Win tickets to the NEC 2010 Caravan and Motorhome Show

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by Holly Tribe

With just three weeks to go until the biggest show in the caravan and motorhome calendar, Caravan Times is pleased to announce we have 15 pairs of tickets to give away to the 2010 International Caravan and Motorhome Show.

Don’t miss your chance to see all the latest 2011 models from leading manufacturers or grab an end of season bargain from one of the many dealers who will be represented over the week-long show.

Swift, Bailey, Lunar, Coachman and Elddis will all be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance. And oldtimers in the motorhome field, AutoSleeper will be there with their first ever range of caravans.

Held over six action-packed days, there will be over 250 exhibitors and a whole host of activities and events for visitors to get involved in. The Camping and Caravanning Club will be on site giving visitors the chance to take a free 15 minute caravan towing class, with expert tuition on how to tow a caravan safely and economically. There will be a Real Ale tent, farmers market and advice workshops by industry experts, and even the provision for on-site camping.

If you want to enter the competition all you have to do is submit a short review about your caravan owning experience by following the step by step instructions below. So what are you waiting for? Enter today!

The prize:

Two tickets to the International Caravan and Motorhome Show 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham 12 – 17th October 2010.

How to enter:

1. Click here for the Caravan Review Database page in our online community.

2. Share your thoughts on your current or previous caravan ownership experience by entering a short review.

3. We’ll contact you by email to let you know if you’ve won!!

Closing date: Monday 4th October. Good luck! Sorry Competition now closed!

Winners will be selected at random from all the entries received and will be notified by email no later than Wednesday 6th October

Terms and Conditions
1. The prize is one of fifteen pairs of tickets to the International Caravan and Motorhome Show, which takes place at Birmingham NEC (October 12th – 17th 2010).

2. This competition is NOT open to employees of Adfero, or any agency connected with this competition or family members of any of these organisations.

3. Only one entry per person and you must be over 18 years old.

4. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

5. The closing date for the competition is Monday 4th October 2010. The judges cannot accept responsibility for late entries. Proof of sending email or postcard is not proof of receipt of entry. No entry can be accepted if all details are not provided.

6. No cash alternative for any of the prizes.

7. Entrants acknowledge that their entries may be released or displayed to the public by caravantimes.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition and as such sign all rights necessary for promotion, publication or of such entries to caravantimes.co.uk. Winners agree to grant caravantimes.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition the right to use their name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without any additional compensation.

8. The competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Residents grounded in caravan fire drama

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There was drama in a village close to Worthing in the south of England in the early hours of yesterday morning (September 23rd) when residents were forced indoors by a caravan fire.

According to the Argus, emergency services experts were concerned by the presence of a liquefied petroleum gas canister, which was spotted close to the blaze.

They told residents in Winterbourne Way, Durrington to stay inside while the fire was dealt with.

It is believed that arsonists may have set the caravan alight at approximately 01:00 BST, which led to the mobile home being completely destroyed.

After firemen brought the blaze under control, they cooled the canister to a safe temperature, allowing residents to emerge from their homes and assess the damage.

Two detached garages also bore the marks of the flames and smoke.

The attack is the latest in a number of incidents in which caravans have been targeted.

Welsh newspaper the Denbighshire Visitor recently revealed how a man and two women required medical treatment after a separate incident in Towyn.

Caravan towers should ‘look both ways’

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by Chris Malone

Brits who regularly tow caravans should ensure they always look properly when pulling out at junctions.

According to the latest figures, failing to look properly is the most common factor in road traffic collisions.

The Department for Transport statistics show that it is responsible for 38 per cent of accidents, making it more dangerous than speeding, which was a factor in five per cent of accidents and caused 17 fatalities.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents head of road safety Kevin Clinton explained that the findings highlight the need for drivers to improve their skills.

“Failing to look properly is not just a benign bad habit – the latest figures show that it is involved in many thousands of accidents on our roads,” he said.

“However, it is a bad habit that can be overcome.”

Mr Clinton encouraged motorists to take refresher courses throughout their driving careers, which may be particularly prudent for those who regularly tow heavy caravans.

The expert added that while the UK has improved its safety record in recent years, it is still by no means perfect.

In other news, the Grimsby Telegraph has revealed that the local council has given the green light to a new caravan site being built in the area.

Caravan site near Grimsby gets green light

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Caravan enthusiasts will soon be able to enjoy fantastic views over the south bank of the Humber and Lincolnshire Wolds, it has been revealed.

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, North East Lincolnshire Council has approved plans for a new caravan park in the area.

The project would see a holiday site and tea rooms built at Ashby-cum-Fenby, which will attract thousands of visitors to the area, the newspaper claimed.

A viewpoint and picnic area will also be created next to the tearooms, which will be constructed of timber and feature a rainwater recycling system designed to make the venue more eco-friendly.

Meanwhile, the local authority has also approved a separate plan for 12 touring caravan pitches close to ten existing holiday lodges in the area.

In other news, pitchup.com recently revealed that caravanning and camping is now 78 per cent more popular than holidaying in Spain.

Skoda Superb Estate wins the 2011 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Award

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By Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

The Skoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI was named the Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2011 at an awards ceremony in London today.

Held at the Royal Automobile Club, the prestigious event is the culmination of a judging process by 10 panellists to decide the best towcars available for caravanners in this model year. Skoda’s popular Superb estate also took the top prize in its price class, and was praised by judges for its performance when towing and its renowned practicality as a family car. The awards are closely watched within the motoring industry as 38 percent of caravan owners buy new vehicles compared to just 17 percent of regular customers, and the award makes a welcome edition to any car manufacturers trophy shelf.

Watch our video feature of the awards here

The competition attracted 35 entrants this year, all of which were put through a rigorous testing process hosted by the Millbrook Proving Ground. Bailey Caravans once again provided test caravans and additional technical support during the week-long assessment.

A closely fought contest

With seven classes of prizes on offer before the overall winner is crowned, there was plenty of competition in some categories. Five of the awards are based on price bands ranging from towcars under £16,000 to those over £32,000. The additional two are granted to all-wheel drive vehicles measured by kerbweight.

In the Under £16,000 category of the two entries the Kia Venga 3 Ecodynamics 1.4 CRDi and the Skoda Fabia Elegance entered into a closely fought battle. The Kia was applauded for low emissions, but Skoda took the prize for superior handling and customers will be pleased to know this model sits in the lower insurance band.

The distinctive people carrying Fiat Doblo 2.0 MultiJet Eleganza won the best towcar under £16,000- £20,000 with judges praising the vehicle’s good stability. Meanwhile last year’s overall winner the Volkswagen Golf Match 2.0TDI was unable to seize the crown for a second time, but was still a comfortable winner in the £20,000 – £25,000 class.

Skoda took their second award of the ceremony with the Superb Estate Elegance 2.0TDi CR in the £25,000 – £32,000 class, while for those cars over £32,000 it was tough to beat the Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI BlueEfficiency Avantgarde Estate. The panel praised the socket in the neck of the towball for “unrivalled ease of connectivity” and enjoyed the “confident” handling.

In the all-wheel drive categories the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2. DI-D Juro SST “pulled away smartly with a set of smooth shifts” all the way to the Under 1800kgs award. In the over-1800kgs section the judges found the Range Rover Sport “pooh-poohed any pimple of a hill” to win the category.

The winners in full

The Caravan Club opened the awards with former five times Olympic skier, TV presenter and adventurer Graham Bell who spoke warmly of his childhood spent caravanning in Scotland in the family Eccles Amethyst while learning to ski. The floor was then taken by Danny Cobbs of the Caravan Club to announced the winners of each category:

Overall Winner

  • Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR

Under £16,000 Class

  • Winner: Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.6 TDI CR

£16,000 to £20,000 Class

  • Winner: Fiat Doblò 2.0 MultiJet Eleganza

£20,000 to £25,000 Class

  • Winner: Volkswagen Golf Match 2.0TDI 140

£25,000 to £32,000 Class

  • Winner: Skoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR

Over £32,000 Class

  • Winner: Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI BlueEfficiency Avantgarde Estate

Under 1800kgs All-Wheel Drive Category

  • Winner: Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D Juro SST

Over 1800kgs All-Wheel Drive Category

  • Winner: Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE

Caravan Times provides coverage of 28th Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2011

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by Marcus Dubois

Seasoned caravanners and novices alike will be aware of the need to match your car to the caravan for a successful towing outfit. With a wide array of vehicles on offer in today’s market, narrowing down the options can be a significant task in itself.

Fortunately for us the Caravan Club have been doing just that for almost thirty years, inviting manufacturers to enter vehicles into their Towcar of the Year awards. The annual ceremony was created to enable members of the Club to make informed decisions when choosing a towcar. In addition, the publicity around the event helps keep caravanners up to date with the latest innovations and trends in car design.

And this year Caravan Times will be exclusively reporting from the 28th Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards. We’ll be present as the winners are announced to the assembled audience at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Thursday 23rd September, and will bring interviews from those in the winners category.

A thorough test

Last year saw 17 manufacturers enter 28 vehicles into the awards, all of which were tested rigorously by the Caravan Club team. An association with leading manufacturer Bailey Caravans has allowed the Club to work with a technical support team during a week-long test at the Millbrook Proving Ground.

Each entry is examined thoroughly and fairly, from the initial scrutineering through the outfit preparation stages. The vehicles are tested during an assessment of ‘caravanability’ and through actual driving itself, where every aspect of ownership is tested rigorously to arrive at the result.

With awards in six categories, there are prizes given across the range, from both smaller family cars to off-road specialist vehicles. Last year class wins in the Competition went to the Kia Soul Shaker 1.6 CRDi; Mazda6 2.2D Estate TS2; Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD and Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE. The category awards for All-Wheel Drive vehicles above and below 1800kg went to Land Rover for its Discovery and Skoda’s Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4×4 DSG with automatic transmission.

Yet the overall winner of last year’s event challenges the theory that the best towcars are large 4×4 vehicles.

Big is not always better

The Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0 TDI was crowned Overall Towcar of the Year 2010, a worthy triumph for the best-selling family hatchback with previously unheralded towing ability. A panel of ten judges praised its great performance when pulling a caravan in a variety of situations, while lauding its well-documented practicality as a family car.

The Golf’s success sent a reminder to the caravanning community that a strong modern towcar can be found across the range of automotive vehicle classes, and that good towing need not cost a premium.

We’ll bring you the full results in each category, along with interviews, as soon as they are available.

Welsh caravanner injured in fire

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by Chris Malone

A fire on a Welsh caravan site has led to a man and two women requiring medical treatment, it has been revealed.

According to the Denbighshire Visitor, a 56-year-old male was treated for burns, while two females aged 40 and 74 suffered smoke inhalation.

The newspaper alleged that the injuries occurred when an unoccupied neighbouring mobile home at the Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Towyn was torched by arsonists.

One caravan was completely destroyed and another slightly damaged by the flames, which also damaged a gas cylinder enough to cause fire crews some concern.

However, they acted quickly to cool the container and avoid an explosion.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Russ Vaughan told the newspaper that it was likely a “deliberate ignition”.

“The caravan was close to other caravans and tents. It was lucky that the fire did not cause further damage to nearby campers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Robin Hood Holiday Park in Ryml recently hosted more than 2,000 scooter enthusiasts who were in the area for a rally, the newspaper added.

Residents evacuated in caravan park drama

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by Chris Malone

Residents at a Hampshire caravan park had to be evacuated recently when a series of explosions caused a fire at a neighbouring scrap yard.

According to the Little Hampton Gazette, 30 people were led away from the Tynefield Caravan Park in Whiteley after police and fire services were called to the area in the early hours of the morning.

The blaze is being treated as suspicious and officers are reportedly working hard to make the area safe for the residents to return.

Chief inspector Will Schofield told the newspaper that it is believed the fire may have been started from a burning vehicle that was driven onto the site.

“The scene remains closed currently to allow us to carry out our investigation but we are aiming to get it open as soon as possible to allow people living in the caravan site to return to their homes,” he said.

In other news, Wigan Today has reported that arsonists targeted a caravan in the Bryn area on Saturday (September 18th).

Caravan insurance importance underlined by dishonest drivers

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be Chris Malone

The case for caravan insurance has been strengthened by recent figures showing that a large proportion of Brits would simply drive off if they had a prang with a parked vehicle.

With campsites sometimes forcing motorists to manoeuvre in tight spaces, the odd bump may be a foregone conclusion.

However, research from Accident Exchange showed that approximately one-fifth of drivers who have hit a parked vehicle fled without leaving their details.

The study revealed that approximately 700,000 incidents involving parked vehicles occur each year and that 18.5 per cent of motorists simply drive off.

However, an honest 56 per cent of the motorists at fault contact the owner of the other vehicle directly, while 20 per cent left a note on the windscreen.

Accident Exchange spokesman Lee Woodley explained that such accidents cost the insurance industry more than £1.2 billion each year.

“It’s therefore appalling to think that £169 million of that figure has to be picked up by the innocent motorist’s own insurance policy,” he said.

In other news, Haven Holidays recently suggested that its caravan parks were perfect bases for a fishing holiday.

Green tax could hit caravan owners with rising petrol duty

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by Holly Tribe

Those who take regular caravan holidays could find themselves out of pocket if proposals on further taxation of motorists are implemented.

In a move which could see petrol prices rocket, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has suggested ten per cent of government revenue should come from green taxes within the next five years.

This would require increasing the current revenue raised by environmental levies from £35 million to £50 million annually, according to the Daily Telegraph – the equivalent of £800 per tax payer.

Carbon duty

The majority of cash generated from green taxes currently comes from petrol duty, around £26 billion a year. Mr Huhne, who addressed the Liberal Democrat Autumn conference on Monday didn’t specify where the extra revenue would come from, but insiders’ confirmed it was more than likely that a substantial proportion would be funded by ‘carbon duty’ affecting motorists.

The environmental levies would subsidise cuts to income tax paid by earners on lower salaries. But speculators have warned that if the majority of this cash is raised from fuel duty motorists can expect to pay an extra 30p a litre at the pumps, pushing the price above the £1.50 mark.

In defence of the initiative Mr Huhne told the paper: “Green taxes [make] so much sense in the current financial climate, and whatever we do with the revenue, green taxes help us meet our climate targets and our environmental goals.

“Furthermore, all the evidence is that the green tax switch is popular as long as people can see the extra revenue being used to cut other taxes”.

Caravanning: the greener option

However, a rise in petrol prices would penalise motorists and holidaymakers travelling within the UK. Caravanning is proving to be a greener option for holidaymaker and far less damaging to the environment than travelling overseas via short haul flights. Researchers from Lancaster University recently discovered an overnight stay at a caravan park for two produced just 4kg of CO2 compared to half a tonne produced when flying a couple to Spain and back.

Caravanning has provided millions of families with a cost effective way of enjoying vacations and encourages domestic tourism by providing low cost holiday options. Mr Huhne went on to tell the BBC Radio 5 earlier today he would encourage drivers to use electric vehicles, which could be financially subsidised by the government.

Would a rise in petrol prices stop you caravanning as much? Have your say in our forum topic here.

Park Holidays expects strong winter after record summer

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by Chris Malone

Such is the popularity of caravanning at the moment that one holiday park operator is expecting a busy winter to follow what has been a record-breaking summer.

Park Holidays UK has enjoyed a strong start to the year and has predicted that the end of 2010 will provide more good fortune.

Having recently announced an investment package covering all 25 of its parks in southern England, the firm was delighted to reveal that customer demand has risen by ten per cent in comparison to last year’s figures.

Director Tony Clish explained that the new investment is designed to make the parks an even more attractive proposition for caravanners and help the company continue its success.

“Much of the work we have scheduled has clearly been dependent on gaining planning consent – and I’m delighted that our applications have been meeting with a generally positive response,” he said.

Mr Clish added that local authorities are generally keen to support the caravan industry as they know that the parks help bring revenue to the local economy.

Meanwhile, Bourne Leisure recently revealed that it had paid out millions of pounds in dividends after its caravan park businesses enjoyed a strong year of trading.

Welsh gypsy caravan site could be revamped

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by Chris Malone

A gypsy caravan site in Wales’ Powys could be set for a revamp if the project is given the green light by local councillors.

According to BBC News, there are plans to refurbish pitches and provide five new amenity buildings for residents, who would be asked to pay an extra £25 a week to help supply the shortfall in funding.

The Welsh Assembly has already earmarked £970,696 for the scheme, with the rest to be made up from the increased rental payments.

However, things will have to move quickly as the grant will have to be spent by February 2011, so the site is relying on the council approving the project.

“Without this funding the site cannot be re-developed and Powys will remain in breach of its duty to provide a suitable gypsy and travellers’ caravan site,” a Powys Council report read.

The local authority said earlier this year that it wished to almost double capacity at the site and currently collects just over £16,000 per annum in rent.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that the firm which owns Butlins and Haven Holidays has paid out millions of pounds in dividends after a strong year.