The Club Expand Their Experience Freedom Brand In 2020

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By William Coleman

Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club is expanding its glamping offering this year, opening new glamping pods in the Lake District in spring and North Yorkshire in the summer. In addition, a new motorhome pick up location is opening in London in March.

Experience Freedom is opening eight new units at its Troutbeck Head Campsite in Cumbria, Lake District and 12 at its Cayton Village Campsite near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Both sites will offer a mix of four-berth and six-berth units and there will also be two accessible glamping units at Cayton Village and one at Troutbeck Head.

The accessible pods are suitable for a range of accessibility needs, offering level entry, wide doors, turning circles, a stylish wet-room and custom built kitchen. Dedicated parking is also provided.

Cayton Village Campsite is located just three miles from Scarborough and within a mile of Cayton Bay, making it an ideal base for a beach break. The campsite offers a brand new enclosed play area, multi-use games room, outside dining area, electric vehicle charging points and dog-friendly accommodation is available for furry friends.

Troutbeck Head Campsite in the Lake District is set in the classically beautiful North Lakeland countryside and is just four miles from Ullswater. Nestled in a picturesque valley, the campsite is a perfect location for nature lovers and walkers as it offers easy access to numerous lakes, mountains, valleys and rivers. The campsite has a play area and games room and offers some dog-friendly accommodation.

Experience Freedom already has glamping units in Coniston – Lake District, the Cotswolds, Brighton, London, the Surrey Hills and Kent. The units range from glamping pods and Airstream caravans to yurts and camping pods, and prices start from £39 per night*.

Experience Freedom also offers camping at over 50 campsites plus motorhome hire via its partner Swift Go. Customers can currently start their motorhome hire adventure from Manchester or Edinburgh and from March this year they will be able to pick up their motorhome from London too.

Motorhome hire starts from just £100 per night based on a minimum three-night hire and customers have access to over 2,700 quality campsites in the UK and Europe via the Caravan and Motorhome Club along with exclusive discounts on ferries.
Caravan and Motorhome Club members and their friends and family get a 10 percent discount on Experience Freedom glamping bookings. Members also receive a 15 percent discount on motorhome hire plus free collision damage waiver.

Lock n Level Unveil Second Levelling Innovation At The NEC

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By William Coleman

The NEC shows are full of innovative solutions for every aspect of caravan holidays. There are so many that it can be hard to pick one over the other which can lead to you ending up walking away empty handed. To help sift through levelling options check out the Lock’n’Level team and their brand new product.

I first noticed the Lock’n’Level about 18 months ago when I was walking around the October NEC show. At first I was not sure what I was looking at, all I could see was a big crowd and a blue object that looked like a heavy duty inflatable. As I got to the stand what I saw was pretty much an inflatable, but one that does a great job with a lot of ease on your part that will have you leisure vehicle perfectly level no matter what surface you’re on.

Levelling a caravan can sometimes be a right pain, especially if you are using blocks or if you are on a more….”rustic” site. So why not try something that is easy, safe and reliable?

The Lock’n’Level is basically an airbag, a British made product that will have your caravan level within a few minutes while you stand and wait. They are available for both single and twin axle caravans. .

This year the team has taken the product to the next level and designed a new product that will use the existing technology to level the massive American 5th Wheel caravans. The new Hi-5 can lift a 3500kg “5er” up to 5″ high and anywhere in between with a very minimal effort.

Using these products will make life easier and all you need is an air pump, electronic is possible. So if you are visiting the NEC this week make sure to head over and see Derek to find out more about how Lock’n’Level can save you a lot of time and effort.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Embark On The Bailey of Bristol Sahara Challenge

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By William Coleman

Bailey have now officially announced their next globetrotting adventure which will take the team, along with the Caravan and Motorhome Club and list of industry folk on a 3,500-mile intercontinental journey to the Sahara Desert.

The ‘Sahara Challenge’ will set off from the company’s South Liberty Lane production facility in Bristol, travel through Spain and Portugal across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco over the Atlas Mountains and as far south as the edge of the Sahara Desert before returning home

The journey will be undertaken using two Bailey caravans, pulled by SsangYong towing vehicles, and one motorhome. The Sahara Challenge will take 20 days to complete with the team experiencing a wide range of road and weather conditions en route

Bailey’s patented Alu-Tech design technology creates vehicles which are more robust, more durable and yet light, offering greater protection against the elements – they will be perfect to meet the varying challenges on the trip

To date over 65,000 leisure vehicles have been built using the ground-breaking Bailey Alu-Tech construction system

This will be the fourth real-life long distance test Bailey has undertaken in recent times. The Sahara Challenge follows successful trips across the Australian Outback (‘West to East Challenge’), to the Arctic Circle (‘Arctic Adventure’) and to Asia (‘Bristanbul Challenge’)

Regular updates on the team’s progress will be posted on the Bailey of Bristol website as well as on the company’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds (#SaharaChallenge). Updates will also appear on all Caravan and Motorhome Club social platforms

Bailey of Bristol, in association with the Caravan and Motorhome Club, will be embarking on a new and inspiring 3,500-mile intercontinental caravan and motorhome adventure in March.
The ‘Sahara Challenge’ will set off from the company’s South Liberty Lane production facility in Bristol, travel through Spain and Portugal across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco over the Atlas Mountains and as far south as the edge of the Sahara Desert – the birthplace of the original caravans – before returning home.

This time the company will be taking two caravans (a pair of Discovery D4-4 models) pulled by SsangYong towing vehicles and one motorhome (an Alliance SE 76-4T). The marathon journey will take 20 days to complete with the team experiencing a range of potentially extreme road and weather conditions along the way.
As with all Bailey leisure vehicles, the ‘Sahara Challenge’ caravans and motorhome are built using the company’s patented Alu-Tech body shell construction system. This award winning technology creates vehicles that are more robust, more durable and yet lighter than those manufactured using conventional methods to keep owners comfortable, safe and secure all year round. To date over 65,000 Bailey caravans and motorhomes have been built using this method and are currently being enjoyed all over the world.

The Sahara Challenge vehicles will be driven by, amongst others: Simon Howard (Marketing Director, Bailey of Bristol); Nick Lomas (Director General, the Caravan and Motorhome Club); Lee Davey (Freelance Journalist and Bailey Brand Ambassador); and Andy Torbet (Outdoor Adventurer and new Bailey Brand Ambassador). Throughout the journey, the core team will be also joined by a wide range of guests including media representatives from both inside and outside the industry.

Talking about the forthcoming trip Bailey Marketing Director Simon Howard, said:
“Since the introduction of our Alu-Tech construction system over ten years ago we have continued to put our leisure vehicles through their paces both on the proving grounds and cold chambers, as well as on a series of real-life tests across the globe.”

“In addition to providing a thorough technical examination of our products, the twenty-day adventure will also show that you are really only limited by your imagination as to where a caravan or motorhome can take you, and that we love using our vehicles as much as our customers do.”

Nick Lomas, Caravan and Motorhome Club Director General said, “We are delighted to be supporting the Sahara Challenge. Here at the Caravan and Motorhome Club we want to encourage as many people as possible to have leisure vehicle adventures – whether they are touring 3,500 miles or 35 miles – we want to inspire future generations of new touring holidaymakers.

The Sahara Challenge will be the adventure of a lifetime, there will be varying weather and road conditions, there will also be so many iconic sights and landmarks to experience along the way. Leisure vehicles really open up the world for adventure.”

As they travel towards the Sahara, the team will post regular blogs/vlogs and social media updates via the Bailey and the Caravan and Motorhome Club social media channels using #SaharaChallenge

Bailey of Bristol would like to thank the following organisations, in addition to the Caravan and Motorhome Club and SsangYong, for their support of the Sahara Challenge: AL-KO Kober, Avtex, Bodyrag, CGI Graphics, Caravan Times, Dometic, Gaslow, Milenco, Nextbase, PRIMA Leisure, rCup, Thetford, TyrePal and Wheel Solutions Ltd.

Puncture Proofing At The NEC With Puncture Control

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By William Coleman

There is a product out there that will remove so many levels of danger that are presented by getting a tyre puncture. Having seen it being used in Scotland I was keen to find out more, so we interviewed Puncture Control.

Over the years I have had far too many punctures due to the huge amount of debris on the roads of the UK, something I am sure you have experienced yourselves. Every puncture you get can cause huge amounts of damage to both your car and caravan, not to mention how dangerous it can be while driving.

It seems that getting something like a nail in your tyre is an inevitability, but the usual outcome does not have to the same as it once was if you use Oko Puncture Control.

So, what is Puncture Control? To put it simply, it is a sealant that will save you from harm and added expense if your car to caravan tyres get punctured.

This tyre sealant will work against pretty much anything that will pierce your tyre, with some obvious exceptions when it comes to structural damage, and will keep you on the road for longer in the event you run over something sharp. In some cases this sealant will keep a puncture unnoticed because it has sealed the hole so effectively.

There are some out there who will say that putting tyre sealant into the tyre is not a good idea, having seen first hand how this works I can safely say this product works and is safe. Any doubt you may have can be easily cleared up with one call to the team, ask for Gary.

Not only will this save you from running into danger but it will also improve fuel consumption, maintain the correct air pressure, help the tyres run cooler and reduce the tyre side walls from cracking. Oh, and it can help your tyres gain upto 20% extra life, which is great considering how expensive some motorhomes or tow car rubbers can be.

This week during the NEC Gary, from Puncture Control, will be on stand giving demos and explaining just how this product works. Before speaking with him I did not have that much knowledge and was a bit of a skeptic. Following the interview and finding out how many industry leading companies are backing this product I will be adding this to my car’s wheels.

Aquaforno II Free Giveaway

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By William Coleman

To help celebrate the new 2020 touring season and the NEC Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show we have teamed up with Aquaforno to give one lucky winner the brand new Aquaforno II so they can tour with a difference. All you have to do is fill in the form and you’ll be in with a chance to win and all those who enter will automatically receive a discount code worth £50.

The Aquaforno II is an extremely versatile cooking tool, calling it a BBQ seems like an oversimplification. With a regular BBQ you cannot have roast a chicken and make a stone baked fresh pizza at the same time.

The highly desirable Aquaforno II adds split level grill, rotisserie, smoking hangers and a double insulated lid. On top of all that you also get a BBQ grill, pizza oven, smoker and water boiler in one collapsible unit.

This new ‘Swiss army-knife’ of outdoor cooking has been received with incredible enthusiasm since it was unveiled at the UK’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show the home of Britain’s RV sector.

The portable kitchen has yet another fantastic feature, a 3 minute assembly time. So if you are super hungry you can get cooking in just 3 minutes flat.

The Aquaforno II can cook anything from a Sunday roast to a paella, with consummate ease. It is the ultimate combination or cooking method and a product that can cater quickly and efficiently for large groups, e.g. cooking as many as twenty delicious restaurant quality pizzas per hour.

This will more than likely be one of the easiest competitions you’ll take part in this season. No quiz, no questions. All you have to do is fill in the form and you’re on your way to cooking heaven.

On top of that everyone who entered will automatically get a £50 discount code for an Aquaforno II.

The competition will run from 18/02/2020 to 23/02/2020 and the winner will be announced on 24/02/2020.

T&Cs

  • 1 Aquaforno II will be given for free to one winner chosen at random
  • £50 discount per 1 order+free delivery to the UK
  • All those who enter will be sent an email with the code for £50 off of an Aquaforno II BBQ
  • To receive the offer code you must enter a valid email
  • To win you must fill out the entire entry form
  • Accessories listed online are not included in the prize
  • All who enter will be contacted via the email address they have entered

Scottish Caravan, Motorhome Holiday Home Show Breaks Record

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By William Coleman

Over 26,000 tourers flocked to the SEC, Glasgow last weekend for the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show’s busiest event to date.

The show welcomed over 200 of the UK’s biggest touring brands, displaying the latest must-have motorhomes, caravans, campervans, holidays homes, tents and accessories. Despite the blistering winds of Storm Ciara which caused travel chaos across the country, thousands of visitors attended the four-day event, gaining holiday advice and insider tips for their next holiday.

As well as breaking footfall records, the caravan and motorhome industry continues to boom. With the rise of staycations and touring breaks, the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show saw exhibitors reporting strong sales throughout the event.

Clydebank campervan convertors, Caledonian Campers, also made history at the show, completing its ground-breaking four-day live build in the all-new Campervan Hall. The team took on the ultimate conversion challenge of converting a simple van into a state-of-the-art campervan, finishing the on-site build in a total of 28 hours.

Darren Brechin, Show Director said: “We’ve noticed a rise of holiday-maker interest in the industry and our record-breaking footfall numbers prove that more and more people are looking to explore the benefits of touring.

“We pride ourselves on being the biggest and best caravan, motorhome and holiday home show in Scotland and we’re thrilled that the event has been such a success for both our visitors and exhibitors. There is no other event that offers such an array and diversity of outdoor brands and we’re pleased to have hosted more exhibitors than ever before.

“The purpose of the show is to inspire visitors to get outside and enjoy exploring the natural wonders of the UK, as well as locations further afield, and we hope we’ve done just that.

“We’re already looking forward to next year and have a few exciting ideas in the pipeline to make our next show even better.”

The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show will be returning to the SEC, Glasgow next year on 4th – 7th February 2021 with booking already open for exhibitors.

Ladram Bay Holiday Park In Daring Antarctica Bid

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By William Colema

Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Budleigh Salterton has helped fly the flag for medical research by backing a recent charity fundraising expedition to the South Pole in Antarctica.

Making the grueling trek to one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet was polar explorer Alan Chambers MBE who served for 16 years in the Royal Marines..

Among those joining him on the expedition was former England Rugby Captain Lewis Moody, and their successful venture has raised around £250,000 for brain tumour charities.

The team members each pulled their own sleds weighing 200kg, and walked for up to 12 hours a day at an altitude of 10,000 feet in temperatures as low as -35C.

The expedition mirrored a similar charity trek made by Alan two years ago to the North Pole which also received support from Ladram Bay Holiday Park.

On both occasions, the teams celebrated their arrival at the far ends of the earth by unfurling a special flag to mark the park’s long history of providing family seaside holidays.

Ladram Bay director Zoe House, whose family has owned the park since 1943, said the business was very proud to be associated with such an amazing venture:

“Alan is a very courageous and determined person, and I’m sure that the success of his latest challenge will be especially inspiring to younger people,” she said.

“The fantastic sum that his team have raised will help fund a pioneering new clinical trial to change outcomes for those with a brain tumour.

“We’re so grateful to him for flying our celebration flag at the South Pole, and we can’t wait to hear what his next adventure will be!” added Zoe.

She said that Ladram Bay had long been keen to encourage its younger guests to take part in exciting physical activities when on holiday.

The park has built an indoor climbing wall suitable for all ages and abilities, and provides equipment for watersport activities which can be enjoyed from Ladram Bay’s private beach.

There is also a popular swimming pool and splash zone to enable guests to burn off the calories.

Ladram Bay provides a wide range of luxury holiday caravans and holiday lodges to rent or own, glamping pods, and pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

There is more information about the park at www.ladrambay.co.uk

Park Holidays Guests Give Platinum Award

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By William Coleman

Verdicts from customers staying with Park Holidays UK have resulted in the group receiving the highest possible rating from a leading independent reviews website.

The company is now the proud bearer of the 2020 Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, based on the number of glowing reviews posted by park guests.

The honour comes after three successive years of Park Holidays UK gaining gold status from Feefo as a result of attracting consistently favourable verdicts from families.

The top-level platinum award is held by only a small elite of holiday firms which allow customers to post unedited reviews via Feefo, and receive an exceptionally high scoring.

In 2019, said Feefo, almost all of the guests summing up their satisfaction with Park Holidays UK gave it a rating of 4.5 or 5 – the maximum score – based on their experiences.

Feefo is one of the world’s most trusted travel review websites because only holiday guests verified as genuine customers are permitted to comment.

They are invited to rate the company on any aspect of its performance, from how easily a booking can be made to the standards of accommodation and the quality of the entertainment.

Tony Clish, director of the group which now has 31 coastal parks in Southern England, said that all members of the staff team should take a bow:

“This is a fantastic achievement of which everyone at the company can be proud, not least because of what customers are saying in their reviews,” he said.

“Our high quality standards always earn a thumbs-up, but guests are just as keen to comment on the relaxed atmosphere, friendliness, and hospitality they enjoy.

“Making this happen is entirely down to the enthusiasm of our loyal and hardworking staff – and many reviewers say what a great difference they make to their stay.

“It’s always our aim to provide guests with the best possible holiday memories, and we are delighted to be exceeding their expectations in so many different ways,” added Mr Clish.

Bookings for 2020 have got off to an extremely strong start, he reports, and sales of holiday caravans and lodges look likely to set a new record high this year.

More information about the group’s parks, and details of holiday deals and holiday home ownership opportunities, can be found on Park Holidays UK’s website at www.ParkHolidays.com

Bailey Of Bristol Reveal New Layout For Grande Range

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By William Coleman

Just one week before the February Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC Bailey of Bristol have publicly announced a brand new layout for their best selling 8ft wide Alicanto Grande range.

When Bailey first announced that they were going to be releasing an 8ft wide model, followed by many other manufacturers, I was unsure how the market would respond. Here we are well over 18 months later and it seems the caravan word love the larger vans, so much so that Bailey are adding more to their line up.

Proving that bigger is better Bailey saw a sales boost when they introduced their new 8ft wide range this autumn. Models from this ‘Luxurious and limitless’ range have topped the Bailey best-sellers list since their introduction, appealing to customers either as a touring or seasonal use vehicle.

Once the vans hit the market they were met with an enormously positive reaction from the public which had led to Bailey adding a new fourth layout to the already impressive range.

The Alicanto Grande Faro is the new 4-berth twin axle model is going to be on display next week at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2020. I know there are a lot who would never consider an 8ft van but I urge all of you to find one and spend some time aboard, those extra few inches make such a difference to the entire van.

The Faro is a brand new lay out for Bailey which features a comfortable transverse rear double island bed, no arguing in the morning when someone wakes up early, and a central nearside en-suite washroom that sits opposite a well-appointed dressing area.

Moving further forward, into the living area, you’ll find the signature Alicanto offside L-shaped kitchen and a large parallel seat front lounge which converts into either twin singles or a large double bed at night. It was when me and a member of the team sat opposite each other on board an 8ft van and really felt the difference in space you get.

The exterior skin of than van is a stunning ‘Polar White’ GRP body shell which has been very well complimented by the ‘Metallic Bronze’ coordinating graphics scheme, which together with new Diamond Cut style TUV tested alloy wheels and the signature Bailey ‘room with a view’ vertical front skylight announce that Alicanto owners travel and arrive in style.

In addition to looking good, the Faro also comes with a host of practical exterior features including a Truma 100 watt solar panel, an external satellite connection, a gas BBQ point and a 230v.

As you’d expect from all of Bailey’s vehicles the Faro is using their patented Alu-Tech construction technology, cloaked in a GRP outer skin, making them more robust and more durable, yet lighter than those manufactured using conventional methods, offering greater protection against the elements to keep you comfortable, safe and secure all year round.

To date approaching 65,000 Bailey leisure vehicles have been built with this ground-breaking technology, and are currently being used and enjoyed around the world. We have taken them all over Europe and they performed excellently in staggering temperatures in Turkey and horrifically cold weather in the Arctic.

To ensure that this eye-catching investment remains safe on the road and secure on site it is fitted with the all latest safety and security equipment, including the AL-KO ATC Trailer Control System, TyrePal TPMS, AL-KO Secure wheel lock (two on twin axle models), and a TRACKER Monitor Stolen Vehicle Recovery System with an integral intruder alarm, all as standard specification.

Alicanto models are fitted with a fully specified Alde programmable radiator heating system which allows you to holiday no matter the time of year. Combined with the market-leading thermal characteristics of the Alu-Tech body shell, this makes the Alicanto Grande a genuine all-weather vehicle, a fact confirmed with the achievement of the highest rating for thermal performance (Grade III Classification of EN1656-I) in rigorous cold chamber testing.

Moving on to the inside you’ll see just how spacious these 8ft vans are and you won’t be unimpressed with the level of finish bailey put into them. This new van features the new ‘Mendip Ash’ furniture that has a new curved dual finish Italian design overhead locker doors with black chrome handles. Upgraded LED task and mood lighting throughout gives Alicanto that unmistakable touch of class.

Lounging comfort is guaranteed by new fully sprung base cushions and curved corner backrests with headrests, in a choice of either standard ‘Farringdon’ or optional ‘Portobello’ soft furnishings. The same is true in the bedrooms where larger beds with new memory foam topped mattresses promise a good night’s rest.

Feature kitchens provide up to 25% more work surface plus 30% more cupboard storage capacity thanks to their new L-shaped design. New features such as a large circular sink with concealed fixings, plus Perspex splashbacks and glass splash guards, are both stylish and practical. The headline act in a very impressive list of branded kitchen appliances, is the new Dometic 10-series 153 litre electronic fridge freezer with a universal handed door mechanism.

Commenting on the expansion of the Alicanto Grande range Bailey Managing Director Nick Howard said:

“The Alicanto Grande is our most luxurious caravan range yet. With everything you need to get the most out of every holiday, it’s been designed and built with our customers’ needs in mind, further establishing our place as The Nation’s Favourite. Models provide more space, more style, more comfort and more practicality, and give people more reason than ever to Go Bailey!”

“The only thing not included is the view,” he added.

All four models of the new Alicanto Grande range will be on display at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2020 on stand 3020 from 18th to 23rd February.

To get a sneaky look at the new van and it’s layout you can view a gallery on our Facebook page.

Auto-Trail Offers And NEC Deals

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By William Coleman

The NEC show is just over a week away and already the offers are on display so shoppers and visitors can get a sneak peak of what to expect when they arrive at the February Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Show 2020.

Trade shows like the NEC caravan shows are a shopping delight where, if you do your research, you can walk away with some amazing deals.

When it comes to offers, and show specific offers, Auto-Trail seem to be one of the front runners who are giving an early preview of what vehicles will be on display and what deals can be had.

When browsing all the impressive displays make sure you head over to stand 3040 to take full advantage of the industry specialists who are there to give you all the info you need, oh and the money saving offers.

Now is the perfect time to purchase your dream touring leisure vehicle, whether you’re on the look out for a compact van conversion for two or a large coachbuilt motorhome suitable for family and friends – we have an exclusive offer to suit every single model Auto-Trail produce.

Purchase a 2020 Auto-Trail leisure vehicle between the 6th – 23rd February 2020 and you will benefit from the following offers!

2020 Tribute Compact – SAVE £2,344
Drivers pack,140 bhp engine upgrade and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

2020 Tribute Coachbuilt – SAVE £2,694
Lux pack,170 bhp engine upgrade and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

2020 V-Line & Adventure – SAVE £995
140 bhp engine upgrade and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

2020 Imala – SAVE £2,294
140 bhp engine upgrade, Media pack and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

2020 Tracker & Apache – SAVE £1,589
Media pack, Rear protection bar and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

2020 Frontier – SAVE £1,290
Media pack + upgrade, Rear protection bar and Auto-Trail “Connect” CAT 7 Tracker system free of charge (1st year subscription only)

Caravan Guard Paperless Policies Raise Over £110K

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By William Coleman

A kind-hearted fundraising initiative by caravan and motorhome specialists Caravan Guard, and Leisuredays, has raised more than £110,000 for Heart Research UK.

Ten years ago, Caravan Guard launched its Paperless Policies initiative, which sees them donate £1 to the charity each time a new caravan, campervan or motorhome insurance customer opts for their policy documents to be emailed rather than posted out.

Throughout 2019, Caravan Guard’s Paperless Policies campaign and other fundraising efforts raised a hearty £17,645, pushing the total gifted in the last decade to an incredible £110,887!
The caring staff at Caravan Guard don’t just promote the paperless policies, they also go extra miles for the charity by taking on challenges such as the Great North Run half marathon and running healthy heart events.

A “love yourself” event saw the charity deliver health and lifestyle checks and staff were encouraged to make 2020 the year to care completely about their health, as well as others.
Many are already sharing healthy recipe ideas and signing up for a range of challenges, as well as inspiring each other to lead healthy lifestyles.

Associate Director Laura Wilby presented Heart Research UK with a cheque for £17,645 during the Halifax-based company’s healthy heart day.

“We’re delighted to have raised so much money for such a great cause in 2019 and absolutely thrilled to have smashed through the £100,000 mark in the last decade,” said Laura. “A big thank you to our customers too, who have chosen to go paperless so we can pass on all this money to help with the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.”

Caravan Guard cares passionately about many local and national charities to help them make a difference to the lives of others. Two runners also raised £2,283 for Heart Research UK last year after finishing the 2019 Great North Run half marathon in record times, and the company’s Great Yorkshire Bike Ride team added more donations into the fundraising pot.

The money raised in 2019 could potentially help pay for scientists to develop a new blood test to identify high-risk patients after treatment for a heart attack or contribute towards new MRI techniques to examine heart muscle structure.

Heart Research UK CEO, Kate Bratt-Farrar, said: “Over the last 10 years, we have been blown away time and again with the generosity of the Caravan Guard customers and staff. To have raised over £110,000 is a truly remarkable achievement, and we can’t thank them enough.

“The money that Caravan Guard has raised will be used to benefit patients as soon as possible, funding life-saving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.”

Caravan Guard’s contact centre staff will continue to encourage more customers to receive paperless insurance policies so they can help even more hearts in the next decade!

Getting The Van Ready For The 2020 Season

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By William Coleman

The time of year is almost upon us, the 2020 caravanning season. As the days start to get longer the masses unwrap their vans from winter hibernation and begin to prep and clean the vans to get them holiday ready by mid March.

A lot of people have very different opinions on when the new touring season actually starts. Some go by the weather, some say the end of February or they stick to the Caravan Club darte of the 25th of March. Oh, and there are the 365 days a year group who do not believe in seasons.

For those who do believe that the caravan holiday is season this is the time of year where quite a few weekends and evenings are spent in the vans getting everything ready to face to open road and weekends on site relaxing in the sun.

So, for those who are about to embark on the journey of getting the van ready here are some hints and tips from us to you.

Get The Mop And Bucket

If you have done your mid winter checks on the van and gave it a little bit of love before the new season then you should not have much work on your hands leading into March. If you have not then you may want to start the spring clean sooner rather than later.

The spring clean is one of the first things you are going to want to do as it will, hopefully, help you go through each section of the van and see if there are any areas of concern that deserve immediate attention.

After the winter break pay particular attention to any fabric covered areas and esure yo both hoover and spray with some kind of air freshener to eradicate the musk that can occur when all the doors and windows have been closed for a few months.

Batteries and Electrics

During your winter storage the batteries will have been left idle and uncharged, something they really do not like at all. Hopefully they were disconnected when the van was stored away so as not to run completely dry to the point of no return.

When going through your spring clean pay some attention to the caravan leads and battery terming. Dust and clean are essential for a smooth running caravan.

Once the batteries are safely reconnected give a quick test by turning some lights on and off a few times and then test the water pump.

During the winter months, if you’re not using the van, it is always a good idea to keep the battery charged. If you are going to test the battery make sure you do it well ahead of the date you plan to go away as you are going to want a good few days of charging time before you set off.

Exterior Checks

We seemed to face some fairly harsh weather in the closing months of 2019 that brought in some quite high winds and a lot of property damage.

The harsh weather brought down trees and hurled debris through the air like it was popcorn so do not be surprised if your caravan or motorhome took a few knocks.

Checks for any cracked panels as they can be a costly repair and potentially lead to a lot more internal damage. Also check all the windows for drinks, dents and cracks as this is a part of the van that can be a nightmare to repair or replace.

While outside it is always worth giving the wheels and tires a good once over. Nine times out of ten you would have checked and treated them when storing the van but it is better to check them at this point. You just know sods law will have something go wrong while driving or just before you set off to head home.

Water Ingress And Damp

This is enemy number one of the caravan, motorhome or camper. Whilst going through the van hoovering and polishing keep an eye out for any damp that could have occurred.

During storage periods water leaks can occur and cause a good amount of damage throughout the van. It’s always a good idea to pop into the van a few times over the storage period to check for leaks before they get out of hand.

There are a few locations that are always worth checking during storage. The main spots are the window edges, doors and skylights.

These are more common leak hotspots that sometimes show little to no sign of damage so a lot of people do not notice until it’s too late.

If you have not had a chance to check the van over whilst it has been in storage the damp should hit the senses like a ton of bricks once you open the door. The smell of damp interior is unmistakable and your sense of smell should be able to lead you to where the issues are stemming from.

If you do run into this get yourself a dehumidifier and wash all the removable covers as soon as possible and get rid of any mold that has grown.

Consumables

The lights on the caravan are an essential part of the safety of a van and other road users. It is vital that these checks are at the top of your check list.

Spend some time checking the plugs for potential cracks in the housing or blown bulbs. Once you have given them a go over connect the caravan to the car and get someone to help you check they are in full working order.

If the bulbs are in good condition but you’re still having issues you may want to check the electrical connections to your tow car. The 13 pin plug could be misbehaving which will need a lot more attention and testing.

Sit Back And Enjoy

A close friend of mine has just finished preparing the van for a the new season, he is going away a week or two before the season starts, and he came u with an idea that never occurred to me. Taking the van and a one day test run. By doing a test run you can get a real sense of how the caravan, or motorhome, will preform on a longer trip.

A real world test is a much better way of seeing if you have done enough for the van to be fully ready. Finding out before holiday is much better than getting hit with an issue when you’re on site with a beer and a burger.