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Sunday 7 September 2014

9 MOST EXTREME RECORD-BREAKING CARAVANS


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The Most Extreme Record-Breaking Caravans
By Alyn Wallace,
Interesting Engineering, 5 September 2014.

Not all caravans were designed for the modest family holiday. Just like every other mode of transport, caravan engineers can’t help pushing the limits of what the vehicle can do. The resulting models may be totally impractical, but are more than worth taking a look at! Check out these cutting-edge recreational vehicles that have all broken world records.

1. The World’s Oldest Caravan

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Photo via Daily Mail

The Wanderer was built in 1885, making it 129 years old this year. It is the world’s first touring caravan, and, although made from heavy mahogany and maple, has clocked up tens of thousands of miles. It boasts a bookcase, china cabinet and even musical instruments to entertain campers when it’s raining outside. [More photos]

2. The World’s Biggest Caravan

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The German ‘Der Bus’ was officially recognised as the biggest motorhome in the world in 1997 by the Guinness Book of Records. Measuring 18 metres (59 feet) long, 4 metres (13 feet) high, and 2.5 metre (8.2 feet) wide, and with a total weight of 28 tons, this double decker Neoplan Jumbo Cruiser is as close as possible to a house on wheels. Features include a VIP lounge with bar, living room, kitchen, dining area, bathroom and two bedrooms.

3. The World’s Fastest Land Speed Tow


At the El Mirage dry lake bed in California’s Mojave Desert a supercharged diesel GMC HD truck towing a ten-foot-long single axle Carson Kalispell achieved a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph). Check out the video above.

4. The World’s Smallest Caravan


The Cramper Van, which measures 4ft by 4ft, is the world’s smallest campervan. It was built by car-fanatic Andy Saunders as a mash-up of an old Bedford Bambi van and a Butlins-style pedal cart. Due to some clever use of space, it manages to fit in four seats, a stove, a sink, a table and a bed.

Just like the similarly tiny QTvan Mobility Scooter Caravan it has a very low top speed due to the fact that it relies on pedal power rather than an engine. Users are advised to not take it anywhere with hills…

5. The World’s Most Expensive Caravan

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Millionaires and celebrities like to caravan just like the rest of us - only in a little more style. And they don’t come any more stylish and extravagant than the Marchi Mobile eleMMent Palazzo, which is covered in gold and worth £2 million.

Like a luxurious yacht on wheels, this futuristic pleasure vehicle comes complete with a master bedroom, 40-inch TV, on-board bar, fireplace and even its own rooftop terrace. The most impressive part is the ‘Sky Lounge’, which, at the press of a button, transforms the interior into a pop up cocktail bar, with under-floor heating and marble lighting.

It’s currently on sale in Dubai, and in order to account for the dusty climate it even washes itself!

6. The World’s Fastest Caravan

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The world record for the fastest motorhome goes to the Mercedes-Benz Viano Westfalia RV, which reached a speed of 222 km/h (137.9 mph) in August 2012. The only modifications made by German manufacturer Goldschmitt Techmobil AG were to the chassis and engine: nothing of the interior was stripped back.

7. The World’s Longest Caravan Jump

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Image screengrab YouTube

Derek - a stuntman at Fifth Gear - holds the record for the longest caravan jump, and he pulled it off in a BMW 530i to break the Guinness world record. It now stands at 187 ft. 8 inches (30 ft. and 2 inches further than the last maniac who tried it). Check out the video here.

8. The World’s Most Hi-Tech Caravan

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Designed by Bran Ferren - the man who built Disney’s theme parks - for his daughter, Kira, the KiraVan is the most hi-tech caravan in the world. It’s an expedition vehicle designed with a youngster’s safety and comfort in mind, and they don’t come any safer than this! Might Bran be overly mollycoddling? Check out our previous article here. [Video]

9. The World’s Most Eco-Friendly Caravan


In 2008, The Caravan Club of Great Britain challenged TV presenter Steve Berry to build the most eco-friendly caravan in the world and the result was the Ecostream. Every item in this vehicle comes from either reused or recycled materials. It comes complete with shower unit (fashioned out of a piece of matt-black, 1,000mm diameter, underground pipe), a compacting toilet, and a kitchen ‘unit’ made out of an old clothes locker.

To see more caravans that are saving the planet take a look at this blog post from Cosford Caravans.

Top image: The Marchi Mobile eleMMent Palazzo. Credit: Marchi Mobile.

[Source: Interesting Engineering. Edited. Some images and links added.]


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