Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Practical Caravan

Whether you're on tour or at home, relax with a cup of tea and some brain-teasers to ponder! SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3×3 box WORDWISE You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: cut in 20 = Average More than 40 = Well done HALF & HALF Which 1960s dance craze was particularly associated with a 1964…

BUSES, TRAMS, EVEN FERRIES, can open up your options on a touring holiday. With the freedom to let the day unfold, you don’t need to gaze wistfully at that inviting pub on your way back to the car - enjoy a pint (or two) and catch the bus back! Leaving your car at the site can take the stress out of day trips, especially if you’re heading somewhere with narrow roads or daunting city centres. Public transport will also save you money on fuel and parking. If you’re travelling with children, family tickets are the way to go, and if you have a bus pass, that’s a bonus. All-day tickets let you enjoy your day without having to rush back, too! SOUTH LYTCHETT MANOR, POOLE If you’re looking for a…

Following a sell-out event in 2022, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show returns to the NEC from 21-26 February 2023, kicking off the new year with an incredible showcase of leisure vehicles and camping equipment. For a chance to win one of 12 pairs of tickets, go to www.practicalcaravan.com/competitions and answer this simple question: How many Halls does the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show cover at the NEC… 4, 5 or 6? Tickets are limited and are on sale now for £12 at ccmshow.co.uk. For full competition T&Cs, see www.practicalcaravan.com. The competition closes on 10 February 2023.…

THIS FEBRUARY, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show returns to the NEC for the second year in a row, after an prolonged absence caused by the pandemic. Two years ago, when we were all in the middle of yet another lockdown, you might scarcely have believed a return to normality would ever be possible. But thankfully, the event is back, with a great selection of caravans and accessories on display. Supply chain issues mean the show, from 21 to 26 February, might seem a bit light on new products. But here’s just a few of the brilliant things you can expect to see. Caravans Adria The main new focus from the Slovenian manufacturer is the new-look Altea range (pictured), now with silver sides and felt-effect interior walls. But there is…

SHOWROOM USED TOW CAR USED TOW CAR TALK ABOUT STRIKING A NAIL with perfect accuracy. Škoda has long been known for producing sensible, practical cars, but until 2016 it hadn’t entered the wonderful world of SUVs. Then along came the Kodiaq, which was pretty much the ideal family vehicle. And now that it has been around for six years or so, there are numerous examples on the used car market. As we’ll see, the Škoda stacks up pretty well if you’re in the market for a previously owned tow car. What's it like inside? If what you’re looking for is a Swiss Army knife of a car, then the Škoda Kodiaq is an excellent place to begin your research. For a start, there’s loads of space, no matter whether you’re…

HEATING IN CARAVANS has progressed hugely since the days of gas fires lit by matches. Tourers now have various systems, with externally flued gas and the option of being operated electrically, too. In 1995, I remember thinking it was the ‘bee’s knees’ when our new van came with the gas and electric Carver Fanmaster. Posh or what? The Carver 4000A Fanmaster that we are looking at here is a development of the original. Many are still in use, offering reliable and efficient service. We can’t stress highly enough the importance of having your van serviced every year, as safety items can and do fail. But what we consider here is cleaning the heater externals (we’ve all turned on the heating at some point, only to be met with the smell…

IT’S A SAD REFLECTION of society these days that we are constantly obliged to protect our possessions against thieves. It’s become something of an arms race, too – just when the manufacturers think they’ve solved a problem with technology, along comes another criminal who’s found the means of defeating that particular technology! And so it continues. It’s fair to say that traditionally, caravans haven’t been the trickiest things to steal: window catches can almost seem to be made of jelly, door locks don’t always feel secure, and so on. Unfortunately, until manufacturers do something about that, we’re stuck with it and there’s not a lot that we can do about break-ins. One reassurance, though, is that when caravans are in storage (see p92), there’s not usually much of high value…

Featuring models on UK sale for 2023! FIND THE PERFECT FLOORPLAN FOR YOUR NEEDS Please check model details with the manufacturer or dealer before travelling to view or buy There are a wide range of caravan layouts to choose from (pictured below), all with their own pros and cons. When you’re trying to settle on the arrangement that will suit you, there are some points to think about that can help you decide. Here, we take a look at a few of the most popular floorplans out there, and what they can offer you. B TRANSVERSE ISLAND BED, REAR WASHROOM Island beds are a surprisingly recent addition to caravans, and were really introduced from the world of motorhomes. Caravans are usually a bit wider than motorhomes, though, so it is…

THE BIG SHOT SWALEDALE ‘We headed through the stunning scenery of SwaLedale, with its mosaics of fields, drystone walls and lovely villages' (p26) Where are we? Swaledale, Yorkshire Dales National Park Why tour here? One of the most northerly of the Dales, Swaledale truly is a quintessentially northern landscape, peppered with drystone walls and traditional field barns. It is named for the River Swale, which sits at the heart of the area. Swaledale is also the name of an iconic breed of sheep, which can be found grazing across the Yorkshire Dales. Don’t miss… Meadows of wildflowers, which are at their best during summer Photograph Alexander W Helin/Getty…

PICK OF THE MONTH Helmet liner This cosy liner fits snugly under your bike helmet and provides a thermal layer for your ears and head, while the micro knit material will keep you comfortable. Price £9.99 Web decathlon.co.uk Rumpl Blanket Stay stylish (and toasty) by the campfire with these beautiful blankets made from recycled, weather-resistant materials. The handy ‘cape clip’ means you can walk about while keeping warm! Price £90 Web rumpl.co.uk Jacket hanger You always need your coat to hand in British weather, so keep yours neat and tidy in your space with this multi-hook chrome rack, which can be hung on any horizontal pole. Price £5.99 Web campingworld.co.uk Dog hitching cable and stake This sturdy stake and cable set will give your four-legged friend some safe freedom. The…

Historic caravan gains recognition THE WANDERER, the first custom-built leisure caravan, constructed in 1885, has been given the prestigious Engineering Heritage Award from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The awards, set up in 1984, recognise pioneering artefacts, locations, collections and landmarks. Past winners include the Avro Vulcan bomber, the Mallard steam engine and Concorde. The caravan is under the custodianship of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, and resides in a renovated railway goods shed at its Broadway site, in Worcestershire. The Club says the horse-drawn van’s stand-out features - such as small wheels and a wide body to maximise the internal space, a sophisticated braking system, and a versatile layout that would still work well today - had been used before, but never together in the same vehicle. It also…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM FIRST LOOK Price £44,995 Berths 4 MiRO 1850kg MTPLM 2051kg WHEN ABI STOPPED making tourers back in 2001, Swift seized the chance to take on some of the best names in caravans. Several were very well known, such as Ace and Award. But some were saved for later: it wasn’t until 2014 that the Elegance reappeared as Swift’s distinctly upmarket range, boasting the firm’s new timber-free SMART construction system. Elegance has become a good seller, and a couple of years ago, the 8ft-wide Grande models were added to the line-up. Eventually, though, the interior needed a bit of a revamp and for 2023, Swift has gone for a complete redesign - which has included making all models Grande. We checked out the spacious twin-axle 845, which features…

TOW CAR TEST SHOWROOM TOW CAR TEST Price £62,785 Kerbweight 2080kg Towing limit 2400kg What's new? BMW uprated the X3 SUV back in 2021, with sportier styling, more equipment, and mild-hybrid technology to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. The M40d is the most powerful diesel in the range, with 340hp and 516lb ft of torque. It’s also heavy for a mid-sized SUV, with a kerbweight of over two tonnes. Standard equipment is generous as it should be with an asking price that falls the wrong side of £60,000. What are we looking for? The M40d needs to be very capable indeed to justify its premium pricing, when less expensive X3 models are strong tow cars in their own right. Is the M40d the car enthusiast’s choice, or will it also…

Kia Sorento The big Kia is another seven-seater, but trumps the Kodiaq by offering space for seven adults. All models are well kitted out; even the entry model has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, air-con and rear sensors. The 2.2-litre diesel is punchy and doesn’t make a fuss. Later cars will have some of the seven-year warranty still intact. Land Rover Discovery Sport The Land Rover might not have the space offered by the other two here, but it seats seven, with cachet others can only dream of. There are many petrols and diesels (we’d avoid the earliest diesels), and later cars offer mild hybrid tech. SE trim is our choice; it has dual-zone climate control, heated windscreen and heated front seats. Peugeot 5008 Not only is the…

SIZE You’ll see a number laid out on the side of the tyre. In this example, the tyre size is 205/55 R 16. Here, 205 denotes the width of the tyre in millimetres, as measured from shoulder to shoulder. The 55 displays the profile or aspect ratio of the tyre (the depth of the sidewall). This is expressed as a percentage of the width, so here, the depth of the tyre is 55% of its 205mm width. R shows that this tyre has a radial construction: the cord plies cross the tyre at 90° to the direction of travel, for added strength. Almost all new tyres are radial. The 16 shows the diameter of the wheel rim that the tyre is designed to fit, measured in inches. RATINGS Here, H…

CARAVAN AWNING LIGHTS take many forms. The newer tourers tend to have LED arrays mounted, in the main, above the door, although that’s not always the case. Some have a light bar fitted centrally, which is the optimum position for illuminating the inside of your awning, should one be deployed. However, older vans have tended to rely on one type of awning light, consisting of a light assembly let into the side of the caravan using a 21W tungsten bulb, accessed via an internal cupboard. It is this type that I have chosen to upgrade here. The assembly has several shortcomings, the first of which is quite major, namely, it doesn’t allow much light to escape. Another problem is that its 21W tungsten bulb means 21W of heat being generated…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! DO YOU SOMETIMES WONDER where to put passports, credit cards and cash when you decide to visit the campsite pool for a swim or a sunbathe? Take your valuables with you and you risk some opportunist stealing your bag, but leave them behind and equally, you risk losing them in a burglary. Caravanners who enjoy wild camping will also have read of break-ins during the night, when wallets and bags have been stolen while the owners sleep. I used to think there was little point providing a secure place inside the van, because caravans were so easy to tow away, but the advent of high-security hitches and chassis-attaching wheel locks has changed my mind - I now think that it has become a sensible precaution.…

Star Letter Lengthy debate In response to Amanda Grant’s letter (Do you speak Caravan? Issue 459), I believe we should add ‘length’ to her list of touring terms that require explanation. We have shipping length, body length, internal length and best of all, just length, which is not very helpful when reading on gov.UK that: The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3500kg is 7 metres. This length does not include the A-frame. Your Buyer’s Guide explains ‘Technical Terms’ very well, but there is nothing about the rules on length. It’s even more confusing when comparing information supplied by manufacturers, dealers and so on. Could you please explain the rules about caravan length and towing? Tony Maybury Reviews editor Peter Baber replies… If your tow…

Romantic getaways… Palatial Blenheim Beautiful Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is a wonderfully romantic day out. Birthplace of Winston Churchill and home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with interest. Take a walk through the palatial staterooms before escaping to the formal gardens for a stroll in the maze. Annual pass £35. blenheimpalace.com Stay at Diamond Caravan Park diamondpark.co.uk Magical Portmeirion Built by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis and set on a peninsula on the North Wales coast, the Italianate village of Portmeirion has a magical romantic quality that makes it unique. Recreate your own version of The Prisoner (the cult 60s TV series was filmed here) as you explore the picturesque piazzas and porticoes alongside manicured gardens. Tickets cost £10. portmeirion.wales Stay at BlaenCefn…

TRAVEL COUPLES Romantic A fine romance might be in the air, in which case, one of the first things that springs to mind is a glorious sunset. You’ve no doubt seen plenty on your camping trips, but how many moonrises have you witnessed? There is something very special, and intimate, about watching the moon slowly rise to its zenith, especially when reflected in rippling waters below. One splendid spot for moongazing is Dwyros campsite (dwyros.co.uk/croeso-1) at Aberdaron, on the Llŷn Peninsula. Just a short stroll from the village and the beach, this is the perfect place to cosy up under a blanket outside your caravan, maybe toast some marshmallows or enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple, and watch the wonderful moonrise together. Try a little stargazing, too - can…

‘The mighty cathedral dates back 1400 years as a centre for pilgrimage’ FITTINGLY BEAUTIFUL for a county described as the ‘Garden of England’, the medieval city of Canterbury in Kent is packed with history and culture. Its cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of great religious significance - the diocese is led by the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The city also has three universities, a castle and access to countryside and coast - and London, an hour away by train. HOUR BY HOUR DAY 1 9am Breakfast feast Get your bearings with a walk along the High Street, across to the north side of the River Stour, for a gourmet breakfast of Croque Monsieur or Eggs Royale at the Kitch…

Caravan Guard wins awards Specialist insurer Caravan Guard has won in two categories at this year’s Insurance Choice Awards, voted on by more than 60,000 consumers. The Halifax-based company was named Customer Service Champion and Best Motorhome Insurance Provider. EHG UK staffer raises £4700 Ian Lowther, a warehouse team leader at Erwin Hymer UK’s factory in Consett, County Durham, has raised £4700 for the Willow Burn Hospice, after completing a 215-mile coast-to-coast ultramarathon, the Race Across Scotland. The money that Ian raised was match-funded by EHG UK. Caravan thief jailed A man who went on a crime spree in April 2021, stealing a caravan and some agricultural vehicles, has been jailed for 11 months. John Hindle, from Burnley in Lancashire, was originally arrested on suspicion of stealing the caravan, then…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM FIRST LOOK Price £40,705 Berths 4 MiRO 1668kg MTPLM 1828kg MODELS DIDN’T HAVE to be fully new to make it onto the shortlist for our PC Awards last year, they could just be substantially altered from the previous season. That was certainly the case with Coachman’s Laser 665. This reworked model, and in particular its newly expanded washroom, so impressed our judges, they awarded it the Best Family Caravan title. Pitch and set-up The 665 is a standard Laser, so it only has a conventional width. But it still comes with twin axles. They should provide you with a much more comfortable tow, as should the ATC system fitted as standard. The silver grey sidewalls and svelte profile will also look stylish on the road. The Laser comes…

USED VANS SHOWROOM USED VAN BUYER ELDDIS HAS a long association with quality entry-level models, dating back to the 1980s. In 2008, the brand turned to lightweight tourer production, under the Xplore badge. This very quickly proved a successful move, with Elddis adding new models to the range, including a family-sized twin-axle. Although the standard spec was fairly basic, the Xplore did provide an option pack, which added a radio/CD player, alarm, spark ignition for the hob/oven, Winterhoff stabiliser, spare wheel and door flyscreen. This also proved popular, and the majority of Xplore models were sold with these additions. Model history The 302 was launched in late 2009, when we tested one from the factory and were struck by its ease of handling and towing. Rather surprisingly, this new lightweight tourer…

KNOW-HOW // CARAVAN SECURITY SERIES CUT OUT and keep GUIDE! ALTHOUGH THE CHANCES that your caravan will be stolen or broken into are thankfully small, the number of these unwelcome incidents has been growing, so there’s never been a better time to audit your security provisions and check they are all as good as they can be. Follow our expert guide to the top 10 security measures for your caravan, and you’ll be making life as difficult as you possibly can for the pesky thieves. Wheel locks Wheel locks come in all shapes and sizes, but one of the most popular is the Al-Ko Secure wheel lock. This device is smaller and lighter than most other wheel locks, so it’s easier to transport. The receiver is also fixed to the caravan’s…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! CARAVAN OWNERS are in a constant battle to outwit thieves who want to steal their tourers. Here are some tactics to turn the odds in your favour and keep your treasure as safe as houses, whether you’re planning to store your caravan at a dedicated site, or on your driveway. High-value items Caravans are valuable. To you, that value lies in the freedom they bring and the life-long memories they help you create. To a minority of others, it is measured in pounds and pence - whatever they can get for your van once they relieve you of it. The average caravan spends most of its life in storage, with just a few weeks or months each year on tour, so it’s really important to…