Holiday park to unveil luxury caravans worth £1m

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by Ed Davies

The owner of a Cumbria holiday park is set to unveil the latest line in luxury caravans at what has been billed the biggest free event of its kind

More than £1 million worth of luxury caravans will be ushered through the gates of Silverdale holiday park this week for a major unveiling of next year’s models.

The park’s owner, Michael Holgate, is inviting Cumbria residents to come along this weekend and deliver their verdicts on the shape of holiday living in 2017.

All five of the UK’s biggest caravan holiday homes makers have been persuaded to send their next year’s models to Silverdale in advance of their official launch.

It will be the biggest free event of its type in the county, and provide a sneak preview of the latest ideas which manufacturers have been working on this year.

Speaking to the NW Evening Mail, Mr Holgate, said: “Anyone unfamiliar with recent advances in holiday caravan design might not expect to walk into somewhere looking more like a five-star hotel suite.

“Standards of luxury and the range of modern equipment they incorporate have made Britain’s caravan holiday home industry the envy of the world.

“Today’s models are also very environmentally friendly with many energy saving features and superb levels of insulation to keeping heating costs to a minimum.

“We were delighted when the makers agreed to send us their latest line-up, and we will be very interested to see what’s on offer and hear visitors’ comments.”

Last year, Silverdale park supported its trade association, BH&HPA, in a design project with TV architect George Clarke to reimagine the traditional caravan holiday home.

The Holgate family can claim to have helped to make caravanning more amazing as his grandad Billy ran a touring caravan manufacturing business at Silverdale 60 years ago.

It formed the basis of today’s holiday park, but the then forward-looking designs helped win export orders from across Europe; a fully restored original model is on display at the park.

A quick look over the Benimar Mileo 346

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by Ed Davies

Out of all the Benimar models, the 346, is truly the monster in terms of size, with a double bed in the back, one above the cab and the living room folding to create yet another

A true family motorhome, the 346 offers masses of storage and payload to match, while its extending dinette seats make it a really practical six-berth.

It is all based on the Maxi version of Fiat’s ever-popular Ducato, meaning a maximum vehicle weight of 4,250kg as well as a more than healthy one tonne-plus payload.

The whole bed can be moved up or down so you can optimise garage space or bed accessibility, as it suits.

Extra cushion sections, along with a swing-out table extension mean you can, indeed, just about cope with six at mealtimes.

In the kitchen, the chef gets a Thetford triplex cooker with two gas rings and an electric hotplate plus combined oven/grill.

To the left is a 150-litre Thetford fridge/freezer, with microwave oven set above it.

The washroom is functional and a good size, with highlights including the plastic-lined shower cubicle and there is also room for a fixed basin in grey plastic and Thetford’s swivel-bowl toilet.

Caravan Insurance, worth the expense?

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by Ed Davies

First of all, insurance for caravans is not mandatory. The basic law stipulates any self-propelled vehicle must be insured meaning motorhomes are bound by the regulations but caravan owners are left with a decision to make

The pitfalls are clear and range from fire, theft, storm, flood, accidental damage to even damage from the great, glorious, wonderfully unpredictable British weather.

However, views are split and several people will often go on holiday with their camper without any insurance, whatsoever.

So, continuing the intrepid reporting spirit of CaravanTimes we have quizzed insurance expert, Neil Menzies, to ask him why he thinks insuring your caravan is important.

A disclaimer. Mr Menzies is the director of Caravan Guard, a caravan insurance company, and therefore, it should be said does have an interest in people insuring their caravans.

That being said, his knowledge is second to none in this field and should not be dismissed.

This article is to be the first in a line of articles that CaravanTimes are to be doing on insurance in the coming weeks.

Our Expert

Mr Menzies said: “It is not a legal requirement but caravans can be a huge investment and are prone to theft, accidental or weather related damage.

“Accidental damage and weather related claims are very common for caravan insurance companies and often these are unavoidable.

“The British weather can be very hard to predict and the cost of repairs can run into thousands of pounds. For example, in 2012, in one day we dealt with 71 claims from customers whose caravan or motorhome had been damaged by ‘golf ball sized’ hailstones during a freak storm.”

On averaging out the claims from the storm, Caravan Guard, found that, individually, the cost was around £5,261 each.

With simple damage claims sometimes reaching the thousands of pounds, were those clients not insured they would have faced these financial burdens alone. A considerable charge for any caravan owner.

“Who would have thought a hail storm could cause so much damage to a caravan and let’s face it the caravan owners could not really do anything to prevent it happening,” he added.

“A caravanner’s car insurance policy should provide cover for any third party damage caused whilst towing their caravan but it will not pay to repair any damage to the caravan as a result of an accident or if it is stolen.

“Caravan insurance gives owners the reassurance that their caravan is covered for fire, theft, storm, flood and accidental damage.”

It is also worth noting caravan insurance these days does not have to be too expensive as Mr Menzies points out there are ways to cut the cost of cover.

He continued: “You might be able to select from various cover options, such as European cover, emergency accommodation, or select a different excess to pay in the event of a claim.

“Discounts also reward careful and security conscious caravan owners, with money off for fitting axle wheel locks, alarms, electronic anti-snaking devices and approved tracking systems to prevent theft.

“It has been great to see manufacturers, installing a lot of these features as standard to their models in recent years.

“So, there is plenty of ways to make insurance savings and of course many of the devices mentioned help owners enjoy trouble-free touring.”

Caravan Insurance Companies

Caravan Guard
Caravanwise
The Camping and Caravanning Club
Coast Insurance
Crusader Insurance
NFU Mutual
Safeguard UK
Saga
Shield Total Insurance
AA Caravan Insurance
The Caravan Club
Simpled Caravan

Nissan unveils 100% carbon-neutral fuel cell

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by Ed Davies

Japanese giants Nissan have produced an eco-friendly fuel cell for vans that runs purely on ethanol and produces zero-emissions

Electric vans and vehicles, in general, have since their inception suffered from perennial problems of low battery life, poor mileage and slow speeds.

However, a prototype introduced last month by Nissan, called the e-Bio fuel cell, could solve those problems and revolutionise electric vehicles.

Nissan says the battery and use of the van is sustainable as it runs on bio-ethanol, which is mainly sourced from readily available crops in the Americas, sugarcane and corn.

The van was based on the Nissan e-NV200 and uses a 24kWh battery, delivering a cruising range of around 400 miles.

Nissan intends to conduct field tests on public roads in Brazil, where the technology was developed, with a view to introducing a production version in the future.

Nissan president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, said: “The e-Bio Fuel-Cell offers eco-friendly transportation and creates opportunities for regional energy production while supporting existing infrastructure.

“In the future, the e-Bio Fuel-Cell will become even more user-friendly. Ethanol-blended water is easier and safer to handle than most other fuels. Without the need to create new infrastructure, it has great potential to drive market growth.”

Micro-camper manufacturers release ultra compact van

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by Ed Davies

Creation Campers, who specialise in micro-motorhome conversions, have introduced a new type of campervan based on a 2016 model Fiat Doblo XL

Naming their new campervan, Fiat Zio, it is just 4.7m long and 2.2m high and comes in bronze, silver and gold.

It also has a 1.6-litre Euro VI diesel engine and an interior side bench that slides out to provide a bed for two.

There is an awning on the side to create more space and it also has a kitchen unit with twin burner gas hob, sink and a fridge.

A slide out table can be used for food preparation or eating and a PortaPotti hidden away.

The Fiat Zio Camper will have a full range of Fiat factory fitted options and there is a choice of different finishes, with prices starting at £25,995.

Caravan insurance company wins top industry award

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by Ed Davies

Caravan and motorhome insurance specialists, Caravan Guard, have picked up a major insurance award for continuous innovation and high standards

The Halifax-based company won out amongst stiff competition as it was crowned Schemes Broker of the Year 2016 in front of hundreds of industry figures at The Brewery in London.

The firm’s managing director, Ryan Wilby, said the whole team was thrilled they had received national recognition for their continued efforts to provide exceptional service.

Mr Wilby said: “We’ve had a great year at Caravan Guard and Leisuredays with more customers than ever choosing to trust us to insure their freedom and winning this prestigious award is the icing on the cake.

“Our team of positive people are committed to providing excellent service to our customers as well as quality insurance cover, so we’re delighted to be rewarded for our successes.”

The Caravan Guard team was also very proud to have been a finalist at the British Insurance Awards for UK Broker of the Year in June.

Caravan dealership launches new online store

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by Ed Davies

Cheshire’s largest caravan dealership, Leisure Sales, has unveiled its brand new online accessory store

The store offers a range of products from gas and electrical items to the more upmarket pieces such as HD TVs.

To celebrate the opening of the store, the dealership, in Sandbach near Congleton, east Cheshire, is offering a special 10% introductory discount on all orders placed before October 31.

Managing director, Chris Talbot, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our new online store, catering comprehensively for caravanners.

“It offers everything you need for your caravan holiday with the convenience of having your order shipped directly to your home.

“We believe that online shopping can be just as personal and engaging as entering our retail store.”

The store offers a home delivery service, which is free for shipments over £100, and if items are ordered before 3pm they will arrive on the same day.

Mr Talbot added: “We go above and beyond to make sure you receive your order as quickly as possible with many products available for same day dispatch or the option of the new click and collect service.

“We hope you will enjoy our new site as much as we do.”

To register at the store go to www.leisuresalesaccessories.co.uk/customer/account/create and enter code ONLINE10 at basket stage of order.

Caravan park donates thousands to animal charity

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by Ed Davies

A caravan park has donated £6,000 to a guide dog charity to train up a young pooch before it goes into service

Snettisham Caravan Park, located along the north Norfolk coast around ten miles from King’s Lynn, presented officials from Guide Dogs for the Blind the cheque last Sunday.

With the money, the charity, can now train up puppy Jen, who is only five months old, turning her into a fully fledged guide dog.

The money was raised during the 2015 season and is just one of several charity fundraisers that the caravan park, owned by Marilyn and John Roser, have done over the years.

Mrs Roser said: “It was, in fact, last year’s funding and it was really great as if you raise over £5,000 for them you can name a puppy.

“Each year we have a nominated charity. There is a real feel good factor and we have been doing it now for around 17 or 18 years.

“It is wonderful, all really worthwhile and it is nice when they come down and you can see it. It is a bit of a tear jerker.”

The money was raised through a wide range of activities including a charity auction, bank holiday afternoon of music, a dog show, table top sales, bingo sessions, afternoon tea and fishing matches.

Many local companies, including McDonnell Caravans, Orchard Caravans, Pioneer Caravans, Baco Compak, A & M Gas Services and Bailey Electrical also donate annually towards the fundraising.

The park has raised close to £90,000 for local charities over the past years and fundraising during the 2016 season has been for West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Magpie Centre.

Five percent discount for motorhome insurance

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by Ed Davies

Motorhome insurance specialist, Caravan Guard, is encouraging motorhome owners to invest in various tyre safety devices by offering a 5% reduction in premiums

The 5% discount is for motorhome owners, who fit either Tyron bands, invest in a tyre pressure monitoring system or use tyre sealant – a liquid injected through the motorhome tyre valves to help seal punctures.

This is on top of a number of safety and security discounts offered on the policy for devices such as approved immobilisers, alarms, tracking devices and reversing cameras, which in the end could mean savings of around 27.5%.

Caravan Guard’s director of relations, Neil Menzies, said: “Loss of control of a motorhome after a blowout at high speeds can be terrifying and lead to serious accidents, so we support devices that can prevent or help in these situations.

“We hope by offering these new discounts, motorhome owners will consider investing in these tyre safety products, which will not only give them a better deal on their motorhome insurance, but will help to reduce tyre-related accidents, giving customers that extra peace of mind when on the road.”

Tyron wheel safety bands greatly reduce the risk of an accident through loss of control after tyre deflation by helping to keep the tyre on the wheel after a puncture, blow-outs or under inflation.

Incorrectly inflated tyres can affect the way a motorhome drives and a tyre pressure monitoring system can help to prevent blowouts or other accidents caused by over or under inflated tyres.

A TPMS works by placing sensors either on the motorhome tyre valves or inside the motorhome wheels.

These sensors continuously measure the pressure and temperature of the tyres and transmit information wirelessly to a dashboard mounted monitor and sound an alarm if there’s any abnormality. Popular makes include TyrePal or Snooper’s Tyre Pilot.

Tyre sealant is a liquid which is injected through the motorhome tyre valves and coats the inside of the tyres. In the event of a puncture, and when the penetrating object is removed, a small amount of tyre sealant is squeezed through the puncture hole to seal the tyre.

Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016 tickets competition

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by Ed Davies

Following our last competition giving away 15 pairs of tickets to the Motorhome & Caravan Show, the final ten pairs are now up for grabs in the run up to the big event

With the closing date set for Wednesday, October 5, the competition this time around is simple enough as all you have to do is fill out the form provided at the bottom of the article.

When done, if you are selected, you and a partner could be browsing over the 400 exhibitor stands at the Birmingham NEC between 11 to 16 October.

At the show there will be talks from popular celebrities including Bradley Wiggins, Matt Allwright and George Clarke.

On top of all that, The Guinness World Record life-sized LEGO brick caravan is also a spectacle not to be missed, built with just over a whopping 215,000 bricks.

Competition rules:
The lucky winners will be picked at random at midday on October 5 2016 and will be notified via the email address supplied in the entry form
Only one entry per person
No purchase necessary
No cash or alternative will be offered
This competition is open to new or existing CaravanTimes members only
No employees of CaravanTimes or StantonPace Ltd may enter
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

Caravan site installs bee glamping pods to boost wildlife

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by Ed Davies

A Lancashire caravan park is attempting to rejuvenate Britain’s dwindling bee population by hiving off a large section of its dog exercise field and replacing it with wild flowers

Earlier this year, Moss Wood, in the village of Cockerham, replaced a 3,000 square foot dog exercise field with wild flowers, in what it calls its ‘bee buffet’.

Within the field, bee “glamping pods” have also been installed, which take the form of hardwood logs bored with hundreds of tiny tunnels.

Each flower was specifically chosen for their high pollen-bearing blooms and are now providing the much-needed nectar to help sustain honey bees over the winter.

“Wild flowers are far less abundant than they once were,” said park director Henry Wild. “The use of pesticides is blamed by some experts for reducing the food resources for pollinators like bees.

“Our holidaymakers have been extremely impressed at the speed with which our flower bank has grown since it was seeded at the start of the year.

“Some have also been asking how they can create a similar bee buffet in their own gardens, and we have been giving advice as to the best varieties to sow.”

The family-owned park has run many initiatives to protect the natural environment, which have once again landed it with the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Moss Wood’s latest bee-friendly move was made in response to a call by professor Bellamy for parks to step-up their work to protect the beleaguered insects.

“Positioned in hideaway locations throughout the grounds they provide perfect homes in which solitary bees can make cells of nests for their larvae,” he added.

“We are also inviting guests to help themselves to the seeds which many of our varieties produce at the end of summer, and to sow them next spring.”

Moss Wood was established by the Wild family over 40 years ago, provides around 200 pitches for holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes.

A snapshot of the Benimar Mileo 202

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by Ed Davies

The Mileo 202 is another six-metre motorhome imported by Marquis Leisure from Iberian manufacturer, Benimar

It comes with a Fiat 150BHP engine as standard and high level DAB radio, with touch screen sat nav and integrated reversing camera.

It is a neat and attractive four berth motorhome, with its L shaped lounge giving it plenty of room to wine and dine.

Just as in last year’s model the pièce de résistance of Benimar’s latest release is its drop-down, electric bed above the dining table which comes down at the touch of a button.

The layout consists of a large rear kitchen and corner washroom with separate shower.

Both the cab seats swivel around to complete the spacious living room, with a standard specification including, a large three way fridge, separate freezer, oven, three burner hob and microwave.