Sprite Caravans: A closer look at the modern new interiors

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

Caravanning with a family requires plenty of space and a practical layout. With this in mind Sprite Caravans have come up with three new layouts for their 2012 range, in the shape of the Major 4, the Major 6 and the Musketeer EB.

In this video CaravanTimes speaks to Mick France and Chris Millburn from Sprite about the redesigns, and they explain how the new layouts will ease caravan holidays and increase flexibility.

The designers also explain how the models benefit from improved Truma gas and electric heating systems.

Prices in the Sprite range of lightweight caravans start at just £12,031, and MTPLM weights range from 1,164kg to 1,571kg

Morris Leisure caravan parks teams up with Shropshire tourist attractions

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Morris Leisure has partnered a section of Shropshire’s top tourist attractions to offer caravanners staying at its sites a range of money-saving deals.

Holidaymakers visiting the firm’s Stanmore Hall, Oxon Hall Touring Park or Ludlow Touring Park will all be offered discounted access to local destinations as part of their stay.

Caravanners staying at all of the sites can get 25 per cent off an annual passport for the renowned Ironbridge Gorge Museums, which include the Coalport China Museum and the Jackfield Tile Museum.

Also featuring in the deal is the fantastic Blists Hill Victorian Town at Ironbridge, where visitors get to meet the inhabitants of a recreated century-old village that has its own shops, farm, newspaper, blacksmiths and more.

Those staying at the Ludlow park, meanwhile, will be offered a £5 no-strings voucher for the lovely Ludlow Food Centre.

Set within the Earl of Plymouth’s stunning 8,000-acre Oakly Park Estate, most of the food sold at the farm/production/shop attraction is local and much of it is made on site.

Edward Goddard, managing director of Morris Leisure, paid tribute to the tourism firms for their support.

“I think it’s an excellent example of progressive tourism businesses working together to attract more visitors to boost the economy of Shropshire,” he said.

Truma does its level best with new caravan gas cylinder tool

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A brand new futuristic product from Truma is set to make caravanning even easier, by allowing users to accurately measure how much gas they have left in their canister.

Bound to appeal to gadget fans, Truma’s product manager Nicolas Toomer explains that users hold the torch-like device against a canister and it employs ultrasound to read whether there is any gas behind that point on the cylinder.

An LED then glows green or red to say that there is or isn’t.

“This means it is very easy to establish how full the gas cylinder is. The ultrasound measurement makes it very precise and reliable,” he says.

“It is a great help when camping or enjoying outdoor activities, for example when barbequing with gas.”

The LevelCheck also works for any propane or butane canister, whether they are made from steel or aluminium. The only stipulation is that they have to measure between 200 and 350mm in diameter.

Used Caravan of the Week: 1973 Carlight Casa

Posted by

by Maeve O’Donnell

Carlight have been manufacturing caravans since the 1930s so they know a fair bit about building a ‘van to last. This week’s Used Caravan of the Week is no exception, this Carlight Casa dates all the way back to 1973.

Throughout the 1970s Carlight stuck with their ‘Classic’ design and this caravan, with its lantern shaped roof, is instantly recognisable. This Casa is perfect for anyone with a love of all things retro.

To see more images of the 1973 Carlight Casa for sale click here

The 1970s saw Carlight build their caravans with the idea of being a home from home in mind, and the emphasis was on details. Soap holders, magazine racks and cocktail cabinets were just some of the features offered to ensure no home luxuries were missed.

History

This model is the smallest of the collection at 12ft and has 2 berths. Despite this, it is surprisingly roomy for two people and manages to fit in decent living space, a well planned kitchen and compact bathroom with ease.

This vintage Casa is furnished with carpet and curtains throughout which add to its homely interior.

The seller admits one of the side windows needs repairing as there is a small crack and some of the windows have been affected by moisture. But the seller is keen to highlight that for its age it is in good shape.

Kit & Caboodle

The kitchen features include a fridge freezer, a hob, grill and oven combination and sink area. There are two full length beds/settees and considerable storage with a wardrobe and overhead lockers. The caravan also has a 12v water and lighting system to ensure life on the road is as easy as possible.

The exterior is painted in the classic white, coupled with the Carlight profile it is sure to make a statement on the road.

  • Price: £1,495.00
  • Berths: 2
  • Unladen weight: 686kg
  • Max weight: 890kg

For more information and to buy click here


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Great North Caravan & Motorhome Show coming soon

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

It was only three years ago that Catterick Caravans held its first summer show but it has quickly risen to become one of the highlights of the annual calendar.

The Great North Caravan & Motorhome Show has moved rapidly and over the May bank holiday weekend this year, for the first time, it will have the backing of the Caravan Club.

A range of great deals will be available across four days at the dealership’s flagship Leisure World outlet in Richmond, north Yorkshire, with many of the industry’s leading brands represented.

Catterick Caravans is a specialist supplier of Elddis caravans and motorhomes too, meaning that the full range of touring vehicles from the brand and its sister-make Buccaneer will be on display.

There will also be a competition to win a coveted Elddis Xplore caravan at the show.

Matthew Kinsell, commercial director of Catterick Caravans, said: “The whole show just keeps getting better and better, and we can promise a superb day out for the whole family.

“The association with The Caravan Club proves just how far we have come in such a short time.”

The Great North Caravan Show 2012 will run from Friday May 4th to Monday May 7th.

Park Resorts launch £80,000 caravan competition on ITV’s This Morning

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Breakfast television is about to get a lot more exciting for caravanners after Park Resorts launched a new competition on ITV’s This Morning.

For the next two weeks, TV audiences will be asked questions by Jeff Brazier and Alison Hammond with one winner given a static caravan worth an eye-watering £80,000.

Park Resorts are providing a top-of-the-range Willerby Meridian along with a pitch, site fees, insurance and connections, while This Morning are adding a £20,000 cash sum meaning the lucky contestant will pick up a prize worth £100,000.

A similar competition last year had the Badman family in west Yorkshire celebrating after they won a luxurious three-bedroom ABI Summer Supreme caravan.

“When the call came to tell me we had won the prize, I was in disbelief,” admitted Andrea Badman, who entered the competition.

“I’ve never won anything in my life. Park Resorts had to call back to reassure me it was genuine.”

Southland: the hidden gem in the Caravan Club’s crown

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
It’s often said that taking the ferry to the Isle of Wight is like taking a trip back in time by 25 years or so, and the quaint tea rooms, the peaceful streets and the Victorian piers all bear testament to this.
But there is nothing dated about Southland Caravan Club site, a recently renovated 155-pitch park, which may be one of the most underrated spots in the Club’s vast network.
Opened in 2009 and significantly renovated in 2010, this site offers every kind of pitch – grassy, hardstanding, hedged in, open plan, serviced – and all of them as flat level as you could ask for.
Despite the size of the site, it retains a quiet and relaxing feel, as if it’s a secret that hasn’t got out just yet.

Graham and Sue Clay, wardens at the site ever since it opened, tell me that it fits in perfectly with the general feel of the island.
“There’s very little traffic and things move at a slower pace. It’s very quiet and always very pretty in the summer months,” Sue tells me.
Holiday island
Of course the Isle of Wight has long been a popular holiday destination, thanks in part to the sheer variety of sights and scenery all found on such a small island, which is known as ‘Little England’ after all.

With all four shores within a 40-minute drive of the centrally-located Southland site, it’s possible to visit the dramatic coastline of the Needles, take in some history at Carisbrook Castle, have a top-notch cup of tea in Ryde and be back at your pitch in time for dinner.
As a non-native, Graham is very impressed by how many events the locals lay on to attract people over from the mainland, including sailing and yachting regattas, vintage car rallies and even a garlic festival at the local farm.
Closer to the site, there are various cycle routes and copse trails for more active caravanners to explore and enjoy.
Or if you’re feeling more sedentary, there’s a pub just down the road in the local village of Newchurch, while the Southland shop offers ice creams, cold drinks and other such amenities for a lazy summer’s day.

As with all Caravan Club sites, Southland welcomes dogs and doesn’t charge any owners an extra fee. However, they must be kept on a lead at all times, with the exception of the dog walk area, where they are allowed to roam free.
A recent addition to the site has seen Wi-Fi internet being rolled out last April, an addition which has proved particularly popular among visiting families and silver surfers alike.
The site also prides itself on being fully accessible for wheelchairs, with spacious shower cubicles and broad ramps included for exactly this reason.
What’s more, Southland is taking part in the Caravan Club’s ‘Pitch Up For £1’, which means that you can pay as little as a pound for your pitch on selected dates*.
Hidden gem

Part of the reason why Southland is such a quiet site lies with the added dimension of taking a caravan on a ferry.
However, this experience certainly adds to the feeling of being on holiday and Graham believes that everyone who makes the trip over to the island sees that it is more than worth the journey:
“People expect good quality of facilities at Caravan Club sites and we don’t disappoint. We pride ourselves on how well kept the site is and the feedback from visitors is fantastic.”
The bulging comments book backs up his words with superlative compliments, and I’m reliably informed by one very happy camper that this site has the best toilet and showers blocks of any site he has visited in the UK in the last ten years.
All in all, visiting Southlands is a very relaxing experience and the urge to kick back and enjoy the scenic sunset views is almost overwhelming, but sadly the ferry home beckons.
Site Fact File:

  • 155 pitches in total (including 31 hardstanding and 7 serviced)
  • Pitches available from just £1 per night
  • Members Only but non-members can join the Club at reception
  • Local village within walking distance, including pub and Norman church
  • Open this year from March 23rd to October 31st

*For more details see the Caravan Club website.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Bring the coast to you, with the Beach Hut Caravan Company

Posted by

by Maeve O’Donnell

Vintage caravans have been making a comeback in recent years and are being used across the country for holidaying, housing businesses, and now as mobile beach huts. Scott Tibble is making caravanning cool with his revamped 1960s ‘vans, each with an individual design and personality.

The Beach Hut Caravan Company was the idea of seaside lover Scott to fill the middle ground between caravans and campervans and the traditional beach hut.

After spotting a “rather sad looking caravan” being used to hold hay for a horse in a field he passed, the idea of beach hut caravans was born.

“I loved the shape of these beautiful vintage vans” said Scott, “I thought why not make the beach hut mobile again for all.”

Click here to see photos of the renovated Beach Hut Caravans

Scott has always loved beach huts but put off by the price and the fact that many cannot be slept in led him to make the beach hut mobile again and give people the chance to enjoy the coast wherever.

Beach Huts actually began their lives as mobile units, back in the more modest Victorian era when it was standard beach-side etiquette and a firm favourite of Queen Victoria.

But as time moved forward they became the static multicoloured huts we have all become familiar with. Scott’s new take on the original beach huts are bringing the coast to you, rather than the other way round.

A personal touch

Since 2011, Scott and his small team of experts have been turning 1960s caravans into the perfect spaces for a relaxed holiday, mobile office, home extension, shop front and even artist studio.

Salcombe in Devon is the home of this sea-themed business and the stunning coast line is obviously the main inspiration behind Scott’s designs and his original motivation for the business.

Each caravan is lovingly restored by Scott himself and he is happy to commission personal colour choices if the nautical blue theme isn’t for you. Each one is a bespoke unit, with electrics, cooking facilities and new deck chairs to create the perfect beach hut feel.

Scott uses recycled pine, replaces tired features and upholstery, gives them a fresh paint and then adds kitsch accessories to give these caravans a new lease of life. All the caravans get their own name, making them totally unique and ensuring each one has its own personality.

A seaside spot for all

Scott admits it is hard work but is certain it is worth it – the company have had clients from across the UK, Ireland and Europe and interest from America and Australia.

They offer delivery all over the UK if you are unable to tow it yourself, and if storage is limited they can even provide a dry and secure space in sunny Salcombe until you’re ready to holiday, work, get creative or simply enjoy some extra space.

Scott’s hope is that the space he creates can be taken by anyone and used however fits their particular lifestyle best. These huts can bring a little bit of the seaside to any home, business or holiday.

These nautical beauties can sleep 2 to 4 people, and prices start from £5,950. Contact Scott Tibble for more information on creating your very own Devon bolthole: info@thebeachhutcaravancompany.com


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Car dealer adds Elddis motorhomes to its portfolio

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

A car dealer based in Cumbria and the south-west of Scotland has become the latest firm to offer Elddis’ range of motorhomes through its showrooms.

Border Cars already represents some of the biggest vehicle franchises in the world, including Ford and Fiat, but has added Elddis to its portfolio as it looks to diversify the offering at its seven dealerships.

It also owns dealerships for Mazda and Mitsubishi, but turned to Elddis when looking to add a leading motorhome manufacturer to its list.

Head of the new BC Motorhomes division Mike Ferguson revealed that the firm decided to move into the sector after research revealed there was a gap in the local market and choosing Elddis was the most logical decision.

“Elddis motorhomes are renowned for their high quality design and exceptional build quality,” he said.

“We like the fact that Elddis motorhomes offer so much choice – a wide range of layouts, class-leading specification and really competitive prices.”

Sizzling Motorhome Summer Fair in the pipeline

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

The UK Motorhome Summer Fair Show is taking place once again this year and preparations are well underway as the event draws closer.

Taking place on the last weekend of June at the beautiful Shropshire & West Midlands Showground, caravanners and campers always head to the show in their droves to enjoy the summer sun and a great show in a wonderful setting.

The show is one of the few in the UK to offer overnight camping and pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes are available for £40.

As well as the standard array of trade shows and exhibitors, visitors can enjoy boat trips along the River Severn, a craft fair and owl display, along with evening entertainment from a Queen tribute band and the Shrewsbury Light Orchestra.

Though the show focuses on motorhomes, organisers stress that caravanners are more than welcome and people are invited to turn up from the Friday morning ahead of the show on Saturday June 30th and Sunday July 1st.

Day tickets are £5 in advance or £6 at the door.

VIDEO: Moving into motorhoming with the best-selling Elddis Autoquest

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

The world of motorhomes can be daunting for even the most experienced caravanner so it makes sense to start with a well established and trusted brand.

With this is mind CaravanTimes has travelled to Durham, the home of the UK’s leading motorhome brand, Elddis Autoquest. This range is the best selling motorhome collection in the UK, but what makes it so popular?

In this video we speak to Rob Quine, Managing Director at Elddis, who answers some vital questions for anyone looking to buy a motorhome. He also explains why Elddis has embarked on a new safety campaign called ‘Belts Equals Berths’.

Prices in the Elddis Autoquest range start at £32,599 and there is a wide range of two, four and six-berth layouts to choose from.

VIDEO: Delivering and siting your Bailey Retreat leisure home

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

The Bailey Retreat stands at nine metres long and two and a half metres wide – great if you want a bit more room, but what does this mean for the siting and servicing of your caravan?

Its larger size means the chances of towing it yourself are slim, so Caravan Times has been to Bristol to speak to Simon Howard from Bailey Caravans to find out how these larger caravans are sited.

In this video Simon also answers important questions about how the warranty works and how servicing is carried out on the Retreat.

Prices in the Bailey Retreat collection of leisure homes start from £22,000 and they are available through a nationwide network of more than 30 dealers.