by Holly Tribe

Have you ever been overcome with the urge to grab forty winks half way through your weekly shop? Well, a new micro caravan commissioned by the Environmental Transport Association could be the answer to your dreams.

The QTvan is a brand new mini camper that is light enough to be towed by a mobility scooter and small enough to be manoeuvred through the aisles of a supermarket.

Click here to see a video of the QTvan in action

According to the Metro, the QTvan was developed by Yannick Read for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) to draw attention to the fact that there are 220,000 mobility scooters owners without breakdown cover.

The man behind the caravan, Mr Read, commented: “An increasing number of people rely on mobility scooters but if you develop a fault or run out of battery power and don’t have breakdown cover, or a tiny caravan in tow, your only options are to push something that weighs the equivalent of two men home or call a relative with a large car.”

The name is an amusing take on our national identity, derived from three typically British pastimes; queuing, tea and caravanning. Yannick added: “It is quintessentially English. We have a love/hate relationship with the caravan.”

What’s in the box?

The diminutive caravan stands at just 2m x 75cm and comes with a tea making facilities, a drinks cabinet, a bed, alarm clock and there’s even a 19″ flat screen TV mounted on the far-side wall. There’s 240v hook up and battery powered back-up lighting, but you won’t be breaking any landspeed records, as the top outfit speed is just 5mph.

Environmentalists will be pleased to learn the caravan can offer a carbon neutral form of touring if the scooter is charged from a green energy source.

The QTvan is available to order from the ETA at a cost of £5,500. Added extras including solar panels, central heating and satellite dishes are available as cost options. Click here to visit their website.

by Holly Tribe

The Easter holidays are nearly upon us, and an estimated two million caravan owners are expected to take advantage of the extended holiday period this year. In a bid to keep motorists safe on the roads, a national tyre company is inviting caravanners to come and get a free tyre safety check ahead of the forthcoming holiday period.

According to tyrepress.com, Protyre is offering a complimentary tyre safety inspection to caravan and trailer tent owners at any of its 53 UK branches. The firm has outlets located across the UK, and will be welcoming motorists throughout the extended holiday period.

The firm is keen to highlight the importance of conducting fundamental safety checks before setting off on a long journey, particularly if it is the first trip of the season, stating: “During the Easter period a high proportion of caravan owners will take to the roads for the first time this year. Many owners will not carry out basic safety checks to ensure a trouble-free break.”

“Winter storage conditions can sometimes have a detrimental effect on caravan and trailer tent tyres.”

But if you can’t make it down to a service centre for a professional check up, the firm has suggested a checklist of potential safety clues for caravanners to keep an eye out for:

“We are asking people to examine tyres to ensure that there are no cuts, lumps or bulges and that the sidewalls are not affected by cracking or distortion through being left standing for an extended period.
“Tyres must also have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread, although we recommend that tyres with less than 2.5mm of tread should be considered for replacement.”

Click here to find your local Protyre centre.

by Marcus Dubois

With the cost of petrol surging ever higher, caravan owners and other motorists appear to be changing their driving habits in order to save them money at the pumps. This is according to the latest survey by Motorpoint, which revealed that 64 per cent of Brits have altered their behaviour behind the wheel to try and save on fuel.

It’s hardly surprising that motorists are starting to cut costs, as the RAC estimates the average price of petrol has now risen to 133.55p a litre. Throughout 2011 here at Caravan Times we have been highlighting the issue of rising fuel costs and how this affects you. Last month we posed the question “Are rising fuel prices changing the way we drive?” and this week’s survey appears to have confirmed our view that caravanners are being forced to change their habits.

And a group which was praised last month by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles for contributing to the British economic recovery, is now being forced to cut back on the frequency of their hobby due to the cost of towing.

Government intervention

Last month caravan owners were given a reprieve when chancellor George Osborne used his annual Budget to scrap a planned rise in fuel duty. Yet prices are still continuing to rise, and Motorpoint’s managing director David Shelton believes the government must intervene further.

“It is clear from our poll that the cost of fuel is starting to have an effect on the way in which people drive – a trend that is likely to continue unless the government changes its motoring policies” he noted.

Smaller engined towcars

Earlier this week a member of the Caravan Times community asked for tips on how to achieve greater fuel economy when towing. So we spoke to Steven Wright of Motorpoint to find out whether diesel towcars are proving more popular during the fuel crisis. And he revealed how he was forced to change his own car in search of better mileage.

“I commute 30 miles to work – that’s 60 miles each way, and my petrol car was just proving too expensive” he explained. “So I switched to a diesel model which saved me £15 a week, which is a staggering £60 a month.”

According to Stephen, sales of supermini cars are up 30% since the Budget. He also noted how diesel engines have improved from the noisy, smelly, large-capacity engines of old. “In the past you could only have big engines, whereas now our biggest seller at Motorpoint is the Ford Fiesta 1.4 with the diesel.”

And their best-selling towcar also came as a surprise. “Ssangyongs have sold really well as caravan towcars. We had about 20-25 of them on our books, and we sold out of all of them because word got around. The Rexton has a Mercedes gearbox and engine but is in a great affordable package, so it’s rightly popular”.

Have you changed your driving habits to save fuel? Do you have any tips for economic driving? Click here to share your views in our forum topic