Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Practical Motorhome

Between us, the team at Practical Motorhome have decades (possibly even centuries!) of motorhoming experience under our collective belt – but that’s not to say we don’t get things wrong every now and again. You learn from your mistakes, they say – which is why this issue, we’ve had fun rounding up 83 errors that we’ve made over the years, so that you don’t have to. Whether it’s forgetting your can opener, driving off with the hook-up lead still attached or walking over someone else’s pitch, you can find our list of faux pas on p24. And let us know if you think we’ve missed any – we’d love to hear from you, and find out what you’ve learned when motorhoming over the years. You can email us via talk@practicalmotorhome.com.…

1 Here’s a shot of our ’van on Cliff Parade in Hunstanton, Norfolk. As we live not far away, it’s a handy place to sit and enjoy the view with a cuppa. Simon Wixon 2 Amazing sunset at Mullaghmore, Ireland, after a spell of good weather. Motorhoming at its best. If we only had weather like this all summer! Harris Gerrow 3 Stunning sunset on our second night at Easington Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club CL, following a day out on Holy Island. Ideal location for touring North Northumberland, which has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the UK! Paul Gregory Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: Road Trip Europe –…

OUR EXPERT TEAM Sarah Wakely Editor Paul Critcher Deputy editor Peter Baber Reviews editor Peter Byrne Content editor Jo Davies Staff writer Gentleman Jack Contributor Diamond Dave Contributor Nick Harding Contributor John Sootheran Contributor Andrew Jenkinson Contributor Nigel Donnelly Former PM deputy editor TECHNICAL ERRORS Let’s start with the basics, and some common problems to watch out for… 1 EMPTYING YOUR LOO IN THE WRONG PLACE It’s not always easy to find the chemical-disposal point on site, or perhaps you forgot to empty your cassette before you left to drive home – but it’s crucial to empty it out at a dedicated facility. Never empty a cassette anywhere else: it’s unhygienic, bad for the environment and really antisocial, too. SW 2 OVERLOADING YOUR HOOK-UP I was guilty of this one…

Just got off the ferry, perhaps after a rough night crossing, and don’t fancy the five-hour slog to those Vendée beaches? Just stay where you are – one of France’s finest walled towns is right in front of you! St Malo was severely damaged in August 1944 as the Allied forces tried to dislodge a German battalion that retreated to the city for a last stand, an event captured in Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All The Light We Cannot See (and more recently a Netflix film). But after the war, a far-sighted mayor insisted on rebuilding the historic town centre (known as the Intra Muros) brick by brick. Work was completed by the 1970s. It’s now yours to enjoy. DAY 1 8am Coffee and croissants The night ferry usually…

➲ Price TBC (£77,995 in 2024) ➲ Sleeps 4 (option for 5) ➲ Belts 4 (option for 5) ➲ Base vehicle Fiat Ducato ➲ Engine 2.2-litre, 140bhp ➲ Length/width/height 7.45/2.33/2.95m (24’4”/7’6”/9’7”) ➲ MTPLM 3500kg (option to raise to 3650kg) ➲ Payload 428kg ➲ Water (fresh/waste) 115/135 litres ➲ Leisure battery TBC ➲ Gas TBC Contact McLouis UK Address Orchard Works, Willersey, Broadway WR12 7QF Tel 01386 853 338 Web www.mclouisfusion.co.uk McLouis Fusion models were originally developed as a partnership between the Italian motorhome manufacturer McLouis and UK brand Auto-Sleepers. Initially, the idea was to tempt first-time buyers with a product that, while cheaper than Auto-Sleepers and possibly more youth-oriented, might potentially persuade them to consider buying an Auto-Sleeper motorhome in a more well-heeled future. This season, that philosophy seems to…

Smartening up your motorhome interior is a fine art. For vintage vehicles, or those with damaged interiors, there might be no alternative to cracking open the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to liven things up. The effects are really not bad if they are done with a bit of care, but too much colour, or careless application, can ruin a motorhome’s décor. Light touch Our 1998 ’van’s interior is just a little scuffed and dated, so we wanted to find some light-touch improvements that won’t divide opinion when the time comes for it to go to a new home. We decided to take our lead from general interior design trends, as well as what is being done in more modern vehicles to demarcate various zones without overpowering the space. Typically, this…

Petromax Stove Cup This cleverly designed stackable, portable 2-in-1 cup-stove has a 750ml capacity and is perfect for brewing up hot drinks or cooking small meals. Price £39.95 W whitbyandco.co.uk Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Kettle Cook Set Space-saving and stylish, this nesting set includes a 1.1-litre kettle/cooking pot and two cups, all made from food-grade silicone with anodised aluminium bases. Price £90 W seatosummit.co.uk Cotopaxi Bag Designed with versatility and smart storage in mind, this water-resistant polyester bag is as sturdy as it is cheerful and features two rugged wheels and a selection of handy interior pockets. Price £330 W uk.cotopaxi.com Palm Scrub Washing-up Brush This robust washing-up brush has an integrated detergent tank and button for releasing soap, and comes with its own handy storage stand. Price £12 W josephjoseph.com…

Our expert panel Sarah Wakely Editor-in-chief sarah@practicalmotorhome.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com Gentleman Jack Contributor askjack@practicalmotorhome.com Nick Harding Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com Diamond Dave Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com CAN WE GET RID OF THE SMELL OF CIGARETTE SMOKE IN OUR ’VAN? Q We recently bought a secondhand 2008 coachbuilt ’van, which we are really pleased with – apart from the smell inside it. The first owners were apparently smokers and although it’s not very strong now, there’s a definite smell of cigarettes when you step inside the vehicle. We have tried airing it out, with all the windows open during the warmer weather, but it hasn’t helped much. Are there any steps we can take to reduce the smell further, please?  Christian James A Diamond Dave replies… The main…

Recently, I was chatting with a friend who is about to embark on a London-to-Paris cycling challenge. Like me, he’d visited the country previously, and before too long, we were extolling the delights of la belle France and sharing tales of cross-Channel adventures. We both wondered why we haven’t visited even more often. There’s so much to enjoy – traditional rural villages, acres of rich vineyards, pristine beaches, historic cities, grand châteaux and wine on tap… and for motorhomers, a network of wonderful overnight spots known as aires. If you haven’t explored the country by motorhome before, check out our Cross-Channel Special, which starts on p44 and takes in the Dordogne, the Ile d’Oléron (p48) and St Malo (p56). Yours truly also makes a stop in nearby Jersey (p58), and…

Duration Three days When June 2024 Why? Explore a beautiful Atlantic coast island while avoiding those costly bridge tolls The Ile de Ré, nestling halfway down the west coast of France, has in recent years become something of a prime destination for motorcaravanners in the know. That’s because it has fine beaches, with proper waves and miles of fabulous sand, not to mention a handful of pretty seaside resorts. The island does have one snag, however, and that is the cost of actually getting there. At the time of writing, the toll to cross the bridge to the mainland was at least €16 between June and September (realistically, the only months when the sea is likely to be warm enough for an enjoyable swim), although you can get a seasonal…

Duration Seven days When May 2024 Why? To soak up some sun and enjoy the glorious scenery of the island Bom, bom, bom… duh, duh, duh, duuuh… I imagine it’s a generational thing, but every time someone mentions Jersey, I can’t help but hear the opening bars of the Bergerac theme tune. Such was the popularity of the 1980s detective series and its strong association with the Channel Islands. Bergerac was a showcase for the archipelago, which lies just off the Normandy coast and is made up of the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, along with a number of smaller islands. The self-governing bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the UK, but are Crown Dependencies, and although largely influenced by Britain, they have their…

Some time ago, when I started reporting on the motorhome industry and went to my first Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, I came across the Elnagh brand. Then, I just automatically assumed that it was somehow connected with one of the original members of the Dragon’s Den team. I later discovered, however, that she spells her surname slightly differently (Elnaugh). At that point, I hadn’t yet come across the propensity for some Continental leisure vehicle manufacturers to use English words for their motorhome branding, even if their product appears to have very little connection with the UK (or the US, when it comes to Trigano’s Kentucky Camp). Still, it is great news that Elnagh is now finally returning to the UK (see right), and we’re looking forward to testing its models…

A sign that things perhaps aren’t going so swimmingly in the motorhome market at the moment is the number of special offers being made – particularly as retailers look to shift their current unsold new and pre-owned stock to make way for 2025-season models. True, that’s typical for the time of year, but I’m noting signs that 2024 has been a tough time for motorhome sales generally. My report (see right) gives a taste of the type of deals on offer, but do note I’m writing this in mid-August. Typically, these are one-off offers on single vehicles, so you’ll need to act fast. More importantly, don’t be swayed on the price reduction alone. Be sure, for any vehicle, that it’s the right one for you. And always call ahead before…

Have you ever had problems with the ‘full’ light on the toilet cassette remaining lit? I had heard of this anomaly, but never experienced it myself until a recent weekend away, when the light stayed on after we had emptied the cassette. The light is triggered by a magnetic reed switch and inside the cassette, a float moves a magnet as it fills up. Various suggestions have been made about causes, from the float falling off its bracket to toilet paper getting wrapped around the float/magnet and stopping it returning once emptied. For the record, the second option is more likely – if the float did fall off, the light would never come on. Deciding against the complicated solutions I saw suggested online, I simply rinsed out the cassette several…

The Nightstop Scheme is run by us in conjunction with the Motor Caravanners’ Club (MCC), and the sites are certificated locations (CLs); you don’t have to join any club to use them. You’ll need to ring the relevant site to confirm whether there’s space for you before you visit: you’ll find information at www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops. For further information about the MCC, visit www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk. 1 Airman Hotel SG17 5JF  2 The Black Horse Pub HP16 9AX 3 The Seven Wives PE27 5RF  4 The Penrhiwgaled Arms SA44 6LN  5 Railway Hotel SA32 7LQ  6 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 7 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 8 The Thelbridge Cross Inn EX17 4SQ 9 The Ship Inn YO15 1EW 10 The Crown Inn GL7 5QH  11 Elton Farm GL14 1JU 12 The Gloucester Old…

This month, I’m going to share my absolute must-haves for any motorhome trip. These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill essentials, however; they’re those special items that turn a good tour into a really great one. 1 CORKSCREW I do love a glass of red wine. I’m no connoisseur, but a glass of something full-bodied, with a fine view to enjoy while you’re savouring it, is always a holiday highlight for me, so a reliable corkscrew is vital. Trust me, you really don’t want to be that person struggling to open a bottle with a knife or a screwdriver – I’ve been there. 2 COFFEE MACHINE For coffee lovers, a Nespresso machine is a luxury worth making space to accommodate. It’s quick and easy, and it gives you a barista-quality brew without…

1 Alabaster Coast, Normandy On the beautiful Alabaster Coast in Normandy, with a pebble beach at the foot of the campsite, Camping Falaises is the ideal spot for a seaside break that is not too far from the ferry terminals of Le Havre and Caen. Surrounded by the towns and landscapes that inspired the Impressionists, with plenty of family activities on site and a spectacular walk along the clifftop, you’re sure to have a relaxing holiday here. W camping-les-falaises.fr 2 White Sea, Brittany The location of Camping du Letty, on the Brittany coast, with a sandy beach and the White Sea only metres away, is just part of this site’s appeal. The peaceful 11-hectare woodland makes this a haven for wildlife, but there’s also a water park, with activities that…

Duration Three days When Spring 2024 Why? The chance to explore further and learn more of the local history Having been fortunate enough to travel extensively in Europe and the UK in the past 30 years, it was inevitable that one day, we would return to an area that we had visited many years ago. Recently, we did just that, with a brief stay at Sandringham Camping and Caravanning Club Site, not far from King’s Lynn. Last time we were here, we were attending an owners’ rally, also near this pretty market town. First port of call To get the best from a repeat visit, we find the trick is to search for more information about a destination and discover new places to see. Armed with a map of King’s…

ŠKODA S1203 1968-1999 Škoda’s long-lived S1203 was for ages Czechoslovakia’s and Slovakia’s most popular base vehicle for motorcaravan conversions… principally because it was their only light commercial vehicle in volume production during the second half of the 20th century. The idea for such a vehicle was first mooted in 1956, but it was 12 years before the first batch rolled off the production line. Despite the delays and ‘command economy’ bureaucracy, this was a very modern van, great to drive and extremely reliable. All were forward control, thus the in-line petrol engine was mounted under the cab seats and drove the independently sprung rear wheels via a manual gearbox with a floor-mounted gear lever. Factory-converted glazed vans offered a light, airy and relatively roomy space for conversion, and included a…

A mysterious malfunction Problems that come into the workshop are pretty steady and straightforward most of the time, but every so often, things can go a bit pear-shaped. I had one such occurrence recently, concerning an A-class motorhome which the owner had brought in for its MOT and service. It should really have been nothing to get too stressed about – other than the poor engine bay access you’d expect in an A-class vehicle. Everything seemed to go perfectly well, with no MOT problems and a straightforward service, followed by a successful road test that revealed no apparent issues with the ’van. Sudden loss of power The customer collected the vehicle that same afternoon, but only got a couple of miles away before it suddenly lost power – luckily, not…

JUNE 2013 This summer issue was all about getting away in your ’van, with trips across the UK and Europe. Plus oil changes, towball bike racks, and what kind of motorhome can £100,000 buy you? A good one, we hope! Portugal’s Algarve provided the perfect getaway for Donna and Phil Garner as they journeyed 1000 miles south to Albufeira and beyond to enjoy some much-needed sunshine Points of view were the subject of this picture-led report, which highlighted the best places in Europe to see the most amazing scenery (right). Our live-in test featured the mighty Niesmann+ Bischoff Arto 83 F – yours for a cool £111,000. But just what was included for the money (below)? MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to purchase a past issue of Practical Motorhome magazine? Simply…