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Yes, see his point 

but perhaps he would be happier in the trailer tent, folding camper section. 

Cos' what he is alluding to is a poorly thought out folding camper, and as we know the reason it didn't go on the market is because there  are better designs already out there. 

Without a designer price tag as well     

There are bespoke caravan makers if that is what you want,  there are custom painters.  Yet most are happy with what they have.  So if he stops complaining about my bog standard straight off the production line caravan, then I will not complain about his bog standard straight off the production line car. Or perhaps he would like to canvas sides,and a go faster strip to make it more pleasing to the people he is in the next traffic jam with.

I think the guy is talking nonsense. If the market was there for £50000 caravans I am sure it would be filled. Yes caravans are not particularly attractive on the outside but they serve a purpose. Should design override practicality and price. I don't believe they are all the same or boring on the inside. I wonder how many he has been inside.

As for being stuck in a 20 car crocodile stuck behind a caravan. This may have happened in the olden days but caravanners are now stuck in the same never ending snake of slow traffic as everyone else.

He is in the business of selling newspapers - not caravans.

Interesting slant in the article. Many will no doubt follow its lead and condemn caravanners. Hey ho (who cares?). There's always another point which was nearly hit on but then the writer, like most drivers, just rushed past not wanting to see what was staring him in the face. 

"93% of the 25000 caravans sold in the UK made in Britain." British Industry on the up. Job creation at a time of austerity and constant talk of cuts. Every caravan on the road represents our contribution to British industry; To jobs; To families having a wage earner. Your country needs you and all that......... 

No apologies from this owner of a beautify baby. Cheeky beggar

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 07/10/2010

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Caravans like Knaus Sport&Fun & Adria Action did not last long & Eriba Tourings are barely being produced now with their main factory closed. Everybody likes the look of these sort of caravans ......

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Interesting article.  I have to say I like the blog comment from Samtana, which reads:

"........... but the truth is that just as most people don't live home that's been given a going over by Changing Rooms, and don't want to, most caravaners don't want to spend a lot of time in the brightly coloured, over-busily patterned efforts that interior designers inevitably come up with in a desperate attempt to bring fashion to what is a classic hobby/pastime. Fashion's only job is to go out of fashion, whereas genuine style keeps on working, and caravan interiors today are the result of decades of evolution. They may be "naff" to the oh-so trendy Mr Lyndon, but they work."

I wonder how many people at home paint their skirting boards white or at least have a wall painted in Magnolia or something extremely similar?

....the other thing is, caravans, by their nature are relatively small.  Darker, less neutral colours and large patterns can give a more claustrophobic feel.  I'll really not sure Neil Lyndon has thought the article through thoroughly - but at least he's got people talking and thinking about it..

"Bailey caravans of Bristol constructed a prototype of the Cargo S, but has never put it into production. Why not?"  IMHO, the answer is simple - because Bailey felt they weren't gonig to make any money out of it!

At least he has written an article on caravans.  I have always thought that designs are very traditional.  At least bailey have tried a new construction method that takes wood out of the main constuction, which is a good start as man made materials are more tolerant of water ingress.

I often think how much weight could be saved by making interior cupboards and wardrobes from some sort of composite.  It would be dearer but the result would be a more stable  and lighter van.

Manufacturers would make radical changes because the main market likes the products they are used to.

Actually I quite enjoyed that... He is about as much postive as negative, his little design rant was presumably how he sold the article to his editor and hey anybody having a pop at Clarkson can't be all bad!

I don't think we can expect a balanced account from the main stream media, hell we don't get one from the trade people either! According to the first all caravans are a naff pain the highway and to the other every van is just fabulous must have darling

Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 07/10/2010

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...which is a good start as man made materials are more tolerant of water ingress.

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my mini artic trailer is all aluminium construction. .the only bit of steel is the bogie to carry the axles . its already 23 yr old and does get alot of hard abuse in africa . i think wood as a frame work is out of the question. take a look at a good german construction they have been using aluminium for years and it shows. biggest problem with british built caravans and american ones is the wood frame disintegrating. as for a market for 50,000quid caravans there is a markdet and its flourishing.  more money to spend on leisure products as caused a high growth in expensive vans . see how many are being sold and it tells me there is no shortage of money to be spent. its a booming market.

cheers alan.