CaSSOA at the Farm Business Innovation Show 2017

We are excited to be involved at the Farm Business Innovation Show this year! The Farm Business Innovation Show is dedicated to farmers, landowners, and rural business entrepreneurs who are looking to find new ways to diversify and increase their income. Returning to the NEC Birmingham on November 8th and 9th the show delivers…

• Expert Speakers such as Michael Eavis of Worthy Farm and Glastonbury Music Festival, Dan De Baerdemacker of British Deer Farms and Parks Association, Roger Allonby of Rural Payments Agency, and Doug Gurr the UK Country Manager of Amazon among many others!

• Live Debates on hot industry tops like Planning Permission, Succession Planning, Glamping, Equestrian Business Rates, Weddings, Social Media, and Marketing

• Over 500 hand-picked, world class suppliers

• Rural Digital Academy Workshops from Amazon

• Unlimited Networking Opportunities

... and much more!

The Farm Business Innovation Show is the place to find all the tools, resources, advice and inspiration you need to find creative and successful additional revenue streams to help keep maintain the traditional farm.

Tickets to this game-changing event are free and you can register via www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk! Your ticket will also give you access to the sister shows - Country House Business Innovation, Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, and Family Attraction Expo - which run alongside.

See you at the NEC, we will be on stand 1486!

Caravan Gadgets

Which caravan gadgets?

The nation’s inventors have been busy and there is now a new wave of caravanning-related gadgetry that’s been designed to catch our eye.

We’re certainly not claiming to endorse any of these or saying that we’ve tested them personally. But here is a quick run down of just a few that have caught our attention recently!

Video recorder sunglasses

This brilliant idea that comes from individuals not wanting to miss any video worthy moments because their hands are full (e.g. cycling).

They look like ordinary and actually very sporty sunglasses but they contain a built-in video recorder. They could be useful at times but then again, do you want to see your partner’s efforts to reverse the caravan recorded for posterity?

Bubble tents

These are effectively large plastic transparent bubbles which can be inflated and which have some camping-type accommodation inside. The idea is that you can sit in it at night and watch the stars in comfort, perhaps protected from that chilly draught.

WIFI Boosters

True, these aren’t exactly brand new but today they’re much smaller and using 4G – much more reliable.

You can now just switch them on and all your connected gadgets will have a local network and boosted internet access (assuming there is a 4G service in the area).

The Boatbox

Now we thought this was really ‘neat’. It basically involves turning your roof rack, once emptied, into a small boat by joining the top and bottom together and using a small flotation bag.

Absolutely ingenious though as always, do make sure you’re careful when enjoying water sports.

The Solar Panel Bag

This is clever – to a point.

It consists of small, lightweight and flexible solar panels that are sewn into the back of your rucksack. The idea is that as you hike, you can be charging up several devices at the same time and all for free.

The “to a point” kicks in here though. Once you admit to having one of these, you’re going to end up carrying everyone’s mobile, tablet and laptop devices for charging. There goes all that space for water and food and your back muscles of course!

Caravan Expanders

These aren’t entirely a new idea either but today’s models are super-slick and very well designed.

There are all sorts of variations here including some that expand telescopically from inside your caravan shell meaning you add more space instantly.  Be sure that things such as this will be covered by your caravan insurance though.

Giant towel-sized wet wipes

However brilliantly equipped many camping sites are, some are rather more rudimentary.

So, if you’re disappointed by the shower facilities, you might welcome the new near bath towel sized wet wipes.  They just might help make you just a little bit easier to live with in the caravan and car – until you reach a decent shower block!

Pocket blankets

These are really great. About the same size as a small pack of crisps, they unfold into a huge and very tough nylon ground sheet. It’s ideal for picnics and the like.

What will they think of next?

Caravan Park Security

At CaSSOA we’re all about providing secure storage for your caravan or motorhome when it’s not in use. But what about when you’re out and about on holiday?Security is still important when you’re away so here are some points to consider when leaving your tourer on a caravan park. 

• Lock all windows, doors and skylights. 
• Hide all valuables from view – including TVs and other electrical equipment. Remember to mark these with a UV or permanent marker so that they can be traced back to you if stolen. 
• Consider using a floor-anchored safe. 
• Take keys, money, credit cards and passports with you when leaving your caravan. 
• Leave curtains open (after hiding valuables from view) so that it can be seen that there is nothing of value to steal. 
• Consider purchasing an alarm system to alert others if your caravan is broken into.  
• Security posts and wheel clamps can also be used when you’re away from your caravan. Visible security devices like these act as a visual deterrent.  
• Make friends with neighbouring caravanners – they’re more likely to raise the alarm if someone unfamiliar is loitering around your caravan.  
• Awnings can be useful – not only to add extra living space. A thief may be less likely to steal a caravan with an awning because of the time they’d need to take it down or cut it away. 

And finally, check your caravan insurance policy to see if there are any specific requirements you need to be aware of whilst taking your caravan away from its storage location.

Setting up a Caravan Storage Site

Setting Up A Storage Site

Do you have empty land and are unsure of how to use it? Caravan storage might be worth considering.

Whether you’ve got space for 10 caravans or 1000, caravan storage could help you maximise your land and bring in new revenue.

Here’s our quick guide to what you need to consider:

Planning

Initially, you’ll need to submit a planning application. In the majority of cases this will be for change of use for B8 Storage or Distribution. For any questions about what you need to submit in your application or which application type you should use, you should contact your local planning authority. 

If you need contact details or are unsure which planning authority you should contact, you can use the Planning Portal’s search tool. 

Security

There are a number of factors CaSSOA will consider when surveying and assessing a storage site in order to grant an accreditation. These include:

• Perimeter Protection
• Access Control
• Lighting
• Alarm Systems
• CCTV
• Administrative Procedures

As a minimum, CaSSOA sites must have full perimeter protection and access control.

Layout

As a rough guide each stored caravan should be allocated around 30 square metres of space, with the respective caravan jockey wheels set at a distance of at least 3 meter centres.

Individual parking bays should be approximately 8 metres in length, with the access roads at least 8 meters wide.  The space recommended between each caravan (hitch post to hitch post) is 3.5 meters.

Fire Protection

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to caravan storage sites and stipulates that a fire risk assessment be carried out. A fire risk assessment can be carried out quite easily by the site owner and CaSSOA can provide assistance with the process.

Administration

Additional things to consider:

• Site records, customer information & contracts – for these you will need to consider Data Protection Laws, and there are also programmes available which can assist with this, like Caravan Storage Manager.  
• Insurance
• Site fees – It is always worthwhile, having a look into the rates of sites in similar areas, with a similar level of security.
• Business Rates – For more information click here.
• VAT – For more information click here. 

Working towards the mantra ‘Together We Can Beat Caravan Theft’, CaSSOA has over 400 members nationwide actively promoting our ethos and providing superior caravan and motorhome storage facilities.


If you do decide to venture into caravan storage, show your commitment to the security standard of the caravan and motorhome storage industry by becoming a 
member of CaSSOA.

If you’d like to join CaSSOA or would like more information please email CaSSOA on enquiries@cassoa.co.uk or call us on 0843 216 5802. 

Caravan Storage Options

There are a number of options when it comes to deciding where to store your caravan.

Here's our guide to the choices you have and how to choose the best secure storage for your caravan or motorhome.

Read this on the CaSSOA blog. 

How to Access the Internet in your Caravan or Motorhome

When you’re away in your caravan or motorhome it’s nice to have some home comforts, and that can include internet access. Here’s our rundown of the options available to you if you need to get online.

WiFi

Many caravan sites now have WiFi, but the quality, cost and availability of the connection can vary greatly.

Connection is usually made by entering a pass code into your web browser. It can be a faster alternative to other methods of accessing the internet and means that most of the time you don't have to worry about data allowances. You may be able to access free WiFi zones in town centres or other public spaces, or a local café may offer their password in exchange for a drink.

Due to the low power levels and high frequencies used, WiFi reception on campsites can be very patchy. This is particularly the case where there is a lot of vegetation and when there is heavy rain, as both of these can absorb the signal.

One way of improving reception is to invest in a WiFi booster device. In simple terms, these plug into a USB port on your PC, effectively replacing the internal WiFi circuitry with something more powerful. MMM Magazine recommends the iBoost Pro D8 Directional System for £159.99, for its performance, popularity and value.

There are also external antennas which can be attached to the side of your caravan. However, although this can give you a faster connection, if the bottleneck is between you and the source of the signal, it won’t make much difference if the site WiFi is already oversubscribed.

Mobile Broadband

This is an internet connection using a mobile phone network. It is often more reliable than WiFi but, since you are paying for data you need to be careful to avoid additional charges.

If you have a smartphone you can access the internet using the mobile broadband network, or you can connect your laptops or tablets to your phone by tethering – turning on your phone’s personal hotspot. Some networks charge extra for this, limit usage or don’t allow it abroad.

Be aware that if you exceed your set data limit your connection may be restricted to a very much 

lower speed.

Data roaming charges when abroad can be astronomical, although the situation is getting better. In Europe, mobile data coverage has increased and data roaming charges have reduced. From June 2015 the most you can be charged for mobile data is 5p per Mb, however, this is set to be dropped altogether by mid-2017.

As a rule, each Mb equates to 20 seconds of video, a minute of audio, or a standard webpage. So, 500Mb of data will allow you to download 500 songs, or an hour of video, or handle 1000 emails with attachments. It will also allow you to browse thousands of web pages but if they contain interactive content such as videos, data will be used much faster.

Pay-as-you-go-packages range in price but for example, Three offer 1Gb for £10 which is valid for 30 days. Contract plans will give you more data for your money, but will lock you into a contract.  

If you're not sure about your contract when it comes to data and travelling abroad, be sure to change your settings to turn off 3G and data roaming; only connect via WiFi where available.

To improve performance, an unlocked MiFi device will take a SIM card and produce a WiFi connection for up to 10 devices. Some MiFi devices have external antenna connectors which can improve the signal, especially if roof or window mounted. Prices range from around £30 up to around £150.

Access via Satellite

Internet access via satellite is reliable but very costly, with a fully automatic system priced at around £3400 and ongoing charges between £15 and £60 per month. Satellite internet is best if internet connection is absolutely vital for you.

In conclusion, it’s best to agree what your particular needs are, and what your budget is. Mobile broadband is probably the best option if you want an internet connection wherever you are, but WiFi will probably satisfy your needs if you’re happy to wait until a connection is available. If the sky’s the limit, go for satellite internet!

The Caravan Industry & Security – Protecting Your Caravan

The caravan industry is an ever changing market, and with that comes developments in security as well as trends in caravan crime. Tim Booth, from the Caravan Safety and Security Group gives us a run down on what’s happening at the moment.

Looking at recent press reports it is very apparent that the Leisure Market is currently very buoyant, with both caravan and motorhome manufacturers reporting  high levels of sales. There is also a marked increase in the number of sales of European manufactured caravans.

Whenever a buoyant market for sales exists in any industry this is often seen by criminal groups as an opportunity to take advantage of a ‘high demand’ by seeking to meet this demand themselves. Of course, they achieve this supply at the expense of the current keeper or even the dealership, by stealing the caravans that they supply.

This then, is an important time of the year to make sure that you do everything you can to protect your caravan or motorhome.

Make sure that your caravan insurance cover is up to date and that you are meeting the requirements of the policy.

Of course it is not always possible to store your caravan or motorhome at your home address, due to planning conditions, and for some a lack of space – so owners increasingly turn to storage site providers.

It is a fact that many of the caravans being stolen are actually being taken from ‘informal’ storage sites – where caravans and motorhomes are just ‘parked up’ for the winter period. There are no inspections made by the site owner, or even the consumer. Many of the tracking systems fitted at time of manufacture only actually activate once the owner discovers that their property has been stolen, and then notifies the tracking company – the property can be long gone by then and chances of recovery are generally very low.

A ‘pro-active’ system will notify you if there are any issues that need to be addressed, so it is worth checking whether this is the type of system that you have – if your caravan or motorhome is fitted with such a system are you subscribed to their monitoring service?

Certificated storage sites, like the CASSOA scheme, offer the consumer a level of protection that is recognised by many insurers as a ‘positive deterrent’ to opportunist thieves. Some even offer insurance benefits for using such a facility.

Of course – if you are considering buying a caravan or motorhome, then make sure that you carry out a CRiS check on any caravan – this can tell you whether the caravan is currently stolen, or if there is finance outstanding. A HPI check can provide you with similar information about a motorhome. 

The cost of these checks could prevent you from becoming a victim of those people who choose to steal caravans and motorhomes, and then look to target unsuspecting consumers.

These straight forward measures can serve to protect your caravan or motorhome from being targeted by thieves.

Tim Booth provides specialist security advice to the caravan and leisure industry. He also works to support the National Caravan Council, The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan Club by delivering an industry group called the Caravan Safety and Security Group.

Tim Booth Consultancy Services Ltd

Caravan Safety & Security Group