New Industry Site Directory To Make Trips More Varied

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By William Coleman

If there is one thing we that we have a wide range of here in the UK its caravan and camping sites. Some would even say we are spoilt for choice which makes the final choice of which one to choose a difficult task. With this new caravan industry directory you can browse at your leisure and maybe even find somewhere totally new.

If you struggling to find somewhere new to go or where to stay in a certain area www.UKParkfinder.com can do all the hard work for you. The new directory creators have covered every corner of the UK to bring you a comprehensive list of caravan loving locations.

The directory is the result of 15 months of research and detailed planning by two industry professionals, Scott Higgins and Paul Callingham.

Scott and Paul are former employees of Salop Leisure where they sparked a friendship that would then lead to a business partnership. Between the two of them they have almost 40 years of service in the caravan industry.

While working together they spotted a large gap in the market for an encyclopedic directory for all things caravanning. Seeing how this could be a success the pair took a leap of faith and invested in the site which has been designed and built by Welshpool-based Gloversure.

Scott and Paul are initially focusing their sales drive on the area they know best, Mid Wales and the Marches, targeting touring caravan and motorhome parks, holiday home and luxury lodge parks, residential park home sites and camping, glamping and yurt sites.

They are not stopping there though! They want to encourage leisure vehicle dealers, accessory shop and service specialists, caravan storage facilities, caravan shows, local attractions, days out and places to eat to join the directory. A touring online one stop shop as it were.

The ultimate plan is to expand the directory across the UK where there are 4,500 holiday home parks, 20,000 touring caravan and motorhome parks and 40,000 camping and glamping sites.

With so many booking/comparison sites out there, which are tricky to navigate round, UK Park Finder want to provide a site that is simple to use and has everything you need all in one place. Forget the days of having tons of tabs open on your web browser.

For customers seeking information relating to caravans, motorhomes, glamping, camping and leisure time activities. The directors say users can find what they’re looking for in three clicks.

“Statistics suggest that 94% of buyers research online when looking to make a significant, high ticket purchase,” explained Scott. “For businesses in the leisure sector, UKParkfinder.com is the ideal portal to showcase their products and services to customers who are actively in the market to purchase.

“The directory has the potential to make a real difference to businesses and we believe it will revolutionise the way customers unlock their lifestyle and leisure time dreams.”

Paul added: “It has been designed with the end user in mind to offer a sophisticated, real time platform that will become an integral part of businesses’ marketing strategies. To date, every business we have approached has signed up, some for three years, which is very encouraging.

“Scott has wanted to develop a user-friendly directory for the industry for the last 10 years to fill a gap in the market. Now we have made the investment and we think it has huge potential and can be a fantastic marketing tool for the industry.”

It’s the only online caravan directory that advertises local attractions, days out and places to eat alongside caravan businesses, which are exposed to holidaymakers looking to make the most of their leisure time.

Businesses have their own dedicated listing which they can manage themselves, upload images, videos and sale stock, promote special offers and discounts, provide full descriptions and contact information, receive customer enquiries by email and highlight special events.

Every registered business receives a quarterly report to show how the directory has been working for them and the directory is supported by a dedicated marketing strategy to drive new users to the website.

Tow Cars Are Safer Yet Incidents Are On The Rise

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By William Coleaman

The caravanner and motorhome driver contribute a hell of a lot of miles to the roads all over the UK and take up a lot of the road, does this lead to more incidents? In my opinion we are some of the safest and most self aware drivers behind the wheel, yet car incidents are still in the tens of thousands.

Halfords, a shop I use on quite a regular basis for my touring needs, have compiled and released quite an extensive report on road incidents over the past few years, and there are some shocking numbers in there. To view the full report you can Click Here

You do hear a lot about crashes and other road incidents involving leisure vehicles and it usually assumed that it is down the driver of the caravan or motorhome. When in reality it is more often than not mutual or the fault of the “normal car”. I have seen a lot of drivers do not know how to approach or drive safely around a caravan.

As I mentioned we are some of the safest drivers on the road, I mean we have to be in you consider what we need to be able to drive and the cost of our set up. Yet we still get branded as being “dangerous” for other drivers.

In 2017, which we now know was a the start of a golden boom for the caravan industry, UK drivers racked a whopping 254.4 billion driving miles, I’d love to know how much of that was from caravan tourism, so it is natural a lot more incidents occurred.

The report shows that the majority of incidents were caused by human error or negligence but the number of crashes due to vehicle defects would shock you.

So here are some things to consider when taking your next trip to avoid any incident or blame. I am sure most of us do this but I can help one person or set a few reminders then I’ll be happy.

Safety Checks

Getting ready to go away can be a bit of a fluster and it is very easy to miss something in the confusion. There is also a train of thought by some who feel that if it worked fine last time it will be ok this time. Please do not be that person.

Always make some time to go over everything and make sure that they are in tip top shape. Better that than finding out there is an issue doing 50 miles an hour on a motorhome or A road.

Services Regularly

In the past 12 months I have put 11,000 miles on my car and I have neglected taking it in for a service. I finally got around to it and was greeted with a rather lengthy and costly list of things that are in need of immediate attention.

Life is busy so one can be forgiven for not keeping the most attentive eye on things. In my case it was 100% my fault and I should have been a lot more on top of things, no excuses.

Always check the tyres, breaks, bulbs and anything else after extensive usage, it could be the difference needed to keep you and your family safe.

Make A List

You are never too old to go back to basics when doing your checks, especially when such a simple method can be so effective.

My basic checks include:

  • Car and caravan bulbs
  • Condition of tyres on both vehicles
  • Check brake pads and discs (if you know how to)
  • Check condition of breakaway cable
  • Check spare tyre is inflated
  • Thoroughly clean towing mirrors, dirty mirrors are a pet hate

Major Caravan Event To Move Location After 44 Years

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By William Coleman

One of the UK’s largest and most popular caravanning and leisure holiday events is to leave East Yorkshire venue after using the same area for almost half a century. Is this good news or bad news though?

The Caravan and Holiday Home Expo, which as long been held at the Lawns in Cottingham, just outside Hull, is now having to be moved and relocated to the Harrogate Showground. This year’s show was still held at the Lawns but that is it for the current location.

The show has been an extremely popular event since it first opened its doors over 44 years ago. Each year tens of thousands of caravan lovers from all over the UK would travel to the show, a lot of which would stay local and boost the local economy during show expo.

The expo is not just a hot spot for leisure vehicle lovers, it is also a major event on the calendar of almost 4000 park owners, dealers and various other vendors within the caravan world. At the show a dealer can make a large part of their yearly profit in just under a week.

David Ritchie, for the organisers, said: “It’s a major upheaval, the Lawns grounds are superb and it’s a lovely setting for the biggest show in Europe. We are very sorry to be moving but we had no choice.

“The move opens up a whole new catchment area, with over six million people living within an hour’s drive.”

James Harris, chair of the Cottingham Traders Association, said: “It’s been a big thing for many years and the loss of the caravan show will have an impact on the village.”

David Hooper, of the Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “With so many caravans being built in the Hull area, it was fitting that the manufacturers showed off their latest products just a stone’s throw from the factories.”

Having had such a long and illustrious history in the area is is quite a surprise that the relocation is 70 miles away, what with there being so many big manufacturers in and around the Hull area. According to some the new location will actually open up more opportunities to a larger range of products to be shown.

When the event first opened way back in 1976 it was a trade event for industry folk only. It was not until 1982 that the public were invited to take part, which I am sure immediately boosted the money to be made by all those who exhibited during the week long show.

Peter Munk, CEO at Willerby, who are a major name that display every year, said: “We started discussions about this a number of years ago.

“Originally we had manufacturers in the north who would hold their own shows, and manufacturers in the south who would have their separate ones.

“Eventually, everyone agreed we would do a show all together, but everyone thought of it very much as a trade show.

“The reality is, at the end of the day, it is the consumers that are really important.”

This really is the end of a long lasting tradition for the entire industry. Each year the likes of Swift, Truma and various other big brands spend the week at the show wowing guests and customers.

It seems as though many of the companies that exhibit are not too worried and are actually excited about the prospect of the new location and new audience.

Sources: BBC News and Hull Live

Family Support For Site To Remove Plastic Pollution

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By William Coleman

There is no questioning the amount of work and effort that the team at Ladram Bay are putting into the war on plastic and the negative effects it has on the areas around the site. It seems that they have now influenced a lot of people to take action.

Guests at the Budleigh Salterton are taking time out of their holiday to lend a hand in retrieving a ton of plastic waste from the local beach.

The family owners of a Devon holiday park are involving guests in their bid to turn the tide on the scourge of plastic which is polluting West Country beaches.

Ladram Bay Holiday Park near Budleigh Salterton in East Devon is aiming to retrieve one ton of waste washed up on its private beach over the coming months.

The growing total of discarded plastics gathered will be shown by a rising column of sand on a special display board near the beach path.

The park is asking guests to bolster the efforts of their own staff team of litter pickers by collecting any plastics they find, and depositing them in a bin alongside the board.

Zoe House, a director of Ladram Bay and a member of the park-owning family, says the scheme won’t just help to make the beach more welcoming for families:

“Plastics can pose a very real threat to marine and land wildlife, as well as blemishing the beautiful natural environment of our coastlines,” she said.

“Guests here love to see the pods of dolphins which often swim in our bay, and they are a constant reminder of how important it is to protect our oceans.

“Throughout the year we have tens of thousands of people staying at Ladram Bay, so we have the opportunity to mobilise a whole army of beach cleaners.

“Our family has owned Ladram Bay for over 75 years, and we’ve witnessed the harm that plastics can cause, which is why we have decided to take action.

“Children especially are showing great enthusiasm to help us reach our one ton target, and that’s fantastic as their awareness is essential for the sake of future generations,” added Zoe.

A raft of other green initiatives at the park have helped Ladram Bay to win a series of conservation and sustainability accolades over the years.

They include the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level, with a special distinction given for the park’s efforts to protect honey bees and create new wild flower habitats.

To help draw attention to its one ton waste challenge, the park features on its display board a distinctive blue lobster which recalls an eye-opening incident at the park a few years ago.

It occurred when another of the park’s directors landed an actual blue lobster from one of the pots he was tending in the bay, sparking national media attention and a BBC TV report.

Lobster Blue is also now the name of Ladram Bay’s own-brand collection of summer clothing.

The five-star park provides a wealth of attractions including a swimming pool with splash zone, an indoor climbing wall and professional entertainment.

More information – and details of the different holiday options and holiday home ownership opportunities at Ladram Bay – is available at www.ladrambay.co.uk

How Many Ways Can Aircon Help Once You Have It?

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By William Coleman

Over the past few weeks we have seen Lee Davey using his new air con system from Truma and highlighting how it works and what impact an aftermarket fitting on your caravan. After some extensive usage Lee has discovered there is a lot more to it than just cool air flow.

You would be mistaken if you thought that all an air conditioning unit can do it keep is keep an area cold, something Lee Davey can attest to. The hidden benefits go way beyond keeping cool when the outside temperature goes sky high.

Nowadays the technology has gone way beyond what it was originally intended for. You can access them remotely, send them texts and even have an automatic climate control system.

You can use air con as a dehumidifier, clothes dryer and even a perfect way of keeping the pets cool when you want to head out for a day or night.

In this video Lee will go into detail of what other hidden benefits can be found when using a Truma air con unit while on your touring holiday.

To find out more about Truma and the wide range of services they offer you can visit their site directly, Truma’s main website.

Erwin Hymer Centre Host Macmillan Coffee Morning

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By William Coleman

The one stop shop motorhome megastore in Stafford will be hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning to help spread awareness and raid funds for the very worthwhile charity. They are also extended the invite to you.

You do not have to go very far to find someone who has been in some way affected by cancer so it is alway worth while attending a Macmillan event to show your support.

On Friday 27th of September Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld will be putting a special coffee morning from 10-12 noon to show their commitment to the charity.

On the 27th you be able get free tea, coffee and a plethora of cakes and goodies to snack on. Showcasing on the day will be the company’s headline bake: a madeira Hymer Motorhome cake the size of a trestle table, (if you don’t know how big that is it’s around 183cm x 76cm)! The bespoke-designed cake will be made up of individual pieces made by the in-house admin team and will be shaped and iced by professional baker, Anna Davies.

Carol Huggins, Erwin Hymer Centre HR manager and organiser of the coffee morning said: “We’re really excited about the coffee morning, and it will be great having a representative from Macmillan here too, to show their support. We think this cake will really steal the show! We’re lucky to have some talented bakers here and it’s all for such a worthy cause that everyone can relate to.”

Visitors will also be able to soak in the delights of the centre’s Hymer, Dethleffs, Niesmann+Bischoff and Carado motorhome ranges in our state- of-the-art luxurious showrooms and are welcome to speak to any of the motorhome brand specialists on the day.

Carol and all the organisers of the event want to make the morning, THE biggest Macmillan coffee morning in the West Midlands, and invite everyone to come along on the day and help raise funds for Macmillan. Macmillan is aiming to top the £26,914382m it raised last year and the centre wants to make sure they can do as much as possible to help it achieve that goal!

The Bailey Autograph 2020

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By William Coleman

Today marks the official launch of Bailey all new 2020 Autograph motorhome range. We were with the Bailey team this morning in Swindon at the launch to bring you the news on what’s new and what to expect from the Bristol based manufacturer.

This year Bailey have 8 models to choose from, 2 of which are brand new for 2020. Ranging from 2-6 berth with new fixed beds as well as fixed island and variants to choose from.

Bailey stand by the fact that these motorhomes were designed to be driven and provide equal comfort for both driver and passenger. The Autograph comes with a unique combination of Peugeot Boxer cab with 160HBP 2.0 Blue Hdi engine, lightweight AL-KO AMC chassis and high performance GRO skinned Alu-Tech bodyshell.

The exterior has had some new design with the introduction of a ‘Graphite’ coloured cab, ‘Slate Grey’ side walls, Diamond Cut TUV tested alloy wheels and a metallic graphite scheme. I really like the colour pallet that Bailey have chosen for their new 2020 models, both caravan and motorhome. They have managed to balance dark colours without compromising on how big the inside feels.

Inside the vans also look very smart, I was quote partial to the 69-2 with the large U-Shaped lounge. Bailey have added a new interface design and furniture profiles. Throughout the entire range you can see how they have tried to make this range so different from any other motorhome they have brought to the market before.

The new curved design on the corners of the sofa provides a much more comfortable lounge aewa. It that Bailey have tried to curve as many corners as possible resulting in a very smart hotel style living space.

The two new models this year are the 79-2F and the 79-4F. Both models are 4 berths and weigh 3850kg. These motorhomes feature a fixed double bed and transverse end washroom with a choice if either a parallel seat or L-Shape front lounge and dedicated rear travel setats.

All models in this year’s line up feature a 2.28m internal body width. The 69-2 and the 81-6 are actually larger than the other models in the range. These two models benefit from an increased body length which has created much longer seats in the end lounge area.

As standard these motorhomes come very well spec’d. You can expect a Truma 100 watt solar panel, a Status 550 digital television, exterior 230v and BBQ points plus a spare wheel and tyre. You really are getting some real bang for your buck.

On the inside you will notice just how different these 2020 models are, smart, modern and contemporary. While going through the van there are all the obvious points like USB plugging, extra plug sockets, speakers and quite a few new standout points.

Simon Howard had a lot to say about Baily’s newest motorome models: “The third generation of premium Autograph range takes Bailey motorhome design to a new level.The striking interior and exquisite interior combined with five star specification to create a vehicle that is designed to inspire.”

“Technically superior, beautifully constructed and visually eye-catching: it is everything that a premium motorhome range should be.”

These new models will start appearing at Approved Bailey Retailer forecourts from early October onwards. Also be sure to visit the Bailey stand at the NEC next month to see the full line up.

To view a full gallery of today’s fun and antics Click Here.

Erwin Hymer Centre Links With Fiat Professional

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By William Coleman

In less than a year Travelworld have had several huge successes that have totally transformed them as a business. And now it seems they have achieved success once more by signing a big deal with Fiat Professional.

Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld have signed on the dotted line with Fiat Professional, a market leading supplier for motorhome chassis, to join their trade programme, Club Ricambi.

Club Ricambi is run my MOPAR and is the service and customer care organisation within Fiat Chrysler Automobile.

The new partnership will see Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld become one of only two approved Fiat dealers in Stafford. With this new addition Travelworld really are on their way to becoming a real one stop shop for all this motorhome.

Becoming an authorised dealer means that they can now offer local garages direct access to both its car and motorhome parts supply and their Fiat factory trained technicians. Having these services in house means they can help local companies better service their customers who can purchase dealer parts at competitive prices with daily and next-day delivery.

Andy Wright is MOPAR Service and Parts Zone Manager who works alongside MOPAR Customer Care manager, Thomas Lysaght, both of whom have been involved in the EHCT partnership process. Andy said: “Stafford is an area with great growth potential, with lots of small thriving businesses, partnering with EHCT, with its purpose-built centre, is a big part of helping us penetrate this area.”

EHCT’s Fiat Parts manager Jonathan Banner said: “We think this is a golden opportunity for Stafford garages who may otherwise have to turn away customers looking for genuine Fiat parts and accessories. We want to build links with reputable businesses in the area and form positive, reciprocal relationships and we are already making good progress!”

Simon Dean Motor Services based in Stoke is one garage that recently got on board with the program. Simon said: “Having a reliable car and professional van parts supplier for all my Fiat requirements on my doorstep is great news for my business, and being able to offer uprated suspension systems from Goldschmitt is an added bonus.”

Erwin Hymer Centre first became a Fiat Professional partner three years but to gain its official Fiat partnership, it was subject to a series of rigorous processes, involving the recruitment of new Fiat staff members, financial commitment, running several training programmes and database assessment.

Erik Baxendale added: “The process was strict and required a lot of commitment from us but we believe the finance and time invested will pay dividends. Although we do supply motorhomes on Fiat Ducato, Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily chassis also, we recognise that Fiat is a strong brand to be associated with. We’re enjoying working with the Fiat team, and linking in with businesses in the local area.”

Dethleffs Exhibit Their First e.Hybrid Motorhome

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By William Coleman

Over the next week exhibitors from all over Europe will be displaying their new caravans, motorhomes, campers, technology and other innovations at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf. One such display that has come to our attention is the brand new Dethleffs model.

This new leisure vehicle marks the third great achievement for Dethleffs. First they released the e.home, the e.home Coco and now their brand new Globevan e.Hybrid – First motorhome with plug-in hybrid capability suitable for being manufactured in volume production – Company underscores its leading role in electromobility in the caravanning industry. To view the photo gallery Click Here.

This release marks the third year in a row that the German leisure vehicle manufacturer has presented an entirely new in the field of electromobility.

At this year’s Caravan Salon Dethleffs will be presenting the first ever production ready motorhome, something the world really does need, with plug-in hybrid. This new trailblazer is an exciting introduction to the ever changing caravan and motorhome world.

“As a friend of the family, we also keep future generations in mind and therefore concern ourselves intensively with the topic of sustainability in our industry,” explains Dethleffs Managing Director Alexander Leopold.

“Preservation of the natural environment is one of our most utmost goals, because caravanning and experiencing nature go hand in hand. For this reason we have been working for many years on electromobility, which will be one of the keys to this”, Leopold says with confidence.

“We want to do pioneering work with our initiatives and are committed to establishing electromobility in caravanning.” The Globevan e.Hybrid, which Dethleffs is presenting for the first time at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, is the first production-ready implementation.

The basis of the Globevan e.Hybrid is a Ford Transit Custom with drive axles whose propulsion is purely electrical. The rechargeable battery installed in the vehicle provides a range of up to 50 km of purely electrical operation. The Globevan also offers a greater range overall, of course. This is achieved with the built-in “Range Extender”, a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that serves exclusively as a generator for charging the battery.

This combination offers the advantage that the Globevan, which is suitable for everyday use, can be driven in cities just using electricity. Any city-centre prohibitions on vehicles that emit pollutants from therefore do not apply to this hybrid. At the same time, braking and stepping off the gas can generate energy through recuperation, enabling driving that is particularly energy-efficient and associated with low fuel consumption. The combustion engine always runs in the optimum speed range with maximum torque and supplies the rechargeable battery with power, which in turn supplies the electric motor with power, giving the Globevan a maximum total range of 500 km.

The batteries can be recharged in under 5.5 hours from an ordinary household socket or within 3 hours from a fast-charging socket. The total output of the combination of electric motor and combustion engine is 92 kW (126 hp).

The pop-up roof conceals a 190 by 110 cm bed with a comfortable mattress and plate suspension. Windows with mosquito screens for ventilation and enjoying the view also provide plenty of fresh air while you sleep. In the kitchen unit with two-burner hob and sink as well as a 16-litre compressor cooler, you can not only conjure up a delicious breakfast but also stow or refrigerate fresh ingredients and drinks.

Since the gas bottle, freshwater tank and wastewater tank are not located in the kitchen unit, the small kitchen is able to feature a practical drawer and plenty of storage space. You can enjoy a meal at the table, which is easily attached to the kitchen unit when required or practically attached to the rear storage compartment when it is not in use.

Thanks to the standard rotating driver and passenger seats, four people can also sit on them in comfort. Additional storage space for holiday utensils is available in the overhead locker or in the compartments in the rear furniture unit.

You only need to turn the two-seat bench to convert it into an additional 190 by 90 cm bed. The bench can be adjusted lengthwise and can also be removed completely if more extensive transport tasks need to be completed.

The floor of the Globevan is a rigid, insulated sandwich floor with an attractive PVC coating in a dark wood look. In combination with the silver-grey furniture look with anthracite-coloured contrasts, the result is a fresh, modern interior that is well illuminated as required by LED light strips located under the roof.

Windows in the kitchen area, the sliding door and the rear provide for ample fresh air in the vehicle. The Globevan is powered by its own on-board battery, allowing it to be used off-grid for a few days.

Lee Davey Talks Truma Aftermarket Fitting

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By William Coleman

Do you really want or need an aftermarket fitting? Satellite dishes? Bike racks? Air con? It seems as though adding to your caravan or motorhome once you’ve purchased it is becoming a very popular option. Do you know anyone who has had an aftermarket fitting? We do and here is what he has to say.

Some people feel that the caravan is perfect just the way it comes fresh off the forecourt. Where as there is the other side of the coin who love to add extras to further enhance their holiday experience. But what makes some love and others loathe the idea?

First and foremost I think it’s due to people not wanting to interfere with the van or alter the chassis in any way. After all, cutting a hole in the roof or panel of a leisure vehicle is very much the opposite of what you should do.

This is something I fully understand and agree with, until I saw what actually goes into fitting dishes and air con units. It put a lot of doubts out of my mind.

The other dominant thought is “do I really need it”? A lot of us have grown up without such mod cons like satellite TV in caravans and so feel we can very much live without it. My argument to that is, why not give it a try?

To see if there is much call for onboard air con caravan journo and expert had a Truma system fitted to his Bailey Phoenix. How did he get it, how did it go and most importantly was it worth it?

Having travelled with Lee before I can tell you he is very much a hands on practical caravan user and will use the caravan with what it comes with without issue. So I was interested to see how Lee got on with the added extra.

The Leisure Industry War On Plastic

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By William Coleman

All across the world the impact of mankind’s carbon footprint is being seen, devastatingly so in some cases. But it seems that right here in the UK we are actually doing our best to change the dangerous path we are on, and this is clearly demonstrated in our leisure industry.

Over the past 3 years we have seen global events that have been directly linked to the changing our planet’s climate that has reshaped millions of lives. In reaction to this holiday sites and other leisure companies all across the UK are doing their best to change the future.

I’ve heard people snigger at sites removing plastic straws or introducing strict waste and recycling policies for their guests, but these are the steps we should be taking as responsible holiday makers and site owners.

We all know how much waste we produce when we going away in our leisure vehicles, and some of us tend to leave where they stay, which makes my blood boil. I have actually seen families banned from sites due to the amount of waste they create and leave.

There is an argument that those of us towing caravans and driving diesel engine motorhomes are actually quite a large contributor. In actual fact the emissions have significantly reduced over the past 8 years due to the introduction of low emission vehicles that are powerful enough to tow. But there has yet to be a carbon friendlier motorhome engine, so people can point their fingers there if they like.

How can we help the planet other than stopping the leisure industry all together? With these tips, which I am sure you probably already implemented, we can help fight the good fight and keep the planet healthy for future generations of caravan lovers.

Make The Plastic Go Further

I used to get mocked for always carrying around a water bottle at my old office. As a company we would go through hundreds of little plastic cups each week because of our water cooler. Now it seems as though everyone owns several in a bid to save cash and the use of one use plastics.

Reusable water bottles are making a massive dent on the amount of plastic we go through and the waste we produce. Despite our best efforts there are still tens of thousands of people who buy soft drink after soft drink with the containers usually finding their way onto the floor or into the oceans.

This is an enormous issue in itself as it is killing off lots of wildlife which then have a chain effect on the entire sea life structure.

So refuse as much plastic as you can to cut down on how much is actually produced.

Be Careful What You Buy

At first glance it seemed like a step in the right direction for charge 5p for plastic bags, but then it went up to 10p out of nowhere and then companies started to charge 10p for paper bags! Yes Boot I am talking about you.

Co-Op on the other hand have made a very big change. Yes, their bags are 10p but they are biodegradable and double up as food waste bags that go into specific bins provided by certain councils. That for me is well worth the 10p.

Keeping with shops, especially food shops, you would be shocked to know just how little of the plastics we use are actually recyclable. I used to think any and all plastic could go into a recycle bin, how wrong I was.

I now go out of my way to try and buy as little non recyclable packaging as possible, not an easy task. Especially when you are packing food for a week away.

So if you are in the lifestyle of making an effort to take a little bit more time and see if there is an alternative product with packaging that won’t be sent to the sea or a landfill.

Pick The Right Site

Like in all walks of life there are some people who are a bit more forward thinking than others. Some sites are doing all they can to help their local wildlife and green areas. They are planting tons of trees and making natural habitats for local wildlife to live safe and sound away from humans.

When picking your next holiday have a look to see what they are doing to help the planet. I think you’ll find that there are a lot of companies doing a hell of a lot of work.

Stay Local Eat Local

I know it is called touring but I think there are ways we can reduce the ground we cover by staying local or making the most out of the areas you choose to stay.

On a positive note you will both boost the local economy and reduce your fuel spend.

Get Active

There are two things we all have that we can use that will both reduce the amount of fuel we burn and help you live longer, your feet.

Walking is one of the easiest and best exercises you can do, and it is so easy to do. By walking you will burn calories not fossil fuels.

This also links to the above point we made about staying local. If you stay at a site that is surrounded by shops, parks, attractions, pubs and restaurants then you can leave the car and enjoy a nice evening walk. What better way to spend an evening.

The 2020 Towcar Of The Year Winner

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By William Coleman

For the first time ever one manufacturer has achieved back-to-back wins at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year Awards. This was our second year in a row judging the competition and we were very impressed with a newcomer in the electric sector that wowed the judges and could be the beginning of the electric towing turn around.

Last year there was one thing that stood out to me was just how much effort and work goes into the testing. It is not as simple and just jump in and go round the track with a caravan attached. Each set up have to be reloaded and checked every time the vehicles came back off of the track.

A full week of testing over 30 cars for 9 hours a day while really scrutinising every aspect of each towcar, it really is hard work. Each test is done with weight added to both the towcar and caravan to set up the real world weight you can expect when taking your caravan and family away.

Another element that has become a staple of the towcar testing is the caravans that are used to ensure you are brought the best feedback. For the 22nd year in a row Bailey Of Bristol. Bailey provide the caravans and technical support throughout the week to ensure the testing goes off without a hitch, there is a joke in there somewhere.

Simon Howard, Bailey’s Marketing Director, said: “It is really incredible to see how arduous and thorough the testing is for this important competition, and we are really proud to have been invited to supply caravans for 20 year”

Two Years 2 Top Winners

Last year’s overall winner at the Towcar of the Year was the Volvo XC60,you can read out very own review
?here, and this year the Swedish car manufacturer have done it again with their XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro. This compact SUV wowed the panel of independent judges as they field tested it’s ‘caravanability’.

Pulling a 1478kg caravan around the Millbrook Proving Ground the XC40 excelled on the tracks many different driving surfaces.

As well as being mechanically superior for towing the XC40 also looks impeccable. The minimalist interior is both comfortable and classy.

The engine is also very capable of cranking up the speed when asked to. The Volvo managed 40-60mph spring of 8.6 seconds during testing.

In regards to how it handles when the can attached received top marks from all those who tested it. The XC40 has a pretty much perfect hitched attitude which was a major factor that lead to the winning of the top title this year.

Volvo also picked up 2 more wins at the awards with the Volvo V60 winning the best towcar for caravans weighing between 1500 and 1700kgs and the XC40 took the top spot in the caravans weighing 1400-1500kgs class.

This Year’s Winning Line Up

  • Caravan Weight under 1150kg & Alternatively Fuelled : Jaguar I-Pace 400PS Electric HSE
  • Caravan Weight 1150kg – 1300kg : SKODA Octavia Estate Sportline 2.0 TDI 150 PS DSG
  • Caravan Weight 1300kg – 1400kg & Best Family Towcar : Ford Focus Vignale Estate 2.0 EcoBlue 8-Speed Auto
  • Caravan Weight 1400kg – 1500kg & Overall Winner : Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro
  • Caravan Weight 1500kg – 1700kg : Volvo V60 D4 AWD Cross Country Plus
  • Caravan Weight over 1700kg : Volkswagen Touareg R-Line Tech 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 286PS auto tiptronic
  • Best Large Family Towcar : SKODA Kodiaq vRS 2.0 TDI 239 PS 4×4 DSG
  • Pick-Up : Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Amarok Trendline 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 204PS auto

The Rise Of The Electric Winner

As well as having Volvo winning overall towcar for the second year in a row the 2020 testing featured a brand new category which had a clear winner that each judge absolutely loved.

The Jaguar I-Pace because the first ever electric car to win a class in the industry’s premier towcar competition. The I-Pace took the top spot in the ‘Alternatively Fuelled Category’.

As we know, there are quite a few limitations to what an electric vehicle can tow, something that is better but still present with the The Jaguar I-Pace.

Things are better with this electric tow car but the distance it can tow when hitched is limited. The maximum caravan weight that The Club would suggest is 750kg, which is quite a limiting amount when it comes to what caravan you can use.

Hybrid vehicles are a regular entry into the competition but have yet taken an award home, until this year.

The all round performance proved that electricity can be used, very well, for towing caravans. One noteworthy mention is the sheer acceleration power of the I-Pace, it was a bit of a brute which was not expected from an electric vehicle.

Under the test conditions set during the Millbrook testing the Jaguar got around 108 miles on a full charge with a caravan hooked up with 50 or so miles left in reserve.

All in all the Jaguar I-Pace really impressed each judge and the majority felt that this is a big step in the right direction for E towing.