‘Deliberate’ fire destroys caravan in Dorset

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by Jack Beresford

A caravan in the Upwey area of Dorset has been destroyed after a serious fire took hold of the tourer, reducing it to a charred mess.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning (January 14th) with emergency services called to the scene at around 3.25am.

“We received a call from a motorist reporting flames in the area of the old Roman road on the Ridgeway,” a Dorset Fire and Rescue spokesman explained to the Dorset Echo.

The incident occurred on land close to the Bayard Dairy, with fire fights from the nearby Weymouth dispatched to the scene, following its discovery.

Fortunately no one was seriously injured in the blaze, though the caravan was completely destroyed by the resulting fire.

Despite this, police are treating the case with caution amid suggestions that arson could be involved.

The news comes just days after a woman died in a similar blaze at a caravan park in Weymouth.

Is it worth taking your caravan or motorhome on a ski holiday?

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by Ben Wilby
Winter caravanning is becoming more and more popular, with the pastime moving away from just the warmer months to becoming a truly all-year-round pursuit. As a result many people may be thinking about taking their tourer with them to a ski resort this winter.
Many resorts offer pitches and facilities to accommodate motorhomes and caravans, and this can be a great way to experience the joys of skiing at a relatively low cost.
Despite this there are a variety of issues and extra problems that can occur with ski holidays.
With this in mind, we at CaravanTimes have taken a closer look at the benefits and problems associated with taking your tourer with you – as well as the preparation required.
Preparing your tourer and taking the right things
Ensuring that you and your tourer are ready for the freezing conditions is an essential part of the trip and could be the difference between an enjoyable time and a disastrous trip.

For starters, snow chains are not only incredibly important, bringing safety and stability in the treacherous conditions associated with ski resorts, but are a legal requirement for many designated roads around the Alps region.
It is also advisable to put chains on your caravan’s wheels as well as your towcar, when snowy conditions hit. This will aid control of the tourer and ensure that it does not skid too much while being towed.
As chains can often be fiddly and difficult to manage it is worth taking the time to try them before going on holiday – putting them on once in clear weather and again during rain or snow to ensure they are easy to put on and fit correctly.

Ensuring that your on-board water will not freeze is also vitally important and making sure you are able to keep it flowing will help your holiday run smoother, while an on-board water tank or adequate on-board water storage is advisable in case of emergencies.
Along with water, gas is vital, keeping your tourer warm when temperatures drop into the minuses. Although more expensive, propane is probably a better option than butane due to its lower freezing point and you will need to take a decent supply to last the trip.
Any outside pipes should be protected against frost and a variety of different solutions can be found for this, from insulation sleeves to heating kits that wrap around pipes to keep them warm.
It is not just the tourer that you have to ensure is ready for the bitter cold – but yourself and family as well. Taking items such as the correct clothing, plenty of spare clothes, sleeping bags and a lot of towels will help you stay warm.
Spending a night in your caravan in Britain at its coldest may also be a good idea. It will provide a similar experience to time spent near snow-covered mountains and will help you learn the best way to keep warm.
Dangers and risks
There are some fairly obvious dangers to taking your tourer on a ski holiday; chief among them is driving in the bad conditions.
Many organisations offer detailed advice on this but a few key rules such as ensuring all windows are de-misted, that you drive at a suitable speed, and clear any snow from your vehicle, will help keep you safe.

When heading to the piste, ensure you listen to and follow all instructions, wear the correct kit and do not attempt hills and roads that you are not ready or equipped for.
Places to stay
If you are not too scared off by the risks, then there are plenty of sites with caravan pitches that you can stay at near some major ski resorts.
For those that want to stay close to home Scotland has a few excellent places to ski, such as the Cairngorm mountains range which has sites like the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park and High Range nearby.
For those whose real passion is the Alps however, there is a variety of different places available, with the Caravan Club having a few sites to cater for eager skiers.
Among these is the Le Champ Du Moulin, located just 300 metres away from cable cars which go directly to the Les Deux Aples ski resort, the site also offers a paragliding for beginners course.
It is also worth exploring what other caravan sites offer. Some such as Camping L’Escale have drying rooms as well as indoor swimming pools and bars to warm up after a long day skiing, while other resorts will be more basic.

Plenty of other sites are also available with varying distances between them and the skiing itself. For those unafraid of driving in harsh conditions some parks are remarkably close to resorts, while others are available that are safer to tow in but have a longer commute to skiing.
Is it worth it?
There is no definitive answer and taking a tourer on a ski holiday will not be for everyone. For the right person however they could be an invaluable way to explore the Alps in a relatively cost-effective way.
Being properly prepared, having experience of towing in difficult conditions, and taking the right equipment will you will all help the journey go smoothly.
It could be best to leave your tourer at a nearby resort and simply drive the last few miles which will likely have worse driving conditions.
But with modern caravans now much better equipped to withstand the cold, there has never been a better time to take your tourer skiing.

Caravan park owner in Scotland loses battle over £70,000 resurfacing work

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by Jack Beresford

Shoreline Management Ltd has lost its battle against paying Tayside Contracts for £70,000 worth of resurfacing work the company completed for the caravan park owners.

The construction firm was originally contracted to complete road surfacing work at the Barry Caravan Park at Carnoustie, Scotland and the Thornton Caravan Park in Fife in May 2008.

However, the tourer park company were evidently unhappy with the work completed and refused to pay a bill of some £70,979.77, opting to instead complete the work themselves.

The result was the ensuing legal battle, with Tayside Contracts demanding the money owed while Shoreline Management made a claim for £84,417.98 – the amount it says it cost to replace the defective resurfacing job.

Despite launching this counter-claim, a Dundee Sheriff Court this week dismissed such suggestions and instead ruled in favour of the contractors, with the caravan park owners now facing hefty bill.

As the Courier reports, the presiding sheriff ruled that Shoreline Management had “failed to establish the counter-claim and Tayside Contracts were entitled to be paid in full”.

Camping and Caravanning Club releases Site Seeker smartphone app

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by Jack Beresford

Finding out about the amenities on offer at the range of Camping and Caravanning Club sites spread across the UK has never been easier – provided you own a smartphone.

The tourer group has launched a new SiteSeeker App which is designed for use on Android and iPhone mobile systems and allows holidaymakers to access information on the nearest Camping and Caravanning sites along with details on any Camping in the Forest sites also nearby.

While the new smartphone tool is likely to prove popular with those seeking a summer retreat in a few months time, it is already being snapped up by some caravanners who are seemingly eager to brave the elements this January.

Over 3,300 online downloads of the new app have already been recorded in just two days, with many more expected in the coming weeks.

Boasting information on site facilities, pitch prices and maps of the club’s 109 sites and 20 forest sites, the app could prove as essential as camping gas when you head off in search of adventure this year.

Senior digital manager Evleen Price said: “It’s important for the Club to continue to expand and improve its services. The new SiteSeeker App is a welcome addition to the Club and it will certainly help campers when they’re trying to find their perfect pitch.”

VIDEO: Bailey gives the Pegasus GT65 a smart new lounge design

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by Chris Jefferies
The recent announcement of the Pegasus GT65 has been greeted with excitement as Bailey has brought over many of the premium Unicorn range’s best features particularly the sunroof.
In this video we step inside a Pegasus GT65 Ancona with Rachel May of Bailey to take a look at the sunroof as well as the new lounge design.
She explains why they decided to add the sunroof to their middle-market tourers, before showing us the changes to the lounge area.
Most importantly, Rachel demonstrates the new bed make up system that is quicker and easier than the old slat-based design.
After this she shows off the new kitchen, which again takes its cues from the Unicorn range and reveals the new dual-fuel hob that fans have been crying out for.
Lastly she goes through the new Ancona layout which has been modified to offer more space and flexibility for a growing family.

Derbyshire caravan theft leads to police helicopter chase

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by Jack Beresford

Two caravan thieves, who attempted to make a daring escape in a stolen car and tourer combo, were the subject of a village based man-hunt last week.

The incident took place in the traditionally sleepy rural setting of Ambergate in Derbyshire, after a local resident reported his caravan, and the green Renault Megane towing it, missing from their home.

Police were soon alerted to the theft, with one local officer successfully tracking down the stolen vehicles, before giving chase.

In a bid to catch the thieving duo, a helicopter and even police dogs were then deployed, with officers chasing the thieves to Woodlands Close in Little Eaton, where they attempted to escape on foot.

The chase continued with officers successfully capturing one of the criminals, with the unnamed man taken in for questioning by officers.

Police are now calling for information on the other thief at the heart of this crime.

Canwell Caravans employee caught after selling £10,000 of stock on eBay

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by Jack Beresford

While caravan thefts remain commonplace across the UK, one man took a novel approach to this particular crime, by stealing parts from caravans at the Warwickshire retailer he worked at – before selling them online.

Craig Baker stole thousands in parts from Canwell Caravans, with the company employee taking parts from the firm’s newly-arrived tourers.

These included cooker knobs, locking nuts and fitted radios, with Mr Baker plundering Canwell Caravans stocks for some four years.

As the Tamworth Herald reports though, it was only after he upped the amount he was stealing from the company that his bosses grew suspicious.

And after noting that there was no evidence of a break-in, they quickly put two and two together and logged onto the well-known online auction site eBay.

Here they found many of the stolen items, which were being sold by the user ‘cameraman’ – an alias used by Mr Baker.

The 31-year-old was subsequently arrested and eventually confessed to stealing some £10,000 worth of accessories.

He received a four-month prison sentence which is suspended for two years along with 200 hours of community work and a £9,500 compensation bill payable to his former employers.

As the news provider reports, the presiding judge noted: “I have seen references suggesting this was out of character. This went on for a very long time, so it’s difficult to say it’s out of character.”

Caravan thefts meanwhile remain an important issue, with one tourer owner in Leicestershire recently reporting the loss of their vehicle.

Value of off-roaders on the rise as UK temperatures drop

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by Jack Beresford

The cold and wet weather may have brought misery to millions across the UK, but for motorists keen to hit the road, it has also prompted a surge in demand for 4×4 vehicles.

This news follows the release of new data from BCA, which highlights the increasing demand for these off-roaders as we begin 2013.

According to the figures (see below), the average value for 4x4s sold through the company climbed by almost £2,000 over the final quarter of 2012.

December saw the highest values of the year for off-roaders, which approached £15,000 and represents an increase of some £2,260 on the November figure.

The increased demand for these rough-and-ready vehicles comes as the UK prepares to enter what could be its coldest period of the year, with many predicting snow and ice over the coming days and weeks.

And commenting on the numbers, BCA representative Tim Naylor expected the correlation to continue.

“There is a well charted trend between falling temperatures and rising values for 4x4s and we would expect to see that continue in the early part of this year,” he said.

Springwatch presenter Simon King to open Scottish Caravan Show

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by Jack Beresford

The upcoming Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show is set to be a wild one with veteran wildlife broadcaster Simon King due to open the event.

Scheduled to start on Thursday 7 February and running until February 10, the event will see a wide variety of tourers, holiday homes and luxury lodges from some of the UK’s top suppliers go only display across five halls of the SECC in Glasgow.

And with a gtreat love for all things outdoors, alongside a passion for caravanning, King represents the perfect choice to mark the start of the show.

The BBC filmmaker will no doubt be keen to discuss his work with the natural world as well as his recent trip around the scenic delights of Scotland along with his ‘Green Goddess’ – a customised Green Bailey Orion caravan.

Caravan Club head of publicity and industry relations Nikki Nichol said: “Simon is one of our most celebrated members and was a natural choice to open the show for us. It’s great that he will be able to welcome both our Club members and show visitors to this fantastic Scottish Show on Caravan Club Day.”

Over 150 companies will be in attendance at the event, with King set to give a talk at the Club’s stand on the opening day.

King is not the only famous wildlife presenter to be appearing at a caravan show this year, with his former Springwatch co-presenter Bill Oddie set to feature at the Manchester caravan show.

Bailey Pegasus GT65: Lower weights announced and prices frozen

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by Chris Jefferies
Prices and weights of the new Bailey Pegasus GT65 range have been released, with the new collection shaping up nicely against its direct competition.
The new Alu-Tech range, which was revealed earlier this week (7 January), will continue Bailey‘s reputation for value.
Each layout in the Pegasus GT65 will have the same RRP as the equivalent version from the 2012 Bailey Pegasus Series II range.
As a result, prices in this collection will range from £16,540 to £19,180 – making them around £1,000 cheaper than their closest rivals, on a layout-for-layout basis.

What’s more, the Bristol-based company has announced the MTPLM weights, which have dropped by as much as 70kgs.
In keeping with Bailey’s promise to make all its single-axle caravans weigh less than 1,500kg, the weights start at 1,286kgs for the Genoa and rise to 1,496kgs for the six-berth Ancona.
Meanwhile, the twin-axle Bologna has shed 64kgs to weigh in at a slender 1,606kgs, bringing it within the safe towing range of more medium-sized family cars.
This has largely been achieved by building the caravans on a narrower chassis, which now measures 2.24m wide, instead of the previous 2.3m.
Pegasus GT65 owners will also get a raft of new specification, including Whale underfloor-mounted heating and a vertical sunroof.
For full weights and prices for the Bailey Pegasus range, click here 

Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show ticket winners announced

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by Chris Jefferies
This year’s Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show looks set to kick of the 2013 caravanning season with a bang, with new models making their debut and several celebrity appearances taking place from January 17 to 20.
Caravan lovers will get their first chance to take a look at the new family layouts in the Swift Challenger SE range, while Bill Oddie will be giving a talk in the Experts Theatre.
Advance tickets are on sale now for £7.50, but 25 lucky CaravanTimes readers will be getting a pair of free tickets thanks to our latest competition.
We’ve had hundreds of entries over the past week, and almost all of you managed to correctly identify Bill Oddie as the member of the Goodies who will be speaking at the event.
So without further ado, the 25 winners are as follows:

Ian Gilmore,

Keith Thorpe,

Joan Mould,

Margaret Hibbert,

Henrick Mrozek,

Keith Robinson,

Stefan Isaew,

Chris Randall,

John Riley,

Darren Pritchard,

Eugene Fitzpatrick,

Lynne Montgomery,

Nigel Fox,

Ronnie Smith,

Diane Pillinger,

Doreen Comerford,

Lee Moore,

Mark Atkinson,

Richard Caten,

Keith Mayhew,

Julie Close,

Chris Matson,

Laurence Silvester,

Ian Tattersall,

David Bird

Congratulations to all of you, we will be in touch via e-mail to arrange delivery of your tickets.
If you missed out this time, then you can still get discounted tickets by booking online and using the code CRT1. Keep checking back with CaravanTimes as we have another competition coming up very soon.

VIDEO: Lending your caravan to friends or family members

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by Chris Jefferies
Caravanning is rarely a solitary pursuit, indeed it is a pastime that families and friends often share.
Some may even put in together to purchase a caravan as a joint investment, while a recent survey showed that one of three would consider lending their prized tourer to people they know.
Lending someone your caravan is not as simple as just giving it to them however, and it is important to ensure that your insurance covers multiple users. Letting your insurer knows who has the tourer when it is being used by someone else is also important.
In this video Ed Cross from Towergate Insurance explains which people are automatically covered and explains how accidents while towing are covered on your insurance.