Lunar Caravans Administration
Comments
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Glad we got the Collective Pronoun sorted. Nice little bit of divisive off thread posting BB🙄For those that missed it, the post was more about Northern and Southern, than Non or None. Nothing to do with dialects by the way.....
Back on thread...hope things go well for those of you with Lunar’s. The end users as well as staff at the work face shouldn’t have this kind of stress and upheaval, it’s very sad.
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I have not got that inside knowledge of either of those businesses to know that is the reason they failed. Contrarily, the info in the public domain relates Lunar's present issue only to its current debts.
Reportedly, their order books are healthy, if so there is no lack of punters.
That's not saying their QC is not as you state, but that IMO is a failing throughout the UK's leisure vehicle industry, but it does not stop them achieving good order books.
If as reported the order books are sound, then hopefully there will be a buyer, though possibly not one willing to take on all past liabilities like from warranty work.
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pardon?....whats my post got to do with anything you've just posted?
several posters, yourself included always use 'none' where I would have used 'non'.....I've seen this in posts for ages and I was wondering 'why'...
not dialects? I've never heard anyone, ever, say 'none disclosure' or 'none awning' (even the club writes non-awning) yet several posters use it regularly on CT....perhaps no one in the west country ever says that...hence my thoughts on dialect.
when checking the posters who used this particular phrase, the common denominator seemed to be their location, as printed on their avatar....it didn't take much spotting TBH...so I thought, why not ask those posters?
which I did....observational, I thought.
if you think that's divisive, carry on.
being a bit over sensitive I'm afraid.....
forget it and move on (one
)..... life's too short.1 -
I think it is a real pity to hear about Lunar caravans. I could be completely wrong here, but they may not be the last to go.... The British caravan industry have a number of issues to take on board. As well as build quality, user payload is a huge problem for many resulting in so many van's being overloaded. Then there is the increase in the take up of motorhomes possibly instead of caravans, and the whole discussion concerning the towing ability of rechargable/ hybrid cars etc. Perhaps we will see a decline in the British caravan industry.
I've never owned a Lunar van, but sad to hear another manufacturer bite the dust.
David
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The other thing, of course...... and I'm no expert..... is that something positive could come out of it all (although less likely). Perhaps someone else will acquire the company.... Swift, Bailey???
'....Administration is not a long-term solution in itself, instead it provides a company with breathing space during which time various options for the future direction of the business can be explored.....'
David
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The company stated "challenging times" as well as cash flow problems. I think the industry is having a hard time. I noted in the C&CC magazine a comment from the retiring DG that he though motorhome sales and tents would probably continue but the caravan industry was more challenging unless they went down the lightweight route etc.
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It is what has been said so many times purchasers of caravans want all the gizmos and then tow it with a a car that does not cost anything to run,ie small
so the lightweight idea is going to be an almost non starter with families especially, but as the cc stated last year? that the ownership of small campervans was on the increase,and when staying on sites as often as we do it is very noticable and a lot seem to be VWs and very new, as we spoken about tents do not need large parking/storage just maybe a small trailer ,there were 10 tents on Seacroft 0 -
It might be that manufacturers have thought some want all the gizmos but I think there are a lot of younger potential users out there who might like innovative smaller tow vans for smaller cars etc where they can add or take out fittings. The whole industry needs a rethink for survival, they can't go on in the same old vein. (Just my thoughts, probably better for another thread on the subject?!)
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from a MH perspective, according to an interview with Hymer top brass, PVC sales were the only sector that were still making decent sales figures....as far as I recall, .coachbuilt MH generally flat, caravans down slightly.
as I posted earlier, second half of this year reported very slow at Swift.
wasnt there a thread about Auto Trail shedding staff despite a good first half year but based on a really tough forecast for the second?
of course, I'm talking mainly MHs but Lunar do 'make' MHs.....(a lot of them made at other factories...in Italy I think..) and I honestly didnt see them making any sort of headway in this really changing, tough market.
their vans are expensive up against the huge competition as mentioned in another (Carado) thread where established brands are producing lower specced 'quality' vans rather than upspecced 'not quite so quality' vans...
was always going to be tough for a brand like Lunar (reputation based on caravan sales) to mix it with the big boys...
again, good luck to all affected....staff and customers.
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If, as has been said Lunar has full order books hopefully some company will take it on fairly quickly.
Maybe a way forward for some LV users could be via the dual purpose vehicle I've just been reading about in the Introductions "Newbie with a Tiny Outfit" I think it was titled.
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Daughter and husband of our best friends have just made a move in terms of outfit. They have gone from a tent to a Go Pod caravan, can tow it with their existing car. Both work full time, but love getting away for weekends as well as AL. Will live in garage. Similar age niece has gone the small camper conversation route as I mentioned. Makes sense for the next generation.
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I'm sorry to hear that Lunar has potentially gone. My previous two caravans were from Lunar and I particularly liked the neat finish inside. Unfortunately, the second caravan was built by apes however maybe that's a little harsh on our cousins. R
Reading the staff comments on working conditions I fear the main problem was the staff had been reduced to a state of "we don't care" hence the atrocious build quality of my previous caravan.
Such was the build that a person or persons would have to actively set out to produce the mess they passed on to me. It couldn't be accidental.
That said, there appears also to have been a lack of investment particularly when you look at the technical build innovations of their competitors.
For anyone to resurrect this company it will need huge investment to change the build techniques.
You have to feel for anyone currently awaiting delivery or who has taken delivery. Spares are clearly going to be a huge issue.
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As an owner of a twin axle Delta, I like all the space that I have in the van, the ALDE heading, mood lighting and the shower! I don't use the oven very much though, preferring the microwave.
I for one would give up caravanning if the industry moved to smaller less well equipped caravans.
It just goes to show that we all have different needs!
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I have to agree with Rocky- they deserve to go to the wall but I feel so sorry for the staff, dealers and customers. How does any CEO think that he can get by without putting any effort into his greatest asset- his staff!! Show them you are with them, show them they are appreciated, Make sure they are trained to top standards so they are proud of their product, Make sure they are included in the decision making by listening to their suggestions and they’ll follow you through a brick wall. So short sighted particularly after years of building up a company- I don’t get it, I really don’t. It makes no sense. I do hope other manufacturers are looking at this thread!!!
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That UK manufactures should now choose this time to start building wide body vans defies belief and it will be interesting to see how well they sell.
I suspect manufacturers have half an eye on what is likely to happen to the the caravan touring industry in coming years. Perhaps in offering such products they are looking to the seasonal campsite user where the caravan is used in a semi permanent way? Having a caravan capable of being towed is not only a lot cheaper than a static caravan it is also easier to move from site to site.
David
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Lovely little outfits. If you are coming from camping background, very nice, got all you need for comfy away days. No leaks either, which has to be a massive plus! 😁
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We agree Simon100, we also have a Delta. Love the caravan and use the onboard facilities at all times. My OH being 6’4” really doesn’t do ‘small spaces’!! He will even bang and knock himself in the space we have already so we would certainly give it up if caravans don’t meet our needs or desires. As you say we are all different. Do hope Lunar can sort something out for its customers and staff.
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Different thoughts😁 I see them as perfect touring vans, quick and easy to pitch up and pack up, rather than stuck on one site for days on end. I think someone mentioned earlier that they offer a nice option if you don’t want an MH but prefer to stick to a car/ outfit. Challenging though for the tall or less mobile. But a great way of moving on from tents, especially if you tour all year round. We would have loved one in our early touring days.
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From the age demographic of the bulk of caravan users we see on camping sites, the builders of caravans are all going to have to look somewhat wider or elsewhere pretty soon as these buyers fall off the perch.
Whilst when a lot younger we would both cope and enjoy camping in a minamalistic manner I feel with age that has passed us by, if things forced us back there I know if I continued it would be alone. So, assuming those aging main adopters and their later life acceptance links continue, what would the bulk of caravan buyers be using ten years on?
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Just been to our local dealer to stock up on supplies (pink and blue) and got chatting to the salesman, they are offering their their Lunar's with three years free servicing and 'warranty' covered by the dealer.
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