Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i Practical Caravan

“Our judging team attends every caravan preview event to draw up a longlist of runners and riders”Niall Hampton page 57 Where are we? The Lawns, Cottingham, East Yorkshire What’s going on? The Caravan Extravaganza is staged every September by the Hull & East Riding of Yorkshire Caravan Manufacturers’ Association. As they’re based much further south, Adria or Bailey don’t participate in this event, so the other leading UK brands take centre stage. We visit The Lawns to conclude the judging of our annual Tourer of the Year Awards (p57). Which outfit? Looking down from The Lawns Centre’s roof, Swift’s 2018 tourer portfolio is in the foreground, with the Coachman display beyond it.…

EMAIL letters@practicalcaravan.com  or HASHTAG us on social media #practicalcaravan The views from our favourite CL site at Leyburn in Yorkshire. Craig Young  Had a great family week in our classic Buccaneer at Eagle Point, Bantry. With a sheltered beach for kayaking, boating and swimming, we can recommend it for kids! Colin and Stephanie Shepherd My partner repairing his bike while on holiday at Stonebridge Lakes, Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Who said caravanning was all about relaxing? Diane Bell Just wanted to share the view from our site in Oldevatnet, Norway. Rob Denson…

Winner Swift Basecamp Price £16,300 Berths 2 MTPLM 994kg Payload 111kg THE BASECAMP HAS been with us for some time now – in fact, the first year’s production has long since sold out – so it may come as something of a surprise to find it listed here. That’s because the new van was launched too late to qualify for last year’s competition, and the success of the model – both in terms of sales and influence on the market as a whole – made it an easy choice for our judges. The concept is simple: there is a whole breed of tent-campers who would enjoy the additional comforts that a proper roof over your head brings, but don’t like the idea of owning – or indeed towing – a…

Winner Bailey Unicorn Segovia Price £25,999 Berths 6 MTPLM 1767kg Payload 180kg IT CAN BE difficult to innovate in tried-and-tested layouts such as the fixed-bunk family van, but with the Segovia, the only new model in the revamped Unicorn range, Bailey has done just that. And by adding a fashionable centre-washroom to a six-berth model, it has created something you can’t find anywhere else: a caravan that offers true privacy for both parents and children. This is also the first truly family-friendly Unicorn layout, in spite of its Senator predecessor’s strength in this sector. The key to the Segovia’s flexibility is its twin-axle chassis, which ensures a roomy lounge and generous kitchen, despite that space-sapping centre washroom. The extra length also makes the most of the fourth-generation Unicorn’s improved styling,…

2017 Compass Camino 660 Berths 4 MTPLM 1800kg Price new £26,295 Price now £24,995 We said ‘The Explorer Group has revamped its Compass brand for 2017, with three new ranges and a clutch of fresh layouts. The most exciting is this flagship Camino 660, with a transverse rear island bed and central washroom. It takes its inspiration from last year’s winner, but some significant improvements make this just about the perfect luxury caravan for a couple. ‘There’s a comfortable and spacious lounge for up to six, without sacrificing the generous kitchen. The clever washroom can be set up as a full-width affair, split across the centre of the van, or as an en suite for the fabulous master bedroom. Throw in the fact that chic blue sidewalls make the 660…

Bailey Pursuit 570-6 Tested by Alastair Clements Price £16,499 Berths 6 MiRO 1276kg Payload 174kg MTPLM 1450kg IN A NUTSHELL Family van heads south to do what it does best AFTER PLENTY OF shorter local trips, our budget six-berth Bailey Pursuit finally got its first fortnight-long family tour in August, ferrying four members of the Clements clan (and two dogs) on holiday to some of our favourite south-coast destinations. We hitched up to a Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI that, with an 85% match figure of 1533kg, was never troubled by the Pursuit, which followed faithfully with barely a shimmy over more than 300 miles. Our first stop was the fine Camping and Caravanning Club site at Adgestone on the Isle of Wight, where the Bailey took a bit of levelling…

‘Leave the caravan on its pitch and you’ll find this big estate is as quick as many sports cars’ Model tested 530d xDrive M Sport Price £52,305 Kerbweight 1875kg What’s new? The new BMW 5 Series Touring is BMW’s latest estate car. The saloon version was named ‘Car of the Year’ by our colleagues on What Car?, and we’ve been keen to get behind the wheel ever since. This month we’re towing with the 530d xDrive Touring, which combines a powerful diesel engine with four-wheel drive. What are we looking for? With a list price of more than £52,000, this is an expensive car. It’ll need to be multi-talented to justify its cost. Towing ability The 530d xDrive Touring is one of the best tow cars we’ve driven for a…

ASK ANY TOURER salesperson which layouts are the most sought after in used caravans and they will tell you – big family layouts are best-sellers. Six-berth tourers for sale can be as rare as hen’s teeth in peak season, so when we were trawling the dealer websites, we were keen to check out some newer used examples. A trip to Lincolnshire saw us drop in at Torksey Caravans, who also own Sheffield Caravans. At Torksey, the company recently expanded to take in an extra three acres, allowing excellent viewing of both new and used models. As Swift and one-time Sterling dealers, the company boasts plenty of used stock to browse through. We chose twin- and single-axle six-berths, both from Elddis Caravans. The twin-axle, the Elddis Crusader Tempest EB, was a…

Don’t get in a flap about storage I LIVE IN Germany and am a regular viewer of Practical Caravan TV, enjoying every show. While being informed about vans from the UK market, I also enjoy viewing the campsite reviews. I’m sure that one or two will fit our needs when visiting the UK in the future. Although towing a Fendt Saphir 515 SG, I have always liked the looks and features of UK-produced caravans. Now that Swift has entered the European market, I always call in at the CMT show in Stuttgart to have a nose around. I have come to a conclusion: if you were to throw a Continental van and a UK van into a huge pot and give it a good stir, the finished product would be…

TOP EVENTS... Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular The season comes to an end with a bang or two at Alton Towers, as the much-loved theme park rides become the backdrop to a spectacular fireworks display to celebrate Bonfire Night. After the display, the park becomes a playground once more for the evening, where you can enjoy the rides in the darkness. Date 4–5 November Web www.altontowers.com Miss Elizabeth See the glorious Trentham Estate from a new viewpoint, with a trip down the mile-long lake in the Miss Elizabeth. While you admire Capability Brown’s landscaping, there is a chance to learn more about what you’re looking at during the guided cruise. With hourly sailings, catch the boat from the northern jetty at 1pm or the southern jetty at 1.30pm. Date 21–29 October…

Winner Xplore 422 Price £14,249 Berths 2 MTPLM 1077kg Payload 118kg MANUFACTURERS serving the entry level sector have a knotty problem to overcome: how much kit can you leave out of a van, while still making it appeal to potential buyers? It really is a conjouring act. This year, tracking year-on-year price increases, we’ve had to up the price ceiling for our budget category to £16,000 – it may not be a realistic amount for every buyer, but for those who can enter the market at this level, then there’s a decent choice. Here at Practical Caravan, we’re big fans of tourers that lower the barriers to entry and make the pastime more accessible. A van that has everything one needs to get started straight away ticks our boxes here…

Winner Bailey Unicorn Cabrera Price £23,999 Berths 4 MTPLM 1532kg Payload 155kg BAILEY’S PREMIUM LINE-UP is now in its fourth generation and a revamp both inside and out has improved the look and functionality of the range. For the Cabrera, this means a longer longitudinal island bed, a better-accessed transverse washroom, a good-sized kitchen and slightly longer sofas. Much of its exterior styling is borrowed from Bailey’s top motorhome range. Decorative black panels now flank the signature vertical front window. The black is echoed in the A-frame and the linear graphics. On the offside, the gas locker has been redesigned for easier access. That redesign affects the interior space – the kitchen loses the slight L-shape, determined by the gas locker position, of previous generations. Deep drawers replace the shallow…

Winner Coachman VIP 620 Price £28,455 Berths 2 MTPLM 1830kg Payload 160kg STEP THROUGH THE door of the VIP 620 and you get plenty of ‘wow’ factor. It has no fixed bed, but an outstanding kitchen and washroom are what secured the award for best seasonal tourer. “It probably has the best kitchen and the best bathroom here today,” said one of our judges. The VIP 620 is based on last season’s Laser 620. It has a long kitchen with a sink and hob at the centre, with plenty of space either side for two people to share cooking duties. Three new-look roof lockers and a microwave occupy the upper stretch, while three deep drawers and a cupboard at either end, one with wire racking, will deal with groceries, crockery,…

PART OF THE appeal of touring is its outdoor nature, but once the novelty wears off, this can quickly start to grate. If you’re not on a hardstanding pitch, for example, expect soaked feet every time you leave your home from home. Even the best-kept grass has an amazing ability to soak shoes and trainers when the weather is anything more than slightly damp. Clearly, uprated footwear is a must, and probably one of the reasons many of us always throw in a pair of wellies. They’re completely watertight, easy to put on and take off, and don’t cost a lot. But while they’re fine for pottering around the site, even an average-length dog walk is all that’s needed to highlight their shortcomings. In warm weather, there’s nothing like pure…

THE I40 IS an example of Hyundai focusing on what it does best, because it’s a sensible, practical, well-equipped car that is cheap to run. The Korean manufacturer proved it knew the car’s target market perfectly when it launched the Tourer (estate) version before the saloon back in 2012, because it was always going to be snapped up by people who wanted a dependable workhorse with a bit of luxury thrown in. Tow car owners, for example. It was designed from the very outset with European buyers in mind, so was both penned and engineered at the company’s centre in Germany. Under the bonnet was a range of engines that comprised a 1.6-litre and a 2.0-litre petrol, and a 1.7-litre turbodiesel that was available with two power outputs. A six-speed…

THE ELDDIS AVANTE has become one of the most popular Elddis models with caravanners wanting a vast range of layouts, and a decent price and specification. The Avanté has seen changes over its history, some possibly not as good as many hoped, but over recent years, it’s a line-up that impresses in both build and style. The 462 from 2008 is an end-washroom two-berth offering a large front lounge area, with a side dresser and kitchen opposite. It also offers plenty of storage for a couple taking a long tour, with acres of roof lockers and lots of other storage capacity, especially in the washroom at the rear. The specification includes a BPW chassis, alloy wheels, oven, microwave plus fridge, and blown-air heating. So the Avanté Club range offers a…

Keeping connected Price £39.99-£65.99 Web www.cellhire.co.uk If you enjoy updating your Facebook page with travel photos or finding local attractions while abroad, but are fed up with a poor phone signal and lack of free Wi-Fi, this handy little black box could become your new best friend. The portable Wi-Fi router (about the size of a pack of cards) is just like your internet box at home. But instead of attaching it to a landline, it uses a data SIM card. Once the unit’s charged, you just pop in a SIM card (available to buy from the same website) and switch it on. We tested a 30-day SIM for use in France, but they are available for other countries. Choose a 3GB or 6GB SIM card for either 3G…

1 In the treetops When it comes to autumn colour, it doesn’t get much more spectacular than Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Stroll the 17 miles of paths through the Silk Wood, Old Arboretum and downs grassland to admire the huge variety of trees, including fiery maples. For an aerial view, try the recently installed treetop walkway. The beautiful riverside Burton Hill Caravan and Camping Park is open until the end of October, so you’ve plenty of time to see the peak of Westonbirt’s display. Web www.burtonhill.co.uk 2 Gold or bronze A small paradise in ‘big tree country’, Faskally Woods surround Loch Dunmore in Perthshire, perfect for capturing the golden reflections as the trees turn. The woodland flanks the River Tummel and is part of Tay Forest Park. The…

#WinaCoachman TO CELEBRATE THE 50th anniversary of Practical Caravan and 30 years since the launch of the very first Coachman caravan, the UK’s biggest caravan magazine and its premier luxury tourer manufacturer have teamed up to bring you our greatest-ever giveaway, worth a whopping £23,995! Redesigned from the ground up for the 2018 season, the all-new Coachman VIP boasts a stylish, aerodynamic bodyshell and a clean, modern interior. There are all the luxuries you would expect from a top-spec tourer, from the Al-Ko ATC stability control to the Alde central heating, the luxurious bathroom and the biggest front sunroof in the business! The VIP 460 is a classic two-berth with a spacious front parallel lounge and a huge end washroom – the perfect van for couples who love touring in…

High Onn is lovely – doggy heaven! Annette Cordon (Facebook) Site essentials This small, simple site is, indeed, a gem. Set in peaceful farmland, it looks out towards The Wrekin and the Shropshire Hills and is completely unspoilt – perfect for a quiet break away from a hectic life. Dog owners will like the extensive private dog walks around the former wartime RAF base. There is no facilities block, but there is a service point and pitches have electric hook-up, and you can stay connected via the Wi-Fi. You can choose from one of the 33 hardstanding pitches or the grass pitches. Cyclists will enjoy pedalling through the surrounding lanes or alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. The site is also ideal for those wanting to sightsee. Visit nearby Ironbridge for…

Winner Outwell Nordic Coast Collection Pebble 300A Price £799 Size 3m x 2.5m Fixing height 2.4-2.55m Weight 23.5kg OUTWELL HAS OVERHAULED its awning range for the 2018 season, and the Pebble is part of its more budget-oriented Nordic Coast Collection. Essentially, that means you only get multi-inflation, not the Smart Air single inflation system available in the higher-priced Nordic Shore Collection, while the Outtex 3000HD polyester fabric only has a hydrostatic head of 3000mm, compared with 6000mm. But it’s still 300 denier, the same as in the more expensive range. And with the elegant, bow-like shape to the front windows, inspired by the boats and the wind-swept curves of the Nordic coast, this awning very much belies its budget price. In fact, Outwell’s designers have tried – largely successfully –…

Winner Alaria TI Price £32,499 Berths 4 MTPLM 1782kg Payload 160kg THE ALARIA TI WON by a comfortable margin, which just goes to show what a little bit of factory re-engineering can do. When Lunar’s luxury range, complete with self-levelling, was launched late last season, we were impressed, but not, it has to be said, wildly excited. Then, in time for this season, Lunar widened the space in its assembly line pit so that it could widen the van to eight feet – and still fit a single-piece roof. The result is breathtaking. Here is a front lounge you will really want to sit in, and never want to leave. The comfy L-shaped sofa in front of large windows gives you views in every direction you could wish, while at…

Winner Swift Sprite Major 6 Price £17,430 Berths 6 MTPLM 1468kg Payload 174kg OUR WINNING VAN here has six berths, but riding on a single axle and with an internal length of just over 5.5 metres, we see it being mainly used as a tourer for four, with extra space for occasional guests. A previous category winner, and regular recipient of four or more stars in periodic reviews, Swift’s Sprite Major 6 doesn’t break any new ground layout-wise but what it does, it does very well. Up front, the Major 6 has the classic parallel lounge and centre chest combo with an offside dinette opposite a midships kitchen. The space between lounge and dinette is demarcated by a wardrobe that’s cut back to increase the feeling of space. This vibe…

WESTFIELD IS A German firm whose awnings are distributed in the UK by Quest Leisure. The Gemini 390 Pro is from a lightweight range of entry-level awnings that’s new for the year. They are made from a 150 denier polyester fabric coated to give protection from UV damage. This is less dense than you could get elsewhere, but the fabric does have a 4000mm hydrostatic head. The Gemini uses an Advanced Air System, designed for multi-inflation, where you inflate each of the four main tubes separately, and single inflation, where you inflate the awning from one point. As a default, the awning is supplied ready for multi-inflation, and the separate connecting tubes for single inflation are £99 extra. Quest Leisure says there are two good reasons for sticking with multi-inflation…

Model tested Sports Tourer 2.0 170PS Turbo D Tech Line Nav Price £24,080 Kerbweight 1633kg What’s new? The Sports Tourer is the estate version of the new Vauxhall Insignia. There’s some family resemblance to the previous generation, but this is a very different car. There’s more luggage space than before and more room for rear passengers. With a respectable kerbweight of 1633kg and a legal towing limit of 1950kg, the 2.0-litre diesel we’re testing has strong tow car credentials. It’s cheaper than most of its key competitors, too. What are we looking for? A promising specification doesn’t necessarily translate to reassuring towing out on the road. How well does the Insignia stack up? And have any compromises been made to sell the Insignia at such an affordable price? Towing ability…