TEST BAREFOOT FORWARD
FORWARD
THINKING Rob McCabe takes a look at a small caravan with a big personality
I
f you were asked to conjure up an image of a 2023 British-made caravan, I bet you wouldn’t come up with anything like this. The tiny Barefoot Forward is the latest model from Cotswolds-based Go Barefoot. It’s pure retro chic on the outside and pure 21st-Century style and glamour inside. Small it may be, but there’s a lot to talk about...
BUILD QUALITY
Unconventionally, the Barefoot’s bodyshell is a GRP monocoque (no framework in site) that sits on a bespoke, in-house-manufactured chassis. It is a beautifully-sculpted thing, with elegantly-moulded light clusters front and rear, and a thick, thumping feel to its smooth flanks. It sits very low to the ground, but there’s a neat, built-in step anyway. On your way in, admire the hefty metal hinges that support the equally 82 August 2023
hefty, airliner-style entrance door – oh, and the suitably retro-looking hubcaps that have been polished within an inch of their gleaming little lives. Indoors, you’ll find high-quality materials everywhere – even the table top is white glass fibre.
TOWING
Most Ford Focus-sized hatchbacks will pull this without the slightest complaint – the Forward is only 1,100kg fully laden and, at a mere 6ft 4in wide, few country lanes will present a challenge. It’ll even fit in some garages. A Winterhoff hitch stabiliser is fitted as standard for added peace of mind – although towing something this light and narrow should be straightforward. The two-bike cycle rack on our test caravan is a £950 option, which includes a redesigned gas locker to accommodate it. www.camc.com
