by Chris Jefferies
Swift has claimed a key victory in the battle against caravan thieves with the help of their new Tracker Retrieve system.
This state-of-the-art tracking device allows local police to be instantly notified when any unexpected movement is detected in the caravan.
And this system recently proved its worth, leading to a brand new Sprite caravan being returned to its owner within 40 minutes of it being reported as stolen.
West Yorkshire Police’s helicopter support unit was despatched to Cleckheaton to apprehend the suspect and managed to recover the vehicle in record time.
Swift Group has started fitting this system as standard on all Swift, Sterling and Sprite caravans from the 2013 season onwards.
Nick Page, Commercial Director at Swift Group, said: “We are always looking for key features that set our products apart and the Tracker Retrieve system is an important addition to give our customers peace of mind.
“Ultimately, as it becomes a recognised feature, we hope it will deter thieves from stealing a Swift Group product.”
Airstream and Co explains 1930s teardrop caravan design
by Chris Jefferies
When we think of Airstream, the classic look of the Silver Bullet tourer springs to mind, and this iconic design has been with us for decades.
But it appears that the teardrop-style design, currently seen in T@B caravans, is just as historic.
In a recent post on the Airstream and Co website, the British importers explained how the original design of the teardrop came about.
This 1933 Airstream (pictured) came with a two-tone exterior, built using materials like plywood and canvas, while a select few were even covered with leatherette.
Gradually the use of hardboards like Masonite helped to bring down the weight, while the floors were lowered to increase the interior space.
And as you might expect from a caravan built 80 years ago, the fittings were more basic, with the kitchen featuring just a wash basin, gas stove and icebox.
As the years passed by, the development of the Silver Bullet design proved more influential and now symbolises the Airstream name, but the teardrop has not died out, with several other companies still using this tapered look today.
Coachman Caravans heading to Australia with new partnership
by Chris Jefferies
British caravans are continuing to take Australia and New Zealand by storm, with ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/coachman/">Coachman Caravans the latest company to announce a major partnership Down Under.
The company, whose coachbuilding quality was recently recognised with ISO accreditation, said in a statement:
“Young adventure seekers in New Zealand and Australia have driven the antipodean caravan market up until recently.
“However, like most developed countries, there is increasingly an ageing population also looking to enjoy the great outdoors.”
Coachman joins the likes of Bailey, Elddis, and Swift, all of which have proved highly successful in their Antipodean endeavours.
Australian caravans are typically much heavier than their UK counterparts, with buyers expecting a high level of protection from the elements.
But in terms of testing, British caravans have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and so more and more Aussies and Kiwis are being tempting to try touring in a lighter model from Britain.
Caravanners given ultimatum by Northumberland site
by Tom Walsh
Caravanners at Amble Links Caravan Park in Northumberland have been left stunned after operator Park Leisure issued them with an ultimatum.
The company wants owners to buy new caravans or leave the park as it looks to maintain its 5-star rating, however this has been met with dismay by a number of owners.
They contacted The Ambler to highlight the issue and an online forum has been rife with disgruntled caravanners discussing the situation.
Owners claim that Park Leisure has written to 30 people whose mobile homes are reaching 15 years old explaining that they will have to buy new ones as they are not in keeping with the current rating of the site.
Many owners stated that this was not made clear at the point of purchase and believe that they had been mis-sold the vans.
Amble Links is a big favourite with tourists, offering a great opportunity to visit the Northumberland coast and see sights such as Alnwick Castle and Coquet Island.
Strong auction sales show caravan and motorhome demand on the rise
by Tom Walsh
Caravans and motorhomes are back in vogue with demand for these vehicles on the increase, according to British Car Auctions (BCA).
The organisation noted that its twice-monthly sales of the vehicles at the Measham auction centre have attracted huge interest from members of the public.
June’s event saw 250 people attend in person while a further 200 bidded via BCA’s Live Online service. A total of 109 vehicles were sold from the 111 on offer generating a turnover of close to £900,000.
Black Horse Finance has been a main benefactor, scoring a record turnover of over £450,000 after selling 51 caravans and motorhomes in a single day.
Tim Naylor, BCA spokesman, said: “With relatively limited opportunities to buy caravans and motorhomes at auction, these sales have always been popular, but the step up in interest this year has been exceptional.”
Officials explained that one of the driving forces behind these figures could be that more and more families are opting to have holidays in the UK as opposed to going abroad.
Brickhill councillor denies owning overhanging caravan
by Tom Walsh
Anger is spreading across a neighbourhood in Bedford after a councillor has denied ownership of a caravan that is overhanging on to a public footpath.
Wendy Rider, councillor for Brickhill and deputy group leader of the Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats, has claimed that the caravan which has sat on her driveway for over a year does not belong to her.
The mobile home, in Orwell Close, Bedford, is now blocking public access to the pavement and it has been angering neighbours for the past 12 months.
A resident of Orwell Close told Bedfordshire on Sunday: “She’s had it parked there for more than a year at least and the local PCSO visited but all that was done was that it was turned around so it wouldn’t block the pavement quite so much. People use that route on the school run and it gets in the way.”
By law, all public pathways should be kept clear and Bedfordshire Police has now told the news provider that they will be seeking a resolution to the problem.
Caravanners encouraged to regularly check tyres
by Tom Walsh
The annual summer holiday season is fast-approaching and for caravanners all over the UK this will mean getting out and exploring some of the great sights the country has to offer.
However, owners are being warned of the dangers of worn down tyres and are being encouraged to make regular checks to ensure they are still in a good condition.
Micheldever/Protyre, a leading independent tyre dealer in England and Wales, explained that owners who chose to keep their caravan in storage during winter could find that it has had a detrimental effect on the tyres.
The company advised that people examine the tyres looking for any cuts or bulges that could result in a puncture.
While the law states that tyres must have a minimum tread of 1.6mm, the firm explains that caravans that have less than 2.5mm should be considered for replacement to avoid any potential accident.
The last thing a caravanner wants on their holiday is to have it ruined by a punctured or worn out tyre, so regular checks are a must.
Elddis and Marquis win another Caravan Club Design and Drive award
by Tom Walsh
An exclusive collaboration between Marquis and Elddis has once again born fruit as the companies have been awarded with the Caravan Club Design and Drive award.
The accolade is in recognition of the all-new Majestic 175 which was named as the overall winner in the ‘Coachbuilts under £45,000’ category.
It is the second time in the space of three years that Marquis and Elddis have come away from the award ceremony with a trophy in their hands.
The Marquis Majestic was built by Elddis and provides buyers with a motorhome that is high in quality while also being affordable for the average pocket.
Judges praised the 175 model after it came through a series of tests to assess its driving capabilities as well as comfort offered by the interior.
Marquis currently lists the 175 as one of its showcase models for 2013 and it comes with a host of new features. Buyers can get their hands on the luxurious motorhome for just £41,995 a saving of £1,734 from the OTR price.
Overturned caravan at Dartford Heath leads to A2 closure
by Tom Walsh
An overturned caravan has lead to the closure of the A2 at Dartford Heath for nearly two hours last Thursday evening (20 June).
Motorists heading out of London were caught up in lengthy tailbacks as the accident blocked all three lanes.
Two ambulances were called to the scene which took place on the coast-bound carriageway at the Dartford Heath junction; it is not yet known if anyone was injured or how the incident actually happened.
Kent Highways had warned motorists in the area to allow extra time for their journey as emergency services tended to the scene and highway crews cleared the area of debris.
The road was eventually re-opened at 18:45pm. This incident once again highlights the risks of driving with a caravan in tow and the need for all owners to be especially cautious when changing lanes and moving at high speeds along motorways and other major roads.
VIDEO: Bailey Australia takes British caravans Down Under
by Chris Jefferies
It’s always a heart-warming sight to see British caravans heading overseas, and with many companies now exporting to Australia, our tourers are now seen all over the world.
One such company is Bailey Australia, who are spreading the word of Alu-Tech construction to our antipodean cousins.
Although they are built in Bristol and feature the same names and layouts, there are several key differences between a British Bailey caravan and an Australian model.
In this video, we meet Adrian Van Geelen, Managing Director of Bailey Australia, who explains how the company modifies their caravans to cope with extreme weather conditions.
We also hear a bit about the punishing testing regimen that the latest Bailey ranges have been put through, including extensive off-road towing in the notoriously hostile Australian outback.
Inside Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis’ custom Airstream
by
Red-Hot Chilli Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has joined the ranks of caravanners hitting the road this summer road, after the singer took delivery of a custom-built Airstream Flying Cloud.
The restored and refurbished 1958 Airstream caravan was designed by David Winick for the star to use on his travels and it was recently delivered to his California home.
And although the star has not has not taken it to any shows yet, the ‘Road Trippin’ singer will surely be raring to hit the road, as it took a year of hard work to complete.
After waiting for such a long period of time for his pride and joy to be complete, Kiedis joked that he was happy that it was finished “before he was retired”.
With plenty of design experience under his belt, David has turned the Airstream into a stunning classic which contains a table inlaid with the initials of Kiedis’ son, vintage counters, custom cabinetry and artsy lighting.
David has previously designed caravans with all sorts of custom ideas like nostalgic kitchens and state-of-the-art sound systems, perfect for a rockstar.
With David being a famous designer amongst the stars, Kiedis is not the only rocker to join the caravanning world.
Metallica’s lead singer James Hetfield also owns a caravan created by the same David Winick, a Wee Wind trailer.
The guru Winick has also restored a 1950s Airstream for the inventor of the Energizer bunny and even customised a caravan for Tom Hanks.
The video below shows what the caravan looked like before and after the project, letting us all take a closer look at Anthony Kiedis’ Red Hot custom Airstream…
Auto-Trail secures Grade III insulation for new compact motorhomes
by Tom Walsh
Auto-Trail has received a major boost for its new range of motorhomes after receiving the Grade III classification for heating and thermal insulation.
The company is looking to launch a new series of compact leisure vehicles towards the end of July 2013 and this latest accreditation keeps the release date on the right track.
Officials explained that the models were given the NCC EN 1646-1 Grade III classification after coming through a multitude of rigorous testing scenarios.
The motorhomes were subjected to temperatures of -15 C in the state of the art Truma cold chamber facility. The goal was to ensure that even in these freezing conditions the inside of the vehicle remains at +20 C.
Auto-Trail’s vehicles were able to withstand the freezing climate and were given the highest industry standard in terms of both insulation and heating.
The firm will unveil the models for the 2014 season to journalists and dealer networks at the end of next month.
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