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Adria 2020 Model Launch

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Being very happy Adria owners, we were very excited to be attending the launch of the new Adria model launch for 2020. On Friday 7th July 2019 we set off early from Somers Wood Caravan Site to Cranmore Conference Centre, Solihull. When we say early it was about 7am and the launch didn’t start until 10am. On the way we stopped for the obligatory McDonalds drive thru coffee before arriving at Cranmore. As we arrived we could see the car park all set up with Adria banners and numerous new Caravans and Motorhomes. We found somewhere to park and sat patiently until about 8am when our curiosity became too much and we trotted over for our first peak at the 2020 offerings.

We started at the Caravans, the first one we came across was a whole new model, the Altea Dart. This four berth rear island bed model was the new replacement for the Trent. The Dart offered a good sized lounge, the usual Adria kitchen with microwave, gas oven and grill and fridge freezer. An obvious improvement was the separate toilet-washroom and shower, now with a proper wash basin. The Dart was priced at £20K, an increase on the 2019 range, but clearly an improvement. Although there are four new Altea models for 2020, the Aire, Tyne, Avon and Dart, a relaunch of this range, only the Dart was available to view.

Next we headed on to the Caravan at the other end of the Adria range, the flagship Alpina and here was a new for 2020 Colorado. The Colorado was now on the twin axle like the Sava and weighed in at a MTPLM of 1900kg. The flagship Alpina came in at £31K and offered a wrap around lounge, underfloor heating, Alde wet central heating and many other gadgets. The layout featured single beds and a further two berths in the lounge by converting the sofa. We liked the Alpina although it seemed to be lacking some of the wow factor for the price, but the build quality was excellent as always.

We headed next to the four Adora models that were on display, the Sava, Seine, Thames and Isonzo. No changes had been made here apart from to the soft furnishings, floral curtains and green and purple curtains now debuted for 2020.

Next came the Adria Twin Supreme van conversion, based on the 2.3 litre Fiat Ducato. There were no great changes here but a new colour of light blue is joining the line up and replacing burnt orange, we were told. The Supreme still offers a practical van and a 2.5 tonne towing capacity. The Supreme was well equipped and had a good choice of options.

Heading on we were impressed by the range of Matrix Motorhomes on show, and new for the season, their silver sides still looked impressive and striking and their offerings of at least four berths had most families covered. Prices for the Matrix varied and the list of options was again generous, prices started in the £50K’s and went upwards.

Our eye was quickly taken by a new addition to the Compact range, although not so compact at 7 metres long, it was eye catching and impressive . The new Compact Supreme DL, silver sided, alloy wheel and silver Fiat Ducato cab. At £56K this looked very nice indeed, we couldn’t wait to explore this one some more. Inside we discovered a well finished interior, nice seating area and a huge rear bed. Although 7 metres isn’t exactly compact it was probably our favourite model of all on show.

We hopped out of the Compact and continued on to something new yet again, a new for 2020 Sonic Axess, this was a 7 metre long A Class motorhome. Unlike its big brother Sonic, this baby Sonic was shorter and had a white cab and sides, unlike its more costly big brother Sonic Plus and Supreme, which cost from £90K upwards of over £120K. This new Sonic Axess was priced at £70K and offered a quality A Class Motorhome on a 3.5T Fiat chassis, making it accessible on any driving licence. We had a look around the Sonic and found it offered everything we would want, Jules was particularly keen on it but for Karina it lacked the pizazz of the bigger silver Sonic.

We made a choice on which four to film and set to, sadly loud air conditioning units on the building and road noise didn’t help but we cracked on with enthusiasm and got what we wanted.

Whilst at the launch we met with Kirstie from Adria and she kindly gave us an Adria rucksack, probably wanting us to pack up our stuff and leave…

We also met with a few of our Twitter friends which was nice, including Anne Shirley and Martin Sanderson. Other faces there were Christopher Macgowan of Motorhome News and a few sales representatives from various dealerships.

It’s fair to say we enjoyed the Adria launch, we even managed a YouTube live from there, there was lots to see and it appeared that the range for 2020 will be the Altea and Alpina. Hopefully 2021 will see us return and a few changes to the Adora range appear, such as a worktop flap and the option of a front chest in the lounge.

So that was it, our days work was complete and social media bombarded with our tweets, posts and lives. We jumped back in to the Rexton and headed off back to our Isonzo, chatting enthusiastically about what we had seen.

To keep up to date with all thats going on please don’t forget to head here.

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Godrevy Park CAMC review 2019

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CAMC Cornwall.

Here is our Godrevy Park CAMC review 2019, Cornwall. On Monday 3rd June 2019 we hitched up our Adria and headed down to Cornwall for two weeks, staying at Godrevy Caravan and Motorhome Club Site. We chose this site due to its location. Having previously visited Cornwall we knew our route down the A30 would be no problem with the 8ft wide Adria, we wanted a site that was not far from the main A-road, as many sites in Cornwall can be more difficult to tow a large caravan to.

We arrived at the site around lunch time and pulled in to the large arrival area. Once parked up we ventured in to the reception and were greeted by friendly wardens. The reception housed a well stocked shop and even offered pre-packed cream teas, always a treat when in Cornwall. 

Reception - Godrevy Park review 2019
Gated Walk

Once booked in we ventured on with our site map to choose our pitch from the 120 grass pitches the site offers. We found a nice pitch, plenty large enough for our caravan and awning. We returned to reception with our pitch number and were given the code for the sole site facility block and the gate that leads down to the dunes.

The site at Godrevy is set back from the sand dunes that lead down to the three mile beach that passes Gwithian, there is a lovely path that takes you straight there from the site in a few minutes.

Service / Motorhome point - Godrevy Park review 2019

We quickly got set up and found plenty of service points dotted around the site and one motorhome service point. Jules was soon to discover the only chemical disposal point was at the facility block.

The facilities themselves were very good, there were plenty of showers, toilets and wash basins and we never had to wait to use them. There was a radar operated disabled facility room too.

Facility Block - Godrevy Park review 2019

We found the site had a good size laundry facility with a wash costing £4 and the tumble dryer £1 per fifteen minutes. There was a washing up facility provided too and we used both these facilities.

One of the best features of the site was a fish and chip van that visited the site Tuesday and Friday night and served a lovely portion of food. We did try this three times just so we could offer a sound review of these.

The Godrevy site was perfect for dog owners and Fudge certainly enjoyed his stay. We were able to leave the site through the gate and head on down to the dunes, we also discovered two lovely cafes down there where we could look out across the sea and enjoy a hot drink and a slice of cake.

Gate View - Godrevy Park review 2019

For children, the site offered a huge and well equipped play area, this was securely fenced for peace of mind.

Play Area - Godrevy Park review 2019

The site is perfect as a base for exploring the South of Cornwall, we visited St. Ives, Newquay, Lands End and The Lizard. A separate blog will cover our trip to Cornwall. We did find the site was exposed to strong winds on several days and it did put our awning to the test. There was little noise from the road that runs past the site, it certainly didn’t disturb us in anyway. So to summarise Godrevy Park is a lovely site and we would recommend it to anyone.

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Vango Montelena Air Awning

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Here we take a closer in-depth look at the Vango Montelena Air Awning. When we purchased our Adria just over a year ago we also chose the Vango Kalari 380 air awning. We had no previous experience of awnings but researched the various brands online before deciding on Vango. We wanted an air awning as they seemed a simple system and, at 30kg, the Kalari would be well within the limits of our payload.

In the thirteen months we have used the Vango we have been delighted with it. It’s withstood wind, rain, sleet and sun with not a single issue, as we cleaned, reproofed and cared for this as well (blog here).

Montelena

Due to the amount of use the awning has had, almost ten full months, we decide it was time to get a new one. Once again we started to look at the new range of Vango awnings and opted for the Montelena 400.

The Montelena 400 is four metres wide and three metres in depth, slightly larger than our Kalari. What we liked was the more traditional style and the extra depth across the front of the awning. The Montelena is heavier than the Kalari at 37kg in weight. The Montelena also has the new Vango draft seal system, which Jules was keen to try out. The Montelena has lots of other features including the sky-liner, four removable panels for hot days and privacy curtains.

We took down our Kalari and Jules set to erecting the Montelena, there are three inflation points for the main structural beams which are inflated with the included pump. The Montelena inflated quickly and Jules was soon pegging it out, he did notice there were more pegging points than the Kalari but as usual he managed single hand-idly. Once up we put down the Montelena carpet, an extra at £90 and we took our seats inside.

Immediately we both noticed how much lighter and brighter the Montelena was in comparison to the Kalari and the internal space was much more useable. The shape of the Montelena and the depth gave more room for our awning furniture and Fudges bed. The four huge side windows have a fantastic panoramic view outside and this makes fantastic use of the ultra clear and upgraded diamond pro windows and we were certainly pleased with our choice.

Over a period of a week we tested out the Montelena in good and bad weather. In the sun we found the sky liner offered a nice amount of shade and warmed quickly, and gave a great insulating feel. It was useful to have all the openings to unzip and allow the fresh air in.

In a period of fairly severe wind and rain we found the Montelena was water tight and stood up to the wind, although we found it was not as sturdy as the Kalari and certainly flexed more in the wind, we feel that this could be because of the extra size and being slightly more square. We found the draught seal system was not as effective as the previous foam pads and poles that we were use to, but are much happier not having a metal pole next to the caravan. It struggled to deal with a strong side wind and was blown out of place despite being tightened, however this is a draught seal and we did experience some 40-50mph winds (Storm Miguel). The new draught skirt and wheel arch cover were a much better upgrade and worked very well at keeping out the draughts altogether.

As always it came to time to pack away the awning, Jules used his usual method and quickly had it unpegged and deflated. Once down Jules packed away the Montelena and it was done. The Montelena is a large awning at four metres long but it packed away well with Jules doing it by himself.

So what do we think, it is a very good awning for any size family. It offers great space and will withstand the weather. Its not an all year round awning, unlike we found with the Kalari, but it certainly offers good value for money at £1100 and we would recommend it. The awning also comes with everything you need to start and more. It includes the pump, pegs, hammer, hook and loop tidy clips, straps (including storm straps) and the sky-liner.

This blog contains affiliate links –

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Compressor

Maypole Handheld 12v Analogue Air Compressor

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Here we look at the Maypole Handheld 12v Analogue Air Compressor.

Every time we tow and move our caravan we do several checks, this includes the tyre pressure on the caravan and car. Under and over inflated tyres are dangerous and can lead to blow outs, poor handling and reduced fuel efficiency. 

We initially started out with a cheap foot pump but after a few uses the pump snapped and broke. We then purchased a 12v air compressor for a little bit more money but this broke on its first use when the analogue dial failed to operate.

After wasting much time buying pumps we decided to try a different product but spending a little more. Having been impressed with the two Maypole security products we reviewed and donated to the Tourerfest raffle, we decided to try the Maypole 12v Handheld Air Compressor (“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”). I found this for £19.99 on Amazon and liked the green drill like appearance, Jules also liked the look of it and so that is what we chose. When it arrived it was well boxed and had clear instructions on how to operate it.

We used it on the caravan and car and it quickly inflated the tyres on both to the correct psi. The Maypole compressor has an easy to read analogue dial and shows pressure in both psi and bar. It also has an LED light at the front to illuminate the tyre and valve when its dark, this also gives a handy indicator to show that the device is powered as some vehicles need the ignition on to power the 12v supply. The main body also holds adaptors which can be used to inflate bike tyres, balls and other such inflatables. 

The features of this air compressor are;

12v handheld analogue air compressor with LED light can maintain and monitor tyre pressure anywhere and anytime. It is essential for your safety and fuel efficiency. 

  • High speed inflation – 3.5 mins (0-36PSI/175/65/R14).
  • Large precision analogue display (PSI/Bar).
  • Super bright LED night light.
  • Practical handheld design.
  • Portable and compact.
  • Multiple adaptors included.
  • Quick release connector valve.
  • Max pressure range – 0-150PSI.
  • Compact hose and power cord storage – air hose -50cm, power cord – 3m.
  • Handy accessory holder – air bed adaptor, ball adaptor and tyre valve adaptor.
  • 12v DC power supply – plugs directly into cigar lighter socket.
  • Max amperage – 8A.
  • Max wattage – 100W.
  • Air flow rate – 12L/min.

We have been pleased with the product and for the price would happily recommend it to others for their caravan and motorhome kit.

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Choosing Caravan Insurance

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A helpful guide to Choosing Caravan Insurance.

Whether you are considering buying your first caravan or you’re a seasoned caravan owner, insuring your caravan is something you should strongly consider for a number of reasons.

 

Although caravan insurance is not a legal requirement, unlike motor vehicle insurance, it is important to consider insuring your caravan to protect yourself from financial loss if the worse should happen. Insuring your caravan means that if you are victim of a theft, accidental damage, fire or flood its reassuring to know, that for a yearly premium, you will be covered.

 

It is worth noting that when towing your caravan your car insurance policy will only cover your car and any third party liability to others. They will not cover damage to your caravan if you are found responsible for any collision.

 

When we bought our Adria Isonzo one on the first things we did was ensure we had caravan insurance in place to cover our new purchase. The amount of money people spend on their caravan can vary greatly but one question you have to ask is if something happens to your caravan can you financially afford to suffer that loss. If you have purchased through personal finance you will still be liable to pay that money back and they may stipulate you do have to take out a policy of cover.

 

There are a number of caravan insurance companies to chose from and it can become a bit of a minefield knowing what you are covered for and if you will receive a professional and efficient service if you need to make a claim. You can obtain quotes online through comparison search sites, the insurance companies’ website or phone.

 

Like with everything in life, you get what you pay for, don’t rush in to buying the cheapest policy you find to save money as it may not cover you for all eventualities or meet your needs.

 

So, what should you be looking for in a caravan insurance provider to ensure you chose a credible company. 

Firstly, you want to check that they are rated with Defaqto. Defaqto is an independent financial research company that compares products and rates them on their products and benefits, and five stars is their highest rating. 

Once you have checked their Defaqto rating you would be wise to check the reviews that their current customers have given about the insurance provider. Are their customers happy with the service they have received, have they made a claim and was the claims process positive, these are the things you want to be looking for. There are a number of review centres online that will provide this information for you.

 

So, where do you start to obtain your quotes and what information will you need. Whether you are going online or on the phone to get your quotes you are going to need your own personal details, the manufacturer and model of your caravan, details of where it is stored and a knowledge of the security devices you use. Insurance companies will offer discounts for secure storage at CaSSOA storage sites and on approved and tested security devices, such as the Al-Ko chassis wheel locks, alarms, and Thatcham approved trackers like Phantom. Insurance companies vary in what the they will offer discounts on and which level of security they specify. Discounts also apply for club memberships with some caravan insurers.

Like motor vehicle insurance you will build up a no claims discount which is transferable between insurance providers.

 

We personally have chosen to insure with Caravan Guard for a number of important reasons, mainly because they provide a high level of cover and are highly rated based on the ratings I have just covered.

 

Caravan Guard are an insurance company who offer specialised insurance for leisure vehicles, including caravans, campervans, motorhomes, fifth wheelers and trailer tents. Their policies are underwritten by Royal and Sun Alliance (RSA), a reputable company in its own right with years of experience of providing products to customers. 

Caravan Guard are Defaqto rated and have been awarded the five star rating, the highest achievable. 

 

When I chose Caravan Guard I checked their customer review rating on review centre.  They received a rating of 4.7/5 by customers and 95.6% would recommend them to others. 

They are also a member of the National Caravan Council, NCC, which is an important body within the caravan industry.

 

As well as their ratings I wanted to know my Adria caravan would be covered for any eventuality. Caravan Guard will cover accidental damage, storm damage – including our awning, theft, fire and flood. Caravan insurance is similar to motor vehicle insurance in that it won’t cover mechanical defect or failure and it’s important to maintain your caravan through yearly servicing and tyre checks.

 

Caravan Guard also offers a 24 hour UK based helpline for if the worse happens and if you are considering travelling to Europe, like we are, you get 180 days cover as standard, with an option to extend this to 240 days. If you are involved in a collision or accident abroad and your caravan can’t be towed due to damage, Caravan Guard will recover your caravan and re-deliver it back to the UK so it can be assessed and repaired, or replaced. They do offer new for old cover, which is what we opted for. With this level of cover, if we had bought our caravan on finance, then Caravan Guard’s caravan insurance policy would pay for any outstanding finance should our Adria be stolen or so badly damaged it had to be replaced.

 

We don’t let anyone use our Adria but if you do let family or friends use your leisure vehicle then it will also be insured for this use.

Comparison of companies:

Policy cost: £333

Underwriter: AIG UK

New for old: Yes

Euro Cover: 180 days

Protected NCD: No

Key cover: No

Public liability: £2 million

Legal cover: No

 

Policy Cost: £333

Underwriter: RSA

New for old: Yes

Euro Cover: 180 days

Protected NCD: No

Key cover: Yes up to £500

Public liability: £2.5 million 

Legal cover: No

 

Policy Cost: £444

Underwriter: CAMC

New for old: Yes

Euro Cover: 182 days

Protected NCD: No

Key cover: No

Public liability: £5 million 

Legal cover: No

 

With Caravan Guard we qualified for a number of discounts including:

10% Club discount 

10% axle wheel lock

10% Cassoa Gold storage

Up to 25% NCD

Up to 10% policy holder aged over 30 years

 

 

Whilst obtaining quotes for our Adria we found Caravan Guard competitive for the level of cover and their reputable standing, their quote was £100 less than a quote from a Caravan Club and was only £50 more than the cheapest company through a search engine. When I chose Caravan Guard I wanted to ensure I was getting the best cover for my money with the reassurance of being with a caravan insurance specialist. If something does happen to my Adria I want to know my claim will be dealt with quickly and professionally. 

We chose Caravan Guard as they are a reputable Yorkshire company, and being from Yorkshire that’s important. They are easily contactable online, by telephone and email. I found it very easy to get my online quote, and then accepted this online and made payment. My documents came through by email, as requested, the following day and were all accurate. We like that Caravan Guard have a strong social media presence and regularly interact with the caravan and motorhome community. They also offer plenty of practical advice on their website, including blog posts and videos. 

I haven’t had to make any claim with them, and I hope I don’t have to but if I do I have confidence they will deal with it efficiently.

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VW Amarok Highline 3.0 V6 Diesel 4Motion 258PS

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VW Amarok Highline 3.0 V6 Diesel 4Motion 258PS

With so many choices of tow car out there it can be a minefield of just what to chose. We found ourselves in this very position in November 2017, after ordering our Adria caravan we needed a heavy tow car with a kerb weight over 2100kg and a tow ball limit over 100kg.

As we always say, the best choice to make is the one that meets your needs. We looked at a number of large SUV’s and Pick-Up Trucks and made our decision based on a number of factors, including towing capacity, price, comfort and running costs.

The modern Pick-Up is a far cry from its predecessor, with many feeling more like a family car than a commercial vehicle. So what about the VW Amarok, a well established vehicle from a popular German manufacturer .

The Amarok is a flagship Pick-Up within the market, on paper its one of the most impressive but it is also the most expensive.

For the past week we have been testing the Amarok Highline, with its 3.0 litre engine and huge output what we really want to know is how does it tow, and is it worth the whopping price tag of £46K with the added options.

The Amarok arrived with us to review, fitted with a fixed towbar with an Al-Ko tow ball and 13 pin electrics. The metallic mojave beige paint was an optional extra but looked good against our Adria. We were keen to look round and see what the VW delivered. It’s worth noting the credentials of this vehicle, with a kerb weight of 2178kg (depending on optional extras) and a gross vehicle weight of 3290kg it certainly wont struggle to tow a caravan, up to a maximum of 3100kg. The 3.0 litre diesel engine will deliver 258PS through an 8 speed automatic gear box and reach 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds. Even when towing its amazing pull and pace cant be faulted. It will deliver around 33mpg combined and we got 20-26 mpg when towing on a long run.

At 5.30 metres long you do have to be a little careful in the supermarket car park but the parking sensors and rear reversing camera certainly assist. For such a long and heavy vehicle it turns very well and the power steering is precise. The VW 4Motion means it is a four wheel drive and you notice this when towing as the front never felt light. The exterior offers alloy wheels, this model had upgraded 19” wheels, electric heated wing mirrors and tubular side sills. To look at this it is an attractive Pick-Up.

Inside the Amarok you are treated to an appealing cabin with heated front leather seats, air conditioning, cruise control, optional sat-nav and a well made quality feel. I found for the price there were a few extras I would have wanted and that included electric drivers seat, heated steering wheel and a heated front screen. The interior does not deliver the plush finish of an SUV but this is designed as a commercial vehicle, a work horse with practicality in mind and it certainly achieves this. The driving position is excellent, the view from the cab is very good, and there is plenty of room for five adults to be seated. The cabin is a winner and with cup holders too there is somewhere to put your coffee.

At the rear of the Amarok we find the load area, this test model had an open back but there are plenty of options including roller tops and canopies if you want to make this a family vehicle. We would definitely choose a canopy top as Fudge and his crate would go in the rear, there are tie hooks to secure a dog crate or other load you wish to secure. The load space provides ample room for all you caravan accessories including the awning, tables and chairs, aqua-rolls, you name it. With a payload of 1112kg thats almost double that of some cars. The only issue we found was that if you are shorter in height you will struggle to retrieve anything that has rolled further in to the Amaroks back. The back can also be washed out so you don’t need to worry about dirty dogs or muddy wellies.

The Amarok runs on leaf suspension and, although it rides like a car most of the time, if you go over a bump with no load in the back you will feel the bounce of the leaf springs, however you will certainly feel the benefit of these when towing. Leaf springs are much firmer and carry weight well, with a caravan on the back the bounce of the caravan is not transferred through the body of the Pick-Up, unlike a cars suspension. On this note though, some caravan warranties do cover towing with a commercial vehicle in their small print so do check yours if you are considering a commercial vehicle. The reason for this is leaf springs do not absorb impact like car suspension and that is transferred to the caravan chassis.

So, how does the Amarok tow, well up until this point we will admit that, as nice as the Amarok was, £46K seemed a lot of money to pay for what was on offer. We hitched up using the reversing camera and put on the Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors and off we went. We towed just over two hours to Devon on country lanes, A-roads and the M5. One thing was very clear, this truck could tow. To say we were actually stunned is an understatement, we did not expect to be as impressed as we were. The Amarok had more power than you could ever need to tow up hill and pulled away like a train, even with the 1750kg Adria on the back. Downhill the brakes and auto-box held the caravan at bay. There was no pull or bounce from the Adria on the tow-ball and to be honest you could barely feel the caravan on the back. The mirrors on the Amarok gave a good view down the side of the caravan and being an 8ft wide van that is important. It’s fair to say that the two hour tow to Devon was one of he most enjoyable towing experiences we have ever had, this vehicle can tow. Karina summed it up well by saying “That is a £46K tow ball” and now we can see what you are paying for.

So, to conclude the Amarok Highline is an amazing all-rounder, family car and tow car. It is a luxury commercial vehicle and because its commercial it may make financial sense as a business purchase or company car. The road tax is currently £250 per year which is a lot less than a private new vehicle costing over £40K.

The Amarok will also tackle most off road situations with its 4Motion and hill decent control. The driving experience when not towing is certainly enjoyable too and we have been left with a big quandary, do we now swop our SUV for a Pick-Up. It’s practically and towing ability would certainly be an advantage with our long term touring, but at £46K its not a purchase we will be making anytime soon. Would we recommend it, absolutely.

Click here to see all our reviews.

https://youtu.be/uzNRocwFscQ

Awning Care and Re-proofing

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Awning Care and Re-proofing

After a caravan or motorhome purchase, the next big expenditure will probably be an awning to complement your set up and for the practicality of that additional outdoor space.

When we purchased our Adria we had spent months deciding on the best awning for us. We chose the Vango Kalari 380 air awning, this was based on a number of things including its appearance, ease of use and recommendations.

In the past year our awning has had a lot of use, it spent most of the summer exposed to the intense sun and extreme heat we enjoyed. In the last few months it has withstood winter and was subject to Storm Freya and Storm Gareth. Our Vango awning has been completely reliable and has not leaked at any point. We want to make sure we look after our awning to extend its useable life and most importantly, get our monies worth. 

This week we chose a dry and breezy day to wash the awning and re-proof it. The awning was already set up on site. We advise you clean and re-proof your awning whilst it is attached to your caravan or motorhome as it will make it easier to access the sides and roof. Jules emptied the awning of the table, chairs (these are the ones we have but “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”) and caravan step and we made sure no-one was in the awning. Jules filled a bucket with water and then poured Mellerud awning and canopy cleaner in to it. Make sure your bucket is clean and has no traces of detergent in it as some detergents can spoil the effectiveness of your awnings waterproofing.

Jules then armed himself with an extendable brush and set to washing the exterior of the awning. Once washed down the awning should be rinsed down with clean water to remove any cleaning solution. It’s important to let the awning dry before re-proofing it. Thankfully it was a nice breezy day and it dried in about an hour.

The re-proofing will require an awning re-proofing product, there are a number of re-proofing products on the market but we chose Fenwicks Awning Re-proofer as it is easily available online and in accessory shops. The next question you may be asking is how do you re-proof the awning roof without a ladder. Jules has a solution for this, take down the awning straps and then deflate the air awning beams. Due to the awning being held in the awning rail the awning will collapse slowly and allow easy and safe access to the roof panels. 

Its important to follow the instructions on the product you have chosen to use, the Fenwicks instructs to spray each panel one at a time and make sure the seams are well covered by the product. The spray should cover each panel liberally and evenly. You can add two coats of the Fenwicks if needed and the first coat doesn’t to be dry before applying the second coat. To reach the deflated roof panels remove your shoes and walk slowly on the the awning to access the panels. Once the roof is done re-inflate the air beams and then start re-proofing the awning panel at a time. Do not spray the product on the windows as they don’t need to be re-proofed and may cause them to go opaque.

Once all the panels of the awning are covered then allow it to dry in the air. We used one full bottle to cover the entire awning.

How frequently you need to re-proof your awning entirely depends on how often you use it and the weather and elements it is exposed to. Once water stops beading on the exterior fabric of the awning it needs to be re-proofed as it is no longer waterproof and protecting you from rain getting in to the awning.

If you would like to see our awning being re-proofed then click HERE. Also for other reviews try THIS.

Elddis Buccaneer Cruiser

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Elddis Buccaneer Cruiser 2019.

There are a number of caravans on the UK market that now offer the 8ft wide option.

These 8ft models are popular with families and couples alike. Some choose them for their size to use on seasonal pitches, whilst others like ourselves like them for  longer term touring due to their spacious nature.

Elddis have a number of 8ft models across their range, but none can match the luxury of the flagship range the Buccaneer. The Buccaneer Cruiser is their four berth model with a centre island bed and rear bathroom. With a price tag of £34k what actually do you get in the caravan ?. Externally the Cruiser is 8.16 metres in total length and when uprated weighs in at an impressive 2000kg. The side walls are silver with refined purple decals and the front sports huge darkened windows. The back of the Cruiser looks classy and has a large silver B.

Front View

If you like to be discreet and conservative then this is possibly not the caravan for you, this one screams “look at me I’ve spent a lot of money on this and am proud”. External features include the highly praised E&P Hydraulic self levelling system, this will assist in you putting the two Al-Ko wheel locks on the twin axles and also allow you to level the Cruiser within 120 seconds. No more levelling ramps, Stacka pads and winding down the corner steadies.

Lounge

There is also an external gas point, Truma shower point, solar panel and huge front locker. Internally the Cruiser is no less impressive, the soft furnishings and colour scheme are beautiful and the caravan is spacious and roomy. As you would expect Alde wet central heating is standard along with the luxury of under floor heating. The Cruiser also has an onboard water tank which supplements the external water supply and also feeds the toilet flush.

The kitchen is well designed with plenty of work top space, the fridge was a little smaller than hoped for but the freezer was ample. In the bedroom the wardrobe and draw space was to a good level and there are slide out shelves to put items on and also possibly your morning cup of tea on.

Kitchen

The bed does retract for daytime convenience and allows more room for negotiating around the bedroom. When extended the bed is 6”3 long and 4”5 wide, adequate for most couples. There is also a nice full length mirror in the bedroom for admiring yourself in.

Bathroom

Into the bathroom and the quality feel continues, with heated towel rail and a large illuminated full length mirror. The sink is a good size, and the swivel tap means it can be used easily for shaving and washing. The shower cubicle is roomy and is complemented by tile effect walls. The bathroom is a nice finish to the caravan. The Buccaneer Cruiser has done itself proud, compared to some of its £30k+ competitors you can see where the money has been spent on this one. It is a sturdy and comfortable luxurious caravan, it will certainly draw attention to itself but you will need a heavy tow car to pull this one. Overall it seems Elddis are on to a winner with the Buccaneer.

If you would like to see some 2020 Adria launch models then click HERE.

Stronghold Caravan Clamp 2019

Maypole Stronghold Atlas Caravan Wheel Clamp (SH5438)

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Maypole Stronghold Atlas Caravan Wheel Clamp (SH5438) what we think.

One of the most upsetting things that can occur to any caravan owner is for it to be stolen. The numbers of caravans stolen each year seems to be a debated figure but is certainly in the low thousands annually. Many caravan’s are never recovered and a lengthy insurance claim begins. Caravan security is serious and we would recommend that corners should not be cut when choosing security products.

The most common place for your caravan to be stolen is the storage yard, and thats why a Cassoa approved facility should be a consideration. Storage facilities are often unattended and this gives thieves chance to spend time looking for the type of caravan they are wanting to steal. They will look at the security devices you have and consider how, and if, they will be able to remove or bypass them. By fitting additional security to your caravan yours will be less appealing to the thief, who will then look elsewhere.

The other place of risk is the driveway, your caravan is exposed and visible and gives the thief opportunity to look at your caravan. 

So how would your caravan be stolen, generally by being towed away, so you need to prevent this from happening. A hitch lock is an absolute must and we would recommend the Maypole Stronghold hitch lock which is sold secure approved. A hitch lock prevents the hitch being used to attach the caravan to a tow bar. Thieves can still get around this by lifting the hitch and tying it with straps or rope to the back of a vehicle, or tying the hitch down in the back of a van. Due to this you must consider using a wheel lock, an Al-Ko wheel lock is the one we recommend as it fits to the chassis of the caravan, not the wheel. Al-Ko wheel locks are insurance approved and one of the most effective locks available.

These two devices should be supported with an additional device to the opposite side and we would recommend the Maypole Stronghold Atlas Caravan Wheel Clamp. The clamp is sold secure approved and rated to gold standard. Sold secure is an independent body that tests security products, they are given five minutes to attack the device and try to remove it. Depending on how it withstands the attack dictates its rating. 

The Maypole wheel clamp should be attached to the wheel on the opposite side to the wheel lock and if a twin axle attach it to the wheel nearest the back of the caravan. 

So lets have a look at what the clamp offers;

  • Innovative arm design allows use with steel or alloy wheels
  • Approved to Sold Secure Gold standard for caravans and trailers
  • Insurance approved protection for your caravan
  • Includes 2 x (M12 x 1.5) Stronghold Sold Secure Gold Approved locking wheel bolts and key 
  • Prevents tow-away theft and unauthorised wheel removal
  • Fits alloy and steel wheels with tyres up to 265mm wide 
  • Lightweight and compact design (under 5Kg)
  • High security pick-free locks have thousands of possible key combinations and are supplied with 3 keys, plus a key identity tag
  • Robust hardened steel construction
  • Easily fitted in around 10 seconds (excluding wheel bolts)
  • Durable PVC coating prevents damage to wheel rims
  • Painted in high visibility yellow
  • Plastic storage case included for when not in use
  • Protective cap protects lock from dirt and water

The wheel clamp is attached in a matter of seconds and then the two locking wheel nuts must be fitted. These prevent thieves removing the wheel, and thereby the clamp,and putting a spare on and towing it away. Although changing the locking wheel nuts can take an additional few minutes, it is prevents the theft of your caravan, regardless of its value, then its five minutes well spent.

This is insurance approved so it may reduce your premium slightly and will deter a thief and hopefully prevent the theft of your property.

The Maypole Stronghold Atlas Wheel Clamp can be bought online from Amazon, Ebay, Towsure and other outdoor online stores. It is also available in caravan accessory shops. Prices range from £89 to £99 for the security product which reflects good value for money. We do recommend this and other Maypole security products that are sold secure approved.

Prevention is better than cure, look after your caravan and keep it secure. To see other products click here.

Maypole Steering Wheel Lock (MP5494)

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Maypole Steering Wheel Lock (MP5494) here is what we think.

Car and caravan security are very important and after a career in Policing we both have a good knowledge of how thieves work. Not only is it important to protect your caravan from theft but also your car. Many years ago cars didn’t have an immobiliser fitted and car thieves could “hot wire” a car to start it and then drive away.

Car manufacturers developed the immobiliser security device so without the actual car key, to disable the inbuilt immobiliser, the car could not be started. Around this time car steering wheel locks were common place, the main product used to prevent car theft. As immobilisers became installed on all new cars the use of the wheel lock diminished. Car thieves had to develop new means of stealing cars and this lead to an increase in domestic burglary across the country.

Burglars entered homes with the sole purpose of stealing car keys, they even used fishing rods to hook them out through letterboxes. With the actual car key in their possession they were able to drive away with the car. Car technology has developed, with keyless entry being the latest must have feature. This system relies on the key fob sending a short wave frequency to the car to tell it the key is present. The car doors then unlock and the car can be started with the push start button. Car thieves are able to purchase a whole range of devices that fool the car into unlocking. The car thief will stand  next to your car with one part of the device, the device will boost the seeking range of your car, which is always looking for the key this ‘code’ or password is constantly changing so in simplest terms a password question is constantly changed by the car. The accomplice stands next to the house where the car key is with the other device with the cars answer and between them they can bridge the frequency gap and allow the frequency of the key to reach the car. The car then believes the key is present and opens and will start.

When the device is fitted

A steering wheel lock will add a physical barrier to your car being driven away, once fitted the Maypole Steering Wheel Lock will mean the wheel cannot be turned sufficiently to drive the car any distance. The bar will hit the windscreen at the top and the centre console at the bottom. The lock also covers the airbag in the centre so this cannot be removed and the steering wheel unscrewed and removed. The lock of the Maypole product is drill proof and if attacked it will spin around in the casing. The metal bar will withstand a hacksaw and for anyone asking about an angle grinder, there aren’t many burglars and car thieves that carry those around. They make a lot of noise and would alert people to the theft in the early hours of the morning. The steering wheel lock is a visible deterrent, a tested physical barrier and a last line of defence against a thief. The Maypole Steering Wheel Lock weighs 2.75kg and comes with two keys. It can be bought online at Amazon (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases), Ebay and other retailers, and online and in store at Towsure and Go Outdoors. Prices vary from £40-50 and this offers good value for money and additional peace of mind. Click HERE to see our review page.

Freedom to Go

Chapel Lane CAMC and the NEC February 2019.

Here we have Chapel Lane CAMC and the NEC February 2019.

Twice a year thousands of Caravan and Motorhome enthusiasts descend upon Birmingham NEC for the largest UK leisure industry shows. We have been a few times now, it was at the show in October 2017 that we ordered our Adria. 

Back in November 2018 we had started planning our visit to the February show running from the 19-24th February 2019. We booked a pitch at Chapel Lane Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, about twenty minutes from the NEC, and applied from a press pass. As time ticked nearer the build up started to grow on Twitter and excitement grew. A few weeks before the show we received an email from the event organiser asking us, Here We Tow, if we would like to be part of an advice panel at the Freedom To Go Theatre. Initially we both thought it must be a hoax, retaliation for some of our own pranks, but no it was genuine. We couldn’t believe we had been asked and were so excited words cant really describe it.

On Monday 18th February we towed the Adria to Chapel Lane and found a huge pitch to set up on, our home for the next few weeks. We were looking forward to catching up with several people who we knew were staying on the site too, this included Stephen and Karla (Adventure Wheels) and John Cooke.

Tuesday 19th February saw us up at 6am, we excitedly got ready and then set off towards the M42. Even so early in the day traffic was slow to the NEC. We arrived and parked up, we trotted down to the entrance and headed to the press office, keen to get our passes and get in early to gather some content. As we arrived at the press office, who was stood there, only Andrew Ditton. Jules was made up, obviously their relationship goes back to the very start of our caravanning adventures. We had a catch up and then Andrew hobbled off on his injured knee to crack on with some serious work.

We headed in to the halls, we had a plan of where we wanted to go so headed straight to the Elddis stand to review the Buccaneer Cruiser as part of our 8ft wide series. I must say it was a well equipped and eye catching caravan, it was easy to see where the £34k price tag was spent.

With one vlog done (watch this space its coming up on YouTube) we got our skates on and headed to Hall 5 for the press launch of the VW Grand California. As we arrived there was a hustle around the VW, although it did appear most people had just turned up for a bacon sandwich. We cast our eye over the whopping VW and must say it was a good looking thing, a step up from a van conversion but not quite a Motorhome, interesting.

VW Grand California 600

We moved on, keen to get bits done before thousands of show-goers poured through the doors.

Our next stop was EP Hydraulics, a company from Lancashire who supply the self levelling for the Buccaneer. Now, this is a product I am very interested in for a number of reasons, Jules on the other hand is yet to be convinced on the benefits to us. We will cover this in a later vlog and blog. We spoke to the representative at the stand and it was evident he knew about his product.

Time was ticking on so we had a quick visit to the Yorkshire based Pro-tec Team for a catch up and to see their stand. It was good to see the team demonstrating their towing jacket and cover, we had a quick photo taken and off we went.

We stood back at the entrance to hall 1 and watched as the doors opened, that was it the show was underway and little did we know what an amazing six days we were about to have.

I won’t bore you with every stand we visited and every word that was spoken but the week carried on with the same schedule. Up early, to the NEC, camera out and content made. Jules enjoyed a twitter video here and there, a different stand was covered each time.

Whilst at the show we got to meet friends old and new, it’s quite strange to be stopped by people who you know in social media and YouTube but have never actually met. Personally it meant a lot to me to get to meet some wonderful people who have supported us during a difficult time when my Mum passed away. All I can say to all those people is thank you.

As always the selfies had to be taken and so here is the gallery of people to avoid if you go to the Caravan and Motorhome Show in October 2019.

The weekend was quickly nearing and we were looking forward to our advice clinic on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday afternoon we headed to the Freedom To Go Theatre ready to take to the stage with Gavin Grayston from Get Out With The Kids, Dave Hurrell a Motorhome expert and Tim Booth from NaVCIS. We thoroughly enjoyed the session and surprisingly were able to offer some credible advice. The hour passed quickly and that was it, another day was done. The highlight of my day was I got to cook on the Freedom To Go Stage, I said I would get to do it and I did.

Sunday arrived, the last day, we were joined by Iain from Caravan and Motorhome Gossip and his family. They were keen to see a number of Caravans in their search for a possible new purchase. We trotted around a number of stands with other show goers, keen to find that dream van.

Our Sunday slot arrived in the Freedom To Go Theatre and we were back on the stage. I took the opportunity to talk a little about our story and my key piece of advice was “just do it, you can’t get your family time back”. The afternoon flew by the that was the end of the February 2019 show. We headed back to Chapel Lane one last time and reflected on the week. To be honest we couldn’t believe how one year can make such a change to your life, but it’s hard work and enthusiasm that will get you there.

The countdown begins now for the October Show..we cannot wait, if you want to see what we have coming up check out our homepage with all the latest information !

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Brighton CAMC

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Brighton CAMC – our visit.

On the 6th February 2019 we hitched up the Adria and headed off to the South East of England. The bright lights of Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club site awaited us. The route to the site was easily accessible with even the largest unit, but be warned, the final approach lane is quite potholed. We arrived at the site in some damp British weather but it soon passed and we were unhitching and setting up on a good sized pitch, number 48, which was fairly level and right next to a service point. Jules set to putting up the Vango air awning, no record time was created but after half an hours work it was securely pegged down and the awning furniture was out. As it transpired, we had visited Brighton during a period of very strong wind, something we are use to in the North. The weather didn’t put us off and we were soon exploring the site. It’s a large site with hardstanding, grass and serviced pitches. Tents are welcome in the camping area during the season and one added bonus to the site are the glamping pods. You can hire a glamping pod or even an Airstream at Brighton. We found the shower facilities clean and very warm, it was nice to listen to the radio playing in there whilst splashing like a duck in the shower. The laundrette was set up like most club sites and was £4 for a wash and £1 for every 15 minutes of drying.

Once the site was explored we headed off in the car down to the Marina, about five minutes away, and here we found ample free parking, a large Asda, cheap petrol and more food outlets than we had time to eat at. The Marina had a nice vibe about it and was somewhere we were to visit several times. It was possible to walk to the Marina but the roadways were very busy and it was safer to take the car. Near to the Marina was one of the bus stops you could use to catch the bus to get in to Brighton. Parking in Brighton is very expensive, we were shocked to find for £14 you could park for two hours. We did manage to find some street parking near to the pier for £4.20.

Whilst at Brighton we were joined by Ann and Gary Brooks. We arranged a day out with Richard from Legs down, and had a lovely drive out to Beachy Head. After a nice walk we went for lunch at The Beachy Head Pub. Jules had a steak and onion baguette and Karina had small fish and chips, which Gary finished off with great enjoyment. It was nice to all catch up and have a day out together.

The next day we ventured down to the Brighton Pier. Being from the North we love Blackpool and had high hopes for the Pier arcades. We trotted in like excited kids, Gary was admittedly more excited than Ann, and we soon had piles of two pences for the push machines. We spent a fun hour pumping our mucky brown coins in to the machines and after losing £4 we decided to give up and get a coffee. We had a walk down the Pier in high winds then headed to the nearby Harvester for a coffee. We headed back to the site having seen enough for one day, and our parking time was up.

Ann and Gary then left for home and we focused on a site review and having a go with the Camper Clean. This machine, for £2, will empty, clean and prepare your toilet cassette. Our verdict on the machine was that for £2 try it for yourself to see but we wouldn’t use it again.

Our eight day visit came to an end, we found Brighton an interesting mix of people and backgrounds. Even in February it seemed busy and vibrant, but was it a match for Blackpool..we will let you decide that for yourself.

We packed up, hitched up and set off on another adventure, this time a little further North to Ashwell in Hertfordshire. If you would like to see more of what we are up to head over to our Homepage to keep up to date with our announcements.  

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Our Duvalay mattress experience.

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Our Duvalay mattress experience.

Back in Summer 2018 we discovered our only problem with the Adria thus far and that was the foam mattress that it was supplied with. In a matter of three months the side Jules slept on had become so sunken there was a permanent dip in the foam. The dip was so bad that Jules found it difficult to roll out of the crater. It was evident the quality of the foam was not good and under the weight of a large man it had been no match. Due to this we made a short vlog and asked Duvalay if they could assist with their products.

Duvalay specialise in memory foam and sprung mattresses for leisure vehicles, they are based in West Yorkshire, and are known for their high quality products.

https://www.herewetow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/imb_uvjws5.mov

In October 2018 we attended the Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC and were keen to visit their stand to see the products for ourselves. We spoke to Liz Colleran, the Sales and Marketing Director, and put to her our problem. Liz listened and took time to show us the most suitable product for us, this was the Jupiter sprung mattress, a product that is usually used in Swift mobile homes. Although the sprung is heavier than foam, so this must be considered in your payload, it is still a light weight mattress and as many lower quality foam mattresses are quite heavy the difference is marginal in reality.

Duvalay offer a number of memory foam mattresses too so there is certainly something for everyone.

We ordered our mattress and soon received an email with a drawing confirming the size of our mattress, specific to our caravan make and model. Production began and we waited excitedly for the Jupiter sprung mattress. About four weeks later we were informed it was ready and we opted to collect the mattress in person so we could also take a look around their Duvalay showroom and the factory itself.

We called in at Duvalay just in to the New Year and were very pleased with the look, feel and finish of the Jupiter. We loaded it in to the back of our Rexton and headed home, we were now keen to get away for our first trip in February and test it out.

On Tuesday 5th February we headed down to Dorset to collect the Adria and pitch up for a week at Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club site.

Jules lifted the Jupiter from the Rexton and carried it in to the Adria with little effort. He removed the Adria foam mattress from the bed, its meteor sized crate clearly visible, this thing was only fit for Fudge to sleep on now. Whilst Jules took the old mattress away to dispose of, I made up the new bed and looked forward to bedtime.

We had also picked up two memory foam pillows whilst at the showroom and they were very good quality.

At about 9pm, after a long day travelling from Yorkshire and then a further tow to Wareham, we clambered in to our new bed. It was comfy, it was supportive, it was superb. We drifted off and spent a very sound night fast asleep. The next morning we were up early as always, I was pleased that I had woken up without a stiff back, which happens a lot with my bad back. We spent a second comfy night on the Duvalay Jupiter and firmly agreed the sprung mattress was much better for us and was not going to become a victim to Jules and his weight.

In conclusion the Duvalay mattress is very good and worth the outlay if you are not satisfied with your caravan or motorhome mattress. We are delighted with the quality and comfort of the Jupiter. They have a good website where all their products can be found. The many reviews Duvalay have across the internet speaks volumes about their products. The cost of the sprung mattress in a double is £426 but Duvalay do offer show discounts and they will have a stand at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC from the 19th-24th February 2019. I am advised there will be at 15% discount on the mattresses and free delivery, which will save an extra £25.

We would recommend the Duvalay Jupiter mattress without hesitation. If you would like to keep up to date with what we are up to head over to our Homepage to see our upcoming events.

Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show

Here We Tow are very excited, not only to be going to the NEC for the show between the 19th-24th February, but also to update you that we have been invited to speak at the weekend in the Freedom To Go Theatre. We will be there on Saturday and Sunday if anyone wants to drop by for a chat and ask any advice or questions. Thank you to everyone that has supported us this last twelve months and we would love to meet up and have a chat. If you would like to keep up to date with all the events we are visiting check out our Home page.

https://www.ccmshow.co.uk/speakers/

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The Camping, Caravan and Motorhome show – Birmingham NEC February 2019.

The Camping, Caravan and Motorhome show – Birmingham NEC February 2019.

There are a number of Caravan, Camping and Motorhome shows across the country throughout the year. They attract thousands of friendly people all sharing an enthusiasm and interest in the leisure products available and hoping to grab a bargain.

We ordered our Adria Caravan at the Birmingham NEC in October 2017 and remember, clearly, the excitement and build up to the show. We arrived at the NEC about three hours before the doors opened

we were so excited and were first in the line to dash to the Adria stand to spend our money. Since then

we have returned to the NEC for the October 2018 show and now we are gearing up for the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, running from the 19th-24th February 2019 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Its fair to say the atmosphere of the shows is fantastic, thousands of people descend upon the halls of manufacturers, dealers and small businesses to see the latest makes, models, products and gadgets available for the coming year. It doesn’t matter if you’re there to spend big or just browse, there is so much to see and do and with guest speakers there is always something to see, listen to and learn. It might be information on travelling abroad you want, or help deciding which club you should join, theres plenty of people on hand to offer their advice for nothing.

This year there are several attractions including the brand new Bear Grylls Adventure space and the popular ice skating area and climbing wall, and this year Max, Paddy, Harry and Kerry are appearing on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February.

Once you’ve spent up, or worked up an appetite, there are plenty of places to get something to eat or drink, but be warned the prices are a little inflated as you would expect, but you can always take a picnic and find a quiet corner to sit and have a think before signing away your life savings.

If you are intending on going to the show you may be pleased to hear that Here We Tow can save you a bit of money as we have three pairs of tickets to be won. Our competition is running from now until midday Friday 8th February 2019. All you have to do to win a pair of free tickets for the February 2019 show is comment below who you would take if you won and why. You can also enter on our YouTube channel and our Twitter account. The winners will all be drawn on Friday and announced that day. Good luck to all our followers and hopefully see you at the show as we will be there most days.

 

The winners have now been drawn on YouTube, Twitter and this blog.

The Twitter and Blog winners were drawn by Ann and Gary Brooks randomly and the winner for Twitter is :-

Mark@sparkieb20360

 

On the blog :-

Brian Fensome

 

And on YouTube the random comment picker chose Gevin White.

All announcements here.

To check out what we are up to next please see our homepage.

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Our Christmas & New Year in a Caravan.

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On the 7th December we set off on our Christmas holiday, a four week trip in total covering both Christmas and New Year.

Prior to my Mum deteriorating in health, we had planned a weeks holiday at Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Club Site in Wiltshire. When she passed away we decided to continue with our trip but make more of it.We packed the Rexton with clothes and Christmas presents and set off with enthusiasm, and of course our dog Fudge. We had a long drive back down to Dorset to pick up our Adria but we arrived at the storage yard safely. The weather was awful, high winds and driving rain, we hitched up and had a short tow to Ernie’s Plot at Bridport in Dorset. We arrived at this little CS to find we were the only guests. We got set up in the monsoon rain and fired up the Alde heating. Our first night was wet and windy but we were warm and cosy. We had missed our Adria and it felt like being back home.

The next morning we decide to explore Bridport, we found the town had a good choice of shops. Over the next few days the weather improved and the view from the lounge window, from our pitch, was beautiful. We had many trips out, including fish and chips at West Bay and a lovely pub lunch in Sidmouth. We loved the local area and Ernies Plot made for a good base. It was excellent for Fudge as it had a huge secure field for dogs to charge about in, the only downside was the pitches were very sloping. 

After a week it was time to pack up and head to Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Site. As we arrived at the site we noticed the approach lane could be tricky if you were to meet larger traffic coming the other way. We arrived at reception to be met by Gail, the Warden.

What a lovely welcome we received and we were soon on our way to pitch 159. For the second part of our holiday we had arranged to trial a Bailey Phoenix 640 to conduct a downsizing experiment. At 9” narrower and almost a metre shorter than our Adria, it was sure to be interesting. We got settled in and set up and were soon on the way to Asda at Frome to stock up. We had already realised the fridge in the Phoenix was a lot smaller, about 37 litres in total. We have to be careful not to buy too much fresh food or frozen items. Once stocked up with food and the obligatory chocolate we headed back to Longleat. That night we settled down for our first night and it wasn’t long before the Lions began. We laid in the dark listening to the roar of the Lions from the safari park, only a short distance away. The noise could only be decided as sounding like dinosaurs, it was amazing. As I drifted off to sleep I did think what would happen if one got out…We spent most of next day vlogging on the site and producing a review for our channel. We spent some of our time visiting Warminster and Frome and popping out early doors for breakfast at The Bath Arms. We arranged to meet with a great couple who we met earlier this year, Ann and Gary Brooks. We met for lunch at Trowbridge and it was nice to hear about their Christmas plans which included their own caravan trip to Dulverton.Whilst at Longleat we met, by chance, Phil and Lee from Top hat (click to see their you tube channel) with their Hobby Premium caravan and their little dog Roman. It was nice to chat with them and meet more of our online friends.We also had time for reflection of how 2018 had turned out. It had been a difficult year with us both retiring from the Police, selling our house to move further south and then Mum passing away from Cancer in November. As we counted down to Christmas Day we both felt a bit down but would see how it went. Christmas Day arrived and we started with the ritual of Christmas present opening. As always my friend Sam had come good, chocolate for us and treats for Fudge. The day ticked past and I prepared our Christmas Dinner in the Bailey kitchen. Despite the limited room in the Phoenix, the kitchen worktop space was an outright winner for cooking a meal. By late afternoon we sat down to eat the offering, mostly that had been cooked in foil trays to save on the washing up. I spent the rest of the night eating chocolate fingers to the point of no return and then we headed to bed. That was Christmas Day 2018, not quite like the previous 39 Christmas Days I had known before but fun nonetheless.

Boxing Day and we were up early and headed down to The Bath Arms at Warminster for a breakfast, pancakes and a full breakfast were ordered and soon gobbled down. We headed back to Longleat, excited that our friends would be arriving later that day to continue our holiday and New Year celebration. It wasn’t long before we were joined by the Trudgian, Hardham and Morley family and we stood back to watch how the experts really do it.The site at Longleat got busier by the day in the countdown to New Year and a few more of our friends began to arrive for our arranged holiday. All I can say about what happened next is that we haven’t laughed so much, probably ever. Most mornings were spent having breakfast with the Caravan and Motorhome Gossip family and also Jan and Nik Ban, two lovely people who let nothing stand in their way. What a fantastic time we had and an amazing New Year. This included watching an amazing firework display from the site courtesy of Longleat Estate.Most of the group packed up and headed home on the 1st January but we had one more thing to look forward to, Ann and Gary arriving to join us for a few nights. I had promised them one of my finest roast dinners and thats what they got, as we gathered in the Phoenix lounge. Bless them, they ate it and thankfully were still with us the next day.

It was a good job too as we had arranged for the four of us to meet up with John and Tina Cooke for a pub lunch. We headed out for the day and spent a lovely few hours chatting and eating more food.When we got back to Longleat we started to pack up ready for our own departure the next day, the site was almost empty by now and the lively atmosphere of families celebrating had now left behind a stillness. Once again as we laid there in the dark that night the Lions began to roar….We were up early on the 3rd January and headed out for one last breakfast at McDonalds with Gail and Mark Cooper, the Wardens. We thanked them for all they had done to make our stay so enjoyable and we felt genuinely sad to be leaving our home for the past three weeks. We returned to the site, hitched up and said good bye to Ann and Gary. We dropped the Phoenix back off at Bailey and then began a long drive back to the Yorkshire Dales where our trip had begun almost four weeks before.We both agreed we had one of the best Christmas and New Years, despite missing Mum, and that caravanning at Christmas is the future. Heres to 2019…and some healthy eating and lots of caravanning. If you would like to keep informed where we will be then head over to our Home page to see our announcements.

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August 9 Inch TV review.

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Here we look closer into the August 9 Inch TV review.

Our Christmas Caravan holiday had been planned well in advance and a visit to Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Site was to be one of our locations. We had also arranged to leave our Adria behind and spend time comparing it to a Bailey Phoenix. 

We had decided not to take our Caravan 21” TV with us to Longleat as we already had a car full of three weeks of possessions. Just before we moved on to Longleat we were contacted by a company to ask if we would like to review their August 9” Portable Freeview TV. With a resounding “yes” from both of us the TV was dispatched. 

We arrived at Longleat and set up the Caravan, as promised the August Portable TV had arrived. It was well packaged and Jules, King of all gadgets, opened the box before the Caravan steadies were even down. We were told by the Warden at Longleat that TV reception on the site was very poor and most people used the aerial in the bollard. We set up the August TV and used the sturdy stand on the back to set it up on the front chest. Jules attached the small detachable aerial that came with the TV and then started it up. 

We were impressed at how quickly the small TV searched for channels on its own aerial and we soon had about 100 channels and radio stations. We settled in for our first night at Longleat, the August TV worked a treat, the picture was clear and bright and the sound was just right. The small remote control worked from a distance of up to five metres and it meant we could sit back and relax. Our eyes began to feel heavy and we decided to head to bed, Jules picked up the portable TV and carried it through to the bedroom where it was placed on a small shelf. We watched TV for an hour before switching it off and nodding off. 

It’s fair to say we were very impressed with the August TV, not only can it be used in the Caravan but also taken out in to the awning if you want to watch TV outside. The TV has a battery life of two hours or it can be run off the mains. We could not fault the little TV and were even given a discount code for orders on Amazon. The August 9 inch TV retails at £99.95 but with the discount code HWT20OFF you will get 20% off that price. This portable TV is perfect for Caravans and Motorhomes and comes highly recommended.

If you would like to keep up to date with all our products and reviews head over to the REVIEWS page.

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To the launch …. and beyond – Bailey Pegasus Grande range.

Back on the 19th September 2018, Bailey of Bristol launched their new 8ft wide Pegasus Grande caravan, joining the new first choice Phoenix in the lineup. We were, surprisingly, invited to this event as YouTube vloggers and content creators.  Just what would we think, what would we like and what would we include in our lighthearted and honest vlogs. We arrived at the event, pleased and excited to be there, looking forward to enthusing about caravans and of course a free lunch.

There was one Pegasus Grande that caught our eye, the Bologna, this twin axle side island bed was the one, identical to the layout of our own caravan, yet different in many ways. We looked around with open eyes and once inside the Bologna we pondered the new G-shape lounge. Karina looked at Jules, then at the lounge, then at Jules. “I’m just not sure how you would use it, I would have to go away in it to see how that actually worked” Karina eventually proclaimed. We reviewed the rest of the caravan in a walk around style and that was that. Our summing up was average, it was an average 8ft caravan, confusing in the lounge layout and with a bathroom sink that left more questions than answers.
Bailey were obviously listening and they offered Here We Tow the loan of a Bologna for a few days to take away and trial as we had wished.
On the 12th November 2018 Here We Tow arrived at Bailey of Bristol  after a long drive down from the Yorkshire Dales. We were excited about the trip, a new caravan to test. The Bologna was quickly hitched on to our SsangYong Rexton and off we went, entrusted by Bailey not to damage, destroy or dispose of the caravan, the good name of the Bailey brand was in our hands. Here We Tow carefully towed the caravan to a site not too far away,  Bath Chew Valley Caravan Site, a fitting 5 pennant awarded park perfect for the Bailey.

The Bologna towed well, the twin axle keeping it well planted and steady. Here we Tow quickly set up the Bologna, legs down, water filled, cupboards packed with food and clothes and gadgets plugged into the numerous USB sockets. The truma air blown heating was put on and, weary from a long day, we settled in to the G-shaped lounge that had been such a talking point for us. Jules nestled in to the corner, Apple Mac spread out on the table, and Karina was soon laid out on the sofa. As we settled in the cosy lounge area of the Bologna its clever design slowly began to dawn on us. Soon it was time to pyjama up and head for bed, Jules pulled out the island bed and we clambered in. Good night Here We Tow.
As the sun rose over Bath Chew Valley, we were already up, after a good nights sleep. The kettle was on and talk was of testing out the Bologna for a honest review for the YouTube channel. We sat down for a brew at the table, chatting away, and then breakfast was prepared. Porridge and cereal, nothing exciting, but there was plenty of room in the kitchen to spread everything out and then once again it was back to the table to eat.
Here We Tow ventured out around the site and were met by numerous illuminated Christmas decorations ready for the festive period and local Christmas markets. Not one to be out done and always keen to join in, we decided to join in the Christmas spirit. We borrowed some lights and spent an autumnal afternoon decorating the Bologna with lights. Some would say our work was not in keeping with Bailey and was nothing more than vandalism, but Here We Tow are not conventional and we were very pleased with our handy work.
Tea that night was sadly not cooked in the Bologna, despite the very much rated kitchen, no it was a takeaway from up the road, once again the side table was put to great use and kitchen towel napkins made for a romantic setting back in the caravan.
After tea a shower was in order, the Bologna proved itself again, and a lovely hot shower was had by both, which in turn led to bed time again.
Being away in the Bologna meant  we could meet up with some friends, Ann and Gary from Brooksontour, who we had met only earlier in the year through our shared interest in caravanning. Bailey Unicorn owners themselves, they were keen to hear what we really thought of the Pegasus Grande, they listened intently to every word spoken, they were like they were being entrusted with a huge secret.
After a few days of adventure and exploration it was time to pack up, legs up, hitch up and head home. There were heavy hearts as we returned our home for the past few days back to Bailey of Bristol.
Whilst away in the Pegasus Grande everything was tried and tested, we were impressed with the finishes, functionality and workings of the van, the G-shape lounge transpired to be an absolute winner along with the kitchen and bedroom. Even the almost silent truma heating had proved itself to us, as Alde lovers.  But one thing hung over the Bologna, the understated and uninspiring exterior, again no doubt a winner for the  devoted Bailey buyer but not Karina. However, as always they had a solution, a ‘Here We Tow limited edition’ with a chrome, silver and black front and some added decals to the sides. If that were to happen Here We Tow would actually buy a Pegasus Grande Bologna and I’m sure that will come as a surprise to many.
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Bringing you up to date nearing the end of 2018…..

Once the Adria was ordered there was a realisation that such a huge caravan would need an equally large tow car and so the search began. We headed to dealerships across Yorkshire trying out various brands including Jeep, Volvo, Mitsubishi and VW. After much test driving and deliberation we decided on a SsangYong Rexton ELX, it offered amazing value for money, superb towing ability and a cracking warranty. This car was a winner all around and so our order was placed and a deposit paid. To finish off the Rexton, Karina purchased a surprise Christmas present for Jules, yes a private number plate WE18 TOW. The Rexton arrived in March 2018 and we were delighted with it, a top choice for sure.

After the NEC show the wait until April 2018 seemed never ending, we were like over excited children. At last the day arrived, our Adria Isonzo was ready for collection. We headed over to Stewart Longton in the Rexton and we were quick to hand over our money and get straight in to it. After a detailed handover we hitched the Adria beast on to the car and that was it, Here We Tow. We had booked a stay at Oswestry in the new Isonzo and headed straight there. Once on site we excitedly set up for the first time and after some hard work we stood back and admired our work. We had a great week away in the Adria and found no faults at all with the caravan. We were sad to pack up and drop the Adria back in storage but we knew we would be away again soon.

st austell
Soon arrived in a matter of weeks and we hitched up again and headed south to Tregarton Park in St. Austell. It was a long drive down and there were a few hairy moments on narrow roads and windy lanes.  We were delighted with the site and had two fantastic weeks there, the weather was amazing, the Cadac was out every day and we did little but sit in our chairs and take in the view. Of course we did a vlog of the site which seemed well received and hopefully reflected what a great site we had found. Like all good things, our holiday came to an end and again we were on the road back to the North of the country. Our Adria Isonzo was once again dropped at storage and we returned home, but only for a few days before we were off again.
This time our destination was Anitas Touring Park in Banbury, the home of Trudgfest 2018. Also on board for this adventure was Mummy Tow. On arrival we were quick to set up and enjoyed the attention our flashy silver fronted Adria received. We had a great stay and Trudgfest will remain a fond memory for a long time to come. The trip passed quickly and we were soon hitching up and towing again, straight down the A34 towards Dorset. The Adria towed well, its presence very much felt though, respect must be shown when towing this brute. We arrived at Wareham Forest Tourist Park on the 2nd June 2018 where we were to start our new jobs as Wardens. Yes, we had decided to have a change of career and leave Policing behind.
We quickly settled in to our new role, the hours were long but we met some amazing people, all keen to share their Caravan and Motorhome experiences. There were a few occasions when we were recognised by subscribers to our channel and it was nice to hear that they enjoyed watching us.
During the summer we were delighted to be invited by Bailey of Bristol to the launch of their first choice Phoenix caravan. We couldn’t believe that, along with other vloggers and bloggers, they had invited us to this. Little did we know this was just the start of more to come.
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Sadly, Mummy Tow became poorly at the end of August and Karina had to head back to Yorkshire to look after her, followed in October by Jules. On the 6th November Yvette passed away after her brave and unrelenting battle against Cancer. We had resigned from our warden job due to the personal circumstances and were once again back in Yorkshire. So what would we do next and what path would we take…

How a meet up became a Fantastic trip.

This was from the famous Trudgfest 2018, where a group of like minded camper and caravaners met for the first time at Anita’s Touring Park near Banbury. After speaking to people that we become friends with on all social media this was the first opportunity to meet people in person and what a holiday it was.

Here you see us interviewing Mr Andy Morley from MakeWayWithTheMorleys as he was preparing a full roast chicken that had been cooked on the Cadac. He managed not to cremate this one and it was actually quite nice. You can catch the original attempt on his channel a link to which has been provided below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP-pZYWcSTw

Preston Caravan visit

Hello, just a quick update as I’m sure that you have seen that we recently visited Preston Caravans in order to get an exclusive view of the Hymer Eriba Nova GL range.

We spent several hours looking over and reviewing two of these German brutes. We took our time so we could do them justice, the outcome was we can confirm these are incredibly well made caravans.

We we would like to say a huge thank you to Charlotte Campbell and all the staff who helped us whilst filming in the showroom.

Please check out their blog post below:-

https://www.prestoncm.co.uk/hymer-eriba-video-review/