Ever thought about joining one of the caravan owners’ clubs? Maybe you should – excellent advice, reduced rates, a busy social calendar and the chance to meet like-minded people make them a great choice.
After investing in one of the best caravans, joining a suitable owners’ club can be a great way to get to know people who own a similar type of caravan or motorhome. In this guide, we’re picking out some of the clubs for the best-known caravanning brands, to find out what they can offer their members and how they could enhance your tours.
Caravan owners’ clubs:
Adria Owners Club UK
Adria Owners Club UK was originally formed back in 2006, with the intention of bringing together the owners of Adria and Sun Living leisure vehicles, to share their passion for the brand and have fun gathering at events and rallies, held both across the UK and overseas.
Club membership is open to all current owners of Adria caravans, such as the Adria Altea Dart and the Adria Alpina Rio Grande, as well as motorhomes, Twins and campers, and Sun Living vehicles.
Members of the club receive a regular newsletter, full of the latest information about club activities, a personalised card on their birthday, and advice, tips and help through the
club’s dedicated website and its Facebook page.
There’s also a strong rally programme, which aims to cover the length and breadth of the UK, and there are annual Continental rallies, plus regular factory visits to Adria’s HQ in Novo Mesto, Slovenia – don’t forget to find out more about the Slovenian maker in our best caravan brand guide.
The club holds most rallies on regular campsites, with grass/hardstanding pitches, hook-up, toilet and shower blocks and use of site facilities.
Members also have access to a number of discounts and a range of merchandise.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 545 units, 1090 individuals
- Cost: £15, plus a £5 joining fee for new members
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website
Bailey Owners Club
Formed at a rally during Gloucester Livestock Market in 1970, the Bailey Owners Club has gone from strength to strength. Since then, the first chairman, John Stayte, has been succeeded by 21 others, including the current chair, Rona Boyles.
A 12-person committee supports the club chair, while the team of dedicated volunteers ensures its regular rallies operate smoothly.
The club welcomes the owners of all models of Bailey caravan or motorhome, offering members attractive benefits and an enthusiastic community.
The frequent rallies are designed with affordability in mind, often hosted at off-grid sites and CLs to keep the price per night at around £10.
Previous gatherings have also taken place in the grounds of Eastnor Castle, in the heart of Herefordshire.
The club has 23 rallies planned for 2024 so far, including European tours. Recently, Bailey decided to outsource the planning of foreign excursions to leisure travel company, Alan Rogers.
Alan Rogers arranges ferry tickets, site bookings and activities. The most recent Continental rally took place in Holland, and the club has meetings planned in Austria and Ireland.
The club also runs charity events for a range of good causes, recently raising £11,000 for a dementia charity, for example. Their next charity rally is to be held in 2025.
Aside from rallies, members can gain insight into Bailey’s production process on factory tours, with talks from industry experts.
Other benefits of membership include a website and Facebook pages, where members can find support and advice from other owners; Bailey merchandise; an annual printed Rally Book; quarterly newsletters and more.
Junior members are not forgotten, either, receiving birthday cards, Easter eggs and Christmas presents.
- Number of members: 600
- Cost: £20 per year
- How to join: Apply online at baileyownersclub.org/index.php/home/join-us-test
Bessacarr Owners Club
October 2024 will see the Bessacarr Owners Club mark its 60th anniversary.
The club welcomes owners of caravans and motorhomes from the Bessacarr brand.
Almost all of the club’s regular rallies are hosted on established campsites, which provide facilities and often, fully serviced pitches.
With the emphasis very much on the social side of rallying, the gatherings are relaxed and give members plenty of time to enjoy exploring the local area or socialising with other owners. The events are very popular, with over one-third of its members attending at least one rally a year.
As well as an annual AGM, where membership of the committee is decided, the club runs five or six rallies every year and organises a special ‘end of season’ rally, including a members’ dinner.
Planned rally locations for 2024 include Yorkshire, Devon and Lincolnshire.
Members also benefit from access to the club’s website, which provides tech support and user manuals, along with social areas for seeking advice, sharing photos and placing ‘items for sale’ ads.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 100+
- Cost: £15 per year
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website
Coachman Owners Club
Formed some 30 years ago, this is the original Coachman Owners Club, established to help members enjoy using their Coachman caravans.
The club is run independently by members and is open to owners of Coachman caravans or motorhomes of any age or model type, such as the Coachman Laser Xtra 665 and the Coachman VIP 675.
To avoid confusion with other Coachman Facebook forums not connected to the club, look for the club’s logo.
Members receive an annual printed Rally Book, containing the club’s events programme, Coachlines magazine, access to the members-only Facebook page and club website, and membership of ACCEO, the body representing the interests of independent rallying clubs.
The Coachman club prides itself on its friendly rallies, where owners can share their knowledge and experience.
Rallies take place across the country and usually run for seven days (members can book any number of days). The club also holds an annual AGM rally and occasional factory visits.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 200 units, 400 individuals
- Cost: £15 joining fee for first year, then £10 renewal/year
- How to join: Email [email protected] or call 07423 452 300
Elddis Owners Club
Established at the suggestion of Elddis founder Siddle Cook in 1973, the club is open to owners of units which have been built, at any time, at Erwin Hymer UK’s (formerly Elddis Caravans) factory at Consett, Co Durham.
This includes caravans, campers and motorhomes branded Elddis, Buccaneer, Xplore and Compass, as well as dealer specials.
During its 50-year history, the club has organised almost 4000 rallies, including 70 in Europe, and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Members from across the UK can enjoy a number of benefits, including frequent club newsletters published throughout the year, a Rally Handbook, a membership card, and the chance to meet and socialise with likeminded people on affordable holidays, with whole weekends costing from as little as £20 per unit.
The club lays on a number of events over the course of the year, including Burns Night, a Christmas party, a charity fundraiser and a grand raffle, with the funds raised going to the club’s chosen charity.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 400
- Cost: £17 per year
- How to join: Complete the form on the website, or email [email protected]
Eriba Owners Club of Great Britain
This club started back in 1986, when a small group of Eriba owners held a get-together at Billing Aquadrome, in Northamptonshire.
For many years, the club was, in effect, run singlehandedly by one of the founder members, Ian Ashton. Ian later became club president and continued to play an active part until his sudden death in 2012.
Now run by an elected committee of members, the club is open to owners of Eriba caravans, such as the Eriba Touring 820, as well as motorhomes.
It is primarily a social club, with two rallies per year held at various UK sites, one in May, the other in September.
The rallies always include an excellent programme of entertainment and fun events, which take place on site over the course of the event.
A few club members also travel abroad to attend a smaller rally in the summer.
Members receive an email newsletter twice a year and benefit from being part of a very sociable club, with the opportunity to discuss with fellow members any Eriba or general caravanning issues that might crop up. There are also a couple of Eriba forums online, which are good for solving caravanning problems.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 250
- Cost: £8 per caravan per year
- How to join: Email member [email protected]
Gobur Owners’ Club
This club was founded in 1998, with the aim of promoting fellowship among owners of these instantly recognisable folding caravans.
All Gobur Carousel owners are welcome to join, from the smallest Slimline to the largest Clubman.
Members get a twice-yearly newsletter, and the rally programme when published. The club offers discounted site fees whenever possible. As many friendships have built up over the 25 years of the club’s existence, there is an option for former owners to become associate members.
Rallies are held all over the country between March and October, and run from Thursdays to Tuesdays, so members can attend for all or some of the time.
These get-togethers normally include coffee mornings and evening events, and a meal at a local hostelry on the last night.
The largest gathering of the year is usually the May AGM rally, at Fakenham Racecourse, in Norfolk, not far from the Gobur Caravans HQ.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 162
- Costs: Annual subscription (online): £5 single member, £10 two family members, £15 three family members
- How to join: Take a look at membermojo.co.uk/goc or email enquiryx@gobur ownersclub.org.uk
History Caravan Club
This unique club was founded by a group of vintage-van fanatics 30 years ago in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Today, it is a community of expert and passionate caravanners, run by a voluntary committee of members. The club aims to “preserve, use and display vintage caravans” and celebrate their long history.
The Historic Caravan Club is for anybody with an interest in vintage caravans and their preservation, so you don’t need to own one to get involved. Everyone is welcome. Members receive a newsletter every two months, which details upcoming events, along with tips, information and listings for caravans and parts. The club also publishes a magazine promoting historic caravan preservation and celebrating members’ achievements.
We spoke to Club Secretary, Roger Williams, who is a historic-caravan fan, and a committed Practical Caravan subscriber to boot!
Roger’s own interest began in his childhood, when his family owned a 1963 Sprite Musketeer, and he talks about a “sea change” in caravan design around this time. As an early member of the Historic Caravan Club, he is enthusiastic about these classics, and has been in post for 13 years.
The Historic Caravan Club is affiliated to ACCEO, which grants clubs an exemption certificate allowing them to host rallies on non-licensed land, although the club sometimes chooses to use established sites.
Members get to see an impressive array of vintage caravans at its rallies, and have the chance to display their own. The club prides itself on its strict display code, meaning that all models exhibited date from 1970 or earlier, all the way back to pre-war vans.
Generally, the rally season runs from Easter to October, with around 20 events a year, including social rallies and an AGM. The club is also regularly invited to national shows and members receive discounted or free entry to these events.
Need to know
- Number of members: 100 units, around 200 individuals
- Costs: £20/year plus £5 joining fee
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website
Lunar Owners Club
The Lunar Owners Club was formed in January 1976, when it began holding a number of rallies across the UK.
Membership of the club is restricted to owners of Lunar Caravans and associated makes. Despite the demise of Lunar Caravans in 2020, the club has continued to thrive and attract members who buy the marque.
Members benefit from the opportunity to attend monthly rallies lasting between five and seven nights, at sites across the country, many of which are offered at a reduced fee.
In 1982 the club ran its first Continental rally in France, a very popular annual event that continues to this day.
Among the regular yearly events are the AGM rally in September, the Continental rally in June, a Christmas rally at the beginning of December, and a New Year gathering.
The club prides itself on ensuring that by being a member of a small tourers owners’ group (see: the best small caravans if you’re looking for one), you can experience excellent breaks around the country, organised to a consistently high standard.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 120 caravans and motorhomes
- Costs: £15 per year, plus one-off joining fee of £5
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website or call 0161 820 2466
Rapido and Silver Owners Club
This small, friendly club was founded in 1983 and has evolved into a lively community. It welcomes owners of Rapido, Silver, Fleurette, Rubis and Eriba pop-top caravans, Esterel and Rapido folding caravans, and Rapido motorhomes.
Social rallies are held each year in March or April, along with two week-long rallies in June and September.
Rally locations are chosen with members’ comfort in mind, so will provide electric hook-up and facilities.
Members attend from up and down the country, which is taken into consideration when the rallies are being planned. The events welcome a truly eclectic mix of leisure vehicles and provide a diverse range of activities for members to join in with if they wish.
From crafts and competitions to guided walks and pub visits, these gatherings are a great opportunity to meet fellow owners and learn more about your caravan. Members also meet in October to celebrate a special AGM Weekend, where the committee for the following year will be elected.
Need to know…
- Number of members: 43
- Costs: £24 per year
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website
Swift Owners Club
The Swift Owners Club was formed when one of the owners of an early Swift caravan placed an advertisement in Practical Caravan, suggesting an informal meeting of Swift owners, with a view to forming an owners’ club.
The inaugural rally on 27-31 August 1971 at Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, was attended by 42 couples.
Club membership is for owners of Swift caravans, motorhomes and campervans. It’s also open to marques that Swift has acquired over the years, such as Cotswold, Abbey and Sprite.
As well as receiving reduced rates at sites, members benefit from a packed programme of events, with 48 rallies planned for 2024 and hopes to increase that number in 2025.
They also receive a 96-page Rallies Venue book and throughout the year, three issues of the club magazine, Going Places. The club has eight area committee members, who look after different parts of the UK, and the idea is for each area to run eight rallies over the course of the year.
Rallies cost £5 per outfit and include a significant social element, with lots of competitions and games with prizes – for adults and children.
The club AGM is a popular event with professional entertainment, usually taking place over the May Bank Holiday. In a few weeks, the club has a rally in Oxford, where members can enjoy a Christmas meal with all the trimmings.
Chairman Ron Ward and his wife, Maureen, who was previously rally secretary, have been members of the club for 34 years and in that time, have marshalled 227 rallies.
Ron says: “We’ve been to Germany and France twice this year. We ran a rally in France and attended another in Germany. Among our favourite trips is one we ran in 2016 to Sweden.
“We drove through Holland, Germany and Denmark, then into Sweden, taking 37 caravans with us. It was a big event and sticks in the memory.”
Need to know
- Number of members: 480
- Cost: Annual fee of £18 per outfit
- How to join: Complete the form on the club website
If you’ve been considering taking some caravan towing tuition, check out our guide to find out what the different courses offer.
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