The Caravan And Motorhome Club Announce Worldwide Tours

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By William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has further expanded its offering of worldwide tours. The Club has also revamped a number of its existing escorted and independent worldwide itineraries, with exciting updates of tours in Canada.

With both escorted and independent worldwide tours including motorhome hire, pre-booked campsites and personalised road books packed with local travel tips, there has never been an easier time to enjoy an international road trip!

New tours for 2020 – 2021 The USA

The Club is proud to announce three new tours in the United States. Each tour covers some of western America’s very best national parks, highways and cities, with different tour lengths meaning that there is something for everyone.

The Big One sweeps through California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, cruising along some of the most iconic highways in the US, including Route 66 and California Highway 1. This 38-day independent tour covers some of the USA’s best-known natural attractions, from the infamous Yosemite National Park to the incredible Grand Canyon.

Kick things off in glamorous Los Angeles before winding down through some of the world’s best national parks – Joshua Tree for stargazing and the epic Grand Canyon. The route then travels through the desert to Lake Powell, a shimmering man-made reservoir that cuts through the landscape. Continuing the exploration of canyon country, the tour crosses Bryce Canyon National Park and Boulder Mountain and on to Zion National Park, the oldest national park in Utah.

After exploring the beauty of Zion, it heads to the bright lights of Las Vegas before venturing back to nature to explore the giant trees at Sequoia National Park and monoliths of Yosemite. The trip finishes with three nights in San Francisco to check out the Golden Gate Bridge, before cruising through one of the world’s most scenic driving routes – the Pacific Coast Highway and the Big Sur, known to many as the home of Big Little Lies.

As it’s an independent tour, holidaymakers have the flexibility to choose their stops between sites – from stopping at the awe-inspiring Antelope Canyon, laid back Santa Cruz or the wineries of Santa Barbara.

Salops Safe Way To Move Touring Vans

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By William Coleman

Two companies with bases in Shropshire have worked together to come up with a safe handling solution that saves time and ultimately reduces strain on staff.

Award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure has invested in a pedestrian operated Multi-Mover XL50 electric tow tug to allow staff to move touring caravans in and out of the company’s busy workshops.

Multi-Mover UK, which has its head office in Burton-On-Trent and a warehouse in High Ercall, Telford, offers an extensive range of pedestrian operated tugs with up to 80 tonnes of push and pull capability.

The Multi-Mover XL50 moves everything on wheels up to 5,000kg with 2,800 Newton tractive force. The XL series has several types of steering, a variety of hitches to choose from, different tyres and is available in three very strong and reliable electric motors.

“We are very pleased to have supplied one of our electric tow tugs locally to Salop Leisure,” said James Dixon, Multi-Mover UK sales manager. “The acquisition of a Multi-Mover shows Salop Leisure’s commitment to improving employee safety, reducing emissions and improving efficiency.”

Kevin Courtney, Salop Leisure’s business development manager, said: “We were previously using a tractor to move touring caravans in and out of the workshops, so there are obvious environmental and safety benefits to using the Multi-Mover, which is small, easy to operate and emission free.

“Staff like using it because it saves time, is more efficient and improves safety.”

Multi-Mover UK’s tugs are used in factories, airports and on production lines to provide a safe heavy handling solution. They are easily operated, do not require a driving licence, are silent, emission free and have more than a day’s use from just one charge.

The company offers a range of service packages designed to ensure that each Multi-Mover is always safe and reliable. Because certain working environments and tasks place varying demands on the Multi-Movers, the company designs service packages to meet every need.

Fiat To Make Big Display At NEC

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By William Coleman

Fiat Professional will show the new Ducato model year 2020 for the first time at the Motorhome and Caravan Show in Birmingham from October 15th to October 20th, 2019. With numerous innovations, Ducato consolidates its position as the market leader in motorhome base vehicles.

One of the key innovations of Ducato model year 2020 is the new 9-speed automatic transmission, which I am sure will have people’s opinion split right down the middle. I am not super keen on automatic vehicles of this size but this new model may be the one that converts me.

Another key strength to Ducato is the new range of engines, consisting of four performance levels of a 2.3-litre turbo diesel, all of which comply with the Euro 6d TEMP emission standard. All variants feature the MultiJet2 direct injection diesel engine, which further improves the engine’s efficiency, making long journeys even more comfortable.

The New Automatic Transmission “9-Speed”

The new 9-speed automatic transmission offers a relaxed and enjoyable driving experience, optimising consumption levels and actually improving performance. It is best-in-class in terms of weight in its sector, and it allows for optimum use of driving torque that reaches a record of 450Nm on the 180hp version of the 2.3-litre MultiJet engine.

The Fiat Professional technicians developed the Ducato MY20 with the 9-Speed automatic transmission so that every customer would be able to benefit from the optimised performance and consumption levels, no matter the specific task and route. Drivers can choose between three different driving modes: Normal, Eco and Power.

The Eco mode provides a smoother acceleration response and a dedicated gear shift pattern to allow for a greater reduction in consumption levels. Switching to Power mode, this delivers a prompt throttle response and gear changes for optimal performance even in tough conditions. The Normal mode balances the economy of Eco mode with the performance of Power mode to provide optimum driving conditions for every situation.

There are two operating modes, Drive and Autostick. In Drive the control module automatically selects and shifts into gear according to the various driving conditions: speed, load, gradient. In Autostick the driver can manage the gear shifts, so that in challenging conditions, such as on steep slopes, they can retain a lower gear to increase performance levels and avoid overheating.

Drive Assist and Infotainment

The Ducato MY20 is the best ever Ducato in every way: technology, safety, ADAS, connectivity and engine line-up. The new range boasts the most sophisticated drive assist systems which allow drivers to have complete control. The following optional driver aids are now available:

  • Blind spot assist (BSA), uses radar sensors installed in the rear bumper to identify approaching vehicles in blind spots.
  • The Rear Cross Path detection (RCP) uses radar sensors to identify vehicles approaching from the side, when the vehicle is reversing.
  • Full brake control (FBC) identifies obstacles and, after checking whether there is imminent danger of collision, alerts the driver and intervenes by automatically triggering emergency braking.

    • In addition, opt for the devices below to improve and assist your driving experience:

  • Lane departure warning system (LDWS), determines whether the vehicle is leaving the lane, even in poor visibility conditions, and in the event of danger an acoustic and visual signal alerts the driver.
  • Traffic sign recognition uses the on-board camera to recognise speed limits, displaying them on the instrument cluster.
  • High beam recognition manages the main beam headlights, increasing visibility and reducing the risk of dazzling when driving at night, automatically recognising vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
  • Rain and dusk sensor activates the windscreen wipers and adjust their speed according to the intensity of the rain. The dusk sensor automatically activates the low-beam headlights when required.
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors the pressure of the tyres constantly, indicating any loss in pressure directly on the on-board display.

Fiat Professional Ducato, “Leader in Freedom”

Leader in Freedom means that Fiat Professional offers products and services that give the customer maximum freedom and flexibility. At the Motorhome and Caravan show, visitors can learn about the range of services that make life on board a Ducato motorhome even more enjoyable.
The ability to listen to customers – which starts with Customer Care and continues in Fiat Professional’s workshops – means being able to respond efficiently to current needs and plan ahead for those of the future. Therefore the service concept doesn’t stop with product assistance but includes caring for customers on holiday by being on hand at all times.
Twenty multilingual Fiat Professional Brand Ambassadors are ready to take calls on the Motorhome toll-free number in 44 European countries, in customers’ own languages, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

What To Get Excited About At The NEC Next Week

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By William Coleman

In 3 short days we will be heading up to Birmingham to get a head start on all the attractions and displays at this year’s Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC. With so much to do and see what should you be looking out for?

The October show at the NEC seems to get bigger each with each year that passes and you genuinely do need 2-3 days to really get around and see everything.

This year I am going to try and select a few things specifically to look, almost a little checklist of must see exhibitors and van types.

The New 2020 Line Up

Although myself and the CaravanTimes team attended several of the manufacturer product launches earlier this year we didn’t get a chance to see every aspect of each vehicle so we will take this opportunity to spend a week with them all. There are also many other new products from smaller companies who do not hold launch events that I am dead keen on seeing.

Dealer Specials are something I really want to see more and find out what real differences these ‘special edition’ really have from the more standard models.

I also really want to get a good look at the full Adria line up as well as the new Coachman range. These are two that I did not manage to see this year first hand so I am excited to see for myself what we can expect from these two major manufacturers’ 2020 line up.

Campers And Conversions

This sector seems to be carving its own place within the industry and is seeing a real boost in sales and new plates being registered.

Why are custom builds and the camper making such a big return to popularity, and just how many are actually leaving dealerships? These are all the questions I am keen to ask the many dealers who display at the NEC.

One major thing I have noticed is just how much the conversion van’s presence has grown. They pretty much have an entire hall dedicated to them which I think will spill over into a second hall this year.

I think that due to how customisable these vans are we are seeing a much younger crowd gravitate toward them and use the van as both leisure and dad to say vehicle.

A watchful eye will kept to see the age range buying them to see if my theory is correct.

Catching Up With Folk

The NEC is a bit like a family gathering, it only happens once or twice a year and everyone manages to get under one roof for a good old chit chat and a few cups of tea.

It is always a pleasure seeing Lee Davey, Martin Dorey, Andrew Ditton, the CAMC teams and the Here We Go team, to name but a few.

Accessories Central

I do love a gadget or snazzy accessory that I can pack in the van and use to entertain myself. There are so many different stands to browse and fill your basket. I have to literally get pulled away from the Prima and Kampa stand because I just want it all.

I may also treat myself to a brand new Cadac this year. I just need to convince the wallet master that we do genuinely need one.

Bailey Announce New Autograph Weights

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By William Coleman

At the beginning of September Bailey of Bristol announced their brand new 2020 Autograph range which they will be showcasing next week at the Motorhome and Caravan Show in Birmingham at the NEC. At the time of the announcement the final weights for the models were not available, but they are now.

The first thing to point out here is that the MPTLM of each model is unchanged from the previous series which has resulted in a significant weight loss reduction. This has directly led to the vehicles having a large increase in user payloads so you can go further for longer.

With the models’ quoted Mass in Running Order, or MRO for short, figure there is an allowance made for ‘essential habitation equipment’ which consists of the following:

  • Vehicle driver = 75kg
  • 90% fuel tank capacity = 81kg
  • One full gas bottle = 14kgs
  • Fluids in ALDE heating system = 10kgs

The MRO for each vehicle has been calculated with the fresh water tank being 100% empty. Bailey strongly recommend that when travelling you have a totally empty fresh water tank as having a partial or full tank will reduce the available payload accordingly.

Model MTPLM MRO Total User Payload Payload +/-
Autograph III 69-2 3,500 kgs 2,993 kgs 507 kgs + 56 kgs
Autograph III 74-2 3,500 kgs 3,014 kgs 486 kgs + 171 kgs
Autograph III 74-4 3,500 kgs 3,055 kgs 445 kgs + 90 kgs
Autograph III 79-4I 3,850 kgs 3,233 kgs 617 kgs + 133 kgs
Autograph III 79-2F 3,850 kgs 3,070 kgs 780 kgs n/a
Autograph III 79-4F 3,850 kgs 3,151 kgs 699 kgs n/a
Autograph III 79-4T 3,850 kgs 3,276 kgs 574 kgs + 116 kgs
Autograph III 81-6 4,250 kgs 3,400 kgs 850 kgs + 57 kgs

This policy is fully compliant with the EWVTA requirements and is very much inline with other market competitors.

One final point to mention is specifically on the new Autograph 81-6 model. Owning to the weight and size of this vehicle it will be sold with a factory fitted restrictor limiting it to speeds of 68 mph (or 110 kph). This not only has positive safety implications but also ensures that the vehicle is again fully compliant with new EWVTA legislation.

You can see Bailey’s full motorhome line up next week at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC.

Would You Use Your Caravan For A Festival Trip?

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By William Coleman

Each year it seems festival seasons gets bigger and bigger. More events, bigger names and a lot more space for campers to rest after a day on their feet. Another aspect that is on the rise is the leisure vehicle’s presence. Would you use your motorhome or caravan for a weekend at a music festival?

When I first heard that a close friend of mine was going to rent a 4 berth motorhome for a 5 day getaway at the Glastonbury I patted him on the back and said, “good luck”. The idea of taking a large vehicle through the huge crowds and traffic jams of that festival used to fill me with dread, until I saw how easy it actually is to do.

My friend had never used a caravan, motorhome, camper or even a tent in his life and yet still had zero issues on his first attempt, at the UK’s largest music festival no less. If a first timer can do it we all can, right?

Reasons To Use The Van

Now that the caravan and motorhome’s popularity is on the rise we are seeing waves of younger people embracing the lifestyle and using the vans for any and every activity they can. On the top of that list is festivals, so much so that organisers are now adding larger specific locations for guests bringing leisure vehicles. It must be a better option than a tent if everyone is doing it.

A Real Home Away From Home

With a festival you do give up a few of the creature comforts. With a caravan you do not have to make this compromise and you still get to have the real festival experience.

Being able to come home after a day walking around, and maybe dancing, it’s a lot better to be able to sit on the sofa and relax while you kettle is on the boil than roll around in a tent trying to get comfy in the cold.

No Shared Facilities

As fun as a festival can be there are still a few aspects that are not really that desirable- mud, communal showers, portaloos..

There are some that feel using a public festival toilet is a bit of a ‘rights of passage’ for the festival goer, whereas others like me will avoid them like the plague. Having your own personal spotless mobile bathroom is the dream when going to a festival.

The shower situation is also not amazing as week long festivals, some actually opt to not shower for some reason. Being able to have a steaming hot shower when you want is worth its weight in gold when the warm water runs out by 9am.

Save A Ton By Using The Kitchen

Festival food always has the added premium attached to it because the promoters know that you have no choice but to eat and drink inside the venue’s grounds. So naturally the price for a burger, chips and beer has to be teetering around the £20 mark.

With your own fridge and freezer on board you are not beholden to the overpriced and frankly poor food on offer. You can eat like a king three times a day and spend £15 a head each day.

Oh, and you can keep the beers chilled too.

Sleep In Luxury

As much as I love laying on the floor or on a slightly deflated air bed with rain, dust and mud you just cannot beat a real bed inside an insulated, heated and air conditioned mobile dwelling.

Having your own bed elevated off of the floor is something I think we take for granted, so having a luxury memory foam bed while “camping”, for me, is absolutely the way forward.

Reasons Why Not To Take A Van

A festival event can attract tens of thousands of visitors, most of which have cars and vans and a lot of them do not care or understand what goes into towing a caravan in and out of a location like this. Due to this your rig can become a bit of a nightmare.

Despite all the great reasons there are a handful or bad reasons that I know will deter a tourer from using this form of accommodation for a festival stay.

Damage Worries

Not all festivals are as alcohol fuelled as the music ones but is it this type of get away that is attracting a lot more caravans and motorhome users. Once the last show has finished you can have hundreds and hundreds of slightly tipsy people marching back to camp ready to hit the hay.

Once the horde starts flowing through the caravans and motorhomes some accidents and damage may occur. This aspect is what I think puts a lot of more seasoned caravaners off of using their vans for this sort of thing.

The Mass Exodus

Despite someone I know having a very easy time getting in and out of the event it is very much not the norm.

I have visited lots of different festivals over the years and leaving in a car is always a nightmare, not to mention towing and needing to manoeuvre with hundreds of other cars all trying to squeeze out through a small funnelled exist.

This reason is why I would never take a caravan, ever. I would take a camper or a reasonable sized motorhome though as a lot of van sized vehicles are in these locations delivering goods and providing food and drink services.

So, Is It A Good Or Bad Idea?

There does seem to be a lot more positive reasons to take a leisure vehicle to a festival but it seems that the few negative ones may actually outweigh the good.

For me I would only take a rental that is covered by the insurance that the rental company provides. This way you remove any fear of third party damage that may occur when you’re away from the van or leaving in the mass rush.

I certainly wouldn’t take or recommend taking anything you have to tow unless you feel 100% comfortable with taking on the task.

Cumbria Tourism’s Park Of The Year Claim To Fame

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By William Coleman

Lakeland’s newly-crowned holiday park of the year in the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2019 can also claim a more historic title, according to recently discovered documents and publications.

They reveal that Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park in Keswick was possibly the location of Britain’s first ever permanent holiday park.

Park owner David Jackson said he was amazed when he found that the site had been providing holidays to Lake District lovers for at least 110 years.

He already knew that an enterprise called Derwent Holiday Camp had previously existed on land now owned by his park, but only recently learned of its long history.

It came about after he was contacted by a relative of the camp’s original owner, William Pattie, who was tracing his family tree and had unearthed a number of papers and photographs.

They showed that in 1909 the camp was offering stays in canvas bell tents, and provided toilets and a pavilion where guests could enjoy “recreation and dining with a liberal table”.

“This was clearly a permanent site offering holidays with accommodation, amenities and meals, and I know of no evidence that anything similar around or before that time,” said David.

“The camp was clearly very popular, but was forced by the government to close for one summer in 1917 for fear that German Zeppelin bombers would mistake it for an army camp.

“Sometime after its creation, the site went on to build small wooden dormitories in which guests could stay, and it’s been suggested that these were most likely groups of children.

“There was also a railway carriage offered for holidays, so we might also have claim to being the first park in Britain with glamping accommodation!” added David.

The Jacksons originally moved to Castlerigg Hall farm in 1938 when David’s grandfather, William, became its tenant, raising sheep and cattle.

He was succeeded by David’s parents, John and Betty, who purchased the land and began moving away from agriculture in favour of tourism.

In the early 1950s, the couple started to welcome campers, and as the park grew and developed they acquired – at the start of the 1970s – the adjacent Derwent Holiday Camp.

The bells tents were still in operation, and David says he recalls playing among their wooden flooring bases while the tents were being erected for the coming season.

His father went on to build three large wooden dormitories in the mid-1970s which eventually replaced the previous long-serving bell tents.

Today, David and his wife Jill have helped to make Castlerigg Hall one of the Lake District’s most highly regarded parks attracting visitors from across the UK and overseas.

Their achievements have been recognised by a raft of accolades, including the now prestigious 2019 park of the year award from Cumbria Tourism.

The park, with its spectacular Lakeland views, provides luxury holiday caravans for hire as well as pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, plus a range of eco-friendly glamping pods.

Its facilities include a first-class amenity building, a large shop with local specialities, the popular Gallery cafe, and plenty for children to enjoy.

More about Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park can be found at www.castlerigg.co.uk

Start You Winter Prep Before The Big Freeze

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By William Coleman

It is almost that time of year again where we shed a tear as start to empty the caravan in preparation for it’s winter hibernation. Our checklist is ready and our cleaning bucket is full as we went the winter period once more and prepare the vans for winter storage.

If you’re anything like me then you really do despise doing the winter storage clean out of the caravan. One, because it means you won’t be using the van until it warms up again and two, because who wants to add extras cleaning to the schedule.

To help take the pain away from your winter prep follows these tips and then make a cuppa and be glad we did the planning for you.

Preventing Damp

With the rapid change in temperature from warm to cold condensation will soon start to form anywhere it can. Once the condensation drips down the interior windows and dries you will start to see and smell the effects of mould.

Something that has an awful lingering smell and will simply spread if not dealt with swiftly is mildew and mold caused by damp so you are going to want to prevent that at all costs.

Some heating with fresh dry air in and out is one way of dealing with it. Or an easier, but more costly way, is to use a dehumidifier. But to be cost effective means a lot more attention or a regular basis.

On this one I would strongly recommend spending out on the dehumidifier. It may cost more initially but in the long run you will save a lot of time and money.

Interior Preparation

Always remove as many unnecessary items as possible. Clothes, bedding, cushions or anything that might absorb moisture, aids the damp issue too.

Leave all the doors and cupboards open to keep them aired as you do not want a musky odor. This is good practice which will aid you in removing anything that does not need to be stored during winter.

A full clean will also help out a lot, nothing worse than finding old food come spring. Ensure that nothing that that can deteriorate over the winter is left inside. A full clean should include surfaces, floor vacuumed, cold storage empties/cleaned and removal of anything that will lead to damp or rot. Also ensure that you dry any wet areas thoroughly before finally locking up, paying special attention to the shower and general bathroom area.

Exterior Preparation

The weather is the enemy number one when storing your motorhome or caravan over the winter. Despite the typical grey winters we have in the UK we can get extended periods of sun, without the heat.

Although the heat may not be there the UV rays are still doing their job. Sun rays can fade the colour of any vehicle, especially when left idea for several months. So a good cover or even a basic tarp will provide sufficient cover. Just take it off now and then and air the van inside and out and maybe give the outside a once over with a cloth and spray.

When you are detailing the outside give all the locks a good clean and a spray with WD40 or a suitable lubricant oil to prevent them from rusting, seizing up or getting anything stuck in them.

I would recommend giving the caravan or motorhome a good clean with a wax to finish. This will give the home an extra layer of protection from the elements.

When cleaning the exterior check for any cracks or dents that may have occurred without your knowledge. If you do not spot a crack then you run a huge risk of leaks. And the best advice and the most simplest is to invest in a good cover. Keep the home nice and tucked up for winter.

Engine Care/Batteries

A battery can die a death if left unattended for an extended amount of time. So a regular engine turn of a motorhome or camper should do a world of good and ensure that the battery doesn’t seize up on you.

Plugging the home into store power once a month, for around 8-10 hours, will help keep coach batteries in good shape. If you are not planning to use the home after winter I would advise you to simply remove the battery.

You can charge it at home and if the temperature plummets you will not have a frozen battery. A discharged battery will freeze a lot quicker than a full battery.

These are just a select few of the checks that you can do. Most people have their own routine that they like to stick to but it is always good to check the basics listed above.

Once winter is over and you want to start using the leisure vehicle, provided you’re not a winter motorhomer, it is always advisable to get a service done to check everything is in full working order.

The Club Win Two Awards At Insurance Choice Awards

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By William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have taken two top awards at the recent Insurance Choice Awards 2019 and again prove that they are a lot more than just a club for the touring folk.

CAMC have been named Best Caravan Cover Provider and Best Motorhome Insurance Provider at the Insurance Choice Awards 2019.

The Insurance Choice Awards, which are held by the financial services review platform Smart Money People, were set up to help increase trust and transparency in financial services.

The awards were set up in 2016 and have quickly become the largest consumer-voted awards within the sector, with well over 26,000 consumers taking part this year. The awards find the best possible cover and insurance products and providers on the market.

Winning an Insurance Choice Award is a mark of excellence, and the fact that the Club has won again this year demonstrates how its members continue to appreciate both the expertise and service that its hard working teams offer.

Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing for the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised again by the Insurance Choice Awards – not only have we been awarded for our excellent Caravan Cover scheme for the second year in a row, but we also won in the Motorhome Insurance category.

We design our cover and insurance products to reflect our members’ ever-changing needs, so it’s really rewarding to receive these awards that were voted for by them.

“Our experience in the industry means that our members can relax knowing they have the cover they need whether their caravan or motorhome is in use or in storage.

Our Caravan Cover is the most popular financial services product taken out by our members and it offers a wide range of features and benefits with more than eight out of ten members choosing to renew their cover with us Our motorhome and campervan insurance is an excellent product that nine out of ten members choose to renew.”

The Caravan and Motorhome Club only offers its caravan cover and insurance products to its own members – annual membership is £52. Non-members can still be given a quote, which they can take up when they join. The Club’s Caravan Cover starts from just £59 per year. For those looking to purchase motorhome or campervan insurance, the Club offers an exclusive Premium Saving Guarantee, meaning it will beat any existing motorhome or campervan insurance renewal from another provider by at least £25.

For more information call the Club or go directly to their website.

Protect Your Caravan Against Extreme Weather

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By William Coleman

The met office has issued a yellow weather warnings and warned of harsh winds with some areas experiencing extreme flooding. Make sure you do not let this incoming weather damage your home away from home both onsite and in storage.

With the winter months approaching the weather will turn wet, windy and cold, thus keeping a lot of caravans off of sites and on driveways. As the winter weather increasingly worsens, and becomes unpredictable, our caravan and motorhomes face a lot more potential damage.

Some people pack things up around the end of August and do not open the van back up until March or April, it is here where the van can face some real trouble. On the other side of the coin you have some people who make the most of their van during winter who also face some winter related damage.

If you are going to use your van and you do face adverse conditions we should be able to give you some tips that will stop you from running into situations that lead to you calling your insurance provider.

Get A Good Cover

Some people have a good amount of storage on their front garden or down the side of the house to store the van, it is here where the van is open to the elements for prolonged amounts of time.

My uncle keeps his van down the side of his house, in a sort of alleyway, and that alleyway created a tunnel where the wind gathers and hurls rubbel down it like a funnel.

After some horrid weather a year or two ago his van was covered in leaves and debris. Once he cleaned off all the muck he realised his front window had been cracked quite badly in several places.

If you are towing or storing your caravan a cover can be worth its weight in gold, who wants to get on site and clear off a thousand bugs..?

So as this wind builds up and the rains become extremely heavy you can really protect your van by covering up. So simple and maybe the most effecting.

Remove Extras

If you have some added extras fitted to the van like satellite dishes or other antenna it is a good idea to remove them when you store the van or if ugly weather is on the way.

Now depending on the fitting you may want to have a look at your paperwork and make sure that you removing the item will not void any warranty or damage it. If you are not sure how to go about removing things always call who fitted it or your local dealer for any assistance and advice.

Find A Storage Provider.

Despite having space at home it can sometimes cost a lot more in the long run by keeping the van there during the off season. You may be saving by not paying for storage but if some nasty weather appears your van can face some seriously expensive damage.

There are a lot of places that specialise in vehicle storage and others that are solely for caravans and motorhomes. If you choose a location that is for caravans, or motorhomes always pick a covered one

The more you caravan is hidden from the elements the less likely you are to face any unwanted weather related damage.

It is also worth doing some research and ask the site you’re thinking of what they do to prevent or minimize weather damage. If they come up short with good answers then move on to the next.

Keep The Van Weighted

The wind is one of the caravan’s arch enemies, especially when towing at speed. One thing that I can suggest is to overload the van when stored out in the open.

Once the wind picks up the van become a large canopy that can tip over and cause a shed load of damage.

When doing your winter prep and unloading the van you may want to consider leaving some larger objects, or even create some ballast weights.

When driving you want to take extra special care as you need to ensure the van is weighted correctly to ensure the towing behaviour stays safe, but at the same time avoiding any cross winds.

Check your MTPLM and have a play with the weight to see what feels good. Also add some weight over the axle to make sure you don’t overload the front or back end.

Towing In High Winds

The number one thing to do is just slow down and stay safe. Even when loaded the caravan is relatively light and very susceptible to high winds.

No, your speed will not actually affect the wind speed but you can certainly affect how that wind impacts your set up.

The slower you are towing the more time you will have to react to high winds, less panic means a lot more control. If the wind does hit you while towing at speed you will find it quite hard to stop the caravan from snaking and leading to a serious road incidents.

So as the old tea coster says. “Keep Calm And Carry On”.

Check The Weather

If you are planning a trip with the knowledge that the weather may be a tad poor it would be a good idea to match the campsite to the weather conditions.

If there will be high winds then a bare open space may not be the best choice as your wind will act as a windbreaker that can be blown on its side without much warning.

Remove Awning ASAP

When the wind picks up an awning can cause quite a few issues, none of which have a nice outcome.

The wind can go through an awning and cause a lot of damage no matter how well made it is or how well you put it together, to the wind it is just another big canopy to be blown away.

If the wind rips off of the van you will be down an awning and up on external damages to the caravan. A very costly bit of damage that you really do not want.

Will The Thomas Cook Downfall Impact The Caravan World?

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By William Coleman

Unless you have been off grid in your caravan with no access to current affairs I am sure you’ve heard the sad news that the former holiday giant Thomas Cook are no more. Will the world of caravans, motorhomes and staycations benefit now that the holiday titan is no more?

It is never nice when a large company with thousands of employees goes under, especially one that has been in operation since 1841. Over the last 178 years this UK brand has been jetting people off on their holidays all over the world. Now that this has gone I foresee these lost holiday makers make the jump to caravan and motorhome holidays.

Following this collapse there were 150,000 UK residents stuck abroad without a way of getting and and tens of thousands and customers who now do not have anywhere to go on their holidays, not to mention possibly losing some cash they may struggle to recover. So what do they do now? They turn to an alternative holiday solution that will provide just as much fun with a lot more freedom.

With so many travellers being left out of pocket, and scorned, there will be a group who will sour towards the idea of using a travel agents and airlines for their leisure time. Not to mention the huge price difference between a caravan break and an overseas family trip.

Now that there are tens of thousands of people with holiday time booked and paid for with no destination the caravan world is one step that all these holiday makers can take.

This could potentially introduce a lot of new people to the industry who will see just how much fun you can have by staying home for your holidays. With this comes new leisure vehicles buyers and repeat customers year in year out.

With the influx of all these new UK based tourists the economy of local holidays towns, campsite and other popular getaway locations should see a real boost.

I do not believe that overnight we are going to see thousands of families flock to dealerships and start investing heavily in a new motorhome, caravan or campers. But what I do think will happen slowly is a lot of people renting motorhomes and caravans for a weekend or extended stay.

The price for a 4 person family holiday, without spending money, can cost anywhere from £3-5k for just flights and hotel. Now imagine using a glamping yurt from the Caravan and Motorhome Club or Camplify and you will, without much effort, save a ton on your family trip.

From this I do think that eventually we will see families making the decision to buy a caravan of their own so they can take holidays more than just once or twice a year. With a leisure vehicle of your own every weekend can become a holiday.

We are already seeing the leisure industry is already reacting, charitably, to the news of Thomas Cook’s collapse by offering free stays to those who have been negatively.

One such company offering this is Filey Bay Caravans, whose owner has also been left at a loose end by this recent Thomas Cook closure.

Richard Brown, who owns Filey Bay Caravans, had a family trip to Florida which is now not worth the paper it was printed on.

Knowing how so many other people feel he put his heart on his sleeve and decided to help out those who are in the same boat as him.

Speaking with www.scarsboroughnews.co.uk Richard said: “We’re in the same boat – we were due to fly out to Florida in a week’s time – holiday of a lifetime sort of thing.

“It’s just a sad, sad situation.

“I was on a bit of a downer after the news broke and I thought if I could offer a few families a holiday it might cheer a few people up.”

Taking a family on a trip like this is not a small endeavour and Richard had spent £8,000 on the planned trip to Florida. This is not a small amount of money and he could be waiting for a very long time to get that back so he felt compelled to help.

So not only is the leisure industry reacting it is actually reaching out to help those in need. Have you or anyone else you know lost a holiday due to this collapse?

Dorset Park Star Studded Summer

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By William Coleman

There was a triple taste of stardom this summer for a Poole holiday park which found itself to be glittering with its guests in three very different ways.

Family-owned South Lytchett Manor began by being showered in stardust by VisitEngland when the national tourist board announced its 2020 awards.

It scooped a maximum five stars as a touring and camping park, plus a special gold award for the exceptional quality of its accommodation and customer service.

VisitEngland also gave the park a top-level grading for the welcome it provides to older and less mobile guests – whilst the AA chipped in with its ultimate platinum award.

The next star shining at South Lytchett Manor was funny-man John Challis who plays Boycie in BBC TV’s much-loved sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Boycie was at the park to film an advertisement for caravan distributors Automotive Leisure, and proved a big hit among guests during his stay.

The third star this summer at South Lytchett Manor was entirely home-grown after the park’s marketing manager, Emily Freeman, triumphed in the Ironman Triathlon.

Emily’s performance in the tough qualification event has won her a place in the Ironman World Championships which will be taking place this October in Hawaii.

She recorded the second overall best women’s time after completing a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bicycle ride, topped off by a 26.2 mile marathon.

Joanne Bridgen, who with her husband David has owned South Lytchett Manor for the past 14 years, said everyone was delighted with the park’s star-studded summer: “Our VisitEngland and AA awards were fantastic news, not least because both put a big emphasis on the high standards of hospitality and welcome given to guests,” she said.

“Delivering this is very much in the hands of our loyal and hardworking staff, so they deserve a big share of the credit for these accolades.

“The icing on the cake was, of course, Emily’s Ironman success – and we’re all very proud of her achievement, and are crossing our fingers for October!” added Joanne.

Emily’s success came despite her relying in the cycling stage on a budget-priced bike – and now she has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a model more suited to the national finals.