2026 Sprite Range

[Mel]

Anyone keeping an eye on the caravan market will have noticed that the spec on 2026 Sprites has been considerably striped down so that effectively the 2026 Challenger range is now what Sprite used to be.
That does make Sprites cheaper and lighter.
However, the spec has been so stripped back that an Alko Hitch Stabiliser is no longer a standard feature!
Given this is an entry level van, quite possibly aimed at newcomers to Caravanning and with little or no towing experience, who have no idea that a stabiliser device was important; I thought this was dangerously irresponsible. Whilst you can of course pay extra to have one fitted, I can’t imagine the salespeople are saying, “don’t tow it without a stabiliser”
I am sure that there are experienced vanners who would say, It will be fine. It certainly wouldn’t be something I would contemplate and Newbies wouldn’t know to consider it.
Thoughts?
Mel

 

[otherclive]

Anyone keeping an eye on the caravan market will have noticed that the spec on 2026 Sprites has been considerably striped down so that effectively the 2026 Challenger range is now what Sprite used to be.
That does make Sprites cheaper and lighter.
However, the spec has been so stripped back that an Alko Hitch Stabiliser is no longer a standard feature!
Given this is an entry level van, quite possibly aimed at newcomers to Caravanning and with little or no towing experience, who have no idea that a stabiliser device was important; I thought this was dangerously irresponsible. Whilst you can of course pay extra to have one fitted, I can’t imagine the salespeople are saying, “don’t tow it without a stabiliser”
I am sure that there are experienced vanners who would say, It will be fine. It certainly wouldn’t be something I would contemplate and Newbies wouldn’t know to consider it.
Thoughts?
Mel

100% support your views. They must be absolutely desperate to achieve sales.Whether it will appeal to younger owners I am not sure as caravans “aren’t cool” compared to campervans, tent boxes, tents over the hatch and tents etc.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Stabilisers should be a compulsory legal fitment on all caravans. They are a proven road safety system, its as simple as that.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Stabilisers should be a compulsory legal fitment on all caravans. They are a proven road safety system, its as simple as that.

Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

Let me be clear, I am all for improving road safety, and especially for towing, which does require the driver to use more spatial awareness and driving skills. Those also should include a better understanding of how to safely load an outfit which is a crucial requirement for safe towing.

This forum has seen numerous instances of mainly (but not exclusively) new caravanners who clearly don't know, and after their first outings wonder why their outfit was unstable. We of course only read about the ones who either have incidents or who have the courage to ask. I often wonder how many more there are out there we don't know about.

A properly loaded out fit should remain fully under control when driven correctly. The should not require the installation or intervention of a control system such as friction pads or automated differential braking.

As such all anti sway devices should be treated like Safety Belts, only. To be relied on when the driver really exceeds the outfits natural abilities WHEN LOADED CORRECTLY.

No outfit should be considered safe if during normal driving any anti sway device has to activate

You should never should need to rely on an anti sway device to make an outfit drivable. I believe if such devices were made compulsory, lots more inexperienced drivers would see or use them to off set poor loading and driving habbits.

 

[Dustydog]

Prof you are absolutely spot on correct.

Sadly we are of a different generation where we had no driving aids worth mentioning.
Double declutching, no synchromesh on 1st, non servo drum brakes, no power steering, ABS was something you drank,rare to have an auto box.
Now we have gone full circle. Imagine driving a modern car with no whistles and bells🙀

Mel has raised a very important point .The cessation of fitting a fundamental safety aid is definitely a retrograde step. I believe ,like you ,a comprehensive understanding of correct loading and towing in its basic form is mandatory. Hence imo every new tugger should attend one of the Clubs towing courses.

BUT that aside it is still unacceptable in this day and age to remove important safety items. Even back in the early 70s I had the old cart spring friction damper Scott Stabiliser. Why? Not because I didn’t understand safe loading more as belts and braces especially with a young family on board.
Very poor show Swift🤬

 

[Mel]

Totally agree with your comments Prof but I am concerned for folks who don’t know what we now know.
When we picked up our very first caravan, the dealer cheerfully put all the accessories we had also purchased right at the back of the van. Hitched it up, and waved us on our way.
We had towed a trailer tent before and driven a Motorhome. I am no academic slouch and had read loads of stuff about Caravanning and OH had done the CAMC towing courses. But You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.
What we didn’t know was the caravan had a ridiculously high nose weight when empty and so the dealer was counterbalancing this by loading at the back. We had insufficient experience to challenge this daft plan.
Newbies will be grappling with loads of information when picking up and towing for the first time. They won’t necessarily know what to challenge or ask. Not supplying a basic safety device ( as DD says back in the day folks fitted blade or spring stabilisers to vans that were much smaller and lighter than than they are now), is asking for trouble.
Mel

 

[otherclive]

When we viewed and subsequently purchased our first caravan the dealer did not bat an eye when we turned up in our Skoda Estelle. No discussion on weights, cars towing ability, outfit matching etc. But little did he know I had the Haynes Manual and a different car at home. Yes we used spring stabilisers and my view is that they were more effective than the Alko hitch stabiliser.