Like the car industry, The caravan and accessory manufacturers have priced themselves out of the market with a lack of real competition and quality.

@Justbehelpful

7 күн бұрын

Totally agree, I Bought brand New Bailey GT60 Ranger 2009. Paid under 12,000 including motor mover. It's absurd now. We looked at replacing her but due to prices we have decided not to bother.

@user-zw3bg9vr5g

3 күн бұрын

@@JustbehelpfulThe new caravans look pretty but they are rubbish. Gone are the comfortable seats and well built interiors and when you complain they make you feel that you are the problem.I feel sorry for the dealers they are decent as a rule. The problems remain with the manufactures spewing out expensive rubbish.

They want to spend "some time and effort" into making a better product. Bailey can't even make a product which doesnt let in water!..

The whole situation has become too expensive. Vans too dear, site fees rediculous price and fuel still sky high. It's become far too expensive for most people.

@dougle03

8 күн бұрын

I saw CAMC sending out begging letters earlier this week.. For a club with over 100m in the bank (According to their formally published accounts) they sure do know how to charge....!

@ronaldyardley8965

6 күн бұрын

All Hobbies Are Expensive, If You Want To Do It Then Do It !!😎👍

@BillyBob-rm3ve

5 күн бұрын

We’ve just hit year 2 of owning our motorhome which we bought new. £375 VED £450 insurance £400 service £250 habitation check £170 tracker subscription All that on top of site fees and diesel, it’s getting bloody ridiculous! No wonder there are always so many one and two year old motorhomes for sale. 😡

@ronaldyardley8965

4 күн бұрын

@@BillyBob-rm3ve And Now There's More Moterhomes Than Caravans Turning up On Club Sites!

New caravans are too expensive for young family’s and the older clientele are entering at the campervan and motorhome level. Such a shame as really all most of us need is a hassle free, leak free simple home on wheels to make memories.

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

Even groceries are too expensive for young families now,

@lynnebarkas6906

4 күн бұрын

@@jamesclack9878 site fees a pretty pricey too.

I think site cost isn’t helping the problem.

@paulbird3235

9 күн бұрын

That is so true!.😒...

@garydavis1528

8 күн бұрын

C&MC ripping-off people for their basic main sites last few years as well.

@shaunmarston7168

7 күн бұрын

To right 👍

@martinwhite8354

6 күн бұрын

So true, I found it roughly the same price hiring out a static compared to taking my tourer on holiday in May this year, factoring in fuel then I didn't have the hassle of siting and packing up at the end of the week

During COVID and demand was high especially on used caravans the manufacturers thought just a minute we'll increase the price of new ones,well they did now see the results, there not doing special deals,greed caused overstock.

@atlanticcaravansUK

9 күн бұрын

I’ll have to disagree there I’m afraid, the increase in costs wasn’t profiteering the prices were set on new at least before all that happened. Increases have been due to the increase costs the manufacturers have had to endure. Extra red tape getting things from Europe, wages going up, and can you imagine how much there electricity bill for a factory has gone up. Some of it could be avoided if the warranty bill wasn’t as high. I’ll admit, us as dealers did profiteer as we didn’t have to knock anything off caravans due to the demand and pre owned caravan prices shot up., the money we all made there might save us now.

@dougle03

8 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK I have no sympathy for manufacturers. They all happily ramped up production and prices when demand was very very high; Those that did it right will have scaled up in a way that means its easy for them to scale back to 'normal' levels again. Yes, some costs did go up, but not by the levels we say in the RRP's. They used the cover of mass media whipped up hysteria of high prices to game the market for more margin. Let's hope they saved some of that extra wedge for these entirely predictable fallow times. They would be far more profitable if they got a proper handle on quality assurance; can't imagine how much it's costing both dealers and manufacturers to put right stuff that should have been right on day one. Always more expensive to fix it afterwards than it it to get it right first time...

@paulbower5274

8 күн бұрын

in 2019 i looked at a certain brand new caravan, £19k. now the same caravan £26k. 35% increase . nothing i get paid or payout has gone up 35% in that time.

@alexrankin8263

8 күн бұрын

As a cost comparison, we had a new Sprite in 2013, including having a motormover fitted at a retail cost of 15k. That same caravan 11 years on is probably 25k. Atlantic caravans are right when they say a lot of people could afford/justify 15k at that time, but 25k now for the equivalent takes a bit of finding. We purchased an 18 month old (probably a lockdown van) van 6 months ago for 21k. We couldn’t justify any more than that, as we only go out a few times a year, but I’ll add, we did get a very good trade in price on our 11 year old, which sold quickly and made the dealer a reasonable profit. I’m in business myself, and for there to be a dealer for us to buy from, they need to make a profit. That’s business. 😊

@essanjay8604

23 сағат бұрын

Yes, every caravan owner could see the covid effect on the market. We used to sit in our van in the rain and say "they'll all be selling up and going back to Benidorm next year" and of course it's proved correct.

Until people have more money in their pockets NOTHING will really improve.

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

As long as the government keeps getting bigger knowone will have any money left.

Good to see a dealer on KZread telling it how it is, not continually talking the market up.

@atlanticcaravansUK

3 күн бұрын

Thanks, thought I might get some flack for it, nothing so far only people agreeing..

Weve been caravaning four years and love it but in that time fuel costs and site fees have sky rocketed. CAMC have got greedy and their website is practically unusable. The further north you go the worse the facilities blocks get, dated and depressing, no excuse. Roads full of pot holes, dread looking in the caravan when we arrive on site!

Caravans are a ridiculous price now.

@andrewh5457

3 күн бұрын

And motor homes and campervans are even worse.

Caravan site owners need to reduce their nightly fees and offer none electric pitches at a much cheaper rate because the vast majority are not educated on Solar. I know a lot of people on varius forums that have given up caravanning completely because of extortion prices pppn and the silly hidden extras.

We are Caravaners of some 33 years. Over that time we’ve had 6 new vans. Looking lately not impressed with the new vans and too expensive.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Would it put you off buying? The normal 4 year average swap cost to change is the biggest it’s ever been.

Very interesting video. Thanks for putting the dealer side to it. We bought a new caravan in 2017 for 23k and that same van is 35k since covid. We had some severe warranty work done whilst we owned it and we sold it last year. I wouldn't buy another as the quality of the product does not justify the price. I think manufacturers will price themselves into administration as not enough people will want to take on the risk of ownership and quite frankly the stress. We loved our caravan holidays and do miss it and if we could have part ex our van for a new one at reasonable cost we may have kept on buying new ones every 4 years or so but the leap in prices in those 4 years was another reason to sell.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Yes, that’s is a point I hadn’t considered actually, the increase in the last 4 years has been like we have never seen before. The price to change just isn’t justifiable now, as there isn’t actually much difference in the product, and certainly not enough to be a reason to change.

Really interesting and informative, thank you. I hope sales pick up for you. We did buy an Eriba Nova 465 in March, but we knew exactly what we wanted and it was a 2022 model discounted from £24,500 to £20,000. An equivalent 2023 model would have cost around £26,000 and a 2024 model would have cost just over £29,000 for the same spec and it would be exactly the same model because Hymer don't change models that often. We bought it to use for the next 10-15 years, so we wen't bothered about residuals in a few years time. It's this massive price inflation that is putting buyers off en masse, so I think you were wise to switched to used sales only. I've noticed that even new camper vans and motorhomes, which were in very short supply, are now being discounted new.

The cost of sites are gone crazy becoming cheaper to go to spain for a weeks holiday

Sold my motorhome last year as site owners got greedy and fees skyrocketed.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

It’s not greed, it’s necessity, they’re subject to the same pressures as everyone, if you’re looking for greed, it’s the fuel and electricity companies where that buck stops. Bp, this is from their website Reported profit for the quarter was $2.3 billion, compared with $0.4 billion for the fourth quarter 2023.

It’s much much cheaper and more flexible to just book a hotel or B&B these days.

Same thing happening with bicycle industry. New models too expensive, both new and 2nd hand market saturated.

I'm really enjoying your video's, very candid, very astute! Looking from the outside in I'd say you've made the best decision to move from new to pre owned. What a flawed business model it seems. Every year the manufacturers put a different colour lipstick on the pig and up the price. Unsustainable. We're going to move from a campervan to a caravan in he near future. I've noticed how the campervan market has moved in an unsustainable way. Ours is a bit of a niche van a 4x4 Sprinter. Prime target for the Instagram/ lifestyle sell. We've had it since 2015, before COVID and the lifestyle nonsense. Now some manufacturers are asking in excess of £200k. That not a typo, £200k for a van!! I appreciate the eye watering increases in manufacturers costs. But where's the truth between increasing costs and profiteering? I'm observing the same in the caravan market. Someone is making serious money. But at some point people lower down the food chain will go bankrupt😔

Definitely site fees are impacting, it's getting so expensive. If your a couple then BB, hotels are similar costs for breaks without the outlying for the van.

@muckle8

3 күн бұрын

Without the parking , maintenance and security issues.

@stormcup2920

10 сағат бұрын

​@@muckle8me using a cheap trailer tent, more space, advantage to BnB is you can eat cheaper and cook your own food...

@muckle8

3 сағат бұрын

@stormcuo2920 your food isn’t cheaper if you’ve had to pay £15-25 to pitch up in a camp site no matter how good a chef you are! The associated prices is killing the whole thing imho.

@stormcup2920

2 сағат бұрын

@@muckle8 I agree, it is too expensive but for a family of 5 it is still the cheaper option. Imo

Love these videos. As a small business owner I love business talk and what you said is very true. The same happened to the cycles trade, during the pandemic it went nuts, new bikes sold out all over the place used bikes were selling for more then the new price for the same model. Prices went up and have never came back down and a lot of businesses have closed down. I hope that the customer you had during the video spent some money with you. looking forward to the next video all the best to you and thank you for the videos

@atlanticcaravansUK

9 күн бұрын

@@stehume no problem, it’s a complicated balancing act which I think tipping the wrong way at the moment..

@daletinsley2954

9 күн бұрын

As for motorhomes/campervans during the covid people who'd never owned either were buying them online without even seeing or test driving them. How many of these are back on the market now !? I wouldn't buy a new van or a caravan from anywhere else but a local dealer ( I'd rather buy low mileage private) because it's not a case of if but when you need to return for warranty work.

@dougle03

8 күн бұрын

@@daletinsley2954 Depends on how much you are saving buying private. If it's many 1000's then you have a fairly large pot of savings to cover the risk of things not being right. It's exactly what the dealers do. Buy a used van for 20k sell it for 30k they keep 10k for warranty work, and profit. Buying private can ge great, but the numbers have to be right...

Financial crisis, Cost of Living crisis, Caravan crisis - they all come down to one thing. Greed and the need to screw every penny you can out of customers..

@atlanticcaravansUK

4 күн бұрын

Im doing a video on this next, seems to be a bit of a misconception around who’s making the money..

Thanks for your honesty on this and each of your videos... even respecting commercial constraints, we would all be in a better place if this approach was more commonplace. As a result of your video, some very valid points have been raised in the comments.... notably the push for electric cars (thankfully, the penny is dropping that they are not that great after all and not thought through for real usage).... Also, the ridiculous cost on UK sites.... UK costs have rocketed! .... you only need a quick look at the ACSI European site costs...

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Thanks, I think someone has had to put their over the parapet, I don’t know what good it will do though.

Another really informative video Darren.

Good insights, thanks for sharing.

It's happening in Australia, used van prices have been coming down steadily since the winter of 2023.

@JAS356UK

8 күн бұрын

All round the world evil is happening

Static caravan manufacturers have completely lost the plot - more and more luxurious styling with prices to match. Let's face reality - a caravan is just a tin box which is only really fun to stay in from April to October. No-one wants to pay tens of thousands of pounds to potentially spend many weekends sitting in the rain on a field in the UK. The sales manager at the park we're on has admitted the only real interest is in second hand models sub £30k. Any caravan owner with half a brain could see the covid effect wasn't going to last and that most of the pandemic buyers would be selling up and hot footing back to Benidorm as soon as they could! It's an industry crisis they've constructed for themselves I'm afraid.

@muckle8

3 сағат бұрын

All true except even Benidorm doesn’t want tourists now . Entire world has fallen off a cliff.

I'm a caravaner. Been touring for 20yrs. My 2nd van I purchased for £2000 it's a 1993 Abbey Alliance 5 birth single axel. I've owned this for 16yrs and it's still dry and rot free and has been over the Highlands of Scotland 3 sometimes 4 times a year. Moral of the story is you don't need the latest greatest van to holiday in. Buy 2nd hand and the money you save not buying new will give you a great holiday..I don't care how it looks it's functional, dry, warm and is somewhere to relax after along hike..

@atlanticcaravansUK

Күн бұрын

Spot on, I reckon there is a market for up cycling these older vans that have no problems and don’t leak.

@bordersw1239

2 сағат бұрын

Exactly this, gave up our caravan 12 years ago. Last van was a 6 Berth Elddis Wisp, far lighter than most modern 2 berths. Cost me £3K had the same holiday as everyone else. Watching the caravan sited next to me - £25K and an £80K Range Rover to tow it made me chuckle a little.

@davidbuchanan3374

Сағат бұрын

@@bordersw1239 I wouldn't put down anyone who spends so much on a caravan or expensive tow vehicle but like you said a cheap van and decent tow car will give you the exact same holiday experience and less worries about dents and bangs a new caravan will get through its life. Best wishes to you and yours my friend 👍👍👍

@bordersw1239

Сағат бұрын

@@davidbuchanan3374 . Hope I didn’t come across as putting them down , entirely up to them how they spend their money but some people do get caught in the must have the best of everything trap. My fiend lost his house due to the unnecessary large loan he took out to buy his caravan, which was very sad. Literally went from living in a nice 4 bed detached to council emergency accommodation, shared with ex prisoners.

great info again. thankyou

Just a few years ago I saw a new Swift Basecamp for 17k including plus pack & delivery charges. Now almost 25k. Doesn’t sound right at all. To stay in business they’ll have to vastly lower prices to near pre pandemic prices or they’ll be gone.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

The problem is they can’t, everything needed to build and make a caravan has gone up. Brexit made everything more expensive to get over here, have a look at the difference in your electricity bill between 2019 and now, imagine how much more it costs to run a factory. That’s where the profiteering is, the energy and fuel companies.

Very honest review of the current market. Thank you.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

No problem, thanks, I do hope I’m not right.

@dougle03

8 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK You are right. And it's wholly predictable. Manufacturers perhaps should skip a year in terms of model year... No need for a '2024' model...

Good analysis…….the bubble has already burst. Our dealer refused to buy in part ex our 2023 for a 2024 pre owned.Big price difference between ours and the” new one “ but-still refused.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

It’s hard to see a way out of it..

Just to back up - TG Towing in Hatfield Heath, have just announced that from the end of August, they will no longer be continuing the caravan side of the business. This will, therefore, be making it harder to get caravans services in this area, and making people question why do they need all the aggro of touring caravans. Another sad day for caravaning.

Thank you for another interesting and informative video. Manufacturers seem to think that if they bring out an 'updated model' every year customers will want the new design. That may work if you are selling something for a few hundred pounds, but with caravans costing tens of thousands there are not many people who can afford to change every couple of years. I like your idea of issuing the vin when the caravan is sold. If they did that and kept the models consistent for say 5 years then it would reduce the volatility in the market. We purchased our current caravan in 2019. It was heavily discounted because the 2020 'updated' models were just being released. The changes were only cosmetic, but the dealer needed to shift the 'old' stock. Great for us but not so great for the dealer! In 2021 we purchased a new car (Ssangyong Rexton, an absolutely brilliant tow car), we got that at a discount because Ssangyong had recently released the new 'facelift' model and the dealer needed to clear his stock. Our model had been basically the same for about 5 years. Imagine how the dealer would have coped if Ssangyong brought out a updated model every year! With the current market for caravans, if we wanted to replace our caravan with the equivalent new model it would cost us over £36,000! When we purchased both the caravan and the car our plan has been to keep them both for at least 10 years, by which time I'll review if we are fit enough to keep on caravanning. Caravanning nowadays is certainly NOT a cheap hobby/holiday, when you look at the cost of a night's camping. Even CLs and CSs are charging £25.00 plus per night and many 'big' sites are charging up to £50.00 per night. Add to that the cost of fuel and a week away adds up. But for us is gives us the freedom to travel where we want, and having a dog it makes things easier. The problem for the caravan industry is that it can be so expensive to get set up with a caravan and suitable tow car that it must put many younger families off caravanning. That is bad news as the industry need to keep its customer base growing as older caravanners give up or pop their clogs. That and the advent of electric cars (many of which aren't certified to tow a caravan) with their limited towing mileage and difficulty of pulling into a charge station with a caravan attached, and things aren't looking good for the caravan industry. You will see that many 'campsites', including both clubs, are introducing more and more' glamping pods', as they are sensing this change.

All these mod cons in new vans must drive the prices up.30 yrs ago we survived easily without all these new gimmicks. I had an ABI marauder then and to us it was perfect . we're terrified of getting a gas refill nowadays we just use those marvellous little camping gas cookers.it's almost like they are now catering for rich people.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Have a look at this video. kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6V1tMyegtWdfJc.htmlsi=dp0DCqr7OtVTpHCt

Site fees are a massive factor in this . Greedy site owners with unrealistic inflated prices . You can stay in a luxury hotel breakfast included for the same price .

Nothing is more important for the future of all 4 UK manufacturing of caravans for their survival is going to be quality. With such a smaller number of buyers it’s likely they’ll choose quality will be a key factor . For too long the industry has been ignoring it and now almost everyone are seeing this as the most important factor for buying them . Prices cannot be warranted anymore as demand has now dropped significantly.

@atlanticcaravansUK

7 күн бұрын

I’d say trust is up there with quality, it’s just not there at the moment.

A really interesting insight to the industry, Thank you! I think the issues you raised are compounded by people being able to choose/afford to run suitable towing vehicles (electric or smaller lighter vehicles) & the price hike in pitch fees to be able to use the caravan (mainly down to electric prices) 2025 will be testing times for a lot of dealers

@stevenbarrett7648

3 күн бұрын

one interesting aspect of electric cars is Vehicle to Load, plug your van into the car you charged at home for 7.5ppKwh, winner !

Thanks for your comments. Like I said in the video and what Swift said to me, they ‘update’ the next years model if only cosmetically to insure the dealer distress sells their ’old’ stock and is kind of forced into buy the new stock, which means every dealer has to take at least 30 caravans for 2025 to keep the franchise, if they did do a model change every 3 years it would fit into the buying pattern, but the dealers wouldn’t be forced into changing the demos, unless they wanted to get them off the finance line.

We purchased a new Adria 2021 two years later the price increased 13-14 k thats a 30 % increase...Hmm and new caravans arnt selling. I WONDER WHY THAT IS

I repaired,renovated and rebuilt lodges,mobile homes and caravans. They aren't built to last, to be lived in or moved too many times. The chassis I've seen on some models are disgraceful, galvanised box section is best, but heavier than angle iron. Insulation is half to one inch thick polystyrene in some cases, double glazing is a red herring, it really doesn't do much as the floor and ceiling vents are always going to let heat escape from the moment it's emitted. 2nd hand dealers are cowboys, they pay peanuts, put lipstick on the pig and flip it for a large profit, anything from £4k to £15k on something they bought for £2k.

No money means no buying anything. Who wants to pay thousands for a van, to go to a site and pay 45-50 pounds a day for a ‘pitch’.

refreshing to hear a Real world honest description. I run the motorhome side for a dealership near you and do a vlog monthly describing the market and other stuff. Weirdly motorhomes nowhere nearly so badly effected , I tbink as we have many more manufacturers, styles and things people do with them. What is different is the large amount of retail px from the spike in first time buters 2-3 years ago bow changing their vans which is causing big cashflow issues for some dealers. Its just the market resetting im sure and will work itself out bit it will be painful to terminal for some and has already

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

What’s your vlog, I’ll have a look. I also think, and correct me if I’m wrong, but people buying £50k plus motorhomes probably aren’t as affected by the cost of living crisis. I’m selling caravans on average of around 11k, people with mortgages and the worry or fact that they have gone up sometimes £500 a month is stopping people spending on a luxury like a caravan..

@Nagsheadwarrior

6 күн бұрын

I run the motorhomes at Highbridge Devon do a monthly vlog on our youtube page, try to describe things how it is. You're bang on the cist of living has hit the less expensive end if the market bit we are seeing it in motorhomes too. I strive to do the job right as by the sound of it you do too, we are just seeing the bulk of reta px deals and small balances to change but luckily we can cope with that but I wouldn't want to deal with it as a smaller dealer , the market is having a reset and that's healthy long term . Great vid and if ever you're passing pop in for a brew - Jody

@atlanticcaravansUK

6 күн бұрын

@@Nagsheadwarriorevery time I go past I can’t quite believe the amount of stock you have in there.. if I’d have decided to leave Stowford 6 months earlier, I reckon we would have bought that place instead of where we ended up.. every time I go past I think I should pop in. I’ve known Mathew for years after getting to know him working at the shows.

@Nagsheadwarrior

4 күн бұрын

​@@atlanticcaravansUKproper full isn't it! Pop in for a brew some time

All those Milk Floats won't be able to pull the vans after the Corporation of Govt have pushed us away from real towing vehicles!!

@stevenbarrett7648

3 күн бұрын

You can buy a brand new diesel tow car right up to 2035 and run it for a good 10 years so its not going to be an issue for you is it. Meanwhile our 'milk float' will continue to pull the caravan whilst you go on polluting

unreliable and poor quality products means that warranty is a significant issue. The "return to base" warranty gives rise to poor relationship between customers and dealers when customers have shopped around for a good deal on initial purchase but which takes them up country.. I've been told many times over they years that it is the manufacturers who hold the key to improving the flexible warranty situation, they should get on and do it. You suggest that it may takes several years for the current situation to unfold and then correct itself. That will take us ever closer to the upcoming era of EV motoring (with range and towing capacity limitations) which will be the next challenge to the touring caravan industry.

Interesting, I bought a Lunar back in 2016, which, since they went bankrupt, hasn't held much value. However the maintenance cost over the full ownership period was less than £500 so the plan is to keep it until it falls apart, I don't suspect anyone would take it on part-ex anyway.

I had been window shopping on the internet since christmas looking for a replacement caravan for our 10 year old Elddis, spotted a 'new' 2023 Adria Alpina that eventually dropped by £10k before it was sold last week but still meant a caravan costing £33

Regardless of comments below, thank-you for your industry honesty and insights. I wish you all the best in the future moving forward and I hope your business survives. 2025 will be even harder than 2024, so again fingers crossed for your business, certainly looks difficult with storms ahead from all economical data currently available used for predicting, which ultimately is luck more than insightfulness.

@atlanticcaravansUK

21 сағат бұрын

Thanks, I had a bit of both when I decided to stop selling new last year. I’d definitely be in trouble if I hadn’t done that

Very interesting.I bought a new Avondale 5berth for £9600 from Forest of Dean caravans in 1998.The equivalent today would be three times that.Unfortunately my wages haven’t gone up by the same multiplier.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Definitely, I suppose it’s inline with house prices, three times wages doesn’t buy you anything now. This is my worry, caravanning isn’t a cheap holiday anymore.

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

​@atlanticcaravansUK I bought a brand new 600cc motorcycle In 1998 for £4300. Some of the bigger motorcycles now are around £20k

@craigberesford726

Сағат бұрын

@@chrishart8548a brand new Suzuki sv 650 is still only £5500 so not triple the price the caravan manufacturers want to charge

Strip down a caravan not even too old when they usually leak and many made of totally mediocre materials. Overpriced for what you get. Secondhand ones always have design issues they keep repeating.

Unsold caravans will be the least our problems.According to the Telegraph today UK is heading towards bankruptcy with catastrophic consequences

@atlanticcaravansUK

9 күн бұрын

Blimey, I thought I was being a bit of a doom munger..

@theelectrichobo829

9 күн бұрын

Oh course the Torygraph would spout that shit 😂

@paulbird3235

9 күн бұрын

@@theelectrichobo829 The Telegraph! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

@chazsach6594

9 күн бұрын

Well if its in the papers it must be true.

@jamesbarbour8400

8 күн бұрын

I thought the Country already was bankrupt ! If it wasn't before, it most definitely will be, with a Labour Chancellor at the helm - and a female one at that - double whammy !

So were supposed to feel sorry for caravan dealers because manufacturers decided to take us for mugs during 5he pandemic. No cigar, lower prices or go away !

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

The manufacturers didn’t put prices up during the pandemic, because of the pandemic, prices went up in line with prices going up generally. Us dealers took advantage I’ll admit, market forces allowed us to not have to reduce prices, and the pre owned prices went up just due to lack of availability, same as any market. I’m not suggesting feeling sorry for anyone, because as you said, dealers were quick enough to make hay while the sun shone.

@user-wo8qn5xw8p

8 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK greed forces allowed more like. Now that the sun isn't shining as brightly why not go back to normal pricing ? With the weath of knowledge on youtube more people are buying vans and having them converted or converting them themselves nowadays and they can be converted upto a 6 birth (with a pop top). Also being were going to have mostly electric cars in the next few years who's going to want to be towing caravans only to then have to stop and recharge their cars every few miles because of the extra weight of towing ? Although sad as it is it looks like the day of the conventional caravan is coming to an end for the best part so now you've enjoyed your sunny period it's probably time for dealer's to readjust their strategy as more likely than not your best sellers are likely to be pop up caravans soon aren't they ?

Caravans need to be much lighter and simpler - diesel sales are dropping, fewer new cars have decent towing capacity. I’ve always looked at caravanning as posh camping. My first van (secondhand) was a 5 berth Monza cost £500 about 16 years ago think it weighed 650kg empty.

Drive for electric cars will kill the touring industry.

@alexrankin8263

8 күн бұрын

Totally agree. I’ve just come back from a week’s holiday towing 90 miles there, 90 miles back, running around while there, and I still have half a tank of (euro6 car) diesel left. An electric car will never match that ability and ease of use. And yes, I will be buying a new electric car in the future, but only when I give up caravanning, which will be in around 10 years time.

@robprentice2564

6 күн бұрын

​@@alexrankin8263yty776y6 4868886😅7f4

@commuterbranchline8132

6 күн бұрын

@@alexrankin8263I have managed to tow our caravan 140 miles in a single session with our Tesla Model Y long range. The car had 25% battery remaining and could have continued, however we all needed a comfort break, a leg stretch and a coffee. We recharged to 100% on a Supercharger and continued to our destination without any issues.

@dodgerboe

4 күн бұрын

Don't start upsetting the EVangelists they're lost deluded and hard nose'd to admit they fell for the BIG CON ! Let them learn Govt lie for PROFIT😂

@Flaggyt

3 күн бұрын

If electric cars never will get any better sure. But if you have being paying atrention the last ten decades there will be innovation, some evolutionary some revolutionary. Batteries have a very long way the last 15 years. If you extrapolate that you will have cars with a 1000km range and charge in minutes and weigh half. But If you have some secret info where batteries are at their peak right now and will not get any better, please share.

Dont worry, we'll all be living in caravans soon!

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

I wouldn't mind that but where will I be allowed to park it ?

@blackstardub1624

7 күн бұрын

@@chrishart8548 I'm sure more designatet sites will be given residential licences!

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

@@blackstardub1624 I do hope so. If it was just my choice I would be out of my £1400 a month 3 bed semi like a shot.

@blackstardub1624

7 күн бұрын

@chrishart8548 due to the sale of a smallholding I'd been renting for years, I'm now on a very nice residential (security gated, lovely shower facilities/ etc)caravan park. My only bill is £520 a month! I have solar, so don't need electric.

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

@@blackstardub1624 that sounds fantastic. Especially the solar. Hope it keeps working out into the future. All the best 👍

Caravans in the UK are going out of fashion. People are going for campervans and motorhomes. We regularly go up to Scotland and for every caravan we see being towed, we might see upwards of 5 campervans. It didn't used to be like that.

Fuel cost , site charges , storage charges and the terrible conditions of our crowded roads isn't helping.

Brilliant honest vlog. The industry is in a perilous state. It says something when a certain manufacturer's entry level vans start at £30,000 . Sites ( like my local one where we used to visit 4 times a year) now charging close to £100 per night for Bank holidays, and the same site had plenty of availability over Whitsun BH. Even CLs are charging £25 plus. Has anyone noticed when booking Cornwall or Devon where everything is charged individually eg: Per Adult £15, child £10 , pitch £15 for basic electric, £40 for a super pitch so a family of four in the summer holiday can pay upwards of £90 per night, over £600 a week. I asked a few last year in Newquay and most people were there for 1 week only. Also what choice has the consumer actually got now with only 4 main British manufacturers left, there's no competition so that doesn't help with prices.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

The price issue is being driven by the fuel companies. This is BP.. Reported profit for the quarter was $2.3 billion, compared with $0.4 billion for the fourth quarter 2023. If electricity and fuel prices came down to 2019 prices, and wage costs with them, then the manufacturers could reduce prices bringing the product back into reach of more people. Also the interest rate that’s effecting mortgage users is an issue, but what’s the chances of that happening?

@Dusty2feathers

8 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK according to my findings BP made $ 2.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023 which yielded a Full year profit of $ 11.6 billion. Any way I've always said if the government scrapped the Vat on diesel only this would significantly reduce the transportation/ haulage costs, thus reducing costs for everything and turbo charging the economy, which would far outweigh the losses from the initial Vat reduction.

@muckle8

3 сағат бұрын

Agree completely on the VAT , should be scrapped immediately.

Try and get a dealer you did not buy the caravan from to carry out a warranty repair and you will see what is wrong with the caravan industry.

@atlanticcaravansUK

Күн бұрын

This is a bit of a sore point with people I know, I’ll be covering it in my next video on popular misconceptions..

There is a financial crisis,insecurity,record interest and house prices at record highs, hugely expensive site and ferry costs, generally huge pressures and lots of competing pressures.This is without high prices for rapidly depreciating caravans.Its over and not just for now.Electric cars and a poorer public are not helping either.

RIGHTLY SO the prices were gone way too high since covid and demand was high!! BUT TODAY Its a buyers market 😍😍😍Plus the cost of camp sites is gone way too expensive pure greed !!!

@atlanticcaravansUK

23 сағат бұрын

I’m doing a video next on this, it’s not greed it’s necessarily, they are being forced to put the prices up, it’s the electric companies that are being greedy.

Be even worse when labour start putting fuel and road tax up, heavy tow cars will be frighteningly expensive to run.then to be forced into expensive inefficient for towing EVs.. The end is nigh I'm afraid

I study the stock market and the charts show its over bought. A negative divergence which isnt always followed by a recession but every recession is preceeded by a negative divergence, (stock market hitting higher highs rsi hitting lower highs). Gold, silver rising fast recently is also a sign of an imminent crash soon. Be ready all.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

So it’s going to get worse?

@jonob2373

8 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK I'm afraid so. Gareth soloway and Jonny bravo are both youtubers who explain charts brilliantly and they are also warning the same as me and they are both upbeat characters.

@cheds1

4 күн бұрын

Been waiting for this for 15yrs. Gold/ silver =real money NOT worthless paper currency

@jonob2373

4 күн бұрын

@@cheds1 I totally agree with you.

bad when the dealer tells you they are crap falling apart and leaking the whole experience is far to expensive now even the site fees are sky high people are going to think why bother after all we don't get the best weather

It's funny as when I kept saying this was coming people said I was wrong. It was obvious prices are keep going up but wages weren't going up anywhere near as quick. Adria vans used to be 16K same van now nearly 30K. I appreciate some stuff going up but usually, recessions push prices down it isn't this year at present. I sold my caravan last year as new this was coming. Quite a few dealers are at tipping point now. So the manufacturers need to start pushing back on their parts producers. The issue in caravan/motorhome is there aren't lots of options for buying e.g Fridges, Alko parts. Easy in car industry to keep the prices down. The big elephant in the room is some dealers will have big tax bills to pay at the same time. The other one is pitch fees. I started looking to get a caravan again but 40/50 quid a night for a space on a field plus some electric. Cheaper to get hotels or statics now than caravans.

@atlanticcaravansUK

Күн бұрын

It is worrying for us dealers, not so much for the public I’d say, the choice to buy new is now beyond the means of more and more people every time the prices go up, which seams to be quarterly at the moment, hopefully the pre owned market will get a bit of a reset now bringing those back to where they should be.

@RollingwithTheRobsons

Күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK saw a dealer took 8k off a 32k van

@atlanticcaravansUK

Күн бұрын

@@RollingwithTheRobsons yeah, just desperate to move the stock with the new vans coming down the line and day now. So glad I stopped new.

In all business there are good and bad times , the agile smaller business's can respond quicker and I guess the larger business has to take more hits . I would not like to be in business now but if I was I would aim to be selling super expensive luxury goods to the very rich .

Also, on warranty work: I thought the NCC approved workshops can and do carry out warranty work? - My local workshop is more than happy to carry out Autotrail warranty work on my Comanche.... I think people often forget about the excellent network of NCC approved workshops...

Hope so.

It had to come and most if honest would say it's taken longer than first thought. Covid hit and dealers made hay while the sun shone. Our local dealers for years had 30-40 used vans in, i remember going during covid once and there were 5. Lady in the shop said they couldn't get them fast enough, it was a sellers market but they thought it would last 12mths. 4yrs on and it's only starting to slow down, even with massive increased costs there seems to have been plenty of idiots buying vans.

As for electric cars! I work for a bus manufacturing company. Two years ago we were told that we were no longer building diesels and the future was electric. After two years the operators are no longer ordering electrics and we have large orders for diesels. Mainly for Scotland as they dont have the infrastructure for charging and lithium batteries lose too much capacity when its cold. And theyre EXPENSIVE to recycle. When you see HGVs going out double crewed in electric vehicles you know batteries have improved. But don't hold your breath

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

I think the whole electric thing will flip, just like the mini disk when a better technology came along. Someone’s pushing that agenda from up top because they’re making money. I can see it working when the technology catches up with the idea, or hopefully hydrogen gets cracked.

@daletinsley2954

8 күн бұрын

Sometime last year I listened to John bamford ( JCB ) berating a BBC journalist/researcher after he was asked about diggers/scrapers etc still running on fossil fuel. I can't remember the exact response but it was terse and succinct. But it went along the line with SMALL VEHICLES ARE OK WITH BATTERIES BUT HEAVY MACHINES NEED FOSSIL FUEL.. how can a commercial vehicle be viable or any use if it needs to be on charge far longer than it is being of use. A single decker fully charged electric bus is doing 130 miles. Trust me I know this.

@daletinsley2954

8 күн бұрын

Also I've listened to a fireman telling us about the dangers of lithium batteries. Can only be extinguished by copious amounts of sand. Water is as much use as trying to put out a burning fire by throwing a bucket of petrol at it. An electric vehicle prevents any spontaneous journeys.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

I had a customer tell me the story of his journey to north wales a few days ago in an electric car, it was a nightmare. I just don’t get it.

@stevenbarrett7648

3 күн бұрын

Interesting comments you are receiving, I don't see any actual reference to facts though. Since 2014 we have been driving electric only vehicles, not towing just driving. We cover the entire UK and Ireland in them. Here's a few FACTS, never had a fire, never run out of power never had any issues at all. The current Tesla Model Y long range does around 330 miles in summer and around 285 in winter, we have been in it for nearly 2 years now, no annual maintenance required, charging off our own home solar or via Octopus overnight 7.5pence per Kilowatt package so the average 260 mile weekend round trip costs around £2.00 to £4.80 we also charge our portable Bluetti power pack off overnight Octopus and top it up via the Tesla whilst on the move using the 12V outlet in the boot. There are working chargers literally everywhere, and lots of them too, best of all the Tesla 'up-time' is better the 99.8% (that's yet another real fact not waffle). Right now we don't tow as we have a seasonal pitch which is eye-wateringly expensive as is the on-site power which we try to avoid hence the Bluetti for running stuff. So saying I know folk (real people I actually know myself) who have the same car who tow charging every 100 miles when they take their usual pee and eat stop. With a little bit of planning we can all reduce our reliance of fuels that are killing our kids. Try these things yourself before repeating half-truths usually put out by the petro-chemical industry, remember most mainline newspapers are funded by big oil and car manufacturers via advertising, there are around 385 ICE car fires per 1 EV car fire. The last big fire earlier this year was caused by a Range Rover which burnt down an entire car park including all the vehicles therein. Make up your own minds about electric, they do need improvements regarding speed of charge when on the move and battery range when towing but its getting better in leaps and bounds, 400 mile ranges are becoming the norm with 500 mile ranges in the offing, meanwhile you can still buy an ICE vehicle right up to 2035 and run it until say 2045 which should see most of us older drivers to end of life....well me for sure being 71 !

But you dealers have had a fabulas last few years, role with the punches ...........

@atlanticcaravansUK

9 күн бұрын

Yes, totally agree, that’s how I’m going to look at this year’s figures..

And today Broadlane call in administrators, that's 3 decent sized dealers in recent weeks

@atlanticcaravansUK

3 күн бұрын

@@distinctreflections yes, such a shame, unfortunately I don’t think they will be the only casualties.

Like everything else caravans seem like crazy prices now

@JAS356UK

8 күн бұрын

The WHO don't want us enjoying ourselves

I bought a caravan recently then my circumstances changed and now I either sell it for a lot less than I paid for it or store it at an expense I don’t need at the moment 😩😔

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

Looks like your asset turned into a liability.

Swift in Hull have put all there staff on 4 day weeks as of June 2024.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Have they, I wonder what their target is for the year then.

@matterhorn1975

8 күн бұрын

@atlanticcaravansUK yep, 1 off my partners best friends works there cutting panels.

@atlanticcaravansUK

7 күн бұрын

@@matterhorn1975that’s interesting, I wonder what who work there think about people having a go at the build quality, I’d love to interview someone who works there, get their take on it.

The warranty work has to be really expensive for it to need more than the 5k of savings that were made... Treat the 5k saving as a risk pot for minor warranty work. Shame it's not the same as for cars and vans. Any main dealer is legally required to carry out manufacturer warranty work...

We looked at replacing our van in 2023 but the quality v cost was all wrong, Silly high prices, low tech, high energy usage and a poor fit and finish put us off. Going to the NEC this year to see if there's any improvement, ideally with at least 3Kw of battery / solar and the option to use solar or gas for everything rather than the eye-watering prices being extorted for site power. Instead of listening to your accountants try listening to what the customers want

@atlanticcaravansUK

3 күн бұрын

The sites can’t legally make money on electricity, they have to charge what they get charged, it’s the electricity companies that are holding us all over a barrel. Agree with the caravan issue, the price to change now is too much for people to justify, even if they can afford it. I did the same in Morrisons yesterday with Gardners pickled onions, love them and I could afford the £4.50, just couldn’t justify it so they stayed on the shelf!

As we see the switch over to electric cars the caravan makers are going to have to fit a traction battery in the caravan to give the cars the range they need. I think the caravan market is finished in a decade. Electric motor homes will perhaps be the way forward. Having said that there will be a lot of second hand car batteries going cheap so maybe there will be a market for conversions to fit a caravan battery.

@dougle03

8 күн бұрын

ICE vehicle are going to be around for a long time to come, I'd not worry about it... EV sales are cratering, and rightly so, the infrastructure is not ready, neither is the technology...

When the sale's were high high high you must off know its was going to go low low low 😢

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Yes, but we didn’t see the cost of living issue, that’s the extra factor that’s worrying, with the knock on effect of the cost of sites and seasonal pitches going up as well.

Sites are going to out price themselves also all touring caravan owners need to take reversing lessons and speed lessons before there let loose on the road

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

I live in Cornwall, car drivers need reversing lessons first, you should see the look of horror on holiday makers faces when I meet them in a lane, I don’t even bother waiting to see if they can unless I really have to.

Did anyone have our experience with massive amounts of damp in a 2014 Compass Rallye? Supposed to be damp-free with SOLID construction. We are out of caravanning, period!

Manufacturers need to up the warranty on the 2025s to make them a decent proposition V the 2024s It's the only way of making them more desirable if they don't have better features.

@atlanticcaravansUK

3 күн бұрын

I’m not sure that will be enough, next year’s buyers will be tempted by vastly reduced priced 24’s. I’ve already seen it happening on the four court.

@paulsheehan2998

3 күн бұрын

@@atlanticcaravansUK To be fair I think I'll try and pick up a 24 next year regardless of the offer on 25s It'll be a good time to get one before the market recovers. Unless the 25s are a great deal with 0% finance I think they'll also be celebrating their birthdays on the forecourt

@atlanticcaravansUK

3 күн бұрын

@@paulsheehan2998 they might be as the market panics trying to just move stock

Like so many lovely aspects of our culture, caravanning , I suspect, is very much under threat. Not only are site fees prohibitively high for many people,but trying to book a pitch is problematic too. It seems like the powers that be are determined to keep people controlled in their homes. It’s just Orwell’s 1984 being stealthily rolled out . That is of course with the exception of the Davos lot. They will probably develop a virtual holiday, so you can sit on your sofa and have the “experience “. Cheers Blair / Starmer /Schwab and the like.

@atlanticcaravansUK

4 күн бұрын

Total recall comes to mind…

@timick8281

2 сағат бұрын

What tripe.

Ill be look for a swift challenger grande next year. I'll think I'll wait to see what the price is in april rather pre order anything.

@atlanticcaravansUK

6 күн бұрын

My advice would be to grab one now if you’re in the position to do so, if the market does come back the prices will stabilize. But as I always say, it’s not all about price. Go local.

@paulhilling6208

6 күн бұрын

@atlanticcaravansUK I would if I could I have 6 months' worth of payments left. On sprite 4eb 22. My dealer had a 24 650 se for 33.7k last 1 left just to early for me.

@cheds1

4 күн бұрын

Wait. The world’s economy has to crash first. Invest in gold/ silver. Well being going back to sound money as nothing backing your currency since end of gold standard in the 70 s . Reset coming soon

You will not be able to tow a caravan now all cars are 1500 cc engines and electric cars we are all knackered

Net zero, is going to be the biggest problem for caravan and motorhome manufacturers and dealers

Fewer cars capable of towing. Especially with all new cars being electric from 2030 or 2035 depending on government. Expensive poor range even solo. Many people being turned off

People are struggling with living costs...the middle class are being removed

greed

I also don't think it helps with the poor build quality. I'd love a new van, however, my 2011 is better built than all the new ones I've been and sat in. The manufacturers need to seriously look at what they are producing.

So many poor quality these days . Bits hanging off in the dealership. Almost cardboard box’s these days

How often are caravans stolen by dag and caravan enthusiasts from driveways?

Cost,poor build quality and the weather is not doing the industry any favours

Tax free lump sums and inheritance tax threaten the market funding

Theres no difference between last yrs stock and this yrs

Try dropping the prices.

@atlanticcaravansUK

8 күн бұрын

Im not too quick to blame the manufacturers for that, they’re not the ones profiteering. The price issue is being driven by the fuel companies. This is BP.. Reported profit for the quarter was $2.3 billion. If electricity and fuel prices came down to 2019 prices, and wage costs with them, then the manufacturers could reduce prices bringing the product back into reach of more people. Also the interest rate that’s effecting mortgage users is an issue, but what’s the chances of that happening?

Caravans well over priced for years .

Overpriced simple as that 🤷

Tbh this is a generation thing in 30 years I really can't see gen z wanting to be caravan fans like a lot of things it will become niche hobby for the few it intrigued. Sorry but the country is changing. Tbh the industry still looks like it's for very old fashioned market.

@atlanticcaravansUK

6 күн бұрын

Maybe, I do have lots of younger customers now that have kids that might keep it going, but by then we’ll be holidaying on the moon and flying around in antigravity cars that won’t be able to tow anyway..

Sounds like a flawed business model

@atlanticcaravansUK

9 күн бұрын

I agree, the appeal was a cheap holiday, it’s just not the case anymore.

@chrishart8548

7 күн бұрын

​@@atlanticcaravansUKeven camping is crazy expensive now.