Advice for first-time caravan buyers

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By William Coleman

Buying your first leisure vehicle is quite a big decision, with many factors that can influence the final choice. Let us help guide you through this process and remove any looming questions you may have.

The world of caravans, motorhomes and campervans is a large and varied one, which can be quite daunting when you first enter it. There are a lot of choices to make, starting with what type, layout and colour you like. Once you’ve solved that initial mystery you’re then faced with the trickier stuff like weight, MLTPM (maximum technically permitted laden mass) and the question of whether your current car will be able to tow your chosen caravan.

It seems like a heck of a lot of things to try and figure out all at once. With these tips, you should have all the questions ready to ask your dealer and have enough information to do some independent research ahead of opening your wallet.

Questions to ask when buying a caravan for the first time

Can my car tow a caravan?

Depending on your budget, the best advice is to look at your current vehicle and then see what van best suits what you already have. Doing this will save you a lot of time when it comes to what size and weight caravan to look at.

Not all cars are suited for towing so have a good look at what you currently own. Make sure, unless you’re going to buy a new tow car, that your current vehicle is up to the task.

Another aspect to look at is the combined weight of your tow car and caravan. If you passed your driving test after 1997 and don’t have a B+E grade on your licence, you won’t legally be able to drive a setup over 3500kg. This limits your options quite a bit, so it may be worth looking into additional driving courses once you’ve found your feet with towing.

What weight and berth?

Once you’ve determined whether your car is capable of towing a caravan, you’ll be looking for leisure vehicles under a particular weight. The average weight of a caravan is around 1300kg, but this doesn’t account for any personal belongings when setting off on a holiday. How confident you feel when driving and the size you require will further narrow down your choice.

The construction type and the materials your caravan is made from will also affect the towing weight. The higher the berth, generally the higher the weight, as you get more van to sleep and move around in.

In today’s market, a lot of manufacturers are building larger vans, with a higher berth capacity, at a much lower weight to ensure younger holidaymakers can get better vans at these lower towing weights.

What is the van for, and how often will it be used?

It’s very tempting to go and buy the biggest and best caravan or motorhome you can get your hands on. But, in reality, do you need all that leisure vehicle if it will only be used a handful of times a year? The answer is probably no, so why not spend some time looking at why you want a van and how it will be used?

Being honest with yourself at this stage is going to be extremely beneficial. Is this purchase going to be a family van that will be used on half-terms and bank holidays? Or will the van be taken away twice a year?

Once you have these questions answered you’ll have a much better understanding of what you need, then you can match a van to your needs and look at different price brackets.

New or second-hand?

Do you remember when you were first learning to drive and had your heart set on that brand new car down the road at the local forecourt? Then your mum and dad turn up with a very old, just MOT-able car that saw its best years before you were born. This was a wise lesson as we all trashed our first car.

Should you apply the same life lesson when looking at a new caravan or motorhome? This is a yes and no answer, but we’d say buying second-hand when first touring is the safest bet.

If you go to an approved dealer you can walk away with a fantastic second-hand model that’s just like new. This will save you some money and you can try the lifestyle without spending top dollar on a new van.

There are times when people have been on caravan holidays with friends and family and loved it. They then go and buy a van and realise they much prefer to be a guest on these trips than an active tourer.

You could also try before you buy – another great financial decision. Nowadays there are so many different rental options where you can spend a few hundred pounds on a trial run before making the big purchase.

Final thoughts and advice

Do your research! We cannot stress this enough. Consider all makes, models and sizes to find exactly what suits your needs and budget. The last thing you want to do is put a large deposit on a van and then change your mind.

Forums and other social media channels can be useful for answering common questions. If in doubt, you can discuss your needs with a caravan club or a local dealership. Most dealers are more than happy to help you rather than shove sales tactics down your throat.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Tow car of the Year 2021

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By William Coleman

This year the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s tow car testing was a little different from what we were used to. We took part in the virtual judging to bring you the best tow vehicles on the market.

Each year the Club goes to extreme lengths to assemble a crack team of tow car judges to spend a week at the Millbrook test course, where they drive dozens of top-class vehicles and decide which one is the king of towing. 2020 marks the 38th edition of the annual testing and the first-ever virtual version.

We were unable to test at the Millbrook site as the Club felt it was a better option to host virtual judging. Our very own Dan Cartwright was a judge once again this year and found that virtual judging was surprisingly insightful and enabled him to look at each vehicle from a different point of view.

Taking this year’s top spot, in spectacular towing fashion, is the Skoda Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG. This is the second win for Skoda in the past three years, with the world-class Skoda Kodiaq taking the 2018 award. We tested the Kodiaq around Europe for three weeks and it is easy to see why Skoda keeps taking home the gold.

We know just how valuable these awards are and the information passed on by judges gives buyers the details they need to be confident when purchasing their next, or even first, tow car.

On top of that, the feedback is also given to manufacturers who take it away and see how the info can help them cater better to the touring world. Over the past four decades, the feedback from this testing has been taken on board by a lot of manufacturers, and we’ve seen these changes implemented in the following years to the cars submitted.

The 40 entrants were put into caravan weight categories – they are usually listed by price – to make it easier for buyers to know which cars could tow their caravans. Cars were entered into classes using their 85 per cent kerbweight figure or by their towing limit, whichever was the lower. The competition had seven weight classes, as well as Pick-up, Alternatively Fuelled, and two Family Tow car categories.

The entrants were then matched with caravans from Bailey of Bristol’s 2021 range with virtual loads, both in the car and the caravan, ensuring the vehicle’s other weight limits were not exceeded.

Nick Lomas, director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “Caravan holidays have never been more popular and it’s important to the Club to make sure we provide relevant information to our members – and all those interested in touring and towing. The Club, with its 110-plus years of experience, has worked with respected industry colleagues and journalists, all of whom are themselves caravanners, to bring together this invaluable set of data and information.”

Category winners

Overall Caravan and Motorhome Club Tow car of the Year 2021: SkodaSuperb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

Skoda is a regular in the ‘Tow car Top 3’ and this year’s Superb appears to be no exception. You can’t go wrong with one of these. If you want a large estate, the Superb has to be on your shortlist.

Caravan Weight Under 1100kg: Renault All-New Captur

Caravan Weight 1100-1200kg: SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150

Caravan Weight 1200-1300kg: SkodaOctavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

Caravan Weight 1300-1400kg: Skoda Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

Caravan Weight 1400-1500kg: Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav

Large Family Tow car: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG

And here are the new category winners

Caravan Weight 1500-1700kg & Alternatively Fuelled: Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design

Caravan Weight Over 1700kg & Family Towcar: Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design

Pick-Up: Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic

Is 2021 going to be a new age for the caravan holiday?

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By William Coleman

Every few years the caravan holiday goes through a resurgence and the industry experiences a surge in popularity. With so many global factors in place, is 2021 going to be the boom of all booms for the UK staycation?

Ever since the Brexit vote in 2016, the love for the caravan and camping holiday has grown each year. This could be because of the vote, or just pure coincidence. Whatever the reasons are for the upswing, we’re glad it’s happening.

This year saw another large issue impact the caravan holiday; yes, it’s Covid. Due to travel restrictions, anxiety and a general unease of going abroad, the masses have been flocking to sites, parks and leisure vehicle dealers across the UK.

Now that so many people have experienced just how fun and varied a staycation can be, site bookings for next year are already through the roof.

The question we’re asking is, has the combo of Brexit and Covid put the caravan market in an extremely strong position?

In the UK, the caravanning industry contributes more than £9.3 billion to holiday parks and campsites every year. It currently employs over 130,000 people across the UK and next year’s numbers may be even higher. With so many jobs being lost at the moment, this rise in employment could be just what the doctor ordered.

Has the travel industry priced itself out?

A few decades ago, it was financially unfeasible for a family of four to hop on a plane and spend a week in Spain. Then there was a period when overseas travel became an option for everyone. Fast forward to the present day and it’s once again become extremely expensive to take the kids abroad.

It seems as though the travel industry set a rod for its own back and slowly started to outprice loyal customers. Not to mention how the masses feel about the school holiday price hikes, which is daylight robbery at its finest.

Add to that the uneasy feeling of how Brexit will change the way we travel, sprinkle the events of 2020 on top and you have the perfect recipe to keep us all home for our holidays.

However, this can only be a good thing for all aspects of the UK economy, not to mention the much needed financial boost for sites and parks.

An area with a high-quality caravan park can be an extremely important part of a local financial ecosystem. We know many businesses that get continual repeat custom due to a local caravan park or resort and rely heavily on this holiday trade.

Come 2021, the world will look very different than it did from the same time a year prior. With such high demand for holidays, leisure vehicles and all manner of outdoor living equipment, it’s a safe bet that our staycation tourism industry is going to be strong.

Not only will this pump a lot more money into our own economy, it will also mean holiday abroad spend will now be kept in the UK. It was estimated back in January of this year that £27 billion of abroad spend would be kept in the UK. What will it be next year, with all the changes?

Looking at the trends online

Numbers do not lie and Google has some astonishing data showing just how popular the caravan holiday has become.

Data collected through Google search trends revealed that the topics “caravan” and “camping” have been at their highest this year. Furthermore, in July 2020, the data also showed that interest was 56 per cent higher than it was in the previous year (July 2019).

When we look at this data more closely, we can see that those who were searching online for these terms were also asking questions such as, “when will caravan parks open?” and “how are caravan parks responding to Coronavirus?”.

Alongside this, there was a huge spike in interest for queries such as, “caravan for sale”, “caravan holidays”, and “caravan insurance”.

The Future of caravanning

According to the National Caravan Council, it is estimated there are around 555,000 touring caravans, 365,000 caravan holiday homes and a further 255,000 motorhomes currently in the UK. However, with the pastime becoming a more viable and appealing option to people residing within the UK, it could be suggested this number will gradually begin to rise.

In fact, caravan accessory company, Motor Movers Direct has seen first-hand the rise in demand for the products they sell.

A spokesperson for the company, said: “Over the last few months, we have seen a rising demand for caravan and motorhome accessories, which suggests to us that there has been an even greater demand for the vehicles themselves. Many of these customers have been first-time buyers, just beginning their journey into the world of camping and caravanning.”

Get covered and get protected

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By William Coleman

Using a cover for your caravan, or motorhome is a method that should be employed by all responsible owners who want to get more mileage out of their leisure vehicle. A cover can be used for both towing and storage, so you will get your money’s worth from the moment you purchase one.

Imagine saving up all those hard-earned pennies, travelling to your dealer, buying a caravan, towing it for the first time and then seeing a nice big chip or crack on one of the panels or windows. This happens more often than you’d think and can be easily avoided by something as simple as a cover.

Like most aftermarket purchases, covers come in all shapes, sizes and qualities and it’s wise to invest well when it comes to protecting your leisure vehicle. As the saying goes, buy cheap and you’ll end up buying twice.

Despite the gargantuan amount of protection a cover provides, you still see an awful lot of vans being both towed and stored without one attached.

If you are in two minds on whether you should splash out on a cover, we have a few essential reasons why you really should.

Stored at home safely.?

If your caravan is stored on the drive or down the side of the house it should be safe, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case and can sometimes actually be quite a bad idea.

Over the years, countless caravans have been stolen from front doorsteps all across the UK, many of which without covers.

First and foremost a cover can deter would-be thieves. The time it takes to remove a cover, not to mention the noise and effort, does not make for a very swift getaway. This alone makes a cover very much worth its weight in gold.

The same logic applies for vandalism as caravans are still very much a victim of pointless and random attacks. It’s a simple case of, out of sight out of mind.

Stay safe from the elements

A van’s life can sometimes be tough, so you should do all you can to keep it safe and sound when in storage.

From the end of October to the beginning of March, the majority of leisure vehicles are not in use and are either kept at home or at a storage facility. Either way, you should still cover it up.

One day before the February show this year, a CaravanTimes team member lost the roof to their house during a storm and their home flooded, so imagine what a storm of that scale could do to a defenceless caravan?

With the weather seemingly getting worse each year, it is more than likely that stored caravans will start to bear to the brunt of it.

Water ingress and storm damage can be reduced by using a good cover. It will also prevent the wind from throwing stones, leaves and all manner debris directly against the van.

Another point worth mentioning is how filthy the exterior of the van can get during the winter months. Nobody wants to clean the van two to three times just to remove the layer of grime mother nature has provided.

Protection on the move

Roads can sometimes be very tricky to navigate when you have a caravan hitched up. It is our firm belief that those who tow are perhaps some of the safest drivers on the road, but poor road conditions and other drivers are where the dangers come from.

Debris is enemy number one when it comes to towing, especially on A-roads and motorways. Chips, dings and dents on a caravan tend to occur while driving and are very much unavoidable.

If your caravan is well wrapped, it will provide a layer of protection between road shrapnel and precious cargo. This will also stop the caravan from becoming a squashed-bug graveyard. Nobody wants to spend their first hours on-site removing bug body parts!

Club driving courses launched for 2021

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By William Coleman

2021 is just a few short weeks away and it’s already shaping up to be one hell of a year for the touring world. Ahead of the new season, why not brush up on your towing and manoeuvring skills with the Caravan and Motorhome Club?

This year the majority of caravans, motorhomes and campers have been stored more than usual, meaning owners have spent less time behind the wheel sharpening their driving skills. A quick refresh may not be the worst idea, seeing as the UK driving holiday will be a very popular option come the new year.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have launched its 2021 driving courses, which will operate under the Club’s COVID-Secure measures. These brand new practical training courses will run across 13 locations in the UK. There is also a new partnership in place with Go!Driving, which is offering B+E driving licence courses and tests.

These training courses have been run by the Club for well over 40 years, so you know you’re in good hands. They have been designed specifically to give tourers additional peace of mind and give confidence to those towing or driving a motorhome for the first time. Over the past four decades, over 55,000 participants have benefitted from the courses.

If you are interested in taking part in these training courses, they will be running from February to October. The caravan and motorhome manoeuvring courses both take less than seven hours, while the Practical Caravan Manoeuvring course for people who are completely new to caravanning is completed within ten hours split over two days.

Training courses include:

  • Manoeuvring advice
  • Hitching and towing safely
  • Straightforward safety checks
  • Understanding the laws that affect caravanning and motorhoming
  • Practice in manoeuvring an outfit forwards and backwards
  • Understanding loading and how it affects towing

The courses are priced as follows:

Practical Caravanning Course – £189.00
Caravan Manoeuvring Course – £159.00
Motorhome Manoeuvring Course – £189.00

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this excellent range of courses to new and seasoned tourers alike, as we know everyone is excited to get back out on the road next year.

“These COVID-Secure courses provide great value for money and mean that people have the confidence to relax and enjoy their touring adventure with real peace of mind.”

The Christmas season has officially started in Somerset

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By William Coleman

The end of the national lockdown is here and a family-run Somerset park is pulling the Christmas crackers in celebration as they officially kick off the 2020 festive season.

The Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park has now officially reopened and the owners are planning to make it Britain’s most Christmassy place to stay.

The Betton family has run the multi-award winning park for over 20 years. This Christmas, Keith Betton is expecting the site’s festive display to be more hotly anticipated than ever (a sentiment we agree with, having seen the large number of houses going all out with their decorations this early into December).

As of now, both Bath city and Chew Valley are in Tier 2, which alongside the park’s COVID-secure gradings by the AA and Visit England, provides assurance for guests wanting to enjoy a Christmas break.

Looking forward to welcoming guests, Keith said: “Visitors bring their motorhomes and caravans from across the country to join in the festive fun and great atmosphere.

“We even hold a competition for the best-decorated unit, and some guests go to amazing lengths to outshine their neighbours in a spirit of friendly rivalry.

“This year will definitely top last Christmas, as we now have two luxury lodges for hire, which will be decked inside and out with all the sparkle of the season.”

Following the end of July’s lockdown, business at Bath Chew Valley has been monumental, despite running at a lower capacity to ensure social distancing measures were followed.

Those looking for a quieter stay will enjoy this site as it is an adult-only park, which is spread over four acres of pristine landscaped grounds that feature dog exercising areas and a woodland conservation trail.

Following a month of staying home, Keith firmly believes his site is the perfect remedy for post-lockdown holiday anxieties. With an abundance of fresh air, woodland and closeness to nature, you’ll find all you need to clear your head and get back to being outside and having great holidays.

“We have many bookings now for Christmas, the New Year and well into 2021, so we are naturally very optimistic about the long-term prospects for the park,” commented Keith, who also serves as a director on the board of the Best of British caravan, camping and holiday parks group.

“Everyone here is dreaming of a bright Christmas, and we can’t wait to see guests arrive and set up their units!”

As 2020 draws to a close, it’s important to start looking at the small things we can all do to remove the likely shadow this year will leave, and slowly get back to normality. Go to sites, enjoy nature, stay safe and, most of all, do your best to enjoy the world we have.

Pro-Tec Covers talk winter storage and caravan protection

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By William Coleman

A caravan cover is an essential part of a caravan inventory and can protect your leisure vehicles from more than just the elements. Pro-Tec Covers will ensure your van stays safe in both storage and transit.

We’ve all pulled up on-site and pitched up only to find the caravan covered in a layer of squashed bugs, dirt and debris. One major issue having no cover can create is chipped windows. Not only do you have to clean the van on site, but you also have to check the van over for further damage that can sometimes lead to the van needing immediate repair.

With a good quality cover, you can remove a large part of these potential nightmare scenarios, not to mention saving a shed load of cash down the road.

You can buy a cover off the shelf or order a generic one online, but you run the risk of it not fitting or ending up with a poor quality one. To avoid all that wasted time and money, you should look into investing in a Pro-Tec caravan cover.

Not only are they handmade right here in the UK but the technology used for these covers has been developed in the UK too, Scotland to be exact.

We spoke with Nicole Topham from Pro-Tec to find out more about the covers and how best to use them for storage and travel.

CaravanTimes: It has been a while since we caught up with Pro-Tec, and we won’t be seeing the team at the February NEC show. So, how has Pro-Tec been this year?

Nicole: Fortunately we are one of the lucky businesses that were able to stay open through both our national lockdowns this year. The majority of our staff did go on furlough, but we remained open and manufacturing with a small team.

Alongside making covers, we dedicated part of our manufacture towards making PPE for the NHS during this period. As the year progressed we steadily got busier, our staff members slowly came off of furlough and we went full steam ahead to get our orders manufactured for all our new and existing customers.

The increase in people getting into ‘staycation’ holidays really had an impact on our business and orders – definitely keeping us busy through these uncertain times!

CaravanTimes: There has been a huge increase in newcomers to the world of caravan and motorhome holidays. Would you advise new leisure vehicle owners to invest in a cover?

Nicole: We would definitely recommend investing in both a storage cover and front towing cover when purchasing a caravan or motorhome, as it is protecting your investment.

However, we would always advise any customer to do their research before making a purchase. We know there are a lot of online forums and friendly experienced caravan and motorhome owners who are always happy to advise newcomers to the community who are seeking information on protecting their vehicle.

CaravanTimes: What are the benefits of having a Pro-Tec cover?

Nicole: The fabric we use to manufacture our covers is exclusive to us and designed with vehicle protection in mind. Our fabric, which we call ‘CaravanShield’ is manufactured by a company in Scotland, and not only is it waterproof and UV-stabilised, it is also highly breathable.

This breathability ensures you will not encounter any issues with condensation build up on your vehicle. The fabric we use also has a non-abrasive inner lining, ensuring that no damage will occur to your windows or paintwork when using our covers.

Not only is our fabric manufactured in the UK, but from start to finish, all of our covers are made in house in our factory in Bradford, West Yorkshire – so you can be assured not only are you supporting a small UK business with your purchase, but you are also supporting the British manufacturing industry.

CaravanTimes: Your covers are quite different from what can be bought off the shelf. What makes your covers so unique?

Nicole: Unlike off the shelf covers, our pro-tec covers are fully bespoke to each make and model of caravan or motorhome. This means we can tailor both our covers and service to ensure any requirements for the covers are met.

All of our full storage covers come with door access for your habitation door, and allowance for any external items such as TV aerials, bike racks etc. We can also add clear panels for solar panels, or additional access points if these are required by our customers.

Every one
of our storage covers also come with our exclusive Easy-Fit system that is only available on a Pro-tec cover. This Easy-Fit system means it is far easier to fit your cover no matter how big your vehicle. You simply roll up the rear panel of the cover, and walk the cover from the front of your vehicle to the back using the extending poles provided and then secure the straps underneath.

CaravanTimes: Storage is very much on people’s minds at the moment. Is a cover essential for storage?

Nicole: If you are storing your caravan/motorhome outdoors it is definitely beneficial to have a cover. Not only does having a cover protect your vehicle from condensation, rain and UV, it also keeps your vehicle clean so you’re not spending precious time cleaning your vehicle before your trips when you could be off and away on your holidays.

Covers can also act as an extra level of security against theft or vandalism. Some storage sites also require that your vehicle has a cover on to store your vehicle, so this is also something to consider.

To find out more about Pro-Tec and its unique and bespoke covers, check out its website here?.

Tow car Review: Ford Puma ST-Line X

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By William Coleman

Tow cars come in all different shapes and sizes. Some people like a large 4×4, some like an estate car, and then there’s those who opt for a saloon model. Well, how about a 1.0 Ecoboost hybrid Ford Puma?

When browsing which tow car we’d like to get our hands on, we were looking at Audi, Land Rover, Volvo and various other common towing vehicles. One of the CaravanTimes team then suggested we see how a smaller engine car does, as we will soon have lots of people with a post-1997 licence hitching a caravan to their car.

Seeing as the future of motoring seems to be headed towards the hybrid and electric vehicle sector, we thought we’d try a lightweight eco-friendly tow car and test just what a low CC engine can do with a caravan attached.

There will be a lot of people who would never look at a Ford Puma as a tow car, due to its size and engine capacity. After putting the Puma to the test we were surprised at its performance and just how well it handled towing a caravan.

It’s models like this that may one day become the backbone of towing. Either that or UK driving licences need to change their weight allowances. What do you think is more likely, a law change or everyone who passed their driving test after 1997 taking, and passing, a B+E course? It seems as though lighter cars may be the logical option for future towing holidays.

Driving and handling

When reviewing a tow car, especially one of this size, it’s important to look at both towing and day-to-day driving. Most people use the same car for towing and commuting unless they’re lucky enough to have one vehicle for each. So let’s look at how the Puma handles without a van attached.

Ford’s smaller vehicles like the classic Fiesta and the ever-reliable Focus are extremely popular options across the UK. From the first time cars all the way to family and tow vehicles, Ford does it all. So where does the Puma sit?

For a one-litre model, the Puma really does pack a punch and people will be surprised at just how speedy this car is. You can quite easily get up to 30+ miles an hour and not even realise it. That’s the ST kicking in.

The six-speed manual gearbox provides 152 bhp with a top speed of 124mph, which is impressive for an engine of this size. On a full tank of petrol, depending on your driving style, you will get around 563 miles out the 42-litre fuel tank. That number is combined with the hybrid side of the engine too.

When driving, you will feel just how well the Puma sticks to the road. The manoeuvring is spot on, but being so lightweight we’d expect nothing less. Having driven a Focus, KA, Fiesta and even a Ford Mustang, the Puma is one of the smoother drives out of them all.

One thing we were not keen on is the position of the gear stick, it felt far away and out of place. At times we found ourselves searching for the gear stick as it was not placed in a natural position where you’d find it on most cars or vans.

Aside from the oddly placed gear stick, our driving time was good. We especially enjoyed the miniature tank feel that the Puma has. If you like a fun smaller car that is economic to run and looks great then the Puma should be on your list.

Towing and loading

The Puma’s kerb weight is 1280kgs, so it is definitely one of Ford’s lighter models and is perfect for anyone who wants to tow a much smaller van.

With this tow car, you have a towing limit of 1100kg with a laden caravan attached. So you are quite limited to what type of caravan you can tow. For example, Bailey’s smallest van range is the Discovery, which comes in at 995kg, so you are not too far away from your limit with small entry-level vans.

If you want a larger touring caravan like a Swift Sprite Alpine 4, which has a MTPLM of 1218kg, you’ll need to look at a different tow car.

Towing smaller vans with the Puma is not going to be too much of an issue, but you may see high revs when going uphill. The engine copes well with the extra weight and at times the towing feels effortless. It is only when you start to face inclines you really see the limits of the Puma as a towing vehicle.

Interior, exterior and gadgets

This is a compact SUV and it looks like someone took a 4×4 and shrunk it down to a hatchback size. The shape and design is great and has all the modern trademarks of Ford. This is a vast improvement on previous models.

All of Ford’s ST models have a plush interior and can look a little boy racer-ish. These more modern cars are not as flamboyant as the ST models of 2005-2008.

It does have a lot of style inside and the flat-bottomed leather steering wheel and bucket seats with lumbar adjustment are both smart and comfortable.

If you like gadgets then you’ll love this car! The more we used the Puma the more we found. There’s even a wireless charging pad for your phone!

The stereo system has everything you need from Apple CarPlay to voice control and heating options.

Ford is known for its high-quality safety features and there are lots of these on board the Puma. The pre-collision assist works well and is not overly sensitive, and the autonomous emergency braking system could help you get out of incidents caused by other drivers.

Verdict

The Ford Puma is not your everyday tow car due to its size and weight limitations. It does very much have its place in the towing world, as it may serve the younger staycation lovers out there.

As we mentioned, there is a whole generation of caravan lovers who cannot legally tow a set up of over 3500kgs so these small cars and lighter caravans will be a big part of the leisure industry in years to come.

When the times comes for the younger generation to take over the towing world, the Puma should be a front-runner as Ford has made a great smaller towing car.

It’s an extremely fun car to drive but for bigger caravans, the Puma simply will not do the job.

Campervan Review: The Ford Nugget

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William Coleman

Ford’s newest camper model is here and it’s loud and proud. Can the oddly named Nugget provide stiff competition to the Volkswagen California, or is it just another in a long line of van-converted mobile homes?

Some say the Ford custom campervan will always play second fiddle to the VW models, but the Nugget may start to change minds due to its size and comfort. This may not be a new van but this generation is very different from its predecessors.

When writing this review, we will do our best to not compare the Nugget to the VW California, but at times it is hard not to as they are both front runners in this market and direct competitors.

The Transit Custom Nugget is quite costly, starting at £63,334 on the road or £66,424 with all the bells and whistles, and there are other brands out there that produce something similar for around £8-£10k less. When it comes to what you get for your money, you are going to see the extra value the Nugget provides, making that additional spend very much worth it.

The minibus-based camper has a lot of great features, both inside and out, and a few small elements that were not amazing. The design and build quality is exceptional and throughout the van you will see just how solid all of Ford’s camper components are. Let’s have a delve into what you can expect from the Nugget.

Exterior

The Nugget’s appearance does not scream out ‘leisure vehicle’, which is a good thing as it works perfectly as both a touring and day-to-day camper. What you do see when you look at it is a very smart, well-designed van that is much in line with the modern look of everyday cars, trucks and 4x4s.

On the exterior, the Nugget benefits from a new modern facelift and grille, which make it look smart and sporty.

The UK version of the Nugget features two sliding side doors that, when opened, make the van airy, bright and very easy for a family of four to hop in and out. There are times where you have just one side door on a camper and you find yourself lining up in an orderly fashion to enter and exit the vehicle – not the best when you have the kids with you.

You will find the awning on the driver’s side of the van, pretty normal for UK campers, as well as the two awning poles. Once set up you can see just how trendy-looking this new Ford is. Dare we say it is better looking than the California?

Around the exterior chassis, there are front and rear parking sensors and a perimeter alarm. We found the perimeter sensors to be a tad over-sensitive and at times they seemed to go off when crawling through slow traffic. This was off-putting and when driving at speed could make you jump a bit as they seem to alert out of nowhere.

Interior

One part of this new model that we really like is just how different the layout is for a camper of this size. Ford has very much moved away from the traditional campervan layout and has made fantastic use of a bench seat and rear kitchen set up.

Having the kitchen at the rear means that the bench seat slides down into a double bed without having to use the two cab seats. The long-wheelbase provides so much space inside that you feel very separate from the different areas onboard.

The separation of the cooking and living area means that the two rear barn doors give you the ease of access to the kitchen, with its 40-litre fridge and storage lockers. You can prepare and cook your food without being in the middle of the van and having to manoeuvre around the family.

The front cab does not feel like a transit van – think more modern 4×4. The only drawback we found was just how fiddly the swivel seats are. Depending on your chosen seating position when driving, you may have to totally rearrange the seating to be able to spin the chairs. We can see this annoying a few people.

When the sun goes down the LED interior lighting keeps the van well lit, especially with the fully directional spot lamps.

Internal power points are plentiful: three 340V and 300W sockets, two 12V plugs and then two USB ports. You will not have any issues with charging gadgets while using the kettle and toaster.

In the cab, you have a large screen to control media, maps, radio and music. As always the Apple CarPlay came in handy for both maps and music.

Day and night living

As mentioned above, the rear kitchen frees up a ton of space in the middle of the van. With the two front cab seats spun round and the dining table set up, you can comfortably seat four and still move around the entirety of the van.

Like most camper owners, you’re probably not going to be spending the whole day in the van, as they tend to be for more exploration trips than lazy ones. Despite that trend, you can spend a lot of downtime in the Nugget as the space is there to do so.

This is a four-berth model with two beds that require being set up. Once you are pitched you are more than likely to pop the roof up straight away so the upper double bed will be ready come the evening.

The second double bed is made up from the bench seat and takes no time at all to set up, once you’ve figured it out.

Driving

Here is where the Nugget really excels. Ford Transits are made for driving and transporting, so it is no surprise that the 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine and six-speed automatic transmission makes easy work of carrying the extra weight of the touring gear.

Add to that extra luggage, water, food and people, and there’s still no driving issue. You also enjoy great fuel consumption. On average you will get approximately 31.7 miles per gallon and at its lowest around 23.7mpg. This will of course change depending on the laden weight.

We have been testing a lot of automatic campers and motorhomes in 2020. Is this due to the high demand for autos or is this the industry deciding this is the future of touring? Either way, we enjoyed the automatic gearbox and we welcome more vehicles adopting this option.

A manual transmission does have its advantages at times, but during the 50+ hours we drove the Nugget, we did not find an occasion where we’d rather have a gear stick and clutch pedal.

The acceleration was not the best but with all your kit packed and family on board, you are not going to be putting your foot down like an F1 racer.

Verdict

The Nugget (we still can’t quite decide if we like the name) is a solid campervan that provides an excellent layout and almost flawless driving experience.

The two side doors and rear barn doors make the usage of the van great and is something other manufacturers should look to introduce.

We cannot help but compare it to the VW, but they are quite different, while at the same time having a lot of similarities. The VW was a better drive, but we will put that down to vehicle weight, and the Nugget had a better onboard layout and storage options.

Overall the Nugget is a fantastic choice and should make UK staycations easier for newcomers. When it comes to more seasoned campervan users, it may be hard for them to choose between Ford and Volkswagen.

Interview: CaravanTimes welcomes new tourers

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By William Coleman

There are so many young couples and families buying their first caravans and motorhomes so they can get away more and make the most of the holiday opportunities here in the UK. We thought it was time to catch up with some of these newcomers and find out what lured them into the world of staycationing.

We can all remember when we decided it was the touring life for us. For many of us, it was a staple part of our childhood and we carried it on as we grew up. As the years have gone by, a lot more people are deciding to try the lifestyle for the first time in their 20s and 30s.

This week we spoke with Matt and Tina Joyner, who’ve been using a motorhome for their family holidays for almost two years. They are both in their 30s and have two children under the age of eight. For years, they have taken holidays around the world, but now they have made the transition from jet-setting to motorhoming.

CaravanTimes: You’ve recently started to take touring holidays and even bought a motorhome. What brought you to the world of touring holidays?

Tina Joyner: We realised one day that our kids were growing up so fast and that, in the near future, they wouldn’t want to hang out with sad old mum and dad. We wanted to hang on to every second of their childhood and appreciate them as they grow up making memories together. I also had caravans and campervans growing up and wanted to recreate those amazing memories with my own family.

The cost of a holiday abroad during school holidays for even a basic package costs thousands of pounds, and when you get home that money is gone. You’re not able to go on holiday again for a long time, so I figured that a van would be something we could always get away in, and we now own an asset.

CT: What motorhome did you buy?

TJ: We bought a 25-year-old Peugeot Elddis Autoquest 420 six-berth. As our first, it had to be affordable and was kind of a trial to see if we like the lifestyle – we do. Now it’s time to try and save for a newer one! Getting this one meant we know what we need, what we don’t need, how we use it and what suits us.

CT: Have you learnt any valuable lessons while on holiday?

TJ: Oh yes. Take it slow, find your pace and shave off layers of stress where you can. Do this by cooking simple (but by no means boring), get a projector (best times watching movies together after a day outside) and do what suits your family.

There’s a lot of admin, so free yourself up some time by being organised. Trying to sort out the van and prepare what we need while having the kids is no easy task.

CT: You have two small children, how are they enjoying the motorhome?

TJ: They love the adventure, discovering a new site and helping us with water or finding sticks to toast marshmallows on. They also love having mummy and daddy time without the normal life stuff that goes into running a home and working. It is nice to get away from it all with the kids while they are still so young.

CT: Would you have any advice for anyone who wants to start using a motorhome?

TJ: Just do it, if it’s not for you, you can always just sell the van, it’s an asset. You also have to like your family, sort of a joke but not really at the same time. We have been able to go away on weekends together that we just would not have had together without the van.

Once you’ve sourced a dog-friendly hotel or sitter, paid to eat out, etc, it’s just not an option. The van is there, we jump in it all together as a family.

Oh and advice – I have a tick list spreadsheet on my computer, as you need pretty much the same kit each time. Print the sheet out and tick away, this makes packing a breeze and I have lots of spare stuff that stays in the motorhome when it’s not being used.

CT: The last question, would you ever consider a touring caravan holiday, towing is easier than it looks?

TJ: No, not really. We did think about it, but we like to travel with the van exploring for a few days rather than set up a base and go to and from. We are starting to plan a trip around France next summer. I think this kind of holiday and lifestyle suits us best with a motorhome.

High-speed internet to reach 13,000-holiday homes

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By William Coleman

A Kent-based broadband company has netted themselves a fantastic contract to provide thousands of caravaners and holidaymakers high-speed on-site broadband.

Nowadays having access to the internet is an essential part of day-to-day life, especially if you are out exploring or have the kids with you on holiday. We have found our way out of being totally lost thanks to a smartphone with internet access and we have discovered some amazing hidden local gems thanks to a quick bit Googling.

There was a time when the internet on-site was very much not needed and was not the best, but as times and demands change so must the services provided by holiday companies.

It was only five or so years ago that we had to take a box of DVDs with us to ensure some evening entertainment, especially on days with unpleasant weather conditions. Now, with an internet connection, you can stream thousands of films and TV shows instantly with the click of a button.

Seeing the ever-growing demand for good quality broadband, Park Holidays UK will be adding super-speed Wi-Fi to its sites thanks to Canterbury-based Orbital Internet Group.

This new move marks another multi-pound site investment made by Park Holidays UK this year. The holiday company is one of the largest park groups in the UK, so it will be quite an undertaking adding the internet to so many sites within its network.

To ensure all visitors have access to the internet, Orbital will be installing private routers in each of the firm’s holiday properties. Darren Brown, Orbital’s communications specialist has said: “Nobody wants to put up with slow broadband on holiday, but many British parks are based in areas where people struggle with slow download speeds”.

Park Holidays UK says the project, which is due for completion early next year, will give it a huge competitive edge for wooing families to its 31 seaside holiday parks.

“The traditional approach of transmitting Wi-Fi across the park is rarely successful as holiday homes are often well insulated and resist the penetration of the signals.

“By connecting each unit to fibre broadband, guests can stream Netflix movies or FaceTime their friends without the irritation of constant buffering,” continued Darren.

This will not be your typical everyday broadband service. The technology that will be installed was developed by Orbital and will mix fibre optic cabling and high-speed WiMax wireless broadband to ensure constant high speeds, even during peak usage times.

Each connection will provide 330MB of speed to every holiday unit where they are installed. That will be more than enough to have everyone connected and streaming at the same time. The technology has also been future-proofed to ensure if and when speeds increase, holidaymakers will see the benefits.

Is good quality broadband something you look for when booking a site? A lot of people may see this as a non-essential due to touring holidays being more about getting out and exploring, not sitting on the sofa watching films. We feel it just strengthens the appeal of sites to younger people and will make how we tour that much easier.

The Club sprinkles some Christmas dust on 2020

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By William Coleman

As we face a very different Christmas than usual, the Caravan and Motorhome Club is going to be spreading festive joy to bring some normality ahead of Santa’s yearly visit.

Your Christmas plans may have to be somewhat limited due to the upcoming tier restrictions, so why not add some extra seasonal cheer by taking part in some Club competitions and special offers?

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and so we wanted to pull out all the stops and sprinkle an extra bit of sparkle across the festive season.

“We are proud to work with such incredible brands and are extremely thankful for their support this year more than ever. Here’s to a fun festive season and an adventure-filled 2021.”

The Club’s Christmas competition

‘Tis the season of giving, and who doesn’t want a nice early Christmas gift? Running from now until December 10th, Club members have the chance to win 12 top prizes ranging from an Avtex TV, Laithwaite’s Wine case of prosecco, a Family Tree Top Adventure Ticket from Go Ape and more.

The Club will pick 12 lucky winners via its social media channels on the run up to Christmas Eve. If you want to take part you can enter here.

Festive member offers

A Caravan and Motorhome Club membership comes with so many perks, many of which are financial and can cover membership fees several times over in just one year, and this Christmas it may pay for itself a lot sooner.

In the run up to Christmas, there will be even more savings rolling out on a wide range of products and services. Many of these offers will make fantastic stocking fillers for your touring friends and family.

  • SmartGames, the worldwide leader in multi-level logic games, is offering discounts across its whole range. Whether relaxing at home or having fun on the road, the games can keep families entertained for hours. www.camc.com/smartgames.
  • Members can save 8 per cent on National Trust gift cards, which can be used in their cafés and restaurants, gift shops, online shop or to purchase National Trust membership.
    www.camc.com/nationaltrust
  • Members save an exclusive 20 per cent on Young Driver gift vouchers. Young Driver offers teenagers the chance to get behind a wheel of a real car before they’re legally allowed to take to the road. www.camc.comyoungdriver

Members can also save up to 10 per cent at the Club Shop (in partnership with Prima Leisure), which features over 3,000 products from top brands including the likes of:

  • Avtex – market leaders of visual and navigational technology for the leisure industry from TVs, soundbars to sat navs.
  • Cadac – one of the best-loved brands on UK and European campsites! Cadac provide stylish, reliable and compact BBQs and cooking accessories to inspire creative cooking while on tour.