Caravans Insured > Articles by: caravan-man

Author: caravan-man

Our guide to the best eBikes for camping & caravan holidays.

E-Bikes For Caravan & Motorhomes

by caravan-man

BEST e-bikes for caravans & camping

Popular E-bikes offer the benefits of cycling minus the sweat, a perfect mode of transport when staying in a caravan, motorhome or tent. Electric bikes provide the ultimate solution for getting out and about when camping and caravanning. Modern electric bikes are lighter, more stylish and much more powerful than those available a few years ago. You don’t need to be an athlete to ride an e-bike, they help reduce traffic congestion, they help shrink your carbon footprint… Plus they are fun!

Safe & legal eBikes

Government EAPC eBike rules (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles). E-Bikes must meet certain rules to be road safe and compliant with UK law:

  1. E-bikes must come with a pedal-assist motor. To use an e-bike on UK roads the motors power output must not exceed 250 watts.
  2. Electrical motor assistance must cut off when the e-bike reaches 15.5mph / 25kmph.
  3. E-bikes cannot be ridden by anyone under the age of 14.
  4. A rider must not use an e-bike under the influence of alcohol or drugs

It is sensible to always wear a protective helmet when riding an e-bike. It’s not advisable to ride an e-bike if you do not feel confident riding a bicycle, or if you suffer from any balance issues.

Types of e-bike

There’s a wide choice of e-bikes with city & urban models designed for use in towns and cities, crossover hybrid models for urban and countryside use. For versatility a crossover or hybrid bike offers an all-round solution for use in urban and countryside settings.

E-road bikes – Thinner tyres and light weight for performance and efficiency. For riders who will be road cycling and want some assistance for climbs, endurance rides or longer distances.

E-mountain bikes – Thicker tyres and tred for improved stability and control on rough terrain. Often with integrated suspension, a perfect choice for off-road adventures on challenging trails and tracks.

E-hybrid Crossover bikes – Medium tyres with medium tred, designed for multi-surface versatility, perfect for the urban commute and capable of light gravel off-road use all in one platform.

Folding E-bikes – Foldable electric bikes, with a choice of different tyre options depending on primary use. Folding e-bikes are a big favourite with campers due to spce saving options for storage.

Which e-bike is best for me?

Choosing the right e-bike depends on where you plan to use it and the available range between charging. Most e-bikes offer ranges of at least 30km per charge, plenty for the average ride out. Premium e-bike models can cover distances over 90km on a single charge, generally a range of around 30 – 40km is enough for most people. 

What do e-bikes cost?

Reasonable entry level hybrid e-bikes start from under £800 e.g. £499 for the Hailong 26 One Mountain Bike.

Top of the range e-bikes, bespoke e-bikes with aluminium or carbon fibre frames often cost in excess of £3,000.
e.g. Cube Reaction Hybrid bikes from £2,499 – Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL Carbon is over £5,000.  

Save with cheaper broadband.

Budget e-bikes under £1,000

Fafree 26 Hailong One

Fafrees Hailong 26 One E-Bike – Electric mountain bike, rechargeable 36v/13.5Ah removable battery, max speed 25km/h, range 45km. 
Buy from £499

Fafrees - F26 Pro e-bike

Fafrees F26 Pro E-Bike – Electric hybrid bike, rechargeable 36v/16Ah removable battery, max speed 25km/h, range 60km.
Buy from £899 £569

Fafree 26 Lasting

Fafrees F26 Lasting E-Bike – Electric step through bike, rechargeable 36v/25Ah removable battery, max speed 25km/h, range 95km. 
Buy from £899 £608

Fafrees - F20 Max Mini e-bike

Fafrees F20 Folding E-Bike – Electric folding bike, fat multi-terrain tyres rechargeable 48v/25Ah removable battery, max speed 25km/h, range 120km.
Buy from £999 £699

Our favourite e-bikes from Fafrees 

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UK Staycations - Caravan and camping holidays

UK Staycations & Caravan Holidays

by caravan-man

UK Staycations 2027

With the cost of living crisis impacting household budgets, many UK families plan to enjoy holidays at home in England, Wales, Scotland & N.Ireland in 2027.

Demand for UK based holidays has resulted in popular UK resorts getting booked up early. Holiday providers are declaring 2027 will be another bumper year for #staycations. Camping, glamping and self catering holidays are hugely popular and more families than ever set to venture out and experience a ‘Great British Holiday’ this summer.

UK accommodation providers are working hard to keep up with demand for UK staycation bookings. Current advice is to book well in advance and ask to be put down on cancellations lists if nothing is available for your preferred dates.

Where to stay - Finding a campsite pitch

Camping & Glamping Sites

If you are planning a caravan or camping holiday, the best place to start your search for locations and availability is online. Most campsites and caravan parks have online availability and online booking via their own websites. Websites should allow you to quickly search availability and book if dates are available.

Many independent caravan & campsites also allocate limited availability to online booking intermediaries like Campsites.co.uk, Pitchup.co.uk and other websites. You can often find sneaky availability if you check these third party sites, third party booking sites are a great place to find hidden gems as your can search by location, to find places with availability in a location, town or region.

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UK Caravan, Motorhome & Camping Clubs

The UK’s 2 leading caravan & camping clubs provide 1000’s of pitches across 1000’s of UK campsites and holiday parks. Members of club sites can search pitch availability and book online. Joining as a member of The Caravan & Motorhome Club or The Camping & Caravanning Club offers numerous benefits including priority booking, discounted rates and access to reduced insurance cover and more.

Both organisations also list small ‘5 Van’ CL’s (Certified Location sites). Although CL’s only tend to offer basic camping facilities, CL’s can often found in more rural, peaceful locations like woodland, farms and small holdings. CL’s are ideal for couples or smaller families looking for a quiet, relaxing campsite away from the crowds.

Caravan & Motorhome Club UK

The Caravan & Motorhome Club

Club membership provides access to over 2,700 scenic sites in the UK and across Europe, along with numerous membership benefits such as insurance and financial services products, overseas travel bookings and advice.
Join the club from £69 per year

Camping Caravan Club UK

The Camping & Caravanning Club

Membership of The Camping & Caravanning Club ‘the world’s oldest Club for camping and caravanning’ provides access to a network of over 1,300 member club owned and affiliated sites. Plus magical camping in the Forest Sites and many CL 5 pitch sites on farms and the countryside.
Join the club from £56.95 per year

Glamping UK
Source: Pixabay terjeaeriksen

Best glamping in the UK

Glamping has developed as an exciting alternative to traditional camping holidays. Glamping in yurts, pods, shepherds huts, tree houses, safari tents and other quirky accommodation offers exciting alternatives to traditional AirBnB accommodation and rooms.

 

Canopy & Stars

Canopy & Stars

Canopy & Stars is part of the Sawdays family and specialises in all types of glamping accommodation across the UK and even in Europe. Established in 2010 Canopy & Stars brings a selection of traditional glamping accommodation as well as some quirky alternatives 

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Mobile internet connections caravan and camping

WiFi Internet Access In Caravans & Motorhomes

by caravan-man

Campsite & Marina Internet Guide - 2026

There are various ways you can connect to the internet in a caravan, motorhome or boat, these include accessing 4G / 5G broadband via a mobile network, connecting to campsite or marina WiFi (if provided), or using a satellite broadband service. 

In todays connected world it’s more important than ever to have reliable internet connectivity whilst travelling and that includes camping in a tent, campervan or caravan.

So what is the best way to get internet access while you are staying at a campsite or wild camping?

Many of the larger campsites, holiday parks and marinas have installed dedicated WiFi for guests, but not all locations will have WiFi; fear not there are other options you can consider if you need to connect to ‘the world wide web’.

The BEST ways to get internet in a caravan, motorhome, tent or boat

  1. Check if the campsite, holiday park or marina has guest WiFi

    Check what average speeds can be expected and if there is a charge for access, most of the time connecting to a guest network is the best option, however speed can vary greatly from one campsite to the next. Most campsites & marinas have to charge for WiFi use due to the cost of maintaining guest internet services.

  2. Use your mobile phones 4G/5G connection to connect to the internet if you have a good signal

    Check 4G & 5G network coverage in the locations where you are staying or plan to visit. If you can pick up a 4G or 5G signal should be able to get pretty fast mobile broadband. (Remember any data used will come off your allocated data and you may be charged extra for any data you use above your monthly plan).

  3. Buy a MiFi internet device or dongle for your own portable internet hotspot

    With a MiFi device, or MiFi dongle you can take your own personal wifi connection with you wherever you go. Again reliable 4G/5G local coverage is required. (Remember you will need a 4G/5G compatible data SIM card with a payg or pay monthly data plan). 

  4. Consider satellite internet if you do wild camping in remote locations where other internet connections are unavailable

    Satellite internet services are now much more affordable (BRDY offer a Mbps service for under £30 per month). Initially you might need to buy some specialist kit including a satellite receiver & satellite router to get started. (In theory you could sign up for a home connection and buy extra kit to take with you when you go camping/caravanning if your provider allows this via a single account).

Campsites & marinas with WiFi guest networks

If the campsite, holiday park or marina has guest Wifi, it’s usually straight forward to get online – just connect to the ‘guest’, ‘campsite’ or ‘marina’ wifi network and follow the instructions. Most guest WiFi solutions use a shared internet connection and guest WiFi is often charged for to help cover the WiFi system costs.

The main draw back of guest wifi is that speeds can vary greatly from one place to another. At busy times buffering can be an issue as data and download speeds may be throttled to ease pressures on the network.

Mobile phone internet, how to make your mobile phone a hotspot

It can be viable to turn your mobile phone into a broadband access point. A 4G / 5G signal is essential and you would probably need an unlimited data plan if you plan to use it to provide your main internet connection for more than a few days a month.

Most mobile phones have a ‘make phone a hotspot’ feature in the settings. This allows you to turn your mobile phone into a router to share you phones mobile internet connection with other devices. When you make your phone a hotspot you can connect multiple devices including laptops & tablets just as easily as how you connect to your wireless router at home. Connecting to the internet this way is convenient but it will mean you will be using your mobile data allowance, if you only have a limited data plan it could run out quickly, especially if people are playing online games or streaming content like video & music.

What is MiFi internet and how do I get it?

MiFi is similar to mobile phone internet connectivity, you basically access the mobile data network via a MiFi router. A MiFi router is a small portable router that provides wireless connection to the mobile broadband network. MiFi boxes usually allow you to connect 10 or more devices.

A MiFi box requires its own data sim card as well as a good 4G or 5G signal. Check the 4G/5G coverage at the locations you will be staying to make sure there is reception.

Top Tip: Take your MiFi box with you when you travel (even abroad if you have free data roaming) and share your MiFi ‘mobile broadband’ connection with multiple devices including laptops, tablets and even smart TVs.

Save with cheaper broadband.

You can find a good selection of 4G & 5G MiFi routers on Amazon, we’ve selected some favourites below, all feature rechargeable batteries so they are fully portable. 4G MiFi routers are very affordable, you can get a basic one for under £40, but don’t forget you will also need a sim card with data for it to work. 

Check out a selection of 4G MiFi routers available to buy on Amazon:

Mobile MiFi 4G + 5G

4G + 5G MiFi – MiFi portable router, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up to 10 devices speeds up to 300Mbps
From £36.99

TP Link M7000 4G

TP Link M7000 4G+ – MiFi portable router, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up to 10 devices speeds up to 150Mbps
From £34.99

ZTE U10S 4G MiFi

 

ZTE U10S 4G+ – MiFi portable router, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up 32 devices seeds up to 300Mbps.
From £32.95

Note: 4G & 5G MiFi routers from Amazon UK – prices are provided as a guide and may vary. MiFi boxes will require a sim and data plan to connect to the 4G / 5G mobile network.

Prices for 5G MiFi routers are a little more expensive starting around £40 for the cheapest solution.

Check out some of the latest  5G MiFi routers available to buy on Amazon below:

Mobile MiFi 4G + 5G

4G + 5G MiFi – MiFi portable router, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up to 10 devices speeds up to 300Mbps
From £36.99

4G + 5G MiFi Box

4G/5G MiFi Router – Portable, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up to 12 devices speeds over 300Mbps
From £39.99

ZTE U30 5G

ZTE U30 5G MiFi Router – Portable, rechargeable, SIM card slot, connect up to 10 devices speeds over 800Mbps.
From £89.99

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Buyers guide buying a touring caravan

Buying A Touring Caravan

by caravan-man

Touring caravan buyers guide - 2026

We take a look at how to find the best new and used touring caravans in the UK. Touring caravans offer the ultimate mobile family holiday, just hitch up your caravan and tow your holiday accommodation with you, wherever you choose to go.

Touring caravans and caravanning holidays have always been popular but as families look to enjoy more staycations, touring caravans are enjoying a renaissance, with many new first time caravan buyers in the last few years.

The market for touring caravans is long established with numerous national and local dealerships selling new and second hand touring caravans. Caravan dealerships are a good place to start if you want to physically view new & used touring caravans and see what you can get for your budget. 

FYI…

  • New entry level touring caravans can be bought for around £20,000 for a basic 2 berth model. 
  • New mid range touring caravans range from £25,000 to £35,000.
  • New luxury touring caravans start from £35,000 but can go over £70,000 for the highest spec models.

What's the cheapest new 2 berth touring caravan?

The cheapest new 2 berth touring caravans under £25,000 include: 
Bailey Discovery from £19,999 at some dealers. 
Sprite Alpine 2 berth from £21,995 

What's the cheapest new 4 berth touring caravan?

Bailey Discovery 4 berth caravans under £22000
One of the lowest priced family caravans is the 4 berth Bailey Discovery D4-4, some UK dealers are offering the new 2026 model from £21,499 check out details
here >>

Should I buy a UK made touring caravan or a European manufactured touring caravan?

Most people believe touring caravans were invented in the UK and whilst there is ongoing debate as to where caravans were first invented, it is clear the UK has many great touring caravan manufacturers and lots of choice. You can be sure to find touring caravans for most budgets.

European manufactured touring caravans often have their own unique style but they all feature similar functionality to UK built caravans.

Brexit impact – importing or buying a European touring caravan

Brexit could result in additional costs being applied to an imported caravan, although most European caravan models are now available to buy somewhere in the UK from affiliated dealers or resellers who factor costs into displayed sales prices.

Database of UK & EU touring caravan manufacturers

We have listed many of the UKs’ touring caravan manufacturers and European touring caravan manufacturers below, check out the websites where you can view or download the latest caravan brochures and other helpful information.

Bailey Caravans Ltd (Discovery, Pageant, Ranger and Senator Brands)

16 – 30 South Liberty Lane, Bristol, BS3 2SS
W: www.baileyofbristol.co.uk
T: 0117 966 5967 | E customerservices@baileyofbristol.co.uk

Coachman Caravans  Ltd (Amara, Laser, Pastiche and VIP models)
Amsterdam Road, Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, Hull, HU7 0XF
W: www.coachman.co.uk
T: 01482839737 | E: info@coachman.co.uk

Explorer Group ( Buccaneer Caravans, Compass Caravans, Elddis Caravans)
Delves Lane, Consett, Co. Durham, DH8 7PE
W: www.elddis.co.uk
T: 03719642113 | E: info@elddis.co.uk

Fleetwood Caravans Ltd (Heritage, Meridien and Sonata), Hall Street, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9JP
W: COMING SOON
T: 01787888980 | E: fleetwoodcaravans@dial.pipex.com

Lunar Caravans Ltd (Ariva, Clubman, Delta, Lexon,Quasar, Stellar, Solaris and Zenith models)
Sherdley Road, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5JF
W: www.lunarcaravansales.co.uk
T: 01772337628 | E: sales@lunarcaravansales.co.uk

Swift Caravans – Sub-brands Sterling Caravans, Sprite Caravans
(Swift: Charisma, Challenger and Conqueror models)
(Sterling – Eccles, Eccles Elite and Europa models)
Dunswell Road, Cottingham, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU16 4JX
W: www.swiftleisure.co.uk
T: 01482847332 | E: enquiry@swiftleisure.co.uk”

Vanmaster Caravans (Accolade, Applause, Fanfare, Occasion and Ovation
Unit S32 Standish Court, Bradley Hall, Bradley Lane, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0XQ
W: www.vanmastercaravans.co.uk
T: 01257424999 | E:info@vanmastercaravans.co.uk

ADRIA Caravans (Slovenia)(Astella, Alpina, Adora, Action, Altea, Aviva)
ADRIA Mobil d.o.o., Straška cesta 50, 8000 Novo Mesto
W: www.adria-mobil.com
T: +38673937100 E: info@adria-mobil.si

FENDT Caravans (Sweden)(Bianco, Opal, Saphir, Tendenza models)
European Caravans Kettering, 1 The old A43, Northants, NN14 1SD
W: www.fendt-caravan.com
T: 01536791523 | E info@fendt-caravan.de

KABE Caravans (Sweden)(Classic, Ädelsten, Royal models)
BOX 14, 56027 TenhultSchweden, SWEDEN
W: www.kabe.se
T: +4636393700 | E kabe@kabe.se

KANUS Caravans (Germany)(Deseo, Sport, Sudwind, Starclass, Traveleno models)
W: www.knaus.com
T: | E info@kanus.com

RAPIDO Caravans (France) (Classic, Ädelsten, Royal models)
BOX 14, 56027 TenhultSchweden, SWEDEN
W: www.rapido.fr
T: +4636393700 | E kabe@kabe.se

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How can I get caravan finance or a loan to buy a touring caravan or motorhome?

Many touring caravan & motorhome dealerships work with established finance companies like Black Horse. If you need finance check with the dealer to see what your options are. Generally caravan & motorhome finance is secured in a similar way to taking out finance on a new car: 

  • You put down an agreed deposit. 
  • Your finance company pays the balance. 
  • You pay off the loan in agreed monthly repayments (until the loan is repaid along with the interest applied). 

There are numerous leisure finance/loan calculators online that allow you to see what sort of finance you can raise and how much it will cost you over the repayment period. 

If you are not satisfied with an offer of finance you can explore taking a personal loan with your bank. Most banks & building societies can issue loans and it is often easier to secure a loan with your bank as you already have an ongoing relationship with them.

A new touring caravan is too expensive what are my options?

If a new touring caravan is out of budget the second hand caravan market is often a great place to find a bargain. 

New caravans reduce in price or depreciate in the first couple of years, buying a nearly new caravan can save you thousands of pounds.

Most dealers have a good selection of resale caravans and also provide the added security of a limited warranty on newer resale stock. 

The private caravan sales market is also great for bargains, local newspapers and regional news websites often have caravan free ad sections. A quick search online will also bring up various specialist private sale websites like Preloved or FridayAds & Caravansforsale.com 

eBay is also a good place to search for second hand touring caravans. eBay usually has 1000’s of private caravans for sale and if you find an auction sale with no reserve you could pick up a real bargain.

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Caravan Car Breakdown Cover

Car Caravan & Trailer Breakdown Cover

by caravan-man

Break down cover for tow vehicles, including towed caravans & trailers

What happens if your tow vehicle breaks down when towing a caravan or trailer?

Breaking down while towing a caravan or trailer can leave you stranded with more than just a vehicle to worry about. While roadside assistance and breakdown cover for tow vehicles isn’t a legal requirement in the UK, taking out a policy is a sensible precaution — ensuring both your vehicle and any towed caravan or trailer are protected by a reliable breakdown and recovery service.

Many UK car and vehicle breakdown recovery plans now include complimentary recovery of a towed caravan or trailer, provided it’s attached to the tow vehicle at the time of breakdown. Cover typically extends to a range of towed items, including:

  • Touring caravans
  • Trailer tents
  • Box trailers and general trailers
  • Horse box trailers

Levels of car, caravan & trailer breakdown cover

Comparing annual roadside assistance and breakdown recovery policies is essential to finding the best value cover for your needs. Prices vary significantly depending on the level of cover:

  • Single vehicle cover starts from as little as £50 a year
  • Multi-vehicle policies with enhanced recovery options can cost £200+ a year

Most breakdown cover providers offer a choice between:

  • Vehicle-specific cover — protects a named vehicle regardless of who’s driving
  • Personal/driver cover — protects a named driver (or drivers), regardless of which vehicle they’re in
All the breakdown & roadside recovery services featured below offer car breakdown cover with caravan or trailer recovery included as standard, or with the option to add caravan or trailer recovery to the policy.

Why Compare Breakdown Cover for Towing?

Not all breakdown policies treat caravan and trailer recovery the same way. Some providers include it as standard, while others charge extra or cap the weight/size of what they’ll recover. Comparing policies side by side helps you:

  • Avoid paying for cover you don’t need
  • Ensure your specific caravan or trailer type is included
  • Check weight limits and recovery distance caps
  • Find the best price for the level of protection required
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Compare the UK's Leading Breakdown & Recovery Providers

Cover My Breakdown Gif

Cover My Breakdown

Vehicle Cover (any driver) / Driver Cover (personal cover in any vehicle up to 4 people)
Local Recovery – vehicle £19.81 / driver £33.36 year
National Cover – vehicle £21.97 / driver *£38.34 year
National & Home – vehicle £22.82 / driver £39.97 year
European Cover – vehicle £57.94

*Home cover available for a small additional fee.

Caravan Recovery Included

Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length

4.5 stars: Excellent

Trustpilot 4.5

GEM - Motoring Assist car and caravan breakdown recovery

GEM Motoring Assist Breakdown

Recovery & Reclaim – From £82.22 year – Individual driver cover / Or cover for the vehicle (anyone  driving).

Recovery Extra – from £106.00 year – Individual driver cover / Or cover for the vehicle (anyone  driving).

Caravan Recovery Included

Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length.

4.5 stars: Excellent

Trustpilot 4.5

Motoring Assistance UK

Motoring Assistance UK Breakdown

Flexible policies choose from personal cover or vehicle cover. Number of vehicles covered etc.

Membership / Premium Membership / Premium Plus Recovery &

Single vehicle annual cover from £88. 

Driver breakdown cover from £xx.xx

Caravan Recovery Included

Caravan or trailer attached to tow vehicle
– Caravans up to 7m in length
– Trailers up to 3.05m in length.

4.5 stars: Excellent

Trustpilot 4.5

Details of excess, discounts etc. may change over time, to our best knowledge the details are correct up to May 2022.
* Trustpilot & Feefo star ratings provided as a guide, ratings are checked and updated monthly. 

Disclaimer: ‘Caravans Insured’ does not recommend an individual breakdown and recovery provider above another. If you choose to purchase breakdown and recovery,  cover will be provided directly by the chosen provider and subject to their terms & conditions.

FAQs Car, caravan & trailer roadside assistance & breakdown

NO – Whilst car breakdown cover often provides recovery of a towed caravan or trailer if it is connected to the broken down tow vehicle, caravan or trailer recovery is not always included as a standard feature. When it is not included as standard,  caravan or trailer recovery can usually be added as an optional extra.

Typical breakdown assistance and recovery includes:

  • Roadside assistance: Covers call outs when you break down away from home.

  • Caravan/trailer recovery: Covers a towed caravan or trailer providing it was being towed at the time of breakdown. Caravan/trailer recovery will usually drop the caravan or trailer at repair garage with your tow vehicle. In some cases towing to an overnight location nearby if your tow vehicle cannot be fixed same day.

  • Onward travel cover: Covers temporary cost of a hire car, public transport or overnight accommodation so you can continue your journey where possible.

  • Home start: Covers breakdowns that happen at your home.

Cheaper breakdown cover often only provides local recovery (recovery to the nearest garage or repair centre), each breakdown provider has different terms but usually up to 10 miles from where you broke down.

National recovery provides vehicle recovery to a chosen location, this could be back to your home or on to your final destination if you prefer.

It all depends on the level of cover, each policy is different. Check the full details or T&Cs of your cover, they should specify how many call outs you are allowed to make. Premium break down cover might allow for unlimited call outs, whereas cheaper basic policies might only allow one per month or fewer.

Usually yes, if you have break down cover with caravan/trailer recovery, your recovery service should arrange to take your caravan to the garage with your car. Some policies will allow for a caravan to be towed separately to the nearest campsite if your tow vehicle is unable to be fixed on the same day. This is a good option and allows you to overnight in your caravan while your vehicle is being fixed.

Most breakdown assistance providers offer specific ‘European’ cover, or the ability to add European breakdown cover as an optional extra. It can also be added at a later date, at extra cost, by calling your breakdown recovery provider to request it is added for one-off holidays or trips. 

Even if you think you have European cover it is always best to check with your service provider before you travel to confirm whether your cover will include recovery of your caravan or trailer should you break down while on holiday in Europe.

Top 5 caravan security products

Top 5 Caravan Security Products

by caravan-man

The BEST Touring Caravan Security Devices

We assess the best security devices out there to protect your touring caravan from being stolen. Every year 1000s of touring caravans are stolen from driveways and caravan storage facilities, touring caravans are attractive to thieves due to their high resale value. With this in mind it’s important to take some simple precautions to make your touring caravan more secure.

It is advisable to use a number of caravan security devices to deter criminals, caravan security experts suggest at least two security measures or devices should be installed. Touring caravan security products can provide a visual deterrent, they also make it much harder for thieves to steal a caravan. It’s increasingly common for touring caravan insurance providers to ask for one or more security devices to be fitted as a requirement of insurance cover.

Hitch Locks

Hitch locks are designed to cover the tow ball hitch at the front of your caravan or trailer, there are numerous designs of tow hitch so hitch lock manufacturers produce various designs to either cover the whole tow hitch or prevent access to the coupler.

The best hitch locks are made of tough metal, designed to cover the whole hitch and coupler with a barrel lock rather than a padlock. Look for a hitch lock with the’Sold Secure’ mark this provides an independently assessed quality guarantee. Hitch locks take seconds to fit and can be used when your caravan is stored and also when you are using your caravan and staying on sites.

Bulldog Hitchlocks

Bulldog hitch locks fit over the whole tow hitch and handle. They are easy to fit and protect your caravan or trailer whilst it is uncoupled from the tow vehicle. Bulldog hitch locks start from around £80
Buying tip make sure you know the correct make of your hitch/coupler (e.g. ALKO, Bradley etc) as well as the model number, designs are very. specific
Buy at Bulldog Secure

Wheel Clamps

Caravan wheels clamps are also a good visual deterrent, the best wheel clamps are designed to cover the whole wheel and all wheel nuts.  Wheel clamps made of high quality steel are much harder for thieves to break or remove. Look for a wheel clamp with the ‘Sold Secure’ mark, this provides an independently assessed quality guarantee. Wheel clamps like hitch locks can be used when you caravan is stored and on site when you are pitched up.

Bulldog Titan Wheel Clamps

Bulldog Titan wheel clamps are highly rated, made of tough steel and designed to fit over the whole wheel and all wheel nuts.
Titan wheel clamps start from around £160
Buying tip make sure you know the correct wheel and tyre size to get the correct clamp size for your wheel. 
Buy at Bulldog Secure

Steady Locks

Caravan steady locks are relatively new to the market and are designed fit to the winder nuts that raise and lower a caravans steady/feet. Steady locks basically lock the winding mechanism so the steady/feet cannot be lifted. Whilst steady locks provide a visual deterrent they might not be recognised as a legitimate security device by some insurance providers, so make sure you check.

Caravan Alarm Systems

Caravan alarm systems are often fitted as an optional extra in new caravans. A alarm can be a simple audible deterrent but many modern alarm systems provide both an audible alarm with instant notifications via text message or even automated calls if a break-in or movement is detected. Make sure any alarm is securely fitted in a concealed location so it cannot be disabled or removed by thieves.

Some of the latest caravan alarm systems are also connected to GPS, allowing you caravans movements to be tracked if it is stolen.

Caravan Alarm & GPS Tracker Systems

Caravan tracker devices use GPS satellite technology to monitor movement, a tracker could increase the chance of your caravan being located and returned if it is stolen. Like caravan alarms, trackers need to be professionally fitted in a concealed location to prevent removal or disabling by thieves.

The best caravan GPS tracker systems provide 24 hour monitoring that can be set to trigger when your caravan is moved without prior notification by an owner. 

Caravan GPS Tracker Systems Quality GPS Caravan Trackers usually start around £200 (fitted) and will have a monthly or annual service/monitoring plan usually around £10 – £15 per month, until cancelled.
INeedATracker.com stock a Thatcham S7 rated GPS tracker at £229 plus monthly/annual or lifetime monitoring plans.

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