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Also from the Commercial vehicle show. I had a couple of questions to ask, again no real answers Firstly, If they do manage to ban IC engines does this mean the end of the hybrid as afterall they are just using a IC to drive a generator. Secondly, all of the manufacturers were pushing quite hard their Electric and / or Hybrid vehicles , Ford Transit, Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall , LDV. None of the vans I saw had more than about 150 miles range and required a 2hrs + charge time, so whilst these might be OK for a window cleaner or plumber etc to get from job to job in a local area , they will never be any use for shopping deliveries etc. A guy I was speaking to from one of the shopping delivery companies told me their vehicles worked about 16 hours/day and covered about 600 miles/day, with the first drop usually about 50 miles from the depot. So that means they would need to recharge 4 X each day and so in essence they would need double the vans and drivers. So does this also mean the end of the MH market, most manufacturers simply take a current N1 commercial and convert it to a MH , Im pretty sure most people want to drive 3-400 miles to their destination not have to stop half way there to recharge, and of course when they get to their site surely the expectation would be to recharge when on site , how many sites could accomodate that. Maybe the NCC have a plan. Of course, im playing Devils advocate here and being deliberately provocative, I know battery technology will improve, I know we will probably get to the stage where battery swapping is usual, but it would seem to me that there is an awful lot of infrastructure that needs to be changed/developed in order to keep pace with the political promises made, and I haven't seen anything that tells me how much that is going to cost me, have you? I heard a story yesterday of a guy who had bought a Second hand electric van/taxi (he couldnt afford a new one) he had also bought a battery warranty. A year in, the battery wont accept a charge, the dealer cant fix it and needs to charge over £1800 to remove the battery and send it away for diagnosis and rectification (even though the battery is covered) , which means that due to the age of the vehicle its not economically viable. Are we attempting to run before we can walk?

Hey all, I'm new to the forum and have come here to peruse the threads for random information that might help me. But, I might as well reach out and ask for advice from members. I'm a bit of a loner. I'm a HGV driver by trade and run an e-commerce business on the side. The thought of buying a house and signing up to a 25 year mortgage, then paying constant council tax, heating and water bills and pretty much getting shafted by companies left right and centre, also that a house also cannot move, which means I'd be stuck in one place. To be honest, it makes me feel sick to my stomach. Is this what life has to be? The UK seems to be extremely expensive too. My insurance for my motorycle goes up each year, and is at £550. My car is the same and that goes up by about £100 per year, despite getting more no claims (I have 10 years now). Anyway, I've been looking at getting something that I can live in all year round, but still be able to travel. As a HGV driver, I work 4 days on and 4 days off. So if I want to go away to the EU, I can book 4 days off and basically get 12 days to travel and see places. I'm self employed anyway so can basically take as much time off as I want, I just won't get paid for it. When I am working, I can park my motorhome/caravan/whatever at the RDC for those 4 days, and then go somewhere else for my 4 days off. The RDC has a shower room and stuff that I can use, but I'd probably just use my own. If I just need somewhere to park it locally, I can park outside my mothers house. She lives on an unadopted road in the country and there's a huge amount of space. I know the farmer and he'd be fine with me parking in on his road. If travelling, I'd stay in laybys and the odd country road, but use camping parks every so often for a break if I stay in one place for a while. I was in the RAF for 9 years, and before I got married lived in on base block accommodation. I paid £36 a month all in for a room that was basically a bedroom, with a small en-suite. I loved it, it was all I needed and my friends were just down the corridor. I got married and then got a bitter divorce. Now as a HGV driver, working in a sole occupation, doing a degree and running this side e-commerce business, friends can be hard to find and time can be at a premium. ------ So, what are my options? I have all DVLA licences so can drive anything I want. I also have a 2015 Honda VFR1200X which I would want to take with me (or downsize to something lighter as its 300kg). This is so when I go to Europe I can go off on that. I've just booked a month in Corsica, and go in June. I'm going on the bike, but staying in AirBnB's. The accomodation all in has cost around £1,800, which isn't too bad for a month in summer. I want to go away a few times each year preferably to see places in Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia. ----- Other than that, space is nice but not essential. Heat can be provided by a cab heater, but I'm fine with the cold. Air con would be important as I might go somewhere hot, I think they run off butane bottles? ----- Here's what I've been looking at: Caravans Good bit of space, but needs another vehicle to tow it which is an additional cost. Would need air con and cab heater retrofitted most likely. Also, i'd essentially be towing almost dead weight. If I go somewhere with hills or loose surface such as gravel or ice, then it'd be harder but by no means impossible. On alibaba, these look cool: Of course the cost to import would be prohibitive. Then I can get a fifth wheel trailer: Lots of space, and pretty cool. But, I would have to get a pickup truck too which can be expensive in the UK. Demand seems high. Again, aircon and cab heater may need to be retrofitted. Lastly, and currently my favourite option, American RV: Totally self contained, probably has cab heater and aircon fitted. One tax and insurance bill. If it's left hand drive, I'd probably try to re-register it in France via a PO box and then not pay tax and only have to MOT it every 24 months, plus I could maybe get cheaper insurance over there that might extend to the UK. Engine charges batteries when moving. Rigid which makes it easier to reverse (no blind side). It would also be able to take a motorcycle on the back. Where as on a caravan or fifth wheel trailer, this adds a degree of instability to both. I'm not sure it's advisable to put a 300kg bike on the back of a standard caravan. In fact, just typing that makes me feel silly, so it's probably correct... I'd be absolutely at home in this RV. It's more than big enough, and I'd have the freedom to go wherever I want. Only downside is it'd be thirsty on diesel. If I can get hold of a petrol one I'd consider LPG'ing it which might remove the tax in the UK anyway. The other downside is that they are expensive. This one is £25,000 on eBay. When I get back from Corsica, I'd be paying my bike off, which is my only debt. I can either save up for a year or two, or get an RV on finance and just pay it monthly, although £25,000 is a fair size finance. I'm highly employable as a HGV driver so job security isn't a worry. The issue is getting finance on a vehicle from a private trader like from eBay. Of course, with no bills pretty much, I'd be able to save a fair bit of money and as I can't fill it with junk, I might actually be able to enjoy life. Maybe even save up for a large deposit and buy a house in the UK on a buy to let. So the tenants can pay the mortgage. Let them pay the mortgage and fees for me. I'd probably settle eventually, but I doubt it 'd be in the UK. Maybe Spain or in central europe. So that's my issue(s). I'd really appreciate any input that you may have. (PS, no wife or kids, I'm 33 and from Durham UK)

Start your next adventure at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017. From Tuesday 21 to Sunday 26 February, the Birmingham NEC will be home to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017 where nearly 350 leading leisure brands will be exhibiting the very best in caravans, motorhomes, tents, camping equipment and accessories. The six-day event has a packed entertainment agenda with a celebrity line-up including Ben Fogle, Julia Bradbury and Kate Humble. The show also includes live cooking demonstrations, as well as plenty of interactive features, including an indoor childrens’ assault course, towing and motorhome maneuvering tuition, a much-loved dog agility arena plus new-for-2017 bushcraft workshops. The show is a great day out for all the family with advance tickets starting from just £7* and kids going FREE! If you love the great outdoors the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017 offers all the inspiration you need for your next holiday. To celebrate this great day out for the whole family we're giving away the chance of winning a pair of tickets to the show on a day of your choosing, simply answer the following question and place your answer as a comment below: What is appearing for the very first time at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2017? A ) Towing and manoeuvring tuition B ) Dog agility arena C ) Bushcraft workshops For more information about the show, please visit www. ccmshow. co. uk Terms & Conditions *Advance ticket prices £7 Senior (0ver 60’S) £8 Adult when booking before 23:59hrs 20/02/2017 after which time prices revert to the on-the-door prices of £9 Senior and £10 Adult. A £1. 25 transaction fee applies. For full terms and conditions please visit www. ccmshow. co. uk. Competition Terms: TICKETS TO BE COLLECTED AT THE PRESS OFFICE AT THE NEC. The winner(s) will be the first correct entry(s) drawn. The administrator’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Each winner will receive 1 (one) pair of tickets to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2017 (The prize). Tickets can be used on any day of the show but can only be used once. There will be 10 (ten) winners in total. Final entries must be received by 23:59 on Tuesday, 31st January 2017. Employees of the Show, professional partners, it’s affiliates and their families are not eligible to enter competitions. The NCC accepts no responsibility for injury or damage caused by the competition prize(s) offer(s). Prizes/offers are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Winners may be required to participate in publicity. Winners name details may be published. We will notify winners by private message to the Caravan Talk account used for their entry.

http://catterickleisureworld. co. uk/newsletter/16-01-18_motorhome_event/register/

*** OUR AUTUMN/WINTER SERVICE OFFERS *** Now available at Catterick Caravans (DL10 7JB), Ebor Leisure World (YO60 7SE), and Tyneside Leisure World (DH3 2SN).

Hi, I was wondering how many people on here Rally with their local club? We are promoting Rallying and would love to see some new faces, have a look here for some idea about rallying with the Cheshire centre http://youtu. be/TjMIFS9XptI For the more seasoned of you, next year is our Celebration year, 600th Rally and 45th Year, fancy coming along to have a fun May Day weekend?

Blazetech Fire Protection are proud to be the sole UK distributor for the Soteria range of innovative fire-fighting equipment. These products are new in the UK, so this is your opportunity to become one of the first owners of these great new safety products. Keep your caravan, motorhome, house, shed & family safe with the Soteria range of simple to use fire extinguishers from Blazetech Fire Protection. These revolutionary extinguishing devices include a Throwable Fire Extinguisher; which reduces the process of fighting initial class A & B fires to just one easy step. Our Cooking-Oil Fire Extinguisher Sachet is also safe and easy to use, as the whole unit is simply placed into the burning oil. Both of these extinguishers are so simple to use, very effective and have been approved by Community Safety Prevention Managers within the UK Fire & Rescue Service. Please take a look at our test-fire videos: Cooking Oil Extinguisher Sachet - Test VideoThrowable Extinguisher – Class A Fire VideoThrowable Extinguisher – Class B Fire Video These innovative products are designed to be used with little or no training, from a safe distance and do not require the operator to remain in the area for as long as when using conventional extinguishers/fire blankets, therefore greatly reducing the risk of injury. People and organisations already ordering these items include: UK Fire and Rescue Service Caravan & Camping Enthusiasts Boat Owners Fire Protection Specialists Home-Owners/Tenants Vehicle Repair Garages Health Spas Shed and Workshop Owners Farming Machinery Operators Order yours today from www. BlazetechFire. co. uk or Call us on 01842 861114

I bought my Motorhome last September and it came with a 3 year warranty plan. It has just had it's habitation service and this has shown 25% damp in the rear bumper and 100% in two locker doors. My dealer submitted a warranty claim and the warranty company want the Motorhome stripped down prior to them inspecting it. My dealer says if they do this and the warranty company reject my claim then I will have to pay them for the labour costs (£1200 est.) I have told my dealer that I am not willing to do this. They are in the process of instructing the warranty company and I am awaiting the outcome. I am totally gutted as we had a nightmare with our last brand new caravan with damp issues and didn't expect this on a 2012 year Motorhome. If the warranty company refuse my claim have I any claim against the dealer? I don't suppose as I am the second owner that Elddis would be at all interested. The Motorhome has a full service history. Any advice would be great thanks. Cheers M

Hi, everyone. We live in Pembrokeshire and have been caravanning for over 12 years, separately and then together. We have a 2012 Swift Conqueror 480, which we are selling and moving over into the world of motorhomes (bought a new Ford Transit Custom and having it converted to our own design). Dairy farmer hubby is a mountain biker and we also often travel with our 2 dogs, so need a garage/doggy area, as well as a fixed bed. I have Fibromyalgia and various other health issues, and when at home I enjoy looking after all of our animals (including 2 ponies and a donkey), crafting (papercraft, sewing, embroidery and needle felting), gardening, reading and watching tv. We both love F1 - went to Silverstone together for the first time this year - and obviously travelling. If anyone can advise on the best way to sell our caravan, please comment. Getting offers about £1k below the book price. Hubby has been keen to hang on and get a better possible price by selling privately, but I must admit I just want our drive back now! Swifty the Caravan is fantastic and really needs to be out on holidays - especially with the Alde wet central heating for the coming winter.

The AVTEX L236DRS, Is the newest editions to the AVTEX range, Brand New for July 2013 Ultra slim design makes it one of the lightest most compact TV on the market for its size and features. USED THIS PROMO CODE (AVTEX20) AT CHECKOUT WITH THIS LINK CLICK HERE Avtex L236DRS 23″ LED HD TV DVD with Integrated Satellite Decoder Avtex L236DRS Digital TV - Overview NEW RELEASE FOR JULY 2013 The L236DRS LED TV. The Avtex L236DRS TV is the new generation type of “Ultra Slim” portable TV’s. Avtex travel 12v TV’s includeds this NEW L236DRS. Avtex have been designing and producing Televisions for over 20 years and distributing televisions predominantly for caravans and motor homes. Avtex L2136DRS Digital TV – Description This Avtex L236DRS Triple Tuner TV has been released for 2013 with lots more new features. The super stylish, Flat screen, super slim design will make this 12 volt TV an instant hit. The Avtex L236DRS one of the Best Caravan TV for July 2013 on the market, You’ll know that youve made the right choice when choosing this compact, stylish, feature packed Caravan TV or Motor Home TV. Avtex designed this L236DRS from the ground up, allowing a host of new features and a 23″ LCD Screen. The compact and light weight nature of the L236DRS makes this TV also suitable to be used in the Marine / Boat and Trucks Industry as well as caravans and motorhomes. As you can expect from Avtex, this 12v TV is built to the highest quality making sure your TV stays functioning at all times. The Avtex L236DRS has also got AQT (Avtex Quick Tune) system, this allows the TV to be tuned in with the press of a single button. The Avtex L236DRS uses the A+ high grade LED screen as used in all there range, this means you will have no dead or bright pixels, which gives a crystal clear perfect viewing experience. The quality of the large flat screen gives you vastly larger viewing angle than compared with cheap caravan TV’s. All in all, This Avtex L236DRS was Purposely designed for the outdoor leisure industry the L236DRS CAN record and pause live TV to an external USB memory stick or USB HDD (Hard Disk Drive), there is a minimum size of 250MB to a maximum size of 250GB. Along with this you can couple your Blu-ray player to the L236DRS using the 2x HDMI sockets on the rear of the set. Avtex L236DRS TV – Features 23” Full HD widescreen 1080p LED Panel with awesome viewing angles Triple Tuner integrated: DVB-S2 Built-in Freeview Receiver DVB-S2 High Definition satellite decoder built-in DVD / CD Player Integrated EPG (Electronic Program Guide) with timer record Easy Find II – Digital Tuning Tool HD Ready, 2x HDMI Input sockets VGA with PC Audio input socket for use as monitor CI Slot for access to pay TV channels Wall mountable VESA standard Pause / Playback live TV / Instant record to USB 240v AC Mains Adaptor and 12v/24v DC Power Lead Digital Text / Fast Text 2x USB / 2x HDMI / Phono / Headphone sockets Low Power Consumption Avtex L236DRS – Dimensions Width : 547mm Height : 336mm Depth : 48. 5mm Weight : 4. 2kg Avtex L216DRS TV – Whats Included L236DRS 12v Tv L236DRS Remote Control & Batteries L236DRS 230v Mains Adapter L236DRS 12v DC Power Lead L236DRS Owners Manual L236DRS Quick Start Guide Avtex L236DRS TV – Warranty All Avtex products now come with a standard 3 year warranty.

One for the motorhomers out there today ( )... If you're planning a motorhoming jaunt on the continent this summer, make sure you know what you need to know; Caravan Talk Experts Towergate Insurance have provided this handy guide for anyone planning a motorhome trip to Europe.

Hi there, Just a little hello to introduce ourselves to you all on caravantalk. Hope you are all well. We are a Caravan Repair Centre located in Cranswick,nr Driffield, which is located in East Yorkshire,about 15 miles off Hull. We undertake cosmetic repairs to Caravans and Motorhomes and have recently teamed up with Wandahome, Yorkshire Coast Caravans and Swift Caravans to cosmetically repair their caravans. We offer a collection and delivery service to our customers and all work is guaranteed. We dont charge for an estimate to be done. And we also have the facility to give an estimate via email. Please feel free to contact us over the phone on 01377270479 and ask for Iain or Mandy. You can contact us through email on arc@broachhill. com facebook. com/broachhill @broachhill You can also find us at www. broachhillaccidentrepair. com/caravan Thankyou for taking the time to read this. Hope you enjoy the rest of the day BroachHill

Free Fiamma Awning Fitting Service at Motorhome Shows As Johns Cross is part of Fiamma Care we attend both the major UK motorhome shows at the NEC and also a selection of outdoor shows throughout the UK displaying the latest range of Fiamma products. We are the only dealer to be supported by Fiamma at these events and the only dealer approved to represent Fiamma. Our years of Fiamma knowledge and our hands on approach to the Fiamma range mean that we are always in contact with the products. For customers looking to purchase a Fiamma awning at the show, we are offering a free fiamma awning fitting service on site, so please bring your motorhome along and we can fit your awnings while you browse the show**. Our fitters are NCC approved and are Fiamma factory trained engineers who have years of knowledge and experience on all Fiamma products, awnings, bike racks, ultra boxes and security products. We are the only UK approved Fiamma outdoor retailer. Come and Visit us at one of the 2013 shows listed below: Spring Caravan & Camping Show, NEC, Birmingham, 19 - 24 February 2013 National Motorhome Show, East of England Show Ground, Peterborough, 19 - 21 April 2013* Midsummer Motorhome and Caravan Show, Westpoint Arena, Exeter, 14 - 16 June 2013 * Western Motorhome Show, Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern, 16 - 18 August 2013 * Shepton Mallet Motorhome Show, Shepton Mallet Show Ground, Shepton Mallet, 13 - 15 Sept 2013 * Motorhome and Caravan Show, NEC, Birmingham 15 - 20 October 2013 * *Free Fiamma Awning Fitting Service available at these shows, subject to Terms and Conditions. All shows are subject to change, please check with the show organiser for most up to date show information. **Not all vehicles can accommodate every Fiamma product due to build and style design. We strongly recommend that you contact to discuss your needs before the show. Pre-book on 01580 883086 or for more info visit http://www. johnscross. co. uk/fiamma-care-tour-dates. html We look forward to seeing you there! Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and offers at Johns Cross http://www. johnscross. co. uk/pages/news/newsletter. html

HELLO THERE . WITH JB CARAVANS BEING NEW TO CARAVAN TALK WE ARE OFFERING THE CHANCE TO WIN A FREE SERVICE. BOOK A SERVICE BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED INTO OUR DRAW FOR YOUR NEXT SERVICE TO BE COMPLETLY FREE. 01388778855/07903673261 . www. jbcaravans. co. uk email: cavlad32@hotmail. co. uk VISIT THE WEBSITE AND FILL IN OUR NEWS LETTER FORM FOR SPECIAL OFFERS AND GREAT DEALS . .. JB CARAVANS, SHILDON,CO. DURHAM

Does anyone know where to hire a motorhome for a couple of nights over Christmas, in the Bradford / Burnley or Skipton areas?

Tomtom expected to launch a satnav for caravans and motorhomes allowing users to set widths and heights specific for their outfit. http://www. pocketgpsworld. com/TomTom-entering-the-caravan-and-motorhome-market--at-last-9273. php Brian

Hi, Seen lots of posts about free tickets for Motorhome and Caravan Show 2012, so thought we'd let you know that we're giving away 25 pairs of tickets over at CaravanTimes. co. uk Entry is via the website, closing date is Friday, and we'll pick the winners at random from entries received. Hopefully this will be a nice freebie for some lucky people! Cheers.

Hello there! No longer FutureCaravanning Magazine. ..... now it will be known as GroovyCaravanning Magazine! Our first issue will contain celebrity interviews with Frazer Hines (of Emmerdale and Dr Who fame) and Jordan Reyne, a New Zealand rock-chick musician who played Glastonbury this year and, er, stayed in a tent. In the mud. Should be an ace interview!! There will be features on Winter Caravanning, using your caravan/motorhome as a base for Hogmanay, the changes after ten years “out of the caravan loop”, a feature from a new family going to Portugal for 6 months, reviews, opinions, and of course, what will no-doubt become our famous ANTI-CLARKSON rant. Hope you’ll check it out. www. groovycaravanning. com New email: fcmag@hotmail. co. uk What does everybody think? Your advice and comments so far have been VERY helpful :-) The Editor.