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quoteCaravanning and motorhoming have taken on a new meaning during the Coronavirus lockdown. Say hello to the drivecation!
As ‘vanners are unable to tour the country, many have pitched up on their driveways, making their leisure vehicles into temporary classrooms for homeschooling, home offices, games’ rooms, storage space for household supplies or as a makeshift dining room for all the family to retreat to.
We asked our usually adventurous customers to share stories of how they were using their campers to add some fun to their routine and reduce the stuck-at-home blues.
Lorisa Talbot of Chalfont St Giles set up her Coachman Vision caravan as a temporary classroom, switching out caravan accessories for books, files, games and teaching aids on the locker doors.
The two dining tables in the five-berth caravan have also been transformed into makeshift desks.
Bailey caravanner, Jimmy Butler and his caravan-mad young family, from Daventry have enjoyed a night’s stay in their caravan as well as cooking, baking, sewing and reading as they plan their next “wobble box adventure”.
Katy Butler and three-year-old Joules enjoy quality time on their caravan drivecation
And many dogs have retreated to the ‘van for their own “drivecation” and some peace and quiet in their happy place.
Here’s Stewie, an Italian Spinonie enjoying drivecation time in his owner’s Bailey Cartagena.
Emyr Jones, of South Wales has been using his Burstner motorhome as a swish home office and the Janaways, who are normally on their travels touring the UK and Europe in their Bailey Autograph motorhome, enjoyed the sun in “Costa Del Drive” in Kent!
Marc Jordan bought a pop-top Rapido caravan in need of some TLC and is using lockdown to renovate it from the comfort of his home in Norfolk.
Ever resourceful campers have also made use of caravanning items in the house during the lockdown.
Jane Pollard, of Northamptonshire, and our PR & Communications Manager, Liz Harrison, have both dug out their camping tables for their children to do their home schoolwork on whilst schools are closed.
“It’s great as it folds away after use and it’s just the right size for schoolwork,” said Liz. “We’re even thinking about getting the tent out and pitching up in the garden to escape the house for a couple of nights over Easter – it’s the new Staycation! We’ll definitely be using the Cadac barbecue too in the coming weeks.”
Other resourceful campers have raided their ‘vans for supplies that have been hard to come by in the shops in recent weeks.
Susan Dyson of Cheshire said she’d emptied all the tinned food out of her Vito campervan: “We’re eating like we’re camping now!” she said. And motorhome owner Margaret Drury, from Skipton, added: “Raided our motorhome cupboards for TCP and paracetamol.”
Meanwhile, Craig Thompson, Caravan Guard’s Marketing Director, said he’d been able to empty his seasonal pitch caravan of key essentials just before the lockdown.
“I was lucky the caravan had a full pack of toilet rolls, pasta and even hand sanitiser gel and antiseptic wipes!” he said.
And to help caravanners dream of future trips we’ve published a video of the top 10 caravanning sounds voted for by our customers. The video features bacon sizzling and rain gently falling on the caravan roof, as well as other satisfying caravanning sounds, synonymous with the freedom and relaxation of caravanning holidays. Visit www.caravanguard.co.uk/sounds to hear the rest!
The Caravan Guard team is staying safe with all staff working from home and they’re continuing to service the caravan, campervan and motorhome insurance policies of its customers, as well as provide quotes.
Caravan insurance and fully comprehensive motorhome insurance continues to give owners essential protection even when not touring. Cover is provided for storm, flood, vandalism, theft and accidental damage, all of which are common when the caravan or motorhome is in storage.
We start vanning early in the season usually so we are already missing our trips. Better safe at home for now. The van is on the Drive so we have the occasional cuppa or glass of wine in it while planning future trips. We’re amazed how useful your campervans and caravans are ! Looking forward to getting out and about when the time is right and wishing all like minded folk a safe passage through this tough time. Happy camping !
Tugboat
I am always amazed at the ingenuity of people especially campers to make the most of any given situation. Perhaps it’s the make the ‘best of everything’ we have inside ourselves to make our lives a little more pleasant. Our caravan is on the drive at home and my better half has been making the most of it as her at home office where she needs the space and quiet it affords. We are normally away for around a couple of weeks this time of year but as her holiday has been cancelled we are staying at home…. We have also been discovering that we have some very nice walks around our part of Essex. Walking to them, I hasten to add. Mind you this does involve a total walk of around 10k. Hopefully at the end of all this we should be fitter and healthier. Stay safe all of you.
We have been using our Bailey Advance 70-6 for building jigsaws. This keeps our dogs away from knocking them over in the house. Great article and good to see like minded people still managing to enjoy there vans.
It’s great to see how people are making good use of their “mobile leisure homes” in this lockdown crisis. We tried to get away in our Motorhome the week before the lockdown. We travelled 90 miles from Liverpool to North Wales. and broke down near Bangor – a clutch problem. After staying one night on a private driveway, we limped home to Liverpool and left it with a garage. They replaced the clutch slave cylinder. We were glad it happened then, rather than during a long summer vacation. We spend the lockdown time doing odd jobs on the vehicle and in the garden.
Its a very good idea using your motorhome and caravan for a office or school
Do you know am even thinking of spending the weekend in my motorhome on the driveway ( as I miss not able to go away ) even sitting in it gives me hope that soon things will be back to normal. But as tradition I never went away till May anyway. ( must be this fine weather ) bringing out the Demon.
We SORN’d Escargo (Bessacarr E350) before the end of March, and have continued to learn about our new (to us) motorhome – the awning is a 2006 Fiamma caravan store which we can still get parts for. We’ve added door operated switches and LED ribbon to illuminate the wardrobe and the inside of the fridge off the 12v.
We are amazed how well this little ‘van was made – it has lasted incredibly and so much in a wee space.
Love it. Keep em coming. We have a brand new caravan and the only place it has been is from the dealers to our house!!
Brilliant thanks