By Chris Littley

In this edition of CaravanTimes’ Classic Gold series, we are taking a closer look at the Coachman Laser 655/6 to see what our reviewer thought of the model and to prompt some debate between those who actually owned this motorhome.

The year was 2012 and the Coachman Laser 655/6 had only been on the market for 12 months when Fiona Wardle put it through its paces. She must have been pretty impressed, as she gave the caravan an overall four-star rating, but what about the finer points of the model?

Let’s start with the positives, Ms Wardle said the layout of the caravan was particularly good for families travelling together. She commented on the head height, stating it was good and that leg room was also sufficient. There weren’t any issues towing issues, either, which is an important practical point.

While she did find the beds and seats comfortable, our reviewer found the combination of slats fitted into a frame and gas struts strange. You would think that Coachman would have adopted the same system for all of the beds throughout the Laser 655/6, but apparently not.

Despite being pleased with the layouts of the kitchen and bathroom, Ms Wardle found a number of details meant it wasn’t as user-friendly as it could have been. For example, she bemoaned the lack of shelves in the top lockers and bathroom cabinet, which would become an annoyance on longer trips.

But it appears the reviewer managed to turn a blind eye to the niggles, summarising: “Overall, a lovely caravan.”

Did you buy a Coachman Laser 655/6 in 2011 or after? If so, what did you think of its layout, beds and all the little details? Do let us know your thoughts.

By Chris Littley

Caravan parks across the UK are not due to reopen to the public until July, but one national chain has outlined the measures it will use to ensure its visitors’ safety.

Haven owns 36 caravan sites across the country and is hoping to welcome back holidaymakers as soon as the government gives them the go ahead.

Caravan holidays will have to come in line with new social distancing and hygiene rules just like many other areas of recreation in the wake of COVID-19.

It’s expected that holiday parks will be allowed to welcome back guests from July 3rd, although further confirmation from Downing Street is anticipated.

Gerard Tempest, director of guest and proposition at Haven, told The Sun: “The experience has changed from when guests first arrive at the park.

“They will be given an allocated time for arrival, so that we can meet them at the gate and allow them to bypass reception – taking them straight to their caravan where they will be given their set of keys and a welcome pack.

“Getting around will change too – in the same way that you have one way aisles at the supermarket, we’ll have that on a much bigger scale in the park.”

Behind the scenes, things will be different too, with additional cleaning teams dressed in PPE targeting high-touch areas like door handles on a strict schedule.

Each caravan will be cleaned and sealed between stays, with visitors able to break the seal on their unit at the start of their holiday and told not to enter if it has already been broken.

These measures should help to provide peace of mind to people looking for a staycation in the UK this summer.

While it’s still unclear whether swimming pools, playgrounds, restaurants and entertainment venues will be able to open at Haven parks, guests will be able to order food via an app and have it delivered to their caravan.

Mr Tempest added: “We are seeing a lot of the kinds of people who have not really considered holiday parks in the past, those who had a misconception that they are still the same as when my grandparents had a caravan on the coast.

“That is not the case – they have moved on enormously and people will ask themselves why they hadn’t considered this before.”

By Chris Littley

The French government has announced its caravan parks will be allowed to reopen from tomorrow (June 2nd), as it continues to outline its plans to come out of lockdown.

Édouard Philippe, the country’s prime minister, described the move as part of a new phase in which “freedom is the rule and restriction the exception,” reports The Mirror.

All of what has been dubbed the ‘green zone’ of mainland France will be able to welcome these new freedoms, but the Ile-de-France region, where Paris lies, will have to wait until June 22nd.

That will equate to 8,000 sites, with businesses feeling a sense of relief and holidaymakers able to salvage something of the summer.

Of course, new measures will be in place when the sites open, with rules to wear masks in enclosed spaces and social distancing etiquette enforced.

Many parks have swimming pools to allow visitors to cool off from the heat of the French sun and this is one area where there will be a number of changes.

Sun loungers are likely to be removed to discourage lingering and markings taped out on the floor to enable safe queuing for water slides.

Christophe Lelièvre, vice-president of the National Federation of Outdoor Hotels said: “Pool water is chlorinated so there are no worries concerning the virus”, but campsite managers are encouraged “to limit the number of deckchairs, or even take them off”.

Individual sites will have to find their own systems to allow visitors to use facilities, with time slots and colour-coded bracelets among the options put forward.

Mr Philippe commented on the easing of travel rules: “I call on all French to show the same kind of responsibility as they have been showing throughout the crisis.”

While France is hoping to open its borders to visitors from many European countries, this will not include Britain, as a 14-day quarantine rule is set to come into force on June 8th.

Caravan lovers in the UK will be looking to see how other countries manage the reopening of sites as it may inform the ways in which it is handled here.

By Chris Littley

There’s some debate as to whether caravan parks in England will be allowed to reopen in June or July, but those in Wales are set to start welcoming visitors back from June 1st. If you’re hoping to be in the first wave of holidaymakers, is your leisure vehicle ready for a post-lockdown trip?

Here are some of the ways to prep your caravan for the coming season.

Give it an airing

Leisure vehicles can smell a little musty when they are taken out of long-term storage, but as long as you put the right precautions in place before the winter, a little airing is all it should need. Open up all the windows and doors for six or seven hours, either outside or in a ventilated space to let fresh air in.

Check for any damage

Spend some time inspecting both the interior and exterior of your caravan for damage. It could be a leak you hadn’t noticed, some dirt that has accumulated or signs of wear and tear. Noticing these things as you’re about to set off on a journey is no good, so check now while there’s time to rectify any problems.

Sort out your tyres

If your motorhome still sports its winter tyres, these need to be swapped for the road tyres that you use for most of the year. Be sure to check for any wear on the tread, cracking or even bulging, which can occur when the weight of the whole vehicle has been sat on the tyres for a long period of time. Finally, inflate your tyres to the optimum pressure as outlined by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Prep your water system

It’s good practice to empty your water tank and disconnect pipes throughout the system before putting your van into hibernation. Now, it’s time to reverse the process, refilling the tank, sterilising the system and running it through to check for leaks.

Reconnect your electrics

Charge your battery and clean leads and terminals before reconnecting your battery. This will ensure smooth running right from the start of the season. To make sure all is in good working order, test the inside lights and water pump. Then move on to the exterior lights, checking for any missing pins or cracked housings along the way.

Stock up your caravan

Put all of the essential items you usually stock your caravan up with back into the cupboards. This will be different for all caravanners, but things like washing up liquid, cleaning supplies and sunscreen are likely to go in at the beginning of the season and remain there until it’s time to put the van back into hibernation. This prevents the need to restock the basics for every trip.

By Chris Littley

For caravan owners, it has sometimes felt that Jeremy Clarkson’s whole career has been built on his dislike of motorhomes, but the former Top Gear host has now made an epic U-turn.

In his recent column for The Sunday Times, he spoke out about changing his mind on the vehicles and even buying one for himself.

He wrote in the column: “I’ve made it very plain that I hate them. And now I’ve bought one.”

Mr Clarkson lives in a small cottage with his partner Lisa Hogan and her daughter, making it difficult for the young woman to invite friends round.

So, the solution seemed to be to get a caravan and the family invested in a Cosalt Rimini model, but it ended up being unused when the friends realised there was no Wi-Fi.

Mr Clarkson said: “I was cross. And I remained cross right up to the point that Matt Hancock, who is the health secretary, announced last week that ‘lavish’ foreign holidays would not be possible this summer.”

He seemed to realise that caravanning looks like a very appealing option once lockdown rules are relaxed and people are desperate to leave their homes but won’t be able to travel abroad.

The issue of social distanced holidays is one that still requires a lot of clarification and there will be problems with capacity and visitors flooding tourist hotspots.

Mr Clarkson pointed out that Brits will not be holidaying on the Greek islands this summer or renting cottages or staying in hotels.

He summarised: “If you want a holiday, you’re going camping.”

The first time that Mr Clarkson was seen pitting himself against caravans on air was during the third season of Top Gear.

Three of them were destroyed as a stuntman tried to jump a Volvo estate over a bank of caravans and spectacularly nosedived off the ramp instead.

Since then, the topic of caravans has become a running joke with Mr Clarkson, with his opinion of motorhomes only seeming to get stronger and stronger.

So, if there’s one good thing about the lockdown, it could be seeing the outspoken host being proved wrong.

By Chris Littley

As we start to think about slowly coming out of lockdown, it’s only natural to begin fantasising about the places we’d like to visit in our caravans, once the time comes. That’s what the Dream Destinations series is all about and this edition focuses on the Portuguese city of Porto.

Located at a strategic point where the Douro River meets the sea, Porto has historically been the place where port wine was shipped off for export. It’s therefore not surprising that the city has become synonymous with the beverage, yet there’s much more to this fascinating gem on the Iberian peninsula, making it the perfect place for a caravan getaway.

The wide river is traversed by no fewer than six bridges, connecting the medieval Ribeira district on one side to the historic port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the other. Each of the bridges has its own character, from the majestic arc of the Ponte Dom Luis I to the sleek futuristic design of the São João Bridge.

Of Porto’s many places of worship, two stand out for a visit. São Francisco Church is celebrated for its highly decorated baroque interior, complete with carvings opulently gilded for maximum impact. Another baroque beauty is Clérigos Church, whose soaring tower can be seen throughout the city and is therefore a fantastic viewpoint.

Some of the most beautiful craftsmanship in Porto is not found in a church, palace or museum, however, but inside São Bento Railway Station. The walls of this building from the turn of the 20th century are adorned with 20,000 traditional blue and white azulejo tiles, telling the story of Portugal’s history.

When it comes to impressive features that should be included in a classic bookshop Livraria Lello & Irmão has them all. Dark wooden balustrades – check. Imposing central staircase – check. Ornate stained glass – check. And if the Lello bookshop was in need of any more pedigree, it’s said to have been the inspiration for Hogwarts’ library, after a certain aspiring writer spent some timing teaching English in Porto during her youth.

Which destination will be the first you get away to in your caravan once lockdown is over? Do let us know.

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?