Roller Team unveils eco-friendly Triaca Concept 230 motorhome

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by Joe Jeffrey

Does the Triaca Concept 230 motorhome herald the new eco-friendly motorhome of tomorrow?

Trigano Group’s Roller Team brand has unveiled a new eco-friendly motorhome at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon trade show 2015, in a move which could shape the future of motorhomes.

Designed in Italy, the Triaca Concept 230 is seen by Roller Team as an experiment into creating a smarter, more eco-friendly type of motorhome, without compromising on quality or veering too far ahead of current day motorhomes.

Taking its name from ‘Tecnologia per Ridurre l’Impatto Ambientale in Camper’, which roughly translates to ‘Technology for Environmental Impact Reduction in Motorhomes’, the Triaca has seen Roller Team create a motorhome with an eco-friendly design construction featuring recyclable volcanic-based basalt fibre walls – a cheaper, more eco-friendly alternative to carbon fibre – as well as acrylic polymer-based pral kitchen counter tops, sink and bathroom surfaces – a robust, anti-bacterial material which is easy to repair. Recycled and vegetable-based fabrics are used throughout the interior.

Despite the materials used perhaps sounding as though the aesthetic qualities of the Triaca Concept 230 could be compromised, looks-wise, the concept vehicle remains impressively modern with a clean and minimalistic feel, without scrimping on quality. An open dinette/living area is situated at the front behind the cab, whilst a narrow corner kitchen and bathroom are located at the rear. A pop-up roof above the cab, as well as living area seating arrangement act as spacious sleeping quarters, providing four berths.

A remote control operates much of the electrical equipment within the Triaca Concept 230, including the concertina roof extension, telescopic sliding track dining table, swivelling front seats and more. Meanwhile, space has been utilised with the inclusion of various handy little touches, including integrated removable benches for outdoors use. A solar panel would come as standard.

Check out the video of the Triaca Concept 230 in action below and let us know your thoughts.

Derby Caravan Centre readies for 2016 preview weekend

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by Heather Eason

The exciting preview weekend will take place 12 and 13 September in Derbyshire

The Derby Caravan Centre is set to unveil their selection of 2016 Elddis products at their season preview weekend on 12 and 13 September. The preview will take place at Derby Caravan Centre Ltd, Meadow Lane, Alvaston, Derby.

Featured caravans will include a selection from Elddis’ new Affinity lineup. Many stylish changes have been made to the multi-award-winning Affinity for 2016, including a new large Heki Lux ‘Stargazer’ roof light and ‘Hydrangea’ Aquaclean upholstery.

Elddis’ lightweight Avante range will also be on display, complete with a spacious new 554 layout and a well-equiped kitchen included as standard.

The weekend promises to appeal to caravan newbies and experienced caravanners alike. Hot dogs will be provided, and there are multiple caravan pitches nearby for those who would like to spend a weekend in the Peak District.

For more information, call Derby Caravan Centre on 01332 572207 or visit their website here.

Caravan Park Watch scheme provides top tips to keep your caravan safe this winter

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Despite having one of the highest caravan densities in Europe, the Lincolnshire coast is one of the safest areas to own a holiday home. It looks as though things are about to get even safer thanks to the continuation of the Lincolnshire coast’s Caravan Park Watch scheme, which hopes to further improve safety measures this winter as summer finally comes to a close.

Policies implemented within the scheme, including compulsory removal of valuables from caravans, as well as the disclosure of information concerning people involved in burglaries, have continued to contribute to the area’s diminishing crime rates since the scheme launched. Last winter saw a 45 per cent drop in crime thanks to the Caravan Park Watch scheme.

Andy Morrice, coast inspector, said: “We have shown that bringing together everyone involved in the industry, such as holiday parks, insurance companies, and caravan manufacturers, and forming a close working partnership with local police, outstanding success can be achieved for the benefit of the community, local businesses and the tourism economy.”

Follow these tips from Lincolnshire Caravan Watch to ensure you do everything you can to keep your caravan safe this winter period:

1. Remove all valuables from your caravan, especially flat screen TVs – games consoles and DVD players. Do not be tempted to leave them under the bed, or in a cupboard, thieves will find them.
2. Leave all curtains open and remove net curtains. Make it clear to would be thieves, there is nothing worth stealing.
3. Leave cupboard doors open, strip bedding and DO NOT pile items in the middle of the floor. Make it clear to a would-be thief that there is nothing of value, in or under anything!
4. Ensure that all your contact details are up to date at the site office.
5. Place valuables removed signs on your caravan windows.
6. Ensure all your windows are locked and if possible cable tie the handles.
7. Remove all valuable equipment from your shed or store, especially fishing equipment and bikes. Consider leaving these unlocked, so would be thieves can see there is nothing in, without damaging anything to find out.
8. Wipe down all surfaces and windows, police then know any fingerprints are new.
9. Leave a sheet of paper inside the doorways when you finally lock up. Footprints on the paper can be used to help trace offenders.
10. Use a UV pen to mark any property left behind and register all your property at immobilise.com for FREE! If police can prove it’s yours, they have more chance of prosecuting those now in possession of it.

Bad drivers finish last in the dating game

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by Heather Eason

Institute of Advanced Motorists study finds that bad drivers are less attractive to the opposite sex

Forget chivalrous attempts to hold the car door open for your date – it’s your behaviour behind the wheel that makes you an attractive suitor.

The first scientific study of driving prowess and physical attraction, conducted by IAM and behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, has found that poor driving skills make a person 50 per cent less attractive to members of the opposite sex.

While bad drivers were less attractive to both sexes, the study found considerable differences between men’s and women’s reactions.

Women found aggressive driving to be the least attractive, while men were most deterred by distracted driving. A third of women became stressed when exposed to bad drivers, while men became frustrated. Hemmings states: “it’s evident that women have a stronger negative reaction to bad driving than men, and find bad drivers considerably less attractive as a result.”

According to IAM, the biggest driving turn-offs include bad parking, road rage, texting while driving, and taking selfies at the wheel. Next time you’re looking for love, perhaps you should skip the pub scene in favour of working on your parallel parking.

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Elddis announces two new Autoquest motorhome models for 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Two new models and loads of updates across the Autoquest range for 2016

Elddis has added two new Autoquest models to its 2016 motorhome lineup.

Priced at £40,949 OTR, the four-berth, low-line Autoquest 185 offers the luxury of two fixed single beds, a luxurious rear bathroom and plentiful space in the lounge at the front just before the cab. Meanwhile, the Autoquest 195, also four-berths and featuring a front dinette, kitchen and bathroom with light rear lounge transforming into a spacious double bedroom is priced at £40,549 OTR.

An additional four models complete the Elddis Autoquest range for 2016. These include the compact two-berth Autoquest 115 and Autoquest 175, as well as the four-berth Autoquest 155 and six-berth Autoquest 180.

It’s not just the addition of two models that’s new for 2016 though, with the whole range benefiting from a new Whale Duo Control intuitive combination controller and 4KW space-saving Whale heating – offering the option of running on gas or electric. The implementation of this new heating system will also allow for ducted heating throughout, including in the bathroom.

Elsewhere, a new ‘Marone’ craftsman built cabinetry with handcrafted dove-tailed drawers, contrasting two-tone ‘Fantasie Brushed’ flush-fit kitchen units with chrome inset detail and overhead locker design with positive locking and removable shelves bring a fresh new feel to the Autoquest range. Upholstery comes courtesy of ‘Parquet Blue’ design elements, featuring Ozio high performance, lightweight construction.

Inside the kitchen, new luxurious granite effect deep worktops in ‘Mineral Crème’, three burner black enamel gas hob with multi-functional burner, spark ignition, flame failure protection and durable cover should provide the perfect opportunity to prepare meals.

Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial, electric step, leisure battery, midi Heki, as well as 90 litre freshwater and 70 litre waste tanks come as standard across the range. And if you’re looking for a motorhome with a bit more power for charging up those gadgets while the TV’s on and the kettle’s boiling, the Autoquest comes with fully protected mains electric system with up to six 240V sockets – currently more than any other motorhome manufacturer.

Elddis hasn’t scrimped on safety either and, in line with its ‘Belts=Berths’ campaign, each Autoquest model for 2016 comes with fully-homologated seat-belts for every passenger. On the Autoquest 155, 185 and 195 models foldaway belted travel seats feature, enabling these to be neatly hidden away beneath the parallel bench seats when not in use, ensuring a safe journey for all.

What do you think of the 2016 Autoquest range? Let us know in the comments below.

Get excited for the Tour of Britain this September with the help of The Caravan Club

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by Daniella Almeida

The Caravan Club and Sustrans have partnered to create 35 gorgeous cycling routes for the Tour of Britain

British cycling’s premier cycling event, Aviva’s Tour of Britain, is set to take to the UK roads for its 12 year running between 6 – 13 September 2015, and The Caravan Club and Sustrans have teamed up to develop 35 beautiful cycling routes so you don’t miss a thing.

The majority of these cycling routes are located within just a mile of a Caravan Club site.

Fans can come out and get involved by showing their support for the riders up and down the country. But don’t be afraid to join in on the fun on your own bike if you’d like. Whether on two-wheels or just an eager spectator, The Caravan Club offers sites across the country for anyone taking in the excited with the Tour of Britain.

For those of you eager to find the best spots, read on.

The fourth leg of the Tour of Britain will be passing quite close to Berwick-upon-Tweed where the Berwick Seaview Caravan Club Site is located. The nearby Berwick Seaview cycle route is typically a flat path, but can prove to be quite the challenge in some areas.

Despite the challenge, the route runs through some coastal paths sure to provide cyclists with magnificent views and places to just sit back and take in all the scenery. A caravan pitch at this location starts from £7.20 per month plus £6.30 per adult and £1.90 per child per day.

The sixth leg of the Tour of Britain runs from Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham, close to Carsington Water Caravan Club Site. This stage is sure to excite cyclists and spectators alike as it provides some of the toughest challenges.

This stage includes several challenging and famous climbs in the Peak District National Park so you won’t want to miss this excitement! The campsite is perfectly situated for anyone willing to explore teh scenery of Dovedale and the surrounding countryside. A caravan pitch at Carsington starts from £7.10 per pitch, plus £6.80 per adult and £2.00 per child per day.

Finally, take in the excitement of the seventh leg of the Tour and pitch up at the Thetford Forest Caravan Club Site. The 7th leg is the penultimate and longest leg of the race.

The campsite is situated in picturesque Forestry Commission woodland and offers a quiet and secluded base to take in all of the scenery and local wild animals. A caravan pitch at Thetford starts from £5.20 per pitch, plus £4.10 per adult and £1.10 per child per day.
If you wish to book any of these offers in conjunction with the Tour of Britain, contact The Caravan Club directly on 01342 488713.

Will you be making the most of the Tour of Britain? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Lincolnshire object to new caravan pitches planned

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by Heather Eason

82 per cent of Addlethorpe residents oppose plans to bring more caravanners to the area

Lincolnshire residents are up in arms over plans to introduce more caravan pitches to a local village they claim is already swamped with too many caravans.

Residents of Addlethorpe have hit out following plans by one caravan site developer to add 33 more pitches to the area, which would bring the total number of caravan pitches to over 600 – well over four times the number of properties listed on the electoral role within the area.

The plans to attract more caravanners centre around a man-made fishing lake which opened in March. Arcotech Architectural Design, which represents the developer, states that its client wishes to open new caravan facilities following a significant investment in the fishing lake. It also notes that the project will create employment opportunities in the area.

Villagers are not convinced of the project’s potential benefits, with 82 per cent opposing the plans.

“Addlethorpe is not a coastal resort,” noted one resident. Another added: “This is a farming community and should be left to be one.”

According to locals, the small Lincolnshire village is hardly worth visiting. Sara Marshall, clerk to Addlethorpe Parish Council, maintains: “Apart from the [fishing,] bingo and slot machines, there is not a lot else here, and certainly nothing in the village of Addlethorpe to entertain visitors.”

East Lindsey District Council will decide the fate of the new caravan pitches tomorrow.

Land Rover reveals transparent caravan to improve towing safety

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by Heather Eason

Video transmitted from rear of caravan to rear-view mirror provides drivers with improved road safety

Land Rover has unveiled a ‘see-through’ trailer, featuring technology which could improve road safety for caravanners across the UK.

The car manufacturer has utilised advanced video technology in an attempt to eliminate the restricted view large trailers and caravans can sometimes provide. Video images are transmitted from the back of large vehicles towed to a display on the driver’s rear-view mirror, allowing the driver to see what would ordinarily be hidden.

The innovative technology also includes a ‘Check Cargo’ system, which alerts the driver to any unexpected disturbances to their cargo. This would be especially useful when towing horses, who have been known to grow restless in trailers or even break out of them.

With the advanced technology, the driver is even able to watch video footage of the disturbance within the vehicle being towed, which would help the driver decide whether to pull over. Land Rover hopes to make the towing experience safer and less stressful for friend and foal alike.

Though the ‘transparent’ technology currently focuses on horse trailers, we expect it would be equally useful in eliminating blind spots caused by caravans.

We at CaravanTimes are excited to see what the future holds with technology like this on the horizon. If caravan manufacturers were to incorporate this sort of thing on your caravan, would it make life easier for you?

See Land Rover’s video below and let us know what you think.

Online caravan auction pulled by eBay over fears of encouraging illegal activity

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by Joe Jeffrey

Online auction for ‘s***house crap caravan’ withdrawn by eBay after flouting guidelines

An online auction for a caravan described by its owner’s wife as suitable for dogging, affairs or murders has been retracted by eBay over fears of ‘encouraging illegal activity.’

The caravan, which was also described as a ‘rolling meth lab’ and placed up for auction by seller, Lindsay Butcher, from Northamptonshire, after her husband, Lee, purchased it following a drunken online spending spree. It attracted over 100 bids and reached over £80,000 in just seven hours before being taken down.

The listing for the caravan, which was also described by Lindsay as a ‘s***house crap caravan’, came with its own grubby sofa, foggy windows and deteriorated kitchen, was deemed inappropriate in accordance to eBay’s guidelines, prohibiting the description of illegal activities, as suggested within the auction’s description.

Of the online auction site’s decision to close the auction, an eBay spokesperson said: “While we understand this listing description was intended in a light-hearted way, it was removed as the description could be considered to ‘encourage illegal activity’ which contravenes eBay policy.

“We have reached out to the seller and very much hope they will re-list the item.”

Lindsay spoke on eBay’s decision, saying: “I need to get rid of it. I genuinely listed it so that someone would buy it.

“One day I went round the back of the office and there this caravan was. He said he thought he had told me.

“It is annoying as I actually want to sell it. I’d be happy with £150. It’s all completely true and it’s not the first time this sort of thing has happened,” she continued.

Despite the random, drunken purchase, Lindsay’s husband, John, remains pleased with the attention the auction garnered, saying: “I have a collection of things that I’ve gathered over the years. But I want somebody to just come and take the caravan away.
“I enjoy using eBay and I find it amusing that this has become news. I buy any old cars but sometimes put them back on eBay when I’m done with it.”

What do you think? Was this something that might have appealed to the caravanner in you or, for that matter, did you place a bid? Let us know in the comments below.

Preston Caravans and Motorhomes readies for exciting Elddis preview weekend

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by Joe Jeffrey

Preston Caravans and Motorhomes’ exciting preview is this weekend

This weekend (3 – 4 October), Elddis Super Site, Preston Caravans and Motorhomes, is opening its doors to the general public to gain a preview the brand new Elddis, Xplore and Buccaneer ranges for 2016.

Preston Caravans and Motorhomes, in Clifton, near Preston, will also be showing off their Supreme range of caravans and motorhomes in addition to Elddis’ standard ranges – all of which are built by Elddis using the company’s SoLiD Construction.

Sales Director, Adam Hulme said of this weekend’s exciting event: “Our Open Weekend will still take place on 3rd and 4th October, but demand for the latest Elddis, Buccaneer and Xplore models has just about reached fever pitch, so we have decided to host a special Elddis sneak preview this weekend!”

A number of unbeatable deals, excellent discounts, generous part exchange discounts and low rate finance options will be available, so make sure you don’t miss out. For more details, visit Preston Caravans and Motorhomes official website here.

Caravan for sale advertised as `suitable for affairs or murders`

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by Daniella Almeida

Caravan owner places caravan up for auction with the wittiest online advertisement imaginable

If you’re in the market for a depressing caravan “suitable for affairs or murders,” then you’re in luck. A woman in the UK placed her dodgy caravan for sale on eBay yesterday and has already racked up dozens of bids from people praising her witty sales technique.

The “s***house crap caravan”, as it is advertised, was an impromptu purchase by the seller’s husband. She writes: “Apparently I owned this utterly crap caravan for three weeks before actually setting eyes on it.

“My husband drunkenly bought it on Ebay, and neglected to mention that one day he’d taken the day off work and driven halfway across the country to pick it up, deposit it around the back of our office, and failed to declare it as a marital ‘asset’ until recently.

“Luckily, I’m the trusting type, and despite appearances I don’t think he bought it solely for the purpose of having a sordid extramarital affair or taking up dogging, however as you might be able to see from the pictures, it would be perfect for both,” she explains.

Despite the colorful advertisement and the caravan’s grubby sofa, foggy windows, and deteriorating kitchen, potential buyers seem to keep rolling in.

The ad was placed up yesterday and has already collected 133 bids from 46 different bidders with the highest bid standing at a rather incredible, and miraculous £80,000.

The seller explains that any buyer could try to convert the caravan to something suitable for a human being, but also writes: “ABSOLUTELY NOT to be undertaken by anyone with small children, better things to do, or indeed, any reliable form of social life.”

In a later edit, she added: “It has been brought to my attention that the ‘caravan’ would also be suitable for use as a rolling meth lab. Apologies for the omission.”

If you’re interested in the caravan, or just looking for a good laugh, check out the ad here.

Bailey Pegasus 4: exploring kitchen ergonomics in the fourth generation Pegasus

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by Joe Jeffrey

Bailey seems to have thought of everything when it comes to the new Bailey Pegasus 4, including inside the kitchen. Check out our latest video for an up close and personal look

It’s true to say the heart of any home is the kitchen. Whether small or large, the kitchen is a central hub. It is where meals are created, fueling the bodies, minds and souls of families and friends around the world. So why should it be any different when it comes to the kitchen inside our caravan? Bailey of Bristol doesn’t seem to believe it should, if the new Bailey Pegasus 4 for 2016 is anything to go by.

Each of the impressive seven models within the Bailey Pegasus 4 range for 2016, namely the revamped Ancona, Verona, Rimini and Genoa, as well as new model editions, the Palermo, Modena and Brindisi, has been designed with quality in mind and the kitchen inside each one is no exception.

Bailey understands that being away from home doesn’t necessarily mean you should be away from your home comforts and have, therefore, designed their ergonomic kitchens with this in mind.

From the 800w microwave, now at a lower height for ease of use, to the Thetford Caprice featuring three gas burners and electric hotplate, as well as a higher placed Dometic slim line 133-litre fridge – as featured on Bailey’s premium Unicorn range – providing an additional 33 per cent storage space, no stone has been left unturned when it comes to providing the perfect place to prepare meals.

Bailey’s clever use of space has also allowed for an additional ten per cent worktop space to be added thanks to a handy worktop extension, which can be folded away when not in use.

Bailey has certainly set out to impress for the new season, whilst making it as easy as possible to rustle up your favourite, mouthwatering culinary concoctions from inside your caravan, wherever you are.

Find out more about the kitchen inside the Bailey Pegasus 4 by checking out our video here.