CaSSOA Member Spotlight - The Dorset Hideaway

We’d like to introduce you to one of our members, The Dorset Hideaway.

Based in West Dorset, near to Charmouth, Bridport and Broadchurch, Esther and Mike run their Gold award caravan storage site alongside a camping and glamping site.

Here’s our interview with The Dorset Hideaway, giving you an insight into the running of a caravan storage business.

How long have you been in operation: We opened in the summer of 2015, so will be coming up to our 4^th year this summer.

Have you always been in caravan storage: No. We became storage owners as a result of diversifying our former dairy farm into a campsite and glamping site.

What has been the biggest change in the caravan storage industry since you started?

The biggest change I’ve seen in caravanning in the last few years has been the number of people preferring not to tow anymore - young and old alike. They prefer to stay in an area for a season or two with someone else towing the van to & from storage or seasonal pitch sites and then the van being sited each time for them. They see the cost savings in downsizing their car and running costs and they tend to use their vans more as a result. 

Having an organisation like CaSSOA is helping to consolidate and regulate storage and make it more viable for both customer and business provider with more secure and better insured sites.

What do you find most challenging about caravan storage?

The most challenging thing is getting caravan owners to maintain their units. Once stored, they tend to forget they still need as much maintenance as when they’re in use. They need to be kept roadworthy for us to tow them in and out. Vans sitting up tend to get seized brakes and high spots on tyres like all things they are best used regularly! Thefts are a big issue for the industry but investing in CCTV and security are the best deterrents.

What do you like most about caravan storage?

For us, caravan storage means seeing lots of new faces on site, so getting to know a new family group is nice. It also uses an area on the farmyard to earn extra income from. 

We are a former dairy farming couple of 30 years. My husband’s family have farmed the Marshwood Vale for nearly 150 years! Diversifying has allowed us to keep our land but use it in a different way to earn an income. It has allowed us to stay and live out our later years in the area where we were born and have lived in for decades. It’s great to be able to share this stunning location with many thousands of people every year. With panoramic hills and fields as our backdrop, and the Jurassic coast less than 3 miles away, it’s no wonder people return year after year. 

We provide indoor and outdoor storage, caravan cleaning services, water, EHU in the storage areas, toilets, a site to stay on with fab award winning facilities, a spa with hot tub & sauna, and a fishing pond on site. We put up awnings for customers and we offer to fully set up the caravan for arrival so the only thing our customers have to do is take the beer/wine from the fridge and sit down in their warm caravan! We can even provide pet and babysitting services too! In addition, we have a petting farm and luxury glamping in 6m domes this year. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

We love the great outdoors, so anything countryside or rural or animal related. We own a menagerie of animals, dogs, 6 cats, 2 miniature Shetland ponies, pigs, goats and chickens. We love gardening and visiting gardens. We have a shared love of history and music and try to go to the cinema and concerts as often as possible. That’s us!

For more information about The Dorset Hideaway, visit the CaSSOA site listing, or head direct to The Dorset Hideaway website.

12 Apps for Caravanners

Here’s a round-up of our 12 favourite apps – from travel apps to keep you moving to first aid apps to keep you safe, we’ve got all the essential apps you need for your caravanning trips and holidays.

Caravan Sitefinder

£-FREE

Caravan and camping directory of nearly 4000 campsites across the UK and Ireland.

IOS / Android  

Caravan Buddy

£2.99

Everything you could need as a caravanner. Features include:

• Caravan Site Search
• Services Search
• Caravan Leveller
• TV Signal Finder
• Set off / arrival Checklists
• Weight Calculator
• Document Store
• Service Reminders
• Storage Reminder

IOS / Android 

Live Traffic Info – Highways England

£-FREE

Check how the traffic is flowing on motorways and major A roads in England with official information live from the Highways England National Traffic Control Centre.

However, a great alternative is TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic, which combines precise traffic and speed camera alerts along with navigation for roads in over 150 countries.

IOS / Android

Talking Caravan Level

£1.99

This app tells you what leg / wheel to raise on your caravan or motorhome, when to raise lower jockey when and when its level. Place your Phone / Pad on a flat surface and follow the audio instructions. Can be used with or without a motormover.

IOS / Android

iBBQ

£-FREE

This great little app provides a host of handy features for both BBQ lovers, and those cooking outdoors. Features include:

• Locate the nearest Quality Standard accredited butchers
• Recipes
• Video Guides
• Weather forcecasts for your BBQ location

IOS / Android

UK Motorway Services

£1.99

This app provides comprehensive information on every motorway service station in the UK.

You can search and filter service stations, find those closest to you, as well as being able to see which food outlets, shops and petrol providers are at each services.

IOS / Android 

Sun Locator

£-FREE

Sun Locator predicts the sun and moon position and path at a specific location during the course of a day, perfect when you’re pitching up and want to know where the sun will shine on your caravan.

IOS / Android

Met Office

£-FREE

This app needs no introduction. This weather app is a must for all caravanners.

IOS / Android 

Antenna Aligner

£2.99

Take the guesswork out of aligning and tuning your aerial by using Antenna Aligner. With just one click, this app will show you where to point your aerial, and which channels to focus on when fine tuning.

IOS / Android

Caravandroid 

This is one for all the list lovers out there. Caravandroid creates checklists that can be checked off as appropriate. Lists can be edited and there are also screens for storing outfit details, insurance and clubs. There’s also a vehicle to caravan weight ratio calculator and renewal reminders.

IOS – Not available / Android  

Calor / Flogas Gas Stockists

£-FREE

The app helps you find your nearest cylinder gas stockists, so you’ll always be able to locate one of the 10,000 stockists whether you’re at home or away in the caravan.

IOS  / Android  

First Aid by British Red Cross

£-FREE

Free, simple and life-saving – and doesn’t need an internet connection as all the information is contained on the app itself.

IOS / Android 

If you’ve got a favourite app you couldn’t do without on your caravan holiday, let us know. Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter.

5 Caravan Sites for Autumn Escapes

Yes, we know it’s the height of summer, but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of forward planning, so how about an autumnal getaway to see some glorious displays of leaves that could rival New England.

1) Loch Lomond

Trossachs Holiday Park 

Head to Loch Lomond in Scotland during September to see swathes of browns, oranges, auburns, yellows and mustards. Loch Lomond is around an hour north of Glasgow and lies as the centrepoint of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Where to Stay: Trossachs Holiday Park

2) Wye Valley
Nestled along the border between England and Wales, the Wye Valley is home to the Cambrian Mountains and the picturesque River Wye. Renowned as one of the most dramatic landscape areas in southern Britain, the Wye Valley is the perfect place to take in the turning leaves.

Where to Stay: Forest & Wye Valley Camping Site

3) The Cotswolds
If you’re wanting a quintessential English experience the pretty villages of The Cotswolds fit the bill perfectly. Seeing the autumn leaves transition amongst cobbled streets and winding rivers provides the perfect end of season getaway.

Where to Stay: Cotswold View Caravan & Camping

Castlerigg Caravan & Camping Park

4) The Lake District
As leaves turn from green to gold head to the Lakes and explore wooded valleys, rolling hills and majestic lakes. Head over to Sizergh Gardens where autumn sees the harvest of apples, quince and damsons, or explore the Buttermere Valley to see the late summer light cascade over the lakes.

Where to Stay: Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park

5) Thetford Forest 

Thetford Forest Caravan Club Site

Covering over 50,000 acres, Thetford Forest is the largest lowland pine forest in Britain, and the perfect destination to view the golden hues of autumn. Travel 45 minutes west of Norwich and enjoy the numerous walking trails, mountain biking, horse riding, or just simply enjoying some late summer sun.

Where to Stay: Thetford Forest Caravan Club Site


And don’t forget, if this is your last outing for the year, search for a CaSSOA accredited storage site to keep your caravan safe and sound over the winter months.

Caravan Tyres - 10 Things you should know

Like car tyres, caravan tyres are equally as important and it is vital that they are properly maintained so that they do what they need to do – carry the load of your caravan and grip the road.

Here are 10 things you need to know to help you stay safe whilst towing your caravan:

1. Caravan tyres may not specifically be made for caravans – they’ll either be made for cars or small vans.
2. Every tyre will have a load rating, or load index. If a caravan has a maximum weight (MTPLM) of 1600kg, each wheel must carry half this load – 800kg. Caravan manufacturers will apply a safety margin on around 20% so the tyres then have a rating of 960kg.This will then equate to a load index (see table below). As you can see, a load rating of 960kg will equate to a load index of 106.
3. Information on the load and speed rating is marked on the side of the tyre. Equal size tyres should be used across an axle, as well as the spare.

   

   Please note, this is intended as a guide. Please refer to manufacturer guidance

4. Make sure that tyres aren’t overloaded, and that the load is spread evenly around the caravan, and as low down as possible. Even when the MTPLM is not exceeded, a poorly distributed load can lead to overloaded tyres.
5. It is essential that the tread is checked to make sure there is plenty of wear left. Markings on the tyres will show that they are correct for caravans, as well as indicating how old the tyre is. However, like all tyres, caravan tyres may deteriorate over time due to factors other than use. Sunlight, pollution, and even lack of use can cause damage. It is recommended that caravan tyres are renewed every 5 years, regardless of how many miles have been driven.
6. The year of manufacture for the tyre will usually be marked on the tyre. The last 3 or 4 digits will signify this. For example, a code ending is 399 will indicate the tyre was made in March 1999. A code ending in 3502 signifies the tyre was manufactured in the 35^th week of 2002.
7. The legal minimum tread on caravan tyres is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread breadth around the entire circumference of the tyre.
8. With new caravans, the correct inflation pressure will be given in the handbook. However, if your caravan is second hand, it may be indicated on the wheel arch. Pressure should always be checked when tyres are cold.
9. Under or over inflation of tyres is extremely important. Under inflation can reduce grip and consequently increase breaking distance. Conversely, over inflation reduces the amount of tyre in contact with the road causing uneven wear and reduced control over braking and cornering.
10. If you are planning to store your caravan for a prolonged period of time, it is worthwhile removing the wheels and tyres to prevent deterioration. However, you will need to check that this doesn’t invalidate your caravan insurance. If they must be left on, rotate them regularly so that the full weight of the caravan doesn’t rest on the same area of the tyre all the time.

And don’t forget, whilst you can perform all these checks yourself, it's always advisable to get your caravan serviced regularly by a qualified engineer.

Caravan Insurance Secrets!

How do underwriters rate your touring caravan?

If you are buying a touring caravan this year or when the renewal of your caravan insurance comes around, you might be asking yourself how underwriters rate your particular make and model to arrive at the premium you are charged.

Some of the considerations insurers are likely to take into account include the following:

 

The make and model of your touring caravan

Underwriters have access to copious data on the relative costs of repairing or replacing touring caravans of different makes and models since this is clearly a relevant cost to them in the event of you making a claim. The more expensive your caravan type, typically the more your caravan insurance will cost you.

The age and value of the caravan

Very similar reasons to the above make the age and value of your touring caravan relevant to underwriters, who need to calculate the likely cost in replacing it or writing it off in the event of a total loss.

Your postcode

Insurers calculate the likelihood of theft or vandalism of your touring caravan with reference to the postcode of your address, as some areas are more vulnerable than others. Although it relates to motor insurance, the AA has published a list of postcodes ranked by insurers from the cheapest to the most expensive areas.

Central Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS)

Underwriters need to know whether your particular make and model is registered with the Central Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS).

It is a requirement for all recently manufactured UK makes and provides a kind of “log book” for caravans, identifying current and previous owners, whether it has been stolen or previously written off, and if there is outstanding finance on it.

Use

Underwriters also take into account whether you intend to use your touring caravan in the UK only or also plan to take it abroad. This may have a bearing on how often you plan to use it – insuring your caravan for the occasional outing each year might cost less than your avid use of it on frequent touring holidays.

Where is your caravan stored?

Some underwriters also give you credit for improving the security of your caravan when it is at its most vulnerable, out of season or when it is otherwise laid up and not in use.

For example, caravan insurance specialists Cover4Caravans, have worked with underwriters to offer up to a 15% discount on the cost of touring caravan insurance for ‘vans stored at a site registered by the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA).

The next time you ponder how underwriters might have assessed the amount of insurance premium you need to pay, these are just some of the considerations likely to have been taken into account.

To locate a CaSSOA caravan storage site, click here.

Things to do this Summer

With the summer holidays fast approaching, we thought you may be in need of some ideas to keep the family entertained. So whether you’re based in the North, South, East or West, we’ve put together a collection of activities and attractions in counties across the UK.

Bedfordshire

If wildlife if your thing, Woburn Safari Park has over 80 species of animals to discover. If you don’t fancy risking losing your wing mirror on the Road Safari, there’s always the Foot Safari! 

Berkshire

The Queen spends most of her private weekends here…. Join her at Windsor Castle.  

Buckinghamshire

Fancy learning to ski? No need to travel abroad, Milton Keynes is where it’s at! At Snozone you can ski or snowboard on real snow, indoors! 

Cambridgeshire

Take a punt on the River Cam and take in the historic beauty of Cambridge in comfort 

Cheshire

Follow in the footsteps of the Roman soldier patrols and walk the Walls of Chester . 

Cornwall

No trip to Cornwall would be complete without a trip to the Eden Project. From the Mediterranean Biome to the Rainforest Canopy Walkway and Giant Bee, there’s something for all the family to enjoy. 

Cumbria

At England’s only true Mountain Forest - WhinlatterForest Park – you can walk, bike, Go Ape, run or simply relax. However energetic you’re feeling, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. 

Derbyshire

Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan masterpiece located near Chesterfield. Once you’ve toured the hall, explore around the extensive grounds with picturesque views and family play trails.  

Devon

Feel like a giant at Babbacombe Model Village as you explore 4 acres of award-winning gardens showcasing hundreds of model scenes, vehicles & people.

Dorset

Visit one of the South Coast’s most famous landmarks, Old Harry Rocks. Take in the iconic chalk stacks with a walk along the Jurassic Coast. 

5 Reasons to Store your Caravan with CaSSOA

1) Reduced Risk of Theft 
It’s been statistically proven that a caravan stored at a CaSSOA approved site is less likely to be stolen or suffer damage by vandals. Insurance claim data shows that caravans and motorhomes are far more vulnerable to theft then they’re kept at home, so it makes sense to store your vehicle at a dedicated storage site.

2) All sites have been surveyed 

All CaSSOA sites are required to undergo a comprehensive site survey on a regular basis. That way, we can be sure that the security and site facilities meet our required standards for Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation.

3) Reduced insurance premium

Because of our commitment to reducing caravan theft, many insurance companies will offer a discount on your caravan insurance premium if you store at a CaSSOA approved storage site. You could save up to 25%.

4) Over 400 locations across the country

There are over 400 CaSSOA accredited caravan storage sites across the country so there’s sure to be one near to you. You can search for a CaSSOA site using our site finder. Search by postcode, or by town or county.

5) On-Site Facilities

Not only can you get peace of mind that your caravan is being kept safe and secure, but if you store on a CaSSOA caravan storage site, you’re likely to be able to access additional facilities like caravan servicing, valeting and tyre pressure checking.


With approved storage sites nationwide, we have a wide range of accredited caravan storage sites to choose from, so you won’t have to travel far to find your nearest site. Click here to find your nearest CaSSOA approved leisure vehicle storage site.