Static Charges

Moving large but light static caravans is a challenge, but use the right kit and it becomes that much easier

- Tom Cunningham

Draw a circle around East and North Yorkshire and you’ll be on the epicentre for two commodities that share a tenuous link: ice cream and holiday caravans. The world’s second largest ice cream manufacturer (by volume) is just up the road at Leeming Bar, and within 45 miles of Hanson Caravan Transport’s Gilberdyke base lies almost every static caravan manufacturer you could name.

“We’re on the corridor in and out of the factories; that’s really why we moved here,” Gary Hanson tells us as we look out across the company’s new 2.3-acre site, recently acquired to replace two smaller yards.

Hanson is now the nation’s largest static transporter, so location was key. “Probably 90% of the country’s static parc will come past us at some point on the nearby M62,” he remarks.

Leisure business booming

Currently the leisure business is booming. Manufacturers and holiday parks have seen record numbers of new caravans registered as more people look closer to home for their holiday requirements.

“When times are good, people buy caravans, when times are bad they rent them. The latter tend to keep their statics for a maximum of five years so it’s an ongoing replacement programme,” Gary explains.

Gary, Paul and Dawn Hanson share the day-to-day running of the company, started in 2010, although this is Gary’s second start-up. “I had a spell as an ownerdriver from 1999 until 2009 but this is really a numbers game. You’re never going to make much more than a living with one truck,” he admits.

So, after a year out, the married couple joined up with Paul to launch the company they have today. “At the start we had the idea of more buying and selling than transporting but sometimes you have to just go in the direction customers dictate,” Paul says.