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Topic: 2012 Launch of New Compact Caravans

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20/12/2011 at 9:32am
Location: Buckinghamshire
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Venus Caravans is an exciting new brand of caravan that is set to launch at the forthcoming Motorhome, Caravan, and Camping show, at ExCel on 14-19 February 2012.

The Venus brand, which is being launched by Lunar Caravans Ltd, will focus on a range of lightweight, compact and affordable caravans that will formulate a very different product offering from the existing Lunar brand.

Find out more at http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=515

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birder99

20/12/2011 at 9:59am
Location: Cambs
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I hope this will invigorate the market and lead to more younger people to start caravanning. The simple lightweight 'vans of the sixties and early seventies were what encouraged people that were put off by the heavy coachbuilt models that were the only option available up until then. In those days the UK shipped thousands of caravans into Europe as well. I recall seeing complete ship loads of caravans being loaded at east coast ports.

The market for new caravans nowadays seems to be aimed at middle class people aged 50+ who can afford large tow vehicles and like beige fabrics - whoops that nearly describes me.....

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magsruby

20/12/2011 at 11:41am
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When did modern caravans get so heavy then???

My Lunar Clubman (late 80s early 90s) is under 900kg, so I fail to see what's so special. Mine has a full kitchen, with fridge, oven, grill & 4 burner hob. It also has electric cassette toilet & a shower, with full hot & cold running water.

I seem to remember Sprite doing this back in the 90s, they introduced a range of simple vans with no hot water & some even had just a curtain around the loo. They are now almost impossible to sell on the 2nd hand market.

I think caravanning has lost its way in recent years. They are so expensive now, & far too big, far too heavy with far too many unnecessary luxuries on board. All it's done is put prices up for the more traditional campers, & I'm talking site prices, as well as everything else.

I will however do my best to get to the show in February, as I've never been before & I would like to see what all the fuss is about.

Opensauce

20/12/2011 at 1:19pm
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The makers build what the public want not 'tother way round. A new range of caravans is not introduced without extensive market research. I'm guessing there is now a market for reasonably sized lighter caravans that can be towed by smaller cars with lower fuel costs.

I think the idea of 'cheap caravans' for 'younger people' is not really correct. These 'vans will still cost perhaps £9k upwards even if they are 'cheap'. Those of us who want cheap caravans buy old ones off ebay. If you just want somewhere to sleep that is more weather proof than a tent, a lightweight low spec 'van is the way to go whatever your age.

Hopefully by the time these new 'vans are old enough to become ebay bargains I won't be too old to still be caravanning.

iscacamper

20/12/2011 at 1:28pm
Location: Devon
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Sounds interesting. I too am dismayed by the ever increasing weight of modern caravans (including Lunar). Hopefully the Venus vans will not be under-equipped like some other recent 'lightweight' offerings (e.g. Bailey Discovery 100 - no oven, no blown air heating) and instead will make use of clever design and lightweight materials.

Just do it

20/12/2011 at 1:41pm
Location: Nottingham
Outfit: Discovery 4 + Elddis Crusader Tempest

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I think the last 12 months has already seen a ground shift within the industry. For some time now car manufacturers have made far greater investment in developing lighter more fuel efficent version of their favourite models as the cost of oil and drive for enviromentally more friendly vehicles has come to the fore. But of course this does not work so well with new caravans which have been steadily increasing in weight as demand for more luxurious caravans has grown.

If you look at the new sprite and sports models from Swift this year the weights have come down.

I've no doubt the market share for lighter modern caravans will increase as it's being dictated in no small amount by the towing vehicles capabilities.

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Carpe diem...

brianconwy

20/12/2011 at 3:40pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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Our previous caravan, a cristall sprint, weighed 1000kg max., was a 4 berth, had all things expected like oven, blown air heating etc. and cost just under £10,000 five years ago.

millermicm

20/12/2011 at 4:02pm
Location: west country
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I hope folks won't go for a (slightly) cheaper lightweight low spec van to tow with their smaller car only to then load it up with the luxuries as accessories and still finsh up with an overloaded tow unit.
I know now a lot of folks tow around a load of stuff in their vans that they probably don't need and often never need.
When clearing out the old van to make way for a new one who will admit to saying something like "I didn't know that was in there".

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Steve

robin52

20/12/2011 at 5:02pm
Location: Nottingham
Outfit: Swift Freestyle S2

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the thing is if you want all singing all dancing you've got to have some weight too. the manufacturers are not magicians.

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Regards Robin

brianconwy

20/12/2011 at 5:28pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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I often wonder whether all the cabinets need top be made of wood. They would be lighter if made from composites and wouldn't rot. Perhaps the cost would be dearer.

magsruby

20/12/2011 at 8:04pm
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The only thing my 20-odd year old Lunar hasn't got that modern vans have is blown air heating & a microwave.

Now everyone raves about blown air heating, but it's not actually necessary in all but the longest single axle & most twin axle vans. A single heater always kept us warm on family holidays years ago in our old sprite.

As for a microwave, well I fail to see the importance of one in a caravan.

But surely these 2 things don't make up the extra half tonne these modern vans have over my old Lunar???

I also prefer my old Carver Cascade water heater. It's a far superior system to the Truma UltraStore, but sadly is more expensive to manufacture.

So what is it that makes modern vans so heavy then? Is it just their sheer size? They do seem to be getting bigger & bigger these days. I mean, how much time do you intend on spending inside the thing on your holidays??? Surely it's supposed to be a cheap, hassle free holiday which takes you to rural parts & brings you closer to nature. It must be very stressful towing something so damn big which cost so much money? I get stressed enough with my old cheapie behind me.

happybonzo

21/12/2011 at 6:44am
Location: Ndidis Kraal
Outfit: Laika Ecovip 100 & Quasar

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We shall see in due course what these vans are like and I wish them well. I would have thought that it would take a very couragous company to bring a new product to the market in the present financial climate

runone

24/12/2011 at 4:24pm
Location: stockton-on-tees
Outfit: lunar galaxy EB

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the height of caravans has also increased over the years, my current lunar eb will only just fit under the roof beam and looking at whats on the market now the days of my caravan in the garage are numbered.

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runone

Jax365

26/12/2011 at 9:00am
Location: south cheshire
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Lightweight, compact and affordable sounds good to me! I wish them every success! :)

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JTQU

26/12/2011 at 9:41am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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There has always been light weight offerings out there coming and going from several manufacturers, though none really seemed to catch the market.

I suspect the reality is that those buying 'new' as opposed to really budget previously owned vans, like with their new van, a few creature comforts and these features inevitably add weight. A lot of vans of the 80s remember did not have toilets which I think today few buying new would accept. [as just one example]

It will be interesting to see if now with the financial pressures pushing us to smaller fuel frugal cars and opting out of flying based holidays, that things are any different and the light weight van sells in quantities that make them a viable business option.

D S B

26/12/2011 at 10:31am
Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
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Not a fan of fold away vans. I could get 'more van for my money' and less 'faff' in having a traditional van, TBH. All valid points about lighter vans and cars though. I suspect a fold down van would be easier to clean - especialy the roof!

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David

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