people.

Mr Lomas added: “We have two particular advantages: the way modern campervan sites are designed already adheres to safe distancing for fire safety reasons, as well as privacy and wellbeing.”

Socially distanced gatherings were already the norm for many caravan lovers before lockdown began anyway. Sitting under their own awning with a meal and their own drinks, a caravanner often chats to their neighbours under theirs. This has been a feature of caravan life for decades, lending itself to the new normal everyone will have to get used to.

Since it looks increasingly likely that travelling back into the UK will come with a 14-day quarantine, foreign travel could be off the agenda for some time. Staycations will therefore be high up the list for many who are keen to get a break from the local area where they have been in lockdown.

By Chris Littley

A number of staff at the UK’s biggest manufacturer of caravans have been sent letters to say their fixed-term contracts will not be renewed when they come to an end in June.

Swift Group is cutting the amount of people it employs, as the reality of the coronavirus pandemic starts to hit, although it is not clear how many of the 1,150 employees are being retained, reports HullLive.

Like many of the UK’s manufacturing businesses, Swift’s operations have been forced to shut down while everybody stays at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Workers have been on furlough throughout April and original plans to start building caravans again from May 4th never came to fruition.

A company spokesman released a statement saying: “I can confirm that the company will not be extending any fixed-term contracts that are due to finish by the end of June.

“The number of employees this affects is a small proportion of the whole organisation. Business activity is suspended at this time and we continue to follow government guidance.”

Swift has been making caravans since the 1960s, with the first model, known as The Ten, completed by partners Ken Smith and Ken Day.

It was built on Hedon Road in Hull and the company continues to run much of its operation from Yorkshire.

Over the years, Smith with his wife Joan continued to grow the business, after buying out Day, and produced iconic models, including the Clubman, Rapide and Challenger.

Swift gained a reputation for innovative design and introduced many features like its deep front windows and fixed beds to meet changes in the market.

To this day, Swift remains a popular brand of caravan, with the latest releases continuing to break the mould and gain the attention of aficionados everywhere.

Its 2020 editions include new versions of the Elegance, with luxury features, and an entirely revamped Sprite, to do justice to the legend that has won awards over the years.

By Chris Littley

The name Buccaneer is incredibly evocative and this range from Elddis is still popular today, but what of the Caravel edition? Has it lived up to the hype or is it more likely to be asked to walk the plank?

We take a look at this vintage gem to see how it’s fared, as our Classic Gold series continues.

It was John Heath who reviewed the Buccaneer Caravel back in 2012 and he was positively gushing about the 2011 model, it has to be said. When it came to the 2012 version with its layout changes, however, he wasn’t quite so sure. The difference was so striking in fact, that he dropped his five-star rating down to three in light of the changes.

John enthused: “The memory foam mattress on the island bed is ideal for us, as we both have back issues. The seating area is spacious and comfortable, and are full size, rather than the trend to have shorter seating in the front area.

“The limited space around the island bed is something that we have had to adapt to, but the positives by far outweigh the negatives. The equipment is all top draw, and make the Buccaneer the top quality caravan that is expected with the brand name.”

That said, a bugbear of John’s about the updated version of the Caravel was that the paintwork had been switched from white to silver. He certainly preferred the crispness of the white over the new fangled silver, which was only just hitting the market at the time and has now become commonplace in caravan design.

Did you purchase a Buccaneer Caravel in 2011 or 2012 and if so, which edition did you plump for? Let us know in the comments, and while you’re at it you can settle the white/silver debate too.