Lightweight affordable caravans please

General vlog two PCs in for repair no videos - a look at the archive move update and birthday - now officially a pensioner how did that happen?

[@holsteincowboy]

Mink caravans which are made in Iceland and weigh only 500 kg plus look very cool/funky

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes they are but expensive and few dealers in UK

[@robbeard6929]

It's only a teardrop though.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

It is and with few around wont be easy to sell later on

[@alexrankin2235]

Andy , I’m looking forward to your meeting with Mark. The hobby needs owners to have the kind of passion that you do. Used vans, my 11 year old Sprite I traded in for my Bailey sold after only two weeks, so backs up what your saying about good used van sales.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Alex - yes I want to go and see Mark and chat used - interesting hearing of your caravans - thak you for watching and commenting too.

[@nigelburland187]

Hi Andy, can't wait for you meeting Mark. His is another channel I subscribe to and enjoy his content. Take care N.

[@paulbrough3483]

Thanks Andy very interesting. Your books are an excellent read both for caravan history and UK general history. Paul B

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Paul - thaank you so much thats very good of you to say so a super compliment thank you and for watching as well as buying the books.

[@frankfurter726]

Interesting. Our Hymer Nova L fits that bill, MPTL 1400kg, hot water, fridge, bathroom (no shower), not very long or wide, only 3 burner hob, no oven / micrwave. No bells or whistles but a great fixed bed

[@gillwayne4688]

Maybe take a look at the Freedom range of caravans - small but fully kitted out with heating hot water systems, fridges, gas hobs and most have ovens as well? Around 650-750kg. I'm sure that Jim at their Stafford site would welcome you and show you around. Their core vans are lasting more than 30 years and have a rot proof fibreglass shell. Their newer Carpento range are a very modern rot proof GRP sandwich construction and have a fantastic view front window. Designed aerodynamically and to be towed with an electric car. All parkable on smallish driveways. Up to 4 berth as well. There you go! In addition there are the Swift Base Camps and the Bailey D4 range as well. Not everyone is fixated on 8ft wide and 8m long vans which are really statics in disguise. Hope it helps!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Gill - yes there are those tourers as mentioned but we need more like that - so little choice - The Freedoms have been around in UK since 1976 on and off and Yes I know Jim - Freedoms are still niche tourers with few dealers but an alternative to look at .

[@gillwayne4688]

Indeed Andy. Freedom is a very small business compared to the likes of Swift, Bailey, Coachman and Elddis. There are also now increasing options in the Go Pods, Barefoots and other tiny teardrop campers, but they are quite expensive, whereas Freedoms have stayed reasonably priced. I think the most comfortable little vans for couples and even small families are probably the Freedoms. Combined with awnings, they make great, durable and customisable little tourers. Don't forget the Swift Base Camps and smaller Baileys as well. If there was really a big demand for these small caravans, as you say, the trade would probably adapt and be bigger too. I think it is gradually increasing though, as budgets get tighter and cars get smaller. Having said that, camper vans and Motorhomes now seem to be in greater demand. Perhaps because you have more choices to park for small costs overnight in scenic places and camp site fees have become very expensive - it can sometimes be cheaper for a couple to stay in a BandB than use a campsite.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

@@gillwayne4688 yes there are others but barefoot is 35k so its not really in this area - I think we need more Elddis Xplore type tourers and Bailey would do better with a more conservative profile for the Disco's great idea, price and weight but on a ugly package for me. I also think over night stays in laybys and pub car parks may get quashed and also your expensive van is prone to damage from vandals etc. Sites should be used but they need to jkeep prices tighter. - Thank you for your interesting comments

[@gillwayne4688]

Thanks for getting back to me Andy. I do agree with you about the moho parking crackdown and vandalism. Europe holidays are a much better prospect for them. I really like the Elddis Xplore, but the build issues and lack of customer support were a big issue with them. The Bailey Discoverys are quite well specified for a small van. There's also the Swift Sprite Compact. Good little van imho. And the Adria Action, a tad dearer, as are the Swift Base Camps, which are a bit niche. The Camping and Caravan Club have some good prices for their sites. But they do need more of their own sites. All I'm trying to say really is that all is not lost and there are ways of having a reasonably priced family holiday in a small set up. Happy holidays!

[@paulbower5274]

totally agree . smaller , less gadgets,.bring it on . never used shower in mi caravan yet after 25 yrs. id love to know what percentage do use em as the shower blocks on sites are always well utilised. as for elldis the clue is in the owners name HYMER. they build quality caravans in germany. start doing the same here

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Were the same yet I know some who wont use the block! Glad you agree on a simpler caravan - thanks for comment

[@kevinflood8212]

Great Vlog Andy, I agree, more lightweight basic bog standard caravans need to come from the manufacturers. All vans are more or less the same to look at, there's nothing to distinguish one make from another. People are hurting financially these days. Cost of living is eating into the holiday budget bigtime. Manufacturing need to to get back to value for money as caravaning is becoming quite an expensive hobby, seasonal pitches are getting out of reach for a lot people at the moment. New caravans are just gone out of reach for people and so that's why the 6 or 8 year old caravans are selling like hotcakes.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Kevin - thanks for your input as always - expensive it is I cant afford to use mine and due to financial pressures it may be sold and that will be a sad day for me thats my caravanning completely over. I have a daughter to support in college and grandaughter and money owed to me that would help me no end but fate plays a hand and my debtor has been allowed by the courts to pay a minimal amount each month instead of the full amount-- anyhow Kevin yes its more expensive as you say after my little rant! Thanks for comments as always

[@lundog8548]

Hi Andy interesting points. Agree that more choice would be welcome at the more affordable end of the caravan market, I was very limited for choice a couple of years ago when we bought our 1st family van. My choice was restricted to the Elddis xplore 304 and the Bailey discovery range. We needed something small enough to fit on the drive and something to suit our budget and looking now there doesn’t seam to be any more of a choice 2 years on. We went for the xplore which has been a brilliant van. Similar situation with the car too we needed a new reliable car on a budget and obviously big enough to comfortably tow and our choice was very restricted with that too. Most cars were 30k upwards we settled on the MG HS in the end which can tow up to 1750kg and I must say it has been a great tow car. Let’s just hope when we are ready to make a change in the next couple of years that there is more choice in this sector.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Interesting your comments there and thats why I put that header image on this video of my 1.3 Astra and ABI Marauder in 1987 it was affordable and so were sites! Friend of mine has an MG but not for towing he seems happy with it too. Yes more models to choose from would be great - thank you for watching.

[@garethlightfoot3665]

I think the caravan pricing has been driven by the amount of far east sourced content in the last few years, although the bodies are made and assembled in the UK. I think stuff like fridges, and heaters are often sourced largely from the far east.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi There is more imported components than ever and that has a big effect - I am going to Swifts factory week after next and a holiday home factory to get more insight on manufacturing having visited many caravan/holiday home factories over the many years there can be a lot of changes. with new machines for better quality build. Thanks for your comments.

[@garethlightfoot3665]

@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk it would be good to see a video explaining the production process. I think that may open people's eyes as to why its unfair to compare car reliability to that of a caravan. I'm enjoying your vlogs by the way👍

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Thank you for you compliments on the Vlogs. Yes car production is far tighter than caravans I tell folk this but they dont think on the lines as you have pointed out. As humans are involved errors are prone to creep in where robot s dont have a hangover from the previous evening! Thank you Gareth

[@colinmew7139]

Andy life all went wrong when we left the gold standard and tracked the dollar back in late 70s.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Colin you may be right!

[@richardbeaumont6746]

What's your thoughts on Burstner? Was looking at the campervans. You should review the Burstner Eliseo C644. I purchased the new Bailey discovery D4-4 2023 and had all the options ticked. It's a great little caravan. But I fancy a campervan having had volkwagon previously! The new Burstner with the rear lounge and drop down bed seems the ideal design coupled with the quality and reliability of a Burstner build on a fiat chassis.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi wow a change from a Disco D-4 especially price wise. No I havent seen the Burstner but they make a good product - my only concern is few UK dealers and parts could be hard to sort where needed but quality should be great and it sounds a great layout - thank you

[@nige1975]

I worked in the motor trade for 20 years and unfortunately the car manufacturers went the same route of more weight and more cost. Was it EU regulation? Dacia was the only manufacturer who defied this and their cars were no nonsense, good value and light weight. They sold well. We need a Dacia style caravan manufacturer.

[@Dusty2feathers]

We need lunar back. There's just no competition these days

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes we do and we had one with Sprite back in the 60s/70's and 80's though other makers had competing models and stole Sprites lead. I reckon a value tourer light in weight and cost with familuy layouts - could do with Swift setting up another division for light tourers and affordable family layouts - yes a Dacia caravan maker!

[@trucker5722]

Great little video Andy, love your dog you will never get any sense out of a spaniel, crackin little dogs, I think you’re right about lighter vans I think things might turn full circle and go back to much lighter vans. Nice to see the number of subs climbing nicely.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Yes lighter vans as in the 80s and early 90's would be good - yes that dog is crackers and excitable - and thanks yes good to see the subs going up and views to -thank you

[@Dusty2feathers]

The industry don't like to manufacture basic lightweight units because it lowers their profit margins. Manufacturers are struggling ( Elddis just having made 40% of its workforce redundant) dealers are struggling, caravan club has seen better years and sites are overpriced.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Dealers never have made much on budget tourers but it all ads to turnover - I am sure clubs have taken a hit and sites will to only the well off will be able to go caravanning as it all began in the 1920's.