A few different ideas for the web site

Jun 10, 2011
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I have a few different ideas about reveiwing caravans which i think will help people decide on what is right for them and also other ideas.

I like the videos for review the new caravans for 2011 so why dont you consider doing more of these, the reason why i say this is people are wanting to see and hear things like doors closing or windows opening (yes i know you can just go to a dealer and do it your self but sometimes its hard to do that!) and when someone is speaking about caravans instead of reading reveiws you get a better understanding of how the caravan has been built (well i think this) I like to know and see a person explaining and talking to the actual manufacturer, for example you had someone about the stelph caravan, this makes an interesting interview if you can quiz someone about the van your sitting in. Why did they decide to make the van that way?, what ideas are there in the future and to get a understanding of how the materials have been used to cut the weight issues which every caravan maker has problems with.
The car industry has exploded over the amount of years its been in busness, if you look at the amount of tv programmes which are about cars and how they rip the car apart or tell you how harsh the ride is ect you get that understanding of what that product is about.
I would say if you could maybe do test drives with the caravan for example, take a car get the right caravan for that car so the 85% rule and hook it up, do a video on how easy it is to hook the van to the car and then take on a run to show how the van reacts to the car which pulling it.

When i started towing no one showed me any best techniques on towing and what to do to hook up, so i asked my dad who has been towing for a while, who showed me his way which is now the way in which i do it.
I think the CC do trainning for learning how to reverse a caravan and other hints, but why dont we try and discount it as its expensive or do courses for our members with experianced towers!!??

All these ideas can be done, yes i am very sure you will hit brick walls asking car manufactures to lend cars to tow a caravan but this will befit both the car manufacturer and also the caravan maker.
Videos are the best way to get the information to the public.
I have a few more ideas if your interested!
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Parksy

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Nov 12, 2009
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Mr Bell said:
I would say if you could maybe do test drives with the caravan for example, take a car get the right caravan for that car so the 85% rule and hook it up, do a video on how easy it is to hook the van to the car and then take on a run to show how the van reacts to the car which pulling it.
There is strictly speaking no such thing as 'the 85% rule' Mr Bell.
It's true that the CC and other clubs and organisations recommend a safe weight ratio of around 85% between caravan and towcar as a starting point for those who are new to towing but from a legal standpoint the 85% figure has no significance so it is a guideline rather than a rule.
As you probably know this website contains many written caravan reviews and from time to time video reviews are loaded on to the website.
The latest video review is Deputy Editor Niall's video review of the Stealth Concordia

Every monthly issue of Practical Caravan magazine has a series of articles which come under the 'Caravan Genius' sub heading and 'Caravan Basics' contains all of the information needed for those starting out and for experienced caravanners to brush up on their knowledge. All of the Caravan Genius tutorials throughout the magazine have a pale blue background to make tem easily recognisable.
Your idea of a basic video tutorial to supplement the detailed information contained in every issue of Practical Caravan magazine seems like a good one though and I'm sure that Practical Caravan editor Nigel Donnelly and his team will be happy to know that you'd like to see more of them.
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Jun 10, 2011
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i understand there isnt a set rule of 85% but its a good rule to follow! On the side of the videos they do make the reveiw more interesting, i get the pratical caravan mag and its really good, they have lots of good information in but when comes to vides on the website could see more.
It would be intersting if people on the forum could do their own reviews, have a section on the forum where people can put small videos on or even a written reveiw of their car and caravan so peolple can get a honest reveiw.
 

Parksy

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Nov 12, 2009
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You could load videos onto a hosting service such as Photobucket and link to them from here but the website and forum is subject to libel and defamation laws so great care would have to be taken.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Hello Mr Bell,

You may or may not be aware there has been a pretty intense discussion about the 85% towing recommendation recently elsewhere on the forum.

A lot of the distrust of the figure surrounds the perception that is generated when people quote it and link it to an authoritative word like 'rule', 'regulation' or 'law'. It is none of these it is a guideline or recommendation and should only be quoted as such.

Each time it written as a "rule", it tends to reinforce its mythical role. - self fulling prophesy?

Your express your own perception of the role of the figure, Have you stopped and thought why you believe it is so important? Surely its because you have seen it referred to so frequently as a "rule" that in your eyes it has become what it has been misquoted as.

It is a guideline, and it alludes to the good sense of keeping any trailers weight as small as possible relative to the weight of the tow vehicle.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Without wishing to roll the issue up all over again, perhaps a video showing how the same outfit handles at 70%, 85% and 100% would enlighten us all.
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Parksy

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Nov 12, 2009
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We've had the protracted discussion elsewhere about caravan to towing vehicle weight ratio and the validity of the 85% figure and in my reply to this thread I pointed out the difference between a rule and a recommendation so we'll leave the 85% out of this thread if you don't mind.
There are no forum rules which determine the terminology that must be used when expressing a point colloquially
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Mar 14, 2005
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I fully understand your misgivings, Parksy, and I won't dwell on the issue, but videos are an ideal medium for visualising comparisons, also in other areas. I am thinking, for example, about comparing the performance of electronic stabilisers versus frictional ones, the importance of proper tyre pressures and proper weight distribution, or in fact anything that can affect the safe handling of an outfit.
 
Jun 10, 2011
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Just to reply to some of the posts, i was really just saying that having videos showing caravans been towed by a car which would be able to tow safley would be benefical to all of us.
I didnt mean to start a post about the 85% rule.
I would really like to see more reveiws done via video as you get a better sense of how the caravan has been made.
 
Aug 2, 2006
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Dear all

Making videos is expensive and time consuming. But it gives really valuable depth to a review and we are commited to doing more of them. And also to making the ones we done easier to find!

We welcome any ideas on what you'd like us to do next too, so thanks for the ideas and keep em coming!
 
Jan 19, 2008
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Nigel Donnelly said:
we are commited to doing more of them. And also to making the ones we done easier to find!

We welcome any ideas on what you'd like us to do next too, so thanks for the ideas and keep em coming!

Good idea Nigel. For a start could you please upload a video of the best topless beaches in the south of France
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