Caravan and Outdoor Life January 2018

They say a bad day camping is better than a good day at work. I mull over that statement at least once a month, usually the closer I get to deadline – sitting at my desk for hours on end, my eyes burning from staring at the screen, the next weekend getaway a far-off dream. I was ruminating on the above saying again as I wrote this letter, my last of 2017.You see, I recently had the pleasure of going camping with my oldest friends. What made it such a notable occasion was that it was the first time he and his wife would be taking their three-year-old daughter camping. Coming along for the adventure were their two dogs, the younger being a four-month-old Labrador, as well as my own…

Happy New Year to all our readers! I hope that in between all the “spend less, save more” and “go on a diet” resolutions, that you all have also vowed to “go camping and caravanning more often”! Did you know that two of the most common New Year’s resolutions are “travel more” and “spend more time with family/ friends”? Well, if you live the outdoor lifestyle we encourage in Caravan & Outdoor Life, you should have no problem with either. During the last few months of 2017, the industry has been buzzing with new caravans, trailers, and even manufacturers! And I’m sure we’re in for more excitement in the next few months. You can be sure that our team will bring you all the latest news, travel stories, interesting destinations,…

CHECK YOUR TYRES! We had to ride on some pretty bad roads on our latest caravanning trip, so I felt it safest to check the condition of the tyres. The tread wear was minimal, but there were some“wavy ripples”, particularly on the outer edges, which were more pronounced when I ran my fingers over them. I contacted a friend with good knowledge of tyres; he diagnosed that the fault was caused by deterioration as they were over eight years old. This was confirmed by the large dealership where I replaced them. I was advised that nobody would issue a tyre warranty for more than three years, and that the industry standard for the usable life span is five years. I became concerned about the possible effect that this could have…

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE... After returning from a trip of over 3 800 km with his caravan, during which he visited six SANParks camps, Theo Kleinhans wrote to us regarding the numbering of sites in national parks. At some SANParks camps there are sites numbered with a “C”, which are for caravans, and others which are marked with a “T” for tents. But while T sites are smaller than C at some parks, at others they are of equal size! So, what is the policy regarding sites for caravans and tents? Here’s what our online fans had to say… Comments Erina von Gordon It remains a problem! I booked a caravan stand at Addo for the weekend of 11th to 13th November 2017. On arrival at around 10am the whole camp…

Insta-bed Tentco’s self-inflating mattresses take all the effort out of setting up your bed, plumping it up in a matter of seconds. Simply pull the tape, and voilà! They’re fitted with anti-slip bottoms and come with a handy compression stuff sack for easy storage. Price: R599 (5cm) R925 (10cm) For more information, email info@tentco.co.za, or go to www.tentco.co.za Hot and cold Atlasware’s stainless steel flasks could be mistaken for stylish water bottles, but they can keep their contents piping hot or freezing cold. With its 2L volume, the largest flask will provide plenty of midday coolers and evening coffees on your adventures, no matter the weather. It comes with a handy handle for comfortable carrying and easy pouring. Price: R899 For more information, call 012 345 3108, email enquiries@atlasware.co.za or…

GOING BIG: DESTINATION CARAVANS There’s a new manufacturer ready to make a big splash in the caravan market... and when we say big, we are talking about 9 METRES BIG. Andre van Helsdingen, the man behind this massive luxury caravan, is no stranger to the industry. Andre is one of the twin brothers from the successful Twin Boats & Trailers. His brother, Riaan, started the famous Sensation Caravans brand which he recently sold. Andre says that he decided to go into caravan manufacturing after the sale of Sensation, when people kept on asking him and his brother for caravans because of the sterling reputation their companies have. He realised that there was a market for caravans that are not manufactured and controlled by big corporates. So, around May 2017, he…