Swift announces alternative layouts for motorhome ranges

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by Hayley McCrystal

Swift introduce additional layout options for Espirit, Bessacarr and Kon-Tiki ranges

Caravan manufacturer, Swift, has confirmed alternative layout options for some of its 2015 motorhome ranges following receiving feedback from both dealers and customers.

A new ‘Lounge’ option will be made available for the Espirit/Bessacarr 454, 484 and 494 ranges as well as Kon-Tiki Black Edition 625 and 635 models, offering a two seat/two berth alternative with open front lounge instead of travelling dinette.

Models remaining with the travelling dinette will be denoted by the word ‘Travel’.

With the additional ‘Lounge’ layout comes a change in the vehicle’s MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) in the Espirit and Bessacarr ranges, reducing it to 3.5 tonnes or less. Good news for drivers with weight restrictions on their licences.

Cara Motorhomes and Caravans to hold ‘End-of-Summer Spectacular’

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by Tom Walsh

Cara Motorhomes and Caravans is set to hold its ‘End-of-Summer Spectacular’ this weekend with huge savings to be made. The specialist Compass retailer will have a host of discounts on big name brands

Huge savings can be made at this weekend’s (September 13th and 14th) ‘End-of-Summer Spectacular’ at Cara Motorhomes & Caravans.

The Staffordshire-based firm is making a number of discounts on its range of caravans and motorhomes and people could land themselves a bargain in time for the autumn holidaying season.

Cara Motorhomes & Caravans is entering its second season as a specialist Compass retailer and is inviting all caravanners to come along and see what they could pick up.

All models in the Compass range come with a free ten-year warranty as well as being fitted with industry leading SoLiD Construction.

Peter Jones at Cara said: “Interest in Compass Caravans continues to gain momentum. Having been part of the caravan industry for many years, I truly believe that SoLiD Construction sets the standard for build quality.”

Mr Jones added that his team will be on hand to answer any queries buyers may have throughout the weekend.

Cara Motorhome & Caravans is situated at Railway Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST3 5QJ.

Vintage style tea room opens up in a caravan

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by Ingeborg Holba

A vintage style pop-up tea room has opened up in a 1970s caravan in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

For those of you who enjoyed our stories on Norman the Cocktail Caravan and The Cream Tease Bus, you’ll love this one.

Nicola Murphy has opened a vintage style pop-up tea room in her early 1970s caravan. The caravan is called Mary in honour of Nicola’s late grandmother, Mary Goody, and it’s a delight!

Mary is decked out with a beautiful vintage-styled awning, tablecloths and china owned by Nicola’s grandmother, completing the caravan’s authentic vibe.

Nicola sells everything from tea, coffee and hot chocolate to homemade cakes at Sworders Field, where she is usually based on the weekends.

Offically called Mary’s Vintage Kitchen, the business is a family enterprise with Nicola’s mum Linda Goody and her 14 year old always helping out.

Nicola purchased the caravan, a Thomson Mini Glen, in April from an online auction after she was no longer need at Ware College, where she tutored students with dyslexia. She refurbished the caravan, and later opened up Mary’s Vintage Kitchen. The business is still in its early stages, but it’s future is certainly looking positive.

She said: “It’s something I have always wanted to do. When I sat in the meeting and was told about the 180 redundancies, I decided that now was the time.”

You can visit Mary’s Vintage Kitchen at Sworders Field on the weekends until the end of October.

Guinness World Records announces world’s smallest caravan

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by Ingeborg Holba

The world’s smallest caravan, the QTvan, has been announced by Guinness World Records and it’ll put a smile on your face

Well, it’s official! We’ve got another record in The Guinness Book of World Records, and this time it’s the world’s smallest caravan.

The QTvan was built by Yannick Reed, 43, who spends his time inventing when he’s not making a living as a website writer.

Now the owner of the record-breaking caravan that measures 2.39m in length, 1.53m in height and is 0.79m wide, Yannick says of his creation: “It’s main selling point is that it makes people laugh.”

The charming caravan seems to be quite comfortable, despite its miniature size. QTvan offers a single bed, a bar and a kettle if you fancy a cup of tea. According to Yannick, the story behind QTvan’s name hits close to home, as it get it from three particular so-called British obsessions: queuing, tea and caravanning.

“When I was building the QTvan, it was really important, obviously, to keep it as small as possible, but it had to be light too and to get things in there to make a night’s sleep comfortable. But I also wanted to make it look good. It is inspired by 1940s caravans and old cars of that era,” Yannick explained.

The QTvan was manufactured by the Environmental Transport Association, and was officially measured in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 5 June 2013.

“It’s really awesome to get a Guinness World Record,” he exclaimed.

Check out the video below:

The Camping and Caravanning Club teams up with TyreSafe

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by Hayley McCrystal

The Camping and Caravan Club and TyreSafe join forces to bring tyre safety to the caravan and motorhome community

The Camping and Caravanning Club has offered its support to TyreSafe, one of the UK’s leading tyre safety organisations, aiming to raise awareness about the dangers of using defective or illegal tyres, and will now support the not-for-profit organisation in its road safety campaigns.

The Camping and Caravanning Club membership comes in at over half a million meaning that exposure to TyreSafety’s initiatives is sure to be increased hugely. Hopefully with caravan and motorhome owners being better informed, towing accidents related to tyre faults – of which there were over 5,000 in 2013 according to The Highways Agency – will see a significant decrease. The Club will now have access to TyreSafe’s resources and will be able to offer members advice on topics such as adequate tread depth, right inflation levels during towing and the risks of using part worn tyres.

Other significant road safety bodies such as Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Chief Fire Officers Association have also pledged their support to TyreSafe’s efforts.

Speaking of tyres, if yours are in need of an upgrade, make sure you check click here to stand a chance of winning a brand new set!

Winner of Elddis 50th Anniversary Legacy Competition revealed

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by Ingeborg Holba

The winner of the Elddis 50th Anniversary Legacy Competition has been revealed and they couldn’t be happier

As previously reported, Elddis are celebrating their 50th anniversary this month. Celebrations included a once in a lifetime competition offering the winner a self-chosen caravan from the entire 2015 Elddis line-up.

Sounds almost too good to be true doesn’t it? Well, tell that to Louise Sutherland and sons Duncan, 4, and Marcus, 2, who are the lucky winners of a brand new touring caravan.

The objective of the caravan manufacturer was to find a family whose life would be the most transformed by the addition of a new Elddis caravan. In selecting a winner, Elddis contacted their ‘longest-serving’ Elddis owners, as well as key partners in the Industry such as The Caravan Club, The Camping and Caravanning Club, Haymarket and Warners to ensure the lucky family would pass on their legacy of carvanning to the next generation. Together they formed a 17-person judging panel and picked Louise and her two sons.

Louise, a 34 year old mum to Duncan and Marcus, who lost their father, Scott, just before Christmas 2012 says: “I would love to give them a real taste of the outdoor life their father was so passionate about, and do all the boy things he would have just relished teaching his sons that go so well with camping.”

“Instilling a love of caravanning in a fantastic new Elddis and enjoying the countryside would certainly be something special for the children to take with them through to later life and – who knows – perhaps even do it with their kids.”

Looks like Elddis picked out their winner well! The caravan manufacturer will welcome Louise and the boys to the 50th Anniversary Factory Open Event on 20-21 September, where they will get to choose their favourite model and layout for the 2015 Season Elddis Range.

The Kiravan: the monster of a caravan that’s any adventurer’s dream

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by Hayley McCrystal

The Kiravan from Applied Minds is out of this world

The Kiravan from Applied Minds LLC, has everything you could possibly need in a caravan. No, really. Even if you decided to visit the moon (somehow), we’re pretty sure you’d do fine in this bad boy. Imagine if an ATV and a caravan had a baby, with elements of the Mars land rover thrown in, and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the Kiravan is all about. It was initially developed to be a superior, large-scale expedition system for rover-land exploration, still photography, film production and scientific research, but who’s to say it wouldn’t stand the test of time down Camber Sands?

Following on from the technology used on the MaxiMog, a “modular, high mobility vehicle designed for exploring this (or similar) planets,” the designers at Applied Minds, LLC are clearly reaching for the stars with the products they are undertaking. The Kiravan was prompted, to a degree, by the birth of the designers’ daughter, Kira, whose safety and needs would need to be considered in the creation of this kind of hard core vehicle – the name, Kiravan, is now fitting delicately into place, and we’re no longer convinced it was a caravan designed by a New Zealander.

Applied Minds said of the Kiravan that they wanted “to increase the available space and capabilities, extend flexibility and modularity, minimise crew workload while increasing their situational awareness, and minimise negative environmental impact.” All smart moves from where we’re sitting.

The final design is made up of a tractor-trailer configuration being specifically optimised for on- and off-roading. We’re not quite sure whether you’d leave the Kiravan, along with your car’s chassis, behind should you try to tow this bad boy by conventional means so a tractor seems to make sense. However, this isn’t just any ordinary tractor as you will see from our pics below.

The impressive Kiravan measures in at 52’with a maximum gross weight of 51,700 lbs, so we’d be inclined not to take it on that trip to Camber after all. It’s basically a building with wheels. If you’re in need of speed, however, the Kiravan does not disappoint as it has its very own KiraBike, turbo-diesel motorcycle located at the end of the trailer.

Not exactly designed for your everyday caravanner, the Kiravan comes complete with specialised technology for communications; telepresence; navigation; mapping; still, film and video production; remote exploration; physical and chemical analysis; geology; archaeological survey work and digs; scientific field research and trip documentation. Yikes! We have a feeling this was built with a very specific group of customers in mind. The only problem is they’d surely stick out like a sore thumb during covert missions.

It really does sound as though, even if the apocalypse took place, you would be fine in this hardy beast – well, for a while at least. It can store enough food and water for a ‘crew’ of three for three weeks, the fuel system and tanks are heated for extreme cold and bio-fuel use and incorporate extensive filtration capabilities.

Whether you’re in Death Valley, California or the Arctic Circle, the Kiravan will keep you comfortable. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, with independent humidification and dehumidification allow the cabin to maintain a comfortable temperature even with outside temperatures reaching +130°F or dropping to -30°.

It will be continuously monitored for heat, smoke and combustion by-products as well as for direct flame by UV/IR flame detectors and has built in, automatic aqueous foam fire extinguishers, that can also be discharged manually, for each engine as well as Halotron extinguishers are accessible in the cabins and technical areas. Can this caravan/motorhome hybrid actually get any cooler?

The answer to our last question above is yes – even when talking about the first aid kit. Oh no, the Kiravan doesn’t come with a little green plastic box with a few bandages and plaster. This kit includes a patient monitor and ultrasound, an automated external defibrillator, first aid and over the counter and prescription drugs tailored for the crewmembers and anticipated travel conditions.

If you’re not impressed yet – you have seriously high standards – here comes the big one. The Kiravan has masts. Multiple masts even. The tallest of which stands at 58ft above ground level with the ‘mini-masts’ having heights of 22ft. While we don’t expect owners of this scientific wonder to be parking it at any old caravan site, one thing’s for sure, if you did, you definitely wouldn’t lose where you parked up.

These are but a few of the features of the Kiravan and it’s already blown our minds. To find out more about this crazy caravan, click here.

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Video: Follow that caravan!

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Caravan chase ends in disaster

Whenever possible, we here at CaravanTimes always like to educate visitors to the site in whatever way we can; be it a tour around the latest caravan or motorhome, or by way of news stories or features, we certainly aim to please.

Today we bring you a video reminding us of something more like the closing credits of the Benny Hill Show than a Blues Brothers police chase, however it is a police chase nonetheless. Watch on as a caravan-towing lawbreaker attempts to escape the long arm of the law – to no avail.

There’s obviously only so much maneuvering around cars, buses and trucks a caravan can take before being stopped in its tracks by an obstruction that won’t be so forgiving and move out of the way and, luckily for the police man in hot pursuit, it’s not long before this happens.

So watch on and enjoy. Today’s lesson of the day can only be that next time you’re thinking of making a quick getaway in your caravan, DON’T!

New Bailey Unicorn overview – a closer, detailed look at the new Bailey Unicorn range for 2015

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by Joe Jeffrey

CaravanTimes speaks to Bailey of Bristol to gain a full overview of the new third generation Bailey Unicorn, discussing layouts, aesthetics, added space and much more

With research showing that choice of layout is one of the most important factors when it comes to selecting the right caravan for you, Bailey of Bristol seems to have played their trump card as far as this factor is concerned, with a total of eight different layouts for the new Unicorn for 2015.

Bailey has also incorporated various new enhancements to the new Unicorn range, including increasing the length of the front beds by ten per cent, thus increasing the space in the seating area, increasing floor space by 15 per cent and has even managed to up the amount of workspace available – all whilst keeping weight to a minimum.

The University of Bath’s involvement in helping to create the new Unicorn range alongside Bailey for 2015 is also highlighted in this video, which makes for an interesting angle as far as towability and stability are concerned.

With much more on offer, including tower refrigerators on single-axle models and newly updated aesthetics throughout, it looks like these enhancements may prove influential to many people when deciding upon which new caravan to buy for 2015. Oh, did we mention the new 100w Truma solar panels coming as standard on all new Unicorn models too?

So, without giving too many more exciting details away, check out the video here and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Swift Group launches cutting-edge S-Pod

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by Ingeborg Holba

Swift Group launches a new and innovative S-Pod, as well as announcing their record-breaking sales orders

Better known for their concentration on caravans, Swift Group will be launching their new self contained, flexible living area called the S-Pod at the Caravan Extravaganza at The Lawns in Cottingham this Sunday (6 September).

The new pod is described as having endless possibilities as it’s perfect for a short stay away whether you wish to take a trip to a holiday park or events ground, providing extra accommodation, or even simply use it as a luxury garden room.

The S-Pod will be launched in two layouts: the S-Pod two-berth and S-Pod five-berth. Both models are 10ft x 14ft, coming with a double sofa which can be folded away to allow for a comfortable double bed to be pulled down over it. They both also offer fully fitted washrooms with a quadrant shower enclosure, lavish round sink bowls and taps completed with a modern dual toilet.

Key features include a foldaway table, a TV which can be watched from the sofa or bed, French oak vinyl flooring, as well as a fully fitted kitchen coming with sink and all the cooking facilities you’d expect, including oven, grill, four burner gas hobs and a microwave.

There is a slight difference between the models, with the S-Pod 5 offering an L-shaped seating area with a bunk over, instead of a kitchen. The seating area can be converted into a small bed providing space for three small children to sleep.

So what does it look like from the outside? The exterior is finished in CanExel high density wood composite cladding in sierra brown which has a durable and realistic wood grain texture, perfect for blending in with your natural surroundings. The one piece sloping roof and fully glazed front aspect give the S-Pod a contemporary look, with LED canopy downlights adding the final touch.

Moreover, there are PVC gutters and downpipes to the rear, with the bonded exterior wall construction providing greater strength construction-wise. The S-Pod is also well insulated with Thermaglas uPVC double glazed windows, lagged underfloor pipes and 60mm bonded walls, which help increase thermal efficiency and comfort.

Swift Group commercial director, Nick Page, stated: “We developed the S-Pod for use on sites with short stay holidays in mind that could be quickly turned round by the park staff for the next customers.”

In further news, Cottingham based Swift Group has also announced it has broken previous records for any single order which was previously set last year, with an impressive order of over £6 million placed for their 2015 holiday homes. Last year’s record was set at £5.5 million.

Nick continued: “We are delighted with the recognition we have had from our customers in relation to our management of last year’s order and this bears testament to our ability to deliver to a high standard. The 2014 season has been a record breaking one for Swift Group, that has seen the company take significant market share and substantially grow volumes in the holiday home sector. With new ranges and improvements for 2015 we hope to continue this success.”

Bailey offers you the chance to win a set of Michelin tyres

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by Ingeborg Holba

Bailey are offering you the chance to win a set of Michelin tyres in their latest competition

Ready for new tyres, but haven’t got round to it yet? Never fear, Bailey and Michelin have teamed up to launch a tyre-tastic competition. Bailey of Bristol are offering one lucky caravanner or motorhomer the chance to win a set of Michelin tyres in their latest competition.

To stand a chance of winning a brand new set of four Michelin Car, Van or 4X4 Tyres in their free prize draw competition all you have to do is complete an online form by clicking here. The closing date for online entries is 19 September, with the lucky winner being announced on 26 September.

The tyres will only be allowed for your own vehicle, and proof of ownership may be requested, so go dig out those papers in the hope you’re going to need to use them come 26 September.

So, to enter the competition, click here. It really is as simple as filling out a form.

Marquis announces Sussex branch as latest Auto-Trail dealer, offering some great deals

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by Ingeborg Holba

Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans have appointed their Sussex branch as the latest Auto-Trail dealer, and get ready to offer some great deals

Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans are pleased to announce their Sussex branch as the latest Auto-Trail dealer for the new season and will have a range of new 2015 models on display at the South East Leisure Event in Marquis Sussex, Eastbourne from 5-7 September.

There will be a substantial selection of both new and used motorhomes and caravans and all the models on display will be available with a zero per cent price increase until 20 October making this an event you and your wallet don’t want to miss.

Marquis has been in the industry for over 40 years, and has become the largest multi site dealership in the UK, making the caravans and motorhomes on display some of the best and most respected productions around. Moreover, every used caravan comes with a ‘CaraMarg’ Guarantee promising a peace of mind, which matches the extensive cover they additionally offer on their motorhomes.

To make sure you don’t miss out on saving a massive amount of money on these great deals on offer, book a personal viewing here. And if you pre-register in advance you will receive a Free Goodie Bag upon your arrival.

We at CaravanTimes certainly wouldn’t mind finishing off the summer with some great deals.