Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Camping and Caravanning Equipment
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: What would you like to be improved? Post Reply Post New Topic
15/1/2020 at 11:44am
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered
View tiretracks's Profile View Profile   Reply to tiretracks Reply   Quote tiretracks Quote  
Joined: 15/1/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   1

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Good afternoon everyone

I am a 2nd year university student studying transport design. My current project involves working in a team to investigate the ergonomic and inclusive design issues of camper vans, caravans and tents and then later in the semester I will be designing and making an ergonomic rig with the rest of my team.

For us to make the best design/most user-friendly design possible, I need to know what you like and dislike and what you would like to be improved on to make living with and living inside your camper van/caravan/tent more user friendly.

For those interested in this, could you post your experiences with these vehicles/tents (what you like, don’t like, would improve on) along with the make and model/brand of the product and possibly, if you are ok with it, an image or two of the interior of the vehicle/tent.

Thank you in advance

FB


15/1/2020 at 5:18pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View romany's Profile View Profile   Reply to romany Reply   Quote romany Quote  
Joined: 28/4/2003

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7379

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 1

I would suggest you look at self build sites and camper blogs this kind of request is constant across all camping forums and the answers are already out there with a bit of research many show the mods they have done to improve their campers and why


15/1/2020 at 7:13pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan
View Paul_B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul_B Reply   Quote Paul_B Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   825

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Caravans, motorhomes and campers should have a waterproof design which didn't have problems with the body cracking and splitting.

tents should be waterproof and not effected by minor winds


16/1/2020 at 1:35pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011
View chrisn7's Profile View Profile   Reply to chrisn7 Reply   Quote chrisn7 Quote  
Joined: 10/9/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   948

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Good luck with this.

Manufacturers are focussed on showroom appeal, so change graphics, internal colour schemes, handles, etc each year, adding in dubious quality tech.

What's really needed is improvements in usability, and there are lots:
With relatively few super pitches, caravanners carry fresh and waste water containers - where to put these? They ought to have dedicated external storage, but we finish up with having to dry/clean them to store inside the van, as many front lockers are now too small or been done away with...

Same with Electric hook up cable that we have to wind onto reels or stuff in carrier bags. These should be capable of being pulled out vacuum cleaner style with a retractable system...

Locking: usually 2 keys, one for the main door, one for all outside lockers. In my case I have 10 separate locks to the latter, to be checked. Surely given the existence of the 12v system, central locking would be a lot more convenient, since the technology is already proven in cars.

Window catches: similar issue to locking. Windows each have between 2 and 5 plastic catches each. I think I have 24 of these. This is a real pain having to operate all these if abroad and plenty of windows open when you want to go out. A single catch is required to give multipoint locking, perhaps using the principal from domestic front doors. Caravanners are a pretty decent bunch, but thefts do occur..

As already mentioned we need units that are built and remain waterproof, using better quality materials and fittings that don't fall off


16/1/2020 at 8:05pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
Joined: 23/8/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4663

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I would love a caravan to have comfortable armchairs instead of the bench/make up beds we are stuck with. Just two would do for a 2 berth caravan.


Advertisement



16/1/2020 at 9:03pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Bramston's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bramston Reply   Quote Bramston Quote  
Joined: 05/8/2013

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   854
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Can you make my lightweight tent cool and soundproof on hot summer days?
I want to go camping after a nightshift and sleep through the morning.

-------------
Enjoy the liveliness of the syntax.


via mobile 17/1/2020 at 7:57am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: None Entered
View lidds0's Profile View Profile   Reply to lidds0 Reply   Quote lidds0 Quote  
Joined: 24/8/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4494

Site Reviews Total: 57
Site Reviews 2024: 7  
Site Reviews 2023: 10 
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 8  
Site Nights 2024: 37
Site Nights 2023: 48
Site Nights 2022: 20
Site Nights 2021: 9
Site Nights 2020: 2
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 8

We've had a few caravans over the years. The thing I disliked about all but one was the sofa arrangement. Our sofas at home are deep and comfortable but those in most vans are upright, shallow bench-like things.

The last van we had was a 2-berth, Hymer Nova 470. The two front sofas could be used as two (narrow) single beds, configured to make a large double or, by adding two foam infills and only partially extending the pull-out slatted bedframe, 2 wider singles. We found this wider single facility also provided the perfect sofa depth, so always left one made up in sofa mode.

We sold the caravan because, ultimately, we prefer a fixed bed model. The perfect van for us would be a Hymer (we prefer the German construction and insulation to UK vans) with a rear fixed bed and these adjustable bench seats at the front. We've never seen such a model.


17/1/2020 at 8:01pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
Joined: 23/8/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4663

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

For a caravan I would like it to fold down to reduce wind resistance. Fuel consumption when towing a caravan is approx. double that for the car solo.

On a level motorway, virtually all the power required is to overcome the wind resistance of a full height caravan which is basically a nearly empty box.

This will help with global warming and especially so if the tow car is battery powered with limited range as they are likely to be in the future.


22/1/2020 at 10:13pm
 Location: lincs
 Outfit: Luna Ariva
View lockyear's Profile View Profile   Reply to lockyear Reply   Quote lockyear Quote  
Joined: 23/7/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   31

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

hi,
1:hob and grill and no oven option as I use a microwave not a gas oven waste of space
2:thicker lino on floor so no carpets needed
3:colour options for out side, hate white always dirty looking
4:armchairs sound a good idea if recliners
5:a shower as an option not standard especially as more sites have excellent shower facilities
6:one way window glass for more privacy
7:identification on roof so easy to see from drones or bridges to help police recover if stolen
just a few ideas I love my caravaning but tiny improvements would make so much difference


-------------
Bassetthound


via mobile 23/1/2020 at 12:29pm
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: Mondeo Titanium Swift Challenger 580
View Big Roy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Big Roy Reply   Quote Big Roy Quote  
Joined: 03/7/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   638

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I would like to see water outlets on both sides of the caravan connected to the water supply with a couple of push fittings for a hose for washing it



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Camping and Caravanning Equipment - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














8340 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder