Caravan Towing Courses Info
The two leading caravanning organisations in the UK, the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club both run courses for official members, so if you’re daunted about the towing tasks that lie ahead, it’s best to consult with one of these organisations as to where you can take a regional test. Alternatively, search around in your local area for any independent driving schools or companies that are offering a dedicated towing course.
A towing course can help a driver both adapt to the difficulties of negotiating a road with the added weight of a caravan in tow and also provide a useful learning environment to understand the safety issues and technicalities that can help make a caravan enthusiast a more responsible road user.
The cost of a caravan towing course can vary, but prices tend to range from around £85-£100+ depending on the level of tuition. The course will cover a variety of different aspects of caravan towing, including reversing, the hitching process, loading, an overview of British laws and regulations in relation to towing and tuition on general driving awareness. Caravan towing courses can be found all around the UK, so it’s best to check online or in the Yellow Pages to find your nearest course centre.
Retro Caravans
Take a look at this slideshow of much loved retro caravans at the Telegraph’s website.
Caravan Cleaning Tips
• Read your Manual – there are lots of different materials on a caravan so you will not find one product to clean them all. Some products may even cause damage to some materials so it is important you read your manual for suggested caravan cleaning products.
• Windows – methylated spirits are great for cleaning glass caravan windows but if your windows are plastic do not use it as it will cause irreparable damage.
• Moulded Body Parts – these are usually made out of acrylic so a kitchen or bathroom cleaner should suffice but read the label first to make sure.
• Tools for the Job – high pressure hoses are brilliant for stripping away tough dirt. Wheel brushes with stiff bristles are excellent for keeping your wheels squeaky clean and mud free.
Spotting Caravan Damp Signs
Water Ingress
The joints in a caravan are under a lot of stress particularly when being towed. New mastic doesn’t last forever and will eventually lose elasticity and fail. When this occurs water penetration is likely. If you are taking an old caravan to the continent then be very careful, if mastic is left in the heat for a long time it can cause it to fail which could mean costly caravan damp repairs are necessary.
Plumbing
Frost damaged components, faulty joints, and cracked sinks are all common causes of damp and often go totally unnoticed. Damp can build up behind wall coverings and underneath the floor without being noticed. It is good practice to check your systems every year to make sure there are no leaks, if there are you can nip the problem in the bud.
Condensation
Condensation happens when the air is cooled to the point of condensing. The main problems with condensation are when a really cold spell is followed by warm moist weather. The warm air will settle on the cold surfaces of the caravan as moisture. You should leave cupboard doors open so that air can circulate.
Concept Caravan
Check out this concept caravan of the future…
Bailey Ranger Touring Caravans
The Bailey Ranger caravan is well equipped yet affordable. The new Bailey Ranger Series is fantastic and has so many improvements on the already excellent touring caravan range. This Bailey Ranger series review will talk a little bit about what these touring caravans have to offer.
The Bailey Ranger has a huge choice of layouts to suit everyone’s individual and family needs. All models have a state of the art body shell which is covered in impact resistant aluminium. The interiors of the Bailey Ranger have been enhanced with high quality furnishings.
The exterior of the Bailey Ranger is impressive. It has a fully bonded exterior body shell. The walls are fully insulated so that you can travel in warmth whatever the weather. The soft furnishings are simply amazing with free standing tables, side dinette, chest of drawers and coffee table you would never guess you were inside a touring caravan.
The bed frames are fixed aluminium and have sprung slats for added comfort. There is storage space underneath the beds if you run out of space in the overhead lockers. There are solid partition doors which can separate the two back bedrooms of the Bailey Ranger Series so you can get some privacy.
Bailey Pegasus 624 Caravan Review
There are 8 models within the Bailey Pegasus caravan range, and the 624 is a four-berth twin axle caravan that has plenty of seating and bedding options. Bedding includes a front double, as well as more room for the adults in the back with another double bed. It is perfect for families thanks to its well equipped kitchen and storage space all around. Upholstery is comfortable and fully sprung. The seating has foot rests which also double up as the bed bases when night falls. The hob has 4 burners, a glass lid, and a splash back at the rear.
The Bailey Pegasus 624 is a caravan that uses spacious and light interiors, modern furniture and the latest security and safety equipment. It also uses a new technology called Alu-Tech which makes for top quality construction. Insulation is well done, meaning the Pegasus can be used for the whole year.
The exterior has a gas barbecue point, as well as a wet locker storage compartment. The 230v external socket means you can plug into caravan sites and enjoy all the power you need. There is a simple to use compartment for a water tank that can be moved on wheels, and a wheel lock for your security. Double glazed windows, LED lit handles and a front gas locker compartment all contribute to the ease of use for the Pegasus.
Bailey Pegasus 624 Spec
• 4 berth – twin axle
• MPTLM – 1,661kg
• Total user payload: 223kg
• Overall length: 7.865m
• Width: 2.28m
• Height: 2.63m
• Front Double Bed: 6’10”x5’11”
• Rear Double: 6’4”x4’6”
Other Bailey Pegasus Models
There are 8 Bailey Pegasus caravan models, all with different layouts and berth numbers. These are:
462 – 2 berth
514 – 4 berth
524 – 4 berth
534 – 4 berth
546 – 6 berth
554 – 4 berth
646 – 6 berth twin axle
Airstream 684 Double Caravan Review
Airstream makes some of the world’s most recognisable caravans and have been in business for more than 75 years. This American company has seen somewhat of a revival in recent years as the new trend for “glamping” (glamorous camping and caravanning) has really taken off. The Airstream’s unique silver exterior gives it a distinctly retro and stylish appearance that stand out in a crowd. The interiors are just as unique, with a minimalist and functional feel.
Airstream 684
The Airstream 684 is the larger option of Airstreams. The fixed double bed version can sleep up to 4 people and is spacious enough for all to be comfortable. Bedding areas are located at either end of the caravan, with the kitchen, dining and bathrooms areas in between.
Airstream 684 Features include:
• Double fixed bed
• Digital LCD control panel
• 4 reading lights
• 7 power outlets
• Optional air conditioning
• External utility shower
• Separate internal shower cubicle
• CD/Radio/Mp3
• Fixed dining table
• Blackout curtains
Caravan Polling Station
Retro Caravanning
Retro caravans are having a revival, prompting a new generation of quirky campers.
Young Couple's Retro Caravan
IT MAY look like something straight out of the 1950s, but this retro caravan has all the mod cons, including its very own ‘motor mover’. Not only does it look the business, it can move up a steep incline of its own accord.
Designed by German aircraft engineer Eric Bachemlong, original Eriba caravans are relatively hard to find in Britain. They became known for their comfort and ability to withstand the test of time.
The caravan is fairly basic inside and was in good condition when the couple bought it – complete with gold curtains, small stove, a fridge and two single settees which turn into a double bed. It has a small toilet and shower, but no hot water (something they’ve discovered campers on the continent aren’t bothered about). Apart from buying a few small carpets, cutlery, plates and a Microwave – and getting digital TV installed – it was fully furnished. Even if it did stand out a mile.
According to Mintel, the camping and caravanning holiday market was worth £11.24m in 2009, up three per cent on the previous year, a rise driven by the trend for domestic holidays or staycations. One in five adults has been on a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years, and a further seven per cent would like to in the future. That means a whopping 4.2 million of us are planning a holiday night under the stars in the near future. Jon Dale, of The Camping and Caravanning Club, says: “From our early advance booking figures, which are up five per cent on this time last year, it looks as though this season could be just as busy, if not even busier, which is terrific news for the outdoor industry as a whole.”
Full article found on the Living Northeast website 11 May ‘10.