Caravanning problem? Our panel can help!
Got a burning caravanning question? Ask onee ofof ourour teamteam on the email addressddress belowbelow!
DO WE NEED A 4X4 FOR WINTER TOURS?
QI’ve started caravanning this year, and have fallen in love – as has the family!
We tow our Bailey Discovery with our Nissan Qashqai, and it has been fine all summer.
However, we want to continue touring during the autumn and possibly the winter, too.
Do we need to change our car to a four-wheel-drive for four-season caravanning?
S Fowler
David Motton replies…
It’s not essential to have a 4x4 to tour all year round, although there’s no doubt the advantages of four-wheel drive are most keenly felt when the weather conditions are bad.
Four-wheel drive helps to put power to the road cleanly when the roads are wet and slippery. It’s also a big benefit if you are trying to tow a caravan away from a muddy pitch.
A less obvious advantage is that a 4x4 will be heavier than the equivalent two-wheel-drive car, improving matching ratios and contributing to stability.
On the other hand, if you stay on hardstandings, you might never have trouble towing away from a pitch. Plenty of people tow with two-wheel-drive cars in wet weather.
It’s also worth remembering that you can improve traction by swapping to four-season tyres, which are designed to perform well in summer and winter. Examples include the Continental Allseasoncontact and the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons. Swapping tyres will, of course, be much cheaper than changing your car!
WHERE CAN WE STAY WITH OUR NEW DOG?
QWe’ve recently got a rescue greyhound – we’ve been caravanning for years but never toured with a dog before.
We do want to involve him in our travels, but could you please recommend some dog-friendly sites that we can visit?
Dean Baker
‘There are plenty of dog-friendly campsites to choose from’
Paul Critcher replies…
You’ll be pleased to know there are plenty to choose from. In our Top 100 Sites Guide, 98 of the parks listed are pet-friendly!
While some places tolerate dogs, there are some that really go the extra mile to offer your pooches a warm welcome, with facilities to match. Here’s a selection from our Top 100:
n Trethem Mill Touring Park Cornwall
› www.trethem.com
Six of its 12 acres are dedicated to a dog-walk and recreation area, and this site is perfect for the South West Coast Path. n Appledore Park Devon
› appledorepark.co.uk
Three dogs per pitch are made welcome and you’ll love the dog shower after hikes on the moor. n Ross Park Devon
› rossparkcaravanpark.co.uk With 20 of its 32 acres made up of green spaces, your best friends will love the four-acre exercise field and orchard. n Beech Croft Farm Derbyshire
› www.beechcroftfarm.co.uk There’s a dog-exercise area and you can clean muddy paws in the Boot, Bike and Dog Wash. n Back of Beyond Dorset
› www.backofbeyondtouringpark.co.uk
A large dog-walk and 18 acres of private woodland where pets can explore off the lead.
n Ballyness Caravan Park Northern Ireland
› ballynesscaravanpark.com Dog-lovers will delight in the site’s eight-acre dog-walk. n Love2stay Shropshire
› www.love2stay.co.uk
Dogs are welcome on-site and there is a dog shower room. n Old Oaks Somerset
› www.theoldoaks.co.uk
A 300m dog-exercise area, dog shower with free shampoo, and a dedicated washing machine and dryer for dog bedding. n Red Kite Touring Wales
› redkitetouringpark.co.uk
Set in 20 acres, the park has a special dog-walking area and the benefit of a dog wash.
n Concierge Camping
West Sussex
› www.conciergecamping.co.uk Dogs are welcome on-site – up to three per pitch – and there are plenty of great walks just a short distance away.