Going Cockpit MKII

The caravan that goes places where the conventional caravan doesn't

QUIRKY caravans are in fashion – and the stunningly-styled Going brand is out there with the best, wooing fans of small tourers. 

The first model to hit these shores was the revised Going Cockpit. It’s easy to tow, store and manhandle. 

The Cockpit’s appeal is to the small car owner of course. But it will also suit couples who want to get off the beaten track, because the Going also provides you with perfect day-out accommodation. 

We matched up the distinctive, GRP shelled Cockpit with a comparable in the car world, the Skoda Roomster, a small people carrier with quirky looks. Hitch up the Cockpit and you have an outfit that’s going to turn heads – and it did, as we found out with our weekend spent with the duo. 

Red Lion Caravan Centre has been importing Goings since 2005. In its current guise, the exterior has a one-piece front window, replacing the split unit on the last model. 

Grab handles have been added at the front and the interior has new, bright, soft furnishings, a better finish and extra storage. 

The Cockpit is a rear door entry tourer and for extra headroom it’s got a pop-top. 

Towing the Cockpit proved so easy. You can get to places where larger tourers would simply be out of bounds and see some cracking scenery in the process. 

We took the Cockpit up into the beautiful Lune Valley in Cumbria. Equipped with a picnic, the small size of the Cockpit was going to prove its worth as we managed to pull into a super spot and park. With only two corner steadies the Cockpit is surprisingly stable – even with two adults and an energetic 10-year-old! 

Once the legs are down the next job is to pop up the roof. It takes just a minute to do, providing the essential headroom while sited. 

First impressions of the Going’s interior are a little mixed when it comes to the décor. It’s very bright, with orange curtains and upholstery. The furniture feels robust, inspiring confidence in the caravan’s build. 

The kitchen is basic, as you would expect. The hob has twin burners (no grill) and the small sink doesn’t have a drainer. But cupboard storage beneath is good. It’s here that the water container is placed (cold water only). 

Opposite the wardrobe is a small cupboard and, at the top, the wardrobe has a useful shelf. Going has done its best to grab as much storage where it can and applied it where it makes best sense. 

The wardrobe’s base houses a small portable toilet – it’s an emergency loo really, though! 

The Cockpit doesn’t have a fridge in the conventional sense, but a cool box is next to the wardrobe. The power source is 12-volt and mains and of course it can be moved out to load up and go. 

The lounge is best described as cosy! Although the seating is relatively hard, it’s comfortable. 

The front window doesn’t open and at night, a clip-on blind is supplied for privacy. Using the lounge, it’s amazing how quickly you adapt to the size and, when a mains hook-up is available, a small 1kw heater quickly warms the Going, as we experienced.

The front is basically a double bed, and you need to sleep length ways. The table forms part of the base. The bed is a tad hard but it’s perfectly acceptable and, if you have been used to tenting, then the Cockpit’s bed will feel five-star! 

So a weekend with the Cockpit proved enjoyable. For a family like us, accustomed to normal-sized tourers, the Cockpit seemed every inch the micro tourer it is. 

However, look at it from a tenter’s point of view, and the Cockpit is a very attractive buy. 

We found through towns, motorways, B roads and down even tracks, the Cockpit is a well-behaved tourer. 

Oh, and talk about turning heads! The looks on pedestrians’ as well as motorists’ faces at the Roomster/Cockpit outfit were quite amusing – who says you need a big monster outfit to get noticed! 

All in all, the Cockpit was seen as it should be, a micro tourer that will fit in most people’s garages and easy to get down narrow driveways. It opens up the idea of camping with a touch of comfort. 

We would probably opt for alloy wheels and hot water and an extra plug socket but otherwise the Cockpit is a super buy. 

Our verdict:

Only one mains socket, no hot water, only a pull-out portable toilet, only a twin-burner to cook on – but what a superb product! 

As a first step up from camping, the Cockpit is terrific. If you don’t have space to store a conventional caravan at your house, the chances are you might have space for a Cockpit. 

If you have a small car it will probably cope with a Cockpit. And it’s got style in huge measure. Quirky caravans are in vogue – and this is worth a close look.