Latest News
Campy Can Be Towed By Youngsters!
The fabulous Dethleffs Campy is exclusive to Lowdham Leisureworld The Campy is under 750kg and can be towed by those with a new licence. It has real personality and can give cheap and very cheerful caravanning to young families. Four berths and LOTS of FUN !!!
DOC Edinburgh Fringe/ Tattoo Trip Planned for August 2008
Come with us to meet up at the Fringe Festival in August this year. See main page for more details.DOC Insurance Survey Saves Members Upto £200
Dethleffs Owners Club have conducted a survey of over 100 members' insurance costs and policy details.
From the results we have obtained savings of over £200 pa for at least one member. Can YOU save a packet?
http://www.dethleffsowners.co.uk/docinsurancesurveyresults_144.php
Picture shows damage to a member's van. This was re-built by Lowdham LeisureWorld
DOC Launches Insurance Survey to Save YOU Money !
We have now received over 100 answers to our survey on insurance costs.
They vary between £680 and £144.10 !!
You have told us some names that you wholeheartedly recommend.
We are producing recommendations for each group:
(caravan /older motorhome/newer motorhome etc).
Watch this space.
Members are already saving over £100 a year AND ARE GETTING PERSONALLY-RECOMMENDED INSURERS.
That's why we should stick together.
Fascinating New Idea: Free Pitch or a Car to Use
Here's an unusual opportunity for next season. While I was at the NEC show last month I got talking to Stuart Coe, the owner of a lovely site called Camping Château de Lacomté, set in parkland, within a national park in the Lot and Dordogne regions of France. It's a wonderful place that abounds with natural beauty.While I was chatting with Stuart, he mentioned a great scheme in which couples (or singles) can stay at his site free of charge, which I thought might be of interest to you.
Here's how it works: when you're staying at Château de Lacomté, all you have to do is volunteer to do three hours' worth of odd jobs around the site, every day for six days – you are then entitled to stay for the week, free of charge, and the rest of the time is your own.
The jobs vary, depending on the month, but could include cleaning the bar area, cutting grass, or helping with food preparation. If you're a musician, you can also take part in the scheme by playing for guests.
Even if you don't fancy helping out while you're there, Camping Château de Lacomté also provides a great new service: it now offers 'Freedom pitches'. With these – which are the same as the other pitches on site – you also get the use of a small car such as a Renault Twingo or Clio. There's no public transport in the area so if you've got a large motorhome and don't fancy driving it off site each day, this service should prove attractive.
The cost of a Freedom pitch per night (based on two adults, and electric hook-up) is €50 (£35). For more details, see the website www.campingchateaulacomte.com, or phone Stuart or Sheila on
00 33 (0) 565 38 75 46
.
Ford Transit Wins Base Vehicle of the Year
Base Vehicle of the Year
Winner: Ford Transit
FORD offers a good choice of engines, as well as options. European converters have negotiated a keener price for the Ford as a base vehicle allowing them to offer more affordable ranges of motorhomes.
MMM Editor Mike Jago said: “Base vehicles are the underpinnings of every great motorhome. It is important to consider factors such as engine choice, standard safety equipment and the location of gearlevers and handbrakes."
Gold for Dethleffs �Girl Power� Motorhome
Gold for Dethleffs ‘Girl Power’ Motorhome
200.000 readers of the German Newspaper ‘Bild am Sonntag’ award ‘The Golden Steering Wheel’ to Dethleffs Esprit H 6870
This year the internationally treasured prize was awarded to Dethleffs in the category ‘Motorhomes’.
291.000 readers of the ‘Bild am Sonntag’ have participated in the voting and nominated the Esprit H 6870 as their favourite motorhome.
‘We are really pleased to receive this award’, said Thomas Fritz, managing director of Dethleffs GmbH in Isny, Germany.
‘Being the readers’ favourite shows us that we made the correct decision by choosing customer oriented solutions for motorhomes, understood the actual trend and followed our entitlement being the Friend of the Family more than ever.’
The winning layout is based on the famous ‘Girl Power’ concept vehicle and benefits from practical solutions like a smart kitchen including variable glass lid for hob and sink, large drawers, a modern double floor for optimal winterisation and abundant storage space.
However the new motorhome made by the inventor of the caravan in Germany and today’s biggest motorhome manufacturer does not only offer innovative functionalities but also combines high expectations with a modern design.
After successful company development throughout the last few years and numerous awards of national as well as international trade publications, the ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ represents the coronation for Dethleffs.
Great PR for Oldest Dethleffs Quest
The DOC search for the oldest Dethleffs has reaped great results in the press.
Twelve publications have published our quest. The picture below is in the November Practical Caravan.This is obviously good news for Dethleffs Owners as we need to make the general public aware of the extraordinary Dethleffs Quality and longevity. This awareness helps ALL of us to resell at higher values and reduces the cost of our adventures..A reall Win/Win.
Search launched for oldest Dethleffs
THE search is on for the oldest Dethleffs model still in use.Richard and Jane Olphin, who took over and revamped the Dethleffs Owners Club website in August, want to find the oldest model so they can feature it on the site.
The Staffordshire-based couple have added new features to the site but now want to find vintage models to demonstrate the longevity of the German vehicles.
But they admit that finding the oldest will be no easy task as Dethleffs started manufacturing motorhomes and caravans in 1931.
The oldest model they have found so far is a 1979 Pirat model.
Mr Olphin said: “Jane and myself are passionate about caravanning and very big fans of the Dethleffs motorhomes. We own a six-berth A642, which has taken us to some fantastic places.
“We know our search for the oldest model won’t be easy, but we thought it would be a fun way to encourage some debate on the site. So far the oldest we’ve found is a 1979 Pirat model.”
Anyone wanting to contact Mr and Mrs Olphin can do so via the website, at www.dethleffsowners.co.uk, or email info@dethleffsowners.co.uk.
LeisureTimes Stoke Open Accessories Shop
LeisureTimes Stoke is my local Dethleffs Caravan dealer. Steve is amazing with habitation service and repairs on caravans and motorhomes.
I popped in the other day and they are about to open a new accessories store. If you are passing, go and have a look.
Good luck with the new venture.
New Technical Area Open
John Windwood, one of our 'Ask The DOC' experts has started a technical area for members who wish to 'tinker' or mend their Dethleffs. John has helped many members to solve technical problems and I am pleased to welcome his growing resource for members.
Available here: http://dethleffstechnics.mysite.orange.co.uk/
Pullinger/Dethleffs Kart Success On TV
Barrie Pullinger achieved the lap record in the London Cup at Rye House Kart Raceway.
The Pullinger Race Support Team travel in style in the Tag axle Esprit I 7870 L. Dealer Principal Barry Sr. says "The Esprit always gets plenty of envious glances. The Dethleffs products are by far the best we have ever handled in 15 years involvement with motor caravans."
We at the DOC wish Barrie Jr. all the best.
TowTal Gives 5% Discount to DOC members
Stop Press !
TowTal, the leaders in car and caravan towing equipment and accessories have offered DOC members a 5% discount on production of your DOC membership number.
This alone easily covers your membership cost. Ask for Will Barks and tell him your DOC membership cryptic number.
Vicarious Books Give 5% Discount to DOC Members
http://www.vicarious-shop.co.uk/view_product.php?c_id=1&sc_id=&p_id=1
We saw them at the York Show. Very nice people with a wealth of travelling/ motorhoming experience in Europe.
Living life vicariously (as if I need to tell DOC members!) means that one lives through another person, not taking the actual risks. Their Go Motorhoming Europe and Haynes Manuals are great. And you get a discount if you are a member.