Our highlights from the NEC Spring Caravan Show 2013

The Spring Caravan Show 2013

The cold February day made this feel like anything but a spring show. However the displays from leading caravan and accessory manufacturers soon warmed everyone up and got them in the mood for the new caravanning season. Read on for our list of the best bits on show.

In this slide show….

4 – The Bruce Trust – disabled access charity5 – Bailey Pegasus GT856 – VW Capervan7 – Elddis SoLiD design8 – Teardrop Caravan

The Bruce Trust – disabled access charity

While many exhibitors at this year's show were there to show off the latest and greatest in caravan luxury and design, The Bruce trust were there to show how luxury and clever design can help ensure that caravan and motor home holidays are inclusive of people of all abilities. The motor home on show is purpose built with less able bodied people in mind and includes all the luxury and mod-cons of any other top-end motor home. The motor home features a state of the art bed and a hoist which leads to a wet room at the rear of the van with full shower and toilet facilities. Hydraulic lifts provide access to the motor home and there's the option to remove a passenger seat to make space for a wheel chair to be clamped in position for great views of the open road.

Bailey Pegasus GT85

The GT 85 was a big hit at the show. This four berth caravan has an Alutech design at its core and features a well laid out and spacious interior. The interior also shows careful consideration to storage space and allows light into the caravan. The large forward facing window and the skylight windows in the roof mean that the interior feels light and airy. This caravan also features Al-ko security products which come as standard with the GT 85. As an insurer, we were very pleased to see that Bailey had given the GT 85 a strong safety and security focus. Show price - £18,524 on the road.

VW Capervan

We couldn't help but take a closer look at this VW campervan. The orange paint job and 20 inch chrome alloy wheels might not be to everyone's taste however, this sporty and modern take on the classic VW campervan certainly reaches out to a younger audience. At £44,154 (price displayed at the show) it's not all that cheap but for that price you get a range of options including air conditioning and leather upholstery.

Elddis SoLiD design

As one of the top caravan manufacturers Elddis are leading the way in caravan design and turned up to the NEC this year showcasing their "SoLiD" construction system. By spreading the stresses and strains evenly across all joints, the Solid design achieves a stronger, lighter and more water tight structure.

Teardrop Caravan

This small caravan is surprisingly well equipped. There's a toilet, a bed and a kitchen built into the back. Although due to the toilet being in the same area as the living area, it's definitely a caravan for one! Although the interior is small, it's packed with style and has a funky and exuberant feel about it.