Dometic and WAECO design new range of campervan accessories

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by Norah Lindsay

Dometic and WAECO reveal new range of campervan accessories, designed to provide an unforgettable experience

Dometic and WAECO has launched a new range of campervan accessories. provide everything that is required for and enjoyable holiday or memorable expedition tour.

These include bespoke cooling and cooking solutions that can be neatly integrated in the van interior or designed for mobile use, the market’s largest range of inverters and battery chargers to solve any power supply problem on board, and the ultra-compact FreshJet roof air conditioners, which provides ample cooling power for the summer months.

Dometic has now introduced a snug-fitting fly screen for the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot and Citroën Jumper base vehicles.

The new Dometic FlyTec FT 100 has a sliding door fitted into the vehicle so the camper can be left open without the risk of pesky insects like mosquitoes ruining your cosy evening.

Another smart addition is the new Dometic Rastrollo 3000 roller blinds that help protect Ducato ownersfrom curious eyes.

This extra-narrow blind for the bathroom window offers the benefits of darkening and a fly screen all in one.

For all the same vehicle models, Dometic has designed the RainTec RT 100a practical rain gutter that can be fitted to the sliding door, meaning you won’t get excess rain water sloshing on your head when you head out in the mornings.

Other impressive features include LED strip light on the rain gutter that illuminates the area around the vehicle in the evening, or sets the mood with a cosy ambient lighting.

Another noteworthy detail is the option for aluminium coating, which provides excellent heat reflection and thus prevents excessive heat-up of the vehicle interior.

WAECO now offers a perfect solution for enhanced manoeuvring safety and on-board entertainment for another popular base van in the camper community, the Volkswagen T5.

Some of the features include two rear-view/navigation combos, co-designed with Blaupunkt to blend in seamlessly with the original VW looks on the dashboard.

A seven-inch monitor is fitted with a low-reflection, anti-glare display for excellent readability.

There are two models available, the WAECO PerfectView NAV 718 PH with the flexible colour ball camera CAM 18 and the PerfectView NAV 750 PH featuring the extremely light-sensitive colour camera CAM 50.

Caravan Conkers returns as Sealed Air Europe recreates Top Gear stunt

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by Joe Jeffrey
Sealed Air Europe has released one of their – quite literally – wackiest stunts to date
In something rather more bonkers than conkers, the packaging manufacturer has decided to recreate the infamous 2004 Top Gear stunt, ‘Caravan Conkers’, where James May and Richard Hammond had a smashing time with six caravans.
Sealed Air Europe’s resident product tester, Professor Packaging, takes control of two caravans in the latest ‘Will it Break?’ online episode, as they are hoisted high into the air, using hydraulic cranes, in order to recreate the game of conkers – only on a much larger and more destructive scale.
The video, made to demonstrate the overall protective quality of the company’s newly launched bubble wrap, shows what happens when an egg and Grandma’s valuable china are wrapped and placed inside one of the caravans.
We’re not sure about you, but we don’t think threading a shoelace through a horse chestnut will ever be the same again.
So check out the eggstravagant stunt below – sorry, we couldn’t resist – to see if the Professor’s protective packaging survives and let us know what you think in our comments section.

VIDEO: Volkswagen bids a fond farewell to the legendary Kombi

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by Laura Hastings

Final farewell tribute video released to mark end of era

Volkswagen has put together a four-minute documentary to honour the end of production of the legendary Kombi campervan
Volkswagen has released a YouTube video to commemorate the end of production of their beloved Kombi camper van.

The company chose an appropriately tear-jerker style title, “Kombi Last Wishes”, for the documentary which celebrates the van’s 64 years in production.

The documentary is just over four minutes long, but took six months to make. It is beautifully crafted, with the ‘voice’ of the Kombi narrating its own history.

(It is a bit unclear why a van created by a Dutchman and manufactured in Brazil sounds like Vanessa Redgrave, but it’s very touching, so we won’t question it too much.)

A wide spectrum of Kombi fans are shown in the video, including a man moved to tears by the gift of Kombi shaped ravioli cutters.

The video captures just how many lives the van has been a part of, and the different things it has meant to them.

We see a Kombi being used as a hippie van, a family camper, and a food truck, to mention just a few of its incarnations.

News was originally released two years ago about the end of production, but it appears that this is officially the Kombi’s last hurrah, with production having ceased at the Brazilian plant in September 2013.

The reason given for the demise of this symbol of the free-spirit is the new safety regulations being introduced in Brazil.

All vehicles produced in the country must now come with ABS and airbags for the passenger and driver’s sides. Rather than subject the Kombi to a drastic re-design, it was decided to retire the old girl gracefully.

It is estimated that the Type 2 had a 3.9 million unit production run, a figure that commands a great deal of respect.

The Kombi – gone, but not forgotten. To watch the video, click below:

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Exclusive: Barrel Top Wagons to launch new range at Devon county show

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by Norah Lindsay

It’s been two years since CaravanTimes first came across the traditional showman-inspired, 1930s vintage-designed wagons and boy have the caravans grown!

Back in 2012, a prototype of a ‘baby’ caravan was the main focus of our desires. But over the years Barrel Top Wagons have been growing and developing.

Company director Jo Henderson informs us that the twin-unit Timber Lodgers were the most popular caravan over the past years.

In fact, the wagons have become so popular that the living wagon that Jo had been residing in, is soon being towed away to a family in Gloucestershire who have bought it.

But with the original towable wagons, living wagons and the two-part moveable structures aside, Barrel Top Wagons is introducing customers to their ‘fabnewwagon’ just in time for the summer.

The glamorous four berth, hand-crafted luxury wagon will be perfect for living or holiday accommodation.

The Douglas Fir wagons have enough room for four people to sleep in, a tiled deluxe shower and a ‘Windy Smithy’ wood-burner with oven.

Also included in the fab wagon will be a Hotpoint gas oven, a Bosch 11-litre water heater, dining space, bench seating and mezzanine beds.

A double composting toilet and gas and electric certificates are all included with the gorgeous wagon available for sale at a price of £40,000.
Deliveries can be made within the South-West of England and the structure will be ready to rent out at the beginning of June.

Devon debut

The Devon County Show is on the horizon (22-24 May), so the glamping caravan is currently under construction, preparing to make its grand appearance at the agricultural show.

Glamping caravans are fast becoming an increasingly popular trend across the UK, so we asked Jo Henderson what her initial inspiration was to create glamping caravans for Barrel Top Wagons.

“There has been such a gap in the market for this type of caravans. In the South-West of England, the Shepherd’s Hut caravans are increasingly popular. What we want to do is to create similar caravans that have a unique design.

“We have 25 years of carpentry experience and a working knowledge of small spaces, meaning we produce beautiful structures which work both aesthetically and practically, unlike anything else on the market.”

CaravanTimes is eagerly anticipating the finished product of the cute, modern caravan after seeing snippets of the beautiful pink wagon posted on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
As we wait and count the weeks down, we asked Jo what she will be most excited about for the upcoming launch of the ‘fabnewwagon’.

Jo said: “I will be most excited about seeing people’s reactions to this striking range of caravans, they really are a thing of wonder and people are just blown away when they see them!

“I’m very proud of Ben’s amazing talents to design and create such wonderful products that make people happy.”

To take a look inside the upcoming glamping wagon, click on the slide-show below:


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

New tyre checks to get you ready for the Spring/Summer season

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by Laura Hastings

Making certain that your tyres are in good condition is a necessary part of road safety. With this in mind, Hometyre has issued some helpful advice

In the wake of the Bank Holiday weekend, and the road accidents that accompanied it, now is a great time to read up on caravan tyre safety checks, and to check that your tyres are road-worthy.

Shropshire based company Hometyre want to help you do just that, and they have created a handy checklist to get you started:

  1. Check tyre pressure in line with manufacturer’s recommendations, including spares, when the tyres are cold.
  2. Look for deformities, bulges, lumps, cuts, impact damage and embedded material.
  3. Look for signs of ageing such as superficial cracks in the sidewall. If in doubt seek professional advice.
  4. Inspect the tread depth. Although the legal depth is 1.6mm of tread over 75% of the tread width right around the tyre, motoring organisations recommend replacing tyres with a tread depth under 3mm because it offers little grip in the wet.
  5. Fit the correct tyres and drive within the correct speed limit for the vehicle.
  6. Check the tyres frequently.

Statistics overwhelmingly prove that tyre safety should not be overlooked. In 2011, 33% of caravan collisions were found to have been caused by a tyre blow-out.

Andy Lawrence of Hometyre commented on the importance of tyre maintenance: “A tyre blow- out is a very serious situation, leading to loss of control and potentially catastrophic consequences.”

“Caravan and motorhome owners need to prepare their vehicles for the coming holiday season. Some are meticulous and check everything is serviced. However, there are simply those who hook up and go.”

Andy also spoke about some items on the market which can benefit the caravan owner: “There are a number of safety devices on the market that can assist the leisure motorist, such as Tyron bands, which can be retro-fitted to wheels to provide extra safety and control in the event of a tyre failure.”

The Caravan Club currently recommend that tyres are replaced every five to seven years, regardless of the tread depth remaining, as dangers can be hidden.

The week and year of a tyre’s manufacture is stamped on the tyre wall and can be used to calculate when tyres should be replaced.

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Happisburgh caravan park future in doubt

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by Tom Walsh

Council’s refusal threatens North Sea exodus

The future of a caravan park in Happisburgh, Norfolk, has been thrown into doubt after the council refused an application to move it away from the coast.

Manor Caravan Park sits on the edge of the North Sea and is at risk of coastal erosion, prompting the owners to send a request to North Norfolk District Councillors to move the site back.

However, EDP24 reports that this request has been rejected amid objections from English Heritage and surrounding homeowners.

Owner Chris Lomax told the news provider that he now vows to fight the decision, stating that councillors made an unfair and terminal decision for the future of the village.

Mr Lomax added: “I think it was a short-sighted decision. How can we possibly have managed retreat and a changing coastline without changing our villages.”

Manor Caravan Park is a popular destination for holidaymakers sitting in between Cromer and Great Yarmouth and providing great sea views.

Royal Estate picnic area could become caravan park

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by Tom Walsh

A new caravan site could be built on a disused picnic area in Norfolk under new plans

The land, next to the Royal Estate and the A149 Dersingham bypass near George Pratt Roundabout, has been left empty for the past two years with public access restricted, EDP24 reports.

Now, a developer has applied for permission to change the use of the land and it is believed that it could soon be home to a 52-pitch caravan park.

Since its closure the site has been subject to flytipping and it is something that agent Holt Architectural wants to change.

In its planning statement it outlines the creation of 52 touring pitches, new toilets, a laundry and 24-hour security.

The company was quoted by the news provider as saying: “The site will be managed and controlled and only pre-booked touring caravan occupants or campers will be able to access the pitches.”

Norfolk is a popular location for campers and caravanners with picturesque countryside and seaside resorts to visit.

Bailey of Bristol to support Chrissie Wellington MBE in 4-3-2-1 Challenge

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by Tom Walsh

Bailey of Bristol will play an instrumental part in supporting participants of the gruelling 4-3-2-1 Challenge.

Led by four-time triathlon champion and former Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year Chrissie Wellington MBE, the four athletes are to run up and down the UK’s three highest mountains and then cycle between the three all in the name of charity.

Covering some 420 miles in just 48 hours the participants will need time to relax and Bailey will be on hand to provide them with a top of the range Bailey Approach Autograph 765.

Chrissie and co are due to start in Wales by conquering Mount Snowdon then travelling 167 miles north to Scafell Peak in Cumbria before heading to the Highlands of Scotland to take on the imposing Ben Nevis.

Bailey will provide the official tour vehicle of the task and has been praised for its commitment.

Chrissie said: “It really is the perfect support vehicle for an endurance test like this, and we all look forward to finally putting our feet up in it when we eventually finish.”

Caravan Club lends support to brain tumour charity

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by Tom Walsh

Two keen caravanners are embarking on a mission in memory of their late son who passed away in 2011.

Roy and Jacqueline Fredrickson plan on travelling to the most eastern and western parts of the UK for their son Jon who lost his battle with a brain tumour a number of years ago.

The husband and wife explained that Jon was a keen traveller and was aiming to reach every corner of the UK but conceded that due to his condition, which had required continual chemotherapy sessions, he needed to make modest plans.

Sadly, he was not able to achieve this goal but in his honour his parents will be travelling across the country to raise money for research with The Brain Tumour Charity-Jon Fredrickson Fund.

The Caravan Club has given its backing to the campaign and is encouraging anyone who would like to give money to contact Jacqueline either by email or by calling 01454 317886.

Adria gets new Essex dealer with Caravan World partnernship

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by Tom Walsh

Adria has a new home in Essex. The Slovenian company has signed an agreement with Caravan World near Colchester which will stock its models for the foreseeable future.

Owned by Dave Denney and Steve Karsten since 1990, the Essex Caravan World is based in Thorrington, on the outskirts of Colchester.

Adria believes the company is the ideal retailer to represent it in the south-east.

Caravan World has already received its first Adria demonstrators and they are available to view for any would-be buyers.

Adria explained that Caravan World was an attractive proposition thanks to its indoor caravan showroom and tarmac outdoor showground.

It also has a number of larger workshops, an accessory shop and it recently added a spray/repair shop making it a “complete caravan centre”.

VIDEO: Caravan accident on M1 caught on camera

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by Laura Hastings

Accidents on our roads inevitably rise during Bank Holiday weekends.

In anticipation of this, the Highways Agency released a video of a crash involving a caravan on their YouTube channel which was captured on CCTV.

The accident occurred on the M1, in Leicestershire, earlier this month.

The 30-second long YouTube video shows the caravan and car snake out of control before flipping and crashing into the barrier.

This should serve as a stark reminder to all caravanners to take the utmost caution when driving.

The Highways Agency has issued a press release stating that spring and summer are the peak seasons for these types of accidents, and they have also included a list of the most common causes:

“The causes of towing accidents include overloading the caravan or trailer, a mismatch with the towing vehicle, tyres which have burst because they have not been checked or replaced where needed, and poor towing technique”.

The full press release with further information and tips can be found on the Highways Agency website.
Luckily no-one was seriously injured in this accident, but it certainly provides a lesson for all road users. Many YouTube commenters noticed that a white van stopped at the crash scene, blocking the first lane of the motorway.

This is an incredibly dangerous action and is not to be recommended following an accident, as it could cause a secondary accident.

Drivers must not stop on a motorway for any reason, but instead pull over to the hard shoulder to call the emergency services.

To watch the video of the incident, click on the player below:

Caravan Club site welcomes £2.5m leisure centre as neighbours

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by Tom Walsh

The Caravan Club has welcomed a brand new leisure centre as the neighbours for one of its Peterborough sites.

Lakeside at Ferry Meadows is the results of a £2.5 million investment project from Nene Park Trust and has taken a year to develop.

Sitting close to the river Nene, west of Peterborough, the site provides the perfect location for caravanners and campers looking to enjoy indoor and water-based pursuits.

The Caravan Club describes Lakeside as having “something for everyone” with a host of activities for young and old to enjoy.

Visitors will be able to get involved with watersports and outdoor activities while then relaxing in the Lakeside Kitchen & Bar, described as a “contemporary dining and function venue”.

Anthony Chapman, director of Nene Outdoors, said: “With access to the beautiful Gunwade Lake, Nene Outdoors caters for many activities on and off the water.”

Lakeside at Ferry Meadows will be holding a Family Fun day on Saturday 10 May.