Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Practical Caravan

This month we asked, where have you been pitching up? Star photo Our winning entry receives one of these beautifully illustrated maps from Awesome Maps – check out the amazing range at www.awesome-maps.com WIN ME! TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICAL CARAVAN.COM NEXT MONTH'S THEME… BANK HOLIDAY FUN! Send us your best shots while out on site for a chance to win an Awesome Map…

EURO TRIP TRAVEL ‘We like to discover hidden corners, new to us, as well as revisiting old haunts’ Touching base with old friends is always good for the soul – and for a lifelong Francophile like me, the perfect excuse to embark on a tour across the Channel and a long-overdue catch-up with our copains français. But not one bicycle in sight, I should hasten to add. We had our Dalmatian Zara – not a good fit with life on two wheels – in tow as we wended our leisurely way through Normandy, Champagne, the Loire Valley and Loire-Atlantique, then back to Normandy and home. Post-Brexit, taking a dog to Europe is a bureaucratic and somewhat expensive challenge, but we decided not to let that deter us in our quest to…

Turkish caravans arrive in Leeds Compact model designed with UK market in mind A NEW TURKISH caravan is going on sale for the first time in the UK this month, at the Leeds Caravan Centre. Unlike previous Turkish caravans that have been sold in this country, the Capsule Mini, made by Umarsan Karavan, has a standard width and runs on an Al-Ko braked chassis with a shock absorber. The van itself is made from a one-piece glass fibre shell, which comes with two different exterior colour schemes. You can have it with the lower half in grey, or go for an all-white option. Leeds Caravan Centre, which already sells new Bailey and Xplore tourers, plans to sell the new model, which has an MTPLM of just 750kg, with a price…

After a wearying drive, trying to steer your caravan up onto a couple of plastic wedges can seem like a bit of a faff, but using levelling ramps to make sure your tourer is level can make a huge difference to your night's sleep, help your fridge to operate properly and stop your shower tray overflowing. Put simply, these useful accessories help to stop you having your caravan pitched up at an angle, in effect saving you from walking downhill to get to the washroom and then uphill when you're returning to the front lounge! You should also never use your steadies to level your caravan, so ramps are an essential piece of kit. A caravan should be as comfortable a base as possible, and just as you wouldn't want…

aSUED VANS SHOWROOM USED VAN BUYER COACHMAN HAS BEEN with us for nearly 40 years – in early 1987, we saw the launch of the company's tourers at the Caravan & Motorhome Show. From the start, it was clear the brand would be a hit, from the quality displayed in those first models to be produced. Now they are a top choice for many caravanners, and over the years, used Coachman vans have remained in demand. This means there is generally a very good choice of models available, but one important point to bear in mind is that these solidly built tourers are no lightweights. The Pastiche became one of the brand's bestsellers, and was not replaced until 2020, with the launch of the Acadia. The Pastiche offered a great…

QUICK TEST TOW CARS QUICK TEST Coachman Acadia 575 courtesy of www.spinney.co.uk What's new? The Ioniq 6 is Hyundai's four-door electric saloon. It shares much with the brand's more practical Ioniq 5 SUV, but with an aerodynamic body that's designed to look good and maximise the range. It's available with rear- and four-wheel drive. We've been testing the high-spec, high-powered 4×4. What are we looking for? Is a saloon practical enough for stress-free towing holidays? And just how far can the Ioniq 6 travel on a full charge? Towing ability An electric saloon isn't the most obvious tow car, but lower those raised eyebrows for a moment. The Ioniq 6 4WD weighs well over two tonnes and has a maximum towing capacity of 1500kg. That's respectable for an EV, especially…

USED TOW CAR SHOWROOM USED TOW CAR THE ŠKODA YETI was one of the most popular SUVs during its lifetime, which made it quite long-lived. However, there's no denying that when the car was getting towards the end of its existence, it had become a bit of an old crock. So Škoda set to work and replaced it with a larger, classier car – and the old crock became the new Karoq. Now, does the current vehicle represent a crock of gold for those on the hunt for a good used tow car? Or is it just a crock? What's it like inside? Where the old Yeti had a slightly utilitarian ambience, the new Karoq replaced this with an interior that feels decidedly classier and aimed more at family buyers.…

■ Know your vehicle Many caravan models are sold under different names. Penny is a Bailey Mere Delamere, but was broadly identical to the Bailey Ranger. Searching for parts for a Ranger is far easier than looking up dealer specials. ■ Find a art number If you have a part that is damaged, you can likely find some sort of part number, manufacturer name, SKU or other identifier. You can then punch this into Google to obtain more information. ■ Stakeout Keep your eyes peeled when you are on site. With easily visible parts, such as windows and lights, make a note of makes and models you observe that seem to share parts. It will let you widen your search. ■ Reverse image search Many modern mobiles will allow you…

TECHNICAL TERMS EXPLAINED > Kerbweight As defined by EU Directive 95/48/EC (which still applies), the car or other vehicle's weight with a 90% full fuel tank, all necessary fluids, 68kg for the driver and 7kg of luggage. This is the figure that is used to calculate a tow car match > GTW (Gross train weight) The maximum allowable combined weight of the towing vehicle and the caravan, as specified by the maker of the towing vehicle > Hook-up Cable connection to the mains electrical supply at a campsite. Provides power to mains sockets and appliances > Maximum towing limit The greatest weight that a car can legally tow, as specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle > MiRO (Mass in running order) The caravan's weight, with all factory-fitted equipment,…

Where are we? Luskentyre Sands, Isle of Harris My favourite beach “With so many fantastic seaside spots to enjoy around the UK, it's an almost impossible task to choose a favourite beach, but if I had to pick one place, it would be the Hebrides. “I've chosen magnificent Luskentyre Sands on South Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Its remote location, miles of golden sands, blue-green water and staggering views make it simply exquisite. There's a quality in the light and air here that is difficult to surpass. Should you get the chance to visit, I can't guarantee it will be your favourite beach (there are too many contenders), but I'm pretty sure it'll feature in your Top Five!” Deputy editor Paul Critcher Photo Richard Heath, Getty Images Turn to p23…

COASTAL TOURING SPECIAL NORTHERN FRANCE Andrew and May Clark take in some of the rich coastal heritage St-Valery-sur-Somme has always been one of our favourite tour destinations, because this was the first place that we ever visited in France. On the Bay of the Somme, this fine old city is in a unique location, where water, marshland and dunes all meet – land and sea merge into one. Floral displays The compact centre has an air of untouched charm: old waterfront cottages, narrow cobbled streets and colourful floral displays add to its historic beauty. A plentiful selection of speciality shops, restaurants and cafés, and the riverside boardwalk running the full length of the town, all add to the huge appeal of the place. From the stone-built quayside, the Commandant Charcot…

TRAVEL GETAWAY PERHAPS CHOOSING to spend a few days touring near the coast, straight after one of the wettest Februarys for almost 200 years, wasn't the best idea, but we reasoned that we are used to wet weather and we have all the necessary outdoor gear. We weren't going to let the rain put us off – we would carry on with our plans! We had booked to stay at Hurst View Leisure in Pennington, between Lymington and the Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, perfect for some waterside walking. The hardstandings were a bit waterlogged (at least we weren't silly enough to try to pitch on grass), but once we'd negotiated the mud outside the van door, we would be perfectly warm and dry inside. It turned out that leaving the…

TRAVEL 48 HOURS IN… ‘A metropolis dominated by attractive architecture’ ONE OF EASTERN England's most prominent and historic cities, beautiful Cambridge is best known for its celebrated university. It was founded in 1209 and is the second oldest in the UK after Oxford. The institution's alumni are second to none, with notable figures such as Charles Darwin, King Charles III and Sir David Attenborough having attended. The city is built on the River Cam, which weaves through a metropolis dominated by attractive architecture, with historic university buildings and museums punctuated by green spaces and parkland. Words: Paul Critcher HOUR BY HOUR DAY 1 9am Bould flavours Cambridge is not short on good cafés, but for a real shot in the arm, head for Bould Brothers on Round Church Street, which…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM FIRST LOOK Price £22,399 Berths 4 MiRO 1199kg MTPLM 1375kg THE XPLORE BRAND has undergone a bit of a shake-up this year, with a new website, separate from Elddis, and now the arrival of the first Xplore campervan. But with rumours of more changes on the way next year, we thought it was time to see what the range's most popular model, the rear-washroom, transverse-island-bed 554, has to offer this season. We checked it out at Glossop Caravans, in Derbyshire. Pitch and set-up The exterior lives up to Xplore's aim of being youth-orientated. Contrasting blue and yellow slashes and the mountain range logo up top are jolly, while the flush-fitting grab handles and locker door offer a sleeker look than other budget ranges. The single window at the…

USED VANS SHOWROOM PERSONAL SHOPPER Layout, appearance and staying within the 85% towing limit recommendation are just some of the things you have to consider. And then, of course, there is your budget. No wonder searching for your next caravan can sometimes feel like a pretty daunting prospect. We are here to help you. Here are three more different scenarios where we help caravanners track down their perfect tourer. So if you'd like us to sort out your conundrum and show you the used caravan of your dreams, just get in touch! WANT OUR EXPERTS TO HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT USED CARAVAN? Let us know by emailing letters@practicalcaravan.com and we'll do the legwork for you! Key facts Tow car kerbweight 2003kg Budget £22,000 Pippa and Richard, luxury seekers Pippa and Richard,…

SKILLS SCHOOL BESPOKE COVERS CARAVAN COVERS RANGE in price from about £50 for a universal-fit, waterproof (but non-breathable) model, to £500 or so for a bespoke cover, handmade in quality, breathable fabrics to fit your van precisely. The latter version will protect your tourer from the elements for many years, allowing damaging moisture to escape through its breathable construction, and stopping any precipitation getting in. They also protect against harmful tree sap, bird muck and road grime… plus, they keep annoying and difficult-to-remove black streaks at bay. Expert suppliers The UK's two biggest manufacturers in the bespoke caravan covers market are Specialised Covers and Protec Covers. Both companies have decades of experience in making high-quality, made-to-measure covers, and they have similar processes for specifying and ordering your cover. To find…

SKILLS SCHOOL BIKE RACKS MANY CARAVANNERS ENJOY cycling on and around the sites they visit. Thanks to Sustrans and other providers, there has been a pleasing development of special routes, often using former railway tracks, so you don't have to worry about cars or their fumes. These networks offer a safe way for families to enjoy this popular pastime. With the growing interest in competitive cycling events, such as the Tour de France and indoor track cycling, more and more of us are developing a renewed passion for cycling. My husband enjoys competing in triathlons, but I prefer to potter about on my bike and enjoy the scenery. Not everyone possesses the athleticism to pedal up steep hills without gasping for breath. Little wonder, then, that a new breed of…

Star letter Steady on for a clean caravan In issue 476, you covered guidance on washing a caravan. I would like to offer one more piece of advice, when washing the caravan roof: before you start, safely raise the nose of the van via the jockey wheel, before lowering the steadies – this allows the caravan to lean very slightly to the rear and lets the dirty water run freely off the roof. Few vans these days have windows in the rear panel, so this prevents the muck from the roof getting on the front windows, which need more care to clean. Brian George The contributor of our Star letter wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors. They're designed to fit all wing mirrors and offer an outstanding…

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: Immediately 8 = average More than 16 = well done Notes HALF & HALF Renée Zellweger played which title character in a 2000 Farrelly brothers film, also starring Jim Carrey? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled…

Air shows and open gardens take flight 25-26 May 2024 Shuttleworth D-Day Weekend This special D-Day themed weekend in Bedfordshire sees the imposing arrival and departure of the D-Day Squadron Legacy Tour and the chance to view the iconic fleet up close. Enjoy historic military and collection vehicle displays, vintage bus rides and access to the unique Shuttleworth Collection, and the Swiss Garden and playground. You also get the chance to sit in a Spitfire (separate ticket required). Adult tickets for the event cost from £20. ❱ shuttleworth.org/product/shuttleworth-d-day-weekend Stay at Shuttleworth Warden Park ❱ shuttleworth.org/product/d-day-weekend-camping-2024 31 May - 2 June 2024 Midlands Air Festival This family event at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire includes exciting warbirds, classic jets, helicopters and aerobatic performances, and some of the largest radio-controlled models in the world.…

COASTAL TOURING SPECIAL TRAVEL GETAWAY IT WAS A blustery autumn day when we arrived at Castle Brake Holiday Park, near Exmouth. Our first impressions were good. The campsite is big, with a very friendly reception team, a shop, a restaurant and powerful hot showers. We took a first look around Exmouth in high winds and rain, to see its sandy beaches and stock up on food for the days ahead. It's probably lovely in the sunshine! Exeter's mighty cathedral The following morning, we visited Exeter. The Park & Ride into the city centre has free parking, with buses running roughly every 20 minutes or so. The cathedral is glorious. It costs £7.50 each to enter, but we had found a leaflet with a ‘two for one’ voucher in the site's information…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM FIRST LOOK Price £20,780 Berths 3 (4 opt) MiRO 1084kg MTPLM 1200kg CARAVANS WITH BEDS in the front aren't very common in the UK. The cost of tourers keeps increasing, however, with many entry-level vans now falling not far short of £30,000. So would UK caravanners be less hesitant about such a layout if the caravan in question cost only a little over £20,000 brand new? We travelled to Barnsdale Leisure, in Pontefract, to take a look at Weinsberg's CaraOne 390 QD to find out. This is from the CaraOne UK range, designed for the UK market, so it includes fire-retardant fabrics, a 12V gel battery as standard, and that all-important oven. Pitch and set-up Weinsberg has always been promoted as Knaus's budget brand, but sometimes that ‘budget’…

BIG 4X4S ARE all well and good, but their large size is almost always matched by the substantial price tag and hefty running costs. Added to that is the fact that many of us don't actually need a large car to tow our caravan. There are plenty of lightweight tourers and micro-caravans that can be towed by smaller, more affordable, more economical cars. Combining a lighter vehicle and caravan can make financial sense. Both halves of the outfit are likely to be more affordable, and a lighter combination should have lower running costs – just so long as the car's engine is up to the job. Smaller, narrower cars and vans are easier to thread along a country lane than a huge SUV towing a twin-axle. What's more, if you…

TOW CAR ADVICE EMERGENCIES YOU PROBABLY KNOW about the five Ps: Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Planning is especially important if you want to prevent an emergency while towing. Careful driving, a well-chosen route and correct loading all contribute to safe and stress-free towing. Sometimes, though, even the best-laid plans go wrong. And when that happens, it's best to be ready. Hopefully you'll never need this advice, but just in case, here's what to do in a towing emergency. Coping with a snake Many caravanners dread this. One moment you are towing serenely, the next, the van is wagging from side to side and starting to drag the back of the car with it. So it pays to make a snake as unlikely as possible. That means starting with a sensibly…

Includes all 2024 models on UK sale! 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…