Dometic teams up with Ranulph Fiennes for polar expedition

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by Jack Beresford

Caravan parts supplier Dometic UK is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming Antarctic adventure of world-famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

The veteran adventurer is taking on one of the few remaining Polar challenges left in the world this December, a voyage dubbed the coldest Journey on Earth.

Setting off later this year, a team of six researchers will board the SA Agulhas in London headed for Antarctica with the aim of becoming the first man to cros the inhospitable continent on foot during the winter months.

With extreme temperatures expected and no hope of radio contact or rescue, the group will have to make sure all of their equipment remains as reliable as possible.

That is where the Dometic WAECO CR50 comes in. Usually used in boats and motorhomes, the 50-litre compressor refrigerator will serve a unique purpose – making sure things stay warm or at least warmer than outside.

The unit will sit within a specially designed caboose that the team will use during its initial trip to the Russian Novolazareskaya base, before providing support on the subsequent journey to Captain Scott’s unit at McMurdo Sound.

“We will stretch the limits of human endurance. Britain and the Commonwealth has a strong heritage of exploration, from Captain Cook 300 years ago to the present day,” Fiennes said.

The expedition team is hoping to raise ten million dollars for Seeing is Believing – a charity set up to help fight avoidable blindness.

Bailey expands 2013 Unicorn range with Cartagena layout

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by Chris Jefferies
Bailey Caravans has added to its Unicorn Series II range of luxury caravans with a new layout, known as the Cartagena.
As with all the other models in the Bailey Unicorn Series II collection, the Cartagena is named after a Spanish city, but what makes it different is the transverse island bed layout in the rear of this twin-axle van.
Island beds are particularly popular among couples who don’t want to clamber over each other in order to get up in the middle of the night, and the transverse island bed option allows for a full-width washroom to be fitted to the rear.
Elsewhere, the specification remains exactly the same as in the rest of the Unicorn II range, with a fully-equipped kitchenette and a convertible double bed in the front lounge area.
This layout is new to Bailey, but it will come into stiff competition with the likes of the Swift Conqueror 645 and the Lunar Delta TI.
Prices and MTPLM weights are yet to be confirmed, but should come in at around £22,000 and 1,650kg respectively.
To see the Bailey Unicorn II Cartagena for yourself, head along to the Birmingham NEC from 16 to 21 October, where the entire six-layout range will be on display together for the first time as part of the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show.
Don’t forget, you can win tickets to the show in this month’s CaravanTimes’<' . strtolower('Array')> reader giveaway by clicking here.

Flooding forces Yorkshire caravan park owner to turn people away

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by Jack Beresford

The co-owner of a caravan park in East Yorkshire has been left with little option but to turn people away from his site amid concerns over potential flooding.

On Friday (28 September) officials from the Environment Agency were assessing water levels in and around the nearby River Derwent, amid concerns that water could take hold of the local area at any moment.

In particular the levels at Stamford Bridge and Buttercrambe were being assessed, having soared to notable heights earlier in the week.

Speaking to the BBC though, David Hind of the Weir Caravan Park noted that the weather was a double blow for his firm not only in terms of health and safety but also the financial impact of the problems.

“We’ve had to put people off coming [to the park] this weekend, which obviously has a detrimental effect on business,” he explained.

Mr Hind was keen to note that these problems had come at the end of a disappointing summer for caravan arrivals at the site.

Earlier this week, the Yorkshire Post reported that caravan sites at Catterick and Knaresborough had been forced to close following flood warnings.

Yorkshire artist paints Holy Island onto his caravan

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by Jack Beresford

A Rotherham-based caravan enthusiast has taken tourer customisation to a whole new level after creating an incredibly detailed landscape painting across the side of his trailer.

Stewart Platt and partner Brenda Gunning have been regular visitors to Northumberland over the years, enjoying the local tourism sights and local beauty spots on their travels up there, the Berwick Advertiser reports.

But after departing their favourite caravanning spot recently, Mr Platt hit upon the idea of immortalising the view of the nearby Holy Island at Lindisfarne.

“I love the island and everything about the area,” he told the news provider.

“I thought it would look nice on a really big canvas, but the biggest thing I had was the caravan!”

He quickly set about preparing for the big paint, heading to Beal in order to set up in the ideal spot to capture the view in all of its glory.

And while the finished article was delayed at certain points because of wind and rain, the end was result was work of true artistic beauty.

The tourer now resides in Rotherham, where it has attracted praise from locals and caravan enthusiasts alike.

To see a picture of the completed work, click here.

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Welsh caravan park facing race against time

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by Jack Beresford

The co-manager of a caravan park near Abergele in Wales has admitted that coastal erosion could see the site eventually cease to exist.

The continuing erosion of the Welsh coastline could spell the end for a caravan park situated near the cosy local setting of Abergele.

A number of barriers have previously been installed on the coastal area of the Caste Cove site, but, as North Wales Weekly reports, water has been collecting around these and is now eating into the sand dunes.

Speaking to the news provider, co-manager Sarah Rowson outlined the issue along these coastal defences.

“Where they stop [the barriers], which is at our caravan park, there is a swirl of water taking away the sand towards the sea wall.

“Eventually it’ll end up taking the sea wall and our caravans with it.”

She explained that the Environment Agency has already examined the site with a view to solving the problem. However, with time running out, Ms Rowson was keen to highlight their plight.

Recent weather conditions are unlikely to have helped things, with a number of caravan sites up and down the country closed this week amid flood warnings.

Drink-driving caravanner pays the price

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by Jack Beresford

The dangers of drinking while on a caravan trip were highlighted during a recent court hearing in Skegness.

Donna Robinson, from Northampton, had travelled to the Golden Sands site on the Lincolnshire coast in the hope of enjoying a weekend away with her family.

However, as the Louth Leader reports, the time away took a turn for the worse when the 38-year-old, who later admitted to drinking at the time, became upset after failing to locate her purse.

An argument with her family and husband ensued, at which point she decided to get into her car and drive to the front of the site, where she would then rest.

But Ms Robinson had failed to account for security staff on the caravan park, who after seeing the intoxicated 38-year-old, promptly contacted police.

Standing in court earlier this month, the defendant admitted to driving whilst unfit through drink and was banned from the roads for 12 months, receiving a fine of over £200 in the process.

The story is a stern reminder of the dangers of consuming alcohol and operating motor vehicles, something the government is particularly weary of after figures showed a rise in the number of deaths related to this last year.

COMPETITION: Win a Cadac caravan barbecue in our latest giveaway

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Update: Thanks for your entries, this competition is now closed.
by Chris Jefferies
Barbecuing is one of the most popular ways to cook dinner on a caravan site, with a recent survey showing that 39% of campers pick this as their favourite holiday meal.
With that in mind, CaravanTimes has teamed up with Towergate Insurance to offer you the chance to win one of three Cadac Safari Chef caravan barbecues in this month’s competition.
This highly versatile piece of kit allows you to cook al fresco using your gas bottles, so there’s no need to fiddle around with firelighters and charcoal.
What’s even better is that it comes with five different cooking surfaces, including a non-stick grill, a ridged griddle pan and even a wok.
To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, which is worth £60, all you have to do is fill in your details below. Don’t forget to include a valid e-mail address, so we can get in touch and tell you if you’ve won.
The deadline for competition entries is Friday 12 October – best of luck to everyone who enters.
Update: Thanks for your entries, this competition is now closed.
Competition rules:
The lucky three winners will be picked at random on the 12 October 2012 and the winner will be notified via the email supplied in the entry form
The value of the barbecue will be £59
Only one entry per person
No purchase necessary
No cash or alternative will be offered
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

Widespread rain and flooding forces caravan park closures

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by Jack Beresford

Torrential rain and widespread flooding has hit parts of the UK, forcing some caravan parks to close their doors and evacuate guests.

Flood warnings are currently in place up and down the country, with forecasts warning of yet more rain to come.

This downpour has had a direct impact on some caravan parks too, with the Yorkshire Post reporting that sites in Knaresborough and Catterick have had to close
with rising rivers placing many of the facilities underwater.

The news provider has also warned that some areas of road have become jammed with traffic, while the rail networks in the region are similarly disrupted.

A similar situation on the Fylde Coast, with one holiday park in Fleetwood already closed amid major flooding.

The emergence of these extreme weather conditions is a major setback to caravan park owners who will not only miss out on additional custom, but also face the prospect of major repair work.

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Police calls for vigilance following caravan arsons

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by Jack Beresford

Runcorn police are continuing to investigate a series of fires which left three caravans destroyed, amid strong suspicions that the blazes were started deliberately.

As the Runcorn and Widnes World reports, two tourers were set alight outside of homes in the Castle Rise and Brookfield Avenue areas of the town.

In addition to this, a caravan parked on Sewell Street was also torched, along with an empty property on Castlefields Avenue East.

Each of the incidents is believed to have taken place at sometime between 10pm and 1am over the past few weeks, with police believing that the fires are part of some wider arson campaign.

Speaking to the news provider, Runcorn Neighbourhood Policing Unit PC Tom Callow said:”Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police immediately.

“Residents with caravans parked near their home are urged to ensure any valuables are removed and to remove items such as gas canisters,” he added.

Similar reports have emerged in Brighton, where police are on the lookout for a person or group of people responsible for a number of arsons.

VIDEO: Fitting Alde heating to the lightweight Elddis Affinity

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by Chris Jefferies

Elddis Caravans claims to have made a breakthrough with its latest caravan range, as the Affinity features Alde central heating but all the models weigh less than 1,500kgs.

To find out why this is such a significant achievement, CaravanTimes has travelled to Durham to meet Alan Bateman, one of the chief designers behind this collection.

In this video, he talks us through the advantages of the Alde system, including how it helps to prevent against condensation on the windows.

He also explains why the 1,500kg weight limit was such a significant figure in the development of this range.

The Elddis Affinity range features a choice of four single-axle layouts, all of which are initially priced at £18,999

Caravan company conman jailed

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by Jack Beresford

A 45-year-old man, who stole nearly £60,000 from customers and an insurance company in his role as boss of the Plymouth Caravan Centre is preparing for life behind bars.

Shaun Cole was sentenced to 31 months in prison for his exploits, which saw him defraud both parties to the tune of £59,700, the Plymouth Herald reports.

Jason Beal, of the Crown Prosecution Service explained how Mr Cole would sell tourers on behalf of their owners, under the agreement that he took a five per cent commission on the sale price, while also charging the vendors to service the caravans.

However, once a sale was completed, Mr Cole would often neglect to tell the owners that the tourer had been sold and, instead, pocketed the cash.

And in the instances where he informed clients about the sales, he would also mislead them about the price, telling them it fetched far less and keeping the difference.

In addition to this, Mr Cole overcharged customers for servicing vehicles and in one instance told the authorities that 14 caravans had been damaged, claiming £11,000 in insurance which he then took for himself.

The defendant admitted to 13 charges of fraud and was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court.

Mr Cole’s case came as Plymouth police continue to look for answers to a recent fire that broke out aboard a tourer belong to a charity in the area.

Lincolnshire charity caravan contents taken

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by Jack Beresford

Charity organisers have been left staggered after thieves broke into a caravan used by the group and stole hundreds of pounds worth of equipment which had kindly been donated.

The tourer, which was based in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, was raided at some point on Friday night (September 20th), the Ilkeston Advertiser reports.

It had originally been purchased for the charity The Ben Parker Trust or Ben’s Den, which provides holidays for ill children and their families.

A flat screen television and Nintendo Wii games console, which had both been donated to the group, were taken along with a number of DVDs and games that had been left for communal use.

Speaking to the news provider, Tracey Parker, who set up the organisation along with her husband in memory of their son, hit out at the thieves.

“All of the sponsorship money we collect from people doing things like biking from John O’Groats to Lands End – all their hard work has been for nothing. It’s a joke,” he said.

Ms Parker is now set to invest in an alarm system worth £400 – something previously recommended by officials at the Institute of Advanced Motorists.