Right retro resort
Welcome to the pot-pourri
of life from my motorcaravan-ning world, only this time I'm starting where I left off nearly 30 years ago. It is that long since I've visited Southwold, on the Suffolk coast. And guess what? It was exactly how I remembered it. That is to say, as a quintessential British resort without any of the tat so often associated with our coastal towns.
Steeped in history, Southwold actually suffered a serious
fire, back in 1659. Somebody with more than a grain of sense (he couldn't have
been a modern town planner then!) decided to rebuild, leaving fire gaps which have become 'the greens' that today give the town its unique feeling of spaciousness.
Actually, if one looks closely at a map, it becomes apparent that because of surrounding rivers, Southwold itself is as close to being an island as it can be while still remaining attached to the rest of Suffolk. Its unusual site and situation has been responsible for the town's strategic importance during various spats and wars, as well as having influenced the development of its offshore fishing and general marine fleet, which is still thriving today.
We stayed in 'Fenland Princess', our motorcaravan,
at the Harbour Caravan Park on Ferry Road (OS map reference 156/501751). The park is run by Waveney District Council. It is unsurprisingly (…I feel you are ahead of me on this) situated adjacent to the harbour, and just a hop, skip and a jump from the sandy beach.
The town itself is a pleasant 15-minute stroll away from the campsite and has many interesting buildings: the lighthouse, 15th-century church with tower, and a pier, to name but three.
On the pier, there is the best 'fun' clock I've ever seen. Designed by Tim Hunkin, of 'The Secret Life of Machines' fame, it runs on water and has… well, see for yourself, you'll love it.
We stayed in Southwold only for the weekend but wished we could have spent a week there. The park is open from April to October and is able to accommodate larger motorhomes. Booking (tel 01502 722486) is recommended for peak periods – I guess that means during the school summer vacation period and bank holiday weekends.
Chasing the dream of success
I've been following Dreamfinder (a young company) from the time it first burst onto the scene a few years ago. It is my opinion that successive governments have failed to really support small businesses, despite the rhetoric regularly spewing forth from various talking heads.
It's tough to start and make a go of any sort of business
– I know, I'm self employed with a staff of 13/4 people and an overdraft the size of the gross national product of many countries.
Furthermore, it is especially tough to start a business such as Dreamfinder Motorhomes converting motorcaravans. Why? Well, firstly because the market is flooded with cheap imports, often from countries with more favourable production conditions (big grants for employing young people,
and favourable energy costs including cheaper electricity).
Secondly, previously independent motorcaravan constructors are increasingly being taken over by global players. All right, if not global, then seriously pan-European. Under such circumstances,
economies of scale mean that the big players can buy components, especially base vehicles, up to 30 percent cheaper than smaller converters who can buy only in ones or twos.
So, set against this less-than-empowering background,
to go from a standing start to producing four current models with plans for another two, significantly different 'vans, already well advanced, and
all within a few years, is a fine achievement. Well done to
all concerned.
Incidentally, improvements to Dreamfinder's present range include upgrading its Junior model to include a Variotech rear seat and a redesign for its rear annexe. And, did you know that Dreamfinder's Galaxy was the first British-built motorcaravan to use Dometic's vacuum-system porcelain loo?
• We have tested a Galaxy. See our September issue. Tel 08456 777812 for back numbers.
A jolly good recreational read
Fascinated by US RVs (recreational vehicles), especially older ones? Then this is the perfect book for you: RVs & Campers 1900-2000 traces the development of American trailer caravans, folding campers and motorhomes throughout the past century.
Most of the written material and illustrations concern motorhomes, though as their development often progressed bilaterally with that of trailer caravans, the latter are featured, too.
Author, Donald F. Wood weaves a fascinating tale, progressing chronologically from 1900. The book is written in a style which is easy to read and there are several anecdotes and relevant social asides. Above all, though, it is the pictures that tell the story. The whole book is a fascinating insight – I couldn't put it down.
I bought my copy
of the book through
the internet (see the information panel opposite).
• Need to drop a hint for a Christmas present? Why not highlight this article in bold marker pen and leave the mag open at this page for 'significant others' to stumble upon? Go on, I don't mind you defacing my efforts!
Warning: financial hazard ahead!
A word in your ear: I'm sure most of you are financial wizards, budding John Paul or Joan Gettys but as for the rest of us, we're too busy earning
a living to make money.
So, when we do part with our hard-borrowed cash we need to make sure that we know exactly what we are doing.
As most of you will know, I'm undertaking the statistical analysis for the Practical Motorhome Sovereign Awards, and believe me when I say what compulsive reading the final results are going to make (see next month's issue).
So that I can be as well informed as possible, I've been studying buying patterns, and my attention has been drawn to the fact that many of you have to borrow money to finance the purchase of your 'van. No problem there, but what disturbed me was the repayment time to which some people have committed themselves. It's not the length of the time in itself that is worrying, it is whether all the potential pitfalls of such an arrangement have been pointed out. Thus, I was wondering if those taking loans out over 8-10 years to finance a motorcaravan purchase have plotted the graphs of 'buy-back value' over 'elapsed time' and of the 'amount of debt outstanding' over 'elapsed time'.
Let me explain further. If, as has occurred, 80 percent of the price of a new, or second-hand, motorcaravan has been borrowed over a ten-year repayment period, then it may be that at sometime in the future you will owe more to the lender than the 'van will realise – a situation of negative equity. This represents perfect conditions for Sod's Law to strike, with redundancy, illness, accident, or whatever. Selling the 'van may not cover your debts. Also, of course, this is the very time when you might feel like bucking yourself up with a week-end away in it.
Life insurance (actually, death insurance) policies have a very good record of paying out, whereas critical illness/
redundancy varieties have a rather more chequered reputation, with quite a few claimants left feeling cheated. So, insurance may not necessarily provide protection.
Anyway, if you do find yourself financially embarrassed and unable to meet repayments, speak to the lender as soon as possible – and certainly before you default on any payment. Many reputable companies will be able to arrange a payment holiday or reschedule the remaining debt. Consumer groups such as the Citizens Advice Bureau may also be able to help.
We want a proper toilet!
Romahome (formerly Island Plastics) has always been 'the biz' at building moulded GRP motorcaravan bodies, so it came as something of a surprise when the firm introduced its Quartet. This was essentially an aluminium-clad 'conventional' coachbuilt grafted onto a rather unusual choice for a coachbuilt motorhome base: the Citroën Berlingo platform-cab.
The Quartet was introduced in response to existing Romahome owners' requests for a small 'van with a 'proper' toilet compartment. Only Romahome didn't build it – it was imported from Portugal.
Actually, I thought it quite practical, though it was a bit ugly especially when compared to the fluid shapes of the rest of the range.
Once inside, it was found
to be a cheerful conversion offering an overcab double bed, and another double (converted from the rear lounge seats).
I think the Quartet would have sold better if it had offered more than a 'token' 140kg payload, and if the number of dedicated travel seats had matched the number of berths. It was replaced by a short-wheelbase high-top Sevel van conversion, the excellent Dimension, originally marketed as La Méditerranee. Practical Motorhome's Julia Maitland, has been enjoying using one this year.
Here are some facts about the Quartet: it was 4.75m (15ft 7in) long, not including the spare wheel and, in 2000, cost around £22,995 for the 1.9-litre naturally-aspirated diesel engine version.
Minor conversion
Knowing my love of all things British and quirky, fellow scribe Nigel Donnelly thought that readers of this column may be interested in The Morris Minor Centre in Brum which sells new 'Moggy' van bodies, made out of GRP.
He reckons that one of these would make a pretty camper conversion. Absolutely.
I once met somebody that full-timed in a Morris Minor motorcaravan that he had converted from an old Currys van. They were built to transport those new-fangled (at the time) fridge-freezers and came with a factory-fitted GRP high-top and full-height rear doors.
There is at least one Morris Minor coachbuilt converted
(I think) by Mustang Caravans, and several home brews plus
a sprinkling of high-top and elevating-roof conversions.
Happy motorcaravanning!
Gentleman Jack Bancroft |
