Camping ‘British Style’
Royals, pubs and driving on the left: if you think of England, these things are probably what come to mind – rather than caravanning and camper life. But that’s not quite fair, because the British love camping just as much as we do on the continent. So what distinguishes caravanning on the other side of the Channel?
A nation of campers – the UK
Spacious, comfortable and as luxurious as possible
Our customer Bailey of Bristol, one of the largest manufacturers of recreational vehicles in the United Kingdom, shows us what ‘British Style’ camping is all about. For more than 75 years, this manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes has been advising and supporting customers in their search for the right recreational vehicle – so they really know their stuff. And, of course, we at AL-KO VT provide the appropriate products to go with it. To sum it up: the British like it big, comfortable, and with as much luxury as possible.
Keeping left – Camping in the UK
Individuality starts with the pitch
The first thing that immediately stands out: the doors of motorhomes and caravans are on the opposite side. Of course they are, because parking on the roadside and getting out must work just as well with left-hand traffic as it does for drivers on the continent.
“The island has a fantastic network of campsites – thanks to organisations such as the Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club, which develop and maintain the sites,” explains Cristina Dorador de los Santos, Brand Communication Manager at Bailey of Bristol. Many sites offer different types of pitches, giving you a choice between gravel and grass, or between pitches with or without awnings. And even though their network is so well developed, if they do ever wish to leave the island, they’re more than happy to head off to sunnier destinations such as France or Spain.”
Caravans and motorhomes
A touch of added luxury
Now on to the requirements for camping vehicles: what is camping in the UK really like? The layout of a home reflects the character of its inhabitants – and it’s the same with the design of a caravan or motorhome. Should the bathroom be directly next to the bedroom? Is a separate shower desired? Where will the big comfortable bed go?
The answers are as individual as the motorhome and caravan owners themselves, but British campers are pretty much always agreed on one thing: it’s got to be top-level! Barbecue, oven, microwave, solar panel, security systems – expectations are high and the ideas seem unlimited. “In the last few seasons, models with an island bed – either longitudinal or transverse – and a centrally positioned bathroom in the caravan have proved particularly popular,” explains Cristina Dorador de los Santos.
AL-KO VT: The secure foundation for motorhomes and caravans
From chassis to accessories and safety systems
For all the luxury, the reliable, secure base for motorhomes and caravans must not be forgotten. For this, manufacturer Bailey of Bristol works in partnership with AL-KO VT: we supply the chassis for caravans and some motorhome models, as well as accessory systems like the ATC anti-snaking system for caravans and trailers, and wheel locks. “Levelling systems such as the fully automatic HY4 hydraulic levelling system are not offered as standard, but customers can, of course, retrofit them as a custom option,” adds Cristina Dorador de los Santos. Because when it comes to even greater individuality and luxury, there are (almost) no limits for British campers either – for instance, with the comfortable motorhome seats and belt buckles made by AL-KO VT subsidiary Aguti.
Peter Eustace, Managing Director of AL-KO Vehicle Technology in the UK, adds: “Bailey of Bristol was already a customer even before AL-KO acquired B&B Trailers in 1982 and merged the two companies. The strength of our business relationship is based on the quarterly reviews held with senior managers from both companies and on close cooperation in research and development. AL-KO carries out quarterly audits of the chassis assembly area at Bailey. This is carried out by a trained AL-KO technician and in cooperation with Bailey’s production team manager and quality manager. We check that the staff have been properly trained, are using the correct tools and that the torque settings meet the requirements.”
Large vehicles, big dreams
The value of sociability
In recent years, there has been particularly strong demand for wide 8-ft caravans, with widths of almost 2.45 metres. And couples, too, like to go a size up: they prefer to buy a caravan designed for four people, just to have that little bit more space. After all, just a few extra centimetres over the standard length can make a huge difference to the amount of living space. But it’s not just about space and room – above all, it’s about freedom. About the feeling of freedom. Sociability. Enjoying relaxing times with friends and family. That’s what ‘British Style’ camping is all about.
Brits are sociable campers, perhaps even more than we are in Germany. Even in typical English weather, they’re happy to spend time together – sometimes outside and sometimes inside the caravan. Cosy on a nice site, with a great view and, of course, with the door on the correct side. That’s British.
