Another caravan dealership about to go pop!

Shock news - Broadlane Leisure call in administrators - just weeks after the company sold Kenilworth branch to Spinney Group. I am sad about having to announce such news !

[@adebon8887]

I am sure the whole industry will now be in a steep decline. Dealers, manufacturers and campsites. The industry has lost sight of what caravaning was all about. It’s all too expensive now and no longer value for money.

[@mrmeg01]

Agreed, needs a reset

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Agree with you - a rich mans hobby as it began - check out the Story of the touring caravan book of mine - its gone expensive and what annoys me is how some "reviewers" talk as though 35k is ok and affordable - yeah right - I will keep my ear to the ground !

[@jameschapman4824]

@@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk Some of the reviewers thaink that £80k is a "value" van

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

@@jameschapman4824 I say expensive James!

[@paulbird3235]

Too many people trying to screw the public, the straw that broke the customers back! Just had a new quote for car insurance, 20yrs no claims, 6000 miles per year, and a clean licence held for 50yrs. Gone from £500 pounds to over £740 pounds, they are taking the piss.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Car insurance its a disgrace dont get me going I drive mine like a nun locked in alarmed garage no claims for years 13,000 10,000 business - mine went up £149 in Jan - car insurance is a rip off and with electric cars costing silly cash to repair thats not helped either - agreed Paul!

[@dougle03]

"Covid has a lot to do with it..." - If you mean Dealer and Manufacturer greed has a lot to do with it, then yes I agree...

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

supply and demand - but short sighted outlook by dealers and makers it was a one hit wonder never going to last!

[@raymondporter2094]

The price of caravans should be a balance between buyer + dealer. If too few buyers are prepared/able to pay the price of a 2024 new caravan, that is because they are overpriced for what is on offer. A leaking van with issues that should be picked up on PDI rather than relying on the customer to do that inspection as he uses the van; a van that you can't book in for warranty work to put the defects right....all that is the sign of an industry digging its own grave. You are (just?) old enough to remember buying British Leyland etc cars 50 years ago - the "Friday afternoon cars", the regular faults; the Ford you might order in September to be told it would take 6 months to deliver.... I wonder why people started to buy Japanese and, more recently, South Korean vehicles with 5-7 year and 100,000 mile warranties...!!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes I sadly remember Leyland and its demise - strikes and poor quality build - the Japanese did the car market a great deal of good. My cousin back in 1971 bought a Datsun 100A from a new dealer in Blackpool a family business who sold Truimph but dropped for Datsun. Lots of kit for then radio etc - but reliable engines - the only downside was body rot - they rotted quick but by ealy 80s that was cured and the European makers had to get their act together and begin building better cars, reliable and also less rust prone. South Korea makers have trumped the Japanese makers - Honda and Nissan make few models compared to the Kia's of this world. Having also noted that the early Kias were sold on price to but thats changed of course. But those warranties do need checking closely as a neighbour of mine found out after a new wiring loom was needed to be told it was under the warranty - and a friend of ours with a Kia bought new just after a few weeks of warranty run out the engine management system went pop and they dealer / Kia would not help in any way - they never bought a new Kia again - but quality needs to be upped in many areas especially with social media being used to let the whole world know of issues - bad news spreads quick! Thanks for you comments

[@conrad8906]

Hi Andy. That's terrible, they were a big dealership, very surprised at their closure, hopefully no more dealers will close, so sad to see the demise of the industry, thanks for the update. Conrad

[@dougle03]

The industry got greedy, roll with the good times and survive the bad...

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

@@dougle03 history repeats - makers and dealers should pop some money away for a rainy day which has now arrived!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Sad all over Conrad - this happened 40 years ago big names went makers and dealers - now fewer left as a passion for this industry it makes me feel depressed and I still mourn the loss of once local maker Lunar - that form should never have closed

[@paulbird3235]

According to the Derbyshire Times, Robinson caravans who were taken over a couple of years ago had agreed to be paid some of the sale price over a few years. Since bankrupcy it appears they were owed over £1.000.000 and have little chance of getting anything back from their buyer.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

This also happened with Barrons Great outdoors a big dealer near me who I knew well. They were taken over by discover group who as the Robinsons buyer knew nothing about caravans - Barrons never go their money - bad news for everybody.

[@holsteincowboy]

Land Rover quoted 2,137 for fitting a detachable tow bar to a defender with air suspension.If I was in the market for a caravan the Mink from Iceland would be my top choice - Very cool/funky and perfect for solo caravaners

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I would fit witter every time makers always charge a mega amount for a tow bar especially LD - Mink for my money was to expensive but they sold very few and another dealer I know took them on and I said - you wont do much with them and a year later he dropped them. Well made funky but not popular - I never reviewed one I would have told it like it was. Thank you for commenting

[@daletinsley2954]

Try taking a caravan/motorhome/campervan to another dealership for warranty repairs and im sure you will be disappointed. A work colleague has a 2019 coachman that has serious damp issues ( under warranty) and he cant even take it in till next February. And that is the supplying dealer. ( Just off the A1/M62 ) if asking a sales person when choosing a van ( either new or used ) about potential warranty repairs i wonder how honest they will be. I can't believe how much the price increases have been over the last few years. Im glad im out of it.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes and if you buy an imported tourer you can wait for many months too. Another problem is caravans have become more complex and with more kit more to go wrong too - prices gone up and motorhomes to have been hit of course - just think with motorhomes on your forecourt how much cash you have parked up. Lots of price cutting on motorhomes now especially ones they have sat for months - as a buyer you have greater buying power.

[@RobertCoutts-b3l]

I bought a Motorhome from Broadlane and sadly have to say that the handover process and aftercare was shocking,perhaps they needed to walk the talk.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Its amazing some folk will say it was a great deal and everything went fine and others had bad problems and lack of care - same with car dealers - My local Skoda dealership have never been able to do a sale with me in 20 years - but I know others who wont go anywhere else I had tow bad experiences and walked away - how things differ on dealers across the board.

[@jerrycuthbertson1122]

I have had 3 New vans from Broad Lane, Alcester and Kennilworth, over the last few years. Sadly my last one, an Elegance, was a shed on wheels. The manufacturers must take their share of the blame for producing such poor quality vans but Broad Lanes PDI and Hand Over on our Elegance was particulary poor.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Sorry to hear about your Elegance - I was speaking to somebody who had bought a new one and were over the moon with it - no probs whatsoever - its one of them again you have had problems yet this couple said it was best Swift they had bought!

[@kevinflood8212]

Hi Andy, that's very sad news, when you think of all the jobs that are lost not to mention the local spin off to repair shops etc. Hate to see closures in any industry but being optimistic I think things will balance out and affordability will return but sadly it's going to come at the expense of small to medium sized dealerships. Looking forward to your visit to the Eldiss factory in your next video.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

We dont wan many more to go not good for everyone Kevin - yes will balance out at some stage but may be more casualties - Went to Elddis I have been told I am not allowed around factory as a restructure is in place - cant tell about 25 models till August 12th - no new Xplores till September but will give my opinion on them when I get to see them.

[@alexrankin2235]

Very worrying times Andy. My question to everyone is - are young families buying caravans, the way we used to.

[@johndawson8806]

its called going green lol! stop changing your caravan every couple years and keep it for long time and thats green ! same with cars instead of buying modern junk

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I think folk get into a cycle I did once changing my van every 3 years - but for me thats not an option same with tow car too - but the used cycle has to be fed by new! Thank you

[@Azureecosse]

Caravans are too expensive and prices for Campervans are artificially inflated to appeal to older people who have recently retired and have spare cash to blow , Dealers wax on too much profit, I know they are a business and there to make money but new van prices are ffar too steep and the used van market is the same, we have just returned from a three week trip to Sweden, they are far less expensive for their continental vans we went to a dealership to buy gas and looked at the new vans on sale, we looked at a Kabe and a Dethleff van and they were beautifully constructed in comparison to what we get in the UK and we reckoned vans were cheaper to buy new once you did the conversion to Sterling, I would have a Kabe van over any of the new dross on offer in UK. No plans at this time to trade our older Van because we have better things to spend the money we have, for a box on wheels that we use max six trips a year.

[@garydavis1528]

Broadlane Leek Wootton brother made out wanted to retire and join family in Devon when sold off to Spinney, knew staff that unhappy as their family had joined that branch giving-up their own longstanding service business only to be dumped just over a year later due to lack of demand there last year. Just leaves the family breakaway that was Broadlane on A5 that became Venture several years back as unhappy with what Alcester and Leek Wootton brothers imposed. They tried to get rid of Alcester 2 years ago by selling the business premises to Alde to manufacture from there which asked questions then.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I know Steve lived in Devon and was wanting out - but thought Darren had drive still for Alcester - they also had a small branch at Coventry too near the old Massey Fergerson tractor factory close some years ago - big gap at NEC in October as they always had a strong presence.

[@alexrankin2235]

You talk of towbar prices. My electric VW bar fitted, was £1300. It is however the easiest and best bar I’ve ever experienced, especially as I get older. No need to even kneel on the floor.

[@tikityboo]

New Caravans are a complete rip-off now! Also the UK Campsites are too expensive and no longer value for money when I can go for 10 days in Greece for more value for my money!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Back in the 70's a caravan cost the same as a holiday abroad !!! Caravans are an investment and when the sun tan has faded with a caravan you can still go away as and when - but its become expensive as you say - hopefully it will settle down again! Thanks for comments

[@mrmeg01]

On the plus side there will always be people who will always caravan, so keep the caravan youv got. the value will increase

[@user-zw3bg9vr5g]

Greed poor workmanship uncomfortable cardboard seats and uncomfortable beds poor quality furniture that falls apart overpriced tin boxes that leak Caravanning used to be a cheaper option for poorer families to get away on holiday. The prices they asking today is a joke. People can go on holiday abroad for 20 years on the money they are asking for a Caravan. Then you have the tow car, insurances,services,storage and the high cost of caravan site fees.They have effectively priced themselves out of the market. Sales of caravans boomed during and after Covid.The market was flooded with caravans. Now normal people can’t afford to Caravan. Now on top of all of that we will all need to tow with electric cars that are also priced out of reach of the majority of people on low earnings. I guess it’s bye bye to caravanning.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Well - I remember in mid 80s when after several years of poor sales of tourers things picked up, by 1988/9 caravan makers were gearing up production but also an increase in quality didnt happen and there were problems with leaks - though back then no SM so less of a known problem, Covid boom was just that a boom that was only a year or so happening. With upped production quality slipped and then we had the Ukraine thing with energy cost going up so drop in sales and a hike in costs - caravans bought in the boom were over priced dealers and private sellers knew that. The crash was at the end of the road and nobody much spotted it. I reckon lots of cash made by some was spent and with the drop in sales no money is left as most spent it, In this industry its the same old story some get carried away with the good times and never realise that it cant ever carry on! Prices are beyond me and many others value for money freedom caravan hols have all but gone - towbars, storage etc as you say heaps more onto a budget for buying a tourer. Oh and dont go there with electric, a problem looming for some years but caravan makers still producing big meaty tourers - thank you for your input and sorry for long reply!!!

[@mike-scotland]

The parts manufacturers and suppliers plus dealers have gouged the market to the point that now we dont want the products at that huge price....

[@jerryrollinson8216]

Hi Andrew, it may only time before a manufacturer closes down if new sales are so low. Have you had any communication with manufacturers ? We have a new coachman laser 545, we ordered it in October 23 and picked it up end of March this year. Five months of a wait so do you have any idea what will happen with production of 2025 models will that slow down as there are a lot of 2024 models not sold, or will they carry on production and hope for an upturn in sales.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Well firstly hope the Laser is doing okay!! Coachman cut production for this year but not by much - they will cut back - no point producing vans with no name against them - they seem steady away at Coachman. Stock at Swift is high and at the Elddis factory still some vans left hanging around to be sent out all makers should slow right down in my opinion fingers crossed!

[@wontbelongnow5567]

What you need is people with lots of money which people haven't got also caravans are way over priced have been for years. Good bye to there greed .

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes you need deep pockets thats for sure - components are through roof and labour costs add to the prices - would say motorhome dealers make far more profit over caravans - cheers

[@StevenHaggis]

Never mind.

[@paulhilling6208]

Hi Andy, quick question I'll be in the market for a new van in the spring. Is it worth me selling my 2022 sprite in November with 6 months warranty still or part x next spring. Will probably save a couple of quid on insurance and storage also.

[@paulbower5274]

chin up andrew. we have seen better / different times. we dont like change. but change is nowt new,