The multi-functional caravan from the USA.

OK, folks. You read it here first, but there are some interesting new caravan ideas coming to the UK at the start of next year. And there’s a clue in the current relative weakness of the US dollar versus the good old pound sterling.

First off, check out the name Eterniti, it’s on a range of all-new caravans with slide-out sections. They’re from America but built on chassis from BPW in Germany, using a GRP shell constructed in the US, and promising full UK specifications and reasonable weights. They’re expected to retail around the £20,000-£25,000 mark. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Next up is a concept so new it doesn’t actually have a brand name yet. It’s being made under the working title of the “multi-functional caravan”, using a special box-construction chassis and frame, again from the USA.

Caravanning in winter can be a brilliant time to be out and about if you are suitably prepared.

I can’t believe the winter months and the shorter nights are upon us again!

While most put their touring caravan or motorhome away for the winter months, there are those who see this season as an opportunity to explore places when the tourists have all but gone.

Seeing a favourite holiday spot in winter can give you a whole new approach on that view, village or town.

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.

The new Swift Challenger Sport 554 touring caravan.

It’s the end of the Autumn school term and the caravan sites seem to have been busy, with touring caravans and motorhomes (plus of course, the weather was generally good too).

I was down in my favourite haunt – North Wales, a superb place to use either a motorhome or tourer. I still discover roads that I haven’t been down. I also visited some new dealers and found some caravan nostaglia.

While away I have been testing a new Swift Challenger Sport 554, the fixed bed end washroom caravan model.