Archive for the ‘Advice & Information’ Category

Make Money with Your Caravan

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

One of the most attractive draws of caravanning is the price tag.  After the initial investment, holidaying costs become almost negligible.  The costs of petrol, food, gas and site fees are your primary outlays, but shouldn’t break the bank.

If, however, you fancy making this cost-effective form of holidaying into an even cheaper, or even lucrative, activity, you’ll be pleased to know that there are actually ways of making money using your caravan.

Consider the facts.  Your caravan probably cost you at least a few thousand to buy, either new or second hand.  In return, you get use of it for your holidays each year.  Depending on your lifestyle habits, this could mean extensive use or just a couple of weeks per year.  Either way, the down-time of your caravan usage is likely to be fairly large.

So why pay for storage of your caravan for the rest of the year?  Or even if you store it yourself, why lose out on it’s under use?  Why not rent out – or sublet – your caravan for the times when you are not using it?

By renting out your caravan, you could easily earn enough to cover the costs of your own caravan holidays, and might even find yourself with a few spare pennies to keep for yourself too.

So what are the options for renting out your caravan?

Well, probably the easiest option is to sign your caravan up to a private rental firm.  These organisations will sort out all of the advertising, administration and practicalities of hiring out your caravan.  Some organisations even store your caravan for the entire time that you are not using it – effectively acting as a timeshare where you merely book in when you want your own holiday.

Of course, the disadvantages of these organisations are evident too.  They will take a commission off the top of your rental income.  Depending on your aims, it may also seem like too much of a deviation from your ideal holidaying scenario.  You won’t be able to just zoom off on holiday whenever the mood takes you, which may take some of the joy out of the pursuit for you.

Another option, made vastly easier thanks to the widespread nature of the internet, is to rent out your caravan one-to-one.  Finding a customer and arranging the rental may take more work on your part, but protects you from the fees of an external company.  There are many websites and forums that offer to connect those who want to let and rent caravans.

So how much could you expect to make?

Obviously, how much you can charge for your caravan depends on its age, quality and specifications.  For a simple test, check how much similar models to yours are being rented out for.  You should be able to find out in no time how much you might make.

You’ll also need to factor in the costs of marketing, cleaning and any extra travel.  But as long as you aren’t expecting to make a banker’s salary from the arrangement, you should be pleasantly surprised by this potential source of income.

Renting out your caravan can be lucrative, but it does carry its own risks.  Make sure you’ve got a good Caravan Insurance policy to cover you and your caravan.

Tracking Devices

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Imagine the scene.  You’ve been holidaying in Cornwall and have spent the day out at the beach.  Despite locking your caravan securely including doors, windows and wheels, somebody has managed to break in.  You return to find an empty spot at the site.

At this point, naturally, you contact the police.  You provide your details and the details of your caravan.  Unfortunately, despite all their best efforts, the police will invariably find your predicament a difficult one to solve.  The thief will have changed the number plates, leaving a largely nondescript caravan to find.

Not only does this situation deprive you of your caravan home, but also any of your possessions stored within it.  For all the preventative methods you can employ, this occurrence is never entirely avoidable.

Luckily, tracking devices can provide a fantastic safety net for caravan theft.  Using satellite technology similar to that in your GPS Navigation system – tracking devices are securely attached to your caravan so that the vehicle can be located after theft by the police.

There are a number of different types of caravan tracking devices, one of which could work perfectly for you.

Target Tracker
When you buy one of these devices you are also given a phone number.  On discovering a theft, simply call the operator and they will be able to activate the tracker device on your caravan.  For those concerned about privacy, these systems are ideal since they cannot be operated without direct user permission.  Once located, the police will be given the details for recovery.

Phantom Target
Phantom makes some of the most reliable security systems available, and their products come with outstanding safety ratings.  Attaching to the backup batteries of your caravan, these devices will not even be deactivated if the thieves cut the main power for the vehicle.  The average period for recovery time using one of these devices is a tiny two hours.

Phantom Pro-Active
As well as providing the standard location information, this model is able to communicate security related information back to the central call centre, which can then be passed on to you the user or to the police.  For example, motion sensors can pick up any unexpected activity, or cutting mains power would also alert the call centre.

RAC Trickster Pro-Active
This greatly respected automobile club offers their own tracking services.  Any unauthorised movement of your caravan will trigger an alarm to the central call centre.  You will then be contacted in an effort to ascertain whether the action is malicious or of your own doing.  This service is also offered for a whole range of other vehicles, and all are professionally and discreetly fitted.

Of course, nobody wants to become the victim of theft.  Caravans, in particular, can be an extremely vulnerable and valuable item to lose.  Preventative measures are always advisable however to a determined thief they will act only as barriers.  For added peace of mind, tracking devices offer an excellent second-response to theft.  Whichever anti-theft methods you choose, keep your peace of mind by taking out Caravan Insurance too.

Festival Caravanning

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Music festivals are the realm of euphoria, relaxation and great experiences.  Sadly, rain, sleepless nights and mud creep in and can often spoil visitors’ enjoyment drastically.

In the UK at the moment, festivals are becoming one of the most popular summer activities.  There are hundreds of festivals throughout the year around the country, ranging from a few hours to a few weeks long.  Even better, the choice of music, entertainment and themes are wide enough to impress any aficionado or casual listener.

So how can you hit the festivals without slumming it?  Take your caravan!

Most major UK festivals now have provision for caravans.  You’ll even find special caravan service providers at some of the largest festivals.

The advantages of taking your caravan to a festival can be obvious, but there are more subtle benefits too.  Firstly, expect to keep yourself far dryer in a caravan than in a tent.  Unfortunately, festivals seem to be unfairly plagued by bad weather, but with a caravan you’ll be able to dry yourself off after a hard day’s partying, and enjoy a warm night.

Whilst you can feasibly stock up a tent with mattresses and duvets, you’ll find that you can make up a far more comfortable bed in your caravan.  What’s more, rather than lugging round heavy or cumbersome bedding, it’ll all be stored for you en-route.

Another major concern about festivals is their toileting facilities.  Save yourself the horrors of spending a penny on the final days of the festival by bringing your own caravan (with toilet) to the site.  You might even have an on-board shower, although beware that this could incur scorn from fellow ‘rightfully un-showered’ festival goers.

As with any good plan, there are still some drawbacks.  Booking a site for your caravan will likely set you back more money than a standard tent pitch.  Worse still, the caravan sites are sometimes positioned further away from the action than standard areas.  This is a compromise which could work for you, or might leave you unimpressed.

Furthermore, it is also important to consider your entry to the festival.  Due to the sheer scale of many modern festivals, campsites can be a long distance from major roadways.  You can, therefore, sometimes be forced to travel over large amounts of natural terrain – a possible challenge if your caravan or car finds off-road journeying difficult.

Despite these problems, though, caravanning can be the perfect way to experience festivals, even if they’ve never appealed to you before.

The big festivals, all of which are fully accessible to caravanners, are Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds and V festivals.  For watching the major headliners from Muse to Stevie Wonder, there’s nowhere better.

On the other hand, smaller festivals can provide unforgettable experiences despite their lack of household names.  The Secret Garden Party, or Rob Da Bank’s Bestival on the Isle of Wight are both extremely successful and popular smaller festivals.

If unbearable conditions have dissuaded you from attending festivals in the past, but something still inspires you about the idea, your caravan can provide the ideal compromise.  Don’t suffer for your enjoyment, take your caravan and have a great time in comfort.  Whatever use you find for your caravan, make sure you’ve taken out good Caravan Insurance.

Choose Your Caravan Carefully

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Buying a caravan is a uniquely challenging experience.  Not only do you encounter all the trials and tribulations of purchasing a ‘home’, but also the confusing specifications which come with a new vehicle.

Those who find decision making tricky will be saddened to learn that caravans come in huge numbers of types and styles.  But fear not, because there are clear advantages and disadvantages of each, so you should be able to determine exactly the right type for you.

Static Caravan
Although designed for transport, caravans do not have to move anywhere at all.  In fact, if you enjoy hitting the same spots every holiday period, parking up your caravan permanently can have distinct advantages.  If you manage to arrange a good deal with the site owner, you could end up saving money overall in transport and site fees, despite a land rental cost.  Static caravans also allow you to build up permanent features around the vehicle, such as gardens or pot plants.

Mobile Caravans
Of course, there’s nothing better than the freedom of being able to hit the open road before parking up at the spot of your choosing.  Mobile caravans come in a huge range of styles.  Long gone are the days when caravanning was entirely about cold baked-beans and uncomfortable tin beds.  Features can include anything from kitchens and beds to baths, flat screen TVs and mood lighting.  The larger mobile caravans are often fitted with a double axel, but beware that these will significantly increase your fuel consumption on the journey.

Folding Caravans
Not everybody has vast amounts of freely available parking space in which to store a caravan for most of the year.  For these people, folding caravans can provide the perfect solution; full functionality at the fraction of the size.  Tow your caravan to the site, and then simply unfold it to full size.  This can be a good option for those concerned about towing such a large vehicle on the roads.  Disadvantages include sometimes high set up times, and a lack of storage space for luggage within the caravan.

Slide Out Caravans
Some of the newest technology to appear in the caravan market has been the slide out caravan.  Operating in a range of different ways, from extension panels in the middle of the vehicle to instantly accessible extra rooms below the caravan, slide out caravans help keep the vehicle become more manageable on the road whilst maximising living space during the holiday.  Again, this can cause some limitations in terms of luggage storage.  Another key considerations is that, however well tested they are, extensive moving parts in caravans can occasionally be subject to wear and tear.

Choosing the right caravan for you isn’t easy, but it is worth putting in the effort into researching the market before you buy.  If you’re really stuck, it can be possible to rent caravans for a test holiday before you decide.

Whichever caravan you opt for, make sure that you have covered it fully with Caravan Insurance.

Green Caravanning

Monday, July 19th, 2010

How does your caravan holiday affect the environment?  This may well be a question that you have asked yourself.  Perhaps other people have mentioned the issue to you.  On the other hand, you may not have considered it at all.

One thing’s for sure – the caravan industry has definitely been considering the question thoroughly.  Green caravanning is a major issue, and is becoming something of a battle ground for service providers, campsites and manufacturers all competing for the best credentials.

For a start, all caravanners have something to feel good about.  By driving, rather than flying, to your holiday destination, you are significantly reducing the strain on airline fuels (which are, of course, a major contributor to global warming).

However, you probably won’t be able to use a particularly low-fuel-consumption car to tow your heavy caravan around the country or the continent.  Many of the best towing cars in fact perform very poorly in terms of green credentials.

There are many ways that you can reduce this adverse affect of your holiday.  For a start, consider hiring a car for your holiday towing needs, rather than using a gas-guzzler year-round.  If you only need the power and size for one holiday a year, this would prove a far more energy efficient (and probably cheaper) option.

When you are on the road, remember that reducing your speed to 75% of top speed can halve your fuel consumption.  Take your sweet time on the road, enjoy the journey at a relaxed pace and you’ll be doing your bit to save energy.

Whatever car you drive, undergoing a service or checking procedure before you set off can flag up issues which would cause low energy efficiency.  Under-inflated tyres (either of the car or caravan) can add huge strains on your vehicle, and waste fuel.

Another important environmental consideration is the campsites themselves.  Whilst caravanners are renowned for being a respectful group who are mindful of their surroundings, some campsites can create eyesores in beautiful landscapes, or damage the local area through misuse.

Many of the major caravan sites, such as those owned by The Caravan Club, have introduced rules and procedures to ensure high environmental standards for their sites.  Energy efficiency tests, recycling facilities and wildlife audits are all key parts of keeping these standards high.

Recognising such efforts, the David Bellamy Conservation Awards, set up in 1996, encourage site owners to pay attention to keeping caravanning green.  For holiday-makers, the award gives a clear indication of which sites to visit if they are concerned for the environment.  The awards are offered after inspection by environmental professionals who assess according to strict standards.

Of course, it isn’t enough just to park up at an environmentally friendly campsite.  Individual holidaymakers also have to make the effort in respecting their environment and contributing to the site’s efforts.

Green caravanning doesn’t have to involve stresses and strains.  It might involve some small compromises or changes in habits, but for the most part the benefits outweigh the costs.  Whilst you are planning changes, don’t forget to check that your caravan is fully covered with Caravan Insurance.

Campfire Tips

Friday, May 21st, 2010
A camp fire

A camp fire

For many people, a camp fire is the highlight of any weekend spent away in a caravan. Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of sitting around camp fires, toasting marshmallows, singing songs and telling ghost stories as the fire died down to its embers. By the same token, a poorly constructed camp fire can ruin a weekend; if not built properly it can refuse to light, and of course the fire getting out of control and becoming dangerous is to be avoided at all costs.

Before you start building a camp fire it is important to prepare properly. Make sure you choose a clear, level area, well away from your own and other people’s cars, tents and caravans. Make sure there are no overhanging branches and that your spot is not in the way of a strong wind. To prepare the site, build a ring around where you want your fire to be with stones – this will help contain the ash and stop the fire spreading.

For a camp fire you need three types of fuel – tinder (paper or similar), kindling (small sticks) and firewood (larger sticks). First build a loose grid with your kindling, then scrunch your paper and fit around and on top of your grid. Finally, build a pyramid shape over your tinder and kindling structure using the firewood, resting the sticks against the pile and each other. Make sure your fire structure is reasonably secure – this will make the fire safer as it is less likely to be blown over. When you are ready for your fire, light the tinder and the rest of the fuel should catch around it.

For safety, never leave your fire unattended or your children unsupervised around it, and keep a bucket of water handy. Do not put anything other than wood and paper on your fire – plastics, in particular, can be very toxic. Also, make sure your fire is completely out before you leave or go to bed, as even if it looks dead, coals can remain extremely hot and reignite later – it’s best to pour water on it and stir around the ashes with a stick.

If used safely, and as long as site regulation allow it, camp fires can be a real high point of a caravanning holiday. Remember to check your caravan insurance before you light though!

The Old Brick Kilns Park

Monday, May 10th, 2010

If you are looking for a great place to take your caravan in Norfolk then The Old Brick Kilns Park in Barney near Fakenham is well worth a look. Set in the heart of North Norfolk this award winning, landscaped park is designed with the family in mind. It is in a quiet, rural location and boasts an outdoor children’s play area, an indoor play area with table tennis, a pool table and television. There is a small fishing lake stocked with carp, bream, rudd and tench (I had some great fun catching them).

The Old Brick Kiln Park

The Old Brick Kiln Park

There are over sixty spacious semi hard standing pitches for your caravan, tent or trailer tent. There are some lovely local walks from the park where there is an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife. Norfolk’s lovely beaches are not far away if you fancy a day by the sea away from your caravan.

There is a chef serviced restaurant at the park where all food is prepared on site. The restaurant is open on select nights. Their website is very informative, click here to visit online.

The owners are really friendly and helpful too, I had a very nice week here at Easter. Give it a try!

Before you leave make sure you have obtained your caravan insurance, don’t leave home without it!

Gary

lifesureman

Caravanning Kids

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Most children love camping, caravanning, motorhoming, or anything to do with staying outdoors. The sense of normal rules being suspended and lots of time spend in the outdoors as a family make for a perfect holiday for kids. Sometimes, however, they need persuading that going out in the caravan for the first time ever, or the first time after a long break, is going to be fun. Here are some tips for kindling their enthusiasm.

Grumpy looking child

Grumpy looking child

  • First off, make sure that all the basics are right – that they are not going to be cold or wet or hungry – a bad experience can put children off for years. Always take at least three times the number of children’s clothes you think you’ll need, assume it’ll be colder than you think, and always carry treat size chocolate bars about your person.
  • Consider the needs of the whole family when you’re selecting a campsite. Children need quiet in the evenings, and many caravan parks have a children’s play area, or other attractions they may be interested in, such as a duck pond or woodland.
  • Think about letting your children plan the whole holiday under supervisio. If you’re not fussy about where you’re going or what you’re doing, this can be an excellent way to get kids involved and have a holiday in an area you’ve never even considered. For older children you could go more in depth and get a lot of educational value out of this – ask them to plan the route, work out the budget, plan the budget and use the internet to research local attractions and learn about their history.
  • If all else fails, harness the power of Roald Dahl. He wrote his books in a caravan, which you can go and visit at his house, now a charming museum (http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/). There is also a Roald Dahl book about a boy and his father who live together in a caravan – Danny the Champion of the World. A read of that to a young child will have them desperate to get in the caravan again!

Enjoying a caravan or motorhome trip as a family can be a real joy, and produce memories that you will all cherish forever. However, it is even more important than usual that you make sure your Caravan Insurance is up to date before you head out – children are lovely, but can produce more accidents than usual…

My Favourite Caravan Park

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

 

lake

Being a caravan owner myself (a very well cared for Buccaneer Caravel) I thought I would share my favourite place to visit. I have been to Devon, Cornwall, Somerset,Sussex and Kent which are all lovely but I think Norfolk is my favourite, in particular Deers Glade Caravan Park situated just off the A140 south of Cromer.

 

shopfront

It is set in a woodland clearing and caters for caravans, motor caravans and tents. There are two modern, clean shower blocks on site, a shop, a children’s play area, a fishing lake and many woodland trails. Last year from my awning I could see owls hunting in the meadow across from the fishing lake. It really is the most relaxing caravan park I have visited, the fishing lake is a big bonus for me and holds a few decent sized carp as well as tench, bream and roach.

Cromer

The location of the park puts you in easy striking distance of the north and east Norfolk coasts, Cromer and the ever quaint Sheringham. There is a fantastic coastal steam railway from Sheringham to Holt and back, several National Trust stately homes and the Norfolk Broads aren’t far away either.

homeimage15

 

The family who own the caravan park and run the shop are extremely helpful and friendly and the pitch prices are very reasonable (below average I would say). I have had some very enjoyable caravan holidays there and am looking forward to going back.

Visit Deers Glade online here

 

lifesureman

Should I Lie To My Insurer?

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Lovemoney.com have released a great article discussing the dangers of insurance fronting and non disclosure. Read it here

 

lifesureman