THE best caravan shop in the North East of England has gone into voluntary liquidation. Its been trading on Norton Road in Stockton for donkey's years and now its winding up business.
This is very sad - the staff were very knowledgeble and helpful and they were very reasonably priced Autoplus will be sadly missed
Sorry for those who've lost their jobs and best wishes for the future for those who need another job!
The net zero zealots won’t be happy until they have expunged every last drop of pleasure out of the common people’s lives. This mad race to 100% electric vehicles will do nothing to slow climate change, but will certainly make some individuals considerably richer.
Mrs Dent and I were discussing this earlier today. By the time we change our car again, there will be no diesel and few petrol cars around. The cost of an EV that will pull 1200kg will, for us, be prohibitive - by that stage we will be retired. Our current options it seems are to buy a small EV and rent mobile homes and/or buy a folding camper that our small EV would tow, probably around 900kg.
I have to agree, I think caravanning as we know it will no longer exist in say 10-20 years. It will certainly no longer be for the poorer members of society.
It's a ridiculous situation, not to mention the lack of infrastructure. We live in a row of 6 terraced houses, car park and garage block at the end, a pathway in front of the houses. Where would we charge an EV? And then there are all the flat dwellers. At least we will be in our late 80s in 10 years time, if we make it that long.
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 16/3/2025
The net zero zealots won’t be happy until they have expunged every last drop of pleasure out of the common people’s lives. This mad race to 100% electric vehicles will do nothing to slow climate change, but will certainly make some individuals considerably richer.
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 16/3/2025
I have to agree, I think caravanning as we know it will no longer exist in say 10-20 years. It will certainly no longer be for the poorer members of society.
If you own a caravan then you are not poor, but very rich!
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 16/3/2025
I have to agree, I think caravanning as we know it will no longer exist in say 10-20 years. It will certainly no longer be for the poorer members of society.
If you own a caravan then you are not poor, but very rich!
it's all relative. And not so black and white, you'll note I said poorer, not poor. I haven't spent more than £30k on cars in total in my entire lifetime, so my ability to buy a £40k EV to tow with is nil.
For certain, the 'outrageous' cost of a new caravan, new EV car, and pitch costs at many camp sites, now puts it into luxury holiday territory! Not the budget holiday it used to be!
I bought my car (Petrol) new, and caravan (2 years old) back in 2017/18 when costs were still more reasonable, and pitches at £15-16/night were plentiful, and very grateful I've had that time to enjoy the lifestyle over past few years.
Here we are 7/8 years on, and don't think I'd be inclined to be doing the same again from scratch - far more money than an OAP feels inclined to invest in depreciating assets! The caravanning/MH marketplace has always strongly been supported by the older generation, who had both time and cash to spare. Not sure us oldies have as much of either these days, many 'pensioners' I know are carrying on working to make ends meet, which also means they don't have the spare time either! Those that do still have the time are being priced out I feel!
The industry has been a master of it's own fate to some degree, taking advantage of the Covid boom in stay at home camping interest and raising profits from the high demand. Now the market has retracted, probably no worse than pre-Covid, but companies have not foreseen in time or adapted to market changes in order to survive.
I know quite a lot of people in business, and it has to be said, many are pretty poor businessmen! They don't have the insight into their marketplace, nor foresight of general market conditions, to stack the odds in their favour when inevitable market fluctuations occur, many can only survive in buoyant markets! Of course, there will be a number of 'honest' casualties, through no fault of their own, who just find current market conditions unsustainable.
Sadly it's looking like the camping/caravanning/MH industry may be undergoing significant change, perhaps never to be what it once was. EVs alone toll the death knell for caravans as we've known them, as probably the majority of us are not interested in the limited range, perpetual recharging to cover any distance, and the micro-van towing capacity! The marketplace is hardly swamped with EV campers, let alone larger more comfortable MHs, their days also look numbered.
I think my current car and caravan may have to suffice and see out my remaining years of caravanning, which in all honesty may only be another 8-10 years at best, but more likely to the demise of either car or caravan a bit sooner.
I love my caravanning, I don't want to voluntarily give it up, but feel it's going to be forced upon me by circumstances beyond my control.
there is also a move to get older drivers off the road.. beware of coming roadside eye sights tests.. i just failed one.. two policemen.. i passed the first one so they picked another car further away and told me i had failed..
my license was due to end on my 79 ninth birthday the DVLA refused to issue me a new one.. i maybe could have fought it.. it quite clearly wasnt a correct and proper test but i decided not to.. so for me my driving and caravaning days are over..
i am now learning to live without a driving license.. i still have my caravan caravan parked in the garden though.. he he..
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 16/3/2025
I have to agree, I think caravanning as we know it will no longer exist in say 10-20 years. It will certainly no longer be for the poorer members of society.
If you own a caravan then you are not poor, but very rich!
I take it that was meant tongue-in-cheek. We certainly aren't anything like rich, and the total cost of our car and caravan combined was little more than £5,000. They both do everything that we want of them, and we couldn't care less if anyone looks down their noses at them. At least they are both bought and paid for.
Old boy pulled into a site we were at last weekend.
Tow car nearly £150k caravan £50k.
I hope he didn't use all his pension pot.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Tbh I think there's loads of life left in the caravanning world. It's definitely going to slow down because the prices of them are ridiculous.
What's the .govs stance these days on when they are stopping selling petrol/diesel? 2030? 2035? I just can't see it. The world is in a state, something else will happen to push them dates forward.
Quote: Originally posted by sprite1275 on 17/3/2025
Tbh I think there's loads of life left in the caravanning world. It's definitely going to slow down because the prices of them are ridiculous.
What's the .govs stance these days on when they are stopping selling petrol/diesel? 2030? 2035? I just can't see it. The world is in a state, something else will happen to push them dates forward.
If someone buys a new petrol or diesel car in 2029, and they keep it and look after it, that car should last them at least 20 years. That takes us to 2049. I have always said that the "greenest" car you can ever have is the one you have already got, whatever it is, as another one doesn't have to be built.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Another one bites the dust!
via mobile 16/3/2025 at 8:29pm
We certainly aren't anything like rich, and the total cost of our car and caravan combined was little more than £5,000. They both do everything that we want of them, and we couldn't care less if anyone looks down their noses at them. At least they are both bought and paid for. 
