by Suzette Rabout
A man from Leicestershire has been jailed for 14 months after stealing a caravan and sparking up a high-speed chase with the local police.
Declan Dousing, 22, attempted to escape in a Vauxhall Vectra with fake number plates and a £5,000 caravan in tow.
To make matters worse he hadn’t even passed his driving test at the time. Hitting speeds of up to 60mph the driver would have experienced some serious snaking as the caravan thrashed from side to side behind him.
Officers signalled for the thief to stop, but he ignored their signals and sped off towards the city centre.
Police then followed Declan for some time, watching as he skipped red lights and failed to even hesitate when approaching roundabouts.
His dangerous driving meant he had no control of the caravan in tow which may have caused a serious accident.
The chase ended in the town of Wigston as Declan jumped from the moving vehicle, and was caught after a police officer chased him down on foot.
Hopefully his jail sentence will teach him a lesson or two about stealing, and if he ever has his own caravan in the future he will remember his towing mirrors.
LV= to launch new caravan insurance package
by Tom Walsh
LV= has announced the launch of a new caravan insurance package with equipment being a main focal point of the cover.
The insurer stated that one of the key elements is that accessories and awnings are protected as standard, meaning customers are insured on items such as beds, generators and bottled gas equipment.
Policyholders will be able to benefit from cover for accidental damages or theft of the tourer anywhere in the United Kingdom, as well as up to 60 days in Europe.
The latter is a significant bonus for those that choose to take camping holidays in the likes of France and Spain.
LV= data states that the average claim is £1,500 meaning that owners who are not fully covered could be hit with costly fees.
Selwyn Fernandes, managing director of LV= Insurance, said: “We are always looking for areas that we can expand our product range into and as we already had the caravan add-on available, the launch of this standalone caravan policy was the next step for us.”
Charcoal leading the way in the great BBQ debate
by Tom Walsh
Summer is just around the corner and many people will be looking forward to enjoying a BBQ in their back garden or on a caravan site but one question always raises its head: charcoal or gas?
Research from experts Weber revealed that charcoal is the most popular forms of cooking with 65 per cent of respondents to the survey agreeing. Only 34 per cent preferred gas while a meagre one per cent plumped for electric.
While taste is the main factor for any BBQ lover, Clare Edwards, manager, chef and head tutor at the Weber Grill Academy, believes it goes much deeper than this.
Ms Edwards said: “It’s [using charcoal] a good introduction to BBQ cooking as most charcoal barbecues start at a lower price point and all you need is a bag of briquettes and a light, then you’re all set to cook up a feast.”
However, she added that using gas gives people more control over their cooking as the heat can be altered at the touch of a button.
BBQs are a favourite for campers and caravanners and with the warmer weather just a matter of months away there is no better time to fire up the grill.
What do you think of this, do you like to have a barbeque on your caravan holiday? Join in on our forum discussion
Caravan parks spark increase in dog owners taking their pet on holiday
by Tom Walsh
When heading on holiday dog owners have the option of leaving their pooch in kennels or having to rely on friends and family while they jet off.
However, thanks to the growing staycation trend more and more people are taking their four-legged friend with them on the holiday experience.
New research by The Best of British parks group revealed that there has been a surge in dogs going on vacation with their owner which has been helped by a rise in “fido-friendly” campsites.
A number of parks have embraced the visit of dogs by providing special shower points where they can be washed, dedicated exercise fields, walking guides for owners and even a range of dog training classes.
While their mutt can enjoy the great outdoors, visitors can also rent holiday caravans or lodges for the duration of their stay.
Claire Jeavons, Best of British chairman, said: “Parks are ideal locations for well-behaved dogs as there is little or no traffic, and often easy access to footpaths and country walks which don’t involve getting in the car.”
Elddis to give NCCW campers first glimpse of 2014 caravans
by Chris Jefferies
Elddis will be revealing a prototype 2014 caravan in Hertford next week as part of the Camping and Caravanning Club’s annual National Camping and Caravanning Week, it has been announced.
The Solid Construction manufacturer will be attending the event on Friday 31 May with a couple of its latest creations in tow.
These prototype models will give Elddis fans a glimpse of what the 2014 range will look like, well in advance of the company’s traditional summer preview event.
Rachel Moncrieff, Marketing and Communications Manager at Elddis, said: “Elddis is always delighted to support NCCW – the event that celebrates all that camping and caravanning has to offer.
“This coming year marks Elddis’s 50th Anniversary and the launch of some very exciting new model line-ups. We want to treat NCCW guests to a tantalising taster of what Elddis has in store for the 2014 season.”
Exact details of the new caravans are being kept under wraps for now, but there is plenty to look forward to.
The event is the climax of National Camping and Caravanning Week 2013, and visitors to the Hertford site will also be able to enjoy Club Perks such as guided cycle rides, tent painting and even a nature walk led by Club President David Bellamy.
For an idea of what to expect, click here to watch our video report from last year’s event.
Loose Women viewers could win £50,000 Willerby caravan
by Tom Walsh
Viewers of ITV’s Loose Women programme are being given the chance to win a caravan package worth over £50,000.
Park Resorts is putting a brand new Willerby Avonmore mobile home up for grabs along with site fees and extras for the next two years. That’s not all however, as Loose Women will also be adding a further £17,000 on top, taking the grand prize total to over £70,000.
The competition runs until 24 May 2013 and all people need to do to enter is follow the instructions by filling in the form on the website, entries are being accepted until 3 June.
One lucky winner will be the owner of the luxury caravan, which comes with large living areas complete with distinctive furnishings as well as two bedrooms and a spacious lounge.
With staycationing high on the agenda for many Brits this summer, the caravan will be everything that a person could possibly dream of when it comes to enjoying their annual break in a different part of the country.
Camping and Caravanning Club’s Hertford Site to host NCCW 2013
by Tom Walsh
Holidaymakers around the UK are being invited to celebrate the joys of camping and the great outdoors during the May school holiday.
The Camping and Caravanning Club is gearing up for National Camping and Caravanning Week, which this year begins on bank holiday Monday 27 May and runs until 2 June.
The Club will be holding a number of fun days on selected Club Sites and Camping in the Forest Sites across the UK.
One of the premises already announced to be a key part of the festivities is the Hertford Site, which will play host to a showcase event on 31 May.
Following a Club Perks theme, the organisation will be promoting the benefits of camping with a family bike ride, family-friendly games and competitions.
Club president and celebrity botanist David Bellamy will also be making an appearance on a guided cycle ride to discover some of Hertford’s wildlife.
Robert Louden, director general of the club, said: “There are so many Perks to experience when out camping – they can be as small as enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sunset, spotting a rare animal when out walking, or even popping down to the farmers’ market to taste some local produce; either way, camping has something for everyone.”
His comments come after the Camping and Caravanning Club recently launched an Eat Local campaign to encourage people to look for local food and drink when on their caravan holidays.
Lunar announces dealer network for new Vacanza Camper Car
by Tom Walsh
Lunar has announced the dealer network for its new Vacanza Camper Car, which will be stocked nationwide.
The British manufacturer revealed the initial sites that would be stocking the vehicle and interested buyers from all over the country will be able to give the latest model a test drive before purchasing.
When it was launched back in February, Lunar stated that the Vacanza Camper Car would bring together a roomy four-person campervan with the ease and driveability of a normal family car.
Officials explained that it is based on the award-winning Nissan NV200 Combi and provides a range of features for motorists.
Lee Robert, national sales manager at Lunar, said: “The market has been crying out for a compact, economical, leisure vehicle and the Vacanza ticks all those boxes. We’re thrilled to have such an impressive range of respected dealerships on board, including some who are new to the Lunar brand.”
Prices for the vehicles start from £29,995, and the dealer network is as follows:
- Bardsea Leisure, Ulverston
- Brownhills, Newark
- Catterick Caravans, Richmond
- Davan Caravans and Motorhomes, Weston-Super-Mare
- Don Amott, Hilton
- Hayes Leisure, Darlaston
- Highbridge, Somerset
- P&P Cars and Campers, Gosport
- Richard Baldwin Motorhomes, Copley
- Simpsons Motor Caravans, Great Yarmouth
- Sussex Caravan & Motorhome Centre, Pulborough
Staycation popularity on the rise, tourism survey shows
by Tom Walsh
The traditional holiday season is just around the corner and many people will already be making plans for their annual getaway.
While the likes of Majorca, Benidorm and Lanzarote will no doubt be packed with Brits over the warmer months, new research by Travelodge has revealed that a large number of holidaymakers will be staying in the UK.
The hotel chain found that 2013 will be a record year for the staycation as two-thirds of respondents said that they would be heading to one of the main attractions within the UK. This represents a significant increase on the 41 per cent which was recorded in 2012.
Instead of heading for the airport, many Brits will be jumping in the car or hooking up the caravan and heading to a different part of the country.
London and Edinburgh were polled as the top two destinations as 31 per cent of people said that they would be enjoying a city break during the summer.
The Lake District, Cornwall and Scottish Highlands along with Dorset, Devon and North Wales were also named as preferred destinations.
Locations such as these allow people who predominantly live in the city to embrace the picturesque countryside that the UK has to offer. Classic towns such as Blackpool and York made up the rest of the top ten staycation destinations.
Grant Hearn, Travelodge chief executive officer, said: “The staycation trend accelerating to record levels and boosting our economy by £12 billion this year – is a very welcome sign, and hopefully this is the start of our 2012 Olympics legacy gain.
“During 2012, our capital city was showcased in its true glory to all corners of the UK and the world, and it’s a great result that London has been crowned as the top Staycation destination for 2013.”
However, Mr Hearn warned that despite the positivity surrounding staycationing, the country must not rest on its laurels and the Government needs to treat the tourism industry more like a serious business.
The Dukes Box create human jukebox in a caravan
by Tom Walsh
Caravans are known and loved by Brits as a fantastic means to go on holiday and experience all that the country has to offer.
However, for seven musicians the caravan is a vehicle for musical creativity, as they turned theirs into a custom built audio-visual show to host the whole band and become a giant jukebox.
The Dukes Box, as the band is known,travel all over the globe and have performed at the likes of Glastonbury and Bestival.
They play a range of songs from their 1960s two-berth caravan, audiences have are able to make a choice from 35 tracks and then step back to watch the band play it live from inside the Dukes box.
They cover all range of music styles, including jazz, folk, rock, rap, techno, reggae even thrash metal, providing a visually stimulating and brilliantly entertaining experience.
Most recently The Dukes Box performed at the Urban Festival in Bradford City Park entertaining crowds over the weekend from 15-18 May, their next gig is the INmusic festival, Croatia on 24-26 June.
Watch the video below to see the caravan rockers in action:
Auto-Sleepers victorious at Caravan Club Design & Drive awards
by Tom Walsh
Auto-Sleepers has proven very successful at this year’s Caravan Club Design & Drive awards, taking home three awards.
The Auto-Sleeper Symbol was voted winner of the Van Conversions over £45,000 category and the Auto-Sleeper Winchcombe won the Best coachbuilt over £45,000 award, as well as taking home the prestigious title of Overall Winner.
Each of the vehicles were evaluated by a panel of six design judges, who marked vehicles for their heating and ventilation, kitchen and washrooms, air conditioning, heating, electrics, safety, stowage, comfort and technical aspects.
There were also four driving judges who examined acceleration, handling, manoeuvrability, visibility, interior-generated noise and reversing.
Auto-Sleeper entries were praised for their “remarkable attention to detail”, with the company website, handbook and warranty terms all commended by the panel.
Driving judges referred to the Winchcombe’s quiet and refined style, as well as ride quality and stability even at high speeds, while the design team said: “”he allure of the Mercedes three-pointed star on the outside is matched on the inside with an interior that’s so luxurious, you can almost taste the quality.”
Watch the video below to see a round up of the event:
Dometic Group launches new gas bottle checker gadget
by Tom Walsh
Any motorhome or caravan owner will know the importance of being aware of how much gas they have on board.
With this in mind, Dometic Group has launched the GasChecker GC100 which is able to tell the user just how much gas is left in the tank making it the ideal tool when holidaying all across the UK.
The device is both lightweight and easy to use and can tell the caravanner how full or empty the gas bottle is within a matter of seconds.
Dometic stated that users simply press the probe horizontally onto various points of the bottle wall and then watch the indicator light.
Should the light turn green it means there is gas at the point of measurement while a red light indicates that it is empty.
It is a great tool to ensure that people know when to refill their bottles and also when not to throw out empty canisters that could still be used.
The GasChecker GC100 is available now at the price of £29.95.
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