Stay in Vegas?

This is really good, and I love the comments at the end.

Just click on the title and see what I mean

Why cant Bailey or Fleetwood have a go at this?

Caravan Channel TV show at NEC Outdoor show

The Caravan Channel TV show will be exhibiting at the NEC National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show, Feb 17 - 22

[UKPRwire, Tue Jan 27 2009] Caravan, motorhome and camping specialist TV programme The Caravan Channel is to have it's own stand at the NEC in Birmingham for the National Boat, Caravan & Outdoor Show, February 17th - 22nd. The programme's production team will be using Stand 5007 in Hall 5 of the show as a base for filming around the halls, and as a venue to film some important interviews and Q & A sessions with managers and personalities involved in the leisure industry.

"This stand gives us the chance to meet many more of the estimated 100,000+ people who watch our programmes, as well as helping us to promote outdoor leisure activities," said the programmes producer and presenter Chris Gosling. "Our fortnightly programmes are 100% aimed at the two million or more people who go camping or caravanning regularly, and they also help to provide an introduction for people who'd like to get involved."

"During this major and important show, we'll be uploading daily video reports and diary entries into our special show website, and we'll be adding live reports from the NEC into our shows that go out on Infrmation TV, Sky channel 166 and Freesat 406, at 7pm on Wednesday 18th feb, and Friday 20th Feb. The Caravan Channel is broadcast on Information TV, Sky channel 166 and Freesat 406, at 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings. It is also online via the Caravan Channel website at www.caravanchannel.tv

Security .... top tips from the Proff

It seems that now the credit crunch has arrived ... unless you are a top banker. Caravans and trailers now seem, more than ever, to be the target of thieves (and thats the polite word for them!).

So some simple ideas that are easy to implement.

1. Come to the shop, or the website, and have a look at the huge range of deterrents that we have for you to buy.

2. Have all the windows etched with a code, or vehicle registration number.

3. Have a big sticker made to put on the roof, might just say Hello! Easily visible from the air, and it makes life easier for the police helicopter to see you caravan! Don't use your post code, as this can be seen from bridges, and bad people will be able to see where you are not!

4. When you park your van or motorhome up, remove all the soft furnishings, pillows etc. Have you seen how much they cost to replace?

5. Do all the obvious things, fit a wheel clamp, hitch lock, remove all valuable things (TVs etc) from the van, leave a curtain open so that the opportunist can see there is nothing in side.

Tents & Hot Cakes.

Wow!!!! tents are really moving at the moment.

In the last couple of days we have sold Gelert Tornado 5DLxs, Meridian 10s, Sunncamp Vario 600s, and had lots of enquiries for large awnings and the great new range of lightweight SunnCamp awnings, the 2009 Ultima 260 and 390.

We are getting a little short of tents right now, but the new 2009 kit should be with us shortly.

Why not drop into the store and see what 2008 and older, but still new, tents we have to sell off at real sale prices.

Parking Tickets ..... Aggggggg!

Did you know, that according to various sources, between 60 and 70% of all parking tickets are issued incorrectly? Most of us just pay up!

So have a look at these 2 websites for help and information on how and when to appeal.

The Which site is free if you are a member and the ticketbuster site is free the first time and then you need to pay £9.99 for unlimited access.

www.which.co.uk/advice/how-to-appeal-a-parking-ticket

and ......

http://www.ticketbusters.co.uk/

Or the other way is to park sensibly and within time in the right place!!!!!!

Frozen Pipes and Taps

Winter came with a vengence last week! Freezing temperatures, frost and cold clear skies covered the Dorset campsites (as well as the rest of the country!).

One regular customer came in tot he store and asked " why should I leave the taps open on the motorhome when I drain the water over the winter?"

I explained to him about water, freezing and expansion. Although plastic pipes on caravans and motorhomes are less likely to split when under ice pressure than the copper pipes at home, the aditional air pressure that developes can damage the softer plastic and push fit seals found on most mobile water systems.

I also explained to him, that if his motorhome is a more modern one .... which it was ... and he had the lift up single lever mixer taps, then he should lift it up and leave the lever in the middle, as if he was wanting to mix both hot and cold water. this ensure that the air can escape out though the tap with no problems.

A modern mixer tap .... leave open and in the middle!

So ... drain the water and leave the taps open!

How Much Gas is Left?

We are often asked "how much gas is left in by bottle?" and "How can I check it?".

There are a couple of methods that can be used:

1. Buy a magnetic Speed Range Indicator. These are great! The Speedrange Indicator can be used on any Propane, butane cylinder or a mixture of gasses. It has a magnetic backing which attaches to the outside of the cylinder and shows the level of the gas. When your cylinder is empty, simply remove the indicator and place on a new tank. It is safe, reusable (it is magnetic, so can be fixed to any gas bottle) & reasonably accurate.

2. Use the Bathroom Scales! On top of the gas cylinder there should be an aluminium disc that has information about that specific cylinder. In two sections there will be a pair of numbers as in the picture below. This is the weight of the gas cylinder when EMPTY and its in Pounds and Ounces (Lbs and Ozs). So weigh the cylinder on the bathroom scales and check the weight in Lbs and Ozs and any thing over the weight on the Aluminium Disc is the amount of gas left in the bottle! In our picture the weight of the gas bottle empty is 18 lbs and 12 ozs.

Winter is here

You can always tell when winter has arrived in the shop. Its cold, gloomy and not too many people come in the doors.

Those that do are the hardy and brave, wanting toilet chemicals, leisure batteries and tie downs for their vans, and mainly windscreen covers for the motorhomers.

The campers come in looking for the new tent ranges, which are due in soon, and some new tents are listed on the website already.

And .... surprisingly ...... BBQs are selling like the proverbial hotcakes. Cadac gas BBQs, disposeable charcoal BBQs, and the wonderful Dorset charcoal. Its all selling!

The other big change in January is the shorter shop opening hours, we are now open in Poole from 9.30 am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and normal Sunday opening. Normal hours will be resumed on the run up to Easter (and that's not far away either!).

Rain Rain go away ...... please!

When most people hear they might end up camping in the rain they change their mind about their camping trip. But part of going camping is experiencing nature. And part of experiencing nature is going to be camping in the rain at some point in your camping life.

While many things about the rainfall are beautiful....the sound...the smell...the knowledge that the environment requires it, many things about camping in the rain are not so beautiful either. There is nothing fun about having a wet sleeping bag, wet clothing, or a puddle in your tent. Add some cool temperatures into the mix and you have a recipe for camping disaster....and a spouse or family that never wants to go camping again.

Rather than packing up and going home, or staying cold, wet, and miserable, here are some camping tips to help you be prepared the next time you are going camping and it rains.

Always pack a few extra items in case of rain

Since we are usually car camping, it is easy for us to throw in a few extra items to help us stay dry in the event of rain:

• 
  Rain Ponchos - One use ponchos are just 99p! A rain poncho will be invaluable to help you move around in comfort in the rain, and in case you end up setting up your campsite in the rain.
• 
  Tarps and Ropes - Extra tarps and ropes are a lifesaver when you are camping in the rain. Use these to cover your gear, put a rain fly up, or to put a rain fly over your tent.
• 
  Extra Large, Heavy-Duty Rubbish Bags - Many times I have the kids actually pack their clothes in these. Place the empty bin bag right into the ruck sack or suitcase, open it up, and push sides all the way out to the sides of the bag, using the rubbish bag as a liner inside your bag. Now pack all of your clothes inside the bag as you normally would. Don't forget to twist closed the top of the bag to make sure it is thoroughly closed. Now if your bag or suitcase should get wet, you still have dry clothes.
• 
  Extra Large Ziplock Bags - I love those jumbo-sized ziplock bags. Again, these are perfect for clothes. Pack your clothes by outfit (one complete outfit for each day per bag) or by clothing type (all socks in one bag, shirts in another bag, etc.). Good for putting the dirty laundry in as well! Also great for keeping your phones, cameras, and papers dry.
• 
  Umbrella - I don't think I have to explain this one!

When setting up your tent it pays to be prepared just in case the weather takes a turn for the worse. It is much easier to take a few extra minutes to set it up properly in beautiful dry weather, then to have to move it or set it up in wet weather.

Make sure you don't set your tent up in a spot that will flood if it does rain. Don't touch, or indeed dont let your gear or air mattress touch the sides of the tent or water may start to leak in.

A gazeebo or nice sized shelter set up in the middle of your campsite not only keeps you sheltered from the sun during the day, but is a great place to congregate during a rainstorm. Pack some family games or other rainy weather activities to have on hand to keep you and your kids occupied. Or just sit back, relax, read a good book and enjoy the sound of the rain falling on the leaves around you and on the tarp above you.

Not too far from civilization? A last resort, and one I have used once or twice in my years of camping, if the rain turns to downpour and lasts for an unreasonable amount of time don't suffer. Pile into the car and explore some local indoor attractions, local towns or museums, see a film, or ten pin bowling.

So the next time you are going camping and the forecast calls for the possibility of rain, don't cancel, just prepare in advance, go ahead...go camping in the rain and enjoy a different side of nature than you were expecting, but one that is just as beautiful...especially if you are cozy, comfortable, warm, and dry while it is raining all around you.

This is really cool! (click here to see the website)

This just dropped in on the email.

I really want one! With more than 50,000 bookings already made for UK camping and caravan holidays already (and its only January) there may be enough people out there to get this sort of advanced concept car / motor home idea off the ground.

I know de-mountables have not been too popular in the past, but did look a bit like a "bolt on extra".

This looks like it is made for the job .... that's coz it is!

Credit crunch sparks boom in caravan holidays

More Britons are now choosing camping and caravans as their holiday choice.

The recession is giving the caravan industry a surprise boost as more Britons opt to holiday on home soil.

With the euro almost worth the same as the pound, people are swapping expensive foreign holidays for 'stay-at-homers'!

Caravan holidays enjoy a boom - Scotsman.com News

Caravan holidays enjoy a boom - Scotsman.com News Wow looks like we will have a great year!

New 2009 tents and awning info released

This the the fantastic new Gelert Corvus ... and what a tent!

At last the manufacturers have released some information on the new tents for 2009! With a few new colours and better hydrostatic heads, better fits of flysheets and more sewn in groundsheets, thses new ranges of tents will keep you drier and more comfortable than ever before.



If we get a season like 2008, then remember to have Noah's number so you can book a place on the Ark .... but the Met Office recons that this year is going to be the hottest for a while ..... I think that just means the rain will be warmer .... but lets wait and see




In the mean time visit the website to see the pictures of the new tents.

Great deals on Gelert Tornado 5 DLX Tents!

We need to clear out these big single roomed dome tents.

Made by Gelert, with good headroon and good living area.

Hydrostatic Head of 3000mm giving great water repellency and only 3 poles make it quick and easy to put up.

Now down to £49.99 but really limited stock is available of these 2008 tents (yes that is last year's tent!).

To buy on line click here http://www.hitch-n-pitch.co.uk/acatalog/Big_Family_Tents.html#a542

Or you vist us in the shop, at either:

Moor, Hitch-n-Pitch
12 Lagland Street
Poole, BH15 1QG
phone 01202 676 400

or

Hitch-n-Pitch
Merley House lane
Merley, Wimborne, BH21 3AA
01202 880 888

See you soon as my fingers are freezing up now!

What's the difference between Blue and Red Gas

Blue gas is Butane

Red gas is Propane.

Both gasses can be used on most gas appliances.

The main difference is that Butane flows slower in the cold. So if you are caravanning in the winter, you may have to come to the shop and exchange the blue bottle for a red one! It always happens just when you want a cup of Tea!

Technically propane does burn a little hotter, but most normal people will not notice the difference.

Note that if you do change gas type, then you will also need a new regulator or new pigtail fitting if you have a fitted regulator in your later caravan.

Prepare your caravan and motorhome for winter.

There is lots to do to help your van survive the winter time.

Obviously take out all the water from the toilet and water systems. If this freezes it can be costly to fix.

Make sure the van is clean inside and out.

Use a cover to keep the outside clean.

Move the unit ebery now and again to help prevent flatspots in the tyres. Or you can use Wheel Savers availble from our shop and website http://www.hitch-n-pitch.co.uk/acatalog/Towing_Security_and_Set_Up.html

Get the Bags out!

Now is the time to get your sleeping bags out. Take them out of the stuff sacks, or carry bags, and hang them over a chair to give tham a good airing and to give the filling a good chance to "fluff-up" (now there is a great technical phrase!).

Check out the bag for any rips or tears, and does it need a clean? If so take to to a specialist cleaner.