Broad Lane's 2012 Fairways caravans are based on Swift's Challenger Sports.

While I concentrated on “dealer specials” in the motorhome market in my last blog, this time around it’s caravans where individual dealerships’ limited edition runs of popular caravan model ranges are just as prevalent – and just as good value.

All around the country, you can expect to see more caravan retailers than ever offering their own “special edition” ‘vans

– which is nothing but great news if you’re in the market for a new caravan unit.

Latest news is from Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans, which already sells the upmarket Auto-Sleeper caravans from three of its nine outlets. They will also be stocking ranges of Lifestyle (based on Sprites) and Majestic (based on Elddis’ Xplores), with prices for both starting at around £11,000 mark.

More established “specials” are available in 2012 specifications from the likes of Broad Lane (with its Fairways), White Arches (Archways) and Lowdham Leisureworld (Freestyles, Sportstyles and Sunstyles) across the Midlands, while further up the country Glossop Caravans and Campbells Caravans have unveiled their latest exclusive ranges for 2012 season.

I’ve already had an early glimpse of Broad Lane’s latest Fairways, based on the Swift Challenger Sport range. These really look the business, with enhanced specifications including such goodies as exterior barbecue and mains sockets, Ultracomfort mattresses (on fixed bed models), Omnivent, automatic gas change-over, heavy duty corner steadies, Al-Ko Secure Wheel Lock and simply loads more.

Look out for these kinds of items on all dealer specials, but do note the starting point for each range. For example, at Michael Jordan Caravans in Surrey, their latest Expressions, in six different layouts, are based on Swift Charismas.

In Lancashire, Campbells has two eight-model line-ups – Kudos, based on Swift’s Challenger Sports; and Cosmos, built by Lunar. Stewart Longton’s Safaris (also from Swift) represent another long-term dealer special line.  And Derbyshire’s Glossop can point to three of its own ranges – Festival (from Coachman) and Chatsworth and Celebration (Elddis).  Yorkshire’s Wandahome includes the Elddis Wisps and Ramblers, plus Coachman Wanderers.

Meanwhile, the Bessacarr name lives on at Couplands Caravans in Lincolnshire. Robinsons (with outlets in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire) has its Lunar-built Ultima line-up. Northamptonshire’s Venture Caravans carries out its own work adding key extras to Adrias sold under its Exclusive name. And even Bailey’s most successful dealer, Chipping Sodbury Caravans, has some of its own versions of the company’s bestsellers, badged Olympus CS.

I know there are plenty more examples out there, but hopefully this gives you a flavour. Key to all of these is the extra specifications they all boast. You’ll need to trawl through the lists for yourselves, but take it as a given that all will have their own exterior and interior looks, for starters.

Not only are all keenly priced, and invariably caravan insurance will cost the same as the original caravan models on which they’re based (indeed, less if they boast extra security such as alarms, locks or Al-Ko’s ATC), they usually boast the same caravan warranties and can expect to hold their value well on the secondhand market.  The only downside, without exception, is the extra weight that comes with the uprated specs’.

Next blog: Looking ahead – why there’s loads going on in London next year.