In this article, we will answer the following question: Are Lunar Caravans going bust? We explain what you should do if you own a Lunar Caravan and describe the top three Lunar Caravans on the market today. We also give you advice on buying a used caravan.

Are Lunar Caravans going bust?

Yes, it is true that Lunar Caravans have gone bust. More exactly, the Lunar Caravans company went into administration back in July 2019, while the UK business advisory – FRP Advisory – was handling the restructuring and accounting of the firm.

Later in the year, Lunar Caravans was bought by Lunar Automotive, a South African based engineering group, part of MEWA. New models of Lunar Caravans are still in production, but these are the models that you can still acquire:

Lunar Clubman (CK, ES, SB, Si, SR)
Lunar Taurus (560, 660, 680, 690)
Lunar Quasar (462, 524, 544, 574)
Lunar Alaria (Ti, FB)
Lunar Ariva
Lunar Stellar
Lunar Delta Ti
Lunar Ultima
Lunar Lexon.

What should I do if I have a Lunar Caravan?

There is nothing to worry about if you have a Lunar Caravan. As the company has a new owner and is preparing for launching new Lunar models on the market, you are safe.

Nicholas Marks, Lunar Automotive’s sole director, said:

“We have acquired a very experienced caravan manufacturing team whose expertise was instrumental in our decision to invest in the business. The MEWA group has been involved in specialist engineering and component manufacture for 100 years and this experience bodes well for Lunar to not only celebrate its 50th anniversary but to look forward to the next 50 years.”

The change of directors should not affect you as a previous owner of Lunar Caravan.

Are Lunar Caravans good?

Lunar Caravans are of good quality, lightweight, and offer a safe and habitable interior for long trips. In case you are looking to acquire a Lunar Caravan (which are still on the market), we present you below three Lunar caravans models that we believe are among the best lightweight caravans out there.

Lunar Clubman

Short description:

Year of release – 2015
Number of axles – 1
Actual weight – 905
Maximum weight – 1200
Number of beds – 4-5
Bathroom type – toilet and shower are completely separate.
Dimensions of the caravan outside (L x W x H) – 7.4 x 2.29 x 2.55
Dimensions of the caravan inside (L x W x H) – 5.8 x 2.08 x 1.93
The dimensions of the berths in the front of the trailer are 1.70 x 2.00
Sizes of sleeping beds in the back: bed on the right: 1.90 x 0.8; bed on the left: 1.90 x 0.8

The main advantages of this exclusive home: the ALDE heater.

ALDE is liquid heating the whole trailer! Designed for year-round use. ALDE does not drive warm air but heats up the batteries in the same way as in your home. It operates from a 220 V network (without gas, in three power modes), from gas-powered by 12 V, as well as in a combined mode (220V + gas), independently choosing an available energy source.

The ALDE heater also includes a boiler. From it, hot water in the caravan goes to the shower, washbasin and sink.

Lunar Ultima

Main features:

Unladen weight 1300 kg.
Maximum weight 1300 kg.
Has a panoramic sunroof with mosquito nets;
Hot water boiler combined with a heater;
Gas heater, gas stove in a portable kitchen;
Cassette-type toilet;
A 2 + 2 + 1 bed;
Spare wheel, brakes, and a hitch with a recoil brake.

Lunar Lexon

Features:

Unladen weight 1300 kg.
Maximum weight 1300 kg.
Dimensions are 6.8 meters, module +1 meter drawbar, width 2.28 meters, height 2.65 meters.
Panoramic sunroof with mosquito nets;
Hot water boiler combined with a heater;
Gas heater, gas stove in a portable kitchen;
Cassette-type toilet;
A 2 + 2 + 1 bed;
Spare wheel, brakes, and a hitch with a recoil brake.

What to keep in mind if you buy a used caravan

When you buy a new caravan you don’t have to worry about any faults it may have. This is not the case with a used vehicle, which needs to be checked inside and out.

From the outside, check the shock absorber, axles including the brake system, tires, lighting, tow bar, hitches (usually coupling heads), handbrake, and connector connection between the electrical outlet of the towing vehicle. The connector is typically 13 pins.

Ordering the good towing hook If yours is 7-pin, get an adapter. It is necessary to check the silk connection received. Braking must be measured on a bench. When you check your tires, it is not enough to measure the depth of the profile.

Since the trailer rarely drives, the tires are often in good condition for many years, however, the rubber mixture can leak from the tires’ plasticisers. UV radiation and salt from thaws accelerate this process. The wheels subsequently become porous and brittle. The age of the tires is decisive here.

Technical inspection of the caravan

The technical control examines the vehicles also after the expiration of the pads. A new caravan must be equipped with stabilization, a shock absorber, and an anti-lock system. The trailer already has a brake system.

In addition to the classic general inspection, the gas system should also be checked. Included in this system are the refrigerator (which usually runs on gas or electricity), heating and gas cooker, and gas lamps.
The underbody is often made of wood and composite wood panels on a metal frame. Check that the wood does not rot and that the metal does not show corrosion. In the vehicle, check for moisture on the roof and carpets, especially along with the corners and edges and access parts and seals of the roof hatch, doors, and windows.

The water system should also be inspected. All gas installation certificates must be current and valid (otherwise require a new certificate, which will lower the price). The condition of the entire gas system and the electrical system must also be checked. This also includes the battery. Corrosions are often found on the pipe connection.

The electrical equipment is installed so that a power supply is established on the 12-V network of the towing vehicle and its battery, but also on the 230-V network. The refrigerator can also run on gas or electricity. When you have finished the check, you can still examine the other equipment: the folding table, which can constitute a bed in the living room, the functions of all the hatches etc.

The bottom line

While Lunar Caravans have gone bust and been bought by a new company, it shouldn’t worry you as a customer. Your warranty is still available and Lunar Automotives is preparing to launch a new series of caravans that we are all looking towards.

Do you own a Lunar Caravan? What can you tell us about it? Please let us know if you got any questions for us.

FAQ on Are Lunar Caravans going bust?

Who has taken over Lunar Caravans?

Lunar Caravans has been taken over by Lunar Automotive, a South African based engineering group, part of MEWA

Are Lunar Caravans good?

Lunar Caravans are of good quality, lightweight, and offer a safe and habitable interior for long trips.

Is Lunar automotive still trading?

At the moment, Lunar Automotive is still trading, although we can’t see any news on their official website, apart from the news of the change of directors back in August 2019. It is believed that they will come back with new models of caravans in the near future.

References

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Are Lunar Caravans going bust?