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One of those very smart Scandinavian design trailer tents, at the NEC, October 2008
Article from: My Family UK
It’s really important as a family to get outdoors and active together. Days out are great – but why not go the extra mile and stay out under the stars? Take the kids camping!
Family Camping
With wildlife as your neighbour, to-die-for scenery and acres of space for the kids to run about in and make new friends, camping is an awesome family adventure. It’s come a long way from simply throwing an old tent up in a soggy field. From yurts to castles, family camping is always fun, and My Family UK have chosen 10 of our favourites for you.
1) Clippesby Hall, Norfolk
www.clippesby.com
The amount on offer here is just staggering: loads of different pitches, for camping and touring, to suit all requirements. Lodges and cottages are also available. You can hire bikes and go exploring or stick around and make use of the heated outdoor pool, football pitch, mini-golf, tennis courts, table-tennis, and volleyball facilities. There’s a cool tree-house to picnic at and an onsite family pub, all of which is set in the grounds of the Hall itself.
2) Pinewoods Holiday Park, Wells
www.pinewoods.co.uk
With its colourful beach huts lining a stretch of the North Norfolk Heritage Coast, the scent of pine and sea welcomes you to this fantastic family base. Camp in the soft coastline fields, walk down the beach, or rent bikes and explore Holkham Nature Reserve’s woods and Abraham’s Bosom, one of the only land-locked salt water lagoons in the UK.
There is also a miniature railway to trundle you the half-mile journey to the charming town of Wells-On-Sea, with plenty of shops and pubs.
3) Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park, North Berwick
www.meadowhead.co.uk
Looking out over the waters of the Firth of Forth, this campsite has stunning views over the countryside. But, set in the grounds of a 14th-century castle you’ll also be looking out over history! You can storm the battlements of Tantallon Castle from your own tent or stay in a base camp of luxury wooden wigwams. Boat trips out to Bass Rock island can be arranged and you can also explore the Scottish Seabird Centre overlooking the beach.
4) Bosworth Water Trust, Warwickshire
www.bosworthwatertrust.co.uk
At Bosworth, families pitch their tents and park their caravans around a vast lake, on which you can windsurf, sail and canoe to your heart’s content. There are 56 electrical points and all plots are individually marked out to guarantee a good bit of room for the family to spread out. The site gets busy in summer, and as camping is only available to families (and couples over 23) it’s a wonderful environment for youngsters to find new friends.
5) Larkhill Tipis, Carmarthenshire
www.larkhilltipis.co.uk
You and the kids can spend a weekend pretending to be Sioux warriors in this corner of South-West Wales. You’ll stay in ‘tipis’ furnished with sheepskin rugs, storage trunks, candles, and futons with lots of pillows and cushions. Outside you can hike in the hills, walk in the meadows and get lost in a seven-ringed labyrinth onsite.
6) Great Langdale, Lake District
www.langdalecampsite.org.uk
This is one of those classic campsites where families of all ages come for breathtaking scenery. It’s the best way for anyone to escape the hectic strains of everyday life. Stay in your own tent or in a specially-design camping pods, made from locally-grown wood, build a fire and settle down in the clean air.
7) Really Green Camping, Isle of Wight
www.thereallygreenholidaycompany.com
More yurts here but in this orchard setting there’s an emphasis on environmentally friendly low-impact holidaying. There are wood-burning stoves, compost toilets and solar showers. But going green won’t mean getting uncomfortable: there are four poster beds and continental breakfasts on demand. All sorts of outdoor activities are available, as are board games to relax with in the evening.
Owl’s Gate, Bodmin
www.belletentscamping.co.uk
This very British spin on the ethno-camping currently in vogue (yurts, tipis and the like), is brilliant for picnicking under a sunshade among butterflies and wild flowers. You stay in circus-style bell-tents within a self-contained site that includes a fully furnished bedroom tent (beds, duvets, chest of drawers) and a kitchen complete with fridge, hob and dining tables.
9) The Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
www.threecliffsbay.com
Sometimes keeping it simple is the best thing: there are no gimmicks here, just stunning sea views and the beach. The horseshoe bay on the camp’s doorstep was once voted the best view in Wales. There are plenty of walks along the cliffs, windsurfing, water skiing and a 540-acre nature reserve.
10) Snail Trail VW Camper Vans
www.snailtrail.co.uk
This isn’t strictly a campsite, but that’s the beauty of it. Pile into a retro VW campervan (modern Brazilian reproductions) and you and the kids can roam anywhere in the UK. With their kitchenettes, pop-up roofs, i-Pod-connectable radios and room for four, you’re equipped for any campsite or day out. Each van comes with a Camping and Caravanning Club Privilege Pack, giving you member’s rates at any of the club sites.
Further Information
For more information and other tips on family holidays, check out www.myfamilyuk.com. We’ve got loads more articles that can help you and your loved ones plan a special trip away, as well as offers, competitions and treats for you.
The Caravan insurance policies are usually made by people who own a touring Caravan; this is because people who own them understand the needs better and can help it to be more affordable and flexible. The Insurance from Quotline Direct have teamed up with Caravan Guard to get the right cover at the right place. An Old Caravan insurance scheme is replaced by a new one once in five years if the car is damaged beyond repair or stolen. Touring Caravans, single or double axled comes under the Caravan insurance coverage. This policy also covers damages due to storm. This policy is flexible; it provides insurance not only inside UK but also for all your Europe trips. Caravan insurance also provides Holiday Caravans for emergency situations.
Caravan Insurance UK aims to provide online service covering the insurance for both the touring and static caravans. Since Caravans are expensive even if you buy a second hand one it is important to protect it.
There are generally two types of Caravans:
Touring Caravans are ones that are towed behind a vehicle and allows travellers to camp as well as travel anywhere with in Europe or UK. Static Caravans are ones that are semi-permanent pitch-able vehicles which are fitted with water pipes, sewers and electricity. The Caravan insurance for both of them is different because they cover different risks. Touring Caravans have issues such as being involved in a collision, road accidents etc. Static Caravans may be involved in havoc caused by nature for example flooding of the area where it is parked or falling of trees. One main risk in both the types of Caravans is thievery.
Caravan Quoters provide the best Caravan Insurance policies at an affordable rate. Some of the Caravan insurance companies offer discounts for club ownership, installation of security measures and no-claim bonuses.
Funny Ford Truck and Trailer
You have purchased the touring caravan, you have spent weeks looking over the route on your maps, the car’s jammed full of everything your family might need on a two week holiday, the cats been given to granny to look after, the open road is calling you. All that has been left to do at the last minute is attach the car to the caravan, who hard can it be?
It is typically at this point in the caravan holiday that everybody realises the weight of stuff they’ve packed into the caravan to go on holiday. “It was a lot easier in the showroom” is what you can hear most people say the first time they try and hitch up their new caravan after filling it with holiday clothes for a family of four. If you think that’s heavy wait until the return journey home when you’ve bought half of Europe’s beer and wine and a souvenir from every town you visited.
You eventually swallow your pride and ask some neighbours to help you, but they won’t be able to help when you get to your holiday destination, what will you do there when unhitching and setting up or hitching up to come home? Again you’ll swallow your pride and ask others around you to help, but it doesn’t have to be like that. There is a simple piece of equipment that can make the whole process of hitching and un-hitching caravans really easy.
The Caravan Motor Mover is something that is used everyday at the caravan showrooms but is seldom mentioned when your buying your new or used caravan. Now I don’t think it’s an intentional ommission by the caravan sales staff but with so many add extra features I guess its not put on the importabce list. For many however a caravan motor mover can be the difference of having a great holiday or worrying about how they will start and end the holiday.
There’s a few different manufacturers of caravan motor movers, Powrline, Truma, Reich, Rhyno to name a couple of them, but in theory they all have the equivalent function, to move your caravan for you. There are models that will move double axel caravans weighing up to 2500kg just every bit as easy as moving single axle caravans weighing a great deal less.
Contemporary caravan motor movers all include some type of smooth stop and start to preclude your caravan pitching forward or backwards. They function with efficiency and all ground types even snow, grit, gravel and even the muddy grass of your caravan site, you should never find yourself in a position were you can not move your caravan. They’ll pull your caravan up slopes and easy them gently down hills just equally as safe.
Running off a 12v battery, caravan motor movers operate by compressing a rough roller against the caravan tyres and slowly (30cm/min) turning. The rollers can be controlled at the same time on each tyre to pull in a straight line or independently to permit the caravan to turn. All single and most double axel caravan motor movers will revolve the caravan on its own axes, cutting back the space needed to manoeuvre the caravan.
A caravan motor mover is such a good addition to your caravan they should be equipped as standard in my opinion. Regrettably they’re not but it’s something I advocate you invest in as soon as you buy your caravan.
Karl enjoys holidays and weekend breaks in his caravan with his family. He blogs about his knowledge on the caravan motor mover and why everyone should have one fitted to their caravan. He owns a Truma caravan mover but writes about other caravan movers like the Reich caravan motor mover just one of the many mentioned at his blog.
Caravans appeal to many people, those who want the simplistic pleasures of the open road and those who want more affordable holidays for themselves and their families.
However the big question remains, how do you know what choice is right for you?
Should you be safe and buy a brand new caravan or should you spend the time scouring the second hand market? Whether it be new or used there are many things you need to consider before making your big purchase.
Used Caravans
Its spring and you’re looking to get your first caravan but you have no idea what’s good, what’s bad and what is going to collapse in a mound of caravan panels the moment you leave the second hand dealers forecourt.
Buying a caravan is for many people a very large investment towards their leisure time. What you don’t want to happen is for that leisure time to be taken up fixing hitches, doors, chemical toilets and windows. Unless you know what you’re looking for, buying a new caravan or at least one with a good second hand warranty is probably the best option, if you can afford it of course!
Whilst caravans have been getting much better over the years, because it’s a house on wheels there is a lot more to consider and be aware of when buying. It’s not quite as easy as buying a car!
The major things to consider when buying a second hand caravan are:
- Check for rust, especially around the chassis area, and underneath the van. If there is fresh paint then it could be the sign of a quick cover-up. Rust is a big problem with caravans and is very expensive to fix.
- Check everything, from the cooker to the fridge, beds and windows. If you don’t you’re bound to find something that bites you later on. Even if there is nothing major to be found, minor faults can be a good way to bargain with the seller on price.
- Check for water leaks and dampness. Make sure you check any pipes in the van, also look around windows and the roof for signs of water damage and thus signs of leakage. If there is a smell of damp in the air then there could also be a problem. A leaking caravan is a miserable place to be.
- Check the tow hitch, make sure it moves easily and that the handbrake holds the van when on. You don’t want to be slithering down the hill into the lake now do you!
- Is the van the right size for you? Can it fit the kids and yourselves without getting cramped? You also need to be sure the van is not too big for your car. Causing stress to you car by pulling a large van is a quick route to expensive engine problems.
- If you’re new to caravanning then make sure you take a test drive pulling the van before you go on your holiday. Towing a caravan calls for a very different, more cautious approach to driving.
- As with most second hand items, always view a good number before making a decision, chances are the first one isn’t going to be the best deal. Don’t get goaded in by the seller trying to force a quick sale by suggesting there are hoards of other buyers just waiting to snap up their shoddy caravan.
- Lastly, haggle if possible! Don’t start at the price you want to pay, always start well below and bargain up. If you find this difficult to do, practice in the mirror or with a friend before, failing that take a trip to Bali to see how the experts operate!
New Caravans
The “New Caravan” market is packed with different models touting features and services that to the newcomer can be confusing and befuddling. Fundamentally you need to understand your own needs before purchasing. It can be expensive, so ensuring the right decision is made is essential!
Hopefully the following points will give you the information you need to know and help highlight exactly what kind of considerations need to be made before buying a new caravan.
- The first and major consideration is the weight of the caravan. Your towing vehicle will have a limit to the weight it can tow. For those new to the world of caravanning, the importance of this can be underestimated! Your vehicle will have a maximum towing weight for a reason, towing anything heavier could be seriously dangerous. The last thing you need when travelling is a busted vehicle in the middle of no-where! Normally this information can be found in the car’s handbook although there are a number of internet websites that will allow buyers to enter their vehicle details into a system that will produce a list of suitable caravans for your towing capacity.
- The overall shape of any caravan being viewed should also be a factor when buying. The older varieties of caravans are square in form and will increase the drag on your outfit, subsequently increasing costs in the long run in terms of fuel efficiency. New caravans utilize more streamlined designs to decrease the drag and increase the fuel efficiency. For those who are especially concerned with fuel prices it is possible to buy Caravans that are collapsible, these flat pack outfits do reduce drag however, in no way are they as comfortable as rigid variants.
- Caravans vary in length and size immensely. While the showier caravan owners may be inclined to buy the largest most opulent outfit, this is not always advisable for newcomers. The longer the outfit the harder it is to park and control, hence first timers should consider a smaller caravan, at least for an introductory period. If space is a major consideration, there is always the option to pack an awning. This will not only be cheaper, but also will make the outfit easier to park with no sacrifice being made on space. In addition, longer caravans are often susceptible to higher fees on toll roads and ferries.
- In the majority of cases new caravans come in two axle varieties, single and double. Normally it is the larger outfits that require two axles and smaller varieties only one. Single axle variants are easier to park and while in the past they may have been less stable, today they are just as stable as double axle varieties – something to consider!
- Lastly, if you’re not sure whether a caravan is the right choice for you, rent one for a few weeks, take the family on a holiday, and see if the life-style suits you!
Buying a caravan is a big expensive decision, don’t get one if it’s going to sit on the drive-way for the next 5 years! Consider how often it will be used, you may be better off renting one for the few weeks’ use it might get.
For more information on RV’s and related topics, visit http://www.ozrvsales.com.au
Justin Dravsnik – Ozrvsales.com.au
Australia’s No.1 recreational vehicle classifieds website. At Ozrvsales.com.au, we showcase a huge range of new and used caravans, motorhomes, campervans, camping trailers, trailers and even horse floats available for sale within Australia.
Justin Dravsnik ? Founder of www.ozrvsales.com.au
Caravans are basically camp trailers. They are most commonly called caravans in other countries, however here in the US they go by RVing or camp trailers. Caravans are basically a house on wheels. In true overland fashion, the caravans we will be discussing are the ones capable of going off-road. Off-road might be asking a lot for the size of a caravan. Unimproved roads are more up their alley. Finding off-road capable caravans/camp trailers in the US can be rare. The most popular place on earth to find true off-road capable caravans is Australia. Hands down the best in the world when it comes to off-road capable caravans.
What you need to look for in purchasing an Overlanding Caravan:
Suspension and Frame: This is the foundation of the whole caravan. Make sure to pick one that is build right. Look for a company that as added braces. Also look for high clearance options. Some trailers use axles that can be flipped for more clearance. This is OK for moderate unimproved roads. The best would be independent suspension. The most common axle found under US built caravans are torsion axles. These actually do fairly well off-road. They are not considered the “best” trailer suspension however. Fully independent suspension is considered the best.
The pros at Bushtracker explain it better than I can:
“The main reason for an Independent Suspension is that it breaks up harmonic motion; which is the biggest destroyer of caravans! It occurs in normal suspensions when the speed of the moving suspension coincides with the ruts in the road so that the bounces build on themselves creating a destructive force. The fully independent suspension cancels out this harmonic motion. That is why the military demands independent suspension, and so does Bushtracker.
The second reason and why Load Sharing is so important is it reduces the shock to the van. This happens as the front wheel transfers half of the load onto the rear wheel when it hits something, and when the rear wheel hits the obstacle it shifts half of the load back on to the front wheel. The net effect is that the suspension articulates over obstacles, rather than transferring the entire shock to the van twice with each wheel.. You only get this in an Independent and Load Sharing Suspension with Bushtracker.”
If you plan to spend a good portion of your overlanding on roads that are not paved, I think personally that galvanized or aluminum frames are a must. Most wood framed trailers are put together with staples and that just shakes apart over corrugated roads.
Quality Parts: A caravan that is put together “loosely” is a major problem after miles of dirt road. The doors wont shut right, the windows don’t seal, gaps everywhere let in miles of dirt and grime, not to mention any sort of water crossings. Cheap plastic fittings break allowing cabinet doors to open. Cheap wood allows screw to pull out. You literally will shake the trailer apart.
That is a fair start. Stay tuned as I add more to this caravan category.
